Construction Cost Categories

Each MacNail estimate or estimator uses a system of construction cost categories, to break down the overall project cost into more manageable numbers. If you want, you can also break each main cost category down into smaller subcategories.

Using Cost Categories

Construction cost categories divide a construction project into 'chunks' of work to make it more manageable.

EXAMPLES: If you are a general contractor, you might want to have framing, roofing and plumbing as cost categories, among others. If you are a plumber, you might want to have supply lines, drain lines and fixtures as cost categories.

The main cost categories in a MacNail estimate are itemized in the Summation portion of the worksheet.

The 'stock' MacNail estimators come in two different formats-- one using 30 cost categories with letter codes, and one using 16 numbered cost categories conforming to the CSI system. MacNail Customizing lets you use either of these category systems as a starting point, and add or delete categories as needed.

You can also create an entirely new cost category system with a Category Sheet (see page 165). A Category Sheet is an outline of cost categories, with information about each of them. Once you make a Category Sheet, use the New Estimate command to automatically turn it into an estimator (see page 33).