Setup Data

Materials

Materials are reusable workspace records for items you regularly price in estimates.

Material fields

A material can include:

  • name;
  • optional code;
  • unit;
  • category;
  • specification;
  • aliases;
  • default rate;
  • currency;
  • linked companies.

Use specific names

Choose a name that distinguishes the material from similar records.

Good examples:

  • Galvanised Steel Plate 10 mm
  • Reinforcing Mesh SL82
  • SHS 100 × 100 × 6 mm
  • Stainless Steel 316 Sheet 2 mm

Avoid a catalogue full of names such as “Steel”, “Plate”, or “Mesh” with no identifying detail.

Choose the unit first

The unit defines how the default rate should be interpreted.

Examples:

  • kg for material sold by mass;
  • m for linear products;
  • m² for sheet or coating area;
  • ea for discrete items;
  • sheet for standard sheet products.

Do not enter a per-tonne rate against a per-kilogram unit without converting it.

Category and specification

Use Category for broad grouping, such as Steel, Concrete, Timber, Consumable, or Fastener.

Use Specification for distinguishing technical detail, such as grade, finish, thickness, treatment, or standard.

Example:

Name: Galvanised Steel Plate 10 mm
Category: Steel
Specification: 10 mm, hot-dip galvanised
Unit: kg

Codes and aliases

Use a code when the business already has a catalogue or purchasing reference.

Aliases improve search for alternative names, abbreviations, or supplier terminology. For example:

  • gal plate
  • 10 mm plate
  • HDG plate

Do not use aliases to store unrelated products.

Default rates

A default rate is a reusable starting value. It is not proof of a current supplier quote.

Before using it commercially, confirm:

  • currency;
  • unit;
  • effective pricing date or source outside the record where relevant;
  • whether freight, waste, tax, cutting, or finishing is included;
  • whether the job needs a different supplier or quantity break.

Linked companies

Link companies that supply or are otherwise associated with the material. More than one company can be linked.

The relationship improves discovery; it does not create supplier-specific price tiers or contracts.

Example: plate with two suppliers

Create one clear material record, then link both approved suppliers. Use the estimate’s job-specific rate when the current quotes differ.