03/07/2024
What is your square feet rate of construction?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by our clients. Our response is that the cost depends on various engineering aspects of the construction. Several factors influence the construction cost, including:
Design and Structural Details: The plan and sectional details of different components/parts of the building.
Quality of Materials: The grade and quality of materials used in the construction.
Workmanship: The type of workmanship involved in the project.
Supervision: The level and quality of supervision during construction.
Site Location: Specific characteristics and challenges of the proposed site.
Profit Margin: The percentage of profit charged by the builder/contractor.
Without considering these factors, quoting a rate blindly is not an engineering approach to the project.
Case Study:
To provide some insights, here are data from an actual construction project:
Area of Building: 2500 sq. ft.
Type: Double-storied residential
Ground Floor:
Car porch, sit out, drawing room, dining room
2 bath-attached bedrooms
Kitchen, work area, store room, and stair room area
First Floor:
2 bedrooms (one attached and one with common toilet facility)
Material Requirement:
Structural Materials:
Cement: 793 bags
Sand: 5500 cu. ft.
Rock: 2600 cu. ft.
40mm aggregate: 750 cu. ft.
20mm aggregate: 1650 cu. ft.
Steel: 3000 kg
Bricks (wire cut): 43000 Nos
Finishing Materials:
Wood: About 30% of structural material cost
Electrical Materials: About 12% of structural material cost
Plumbing Materials: About 12% of structural material cost
Painting Materials: About 10% of structural material cost
Flooring Materials: About 25% of structural material cost
Miscellaneous Items: About 10% of structural material cost
Total Number of Workers: 1800 labourers
Cost of Building Materials at Kollam Town (as of August 2016):
Bricks: ₹9.50 to ₹13.00 per number
M-Sand: ₹60.00 to ₹70.00 per cu. ft.
Rock: ₹35.00 to ₹40.00 per cu. ft.
40mm Aggregate: ₹35.00 to ₹40.00 per cu. ft.
20mm Aggregate: ₹35.00 to ₹40.00 per cu. ft.
Cement: ₹425.00 to ₹450.00 per bag
Steel: ₹50.00 to ₹55.00 per kg
Labour Charge: ₹800.00 to ₹900.00 per labour
Depending on the selection of materials by the builder and prevailing labour charges of the locality, the cost of the building may vary considerably, directly affecting the square feet rate analysis.
So, we humbly repeat:
“The cost depends on the engineering aspects of the construction.”
