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What Does a Scope of Work Look Like? (Real Construction Example You Can Copy)
The Document That Decides Whether You Get Paid Without a Fight
You know how to do the work. The client thinks they know what they asked for. The scope of work is the only thing standing between those two versions of the job, and if it is vague, you will find out the expensive way.
Most builders write scopes in a hurry, from memory, in whatever format the last one was in. Then six months later a client is pointing at the words "renovate bathroom as discussed" and insisting the towel rails, the demolition disposal and a third coat of paint were all included.
Here is the quick version, then the full example below.
TL;DR
A scope of work describes exactly what you will do, what you will supply, and what you will not, in language a client can follow
Vague scopes cost you twice: they lose competitive jobs, and they lose disputes on the jobs you win
The structure that works: project summary, itemised works by stage, inclusions, exclusions, client responsibilities, allowances
Exclusions are where most disputes live. If you did not write it down, the client assumed it was included
A full copyable example is below
Scope of Work vs Quote: Quick Answer
They are not the same thing. The scope of work describes the work. The quote is the commercial document wrapped around it: pricing, payment terms, validity, conditions. The scope is usually the biggest section inside a quote or contract, and it is the section that gets read line by line when something goes wrong. Get the scope right and the rest of the quote is easy.
Builder, 20+ Years
Early on I lost a week of labour arguing over whether "supply and fit kitchen" included the splashback. Now my scopes list what is in, what is out, and who supplies what. Have not had a real dispute since.
A Real Scope of Work Example (Bathroom Renovation)
Here is a scope for a standard full bathroom renovation, written the way it should go out to a client. Copy the structure and swap in your own trade and details.
Project Summary
Full renovation of the existing main bathroom (approx. 2.4m x 1.8m) including strip-out, waterproofing, wall and floor tiling, and installation of new fixtures. Work to be completed in one continuous stage, estimated duration 3 weeks from commencement.
Scope of Works
Demolition and preparation. Strip out and dispose of all existing fixtures, wall tiles, floor tiles and vanity. Cap off existing plumbing. Inspect subfloor and wall framing once exposed.
Plumbing. Rough-in for new vanity, toilet, bath and shower in existing locations. Supply and install new mixers and wastes. Fit-off all fixtures at completion.
Electrical. Supply and install 1 x exhaust fan, 2 x downlights, 1 x wall light over vanity. Replace existing power point with double GPO. All work certified on completion.
Waterproofing. Supply and apply waterproof membrane to full shower recess, bathroom floor and wet walls to current standards. Certificate provided on completion.
Tiling. Supply and lay floor tiles and wall tiles to full height in shower, half height on remaining walls. Tiles as per client selection, allowance listed below.
Fixtures and fit-off. Install client-selected vanity, toilet suite, bath, shower screen, tapware and accessories (towel rails, toilet roll holder).
Painting. Prepare and paint ceiling and any untiled wall areas, one primer coat and two top coats.
Inclusions
All labour, waste disposal and skip hire. Waterproofing certificate and electrical certificate. Site cleaned and fixtures wiped down on handover.
Exclusions
Structural repairs to subfloor or framing if found defective once opened up (quoted separately if required). Relocation of plumbing or electrical from existing positions. Asbestos testing or removal. Supply of tiles, vanity, toilet, bath, tapware and accessories (client supplied unless listed in allowances). Council or certification fees beyond those listed.
Client Responsibilities
Client to confirm tile and fixture selections before commencement date. Client-supplied items to be on site by end of week 1. Client to provide clear access and use of power and water.
Allowances
Floor and wall tiles: allowance of $45 per square metre supply. If selected tiles exceed this, the difference will be quoted as a variation before ordering.
That is the whole thing. Nothing clever, just complete. Every line answers a question before the client asks it, and every exclusion is an argument that now cannot happen.
Why Each Section Earns Its Place
The table below is the fastest way to see the difference between a scope that protects you and one that does not.
Vague line | What it costs you | Write this instead |
|---|---|---|
"Renovate bathroom as discussed" | Client remembers the discussion differently | Itemised works by stage, as above |
"Supply and fit kitchen" | Argument over splashbacks, handles, appliances | List every item supplied, and by whom |
"Painting included" | One coat vs three, walls vs everything | Coats, areas and prep spelled out |
"Tiling to bathroom" | Full height? Half height? Who buys tiles? | Heights, areas, and a dollar allowance |
No exclusions section | Everything not written becomes "included" | Exclusions listed, every single time |
Two sections deserve a special mention because they do the most protective work.
Exclusions. The rule is simple: if it is not written down, the client assumed it was in the price. Defective framing behind old tiles, rock in the trench, asbestos in the eaves. You cannot see these when quoting, so exclude them explicitly and quote them as variations if they show up. That single habit is the difference between a variation conversation and a stand-up argument.
Allowances. Anywhere the client has not made a final selection, put a number on it. "Tiles supplied to a $45/m2 allowance" turns a future fight into simple arithmetic. No allowance means the client picks $120/m2 tiles and expects your price to hold.
The Mistakes That Sink Scopes
Writing it from memory. Every scope you write from scratch is a chance to forget the line that mattered. Build a base scope per job type once, then edit per job.
Writing it for a builder. Your client does not know what "fit-off" or "rough-in" means unless the sentence around it makes it obvious. If a stranger cannot follow the scope, it is not done.
Hiding it in an email. A scope buried in an email thread is hard to sign, hard to reference and easy to dispute. It belongs in the quote document the client signs.
Never updating it. The scope is a living document. When the client adds heated floors mid-job, the variation should reference and update the scope, in writing, before the work happens.
The Bottom Line
A scope of work is not paperwork for its own sake. It is the cheapest insurance you will ever write. It wins jobs because clients trust the builder whose document shows they understood the project, and it protects margins because nobody can dispute what is written in plain language and signed. Copy the structure above, build one base version per job type, and never write "as discussed" again.
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