FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about how Construction Prism works, what it costs, and how it fits with the tools you already use.

What is Construction Prism?
Construction Prism is an estimating tool that converts a written scope of work into a priced, line-item estimate in minutes. It maps every item to CSI MasterFormat cost codes and tags each line with a confidence flag so the contractor can see what is locked from historical data versus what still needs review. It is built mobile-first for residential and small-to-mid commercial GCs.
How does it generate estimates?
Estimates run through a three-pass pipeline. Pass one uses AI to parse the scope text into CSI MasterFormat line items. A deterministic pricing pass then maps those CSI items to the user's own cost codes, applies historical rates, regional benchmarks, and any user adjustments. Pass two runs a gap-check against completeness triggers (for example, deck without ledger flashing) so missing scope surfaces as warnings before the estimate is sent.
Will my pricing data be shared?
No. Construction Prism uses a hard two-pool data architecture. Private pool data — costs, margins, bids, mappings, and adjustments — is siloed per user and never shared. The aggregate pool only contains anonymous correction patterns and regional benchmarks; the database schema has no userId field on aggregate tables, so the separation is enforced at the storage layer. An opt-out toggle is available for users who do not want to contribute to the aggregate pool at all.
Does it work with my existing cost codes?
Yes. The AI reasons internally in CSI MasterFormat codes, then a deterministic translator maps every line item to the user's own cost codes on output. The CSI translator handles variable depth — a lookup for a parent code (for example, 09 30 Tiling) matches whether the user's reference uses 09 30 directly or a more granular split like 09 30 10 plus 09 30 20. The AI never sees user-proprietary codes.
How much does it cost?
Construction Prism is $20/month for 30 estimates per month, or $200/year for 360 estimates (about $16.67/month, roughly two months free). A free trial is available and does not require a credit card. Credit packs can be purchased on top of a subscription if a contractor needs additional estimates in a busy month.
How does it compare to Buildertrend?
Buildertrend is a full project management platform covering scheduling, client portals, change orders, and field communication. Construction Prism is narrower and earlier in the workflow: it converts a scope into a priced estimate, then exports clean XLS or CSV files that import into Buildertrend without manual re-entry. The two tools are complementary rather than competing — see the Buildertrend comparison for a feature-by-feature breakdown.
How does it compare to Procore?
Procore is an enterprise construction management platform priced and built for large commercial GCs. Construction Prism is positioned for small and mid-sized residential GCs who need fast estimating without the contract or onboarding overhead of an enterprise platform, and exports import cleanly into Procore. See the Procore comparison for the full positioning.
Can I edit the estimate after Prism generates it?
Yes. Every line item is editable inline — quantities, unit prices, notes, and confidence flags. Blanket percentage adjustments apply to all items at once and per-CSI adjustments stack on top. Items that the AI is not confident about land in the triage queue, where the user can confirm, reassign, or dismiss in one click. The user always has the final word on every number.
What file formats can I export?
Estimates export to XLS, CSV, PDF, Share Link. The XLS and CSV exports are formatted to import cleanly into Buildertrend, CoConstruct, Procore, JobTread, QuickBooks, and Excel. The PDF export is a presentation-ready proposal. The share link is a public read-only view with no authentication required, suitable for sending to a homeowner or sub.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Construction Prism offers a free trial that does not require a credit card. The trial includes enough credits and AI advisory tokens to fully exercise the pipeline on real projects before deciding whether to subscribe. After the trial, the monthly plan is $20 and the annual plan is $200.
Who built it?
Construction PM with nearly 30 years in the trades, licensed GC in California, and the last six years in Oregon running CM and estimating for other contractors. Construction Prism was built in the field by a working GC — not by a tech company guessing what contractors need.
What if Prism gets a number wrong?
Construction Prism is designed around the assumption that the AI will be wrong sometimes — and surfaces exactly where. Every line item carries a confidence flag: HISTORICAL (green) means the rate is locked from the user's own data, AI-BENCHMARK and AI-INFERRED (yellow) mean it should be reviewed, and NEEDS QUOTE (red) means there is no reliable basis. Low-confidence items go into the triage queue and possible missing-scope items show up in the warning panel, so nothing wrong leaves the screen without the user seeing it first.