Overview
Shop drawings give install crews and customers technical build detail: elevations, component details, dimensions, and specifications. In Dirt Face, the shop drawings workflow is how you create those sheets, attach them to estimates, and keep them with the job. They are not the bird's-eye site layout from the fence takeoff designer.
What you will get
- Professional install drawings for customers and crews
- Drawings tied to the estimate instead of loose desktop files
- A clear place in the job lifecycle after the quote is won
Step 1: Lay out the fence when you need a site plan
If the job needs a bird's-eye layout and material takeoff, use the fence designer on the estimate first. That step is separate from shop drawings. See Using the Fence Designer Tool.
Step 2: Create the shop drawing
Open Shop Drawings in Dirt Face and create a new drawing, or start from an estimate when adding proposal documents. Use the Shop Drawing Designer for elevations and detail graphics.
Step 3: Finish specs and page setup
Complete title block, specifications, and company information so the sheet is ready to print or export as a PDF.
Step 4: Export and attach
Attach the finished drawing to the estimate proposal package, or share the PDF with the crew. When the estimate becomes a job, the same drawings stay available for production and field reference.
Where shop drawings fit in the job lifecycle
Estimate (optional site layout) → Approval → Shop drawing → Crew installs → Invoice
See the Fence Job Lifecycle.
FAQ
Are shop drawings required on every fence job?
No. Use them when the build needs elevations, gate detail, or formal approval. Many residential jobs are fine with a proposal alone.
How is this different from the map designer?
The map designer creates site layout and takeoff quantities. Shop drawings create technical install detail. Most complex jobs use both.