Taking off quantities is a key skill demanded of a quantity surveyor. Substructure taking-off involves all measurement work up to and including the damp-proof course. It includes a variety of trades such as clearing site, top soil removing, excavation, concrete work and masonry works.
Here is a list of Substructure Taking-off according to SMM7
Site preparation
- Removing trees and shrubs
- Lifting turf
- Top soil/removing/preserving
Excavation
- Reduce levels/disposal of excavated material
- Excavating trenches/disposal of excavated
- material/filling/surface treatments
Working space
The SMM7 Measurement Code states that because working space is no longer measured in detail this
information is provided to enable contractors to make their own allowance based on this and the other information provided. (See SMM7 for more information D20.6.1)
Earthwork support
- To sides of reduced level/sides of trenches
Concrete
- Foundations
- Beds/formwork/damp-proof membrane
Masonry Brick walls/facings
- Forming cavities
- Filling to cavities
- Damp-proof courses
Taking-off list for the substructure of a building together with the unit of measurement and the SMM references.
| Taking-off List | Unit | SMM Reference |
| Clearing site vegetation | m2 | D.1.1 |
| Removing trees and stumps | Nr | D.1.2 |
| Excavating topsoil for preservation | m2 | D.2.1 |
| Disposal of (Depositing) topsoil | m3 | D.8.3.2 |
| Excavating to reduce level | m2 / m3 | D.2.2 |
| Disposal of spoil | m3 | D.8.3 |
| Excavating pits | m3 | D.2.4 |
| Excavating trenches width > 300 mm | m3 | D.2.5 |
| Excavating trenches width < 300 mm | m | D.2.6 |
| Work below water level (E/O Item) | m3 | D.3.1 |
| Work below ground water level (E/O Item) | m3 | D.3.2 |
| Breaking up obstructions | m3 | D.4 |
| Filling to excavations | m3 | D.9.1 |
| Working space allowance to excavation | m2 | D.6 |
| Earthwork support | m2 | D.7 |
| Disposal of surface & ground water | Item | D.8.1/2 |
| Levelling & compacting bottom of excavation | m2 | D.10.4.3 |
| Concrete in foundations | m3 | E1.2 |
| Deduct Filling to excavation (volume of foundation) | m3 | D.9.1 |
| Add Disposal of excavated material off site (-ditto-) | m3 | D.8.3.1 |
| Formwork to foundations | m/m2 | E2.1 |
| Reinforcements to foundation | t (Kg) | E3.1/2/3 |
| Brickwork/block work in foundation | m2 | G1.1 |
| Projections in brickwork/block work | m2 | G1.2 |
| Rubblework in foundation | m2 | G2.1 |
| Projections in rubblework | m | G2.5 |
| Deduct Filling to excavation (volume of foundation) | m3 | D.9.1 |
| Add Disposal of excavated material off site (-ditto-) | m3 | D.8.3.1 |
| Damp proofing course | m/m2 | H.2.1/2.1 |
| Levelling & compacting ground | m2 | D.10.4.1 |
| Filling to make up levels (Hardcore bed) | m3 | D.9.3.1.2 |
| Compacting & blinding surface of hardcore bed | m2 | D.10.4.1 |
| Damp proofing membrane (Horizontal) | m/m2 | H.2.1/2.1.1 |
| Damp proofing membrane (Vertical) | m/m2 | H.2.1/2.2.1 |
| Concrete beds or slabs on ground | m3 | F1.3 |
| Topsoil adjustment to outside of foundations | m3 | D.9.1.1.1 |
Example taking off for substructure
