What a general contractor work order is for
A GC coordinates many subcontractors who each need the same site rules and the right plan revision. A work order per phase or sub, with the scope, schedule, inspections and site rules, keeps trades from tripping over each other and makes sure the inspector sees what the plans show.
What to put on a general contractor work order
- Phase and scope for the sub.
- Plans and revision to use.
- Schedule and sequence.
- Site rules: hours, parking, toilets, dust.
- Inspections and who calls them.
- Safety requirements.
A worked example
The rough-in phase on the addition for the electrical and HVAC subcontractors. Prices are hidden.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical rough-in per plan | 1 | each | Your price |
| HVAC rough-in and duct runs | 1 | each | Your price |
| Plumbing rough-in for wet bar | 1 | each | Your price |
| Schedule rough inspections | 1 | each | Your price |
Put the plan revision and the site hours in site notes. A sub working from an old revision is a costly mistake.
Line items general contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| General conditions | month | Supervision, temporary facilities, insurance and site costs for the job's duration. |
| Site work and excavation | each | Clearing, digging and grading. |
| Foundation | each | Footings, walls or slab per plan. |
| Framing | each | Walls, floors and roof structure. |
| Roofing | square | By subcontractor; material and warranty. |
| Windows and exterior doors | each | Allowance or specified models. |
| Plumbing, by licensed subcontractor | each | Rough and finish. |
| Electrical, by licensed subcontractor | each | Rough and finish. |
| HVAC, by licensed subcontractor | each | Equipment and ductwork. |
| Insulation and drywall | sq ft | R-values per code; finish level. |
| Interior finishes allowance | each | Flooring, trim, paint, fixtures. |
| Permits, plans and inspections | each | Building department fees and any engineering. |
| Dumpster and final cleaning | each | Debris removal and a clean handover. |
| Overhead and profit | each | Shown separately or built into the lines. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for general contractor
- Markup calculator
- Profit margin calculator
- Demolition cost calculator
- Foundation repair cost calculator
- Deck cost calculator
The same work order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.