Materials Module

The Materials Module tracks all material costs for your concrete projects: formwork materials, supplies, consumables, and specialty items. ForgeX automatically applies waste factors and calculates costs with tax.

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What Goes in Materials Module

🔨

Formwork Materials

• Plywood sheets
• Lumber (2×4, 2×6, 2×8)
• Stakes and bracing
• Form oil/release agent
• Form ties

📦

Supplies & Consumables

• Vapor barrier (plastic sheeting)
• Expansion joint material
• Curing compound
• Saw blades
• Nails, screws, fasteners

🔨

Finishing Materials

• Dry shake hardener
• Joint sealant
• Patching compound
• Cure & seal products

⭐

Specialty Items

• Anchor bolts
• Embedded plates
• Sleeves and inserts
• Dowels
• Wire mesh

note

What DOESN'T go here: Concrete and rebar go in the Concrete Module. Equipment goes in the Equipment Module.

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Adding Materials to a Scope

Step 1: Navigate to Materials Tab

1. Open your scope
2. Click the "Materials" tab
3. Click "Add Material" button

Step 2: Select Material

ForgeX includes a comprehensive materials pricing catalog:

Formwork Materials:

• 3/4" Plywood
• 1/2" Plywood
• 2×4 Lumber
• 2×6 Lumber
• 2×8 Lumber
• Form Release Agent
• Form Ties

Consumables:

• 6mil Vapor Barrier
• 10mil Vapor Barrier
• Expansion Joint (1/2", 1")
• Curing Compound
• Joint Sealant

Specialty:

• Anchor Bolts (various sizes)
• Wire Mesh (6×6, 4×4)
• Embedded Plates
• Dowels

Step 3: Enter Quantity and Waste

materialstringrequired

Select from catalog or enter custom material name

quantitynumberrequired

Number of units needed (before waste)

Units vary by material:

• Plywood: Sheets (4' × 8' = 32 SF per sheet)
• Lumber: Linear feet
• Vapor barrier: Square feet
• Joint material: Linear feet
• Fasteners: Pounds or boxes

wastePercentnumber

Waste factor (default: 10%)

Typical waste factors:

• Lumber/plywood: 10-15%
• Vapor barrier: 10%
• Joint material: 5-8%
• Fasteners: 5%
• Specialty items: 2-5%

sourceConcreteItemIdstring

(Optional) Link to specific concrete item

Use case: Track which materials go with which concrete pours for job costing

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Cost Calculations

Base Cost with Waste

Adjusted_Quantity = Quantity × (1 + Waste_Percent ÷ 100)
Base_Cost = Adjusted_Quantity × Unit_Cost

Example: 3/4" Plywood

• Quantity needed: 100 sheets
• Waste: 10%
• Adjusted quantity: 100 × 1.10 = 110 sheets
• Unit cost: $45/sheet
• Base Cost: 110 × $45 = $4,950

Tax (if applicable)

Materials are taxable unless bid is tax-exempt:

Tax = Base_Cost × Tax_Rate
Total_Cost = Base_Cost + Tax

Example (continued):

• Base: $4,950
• Tax (8.25%): $408.38
• Total: $5,358.38

note

If bid is marked Tax Exempt, tax is automatically removed from material costs.

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Formwork Material Estimating

Slab Edge Forms

Calculate plywood needed for slab perimeter:

Perimeter = 2 × (Length + Width)
Height = Slab_Depth_Inches ÷ 12
Area = Perimeter × Height
Sheets = Area ÷ 32 (SF per 4×8 sheet)

Example: 100' × 80' slab, 6" deep

• Perimeter: 2 × (100 + 80) = 360 LF
• Height: 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft
• Area: 360 × 0.5 = 180 SF
• Sheets: 180 ÷ 32 = 5.6 → 6 sheets
• With 15% waste: 6 × 1.15 = 7 sheets

Lumber for stakes and bracing:

Stakes = Perimeter ÷ 4 (stake every 4 ft)
Stake_Length = 2 ft (typical)
Stake_LF = Stakes × 2
Bracing_LF = Perimeter × 0.5 (kicker every 8 ft, diagonal)
Total_Lumber = Stake_LF + Bracing_LF

Example (continued):

• Stakes: 360 ÷ 4 = 90 stakes
• Stake LF: 90 × 2 = 180 LF
• Bracing: 360 × 0.5 = 180 LF
• Total: 180 + 180 = 360 LF of 2×4

Wall Forms

Calculate plywood for wall formwork:

One_Side_Area = Wall_Height × Wall_Length
Both_Sides_Area = One_Side_Area × 2
Sheets = Both_Sides_Area ÷ 32

Example: 10' tall × 100' long wall

• One side: 10 × 100 = 1,000 SF
• Both sides: 1,000 × 2 = 2,000 SF
• Sheets: 2,000 ÷ 32 = 62.5 → 63 sheets
• With 10% waste: 69 sheets

Lumber for walers and strongbacks:

Walers = (Wall_Height ÷ 2) × Wall_Length × 2 (both sides)
Strongbacks = (Wall_Length ÷ 4) × Wall_Height × 2

Example (continued):

• Walers: (10 ÷ 2) × 100 × 2 = 1,000 LF 2×4
• Strongbacks: (100 ÷ 4) × 10 × 2 = 500 LF 2×4
• Total: 1,500 LF 2×4

Form ties:

Ties_Horizontal = Wall_Length ÷ 2 (tie every 2 ft)
Ties_Vertical = Wall_Height ÷ 2 (tie every 2 ft)
Total_Ties = Ties_Horizontal × Ties_Vertical

Example (continued):

• Horizontal: 100 ÷ 2 = 50
• Vertical: 10 ÷ 2 = 5
• Total: 50 × 5 = 250 form ties

Column/Pier Forms

For round fiber forms (sonotube):

Diameter_Inches
Length_Feet
Quantity (number of columns)

Example: 12" diameter × 10' tall column, quantity 4

• Material: 12" Sonotube
• Quantity: 4 pieces
• Length: 10 ft each
• Unit cost: $25/LF
• Cost: 4 × 10 × $25 = $1,000

For square/rectangular forms:

• Calculate like miniature walls
• 4 sides × perimeter × height
• Account for corner bracing

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Vapor Barrier & Moisture Protection

Under-Slab Vapor Barrier

Calculate plastic sheeting:

Area = Slab_Length × Slab_Width
Overlap_Factor = 1.10 (10% for overlaps)
SF_Needed = Area × Overlap_Factor
Rolls = SF_Needed ÷ SF_Per_Roll

Example: 100' × 80' slab

• Area: 100 × 80 = 8,000 SF
• With overlap: 8,000 × 1.10 = 8,800 SF
• Roll size: 1,000 SF (typical)
• Rolls: 8,800 ÷ 1,000 = 8.8 → 9 rolls

Choosing vapor barrier thickness:

Thickness	Use Case	Cost
6 mil	Residential slabs, light duty	Lower
10 mil	Commercial, heavy duty	Medium
15 mil	High moisture protection	Higher

tip

Building code requirements: Many codes require minimum 10 mil under heated slabs. Check local requirements before estimating.

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Joint Materials

Expansion Joints

Calculate expansion joint material:

Joint_Length = Perimeter (for perimeter joints)
# OR
Joint_Length = (Length ÷ Joint_Spacing) × Width (for interior joints)

Example: 100' × 80' slab with expansion joints every 20 ft

• Longitudinal joints: (100 ÷ 20) × 80 = 4 × 80 = 320 LF
• Transverse joints: (80 ÷ 20) × 100 = 4 × 100 = 400 LF
• Total: 720 LF

Joint material thickness:

Slab Thickness	Joint Thickness	Type
4-6 inches	1/2"	Expansion joint
6-8 inches	1/2" - 1"	Expansion joint
8+ inches	1"	Expansion joint
Construction joint	None	Saw cut

Control Joints (Saw Cuts)

Control joints are NOT materials — they're in the Subcontractor Module (joint sawing service).

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Finishing & Curing Materials

Curing Compound

Calculate coverage:

Area = Slab_SF
Coverage_Rate = 200-300 SF/gallon (manufacturer spec)
Gallons = Area ÷ Coverage_Rate

Example: 8,000 SF slab

• Coverage: 250 SF/gallon (typical)
• Gallons: 8,000 ÷ 250 = 32 gallons
• With waste (5%): 32 × 1.05 = 34 gallons

Curing compound types:

Type	Use	Coverage
Water-based	Residential, standard	250-300 SF/gal
Resin-based	Commercial, durable	200-250 SF/gal
Wax-based	Industrial	150-200 SF/gal

Dry Shake Hardener

Calculate quantity:

Area = Slab_SF
Rate = 50-100 lbs per 100 SF (depends on application)
Total_LBS = (Area ÷ 100) × Rate

Example: 10,000 SF warehouse slab, heavy-duty

• Rate: 100 lbs per 100 SF (heavy traffic)
• Total: (10,000 ÷ 100) × 100 = 10,000 lbs
• Bags: 10,000 ÷ 60 (lbs/bag) = 167 bags

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Specialty Items

Anchor Bolts

Quantity calculation:

Bolts = Perimeter ÷ Spacing

Example: Foundation anchor bolts, 100' × 80' slab

• Perimeter: 360 LF
• Spacing: 6 ft (typical for residential)
• Bolts: 360 ÷ 6 = 60 bolts

Common anchor bolt specs:

Size	Use	Spacing	Cost Each
1/2" × 10"	Residential	6 ft	$2-3
5/8" × 12"	Light commercial	4 ft	$4-6
3/4" × 14"	Heavy commercial	3 ft	$8-12

Embedded Plates

Count from plans:

• Column base plates
• Equipment mounting plates
• Anchor points

Pricing:

• Small (6" × 6"): $25-50 each
• Medium (12" × 12"): $75-150 each
• Large (24" × 24"): $200-400 each

Sleeves and Inserts

Sleeves for penetrations:

• Count from plans (plumbing, electrical, HVAC)
• Typical: 10-50 sleeves per commercial slab
• Cost: $10-50 each (depends on size)

Inserts:

• Lifting inserts for precast
• Utility inserts
• Cost: $5-25 each

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Material Waste Factors

Different materials have different waste characteristics:

Recommended Waste Factors

Material Category	Waste %	Reason
Plywood	10-15%	Cutting, damage, reuse limits
Lumber	10-15%	Cutting, splitting, warping
Vapor Barrier	10%	Overlaps, tears, patches
Expansion Joint	5-8%	Cutting to length
Curing Compound	5%	Spillage, overspray
Fasteners	5-10%	Dropped, bent, lost
Anchor Bolts	2-5%	Damaged threads, alignment issues
Form Ties	5-8%	Breakage, loss
Wire Mesh	10%	Overlaps, cutting
Form Oil	5%	Spillage, evaporation

warning

Don't skip waste factors! Running out of materials mid-job costs more than estimating 10% extra upfront. Emergency material runs cost 2-3× normal pricing.

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Linking Materials to Concrete Items

ForgeX allows linking materials to specific concrete items for better job costing:

Why Link Materials?

Benefits:

• Track which materials go with which pours
• Compare estimated vs actual material usage
• Identify over/under-estimation patterns
• Improve future estimates

How to Link

1

Create Concrete Item First

Add your concrete item in the Concrete Module

2

Note the Concrete Item Name

Example: "Foundation Slab East Wing"

3

Add Material

In Materials Module, select material and enter quantity

4

Select Source Concrete Item

In the "Source Concrete Item" dropdown, select "Foundation Slab East Wing"

5

Save

Material is now linked to that specific concrete item

Example Use Case:

Scope: "Foundation"

• Concrete Item: "Foundation Slab" (100 CY)
• Linked Materials:
  • 6mil Vapor Barrier: 8,800 SF
  • 3/4" Plywood: 20 sheets (edge forms)
  • 2×4 Lumber: 400 LF (stakes/bracing)
  • Form Release: 5 gallons

Later, you can review: "For that 100 CY slab, we estimated 20 sheets plywood. Did we actually use 20 or did we use 25?"

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Material Cost Rollup

Materials costs roll up like all modules:

Individual Material Item
        ↓
    Scope Materials Cost (sum all material items)
        ↓
    Scope Materials Cost × Multiplier
        ↓
    Bid Materials Cost (sum all scopes)
        ↓
    Apply Module Markups (overhead, profit)
        ↓
    Bid Total

Typical Materials % of Total Bid

Job Type	Materials %	Notes
Simple slab	5-10%	Vapor barrier, edge forms, curing
Elevated deck	15-25%	Extensive formwork
Wall forming	20-30%	Both sides, walers, ties
Complex formwork	25-35%	Custom shapes, specialty forms

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Common Material Estimating Scenarios

Scenario 1: Residential Slab on Grade

Job: 2,000 SF house slab, 4" thick

1

Vapor Barrier

• Area: 2,000 SF
• Overlap: 2,000 × 1.10 = 2,200 SF
• Material: 6mil vapor barrier
• Quantity: 2,200 SF
• Waste: 10%
• Cost: ~$440

2

Edge Forms

• Perimeter: 180 LF (approximate for 2,000 SF)
• Height: 4" = 0.33 ft
• Area: 180 × 0.33 = 60 SF
• Plywood: 60 ÷ 32 = 2 sheets
• With waste: 3 sheets
• Cost: ~$135

3

Lumber

• Stakes: 180 ÷ 4 = 45 stakes × 2 ft = 90 LF
• Bracing: 180 × 0.5 = 90 LF
• Total 2×4: 180 LF
• Cost: ~$108

4

Curing Compound

• Area: 2,000 SF
• Coverage: 250 SF/gal
• Gallons: 2,000 ÷ 250 = 8
• With waste: 9 gallons
• Cost: ~$135

5

Total Materials

• Vapor barrier: $440
• Plywood: $135
• Lumber: $108
• Curing: $135
• Total: $818

Scenario 2: Commercial Warehouse Slab

Job: 20,000 SF warehouse, 6" thick with joints

1

Vapor Barrier

• Material: 10mil (commercial grade)
• Quantity: 20,000 × 1.10 = 22,000 SF
• Cost: ~$3,300

2

Expansion Joints

• Joint spacing: 20 ft
• Longitudinal: 500 LF
• Transverse: 800 LF
• Total: 1,300 LF 1/2" expansion joint
• Cost: ~$1,950

3

Dry Shake Hardener

• Rate: 75 lbs per 100 SF (moderate duty)
• Total: (20,000 ÷ 100) × 75 = 15,000 lbs
• Bags: 250 bags (60 lbs each)
• Cost: ~$7,500

4

Curing Compound

• Area: 20,000 SF
• Gallons: 20,000 ÷ 250 = 80
• With waste: 84 gallons
• Cost: ~$1,260

5

Total Materials

• Vapor barrier: $3,300
• Joints: $1,950
• Hardener: $7,500
• Curing: $1,260
• Total: $14,010

Scenario 3: Foundation Wall

Job: 200 LF wall, 10' tall, 12" thick

1

Plywood Forms

• Area both sides: 200 × 10 × 2 = 4,000 SF
• Sheets: 4,000 ÷ 32 = 125
• With waste (10%): 138 sheets
• Cost: ~$6,210

2

Lumber (Walers & Strongbacks)

• Walers: (10 ÷ 2) × 200 × 2 = 2,000 LF 2×4
• Strongbacks: (200 ÷ 4) × 10 × 2 = 1,000 LF 2×4
• Total: 3,000 LF 2×4
• Cost: ~$1,800

3

Form Ties

• Horizontal: 200 ÷ 2 = 100
• Vertical: 10 ÷ 2 = 5
• Total: 500 ties
• Cost: ~$750

4

Form Release Agent

• Area: 4,000 SF
• Coverage: 400 SF/gallon
• Gallons: 10
• Cost: ~$150

5

Total Materials

• Plywood: $6,210
• Lumber: $1,800
• Ties: $750
• Release: $150
• Total: $8,910

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Material Pricing Updates

Material prices fluctuate. Keep your estimates current:

Admin Updates Pricing Catalog

Admins update material pricing in Admin → Materials Pricing:

1. Review supplier catalogs monthly
2. Update unit costs in ForgeX
3. New bids use updated pricing automatically

Bid-Specific Price Adjustments

If you have a special material price for a specific bid:

1. Create the bid
2. Add the material item
3. Click "Bid Settings"
4. Find the material in the variables list
5. Edit the unit cost for THIS BID ONLY
6. Save changes

tip

Supplier quotes: Get current quotes from suppliers before finalizing large bids. Material pricing in catalog may be 2-3 months old.

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Common Material Estimating Mistakes

warning

Avoid These Errors:

Mistake	Impact	Fix
No waste factor	Run out of materials	Always add 10-15% waste
Wrong plywood count	Over/under-order	Remember 4×8 = 32 SF per sheet
Forgetting vapor barrier overlaps	Not enough plastic	Add 10% for overlaps
Underestimating joints	Missing expansion joints	Calculate from spacing, not perimeter
Missing form release	Forms stick, damage	Don't forget release agent
Wrong curing compound coverage	Insufficient coverage	Use manufacturer specs
Not linking to concrete items	Poor job costing	Link materials to pours

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Tips for Material Estimating

📚Buy in Bulk for Large Projects

For large projects, negotiate bulk pricing:

• Plywood: Buy full lifts (50-60 sheets) for discount
• Lumber: Full truck loads save 10-15%
• Vapor barrier: Buy full pallets
• Curing compound: Drums vs gallons

Update unit cost in bid if you get bulk discount.

✅Track Actual Usage

After job completion:

1. Count actual materials used
2. Compare to estimate
3. Calculate variance
4. Adjust future waste factors based on actual data

Example: Estimated 100 sheets plywood, used 95 → waste factor was good

♻️Reuse Formwork Materials

Some formwork is reusable across multiple scopes:

• First scope: Buy new materials
• Second scope: Reuse 50% of forms
• Estimate only 50% new materials for second scope

Savings: 40-50% on formwork for subsequent identical pours

🤝Consider Rental vs Purchase

Some formwork systems are better rented:

Buy:

• Standard plywood and lumber (always useful)
• Common sizes used frequently
• Items with good resale value

Rent:

• Specialty forms (used once)
• Large quantity short-term need
• Forms for unusual shapes

Formwork rental goes in Equipment Module, not Materials.

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Next Steps

🤝

Subcontractor Module

Add concrete pumping and joint sawing

➕

Misc Module

Add miscellaneous costs

🧱

Concrete Module

Return to concrete estimating

🚚

Equipment Module

Add equipment rentals