Menu path
Set-Up > Pay Rates > Labour Setup
What it does
Sets up labour rates for the standard Tiles database using a predefined file structure. This feature applies to Roof Wizard V11.0 and up.
⚠️ Important: If you're not using Tiles+, DO NOT use LabourFile.DAT or TLabour5.csv for the regular Tiles database. Using the wrong file will cause data corruption issues that are difficult to reverse.
🧾 Setup fields and controls
Field | Description |
Name | 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 | The storey to which these values relate. You can have up to 10 storeys for one pay rate |
Pitch intervals | Values that reflect those you set with the Intervals button. For each pitch interval value, you get a column of numbers associated with a line item |
Roof / sqm (sqFt) | The installer's rate to lay tiles on the roof |
Other line items | Relate to hip, valley, gable and barge finishes you select under Cover > Select-tile |
🔧 Control buttons
Button | Function |
Select | Select an existing pay rate schedule |
Delete | Delete an existing pay rate schedule |
Add | Add a new pay rate schedule |
Update | 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 |
Intervals | Set up pitch intervals for the pay rate calculations |
🛠 Auto-fill options
Auto-Fill Interval:
Auto-Fill Storey:
Setting Intervals:
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. 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 business systems.
🧾 Labour Item Structure
The standard labour items are defined in the file TLabour5.CSV. When viewed in Notepad, the file structure follows this order:
🔧 Setting Up Pay Rates
Once the file structure is configured, the pay rate interface displays like this:
To create or modify labour rates:
Enter rates for each labour item in the interface
Set a descriptive name for your rate structure
Click Add to create a new labour rate
Click Update to modify existing rates
Click OK to save changes and exit
💡 Tip: Additional rate structures are created based on your Storey Interval and Pitch Interval settings.
🧾 File Storage
Labour rates are saved to TLabour5.csv in the User folder. The bottom of this CSV file contains the item labels as defined for your labour rates:
⚠️ Critical: All items must stay in their relative positions in the list. Changing positions will cause calculation errors.
This sets the layout and labels of your Installers pay rates:
🛠 Selecting Pay Rates for Projects
When working with the Tiles database, select your pre-defined pay rate in the tile selection dialog:
The selected tile details dialog for Tiles data file.
⚠️ Important: If you change a pay rate after selecting it, you must reselect the rate and recalculate labour and materials costing. This applies to any database changes in materials or reporting.
💡 How It Works
When you calculate tile quantities (by area or coursing), the selected labour rates automatically flow through to the Supply and Install summary of costs.