Managing Assemblies
Assemblies are pre-built packages of components that streamline the estimating process.
What Is an Assembly?
An assembly groups related components that are typically used together:
- Kitchen Cabinet Assembly - Base cabinets, wall cabinets, hardware, installation labor
- Bathroom Vanity Assembly - Vanity, faucet, plumbing, installation
- Flooring Assembly - Flooring material, underlayment, installation labor
Assemblies speed up estimating by allowing users to add multiple items at once with a single selection.
Accessing Assemblies
- Go to Settings > Estimates
- Click Assemblies
- View, search, and manage your assembly library
Adding an Assembly
- Click Add Assembly
- Fill in basic information:
- Name - Assembly description
- Category - Cost code category
- Size/Color/Options - Variant information
- Unit - Unit of measure
- Add components (see below)
- Configure settings
- Click Save
Assembly Components
Adding Components to an Assembly
- Open an assembly
- Click Add Component
- Search for and select components
- For each component, set:
- Quantity - Amount per assembly unit
- Action - Install, Demo, or Demo & Install
- Option - Material Only, Labor Only, or Both
Component Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Install | New installation |
| Demo | Removal/demolition only |
| Demo & Install | Remove existing and install new |
| + | Add to estimate (default) |
| - | Subtract/credit |
Component Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Both | Include material and labor |
| Material Only | Material without labor |
| Labor Only | Labor without material |
Quantity Calculations
Component quantities can be:
- Fixed - Always this amount per assembly
- Calculated - Based on assembly quantity
Example: A "Tile Floor" assembly at 100 sq ft might include:
- Tile: 110 sq ft (10% overage)
- Thinset: 1 bag per 50 sq ft = 2 bags
- Labor: 100 sq ft
Assembly Settings
Basic Settings
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Assembly name |
| Category | Cost code for categorization |
| Size/Color/Options | Variant descriptors |
| Unit | Unit of measure (each, sq ft, etc.) |
| Minimum Qty | Minimum quantity when adding to estimate |
Work Scope
Define default work scope text:
- Installation Scope - What gets installed and how
- Demolition Scope - What gets removed
Work scope text appears in contracts and work orders.
Behavior Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Selection Required | Customer must make a product selection |
| Field Measurement | Requires field verification |
| PO Required | Purchase order needed |
| Enabled | Assembly is active and available |
Divisions
Limit assemblies to specific project types:
- Kitchen assemblies only show for kitchen projects
- Bathroom assemblies only show for bathroom projects
- Leave blank for all project types
Pinned Assemblies
Pin frequently-used assemblies for quick access.
Pinning an Assembly
- Open the assembly
- Toggle Pinned on
- Set Position for sort order
Sorting Pinned Assemblies
- Go to Assemblies
- Click Sort Pinned
- Drag assemblies to reorder
- Save
Pinned assemblies appear at the top of the assembly list when estimating.
Assembly Cost Codes
Assemblies are organized by cost code:
- Cost codes appear as groups in the assembly list
- Users can filter by cost code when estimating
- Cost codes determine default markup rates
See Cost Codes for setup instructions.
Editing Assemblies
- Find the assembly in the list
- Click to open
- Modify settings or components
- Click Save
Editing an assembly updates the master record. Existing estimates using this assembly keep their original values.
Duplicating Assemblies
Create variations efficiently:
- Open an existing assembly
- Click Duplicate
- Modify name and components
- Save as new assembly
Use this for:
- Size variants (Small, Medium, Large)
- Quality tiers (Standard, Premium)
- Regional variations
Deleting Assemblies
- Select the assembly
- Click Delete
- Confirm deletion
Deleting an assembly does not affect existing estimates.
Bulk Actions
The assemblies list supports bulk operations on multiple assemblies at once. This is useful for cleanup when assemblies have been assigned to the wrong cost code, or when removing several obsolete assemblies in one step.
Selecting Assemblies
- Filter the list as needed (by cost code, name, etc.)
- Use the checkbox at the start of each row to select assemblies
- The "With Selected" menu appears once at least one row is selected
After selecting assemblies on the current page, you can also choose Select all {totalCount} assemblies to expand the selection across all pages of results.
Bulk Delete
- Select the assemblies to remove
- Open With Selected and choose Delete
- Click Confirm
Deleted assemblies do not affect existing estimates.
Bulk Move to Cost Code
Move several assemblies to a different cost code in one step:
- Select the assemblies
- Open With Selected and choose Move to Cost Code
- Pick the target cost code from the autocomplete
- Click Confirm
The assemblies' category is updated immediately, and the assemblies list refreshes to reflect the new assignments.
Permissions
Bulk actions require the Estimate Database permission. Users without this permission do not see the checkboxes or the "With Selected" menu.
Filtering Assemblies
Find assemblies using:
- Category - Filter by cost code
- Search - Name, description
- Pinned - Show only pinned assemblies
- Division - Filter by project type
Assembly Pricing
Assembly pricing is calculated from components:
Assembly Price = Sum of (Component Price × Quantity)
To update assembly pricing:
- Update individual component costs/prices
- Assembly price updates automatically
Markup
Markup can be applied at multiple levels:
- Component level - Per-item markup
- Category level - Default markup for the category
- Estimate level - Override during estimating
Related Assemblies
Link assemblies that are commonly used together:
- Open an assembly
- Go to Related Assemblies
- Add related items
- Save
When adding the assembly to an estimate, users see related options.
Assembly Templates
For complex projects, create estimate templates that include multiple assemblies:
- Build a complete estimate with all standard assemblies
- Save as template
- Use template for similar projects
See Schedule Templates for more information.
Tips for Assembly Management
Structure
- One assembly per distinct scope of work
- Keep assemblies focused and modular
- Use categories to organize by trade or cost code
Naming
Use a clear, descriptive format. Don't repeat the cost code category in the name since assemblies are already organized by category.
[Scope/Item] - [Variant]
Examples:
- Cabinet Install - Standard
- Cabinet Install - Premium
- Shower Tile - Ceramic
- Shower Tile - Porcelain
- Outlet Add - Standard
- Toilet Install - Standard
- Hardwood Install - Oak
The cost code category (Electrical, Plumbing, Flooring, etc.) already groups the assembly, so focus the name on what distinguishes it within that category.
Components
- Include all related costs (material + labor + sub)
- Add typical waste factors
- Include small items (hardware, supplies)
Maintenance
- Review assemblies when vendor prices change
- Update work scope text as processes evolve
- Disable outdated assemblies (don't delete if used historically)
Related
- Managing Components - Individual items in assemblies
- Cost Codes - Organize assemblies by cost code
- Cost Codes in Estimates - How cost codes work in estimating
- Assembly Estimating - Using assemblies in estimates