In this article:
Getting started
Welcome to Chalkstring! We are excited to help you get up and running with your new system.
This Learning Programme is designed to provide video tutorials and instructions on each of the key features within Chalkstring.
The first time you go through them we recommend following them in the order in which they are presented.
After that you can come back and dip in and out as you need for the specific features you are using.
The following articles cover how to get started using the system:
- Introduction to Chalkstring - a short video overview of the full Chalkstring functionality
- How to log in and out of Chalkstring
- Using the Resource centre
- How to reset your password
Adding resources
Resources are the building blocks within Chalkstring. They include the materials that you purchase, the labour activities you complete and the 'products' or items of work that you deliver to your clients.
This is also where you store the quotes that you get from suppliers and the rates that you use for labour.
To create estimates within Chalkstring you will need to know how to add these resources to use within your tender.
Materials
Everything starts with materials. These tutorials cover how to add materials and supplier quotes for materials into Chalkstring.
If you'd like help with importing materials in bulk please contact us by emailing clientservices@chalkstring.com
Labour activities
The second key resource is labour activities. These describe the items of work that you or your subcontractors carry out to deliver your project.
These tutorials cover how to add labour activities and labour rates/quotes into Chalkstring.
Fixed costs
For items usually covered in prelims such as site supervisors or plant equipment you can set up fixed costs. This tutorial covers how to add fixed costs.
Product templates
Once you have added materials and labour activities to your system, you can them combine them into 'products' or product templates that you can use when generating your estimates.
A product template is a combination of materials and labour to complete a particular item of work and usually matches the name and description of the items that you would see on a client bill or your tender bill.
This tutorial covers what product templates are and how to set them up.
👏 Great work! You are now ready to start estimating!
Estimating
Once you have set up some resources you are ready to start estimating.
Adding a project
The details of your estimate will be linked to a project and a client. These tutorials cover how to add a client (you will need to do this first) and then how to add a project.
When you have your project set up you can start to build your estimate, also known as an assessment in Chalkstring.
These tutorials cover how to set up and price your assessment.
- Creating an assessment
- Product and component menu functions
- Pricing your assessment
- Getting project-specific quotes
Estimating from drawings
If you are creating your estimate by taking your own measures from a set of drawings then you can use Chalkstring's takeoff functionality to build your assessment.
We recommend creating your project first and setting up at least one zone first (as shown in the Creating an assessment tutorial) as it makes it easier to link up your drawings and measures.
This tutorial covers how to use the takeoff functionality.
Estimating from a client bill
If you are creating your estimate from a bill of quantities supplied by your client there is a template you can use to import data from the client's bill into Chalkstring.
This tutorial covers how to format the data and import from a client bill.
Value engineering
If you want to provide your client with alternative options by value engineering you can do this within your Chalkstring project.
This tutorial covers the ways in which you can use your assessment to create your value engineered options.
Creating your tender
Once you have one or more assessments you are happy with and ready to tender you can generate and manage your tender within your Chalkstring project.
This tutorial covers how to create your tender and what to do when your client responds.
🍾Congratulations! You have now estimated and tendered a project within Chalkstring!
Next steps
Once your tender has been accepted you are ready to take the project on-site.
For more details on using the on-site features within Chalkstring please refer to the Learning Programme - On-site features which covers ordering materials, managing variations, raising applications for payment and managing labour costs.
Help & support
We want to make sure that you get the most out of your Chalkstring system.
For more articles on using the features you can search our extensive knowledge base.
If you have a technical query or issue, you can contact our support team by emailing help@chalkstring.com or use this form to log an issue.
If you'd like to book training or consultancy services to assist you in any of these features you can email clientservices@chalkstring.com