---
title: "Single room: brick foundation, DPC, superstructure"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:single-room-c"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/single-room-c
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Single room: brick foundation, DPC, superstructure

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 6: Detailed Estimate

- Asked in: 2081 Bhadra, 4+3+3 marks
- Video: [Quantity Estimation of Single Room By Long wall and Short wall Method I Single Room Estimation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBbSDHtN4yo) — Civil Engineering Easy
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/single-room-c
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-6

## Question

From the attached plan and section of single room building, estimate the quantities.
i) Brickwork in foundation up to plinth with 1:6 cement mortar.
ii) 2 cm DPC at plinth level.
iii) Brickwork in superstructure in cement mortar.
[Drawing not included in the scanned paper]

## Short answer

Room 4.0×3.5 m clear, centre-line 15.92 m. Brickwork up to plinth: steps 0.69 m and 0.46 m wide (each 0.15 m) + 0.95 m wall = 6.23 m³. DPC 2 cm: 15.92×0.23 m minus door (0.23 m²) = 3.43 m². Superstructure brickwork: wall 3 m high deduct door, windows, lintels = 9.68 m³.

## Answer

No drawing is available, so a typical single room is assumed. The standard method is the **centre-line method**.

#### Assumed data
- Room 4.0 m × 3.5 m clear, 230 mm walls; centre-line length = 2(4.0 + 3.5 + 0.46) = 15.92 m.
- Foundation: trench 0.90 m × 1.00 m, PCC 200 mm, two brick steps 0.69 and 0.46 m wide (150 mm each), 230 mm wall up to plinth top (0.45 m above GL); wall height from last step = 0.95 m.
- Superstructure height 3.0 m; D 1.0 × 2.1 m (1 no.); W 1.2 × 1.2 m (2 nos.); RCC lintels 150 mm deep with 200 mm bearing each side.

#### i) Brickwork in foundation up to plinth, 1:6
| Item | No. | L (m) | B (m) | H/D (m) | Qty (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brick footing step 1 (0.69 m wide) | 1 | 15.920 | 0.690 | 0.150 | 1.648 |
| Brick footing step 2 (0.46 m wide) | 1 | 15.920 | 0.460 | 0.150 | 1.098 |
| Wall up to plinth | 1 | 15.920 | 0.230 | 0.950 | 3.479 |
| **Total** | | | | | **6.225** |

#### ii) 2 cm DPC at plinth level
DPC (cement concrete 1:2:4 with waterproofing) is measured in m² = wall length × wall width, and is not carried across door openings.

| Item | No. | L (m) | B (m) | H/D (m) | Qty (m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPC 20 mm, wall length | 1 | 15.920 | 0.230 | – | 3.662 |
| Deduct door opening | -1 | 1.000 | 0.230 | – | -0.230 |
| **Total** | | | | | **3.432** |

#### iii) Brickwork in superstructure
| Item | No. | L (m) | B (m) | H/D (m) | Qty (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall above plinth, full length | 1 | 15.920 | 0.230 | 3.000 | 10.985 |
| 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 (1.0 + 2 × 0.2) | -1 | 1.400 | 0.230 | 0.150 | -0.048 |
| Deduct lintels over windows (1.2 + 2 × 0.2) | -2 | 1.600 | 0.230 | 0.150 | -0.110 |
| **Total** | | | | | **9.681** |

**Answer:** Foundation and plinth brickwork 6.22 m³; DPC 3.43 m²; superstructure brickwork 9.68 m³ (assumed dimensions).

## Check yourself

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

1. For 4.0 x 3.5 m clear room, 230 mm walls, centre-line length?
   A. 2(4.0 + 3.5 + 0.46) = 15.92 m
   B. 2(4.0 + 3.5) = 15.00 m
   C. 2(4.0 + 3.5 + 0.23)
   D. 4.0 + 3.5 + 0.46
   Answer: A. Add two wall thicknesses to the sum of clear dimensions. (Key point: Centre-line length)

2. How is 2 cm DPC measured?
   A. m2 = wall length x wall width, door not carried across
   B. m3 = length x width x 0.02 m
   C. Running metre
   D. m2 with door included
   Answer: A. DPC covers wall width along wall length, deducting the door opening. (Key point: DPC measurement)

3. Which deductions are made from superstructure brickwork?
   A. Door, windows and lintel bearings
   B. Only doors
   C. Only windows
   D. None
   Answer: A. Openings and lintel bearings (measured under RCC) are deducted. (Key point: Superstructure deductions)

4. Which items make up foundation brickwork up to plinth?
   A. Two footing steps and wall up to plinth 0.95 m
   B. Superstructure wall
   C. PCC and soling
   D. DPC and lintel
   Answer: A. Two steps plus wall to plinth: 6.225 m3. (Key point: Foundation brick items)

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