WORKING TOGETHER

Including value engineering options during a project’s design can help manage costs and avoid a budget blowout

Traditionally many see design and quantity surveying as being standalone practices. However, the benefits of combining these practices become obvious when analysing their individual strengths.

A quantity surveyor (QS) can provide valuable input at the start of a project by providing advice about ‘value engineering’ and cost management.

Value engineering

Value engineering involves a QS providing different options to realise cost saving benefits for a project.

Examples of value engineering in a design process include:

• Advising on using different cladding types as a cost-saving option.
• Design adjustments that mean standard materials can be used rather than specially created materials or materials that create excessive waste.
• Ensuring a ceiling height is the same as a standard sheet size for plasterboard.
• Designing the project so work is completed in stages, to allow costs to be set out accurately and keep track of specific measurements at each stage.

Design benefits 

Often, and despite best efforts, an initial budget provided by a client is blown as excitement about the project grows. To help manage costs, it’s best to bring in a quantity surveyor during several stages of the design process:

• For the initial conversation with the designer and the client, to discuss budgets and goals, set expectations and identify the limits of the design within the cost parameters. At this point, it’s important to talk to the client about their budget and what they want to achieve. It can be easier to identify early on if the goals and the budget are likely to work. This is also an opportunity to discuss ideas about value engineering for the designer and the client to think about.
• Once the concept plans have been completed, a quantity surveyor can provide an indicative budget. This can be useful prior to the working drawings being completed as it can save rework if the plans exceed the budget. If further value engineering is required, this is a good time for a discussion between the designer and client.
• After the concept drawings have been signed off and the working drawings completed, a quantity surveyor can provide a schedule of quantities. A schedule of quantities is used during the tender process and is a list and measurement for all carpentry and concrete items needed for a project. Using a schedule of quantities means that all builders use the same measurements; overall, this makes tenders fairer and easier to compare. It often also encourages builders to tender a price, as the exercise is far less labour intensive without the need to measure as well as price.

This article first appeared in Codewords – Issue 87