Construction Scheduling: A Plan for When and Where to Perform Specific Tasks

by Maya G

The construction schedule is a plan that outlines the different stages in which construction work will be carried out. It details when and where specific tasks will take place and how long each step may take to complete. Construction schedules can vary depending on the project being undertaken, but some general guidelines apply to most projects.

Construction Schedule Template, MS excel

Construction Schedule Template

They may consist of different levels (e.g., the high-level schedule and a detailed list of tasks with time estimates), but all should have the following key components:

Start date for when work has begun on site

Priority - how important is this task?

What's its relationship to other tasks? For instance, some jobs require more than one resource or could be completed by someone else. 

Task duration - what can you estimate it would take to complete a given task from start to finish? It's worth noting that these estimations can affect budgeting decisions.

The Importance of Having a Construction Schedule:

Construction schedules are an essential part of any project because they allow the project team to be on schedule, so delays are more minor. There are a few reasons why you should have a construction schedule in place before beginning your next building or renovation project:

1. A good construction schedule will help ensure that deadlines and budgets are met.

2. It also helps establish communication channels between all parties involved, so there is no confusion about what needs to happen when.

3. It ensures that contractors can provide accurate cost estimates during bidding stages to make sure you don't end up overpaying for services!

4. It makes sure people show up where they're supposed to be - for construction projects, the actual work is only a tiny part of what needs to happen. Many other things need to be done before and after work crews show up on-site, such as purchasing supplies or completing inspections.

5. A current schedule will help ensure nothing slips through the cracks during your project timeline.

6. It helps you stay on budget - one of the most common problems with construction projects is that the cost consistently exceeds initial estimates, which often leads to financial problems down the road. With a schedule in place, you will know how much money you need upfront so that your project stays within budget constraints.

9 Things You Need to Include in Your Construction Schedule:

Construction Schedule

1)Project start date - The project start date is one of the most essential elements in a construction schedule. It indicates when you will begin work on your project, and it sets an end date for the duration of your contract with your client.

2)Project end date - is a future date that indicates when your contractor expects they will complete their work. You should not rely on this for scheduling purposes because many factors could cause delays to your project.

3)Duration of Workdays -The duration of workdays in construction schedule degrees is a complex topic. It is important to understand the concept before you get started on your project.  Construction projects are often scheduled with a predetermined number of working days and hours for each day, including holidays and Saturdays.

4)Tasks required for each phase (for example, design drawings, permits, etc.)- It is important to have a clear understanding of the tasks required for each phase. This will help ensure that you are on track and all work has been completed on time. Therefore, we have put together this list to give an overview of what needs to be done at which phase:

5)Planning Phase - Determine project requirements and design options; coordinate with client, contractors, designers, engineers, or other consultants; develop budget and schedule estimates; prepare contract documents.  

6)Design Phase - Develop plans for how the project should look when complete; create drawings (elevations); identify materials needed and potential problems that might arise during the construction process.

7)Bid/Budget Phase - Bid out the project to get pricing from different contractors and select one who can meet the budget while still providing quality; keep track of bids on a spreadsheet.

8)Estimated cost per task or phase- This allows you to understand your budget better and help you make more accurate decisions about how much money should be spent on which tasks or phases.

9)Resources needed during each phase - Construction projects can be complicated, but they don't have to be. When you understand the resources required for each phase of a construction schedule, it becomes easier to plan and manage your project from start to finish.

Steps to Building a Construction Schedule in Excel:

Construction Schedule

1. Enter the project name (cell A) along with any information that will help identify it later. This is important because it will tell us which type of work this will be for when figuring out how many weeks are needed to complete it (for example, design drawings, permits, etc.)

2. Enter the start date, end date as per your needs.

3. The workdays will calculate automatically based on the start date and end date.

4. The timeline columns represent Monday through Friday, so they'll serve as our weekly workdays starting with Monday first, so Saturday always falls at the end rather than at the beginning.

5. Overall Progress - In a data bar chart, the length of each bar represents the percentage that is complete. For example, in Figure 1, you can see that 50% of construction degree work is completed.

Benefits of a Construction Schedule:

1. There are many benefits to having a construction schedule.

2. Construction schedules help reduce project costs by allowing for accurate estimations on all materials and resources needed.

3. They also allow managers to plan, reducing stress and allowing employees to focus on their work without being pulled into other tasks.

4. It's easier to estimate labor costs when orders have been placed according to

5. Construction schedules also provide team members with an idea about what they need to be working on at any given time.

6. Schedules offer a realistic timeline for project completion

7. Project managers can see where problems arise or how work is being divided up more efficiently and effectively.

8. This allows employees and managers to focus on what's important rather than just completing one task before moving onto another.

9.  That way, they're not constantly juggling multiple projects at a time or getting pulled off their current workload into something else.