The magic of assemblies

TLDR

Assembly-based estimating streamlines construction quotes by grouping materials and labor into reusable units. This approach saves time, reduces errors, and allows for easy price adjustments. Bolster offers a cloud-based, done-for-you assembly system that keeps material costs updated and enables real-time, customer-driven quote customization.

What Is an Assembly?

If you’re used to calculating each job from scratch, assemblies might be new to you. An assembly is a collection of materials and labor costs that always go together.

For example, installing a wooden fence involves fence posts, panels, and gates. Each post and panel requires predictable materials and labor. By pre-calculating the cost of these assemblies, you can quickly multiply by the quantity needed for a project, adding gates or custom adjustments as necessary.

Adjusting Assembly Prices

Say your client wants a cedar fence instead of a standard wood option. Instead of redoing the entire estimate, you simply adjust the material cost for each assembly. Multiply the difference by the number of panels and posts, and you instantly have an updated quote.

Benefits of Assembly-Based Estimating

Calculating every job from scratch has significant drawbacks:

• High risk of forgetting materials or labor
• Time-consuming repetitive calculations
• Hard to teach new team members
• Difficult to create alternative options for clients
• Challenging to adjust prices for larger or smaller jobs

In construction, time is money. Assembly-based estimating saves both while increasing accuracy.

How to Create Assemblies

Creating assemblies requires careful planning:

1. Identify common steps in your projects that always occur together
2. List all materials, hardware, concrete, and chemicals required for each assembly
3. Determine labor time for each assembly
4. Create multiple versions for different sizes or variations

While it takes effort upfront, these assemblies streamline your estimating workflow long-term.

Professional Assembly Setup

If time is limited, hiring a professional estimator or quantity surveyor can help set up assemblies. They will need detailed information about your business to create accurate assemblies. Keep in mind, this option can be costly, as most professionals charge hourly.

Done-for-You Assembly-Based Software: Bolster

Bolster simplifies assembly-based estimating with a preprogrammed system tailored to your business:

• Quotes that once took hours can be completed in under ten minutes
• Material costs are updated automatically through web crawling
• Real-time, customer-driven quote customization allows clients to mix and match options
• Accurate assemblies reflect your actual costs
• Cloud-based platform with onboarding support for quick setup

With Bolster, you can retire spreadsheets and pencils, streamline quoting, and give customers a modern, interactive estimating experience.

Conclusion

Assembly-based estimating is a game-changer for construction businesses. By saving time, reducing errors, and offering customizable options, it enhances both efficiency and professionalism. Bolster takes this system to the next level, providing a done-for-you platform that keeps estimates accurate, fast, and interactive.

Ready to revolutionize your quoting process? Contact our team today and bring your construction estimating system into the new millennium.