If you are having trouble finding a material in National Estimator Cloud, the problem is often the search term, not the material itself.
Try using shorter, simpler keywords first. Then, if needed, try a few common variations of the name.
Start with the simplest keyword
Search works better when you begin with the most common word for the material.
For example:
Search siding instead of exterior vinyl clapboard siding
Search concrete instead of fiber reinforced concrete slab mix
Search drywall instead of 5/8 inch fire-rated gypsum wallboard
Start broad, then narrow your results after you see what is available.
Try common variations
If your first search does not find what you need, try another word a contractor or estimator might use.
Examples:
vinyl siding → try siding
sheetrock → try drywall
2x4 → try framing or lumber
painted trim → try trim, molding, or finish trim
roof shingles → try shingles or roofing
Different materials may be listed under:
a broader category
a trade term
a more standard product name
a plural or singular version of the word
Avoid overly specific searches at first
Long searches often miss results that would appear with a simpler term.
Instead of typing several words at once, try:
one main material word
then a second related word
then another common variation if needed
For example:
siding
vinyl siding
clapboard
Think by category, not just exact product name
If you do not know the exact wording in the costbook, think about the larger category the item belongs to.
Examples:
flooring
insulation
concrete
framing
roofing
siding
wiring
plumbing
Searching by category can help you find the section where the item is listed.
Use a few quick search attempts
A good search process is:
Start with a broad keyword
Try a shorter version
Try a common synonym
Try a category word
Browse nearby results if you find something close
This usually works better than repeating one long phrase.
Example
Let’s say you are looking for vinyl siding.
Try this order:
siding
vinyl siding
vinyl
browse nearby siding-related items
If you start with a very detailed phrase, you may miss the item even though it is in the costbook.
Still not finding it?
If you still cannot find the material:
try a broader category term
try a common alternate name
check nearby items in the same section
contact support if you think the item should be included but cannot find it