Agricultural buildings

Quantity surveying and claims support for farm buildings, agricultural storage and associated construction.

Commercial challenges and how we approach them

Agricultural projects can combine sheds, workshops and storage with yards, drainage and services. New construction may sit beside continuing farm operations or adapt existing buildings. The scope should distinguish building work and site infrastructure from equipment and operational activities.

The frame quotation and the complete farm building

The Challenge

The cheapest frame quotation is not necessarily the cheapest completed farm building. Foundations, slabs, drainage and internal equipment may all be excluded.

Our approach

We compare the complete scope, including the groundworks and services that each supplier expects someone else to provide. The result is one cost schedule with the gaps visible before orders are placed. It is particularly useful where the farmer is buying the frame, concrete works and equipment separately and there is no main contractor coordinating the allowances.

Drainage, slurry and dirty-water interfaces

The Challenge

Yard layouts, washdown and livestock systems can change the volume and route of water entering storage. Revised specialist requirements may affect slabs, channels, tanks and earthworks together.

Our approach

We cost the designer's drainage and storage requirements across the yard, channels, tanks and earthworks, so a change is not assessed as an isolated tank item.

Construction around livestock and seasonal operations

The Challenge

The building programme has to work around the farm. An area available after harvest may be needed again when livestock are housed; missing that period can make temporary accommodation or another mobilisation necessary. These constraints need to be in the tender, not discovered after the contractor has committed its team.

Our approach

We identify the agreed working periods and temporary provisions in the price. Additional attendance and temporary works are assessed against actual instructions and records, with permanent construction costs kept separate.