How General Contractors Create a Project in Framework Smarter Estimates

Most general contractors dread the estimating process. Spreadsheets break, numbers don't add up, and you spend hours on a proposal the client may never approve. Framework Smarter Estimates was built to change that. Here is exactly how a general contractor creates a project — from first click to estimate.

Step 1: Project Details

Every estimate starts with the basics. Open the app and tap New Project. You will see three simple fields:

Project name — whatever helps you find it later (e.g., "Smith Kitchen Renovation")
Zip code — this is critical. Framework uses zip-code-level pricing to pull regional trade costs. Currently supported for New England, with national baseline rates for other regions.
Project description — a short note for your own reference

That is it. No customer contact forms, no CRM setup, no login gymnastics. Tap Continue and move on.

Step 2: Project Specifications

This is where Framework does the heavy lifting. You tell it what the project looks like, and it builds the trade list automatically.

Dimensions & Layout

Enter the project size one of two ways:

Length & Width — available on every plan, including free trial
Square Footage — a quick toggle for subscribers who want to skip the math

Structure Details

Use simple sliders to set:

Stories — 1, 2, or 3
Bedrooms — 0 to 5
Bathrooms — 0 to 4, in half-bath increments
Kitchen — toggle on/off

Auxiliary Spaces

Check the boxes for garage and/or deck, then enter their square footage. These are priced separately and added to the total automatically.

Windows & Doors

Enter the count for windows and doors. Framework factors these into the exterior trade costs — no manual line-item math required.

Project Features & Complexity

This is where the estimate gets smart. You choose three levers that drive pricing:

Complexity — Simple Box, More Complex Shape, or Most Complex Shape. This affects the perimeter multiplier and material waste calculations.
Difficulty — Flat, Sloped, or Hilly terrain. This adjusts labor multipliers for site work and foundation trades.
Quality Preset — Good, Better, or Best. This sets the default quality tier for every trade. You can override individual trades later.

Heat Sources

Based on your bedroom and bathroom count, Framework suggests compatible HVAC systems — forced air, boiler, heat pump, mini-split, etc. Tap the ones that apply. If no heating system is selected, heating trades are automatically excluded from the estimate.

Tap Continue when you are done. Total time so far: about 3–5 minutes.

Step 3: Project Summary & Report

Framework now shows you the full picture — and this is where it gets powerful.

Internal Report

The top section breaks down the numbers that matter to you:

Customer Price — the total you will present to the client
Cost to Build — your estimated hard costs across all trades
Project Profit — the difference, before overhead
Profit Margin — shown as a percentage, editable if you want to adjust markup
Square Footage — calculated or entered, used for per-sqft benchmarking
Auxiliary Total — garage and deck costs, broken out separately

Trade-by-Trade Breakdown

Below the totals, every trade is listed with its line cost and quality level. Tap any trade card to change its quality from Good to Better to Best — or to None if it does not apply. The totals recalculate instantly.

This is the key difference between Framework and a spreadsheet: you see the impact of every change as you make it. No hidden formulas, no copy-paste errors.

Adjusting Profit Margin

By default, Framework uses an industry-standard profit margin. If you want to adjust it, check the acknowledge box and enter your own percentage. The customer price and project profit update in real time.

Send the Report

When you are satisfied, tap Send Report. Framework generates two documents:

Customer Report — a PDF for the customer with the total price, trade breakdown, and project scope
Internal Report — your private breakdown of cost to build, markup, and per-trade profitability

Both are generated as PDFs and can be shared via email, text, or printed on the spot.

What Makes This Different

Traditional estimating requires a takeoff, a pricing book, a spreadsheet, and hours of assembly. Framework skips the takeoff — this is budgetary estimating, designed for the sales phase when the client is still deciding whether to build.

The result: a credible estimate in under 10 minutes, without the sunk cost of a full detailed estimate.