The attractive finish can hide the base work
Clients see the chosen paver, while your estimate must also explain excavation, aggregate, compaction and access. Missing those descriptions makes a substantial part of the project difficult to justify.
Software for hardscape contractors
Keep the work beneath the pavers visible.
A patio quote needs more than a finished surface area. Excavation, base preparation, edge restraint and spoil removal shape the job before the first paver is laid. Keep the accepted scope and its costs together through construction.
Unleash your potential.
The everyday details
You know the work.
The admin adds up.
A material choice has consequences
A different border or laying pattern can change cutting time and the material order. Record the approval and revise the estimate before an attractive option becomes an unpriced commitment.
Costs arrive from several places
Aggregate deliveries, rented compactors, crew hours and haul-away charges do not arrive as a single bill. Tie them to the project while the work is happening so the final review has substance.
A blocked access route changes the day
A narrow gate or occupied driveway affects how supplies reach the work area. The site notes need to reach the crew as clearly as the selected surface finish.
How Microtra helps
Keep the business connected.
Use the tools that fit your day, with your records ready on your phone or on the web.
Explain the build in the estimate
Create separate items for excavation, base materials, bedding, pavers and edging. Enter your measured areas and quantities, add scope notes and review revisions with the client.
Explore this featureCarry site context into construction
Use a linked property record and job notes for access, delivery arrangements and agreed work areas. Keep project tasks and photos alongside the work record.
Explore this featureConnect labor to a project stage
Track time against tasks such as preparation, laying and finishing. Compare actual hours with your allowance when reviewing the estimate for the next similar job.
Explore this featureReview the cost of the accepted change
Enter supplier expenses, receipt photos and billable client costs. Use progress invoices from the estimate when that matches the arrangement you agreed, then check the remaining balance.
Explore this featureA day in the life
From the first quote to paid.
Set the project boundary
Record the intended patio or walkway area, selected materials and known access limits. Resolve the technical design with suitable expertise before turning the scope into an estimate.
Prepare for delivery
Assign the installation work and note the agreed place for pallets and aggregate. Coordinate deliveries directly with suppliers and check that the property can receive the equipment you plan to bring.
Record the work below the surface
Log crew time, purchased materials and the progress of preparation tasks. Photograph relevant work stages for context, keeping technical measurements and inspections in your established records.
Review completion with the client
Check the finished scope and any accepted variations. Prepare the appropriate invoice, share its PDF through your device and record payments collected through your existing method.
Your words
Find your way around.
Choose Trades & construction when you set up Microtra and these are the labels you start with. Change them, and the tools you use, any time in Modules & terms.
- Your work
- Job
- Your customer
- Client
- Your records
- Properties
Room to get started
Plans from $5.99/month.
Start with a 14-day free trial. No card needed. Compare plans to find the tools and invoice allowance that fit your business.
Your business. Your next step.
Try Microtra on your phone and on the web. Review plan details before choosing the right fit.
Compare plansA few useful answers
Questions from hardscape contractors.
Does Microtra design retaining walls or patio drainage?
It does not provide engineering, grading design or paver layout tools. Use suitable design tools and qualified professionals, then bring the agreed quantities and business scope into the estimate.
Can I separate base preparation from the finish?
Yes. Use clear line items with their own units and descriptions. This helps the homeowner understand what is included before accepting a surface material or a revised pattern.
How do I keep track of pavers held for jobs?
Trades & construction begins with stock off. Enable stock in Modules & terms to use location counts and purchasing. Keep reservations for particular projects in your own material process; Microtra does not provide specialist stock allocation.
What setup includes a property for the project?
Choose Trades & construction for Job, Client and Properties. The property supplies location context while tasks, time and costs belong with the work you are carrying out.
Guides
Keep exploring
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Explore industry guideHow to start a landscaping business
Start a landscaping business with a practical service scope, equipment budget, licensing checks, quoting method and a plan for your first clients.
Read the guideSoftware for small business
Unleash your potential.
You do the work. Microtra gives you the software to run the business. Start your 14-day free trial. No card needed.
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