The scope of work is provided in an estimate. It refers to the extent of the work that will be done on your project, as well as a brief listing what materials will be used.
Below is a scope of work for replacing a broken front sidewalk with a new stamped concrete sidewalk taken from one of our estimates.
"Remove existing sidewalk, haul away. Form and grade sidewalk. Compact sand and bring to grade. Reinforce with wire mesh reinforcement. Concrete is to be 6 sack 4” limestone air-entrained exterior mix. Concrete will be stamped with a pattern, integral color, and release chosen by you. Concrete will be cut with control joints and sealed twice with a quality solvent based acrylic sealer. "
The scope of work is listed to make it clear what the contractor will do on your project per the estimate. It is important to read and understand what will be done so that both the client and the contractor have the same expectations. Many times, what a customer expects and what a contractor does are not the same thing. It’s important to understand both what is and what is not included to avoid surprise.
From my experience, assumptions about the scope of work can create disappointment and frustration for both the homeowner and the contractor. For example, there is nothing in the scope of work above that says “Bring in topsoil and grade area around the sidewalk. Spread grass seed and cover with straw.” Also not included in the scope of work are things like “Rearrange sprinkler system” or “Fix dog fence.”
New construction homes are frequently purchased without a lawn or gutters, but many new homeowners assume those things are included with the house. Inground pools sometimes come without the water that goes in them. The customer may need to pay for a water tanker or pay for an expensive water bill. The same concept can apply to concrete installation.
As a contractor, I’m not trying to hide any tasks that are required to put in that sidewalk, but I’m not volunteering to do extra tasks either. I’ve gotten that call or email complaining that we didn’t finish the job because the yard isn’t graded or seeded. Assuming topsoil and grass seed can be purchased nearby and loaded quickly, it would still take a minimum of 2 hours to get that landscaping done. After paying for labor and topsoil, I would be out hundreds of dollars because of an assumption- not to mention I'll be two hours late getting to my next project.
Most of my employees know how to fix lawns and do simple landscaping tasks. They also know how to do plumbing, electrical, siding, framing, painting and many other construction-related tasks. But as a concrete company, we choose to focus on the skills we are best at (concrete) and leave those other tasks to someone else. A landscaper can do a lawn much better than us, and they are set up to do it on a regular basis.
I read an online review for another local concrete contractor that said “Left my yard a mess and never came back” and the reviewer gave the contractor one star. While I don’t know the specifics of that review, it seems likely there was a misunderstanding regarding the scope of work. Now the contractor has a bad online review because that client did not read and understand the scope of work. No one wins in a scenario like this. The client is unhappy because he didn't get everything he expected, and the contractor takes a hit to his reputation.
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Address: Rockford, MI 49341
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