# Assemblies

# About Assemblies

An assembly is an estimating tool that calculates the material and labor quantities required to construct a portion of a house plan. Assemblies let you pre-set the cost code, choice, and items, and then calculate the quantity using a formula, layer-by-layer. For example, a footer assembly might calculate concrete, rebar, and labor for trenching. The user can set the cost codes, material, and choices, and then calculate the quantities for each different plan.

Essentially, assemblies:

• Reduce the amount of time it takes to build an estimate in the system.

When formulas are needed to calculate total quantities for basic materials, the user can add takeoff items to the plan via a grid. This way, if there is a change or miscalculation in the plan, the system has stored information that can quickly and easily update the quantities for all of the assembly takeoff items.

• Use formulas to factor item quantities.

Assembly formulas can have "factors" (constant, pre-set numbers such as the distance between studs) and one or several mass property values or variables (such as the length of a wall or ceiling height). When a formula is used to calculate the quantity of an item, the factors are used automatically, and the mass properties/variables are entered by the user at the time the assembly is applied to a given layer.

• Are associated with one ore more mass property value(s).

For example, an assembly for a 4-inch slab would have a unique value for both the length and width. The length and width could then be designated as mass properties. An assembly could be built to calculate concrete material, concrete labor, vapor barrier, gravel, and termite soil treatment area by inputting the length and width of the 4-inch slab.

Using assemblies to build takeoffs is much quicker and easier than creating takeoff items individually. It is even quicker than duplicating an existing takeoff when a number of quantities or items will need to be changed because editing the new records requires the user to open each record, add a change reason, make the change, and save.

# Types of Assemblies

A builder may use some or all of several assembly types. The types of assemblies include:

• Estimating
• Pick One
• Lump Sum
• Checklist
• Site Variance

# Estimating Assemblies

Estimating assemblies use the most complex formulas of all assemblies.

Estimating assemblies:

• Use formulas to calculate how much material and/or labor is needed.

• Can be for any portion of a home – footers, roofing material, frame material, foundations, etc.

• Include all of the takeoff items for one portion of the home.

# Pick One Assemblies

Pick One assemblies use simple formulas to add material to a plan that is a part of a Pick One category.

Pick One assemblies:

• Typically include all of the material/labor that is a part of a simple upgrade. For example, flooring, electrical fixtures, and cabinets are all components of a home that are frequently upgraded, are often affected by structural options, and rely on the same variables to determine quantities.

• Assist in building a takeoff by making it easy to quickly and efficiently add all of the different category choices.

# Lump Sum Assemblies

Lump Sum assemblies typical use a simple COUNT * 1 or QTY formula to add all lump sum takeoff items to a plan at one time. This way, lump sum material is pre-set, ensuring that all of the relevant data is included.

# Checklist Assemblies

Checklist assemblies typically use a COUNT * 0 formula and work like a template. The system will calculate 0 as the quantity, and let the user override 0 with the correct quantity. Any material that is not needed in that particular plan is marked as 0 for the quantity and will not be added.

Checklist assemblies allow the user to list all of the possible takeoff items. For example, a "Dimensional Lumber" assembly might list all of the possible types of loose lumber. This allows the user to scroll down the list and enter the correct quantities. Material is entered into the system efficiently, and it creates a checklist of options.

# Site Variance Assemblies

Site Variance assemblies use the Count*0 formula and are an efficient method for adding site variance material to a job budget. Simply list all of the potential site variance takeoff items in the assembly, and then add it to the job budget once the quantities are calculated. This works like a checklist, presenting all of the possible options.

# How Do I Decide if I Should Use an Assembly?

Assemblies are a fast and efficient way to enter information into the system, and they are most useful when applied appropriately. Any time material is essentially the same from one plan to another but the quantities change, an assembly template should be built and used across plans.

Use cases for assemblies include:

Use Case	Assembly Type Needed
Lump sum material	Lump Sum assembly
The same construction method across multiple plans	Estimating assembly
The same material is used in different quantities for the site variance	Site Variance assembly
There is a long list of takeoff items, but the quantities vary by plan	Checklist assembly
Pick One category	Pick One assembly
The quantities for a group of takeoff items are determined by the same measurement	Estimating assembly

# Impact of Layering Scheme

In Foundations, takeoff items are always inside layers. It is important for the user to learn his or her company's layering scheme before building an assembly. The assembly creates takeoff items inside a layer. When creating an assembly, pay attention to change in material quantities in the takeoff item. If the change occurs across layers, multiple assemblies may be needed.

For example, if plumbing, drywall, exterior finish, and roofing material are all lump sum, it is not necessarily best to build one all-inclusive assembly. Should the plumbing and drywall change price at the plan level while the exterior finish and roofing material change price at the elevation level, these takeoff items would need to be entered in separate layers. To do this, the user would need two assemblies:

• Lump Sum Assembly – Plan Level

  • Plumbing

  • Drywall

• Lump Sum Assembly – Elevation Level

  • Exterior Finish

  • Roofing Material