Detailed Estimating

Detailed Estimating gives you complete control over every line in your estimate. Instead of adding pre-built assemblies, you add individual components one at a time with full access to edit any field.

What Is Detailed Estimating?

In Detailed Estimating mode, you build estimates line by line. Each row represents a single component with its own:

• Description
• Quantity
• Unit of measure
• Cost
• Markup
• Price

This approach works like a spreadsheet, giving you maximum flexibility.

The Quick Add Row

The Quick Add Row appears at the bottom of each category section. It's your primary tool for adding components in Detailed Estimating and Hybrid Mode.

Quick Add Row Fields

Field	Description
Component	Search field for component database or enter custom description
Unit	Unit of measure (each, sqft, linear ft, etc.)
Unit Cost	Your cost per unit
Tax	Tax amount if applicable
Type	Material, Labor, or Subcontractor
PO	Purchase order required checkbox
Qty	Quantity to add
+	Button to add the component

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Adding Components from the Database

Your company maintains a component database with pre-configured products and pricing.

To add from the database:

1. Click in the Component search field
2. Start typing the component name
3. Select from the autocomplete suggestions
4. The component's default unit, cost, and type are filled in automatically
5. Enter the quantity
6. Click + or press Enter

The component is added to the current category with database pricing.

What Shows in Autocomplete

The autocomplete displays:

• Component name
• Unit of measure
• Default cost
• Category

Select the component that matches what you need.

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Adding Custom Components

For components not in the database, you can create custom entries on the fly.

To add a custom component:

1. Type a description in the Component field
2. If no database match exists, your text becomes the component description
3. Select the Unit from the dropdown
4. Enter the Unit Cost
5. Select the Type (Material, Labor, Subcontractor)
6. Enter the Quantity
7. Click + or press Enter

Custom components are added directly to your estimate. They are not saved to the database unless you explicitly add them.

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Component Fields Explained

Description

The name or description of the component. Can be from the database or custom text.

Unit

How the component is measured and priced:

Unit	Use For
Each (EA)	Individual components
Square Foot (SF)	Area-based materials
Linear Foot (LF)	Length-based materials
Hour (HR)	Labor time
Day	Daily labor or rental
Lot	Lump sum components

Unit Cost

Your cost per unit before markup. This is what you pay, not what the customer pays.

Quantity

How many units of this component. Extended cost = Unit Cost × Quantity.

Tax

Tax amount to add to this component. May be per-unit or total depending on configuration.

Component Type

Categorizes the component for reporting and accounting:

Type	Description
Material	Physical products and supplies
Labor	Work hours and installation
Subcontractor	Third-party services

PO Required

Check this box if the component requires a purchase order before procurement.

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Inline Editing

After components are added, you can edit any field directly in the estimate table.

To edit a field:

1. Click on the cell you want to edit
2. Type the new value
3. Press Enter to confirm or Tab to move to the next field
4. Changes save automatically

Editable Fields

• Description
• Quantity
• Unit Cost
• Markup percentage
• Tax

Keyboard Navigation

• Tab - Move to next field
• Shift+Tab - Move to previous field
• Enter - Confirm edit
• Escape - Cancel edit

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Managing Components

Reordering Components

Drag components to change their order within a category:

1. Hover over the component row
2. Click and hold the drag handle
3. Drag to the new position
4. Release to drop

Deleting Components

1. Hover over the component row
2. Click the Delete icon
3. The component is removed immediately

Copying Components

1. Hover over the component row
2. Click the Copy icon
3. A duplicate is created below the original
4. Edit the copy as needed

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Database vs Custom Components

Database Components

• Come from your company's component catalog
• Have pre-set pricing that updates if the database changes
• Useful for commonly used products
• Ensure consistent pricing

Custom Components

• Created on the fly for unique needs
• Pricing is set at time of entry
• Not connected to database updates
• Maximum flexibility

Converting Custom to Database

If you find yourself adding the same custom component repeatedly, ask your administrator to add it to the component database for future use.

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When to Use Detailed Estimating vs Assembly Mode

Use Detailed Estimating When	Use Assembly Mode When
Work is unique or custom	Work is standardized
You need full control over each line	Speed is the priority
No assembly exists for the scope	Assemblies match your scope
Special pricing applies	Standard pricing works
Building one-off estimates	Consistency across estimates matters

In Hybrid Mode, you can use both approaches together—add assemblies for standard work and individual components for custom items.

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Tips for Detailed Estimating

• Use the database - Search before creating custom components to leverage existing pricing
• Be descriptive - Clear descriptions help when reviewing estimates later
• Check units - Ensure the unit matches how you'll purchase or bill
• Set the type - Proper type categorization improves reports
• Review totals - Verify extended costs make sense as you add components

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Next Steps

• Working with Areas - Organize your estimate by area
• Using Assemblies - Learn assembly-based estimating or use Hybrid Mode
• Pricing and Markup - Understand cost and price calculations