Quantity Surveying
Zenith Engineering's quantity surveyors put numbers on a building before it exists and keep those numbers honest while it is built. We prepare cost estimates and bills of quantities, run tender processes, value work as it proceeds, and settle final accounts — so owners in Sri Lanka know what a project will cost before committing, and what they are paying for at every stage after.
Discuss your projectWhat does a quantity surveyor actually do?
A quantity surveyor measures every element of a design — cubes of concrete, tonnes of reinforcement, squares of formwork, lengths of pipe — and prices them into a bill of quantities (BOQ). That document is what contractors bid against, what interim payments are measured against, and what the final account is settled against. Without one, a construction contract is an argument waiting to happen.
During construction the QS values the work actually done each month, checks variations honestly in both directions, and keeps a running forecast of final cost so there are no surprises at the end.
How much does building cost in Sri Lanka?
It depends on specification far more than on floor area, which is why per-square-foot folklore misleads. A realistic answer comes from an elemental estimate of your actual design at current Sri Lankan market prices — which move, and which we track through live tender returns rather than published averages.
Zenith Engineering gives cost advice from the first sketch, so design decisions are made with their price visible. The expensive version of cost control is discovering the number after the drawings are finished.
Tendering and contracts
We prepare tender documents, invite and evaluate bids, and report the comparison plainly — not just the bottom line, but where each bidder is thin, front-loaded or ambitious. We administer the standard forms of contract used in Sri Lanka and keep the paperwork that protects the owner when disputes threaten.
What you receive
- Preliminary and elemental cost estimates
- Bills of quantities (BOQ)
- Tender documents, evaluation and reports
- Interim valuations and payment certificates
- Variation assessment and cost reporting
- Final accounts
QS — common questions
How much does a quantity surveyor cost in Sri Lanka?
Typically a small percentage of construction value or a fixed fee for defined documents such as a BOQ — and on most projects the QS fee is recovered several times over in tender savings and controlled variations. Zenith Engineering quotes a fixed scope and fee up front once we see the drawings.
Can I get just a BOQ without other services?
Yes. Zenith Engineering prepares standalone bills of quantities and cost estimates from your architect's or engineer's drawings for projects anywhere in Sri Lanka. Many clients start with a single BOQ and add valuation or contract services once construction begins.
Why is my contractor's price different from the estimate?
Usually because scope was priced differently — provisional sums, exclusions, or a specification gap between drawings and bid. A proper BOQ pins the scope so bids are comparable line by line. When Zenith Engineering runs the tender, we reconcile every bid against the BOQ and show exactly where the differences live.
Do you value work during construction?
Yes. Zenith Engineering carries out monthly interim valuations on site, certifies what has genuinely been done, and keeps a live forecast of final cost. Owners pay for progress, not promises, and see the end number moving before it arrives.
Selected work
Related services
Structural Engineering
Analysis, design and detailing of reinforced concrete and steel structures, from single houses to multi-storey buildings.
Construction Project Management
Programme, procurement, coordination and reporting — one accountable point between the owner and everything the project needs.
Construction Supervision
Independent eyes on site — inspections, quality control and contract administration so what is built matches what was designed.
Need qs on your project?
Send us what you have — drawings, a sketch, or just the site — and we will tell you what it needs and what it will cost.
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