Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-26
STUDY OF BUILDING
COSTS IS REPORTED
Washington One of Three
Cities Where Labor and
Material Survey Is Made.

a study of the comparative cost of
construction of buildings in Washing
ton, recently completed by the Bureau
OF Labor Statistics, Department of
Labor, shows that in Washington the
cost of materials amounted to SAB per
cent and of labor. Asst. The survey
applied to conditions here during the
early part of 1923.
A report on the survey contained in
the January issue of the Monthly Labor
Review shows that for residential build
ings erected in Washington during the
period covered. 526 per cent of the
cost applied toward materials, while
Ala went for labor
In buildings of presidential type
59.3 per cent went toward materials
and 40.7 toward labor.
Three Cities Studied.
Washington was one of three cities
studied in the survey. the other cities
being Cincinnati, Ohio. and Decatur,
ILL.,, these being regarded as fairly rep
resentative of the different types of
urban communities, though it is pointed
out that the data collected should not
be interpreted as applying to the United
States as whole.
When the three cities studied were
taken together. it was found that mate
rial costs accounted for 581 per cent of
the total, while labor accounted for Al 8
per cent, as an average for both resi-
dental and non-residential types of
buildings
For the three cities. also. it was
found that the largest single labor item
in residential building was the carpenter
work, which took 1927 cents of each
dollar spent, and in the non-residential
building the largest single expenditure
was for concrete work, which took 1875
cents OF each dollar expended.
Division of Costs.
It was found that in Washington
costs for residential buildings were di-
vided as follows: EXcavating and grad
ing, 100 per cent for labor: brickwork,
52.8 per cent for material and 47.2 per
cent for labor: carpenter work 545 per
cent for material and ASS per cent for
labor; tile work. SIT per cent for ma
terial and 42.3 for labor; concrete work,
58.8 per cent of material and 412 for
labor: electric wiring and fixtures, $50
per cent for material and 81 L for labor;
plumbing, 60.8 per cent for material
and 1872 for labor; heating, 1878 for
material and 272 for labor; painting,
25.3 for material and TAT for labor:
papering, 1872 for material and 66.8 for
labor: plastering, 1878 for material and
62.2 for labor; roofing. 56.4 for material
and 436 for labor, and miscellaneous,
63 for material and 81 for labor.
For non-residential types Of building
In Washington the following divisions
were found; EXcavating and grading
1.9 per cent for material and 9S1 for
labor: brickwork 68.6 for material and
Ala for labor; carpenter work, sos for
material and 49.5 for labor; tile work,
1871 for material and 1858 for labor;
concrete work, $50 for material and
AL for labor; structural Steel 1853 for
material and 23.1 for labor; electric
wiring and fixtures, 686 for material
and 3l.4 for labor: heating and VEN
tilating, 1878 for material and 272 for
labor; plumbing, 500 for material and
40.4 for labor; plastering 29.1 for ma
terial and 70.9 for labor; painting, 800
for material and 691 for labor; roofing,
40 for material and 81 for labor; glass
and, glazing, .91.7 for material; 8.3 for
labor: miscellaneous, rs for material
and rs for labor.