Material List including pricing

[Skip_D]

Hi,

I'm curious, is anyone really using material lists for pricing projects?  I've played around with it intermittently for years and always come around to sense that the amount of work that would make it reliable seems intense, and then I worry that I'd put all that work in and it still won't give me the information I need, or perhaps I wouldn't trust it.  And how would I keep it current?

Just this morning - I tested a simple 'update material list'.  In an active project, created a material list, I added the cost of concrete, updated master, saved the file, created a new blank file, made a quick box building with a foundation, created material list ... and the concrete cost did not appear.  I checked the master, and the cost is there but it didn't populate in the job material list.  I did click 'update from master', no luck.

thoughts?

thanks

 

[TCB_BdnMY]

On 4/6/2025 at 8:58 AM, Skip_D said:

Hi,

I'm curious, is anyone really using material lists for pricing projects?  I've played around with it intermittently for years and always come around to sense that the amount of work that would make it reliable seems intense, and then I worry that I'd put all that work in and it still won't give me the information I need, or perhaps I wouldn't trust it.  And how would I keep it current?

Just this morning - I tested a simple 'update material list'.  In an active project, created a material list, I added the cost of concrete, updated master, saved the file, created a new blank file, made a quick box building with a foundation, created material list ... and the concrete cost did not appear.  I checked the master, and the cost is there but it didn't populate in the job material list.  I did click 'update from master', no luck.

thoughts?

thanks

 

Id love to hear peoples thoughts on this also. This would be such a handy feature if I knew more about using it. 

[portrait]

I use the material costing feature regularly and generally get pretty accurate results—except when it comes to concrete components, especially rebar and steel take-offs.

The main issue is that the feature is quite complex. You need to make a lot of manual adjustments—switching between structural member definitions, the materials master list, and the “components” sections of individual elements and rooms. 

Once you understand how it all ties together and establish your own workflow, it works well.

That said, I do think the Chief Architect team should consider simplifying this process to make it more user-friendly, especially for those who are just starting to explore the feature.

 

[basketballman]

On 4/6/2025 at 9:58 AM, Skip_D said:

Hi,

I'm curious, is anyone really using material lists for pricing projects?  I've played around with it intermittently for years and always come around to sense that the amount of work that would make it reliable seems intense, and then I worry that I'd put all that work in and it still won't give me the information I need, or perhaps I wouldn't trust it.  And how would I keep it current?

Just this morning - I tested a simple 'update material list'.  In an active project, created a material list, I added the cost of concrete, updated master, saved the file, created a new blank file, made a quick box building with a foundation, created material list ... and the concrete cost did not appear.  I checked the master, and the cost is there but it didn't populate in the job material list.  I did click 'update from master', no luck.

thoughts?

thanks

 

   I use a combination of Chief and an Excel template specially created to work with Chief

 

Super quick, great lumber lists they even tell the framer where the lumber is intended to be used and Excel is a REAL SPREADSHEET so you can add line items !

 

Call me to discuss Bob S.  973-897-5013   or rmsdesigngroup@gmail.com

 

[scottharris]

On 4/6/2025 at 6:58 AM, Skip_D said:

....Just this morning - I tested a simple 'update material list'.  In an active project, created a material list, I added the cost of concrete, updated master, saved the file, created a new blank file, made a quick box building with a foundation, created material list ... and the concrete cost did not appear.  I checked the master, and the cost is there but it didn't populate in the job material list.  I did click 'update from master', no luck.

thoughts?

thanks

 

Once you have created a price in your master list (attached image - right side, $150/yd for concrete), generate a materials list.  Select the component (in this case ‘concrete’) and then the option update from the master list (lower edit menu).