Several other variables play a role in determining the cost of the design and should be borne in mind.
Floor to ceiling height It is obvious that by increasing the height of walls, we must increase our rate per M².
Overall height of building A comparison of the unit rates for a single storey and multi-storey buildings will show substantial differences. Savings can be achieved by decreasing the plan size and increasing the height of buildings but a point is eventually reached where the cost of vertical transportation, services, substructure etc., outweigh the cost of an additional storey. Land values, plot size and the buildings function tend to have direct influence on its height.
Construction differences Reinforced concrete walling in lieu of brick walling of industrialised building methods in lieu of conventional methods will have a huge influence on the cost. Build Aid should be brought in as early as possible in the design stage to advise on the influence of the proposed construction method on cost.
Difference in finish and architectural detail Careful attention should be paid to the standard of finishes required, especially of those on the vertical components of a building as they are more difficult to incorporate in our yardstick of unit rate.
Start and finish dates An earlier completion date saves money but can only be achieved by careful planning during the design and construction phases of the project.
The use of a detailed program based on C.P.A or network analysis programming tools should be encouraged.
A case can be made for the view that construction time should not be specified in the tender documents, but that the builder should be given the opportunity to tender on time as well as price. The exception should be when a building has to be completed in a shorter period than would be reasonably contemplated.
It could well be the higher price from a tender is the most economical, once construction time, earlier occupation and savings on escalations are considered.
A detailed and more specific brief to the Architect may require more effort on the part of the client, but is the cornerstone to efficient time management.
Contractual terms and agreements Although tender arrangements should be decided at the sketch design stage, other tender conditions such as the competitiveness of the market and the quality of the tender documents also play important roles in fixing the final price of a project. Build Aid provide their clients with a measured estimate of cost that can be used as a basis for tendering or negotiation purposes.
It’s imperative that clients enter into a contract with the builder and a suitable contract is available for free from the Association of Quantity Surveyors website.
Locality of area Building costs within South Africa vary considerably and allowance will be made for locality in the cost plan prepared by Build Aid for this.
Market conditions Market conditions during recessions increase competitiveness and many builders then venture away from their traditional base in search of work. The converse is true during boom times when contractors increase their rates and are loathe to work far away from their base.
Click on the link to read our Conclusion