A construction daywork sheet records the resources used for a defined item of work. To review it usefully, keep three things connected: the instruction, the daily record and the agreed basis for valuing the work.
A description such as “extra work, two people” leaves too much to reconstruct. Record where the work happened, what each person did, which materials and plant were used and the references that let the reviewer check the entry.
Separate the instruction from the resource record
RICS NRM 2, section 2.5.9, describes daywork as valuing work through employee time, materials and plant. It also addresses defining the applicable rates and conditions. The contract and the instruction for your project determine whether that method applies.
Before the relevant work, identify the instruction reference, the person authorised to issue it and the required procedure. Keep the daily resource record linked to that instruction. If the basis or authority is unresolved, label the question clearly and refer it to the appointed contract representative.
RICS's change-control guidance emphasises applying the relevant contract procedure and responsibilities. A record of activity should not be treated as a substitute for that process.
What should a daywork sheet record?
Agree the form and submission route with the project team. This is an original planning checklist you can adapt to the project's requirements.
| Record | Information to enter |
|---|---|
| Identity | Project, date, unique sheet number, revision and related instruction reference. |
| Work and location | The task, room or marked drawing location, and what was completed. |
| Labour | Worker or agreed identifier, trade, task, recorded time and any separately identified interruptions. |
| Materials | Product, unit, quantity used and the relevant delivery or issue reference. |
| Plant | Item, relevant identification, recorded use and the supporting hire or site reference. |
| Supporting evidence | Linked site diary, marked drawing, delivery record or task photograph where appropriate. |
| Commercial references | Agreed rate schedule and revision, applicable additions and the person checking the valuation. |
| Review | Prepared by, checked by, dates, queries, corrections and what each acknowledgement confirms. |
Keep the account of the work readable without opening a photograph. Supporting evidence should help locate or check an entry. Identify the task and location, and leave out unrelated images.
A blank daily record
Copy the following headings into the agreed project form. Leave rates and decisions blank until the relevant person confirms them.
- Project / location: __________. Date / sheet number / revision: __________.
- Instruction reference / issued by / date: __________.
- Work carried out and drawing reference: __________.
- Labour: identifier / trade / task / recorded hours: __________.
- Materials: description / unit / quantity / evidence reference: __________.
- Plant: item / recorded use / evidence reference: __________.
- Rate and addition references / pricing queries: __________.
- Prepared by / reviewed by / dates / comments: __________.
An unpriced example
Say an instructed interior alteration includes an additional small patch repair in Room 2. This is a hypothetical record to show the level of detail, not a completed Vayton job, productivity allowance or agreed charge.
| Field | Illustrative entry |
|---|---|
| Reference | Sheet DW-007, revision 1; instruction SI-014; location Room 2, marked drawing A-102. |
| Work | Form the additional patch described by SI-014; record its actual extent and finish stage. |
| Labour | Operative A: 2 hours; Operative B: 1 hour. Record their respective tasks and check the time entries. |
| Materials and plant | Enter actual quantities and resource records. Mark items not used as “none”, because a blank is ambiguous. |
| Valuation | Rate reference and any permitted additions awaiting the designated review; no price assumed. |
| Query | Confirm whether the instruction includes final decoration or only the stated patch stage. |
In this example the labour total is 3 worker-hours. That total describes recorded time, not the number of people on site for a full day. Use the agreed units when applying any rate.
Check the record and valuation separately
Ask the designated reviewer to resolve unclear descriptions, time entries, quantities or supporting references. Preserve the original entry when making a correction, give the replacement a revision and explain what changed.
Then check the proposed valuation against the project's agreed method: the instruction, applicable resource rates, units, additions and arithmetic. Identify costs already included elsewhere so they are not counted again.
State what any signature or acknowledgement confirms under the agreed procedure. Do not assume that a site record, an instruction and acceptance of a price are the same decision. Submission deadlines, authorised signatories and payment consequences need to be checked against the actual contract.
Keep the change visible in the wider package
Link the checked record to the change register and record any unresolved effect on finishes, access or later trades. Our refurbishment quotation checklist covers the broader scope and change information to keep together.
For an interior trade package in London, send the drawings, specification, quantities, programme and supply responsibilities. If a daywork arrangement is proposed, identify the pricing and authorisation basis in the enquiry so it can be discussed and recorded.