Rows arrive from everywhere
Quantities come from a drawing, prices from a quote and the structure from last job’s spreadsheet. Retyping loses the source of every figure, and nobody can tell later where a number came from.
For the estimator
Construction estimator workflow
An estimator builds the number line by line and has to hand it over in a state somebody else can review. This page follows that work in Fidrel: where the lines go, how a line is priced, how markups sit on top, and how to change an estimate after it has been approved.
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What slows an estimator down
Markups hide inside the unit prices
When overhead and profit are folded into each line, changing one percentage means repricing everything, and the reviewer cannot see what you added on top of cost.
The old version is the only backup
Copying a file to keep the previous estimate works until two copies disagree about which one was sent.
Why the order of the markups matters
Markups are calculated in the order they are listed, and each one says whether it applies to the direct costs or to the subtotal above it. Overhead on direct costs and profit on the subtotal give a different total from the reverse, so move them up or down until the order matches how your company prices. A percentage can be at most 1,000, and a deduction at most 100. Because the markups are separate rows, the reviewer reads what you added on top of cost instead of finding it inside every unit price.
Cost estimation
How you change a number after approval
An approved estimate is locked, so the change happens in a revision. Create revision copies the rows and remembers which row each came from, so the revision lines up with the same budget items. The revision is numbered Rev 1, Rev 2 and so on, the approved estimate shows Revision in progress while you work, and Compare with another estimate lists the lines that differ. The reason is typed by the person who approves the revision.
From blank estimate to submitted
Step 1
Start the estimate
Choose New estimate, give it a name and a currency, and start from a Blank estimate or from a copy of an existing one. Pick the type: baseline, alternate, working or forecast estimate. Only the baseline estimate becomes the budget once it is approved.
Step 2
Build the groups and lines
Add a group with New group here and put lines inside it, nested as deep as the work needs. Each line has a code, a description, a quantity, a unit, and either a unit price or a fixed amount. To bring in a spreadsheet, paste up to 5,000 rows, or import a CSV or XLSX file of up to 15 MB and pick which column holds which field.
Step 3
Price the lines
A unit price can be typed, built up from resources (labor, material, equipment, subcontract and other), or taken from a vendor quote added to the line with Add quote. A quantity can be taken off a drawing sheet or a model, and Fidrel flags the line if the drawing changes afterward.
Step 4
Add the markups, then submit
Open Markups and deductions and add general conditions, overhead, contingency or profit as a percentage or an amount, on direct costs or on the subtotal above. Each markup applies to all items or only to chosen ones, with an own percentage on a line if it needs one. Then choose Submit for review and leave a comment if the reviewer needs context.
What an estimator does not get here
Fidrel has no assemblies and no item library; every line is added by hand, pasted or imported, and every price is typed, built up or taken from a quote. A quantity taken off a drawing or a model comes in metric units, and Fidrel does not convert it to feet, square feet or cubic yards. Building and submitting an estimate are for project and organization administrators, and Fidrel does not require a second person to approve: the administrator who builds the estimate holds the finance permissions too.
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For the estimator
Frequently asked questions
Anything else on your mind? We are happy to help.
Talk to usUp to 5,000 rows, one row per line, with code, description, quantity, unit and unit price separated by tabs.
Yes, as CSV or XLSX up to 15 MB. You pick the columns for code, description, quantity, unit and price and see a preview before anything is added; rows that cannot be read are listed by row number.
Yes. Add quote on the line records the supplier, amount, quote number and the date it is valid through, and you can choose the quote and use its price on the item.
The line shows that the drawing has changed since the quantity was taken off, and you can take it off again or keep the typed value.
Yes. Compare with another estimate shows the lines found in only one of them and the difference on each line, with Differences only to hide the rest.