---
title: "Sub-heads of items of work (building)"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:subheads-items-of-work-building"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/subheads-items-of-work-building
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Sub-heads of items of work (building)

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 2: Method of Estimating

- Asked in: 2080 Baisakh, 4 marks; 2081 Baisakh, 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Subheads of various Items of Work | Method of Estimation | Estimation and Valuation | Engineer Star](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHQN13ZaWFM) — Engineer Star
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/subheads-items-of-work-building
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-2

## Question

What are the sub-heads of various items of work for a building project?

## Short answer

The sub-heads are: site preparation and earthwork; plain concrete work; foundation and masonry; reinforced concrete work; doors, windows and woodwork; roofing; flooring; plastering and pointing; finishing; water supply and sanitary works; electrical works; and miscellaneous and external works. Contingency, VAT, and work-charged establishment are added to the total of all sub-heads.

## Answer

A building estimate is divided into sub-heads (groups of similar items), arranged in the order of construction. This makes quantity taking and checking easy.

| SN | Sub-head | Typical items |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Site preparation and earthwork | Site clearance, setting out, excavation, backfilling, disposal |
| 2 | Concrete work (plain) | PCC in foundation, brick/stone soling, DPC |
| 3 | Foundation and masonry | Brick/stone masonry in foundation, plinth, superstructure, partition walls |
| 4 | Reinforced concrete work | Concrete in footings, columns, beams, slabs, stairs, lintels; formwork; reinforcement |
| 5 | Doors, windows and woodwork | Frames, shutters, ventilators, hardware, grills |
| 6 | Roofing | Roof truss, CGI/tile roofing, waterproofing, parapet |
| 7 | Flooring | Floor base, tiles/terrazzo/cement punning, skirting, dado |
| 8 | Plastering and pointing | Internal and external plaster, pointing |
| 9 | Finishing | Whitewash, distemper, painting of doors, windows, walls |
| 10 | Water supply and sanitary works | Pipes, fittings, W.C., basin, septic tank, drainage |
| 11 | Electrical works | Wiring, fixtures, switches, earthing |
| 12 | Miscellaneous and external works | Boundary wall, gate, drain, paving, landscaping, lightning conductor |

Finally, contingency, VAT and work-charged establishment are added to the total of all sub-heads.

## Check yourself

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

1. How are sub-heads arranged?
   A. Alphabetically
   B. By cost
   C. In the order of construction
   D. Randomly
   Answer: C. Eases quantity taking and checking. (Key point: Order)

2. Site clearance, excavation and backfilling belong to
   A. Finishing
   B. Roofing
   C. Electrical works
   D. Site preparation and earthwork
   Answer: D. First sub-head. (Key point: Earthwork)

3. Whitewash, distemper and painting belong to
   A. Finishing
   B. Plastering and pointing
   C. Flooring
   D. Foundation
   Answer: A. Finishing sub-head. (Key point: Finishing)

4. Which are added after all sub-heads?
   A. Foundation
   B. Contingency, VAT and work-charged establishment
   C. Doors
   D. Drawings
   Answer: B. Added to total. (Key point: Final additions)

## Related in Estimating and Costing

- [Building: excavation, PCC, brick, wood work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Abuilding-f-fig3-four-items) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6
- [Building: excavation, brick 1:4, wood work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Abuilding-k-fig1) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6
- [Tasks in preparing building project estimate](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aworks-considered-building-project-estimate) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 5, asked 2×
- [What is project? How is building project estimated](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aproject-building-estimate-how) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 5
- [RCC slab culvert 1.5 m span: four items](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aslab-culvert-n-four-items) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6
- [RCC slab culvert (u): four items](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Aslab-culvert-u-four-items) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6

## Related in other subjects

- [Typical job layout of a building project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Atypical-job-layout-building) — Construction Management, chapter 6, asked 4×
- [Project versus operational work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-vs-operations) — ICT Project Management, chapter 1
- [Manage and perform project work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Amanage-project-work) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7
- [Monitor and control project work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Amonitor-control-project-work) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7