FREE Construction Scope of Work Template
Master construction scope of work with our intuitive construction scope of work Gantt chart template.
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Why use our Construction Scope of Work Template instead of Excel or Google Sheets?
Get started with our Construction Scope of Work Template in seconds while skipping the hassle involved with Excel or Google Sheets.
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How to use Tom’s Planner’s construction scope of work template to build and share your construction project.
Getting your project off the ground is as easy as 1-2-3.
Step #1
Click the 'start with template’ button to open the Construction Scope of Work Template.
Step #2
Register for a free account and watch a short video on using Tom’s Planner. The account is free forever, with no strings attached.
Step #3
You’re all set to use the Gantt chart template. Need additional help? Our AI assistant can create a custom Gantt chart Construction Scope of Work Template based on your project description.
What is the scope of work in construction?
A construction scope of work is precisely what it sounds like — a document that outlines the work to be done, the parties responsible for the work, the materials to be used, the hazards expected during the projects, and more.
You may also know a construction scope of work as a statement of work. It details everything that goes into the project and helps ensure that the client and general contractor are on the same page. It also helps ensure accountability with subcontractors, provides clarity on the type and quality of materials to be used, and aids in avoiding or at least planning for potential problems that might be encountered.
A construction scope of work template is a simplified way of achieving this type of document. Templates include commonly used fields and allow you to plug in names, dates, material types, and more, quickly creating a customized construction scope of work.
A Gantt chart goes above and beyond
While a construction scope of work is a critical document for any construction project, using a Gantt chart is also vital. A tool like Tom’s Planner offers significant advantages and is an important part of the broader scope of work.
What does a Gantt chart make possible? It’s all about ensuring you’re able to accurately plan your project. Tom’s Planner allows you to create visual timelines, define tasks and resources, add colors and labels, insert relevant information, and then effortlessly update fields as your project evolves.
A construction scope of work typically includes many fields, some of which can be found below:
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) codes
- Percentage complete
- Project milestones
- Payment schedules
- Projected task duration
- Start and finish dates
However, with Tom’s Planner, you get the customization you need to ensure accurate planning and the best chance of success for your project. Some of the customization options include:
- Materials and supplies inventory and allocation
- Contractors assigned to tasks and subtasks, including contact information
- Project-related expenses tracked against a schedule of values
- Key project milestones
- Task dependencies and interrelationships
As you can see, a Gantt chart should be part of your construction scope of work. Without it, planning becomes much more difficult.
A simple Gantt chart scope of work construction example
Your construction scope of work template can be as simple or complex as necessary. Here is an example of what a SOW might look like.
The image above gives you an idea of just what you can include within a construction scope of work template and how easily you can customize it to each individual project. That’s certainly not something you can say about Excel or Google Sheets.
When should you use a construction scope of work template?
A construction scope of work and a Gantt chart should be part of every construction project. It dramatically reduces the time required to create a scope of work for construction, improves accountability, and ensures accuracy in planning the project. Some of the most common uses include:
Planning Phase:
Make planning a construction process much simpler with a customizable Gantt chart like Tom’s Planner. It allows you to create a roadmap to guide the project forward, identify key tasks and subtasks, and specify required resources.
Bidding Process:
A Gantt chart makes submitting accurate, compelling proposals and winning contracts simpler. You can easily demonstrate competence, skills, experience, and more while breaking out costs and timelines.
Resource Allocation:
Resource allocation and management are critical to a successful project. A tool like Tom’s Planner helps orchestrate allocating and managing labor, materials, supplies, equipment, and more.
During Construction:
While it would be nice if projects remained as planned throughout the project, the truth is that they evolve, sometimes considerably. Using a Gantt chart lets you update your construction scope of work to match those changes.
Stakeholder Communication:
Keep all stakeholders in the project on the same page with an accurate, up-to-date construction scope of work. A Gantt chart makes this simple with flexible fields, customizations, and ease of updating.
Budget Management:
A Gantt chart makes it simple to align payments with milestones, track expenses against projected costs, and avoid budget overruns, which often make the difference between success and failure.
Who should use a construction scope of work template?
Anyone involved in construction can benefit from a scope of work. Some of the most common users include:
General Contractors:
A Gantt chart makes it easy for general contractors to coordinate tasks, set and manage deadlines, and communicate important details with stakeholders across the entire project.
Subcontractors:
Subcontractors can use a construction scope of work Gantt chart to synchronize their tasks with other professionals, plan material needs, and define their labor costs.
Clients:
Clients benefit from accurate communication and easy access to project-related information within a Gantt chart. That supports their ability to make informed decisions regarding the project.
The top three pitfalls to avoid when planning a construction scope of work
While a scope of work for construction will help keep the project on the rails and ensure transparency and accountability throughout, you need to plan it correctly. Failure to do so can lead to problems. Avoid these three pitfalls:
Failing to plan accurately: Your construction scope of work must be as specific as possible. That’s particularly true when listing roles and responsibilities, but it applies to all other areas, too, like deliverables. Accuracy is also particularly important when listing milestones, quality-related materials, inspections, and more.
Solution:The best rule of thumb is to be as accurate as possible and avoid vague language entirely. A Gantt chart can help ensure accuracy, ease of updating information, and detailed project planning.
Including out-of-scope deliverables: All deliverables should tie back to the project’s objectives. Any that don’t are probably outside the scope.
Solution:By stating deliverables clearly within the SOW, you can also help prevent scope creep, which can affect any project of any size.
Neglecting verification and approval processes: Make sure to include procedures for verifying and approving completed work. This certainly applies to the client’s final sign-off after the last walkthrough, but most projects include multiple milestones, most of which require verification of the work completed and approval to continue.
Solution:Make verifications and approvals key milestones within your project. Tom’s Planner lets you set and manage milestones with ease.
What does a construction scope of work template include?
A construction scope of work template should include several elements, including:
- An overview of the entire project that includes the goals for the finished project. Think of this as something like an executive summary or list of key takeaways. The overview should provide at-a-glance information that highlights the overall project and the most salient points.
- A list of the project’s objectives. What are the expected outcomes? What are the project’s aims? How will you tell if the project reaches those?
- A list of measurable deliverables. Note that deliverables and objectives are sometimes synonymous, but not always. In some cases, deliverables allow the client to achieve their objectives.
- A full breakdown of the project’s scope. This should include a wide range of elements, such as the physical area where the project takes place, systems required to complete the project, components required, tasks included, and techniques needed.
- A summary of the project’s expected schedule, including major and minor milestones. It should also include key deadlines, particularly those that support the beginning of a new phase of the project, as well as the final expected completion date.
- An explanation of how the project will be managed and other administrative elements, such as the pay schedule, the process for handling changes, and more.
Note that every construction scope of project is unique. Using a scope of project template allows you to customize the document to reflect the specific project in question. Additional fields that may be required for a construction scope of work checklist include:
- Quality standards
- Health and safety information
- Payment terms
Four tips on how to make sure you reach your deadlines
While every construction scope of work will be unique, a few tips and best practices can help ensure your success.
1. Reasonable expectations matter
A construction scope of work document lays out the entire project and all its moving parts. It’s all too easy to overpromise in your attempt to get the contract. Avoid that. Set reasonable expectations for all stakeholders regarding critical elements like the project’s timeline, materials, and costs. Doing so will help avoid disputes down the road. Note that this is also to the client’s benefit, as clear, reasonable expectations help ensure that they are on the same page with other stakeholders.
2. Balance succinctness and detail
Your construction scope of work should be clear and easily understood. That means avoiding industry jargon whenever possible. Even seemingly basic terms like “joist” can be confusing for some clients. Strike a balance between succinctness and detail that ensures everyone can understand the document and that no important details are omitted. The point is to create a document that supports understanding and clarifies all aspects of the project.
3. Use visual assets to improve understanding
While your scope of work will be text-based, you can and should include visual assets. These can be important for several reasons, including ensuring that clients and stakeholders understand complex ideas and have a solid understanding of what the finished project will look like. Feel free to include a broad range of materials, including charts, graphs, sketches, CAD drawings, and more.
4. Plan for successThe key to any successful project is accurate planning. A construction scope of work helps, but don’t neglect other tools. A Gantt chart like Tom’s Planner gives you the ability to create visual timelines, color-code tasks, set and adjust budgets, and more.
Gantt charts in Tom's Planner vs in Excel
| Excel | Tom's Planner | |
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| Cost | License required | Free version available |
| Learning curve | Hours | Minutes |
| Create your first Gantt chart | Hours | Minutes |
| Making an update in your chart | Several minutes | Seconds (drag & drop) |
| Sharing charts with others | At some point you will save and email a file titled: version_4_def_usethisversion_reallyfinal.xlsx | Online, one source of truth, always up to date, with no confusion |
| Look & Feel | Messy | Clean, polished and professional |
| Dependencies | 
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| Filtering | 
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| Zoom in/out |
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| Automatic Legend |
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| AI-assist |
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Let our AI assist do the work for you |
| Export to image or pdf | Requires workarounds to export | One mouse click |
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