Construction Law

The Importance of Field Documentation in Construction Part 1

Anybody in the construction industry will tell you that accurate documentation is as much a part of the job site as concrete and hard hats. Or at least it should be. In the “get it done” culture of construction, it can be easy to forget that everything that happens on a site, both positive and negative, should be documented. The flow of your project, its ability to stay within budget, and your ability to protect yourself in litigation depends on it.

Here are a few examples of critical documentation that every construction project should include:

• Contractual Agreement
• Daily Logs
• Field Reports
• Force Account Reports
• Change Orders

In the first part of our series, we will examine a few reasons why field documentation is important to your project. Additional reasons will be given in the second part.

Reduces the Risk of Lawsuit

If you are in the construction industry long enough, you are going to have a dispute. The best way to protect yourself when disputes arise is to have solid documentation of all aspects of your project. This includes daily logs, capturing project activity, and field reports that capture specific instances. Should a claim be filed against you, an Orlando construction lawyer can gather these records and use them to build your case.

Tracks Project Costs

It’s critical to account for every expenditure on a job site to ensure that the project remains under budget. Keeping a log of all project expenses will help you see where your money is going and allow you to see if adjustments need to be made in order to stay under budget. Tracking project costs is also critical when it comes to dealing with costs outside of the project’s scope. Many construction projects use a force account to pay out of scope costs. Accurate documentation is needed in this case as well.

Tracks Project Status

Stakeholders, whether they are site owners, investors or government officials, will want to know the status of your project. Proper documentation of every aspect of the project, including pictures, daily logs, and field reports helps all audiences understand what phase a project is in and correct any issues that may arise.

To request a consultation with a member of our team of reputable Orlando construction lawyers, please call us today at 407.378.6575 or submit our contact request form.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.