Save hours every week with the Contractor AI Operating System
Now includes a project-manager job set: submittals, OAC minutes, pay apps, and look-aheads. Say "run my project like a PM" for a submittal register, OAC minutes with every action item owned, a G702/G703-style pay-app draft for your review, and a three-week look-ahead on one PM Board — drafted into your Gmail, Calendar, and Drive for your approval. Every prompt included — 64 skills in all.
Installs as a Claude Cowork plugin — and every prompt is included as an HTML page you can use in ChatGPT, Gemini, or any AI. How to install → Prices are in USD; Gumroad applies fair local pricing at checkout in eligible countries.
Construction project managers use Claude to draft the paperwork that fills the week: RFIs, change order narratives, owner progress reports, scopes of work, and OAC meeting minutes. You give it your field notes, drawing and spec references, and the quotes you have; it returns a structured draft that you check and send. It only knows what you give it, so it has no view of your drawings, schedule, or local code unless you provide them, and nothing it writes replaces review by the architect or engineer of record.
Below: what Claude does in construction management, the free Construction Project Manager plugin and its four commands, a Project setup, five prompts you can copy (progress report, RFI, change order, estimate summary, scope of work), and straight answers on cost, estimating, and ChatGPT.
How is Claude used in construction management?
Mostly for writing and organizing. A PM pastes field notes and gets a progress report for the owner, describes a drawing conflict and gets an RFI with a proposed resolution, or pastes OAC notes and gets minutes with an action-item table. The engineering, pricing, and contract decisions stay with you and your team.
Typical jobs, each covered by a prompt further down:
- Weekly progress reports from field notes, with percent complete by trade, schedule status, safety, and upcoming work.
- RFIs that cite the sheet and spec section, describe the conflict, and propose resolutions for the design team.
- Change order narratives for differing site conditions or owner changes, with the cost and schedule impact you supply.
- Estimate summaries in CSI division format that separate firm quotes from allowances.
- Scopes of work for subcontractors, with inclusions, exclusions, and coordination requirements.
What is Claude Cowork?
Claude Cowork is Anthropic's agent workspace inside the Claude app. It runs plugins and skills and can work through multi-step tasks and hand back finished files. Since September 16, 2026 Anthropic has been merging Cowork and chat into one Claude app, so you may see it as part of Claude rather than a separate mode. Cowork and plugins need a paid Claude plan, starting with Pro.
Claude-native prompts. The prompts in this guide use XML tags (
<context>,<instructions>,<avoid>) to separate your facts from your instructions. They work in ChatGPT too.
The free Construction Project Manager plugin: four commands
The Construction Project Manager plugin is free. Type a command and pick it from the menu; if you paste it, Claude reads it as ordinary text.
| Command | What it drafts |
|---|---|
/project-estimate |
Cost estimates with line items, labor, materials, contingency, and a summary |
/change-order |
Change order documentation with the scope change, cost impact, schedule adjustment, and approval routing |
/progress-report |
Weekly or monthly progress reports with milestones, budget status, and risks |
/rfi-response |
RFI responses with technical clarifications, drawing references, and resolution notes |
Two skills switch on by themselves when they're relevant: Construction Management (estimating, scheduling, project controls, contract administration) and Stakeholder Communication (owner, architect, and subcontractor correspondence, meeting minutes).
To install it in the Claude app: Customize → Plugins → Add → Add marketplace → Add from a repository, paste alexclowe/awesome-claude-cowork-plugins, click Sync, then click Add next to Construction Project Manager under Discover. Plugins need a paid Claude plan. In Claude Code: run /plugin marketplace add alexclowe/awesome-claude-cowork-plugins, then /plugin install construction-pm@awesome-claude-cowork-plugins. Step-by-step screenshots are in how to install the Construction PM plugin.
What's paid: The free plugin covers every prompt on this page. If you want the recurring PM paperwork run for you, the Contractor AI Operating System (the card near the top of this page) adds a "run my project like a PM" job: a submittal register and transmittals, OAC agendas and minutes with every action item owned, a monthly pay application draft in the usual G702/G703 layout for your review (it never certifies one), and a three-week look-ahead, all tracked on one PM Board. It also covers bids, change orders, weekly client updates, and chasing payments. Drafts land in your Gmail, Calendar, and Drive for your approval if you connect them, and nothing is sent without your click.
Set up a Claude Project for your jobs
A Claude Project keeps your instructions and reference files in one place, so you don't re-explain your company and job every time. If you use the plugin, its skills load on their own; the Project adds your company's formats and the current job's details.
Step 1: Create a Construction PM Project. In Claude, click "Projects" and create one called something like "My Construction Projects."
Step 2: Set your custom instructions. In the Project settings, add instructions like:
You are my construction project management assistant. Here is my context:
<business-profile>
- Name: [Your Name], [Your Company]
- Role: Project Manager
- Project types: [Commercial / Residential / Industrial / Infrastructure / Renovation]
- Current project: [Project Name, Location, General Contractor or Owner info]
- Project value: $[X]
- Contract type: [Lump Sum / GMP / Cost-Plus / Design-Build]
- Key software: [Procore / Bluebeam / PlanGrid / MS Project / Primavera]
</business-profile>
<rules>
- When writing RFIs, follow our company's standard numbering format: [Project Code]-RFI-[Sequential Number].
- When writing reports, use clear section headers and bullet points for readability.
- Always note that specifications, code references, and cost figures need verification by the appropriate licensed professional.
</rules>Step 3: Upload reference documents. Add your company's RFI templates, progress report formats, change order forms, scope of work examples, or specification sections to the Project knowledge base. Claude will reference these when generating content.
Step 4: Start every session inside this Project. This ensures Claude always has your context loaded.
Five construction PM prompts to copy
1. Progress Reports That Keep Stakeholders Informed
<task>Write a weekly construction progress report for the owner.</task>
<context>
- Project: Meridian Office Tower, Phase 2 Interior Buildout, March 16-22, 2027
- Completed: drywall floors 3-5 (95%), MEP rough-in floor 6 (60%), elevator cab started, fire suppression floors 1-2 passed
- Delays: tile delivery pushed 5 days (supplier backorder), no schedule impact yet
- Safety: zero incidents, 47 consecutive days without recordable
- Upcoming: flooring floors 3-4 Monday, elevator inspection Thursday
</context>
<instructions>
- Sections: Executive Summary, Work Completed, Schedule Status, Safety, Issues/Risks, Upcoming
- Include % complete for major trades, note tile delay impact potential
- Professional concise tone, under 400 words
</instructions>
<avoid>Editorializing on subs, including cost details, or speculating without data</avoid>2. RFIs That Get Clear Answers
<task>Draft an RFI regarding a conflict between structural and mechanical drawings.</task>
<context>
- Project: Meridian Office Tower, RFI: MOT-RFI-087
- Location: Floor 6, Grid C-D between lines 3-4
- Issue: S-601 shows 24"x24" column at C-3.5, M-601 routes 16" HVAC duct through same location
- Specs: 05 12 00 (Structural Steel), 23 31 13 (Ductwork)
- Impact: ductwork crew starting this area next Tuesday
</context>
<instructions>
- Standard RFI format: issue, references, suggested resolution, schedule impact
- Propose two resolutions for design team, note urgency, under 250 words
</instructions>
<avoid>Assigning blame, making engineering recommendations, or including cost implications</avoid>3. Change Orders With Clear Justification
<task>Draft a change order request for unforeseen site conditions.</task>
<context>
- Project: Riverside Elementary School Renovation, CO: RES-CO-012
- Issue: asbestos tile found beneath VCT in east wing corridor, not in original hazmat survey
- Scope: ~2,400 sq ft abatement, corridors E-1 through E-4
- Quote: $18,750 (containment, removal, monitoring, disposal), 8-day schedule impact
</context>
<instructions>
- Sections: changed condition, original scope reference, justification, cost, schedule impact
- Reference hazmat survey, cite differing site condition clause, factual tone, under 350 words
</instructions>
<avoid>Implying surveyor negligence, including markup percentages, or making legal conclusions</avoid>4. Cost Estimates and Budget Summaries
<task>Create a preliminary cost estimate summary for a tenant improvement project.</task>
<context>
- Project: Suite 400 TI, Apex Legal Group, 4,200 sq ft, downtown Portland, OR
- Scope: demo, 12 offices, 2 conference rooms, reception, ceiling, lighting, HVAC mods, 30 data drops, paint/carpet
- Quotes received: drywall ($38,500), electrical ($29,200), HVAC ($22,800), flooring ($16,400)
- Pending: fire protection, plumbing, millwork
</context>
<instructions>
- CSI division format, received quotes + allowances for pending trades
- Add general conditions, permits, contingency (10%), summary table with total
- Note firm quotes vs. allowances, narrative under 200 words
</instructions>
<avoid>Presenting allowances as firm, including fee/margin, or guaranteeing the total</avoid>5. Scope of Work Documents
<task>Write a scope of work for a painting subcontractor on a commercial project.</task>
<context>
- Project: Meridian Office Tower Phase 2, floors 3-6 corridors, lobbies, restrooms
- Surfaces: ~45,000 sq ft new drywall, 84 metal door frames, mechanical rooms (block walls)
- Spec: 09 91 00. Prime + 2 coats latex (drywall), semi-gloss (frames), block filler + 2 coats (mech rooms)
- Schedule: coordinate with flooring installer, off-hours on occupied floors 3-4
</context>
<instructions>
- Sections: inclusions, exclusions, material specs, schedule, quality standards
- Include surface prep, trade coordination, protection and cleanup requirements
- Professional contract language, under 400 words
</instructions>
<avoid>Specifying brands unless required by spec, including pricing, or omitting exclusions</avoid>Prompting tips for construction PMs
1. Always reference specific drawing and spec numbers. "See drawing S-601, grid C-3.5" gives Claude the context to write precisely. Vague descriptions produce vague output.
2. Specify your contract type. Lump sum, GMP, and cost-plus projects have different change order and reporting requirements. Tell Claude which applies.
3. Include schedule context. Noting "this is on the critical path" or "this has 5 days of float" changes the urgency and framing of any communication Claude drafts.
4. Upload your company templates. The fastest way to get Claude to match your format is to upload examples of your best reports, RFIs, and change orders to the Project knowledge base.
5. Use Claude for pre-meeting prep. Ask "Summarize the top 5 issues I should raise at tomorrow's OAC meeting based on these notes" to walk into meetings prepared.
6. Always verify technical details. Claude can draft the narrative, but you must verify all drawing references, specification sections, code citations, and cost figures before issuing any document.
Privacy and professional review
Verify specifications and building codes. Claude only sees the project documents you paste or upload, and it doesn't know your local building code. All references to code sections, specification requirements, and drawing details must be verified against the actual project documents before issuing any RFI, change order, or report.
No engineering certifications. Claude cannot and does not provide engineering analysis, structural calculations, or design recommendations. Any document that requires a professional engineer's stamp must be reviewed and sealed by a licensed PE. Claude drafts the narrative; licensed professionals provide the technical validation.
Review with licensed professionals. Change orders involving structural modifications, life safety systems, or code compliance issues must be reviewed by the appropriate licensed architect or engineer before submission. Use Claude's output as a starting point, not a final product.
Confidential project data. Be cautious about pasting proprietary cost data, bid tabulations, or confidential contract terms into Claude. Use general figures when possible and reserve exact financials for your internal systems.
Is Claude free for construction project managers?
Claude has a free plan, and the prompts on this page work in it. The plugin and Cowork need a paid plan: Claude Pro is $20 a month, or $17 a month billed annually, and Max, Team, and Enterprise plans are also available. Check claude.com/pricing for current prices, because Anthropic changes them.
The Construction Project Manager plugin itself is free on any paid plan.
Can Claude do construction estimating?
It can organize an estimate, not price one. Give it your quantities and the sub quotes you have, and it builds a summary by CSI division, adds the general conditions and contingency you specify, and marks which lines are firm quotes and which are allowances. It doesn't know current material or labor prices in your market, so every number has to come from you, your subs, or your estimating software.
Can Claude write RFIs and change orders?
Yes, and they're two of its best uses. For an RFI, give it the sheet and grid location, the spec sections, what conflicts, and when the crew reaches that area; it writes the question, the references, and two proposed resolutions. For a change order, give it the condition you found, the original scope, the quote, and the schedule impact. Check every drawing and spec reference against your documents, and leave entitlement and notice questions to your contract and your attorney.
Is Claude or ChatGPT better for construction project managers?
Either one can turn good notes into a clear RFI or report. The practical differences are which tool your company allows, and whether you want ready-made construction commands, which is what the free plugin adds on the Claude side. If your company already pays for one of them, start there.
Related guides and tools
- Construction Project Manager plugin: every command and install step
- How to install the Construction PM plugin
- Best AI tools for construction project managers in 2026
- How to write a construction change order with AI
- Writing an RFI that gets answered in 48 hours
- AI Construction Progress Report Generator
- AI RFI Writer for Construction
- AI Change Order Generator
Set up AI for your job — free, in about 2 minutes
Pick your profession and get your first working AI tool, a step-by-step guide, and a $0 plugin to take home. No credit card.
Get my free setupContractor AI Operating System
Now includes a project-manager job set: submittals, OAC minutes, pay apps, and look-aheads. Say "run my project like a PM" for a submittal register, OAC minutes with every action item owned, a G702/G703-style pay-app draft for your review, and a three-week look-ahead on one PM Board — drafted into your Gmail, Calendar, and Drive for your approval. Every prompt included — 64 skills in all.
Get the Operating System for $19Installs as a Claude Cowork plugin — and every prompt is included as an HTML page you can use in ChatGPT, Gemini, or any AI. How to install → Prices are in USD; Gumroad applies fair local pricing at checkout in eligible countries.