Control Area

Definition

A control area is a measure of quantity used to quantify a building element for the purpose of pricing summarization.

Purpose

The purpose of defining a control area is to standardize the measurement of specific building elements, facilitating accurate and consistent pricing, budgeting, and cost analysis in construction projects.

Examples of Use

• In estimating the cost of flooring materials, the control area might be the total square footage of floor space to be covered.
• For roofing projects, the control area could refer to the surface area of the roof being replaced or installed.
• When pricing painting work, the control area might be the wall surface area to be painted.

Related Terms

• Quantity Takeoff: The process of measuring the quantities of materials and labor needed for a construction project.
• Cost Estimation: The practice of forecasting the cost of a project or specific elements within a project.
• Unit Price: The cost per unit of measure, such as per square foot or per cubic yard, used in construction pricing.

Notes

Using control areas helps ensure that pricing and budgeting are based on accurate and consistent measurements, reducing the risk of cost overruns and ensuring efficient resource allocation.