Estimating in Building Construction

Excavation 69

the site drawings. For example, the top of a grate eleva-
tion on a catch basin may be denoted on the drawing
as elevation 104.3 ́. Because that elevation is critical for
the drainage of the parking lot, it is specified as an exact
dimension.

Cross-Section Method

The cross-section method entails dividing the site into a grid
and then determining the cut or fill for each of the grids. The
size of the grid should be a function of the site, the required
changes, and the required level of accuracy. If the changes in
elevation are substantial, the grid should be small. The
smaller the grid, the more accurate the quantity takeoff. In
Figure 9.4, the site was divided into a 50-foot grid in both
directions. Each line on the grid should be given a number
or letter designation. If the horizontal lines are numeric, the
vertical lines would be alphabetic. The opposite is also true.
By using this type of labeling convention, points on the site
plan can be easily found and referenced. In addition to this
numbering system, it is also helpful to number each result-
ing grid square.

The next step is to determine the approximate current

and planned elevation for each grid line intersection. Once

these are noted, the cut and fill elevation changes can also be

noted. Figure 9.5 shows the labeling convention that should

be used for this process.

Because contour lines rarely cross the grid intersec-

tions, it is necessary to estimate the current and proposed

elevations at each of the grid intersection points. If the pro-

posed elevation is greater than the current elevation, fill will

be required. Conversely, if the planned elevation is less than

the current elevation, cutting will be needed. Figure 9.6

shows the previous site plan with all the elevations and the

cut and fill requirements. Once all of the grids have been

laid out with existing and proposed elevations and cut or

fill, examine them to see which grids contain both cut and

fill. This is done by checking the corners of the individual

grid boxes. In Figure 9.6, these are grids 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17,

18, 19, 25, 27, 32, 34, 39, and 41. These grids require special

consideration. In these grids, some of the materials will be

converted from cut to fill, or vice versa. The quantity of cut

and fill needs to be separated out within these grids so that

the cost of converting materials from cut to fill or fill to cut

FIGURE 9.3.Sample Site Plan.