Construction Law

What To Know About The Scope Of Work in a Construction Contract Part 1

The Scope of Work is one of the most important parts of a construction contract. As construction attorneys in Jacksonville, we are very familiar with cases where parties on either end don’t have a full understanding of what is defined in their contract, especially when it comes to breaking down the Scope of Work. It is imperative for contractors, subcontractors, and homeowners to understand the Scope of Work, or there are bound to be issues with the project. To view the second half of this article, please visit Part 2.

What Is The Scope Of Work?

The Scope of Work is one of the most important parts of the contract. The main purpose of the Scope of Work is to define what duty is owed by one party to the other, which makes it the basis of your contract. As a contractor, without a clear definition of your Scope of Work it can be nearly impossible to identify where your liability starts and finishes.

What Is The Specific Idea Of The Scope Of Work?

The variation in a Scope of Work can be very important when it comes to your status in the project, because liabilities can come from weaker contracts. Take a general contractor for example. A general contract will profit from a clearly defined Scope of Work. Additionally, a subcontractor would gain more from a more specific Scope of Work in their contracts. However, when it comes to a homeowner, they might prefer the general contract to be more unclear because there will be more chance of liability on the contractor’s part. For any questions on a defined Scope of Work, it’s highly recommended that you contact your construction lawyer in Jacksonville for assistance.

Why Is A Defined Scope Of Work Important?

The Scope of Work section in your contract will declare what the rights are between the parties and will go into depth with what work is expected as well as promised. If a subcontractor sees that the general contract has a loose Scope of Work, they will be more unlikely to sign the contract because there might be a possibility that the homeowner might read more into the provision than what was intended. For example, if a dispute about installing a marble shower arises, the general contractor will want those terms to be as precise as possible so that they are not liable for much more than was anticipated

If there is a dispute during the contract, the contractor will be in a better position to defend themselves if the Scope of Work defined their duties clearly and in detail.

To schedule a consultation with a construction attorney in Jacksonville from Cotney Attorneys & Consultants, please call us today.

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.