What a remodeling work order is for
A remodel has a different crew or sub almost every week, and each one needs the same house rules: where to park, which bathroom they can use, how dust is contained, and what must be protected. A work order per phase passes those along and lists the tasks and materials for the day.
What to put on a remodeling work order
- The phase and tasks for the day.
- Materials on site or to bring.
- Protection and dust control.
- Access, parking and which bathroom to use.
- Inspections scheduled.
- Sign-off at the end of the phase.
A worked example
Demolition day on the bath. The crew needs the protection plan and what stays. Prices are hidden.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protect hallway floor and set up dust wall | 1 | each | Your price |
| Remove vanity, toilet and tub | 1 | each | Your price |
| Remove tile and drywall to studs | 1 | each | Your price |
| Load dumpster and sweep | 1 | each | Your price |
Put the hallway protection, the guest bath for the crew and the mirror the owner is keeping in site notes. The mirror line is the kind of detail that gets lost.
Line items remodelers use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and haul-away | each | Say what stays: cabinets, flooring, fixtures. |
| Dumpster | each | Size and how long it stays. |
| Framing changes | hour | Walls moved or added; say whether walls are load bearing. |
| Plumbing rough-in and finish | each | By a licensed plumber where required. |
| Electrical rough-in and finish | each | By a licensed electrician where required. |
| Drywall hang, tape and finish | sq ft | Level of finish. |
| Cabinets, supply and install | ft | Linear feet; brand and door style. |
| Countertops, fabricate and install | sq ft | Material, edge and sink cutouts. |
| Tile, floor or wall | sq ft | Tile allowance per square foot, plus setting. |
| Flooring | sq ft | Material and underlayment. |
| Fixtures allowance | each | Allowance amount the customer picks within. |
| Paint | sq ft | Walls, ceilings and trim in the remodeled space. |
| Permits and inspections | each | Building, plumbing and electrical as required. |
| Project management and cleanup | day | Daily site cleanup and coordination. |
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 remodeling
- Flooring cost calculator
- Drywall cost calculator
- Demolition cost calculator
- Markup calculator
- Profit margin 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, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for remodelers: how remodelers run on Koira.