.jpg)
Many apps are available for contractors.
Being a contractor or tradesman means that time management is an important consideration. Finding apps can help you manage your resources, check on progress and make your tasks easier. Considering 49 percent of builders own tablets and the number is expected to grow, apps that are handy for those in the construction business are worth looking into and can help you develop your time management skills. Just as keeping up with the latest technology is important, finding a contractor school to complete courses for your license renewal is also. Check out some of the most popular and latest apps for the construction trade to see if any of them would help your business.
Construction Manager
Construction Manager is used by a large number of contractors to keep reports, maintenance logs, timesheets and estimate information for both construction sites and headquarters. You can also use it for on-site estimates and for measurement calculations. It’s available for iPhone, iPad and the Android tablet or phone.
EagleView
One of the most difficult parts of a roofing or painting job is getting detailed measurements for cost estimates. EagleView lets you check roof measurement details of any building in the country and then stores your measurements. You can also download a photograph, check your status for pending orders and use it to place orders on site with your GPS. It’s made for Android and iOS and it’s free.
Fieldwire
Fieldwire has both a blueprint app and a construction management app for mobile phones. The blueprint app can be used offline or online with an unlimited number of sheets to view or alter and you can share blueprints. The construction management plan lets you track hours and costs, while assigning tasks and letting you photo-share to stay on top of your current project.
Blueprints are easy to store using an app.
Safety Meeting
Safety meetings are required by OSHA, and this app called Safety Meeting lets you conduct meetings regularly and efficiently. It documents your training, near misses, accidents and incidents and stores your employee data. Since Safety Meeting covers 34 trades and contains 950 topics, it provides a handy source of safety information. You can access this app from your tablet, computer or phone.
Handyman Calculator for Easy Math Calculations
Designed to make it easy to perform calculations for anyone in the contracting business, Handyman Calculator can be used to make estimates, including fractions, for lumber, asphalt and concrete, and you can store the results on its notepad. It works on all devices as well as on your PC and it’s free.
GonkCulator for Builders, Architects and Engineers
This iPhone-iPad app makes it simpler to calculate shear wall designs so that buildings meet structural requirements for lateral wind walls. By entering wall length, width, horizontal load and shear wall length and height, GonkCulator does the calculations for you and it’s free.
SG Project Pro 5
The SG Project Pro 5 is made to use with your iPad to manage multiple projects or to manage just one at a time, and there are versions for Mac OS X or Windows. You can build your plan, track it and enter materials and labor costs with detailed reports. You also have the option to calculate labor by hourly rate and work assignment and calculate your materials by unit and quantity. In addition, this app keeps track of ongoing task costs based on the percentage of completion.
Contractor School Continuing Education
Contractors have to complete a certain number of hours of continuing education to get their licenses renewed. PDH Contractor Academy lets you study at your own pace. Using a mobile app, tablet or home computer to study for contractor school and pass exams toward that renewal is a good idea since you can do it during your leisure time.Courses are available for Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon and Massachusetts. Browse courses by state to see what is available for yours, and check out our FAQ page. PDH sends you a completion certificate when you have successfully passed the course, and for states that allow it, your hours are reported to the appropriate relicensing board.