Overview
Dirt Face is fence estimating software that helps contractors create accurate quotes without rebuilding every job in a spreadsheet. This workflow shows how to create a fence estimate in Dirt Face at a high level: start from a customer, design the fence, review pricing, and send a professional proposal.
What you will get
- A structured estimate tied to a real customer and job site
- Material and labor quantities grounded in your fence systems
- A proposal you can email or share for customer review
Step 1: Open a new estimate for a customer
Start from the customer record or the estimates list. Choose the customer and job site first so the quote, follow-up messages, and later invoice stay connected to the same person and address.
Step 2: Build the fence scope
Pick the fence systems that match the job. Many teams use saved fence templates for common products, then adjust for gates, corners, and site extras. Dirt Face is built so your catalog and templates drive consistency across estimators.
Step 3: Design the layout and takeoff
For irregular sites, use the visual designer to draw runs on a map or site plan. Dirt Face turns that layout into takeoff quantities instead of forcing you to count everything by hand. For simple straight jobs, templates alone may be enough.
Step 4: Review totals and proposal documents
Check materials, labor, tax, deposit, and the customer-facing proposal. This is where you catch scope mistakes before the customer sees the price. Dirt Face keeps the estimate and proposal in one place so you are not copying numbers into a separate PDF tool.
Step 5: Send the estimate
Deliver the quote by email or through the customer portal. When the customer accepts, you can continue into jobs, scheduling, and invoicing without recreating the work.
Why this matters for fence contractors
Fast, consistent estimates win more work and protect margin. Dirt Face focuses on fence-specific takeoffs and proposals so your office can quote chainlink, vinyl, wood, ornamental, and mixed jobs with the same process.
FAQ
Can I create commercial and residential fence estimates?
Yes. Dirt Face supports both. Commercial jobs may add submittals or longer approval cycles, but the estimate foundation is the same.
Do I need the designer for every quote?
No. Use the designer when the layout is complex or you want a visual takeoff. Template-driven quotes work well for standard runs.
Is this the same as a free fence calculator?
No. Dirt Face is contractor software with your catalog, labor approach, proposals, and follow-through into jobs and invoices, not a public consumer calculator.