Dayworks

General Procedure
Daywork is a method of payment for work based on the prime cost of all labour, materials and plant used in
carrying out the work, normally with a percentage addition to the total cost of each of the three groups of items
for overheads and profit.
From time to time, it is necessary to undertake certain activities which by their very nature cannot be measured
and valued at billed rates. Typical examples are the removal of an unexpected obstruction in excavations and the
alteration in size of a door or window opening after it has been formed or partially formed.
The valuations of additional or substituted work that cannot properly be valued by measurement are measured
under dayworks.
Vouchers, commonly termed daywork sheets, detailing the time spent daily upon the work, the workmen's names
and the plant and materials used, shall be submitted for verification to the architect or his authorised
representative, usually the clerk of works, not later than the end of the week following that in which the work has
been executed. It should be emphasised that these only represent a record of work done that constitutes a
variation to the contract and they do not necessarily indicate that the work will be valued at daywork rates in
preference to using measured rates. Furthermore, the verifying signature of the architect or his representative
relates only to the amount of labour, materials and plant used and not to any prices inserted.
The rates and prices used in the valuation of daywork shall be those current at the time the work is carried out,
and not those operative at the date of tender.
Preparation of Daywork Vouchers
(1) Each daywork sheet must relate to a specific architect's instruction, preferably to a variation order or site
works order, and the reference numbers of these must be stated.
(2) Daywork vouchers should be submitted by the main contractor to the architect or clerk of works for signature.
Nominated sub-contractors should first submit their vouchers to the main contractor who will then include his own
attendances and submit new vouchers to the architect or his representative.
(3) Daywork vouchers must be submitted for verification not later than the end of the week following that in which
the work has been done.
(4) It is essential that daywork vouchers should properly describe the work done. Daywork sheets should hhave
exact, clear and concise descriptions of the work, supplementing the record with sketches or photographs of the
work done. There may also be other work proceeding at the same time to be paid for on a measured basis, and it
will be necessary to distinguish between the separate activities.
(5) Plant and materials must be recorded as well as labour. It is important to record the description and type of
plant used, the cost of any small quantities of materials specially ordered and any extra handling costs in addition
to the labour required.
(6) Most architects require the recording of operatives' names as well as the hours spent on daywork.
(7) Wage rates for labourers, craft operatives and foremen differ and, therefore, the status of the operative must
be shown in addition to his name. Time must be allowed for setting out, covering up finished work, clearing away
rubbish and making good, and these costs may be higher than normal.
(8) Daywork vouchers must be produced at least in triplicate, one copy for the clerk of works, one to the
contractor's surveyor and one to the site manager. These should be carefully flied in sequence, together with the
relevant instructions relating to them.
Cost of Daywork
The nature of the dayworks is such that in the majority of cases it is likely to take longer to perform than
seemingly similar billed items. The work executed on a daywork basis is generally far from straightforward and is
likely to require increased supervision and cause considerable dislocation of the organising and programming of
the works, apart from the incidental additional costs.
Daywork Accounts
The daywork account is built up from the daywork sheets which are normally submitted on a weekly basis. The
quantity surveyor will check the daywork sheets against the architect's instructions, and he will list any of them
that will be superseded by measurement and those covered by work in the bill of quantities.
He will also check them for any inconsistencies and will record any details that appear excessive for subsequent
discussion with the contractor's representative, normally his surveyor.
The resulting particulars, after verification, can then be tabulated in a daywork account form. The daywork
account will subsequently be incorporated into a variation account.