Construction Law

Why Are Construction Project Daily Reports are So Important? featured image

Why Are Construction Project Daily Reports are So Important?

Accountability is so important in business, even more so on a construction site. However, with so many contractors and subcontractors using a variety of tools to perform a myriad of tasks, it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. Construction projects are dynamic and not easily managed. However, in the “get it done” culture of construction, even the smallest details are critical.

Daily reports, especially on a long-term project are tedious. However, if a delay occurs on your project, they can be your best friend. Daily reports serve as a living story of what happened on a construction site. It can serve a number of purposes for a general contractor, but its primary benefit is to protect you. For instance, if you need a Florida construction lawyer to help you defend a delay claim, having a daily report will make their efforts much more effective.

Components of a Daily Report

A daily report is only as effective as the effort that’s being put into producing it. It may sound simplistic, but a daily report should be done daily. Often these reports are pushed aside to the end of the day on Friday which leaves the general contractor relying on memory to recount what happened daily. This may make it less likely that the report will be admissible in a court proceeding. Every daily report should include:

  • Weather conditions
  • Site conditions
  • Summary of the day’s activities including what was accomplished and any delays
  • Workers on-site
  • Equipment on-site, including the condition of the equipment and whether it’s owned or rented
  • Materials received
  • Quality of work
  • Inspectors and other on-site visitors
  • Photos and videos, if applicable

Benefits of a Daily Report

As previously stated, a daily report can prove vital should you ever need to defend a claim. Other benefits include:

  • Giving you the ability to view planned versus actual costs to analyze any discrepancies.
  • Creating an as-built schedule to stand in where projects don’t have a schedule or when an inadequate one is in place.
  • Allowing general contractors to examine productivity (or lack thereof) across all areas of the project.
  • Helping determine the impact of weather-related events.
  • Serving as a living record of a project in the event that project personnel or management changes.

To request a consultation with one of our Florida construction lawyers, please call us today at 813.579.3278 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.