🏗️ Construction Estimator Web App

A professional, AI-powered construction estimation tool with mobile-friendly chat interface and comprehensive PDF report generation.

✨ Features

• 🤖 AI-Powered Chat Interface - Natural conversation using Claude 3.5 Sonnet
• 📊 Comprehensive Estimates - Labor, materials, equipment, permits, and timeline
• 📄 Professional PDF Reports - Detailed breakdowns with supplier information
• 📦 Inventory Management - Real-time material availability checking
• 🚜 Equipment Suggestions - Automated equipment rental recommendations
• 📱 Mobile Responsive - Perfect for demos on phones and tablets
• ⚡ Demo Mode - Works without API key for testing and demonstrations
• 🎨 Modern UI - Clean, professional interface with smooth animations

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Node.js 16.x or higher
• npm or yarn
• Anthropic API key (optional - demo mode available)

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/estimator-web-app.git
   cd estimator-web-app

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Configure environment variables

   cp .env.example .env

   Edit .env and add your Anthropic API key (or skip for demo mode):

   ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-api-key-here
   PORT=3000

4. Start the server

   npm start

5. Access the application

   • Local: http://localhost:3000
   • Network: http://YOUR_IP_ADDRESS:3000

📖 Usage

Basic Example

1. Open the application in your browser
2. Type: "I need an estimate for building a 600 sqft pool"
3. Answer the AI's questions about your project details
4. Click "Generate Full Estimate" to see comprehensive breakdown
5. Download professional PDF report
6. Check inventory availability

Demo Mode

The app automatically runs in Demo Mode if no API key is provided. This mode:

• ✅ Provides structured conversation flow
• ✅ Generates full estimates with calculations
• ✅ Creates PDF reports
• ✅ Perfect for demonstrations and testing

To enable AI features, add your Anthropic API key to .env

🏗️ Project Structure

estimator-web-app/
├── public/
│   ├── index.html          # Main chat interface
│   ├── styles.css          # Responsive styling
│   ├── app.js              # Frontend JavaScript
│   └── test.html           # Connection test page
├── server.js               # Express server & API endpoints
├── package.json            # Dependencies
├── .env                    # Environment variables
├── .env.example            # Environment template
├── .gitignore              # Git ignore rules
├── README.md               # This file
├── QUICK_START.md          # Quick setup guide
├── TROUBLESHOOTING.md      # Common issues & solutions
└── ALLOW_FIREWALL.bat      # Windows firewall helper

📊 Estimate Breakdown

Each estimate includes:

💼 Labor Costs

• Excavation work
• Concrete/structural work
• Plumbing installation
• Electrical systems
• Finishing work

🧱 Materials

• Quantities and unit prices
• Supplier recommendations
• Total material costs
• Delivery considerations

🚜 Equipment Rental

• Required equipment list
• Daily rental rates
• Duration estimates
• Supplier contacts

📜 Permits & Compliance

• Building permits
• Electrical permits
• Plumbing permits
• Pool-specific permits
• Processing timelines

📅 Project Timeline

• Total project duration
• Phase-by-phase breakdown
• Critical milestones
• Inspection schedules

📦 Inventory Requirements

• Complete materials list
• Quantities needed
• Stock availability
• Lead times

🎨 Screenshots

Chat Interface

Beautiful, mobile-responsive chat interface for natural project discussions.

Estimate View

Comprehensive cost breakdown with all project details.

PDF Report

Professional PDF reports ready for client presentation.

🔧 Configuration

Updating Pricing Data

Edit server.js and modify the constructionData object:

const constructionData = {
  labor: {
    excavation: { rate: 45, unit: 'hour' },
    // Add more labor types...
  },
  materials: {
    concrete: {
      price: 150,
      unit: 'cubic yard',
      supplier: 'Your Supplier'
    },
    // Add more materials...
  },
  equipment: {
    excavator: {
      price: 350,
      unit: 'day',
      supplier: 'Equipment Co'
    },
    // Add more equipment...
  }
};

Custom Project Types

The calculation engine in calculateEstimate() can be extended to support:

• Residential construction
• Commercial projects
• Renovations & remodeling
• Foundation work
• Deck construction
• And more!

📱 Mobile Access

Setup for Phone Demos

1. Find your computer's IP address:

   # Windows
   ipconfig
   
   # Mac/Linux
   ifconfig

2. Allow firewall connections (Windows):

   • Right-click ALLOW_FIREWALL.bat
   • Select "Run as Administrator"

   Or manually:

   netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Estimator App" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=3000

3. Access from phone:

   • Connect phone to same WiFi network
   • Open browser and go to: http://YOUR_IP:3000

🛠️ Tech Stack

• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• AI: Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet
• PDF Generation: PDFKit
• Frontend: Vanilla JavaScript, CSS3, HTML5
• Architecture: RESTful API, Session-based state

🔐 Security Notes

• API keys stored in .env (never committed)
• CORS enabled for development
• Session-based architecture (no persistent storage)
• Input validation on all endpoints

📦 API Endpoints

POST /api/chat

Handle conversational messages and gather project details.

Request:

{
  "message": "I need an estimate for a pool",
  "sessionId": "session_123"
}

Response:

{
  "response": "I'd be happy to help! What's the size...",
  "canGenerateEstimate": false
}

POST /api/generate-estimate

Generate comprehensive project estimate.

Request:

{
  "sessionId": "session_123"
}

Response:

{
  "estimate": { /* full estimate data */ },
  "projectData": { /* extracted project details */ }
}

POST /api/generate-pdf

Create downloadable PDF report.

Request:

{
  "estimate": { /* estimate data */ },
  "projectData": { /* project details */ }
}

Response: PDF file download

POST /api/check-inventory

Check material availability.

Request:

{
  "items": [{ "name": "Concrete", "quantity": 10 }]
}

Response:

{
  "inventory": [
    {
      "name": "Concrete",
      "inStock": true,
      "availableQuantity": 500,
      "leadTime": "In stock"
    }
  ]
}

🐛 Troubleshooting

See TROUBLESHOOTING.md for detailed solutions to common issues.

Quick fixes:

• Can't connect from phone? Run ALLOW_FIREWALL.bat as Administrator
• API errors? Check .env file for valid API key (or use demo mode)
• Server won't start? Make sure port 3000 is available

🚀 Deployment

Production Deployment

For production use:

1. Set NODE_ENV=production
2. Use a process manager (PM2, Forever)
3. Set up SSL/HTTPS
4. Use Redis for session storage
5. Implement rate limiting
6. Add authentication for multi-user access

Docker Deployment (Coming Soon)

# Dockerfile example
FROM node:16-alpine
WORKDIR /app
COPY package*.json ./
RUN npm install --production
COPY . .
EXPOSE 3000
CMD ["npm", "start"]

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

📋 Roadmap

• User authentication and project history
• Database integration (PostgreSQL/MongoDB)
• Email PDF reports to clients
• Real inventory system integration
• Multi-language support
• Advanced project templates
• Cost comparison tools
• Client portal with project tracking
• Mobile app (React Native)
• Real-time collaboration features

📝 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

👨‍💻 Author

JRodAmazing

• Heavy Iron Consults
• Built with ❤️ for construction professionals

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Built with Anthropic Claude for AI capabilities
• Express.js for the backend framework
• PDFKit for PDF generation
• Font icons and inspiration from modern web design trends

📞 Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests:

• Open an issue on GitHub
• Check TROUBLESHOOTING.md
• Review QUICK_START.md

---

⭐ Star this repo if you find it helpful!

Made with 🔨 by JRodAmazing | © 2025 Heavy Iron Consults