This command lets you define tile installer pay schedules based on storey, line-item and user defined pitch interval.
This Pay Rate may be applied to either Tiles or Tiles+ databases.
You may define as many Tile-Pay rates as you need – for example, union or non-union rates; or sub-contractor A and sub-contractor B rates.
Just remember, the more rates you set up, the more you have to maintain if rates change, as they inevitably do.
Dialog fields
Name This is the name by which you select this pay rate in future.
Roof Unit The basis on which the costs are applied and the multiplier.
Storey This is the storey to which these values relate. You can have up to 10 storeys for the one pay rate.
Pitch intervals These values reflect those you set with the Intervals button at the foot of the dialog box.
For each pitch interval value, you get a column of numbers associated with a line item.
To edit a line item, highlight that column by clicking the pitch interval label.
Roof / sqm (sqFt) This is the installers rate to lay tiles on the roof.
The rest of the line items relate to hip, valley, gable and barge finishes you select under Cover > Select-tile.
Buttons
Select - This allows you to select an existing pay rate schedule.
Delete - This allows you to delete an existing pay rate schedule.
Add This allows you to add a new pay rate schedule.
Update This allows you to update an existing pay rate schedule.
Auto-Fill Interval: Automatically fills the table with the loading for each pitch interval.
Auto-Fill Storey automatically fills the table with the loading for each storey.
Once the pricing table has the appropriate rates for each job function completely filled in, and don’t forget to do each storey, the file is saved away in the system using the “Add” button.
Standard pricing files are stored within the software structure however user-defined pricing files are stored in a <filename>.DPT file format.
In our example we created a labour pay rate file called “Interlocking Concrete Tiles” so this will be saved as InterlockingConcreteTiles.DPT.
Once the pricing table has the appropriate rates for each job function completely filled in, and don’t forget to do each storey, the file is saved away in the system using the “Add” button.
Standard pricing files are stored within the software structure however user-defined pricing files are stored in a <filename>.DPT file format.
In our example we created a labour pay rate file called “Interlocking Concrete Tiles” so this will be saved as InterlockingConcreteTiles.DPT.
The <filename>.DPT file is saved in a text file which allows you to make changes in an external program such as Notepad or Wordpad, or indeed, a spreadsheet program such as Excel.
This is useful if you have major changes to pricing across the board and changing the values in columns is a whole lot easier in Excel if you know how.
For the rest of us, open the pricing file in AppliCad (Costing > Tile-Pay) and do it long hand, one item at a time.
Once complete don’t forget to select “Update” and the changes will be saved.
Interval Labels
Customers utilising the GRIM output feature of AppliCad to link the estimation process to downstream systems have often had to create duplicate mappings of labour rates due to the output of variable labour rates in the Roof Wizard software.
Outputs such as Ridge (1, 22.5) where the 1 specifies the storey and 22.5 specifies the pitch have had to create multiple mappings for each pitch gradient in 0.1 degree increments.
In 8.2, we have provided the ability for each pitch interval to be given as a label (e.g. A, B, C as can be seen in the attached image) with the output therefore being Ridge (1,A), or Ridge (1,B) etc.
This greatly reduced the number of mappings required, thus reducing the workload for our users and speeding up the interface between systems.
Labour Item Descriptions
Also available is the ability to define the Labour item descriptions.
These definitions are stored in a text file called LabourFile.dat and may be created or edited in a text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad.
The quick way to create the user defined group description file is to copy the file “LabourFile.TMP” to “LabourFile.DAT” in Windows Explorer, and then make any modifications using a Windows-based text editor such as NotePad or WordPad.
Only attempt to edit this file if you are proficient in the use of the editor program.
To return to standard groupings, the user must remove the file “LabourFile.DAT” so that the “LabourFile.TMP” in the user directory is found instead.
You might also open LabourFile.TMP in the editor and use File | Save-As to create the LabourFile.DAT with your new descriptions and charges.
This will handle every permutation of Reporting for your tile item installation options.
The format of the LabourFile.dat:
#Tile Labour File
#Line above must remain in file for it to be located by software
#Format 0=Header, 1=Main Cost, 2=Add Cost > Group Description > Reporting Calculation Method 1=Area, 2=Len |Group - see below
#1 = Field Tiles, 2 = Ridge, 3 = Hip, 4 = Valley, 5 = Verge, 6 = Eaves, 7 = Abutments, 8 = Aprons, 9 = Box Gutters, 10 = Battens,
11 = Counter Battens, 12 = Insulation, 13 = Sarking/Underlay, 14 = Fall Protection, 15 = Downpipes, 20 = Extras
#Last option defines whether default is to include in Pricing or not 0=No, 1=Yes
0|AREA|0|1|0
1|Field Tiles|1|1|1
2|Extra Over for Nailing Coverings Twice|1|1|0
2|Extra Over for Clipping Coverings in Lieu of Nails|1|1|0
2|Extra Over for Clipping Coverings plus Nailing|1|1|0
0|RIDGE|0|2|0
1|Mortar Bed & Mechanically Fix All End|2|2|1
1|Two Ridge Dry Ridge System|2|2|0
2|Dentil Slips|2|2|0
2|Extra Over Mechanically Fix All Ridge|2|2|0
0|HIP|0|3|0
1|Mortar Bed & Mechanically Fix All End|2|3|1
1|Two Hip Dry Hip System|2|3|0
2|Dentil Slips|2|3|0
2|Extra Over Mechanically Fix All Hip|2|3|0
2|Arris/Bonnett Hip|2|3|0
2|Mitred Hip|2|3|0……………….etc
Below is a screenshot of the file we created for the demonstrating the function.
Notice the header of the file shows the order in which the information must be input.
Once setup, you have total control over the descriptions you use for each labour item.
This includes whether the labour relates to Field tile, ridge or hip etc, the description and the cost per area or per length.
LabourFile.DAT format notes
The “LabourFile.DAT” file has the following format, as outlined in the header of the file:
= Comment Line
A|B|C|D|E = Data Line, where:
A 0 = Header Line
1 = Main Cost
2 = Additional Cost
B Line Item Description
C 1 = Item to be priced by Area
2 = Item to be priced by Length
D 1 = Field Tile Catgeory
2 = Ridge Tile Category
3 = and so on, see documentation
E 0 = Do Not include in pricing calcs by default
1 = Include in pricing calcs by default.
Selecting the pay rate
The pay rate is selected when the tile is selected to cover the roof under the Cover > Tiles command.
For the Tiles+ database select it here:
Click the down arrow for a drop down list of available pay scales that you have defined.
Note: Should the pay rate be changed for any reason after you have selected it, then you must reselect the rate.
Indeed, this applies to any database of materials or Reporting – if it is changed, you must re-select it and re-calculate the costing.
Remember: After creating a new labour file, test it on a simple job to ensure the descriptions are transposed correctly.
If it works correctly, then you are ready to use it on real jobs.
This is a good tip whenever you change or update a data file, whether a labour or material data file.
For the Tiles database, select the pay rate here:
Note: Should the pay rate be changed for any reason after you have selected it, then you must reselect the rate.
Indeed, this applies to any database of materials or Reporting – if it is changed, you must re-select it and re-calculate the costing.