---
title: "Total cost of apartment building"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:total-cost-apartment-500"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/total-cost-apartment-500
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Total cost of apartment building

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 3: Types of Estimate

- Asked in: 2075 Chaitra, 4 marks
- Video: [Building estimate | how to estimate building cost?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZju75MQNWk) — Engr Suliman Khan
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/total-cost-apartment-500
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-3

## Question

The plinth area of an apartment is 500 Sq.m. Determine the total cost of building from the following data:
i) Rate of construction = Rs. 3450 per m³
ii) The height of apartment = 16.25 m
iii) Water supply, sanitary and electrical installations each at 6% of building cost
iv) Architectural appearance @ 1% of building cost
v) Unforeseen item @ 2% of building cost
vi) P.S and contingencies @ 4% of building cost

## Short answer

Volume = 500 m² × 16.25 m = 8,125 m³. Construction cost at Rs3,450/m³ = Rs28,031,250. Adding 6% water, 6% sanitary, 6% electrical, 1% architecture, 2% unforeseen, 4% P.S. & contingencies (total 25%) yields Rs35,039,062.50.

## Answer

#### Volume and building cost
Plinth area = 500 m², height = 16.25 m.
$$
\text{Volume} = 500 \times 16.25 = 8,125.00\ \text{m}^3
$$
Cost of building = 8,125.00 x 3,450 = Rs 28,031,250.00.

#### Additional items (percentages of building cost)
| Item | Percentage | Amount (Rs) |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply | 6% | 1,681,875.00 |
| Sanitary installation | 6% | 1,681,875.00 |
| Electrical installation | 6% | 1,681,875.00 |
| Architectural appearance | 1% | 280,312.50 |
| Unforeseen items | 2% | 560,625.00 |
| P.S. and contingencies | 4% | 1,121,250.00 |
| **Total additions** | 25% | **7,007,812.50** |

**Answer: Total cost = 28,031,250.00 + 7,007,812.50 = Rs 35,039,062.50.**

## Check yourself

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

1. How is the building cost found in the volume (cubic) rate method?
   A. Plinth area x height x rate per m³
   B. Plinth area x rate per m²
   C. Carpet area x height x rate per m³
   D. Plinth area x rate per m³ without height
   Answer: A. The rate is per m³, so volume = plinth area x height is multiplied by the rate. (Key point: Volume method)

2. What is the volume of the apartment?
   A. 812.5 m³
   B. 8,125 m³
   C. 8,125 m²
   D. 500 m³
   Answer: B. 500 x 16.25 = 8,125 m³. (Key point: Building volume)

3. Percentages of building cost are added for water, sanitary, electrical (6% each), architecture 1%, unforeseen 2% and P.S. 4%. What is the total addition?
   A. 19% of building cost
   B. 15% of building cost
   C. 25% of building cost
   D. 31% of building cost
   Answer: C. 3 x 6 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 25%, i.e. Rs 7,007,812.50. (Key point: Percentage additions)

4. What is the total cost of the building?
   A. Rs 28,031,250.00
   B. Rs 7,007,812.50
   C. Rs 33,637,500.00
   D. Rs 35,039,062.50
   Answer: D. Building cost 28,031,250 plus additions 7,007,812.50 gives 35,039,062.50. (Key point: Total cost)

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