> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.betterbuilding.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.betterbuilding.io/sign-up-and-plans/news-and-updates/2026/construction-templates-what-they-are-and-why-youll-use-them-constantly.md).
# Construction Templates: What They Are and Why You'll Use Them Constantly
If you've recently joined the platform, construction templates are one of the first features worth getting familiar with. They'll save you time, and (more importantly) they'll save you from manually rebuilding the same wall assemblies over and over again.
#### The Basics
A construction template is exactly what it sounds like: a pre-built layered assembly representing a wall, roof, or floor. Each template contains the full material stack, so you're not starting from scratch every time you need to model a cavity wall or a warm roof build-up.
The platform includes a substantial library of these templates for [walls](/support-and-training/other-support/platform-generic-material-data/wall-construction-templates.md), [roof](/support-and-training/other-support/platform-generic-material-data/roof-construction-templates.md) and [floors](/support-and-training/other-support/platform-generic-material-data/floor-construction-templates.md), covering common construction types you'll encounter across most projects. They're set up to work with thermal assessments, moisture assessments, dew point analysis, and upfront carbon calculations. So whether you're checking U-values or trying to figure out if your client's ambitious insulation spec is going to cause interstitial condensation problems, templates give you a solid starting point.
#### Build Your Own
The pre-loaded templates cover a lot of ground, but real projects have a habit of not quite matching the textbook examples. You can create custom templates, tweak the layer thicknesses and materials to match your actual specification, and save them for reuse. Once you've built a template for that particular cladding system your architect keeps specifying, you won't have to reconstruct it from memory six months later.
This is particularly useful for assessing thermal performance including repeating thermal bridging (the kind that comes from regularly spaced fixings, studs, or rails). Getting those calculations right matters, and having a reusable template means you're not re-entering the same data every time.
{% hint style="info" %}
Learn how to [update templates](/user-guide/elements.md) or [take a course](/support-and-training/on-demand-courses/total-r-values.md).
{% endhint %}
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