Once your exterior 3D measurements are ready in Hover, you can generate accurate, production-ready material lists and estimates from either the mobile or web app. Estimates can be created from a photo-based scan or blueprint upload, whether the project includes a roof only or the full exterior.
Watch a walkthrough of Hover Estimates for Construction
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Start an estimate
You can start an estimate from either the project details page or from within the 3D Design experience, depending on where you are in your workflow.
From the Project Details Page (PDP)
From the Project Details Page (PDP)
Select the Estimates card
Choose Start estimate
From within the 3D Design experience
From within the 3D Design experience
Open the 3D Design from the project details page - click on a design in the 3D card or tap Start designing in 3D if you haven't created one yet.
Choose and apply your preferred materials in 3D
Select Review estimate. Hover maps your applied products to estimate templates, including each product’s line items and pricing.
To use a different template, select Change.
To leave a product out of the estimate, select the ellipsis in the Review estimate panel and remove it. The product stays on your 3D model.
Select Create estimate
Hover transfers products applied to roof, walls, soffit, and fascia.
Visit this article for learn more about creating estimates from a 3D design.
Starting from the PDP
If starting from the project details page, you can scope your estimate using one of two methods. No matter which option you choose, you can select multiple material styles for a single trade and choose as many templates as you need for the project scope.
Option 1: Scope materials in 3D - Use the 3D model to visually select areas of the structure and apply material templates directly to build your estimate.
Option 2: Start from material templates - Select material templates from the template list and apply them by trade to define your project scope.
Our manufacturer / branded templates are developed in collaboration with the manufacturers, themselves. We are actively working on partnerships to expand our library of ready-made templates.
Note: If the project has roof-only measurements, the estimate will only calculate roofing templates. Other trade templates will appear in the menu, but calculate as 0.
Option 1: Scope materials in 3D
Tap Choose and scope materials in 3D, then:
From the lefthand trade panel, click + beside a trade you want to assign a template to (e.g., roof, siding, etc.)
Open the Starter template library and choose your desired template(s) (e.g., shingle, board & batten, etc.)
(Optional) If you have previously saved templates, you will also see a Custom template library. Open the Custom library to select a saved template.
Click Apply
Repeat this process for as many trades needed in the project scope
Click Create Estimate to continue.
At this point, your estimate will generate.
How to scope partial areas
How to scope partial areas
Click Edit area from the trade panel
Select the area to include or remove via the model or panel
How to apply mixed materials
How to apply mixed materials
Select Add to scope + to create a material group, then choose the trade and template for it.
Option 2: Scope from a material template
Tap Start from a material template, then:
Select the template(s) you want to use for each trade
Saved templates appear first in the Custom template library
If no templates have been saved, only Starter templates will be available
You can search for templates by manufacturer, product line, trade, material type, and more
If you cannot find the template you need, select Need another template? at the bottom of the screen to request one.
How to scope partial areas
How to scope partial areas
If you need to remove part of an area from your scope and only one material is applied to each trade, click Select Partial Area. This opens the mixed materials flow, where you can choose specific areas and adjust the scope in more detail.
Go back to finish scoping, continue to your next trade, or generate your estimate.
How to apply mixed materials
How to apply mixed materials
If more than one material is applied to a trade, selecting Continue takes you into the mixed materials flow for that trade. In this flow, you assign each material to the correct area by selecting areas on the 3D model or using the panel.
Assigning a new material to an area overrides the previous material selection. After completing one trade, select Continue to move to the next trade in the scope, such as siding after roofing.
Manage your estimates
After you create an estimate, you can build variations, fine-tune the pricing, and approve the one your customer chooses.
Duplicate and rename an estimate
Duplicate and rename an estimate
Open the estimate and select Actions.
Select Duplicate. Hover copies everything in the estimate into a new one.
To rename it, select Rename from the same menu.
Edit the copy as needed. For example, add a promotion to create a “better” option.
Duplicates are a quick way to present good, better, and best options to a homeowner.
Approve an estimate
Approve an estimate
When your customer chooses an option, approve that estimate.
The estimate gets an Approved label and moves to the top of the project
When you start an agreement, Hover includes only approved estimates. If none are approved, it includes all estimates on the project.
Delete an estimate (admin only)
Delete an estimate (admin only)
If you are an admin, you will see the option to delete an estimate from the Actions menu:
Note: You cannot delete an estimate that’s marked "Approved" or that has been used to create a proposal.
Add a surcharge or discount
Add a surcharge or discount
Within the estimate select Manage.
Select the Adjustments tab, then Add adjustment.
Choose from your company’s adjustments. A discount lowers the price. A surcharge raises it.
If your admin allows it, enter the amount. For example, enter an approved insurance amount.
Select Save.
The amount shown for the total price and balance due will update.
When an adjustment applies to a template, the adjustment will appear in that template’s price, so template prices and the estimate total match in both your price presentation and agreement.
Change sales tax
Change sales tax
Your admin controls whether you can view and edit sales tax.
Within the estimate select Manage, then the Tax tab.
Under Choose how to apply tax, select one of the following:
Each line item
Group (Material, labor, other), Template
or All
If you choose All, enter a Tax rate %. Hover applies it to every line item.
Select Save.
Adjust the profit margin
Adjust the profit margin
Within the estimate select Manage.
Select the Profit tab.
Move the slider to your target margin and select Save.
Return to the estimate. Hover recalculates the line items to hit that margin.
Your admin can turn off margin viewing or editing, and can set a margin range.
Don’t see an option? Your admin controls profit margin and sales tax access in Estimate preferences. Review this article.
Common Questions
What does the template 3 dot menu do?
What does the template 3 dot menu do?
Select or deselect all facets, quickly
Add another section (duplicate the template)
Remove the template from that trade
Can I create multiple takeoffs for a project?
Can I create multiple takeoffs for a project?
Yes! Whether you want to create Good/Better/Best options for your customer or you want production lists for multiple trades, you can create additional material takeoffs in (4) different ways:
From the project details page
From an existing estimate
By duplicating an estimate (Actions → Duplicate)
Review this article for answers to additional common questions.
Review and download
Hover will generate your measurement-based estimate with pre-populated Material and Labor sections, along with a section to account for things like permits and dumpsters.
From here you can select Start agreement to create a proposal or other agreement document for your customer, Order materials from a supplier, or Download the material items or the full production list to share with others.
Want more?
Dive deeper into all the ways to customize your estimates.