---
title: "Earthwork, concrete, brick, RCC from drawing"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:drawing-four-items-s"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/drawing-four-items-s
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Earthwork, concrete, brick, RCC from drawing

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 6: Detailed Estimate

- Asked in: 2067 Asar (old course), 14 marks
- Video: [Learn Quantity Surveying|Calculation Earth work, Concrete, Brick work In foundation, Plinth and DPC.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s_b4cNeS1U) — Civil Engineering Survey
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/drawing-four-items-s
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-6

## Question

Estimate the quantities of the following items of work from the accompanying drawing.
a) Earthwork in excavation
b) Cement concrete
c) 1st class brick work
d) RCC work
[Drawing not included in the scanned paper]

## Short answer

Using centre-line method for an assumed one-room building with RCC roof: excavation 15.23 m3, cement concrete 4.62 m3, first class brickwork 16.99 m3, RCC 2.61 m3. Deduct openings and lintels from brickwork; roof slab and lintels are measured under RCC.

## Answer

No drawing is given. The method is therefore shown on an assumed **one-room building with an RCC flat roof**, using the **centre-line method**.

#### Assumed data
- Room 4.5 m × 3.5 m clear; walls 0.23 m (first class brick in 1:6 cement mortar); centre-line length = 2(4.5 + 3.5 + 2 × 0.23) = 16.92 m.
- Trench 0.90 m wide, 1.00 m deep; PCC 1:3:6, 0.20 m thick; two brick footing steps (0.69 m and 0.46 m wide, 0.15 m each); plinth 0.45 m above GL; ceiling height 3.0 m.
- One door 1.0 × 2.1 m and two windows 1.2 × 1.2 m; RCC lintels 0.23 × 0.15 m with 0.2 m bearing on each side; roof slab 125 mm; floor PCC 100 mm.
- Wall height from the last footing to the plinth top = 1.00 − 0.20 − 0.30 + 0.45 = 0.95 m.

#### a) Earthwork in excavation
| Item | No. | L (m) | B (m) | H/D (m) | Qty (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trench, all walls (centre-line) | 1 | 16.920 | 0.900 | 1.000 | 15.228 |
| **Total** | | | | | **15.228** |

#### b) Cement concrete
| Item | No. | L (m) | B (m) | H/D (m) | Qty (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCC bed under walls | 1 | 16.920 | 0.900 | 0.200 | 3.046 |
| Floor PCC 1:4:8, 100 mm (room) | 1 | 4.500 | 3.500 | 0.100 | 1.575 |
| **Total** | | | | | **4.621** |

#### c) First class brick work (foundation, plinth and superstructure)
| Item | No. | L (m) | B (m) | H/D (m) | Qty (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brick footing step 1 (0.69 m wide) | 1 | 16.920 | 0.690 | 0.150 | 1.751 |
| Brick footing step 2 (0.46 m wide) | 1 | 16.920 | 0.460 | 0.150 | 1.167 |
| Wall up to plinth | 1 | 16.920 | 0.230 | 0.950 | 3.697 |
| Wall above plinth, full length | 1 | 16.920 | 0.230 | 3.000 | 11.675 |
| Deduct door 1.00×2.10 | -1 | 1.000 | 0.230 | 2.100 | -0.483 |
| Deduct window 1.20×1.20 | -2 | 1.200 | 0.230 | 1.200 | -0.662 |
| Deduct lintel over door (1.00 m opening + 2 × 0.20 m bearing) | -1 | 1.400 | 0.230 | 0.150 | -0.048 |
| Deduct lintels over windows (1.20 m opening + 2 × 0.20 m bearing) | -2 | 1.600 | 0.230 | 0.150 | -0.110 |
| **Total** | | | | | **16.986** |

(The full lintels are deducted from the brickwork because they are measured under RCC work.)

#### d) RCC work
| Item | No. | L (m) | B (m) | H/D (m) | Qty (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roof slab, 125 mm (outer size of walls) | 1 | 4.960 | 3.960 | 0.125 | 2.455 |
| Lintel over door | 1 | 1.400 | 0.230 | 0.150 | 0.048 |
| Lintels over windows | 2 | 1.600 | 0.230 | 0.150 | 0.110 |
| **Total** | | | | | **2.614** |

**Answer:** Excavation = 15.23 m³; cement concrete = 4.62 m³; brickwork = 16.99 m³; RCC = 2.61 m³ (assumed dimensions; follow the same sequence for the actual drawing).

Quantities are taken in the usual order: length × breadth × height/depth, in cubic metres (m³) or square metres (m²), with deductions entered as negatives. Rates are not asked; when costing, apply the current District Rate and DUDBC rate-analysis norms of the district.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. For a room 4.5 m x 3.5 m clear with 0.23 m walls, what is the centre-line length?
   A. 2(4.5 + 3.5) = 16.00 m
   B. 2(4.5 + 3.5 + 2 x 0.23) = 16.92 m
   C. 2(4.5 + 3.5 + 0.23) = 16.46 m
   D. 4.5 + 3.5 + 0.46 = 8.46 m
   Answer: B. Each centre-line side is clear length plus one wall thickness, so the perimeter is 2(4.5 + 3.5 + 2 x 0.23) = 16.92 m. (Key point: Centre-line length)

2. How is the wall height 0.95 m from the last footing to plinth top found?
   A. 1.00 + 0.20 + 0.30 + 0.45
   B. 1.00 - 0.20 - 0.30 + 0.45
   C. 1.00 - 0.20 + 0.45
   D. 3.00 - 2.05
   Answer: B. Trench depth 1.00 less PCC 0.20 and two footing steps 0.30 gives the wall below GL; adding the 0.45 plinth gives 0.95 m. (Key point: Wall height to plinth)

3. Why is lintel bearing deducted from the brickwork?
   A. The bearing is damaged brick
   B. It is measured under RCC, so not paid twice
   C. Lintels are always made of timber
   D. Bearing is part of the door frame
   Answer: B. The lintel bearings sit in the wall but are measured as RCC, so their volume is deducted from brickwork. (Key point: Lintel bearing deduction)

4. What plan size is used for the 125 mm RCC roof slab?
   A. Clear room size 4.5 x 3.5 m
   B. Outer size of walls 4.96 x 3.96 m
   C. Centre-line size 16.92 m
   D. Trench size 0.90 m wide
   Answer: B. The slab covers the walls, so the outer size is 4.5 + 0.46 by 3.5 + 0.46, i.e. 4.96 x 3.96 m. (Key point: Roof slab size)

## Close variants set in other exams

- [Aqueduct: excavation, concrete, brick, RCC](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aaqueduct-v-four-items) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6, asked 2×

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