What would happen to the total cost of a building if the brick veneer made up 60% instead of 80% of the building enclosure?

The correct answer indicates that the total cost of the building would increase by $334,650 if the brick veneer comprises 60% of the building enclosure instead of 80%. This situation suggests that a lesser percentage of the enclosure is made from the potentially more cost-effective or cheaper materials than brick veneer, which would lead to higher costs to meet design and structural requirements using alternate materials for the remaining 40% of the enclosure.

When the percentage of expensive materials in construction, like brick veneer, is lowered, it typically necessitates either using more expensive alternative materials or incurring additional labor and installation costs to achieve the same structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. Thus, reducing the percentage of brick results in an increase in the overall building cost to compensate for the differences in material costs and construction methods associated with the reduced use of high-quality materials.

In this context, understanding material costs and their respective roles within a building's total construction budget is crucial, as even minor adjustments in the type and amount of used materials can lead to significant changes in total project costs.