Subcontracted Unit Costs

NOTE-- We retired the MacNail estimating program in 2000, and replaced it with Goldenseal construction estimating software. There are still a significant number of die-hard MacNail users, so we keep the manuals online for them! Goldenseal is an integrated program that also includes accounting, scheduling and contract writing. You can use either Assemblies or Bids, for estimating subcontracted items

Special Unit Price Items

To make estimating easier, you may want to create special types of unit prices for the MacNail construction estimating software, in addition to the 'basic' unit prices that you use most often.

Subcontracted Items

If you always subcontract an item, or always do it yourself, you can use the Specs Formulas command to set it up correctly. However that doesn't work well if you sometimes use subcontractors, and sometimes use your own crew. In that case, it's best to create two separate line items in the MacNail construction management software-- especially if the cost is different for each method.

For example, if you are a remodeler, you may subcontract wallboard on your larger projects, but do it yourself on smaller ones. Having two lines for wallboard will allow you to do it either way.

To make a new unit price line item, work in either an estimator (as shown here) or in a Price Master file. Click on the line where you'd like to add the new item, then choose Add Rows Here from the Edit menu. Type in the new item (using different unit prices if necessary), then choose Specs Formula from the Formula menu to set one item up as Labor and Materials, and one as Subcontracted.