General contractor estimating software from PDF plan to proposal
Rivet Estimator gives general contractors a connected path for reviewing the current plan set, organizing multi-trade scope, measuring self-performed work, building an editable cost estimate, and issuing a clear customer proposal.
PDF plansImport and verify scaleTakeoffLength, area, countEstimateLabour, material, proposalRivet CloudOptional encrypted sync
Windows · Android · web
PLAN INPUTPDF plan sets
MEASURED SCOPELength · area · count
COST BUILD-UPLabour · material · equipment
TRIAL14 days · no card
THE WORKFLOW
A clear path from source drawing to reviewed work.
Each step keeps the project understandable to the estimator who created it and the person who reviews it next.
01
Verify the bid set
Confirm the drawing index, specifications, addenda, bid date, scope boundaries, and unresolved questions before quantities or quotes enter the estimate.
02
Organize and measure the work
Separate the job into understandable trade or work-package scope, calibrate each relevant PDF sheet, and capture the required lengths, areas, and counts.
03
Build the cost estimate
Connect quantities to editable labour, material, equipment, and allowance costs while keeping internal pricing distinct from the customer-facing document.
04
Review and issue
Check scope coverage, assumptions, exclusions, addenda, changes in the estimate, and proposal details before issuing the approved bid.
MULTI-TRADE SCOPE
Give every part of the bid a visible place
Organize self-performed work, supplier pricing, subcontractor quotes, allowances, temporary work, and overhead by trade or work package.
Rivet keeps the source plans, quantities, estimate lines, and proposal together. Check the date, coverage, qualifications, and exclusions of each outside quote before including it.
Identify the current drawing and specification issue
Separate self-performed and quoted scope
Record allowances and exclusions visibly
Keep each cost tied to an understandable work package
Import PDF plans and measure calibrated lengths, areas, and counts. Use those quantities to build editable labour, material, equipment, and allowance costs.
Before sending the proposal, review the estimate line by line and confirm that it communicates the approved scope without exposing internal costing. The estimator remains responsible for measurement methods, rates, productivity, waste, taxes, and final pricing decisions.
An addendum can affect quantities, labour, material, quotes, equipment, schedule assumptions, exclusions, and downstream handoffs. Preserve the prior estimate baseline, register the new issue, and review every affected work package before changing the total.
Rivet keeps project and takeoff details together and supports controlled workspace revisions. It does not automatically detect every drawing change, so a qualified reviewer must still check the addendum notes, drawing index, specifications, and changed sheets.
Share the approved drawing issue, scope, open questions, and estimate revision with office and field staff. Rivet saves locally, with optional encrypted Cloud sync across authorized Windows, Android, and web devices.
Treat each Cloud upload or download as a controlled project revision, agree who will edit it, and preserve a portable backup before a major change or device handoff. Rivet does not support simultaneous live co-authoring.
What should a general contractor estimate include?
It should identify the source documents and scope, measured and quoted work, labour, material, equipment, allowances, overhead, assumptions, exclusions, applicable taxes, and the approved price and proposal terms.
Can Rivet organize quantities for more than one trade?
Yes. Rivet supports length, area, and count takeoff plus editable estimate lines and assemblies. The estimator decides how each trade or work package is named, measured, priced, and reviewed.
Does Rivet solicit subcontractor bids or provide an automatic cost database?
No. Enter current project-specific costs and approved quotes, then check their scope and qualifications before issuing the estimate.
Can a GC use Rivet in the office and field?
Yes. Rivet is available on Windows, Android, and web. Optional encrypted Rivet Cloud lets you transfer workspace revisions between up to two connected devices per named member.
Does Rivet automatically find every change in revised plans?
No. Preserve the prior baseline and review the complete issued addendum, drawing index, specifications, and affected sheets before updating quantities or price.
No card is needed for the downloaded-app trial. Use a representative PDF plan, verify the scale, measure the scope, review the estimate, and test the handoff that matters to your team.
