Buildup

If this is your first time working in landscape sections, we recommend reviewing the Beds article first. It walks through the basics and uses the Elevation Advisor Sample Design.

In the Sample Design, the patio area requires a build-up of soil before hardscape installation. This section walks you through how to measure, assign materials, and calculate labor for that work.

Adding the Build Up Section

If you haven’t already added a Build Up section to your proposal:

• Click Edit in the top right corner
• Select Build Up from the template library
• Click Save

Measuring the Area

Open the Build Up section and enter the dimensions of the area to be built up. In our example:

• 20’ x 10’ with a 12” depth
• You can enter these values in the measurements grid, or simply input 200 sqft under Square Footage if you prefer a single value.

Materials & Labor

Scroll down to the Materials/Labor section. You’ll see a preset line item labeled Base Course.

• Click Connect Item
• In our example, we selected Sandy Loam
• Elevation Advisor will automatically calculate the yards of soil needed along with Unit Cost and Total Cost

If install time isn’t already defined in your catalog, you can manually enter it by double-clicking Crew Hours.

Finalizing the Section

Once materials are set, you can:

• Change Crew Size, Add labor, equipment, or subcontractors
• Enter a Description of Services to explain the scope of work
• Add Crew Notes for internal communication

If you need help with these steps, refer to the Beds article, which walks through the process in detail.

Updated on: 10/13/2025