Elemental Cost Plan for Building Construction

BUILDING ECONOMICS

Task 1
Elemental Cost Plan
Introduction and Background
An elemental cost plan refers to detailed cost plans that are broken down into a series of
elements. The elemental cost becomes ‘measured’ as the design becomes more complex based
on the actual materials and work quantities to be undertaken. In this report, an elemental cost
plan is developed for a building. The following is a detailed elemental costing plan for the
construction of a ten story building on Plot A5 of the PRS; the elemental costing plan is based on
the provided pre-tender documents. The costs are calculated based on building codes and
regulations for Halifax as well as standard building codes and standards. The assumption is that
the building is constructed using building stones and has sufficient reinforcement as well as a
strong foundation to support the structure. The costs are based on average quoted prices for the
various components of the building for every floor. The values are computed as shown in Excel
Sheet 983232lcc.xlx
Assumptions
The apartment block is to be constructed using solid walls to provide support for the ten floors
plus the roof.
The walls will be made using concrete as the main material.
Supporting columns are put using reinforced concrete.
The building blocks to be used have strength of 7.3N/mm2 and are single skin with a fire
resistance of three hours.
The floors have a height of 2.4 meters (8 feet) height for every floor.
The thickness of each floor (they will be suspended floors) is 0.356 meters.
Windows to be used are the standard UPVC windows which will be single hung windows and
measuring 1050 mm in height and 1200 mm for the bedrooms and 1050 mm height and 1770
mm for the lounges. Others will be 1050 mm height and 915 mm width.

The blocks to be used measure 4.4 x1.4 x 2.15 cm.
Cost per block = £ 1.51
Total cost of blocks = (Required blocks x Unit Cost) = 53,942,974
Glass Balconies
The balconies will be bought as complete sets with toughened clear glass; the proposed glass is
Structural balustrade toughened glass system having 10 mm of clear toughened glass. These
costs £ 400 per linear meter and with stainless steel; the proposed balconies are 3000 mm in
width and 1000 mm in length.
Concrete for floors
The concrete required as per UK standards is in the ratio 1:2:4
Steel rebar will be bought as pre-designed mesh (measuring 2.42 x 1.22) meters; at a cost of £
19.15, the total cost for the rebar is 106657.71.
Foundation
The building will have a foundation of 2.8 meters considering the sold at Halifax that are sandy
loam, and which have reasonable stability and strength to support the building. The building will
be constructed as a framed structure where a network of columns as well as connecting beams is
used to form the skeletal structure of the building. This will carry loads to the foundation while
reinforced concrete will provide additional stiffness as well as flexibility to carry shear and wind
forces. The foundation will be made to a poured concrete thickness of 400 mm with support and
insulation incorporated into it. There will be a compacted hardcore followed by sand layer on top
of which there will be a sand binding. On top of the sand binding will be damp proof membrane
and then insulation. The insulation will be followed by a concrete slab on top of which a floor
screed is placed and the walls will be plastered. The calculations shown above (cement and
sand) are for the walls; the building stones will need to use cement which has been computed at a
rate of 25% of the total wall volume. This will add an additional £179, 065 to the total cost of
material. The roof will be placed as a concrete slab in order to minimize costs and give
provisions for placing other utilities and service features, including solar panels. The above