ABSTRACT
The subsisting methods of unit rate pricing in the construction industry are either determinate on
immediate use basis (analytical pricing) or predictive (cost modeling). The literature cited in this paper
showed that cost models used in the industry are spurious. Most of the models attempts to respond to
whole building cost from inception to completion with a single formula. This paper argues that on the
basis of the units of measurement of the various building elements, a holistic cost model for pricing a
complete building cost is a near impossibility. Rather as a negation cost model on the basis of each
work item is idealized. Accordingly, this paper responded by generating a unit rate cost model for
weld mesh reinforcement. This was done by abstracting and decomposing the relevant cost data and
using productivity study by time and motion to determine the various outputs for materials and labour.
These were subsequently factored to the cost data to derive the unit rate cost. The paper concludes that
the model enjoys flexibility of further mathematical treatment should any of the variable be
constrained and recommends that other work items should be modeled if the cost of a project must be
known and this model should be used to justify contractor’s tender for weld mesh reinforcement bid.
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