Construction
Scheduling
A Project Schedule
The typical project schedule is based on what type of project it is, if the design documents are complete, and if the schedule will be cost-loaded. Let’s take a simple example first, we’ll look at construction of a home.
Don’t laugh, it’s nothing like the P-6’s and P-3’s of our time, but it is effective because it uses the same information you would need in any scheduling program: description, start date and duration. As you get more involved with scheduling, there are critical ties, end dates that must be met, etc. For any beginner, the information below is the most important when scheduling a project.
Can you identify any critical ties in the rough schedule below?
| Description | Start Date | Duration |
| Foundations | January 1, 2012 | 10 days |
| Level 1 Framing | January 11, 2012 | 10 days |
| Level 1 MEPF Rough-in | January 16, 2012 | 15 days |
| Level 2 Floor Framing | January 22, 2012 | 5 days |
| Level 2 Framing | January 28, 2012 | 10 days |
| Level 2 MEPF Rough-in | February 3, 2012 | 10 days |
| Exterior Dry-in | February 9, 2012 | 10 days |
| Interior Drywall | February 20, 2012 | 15 days |
| Interior Finishes | March 8, 2010 | 15 days |
| Roof | February 9, 2012 | 10 days |
| Punchlist & Turnover | March 10, 2012 | 10 days |
Critical Ties
Almost every event in the making of a house has a critical tie. The foundation has to be first. You can’t frame the walls unless the foundation has been poured (unless of course, you are using modern and effective prefabricated members).
The MEPF cannot be roughed in to a wall that hasn’t been framed yet. The exterior cannot be roughed in, unless the walls are framed. The second floor walls, which sit on the second floor, can’t be hung unless the floor is complete.
Drywall cannot be hung before the MEPFs are installed. Wrong. We call this one-siding a wall, so the drywallers can get moving, and allow the MEPF trades some time to start rough in. Once the inspectors have signed off, the wall can be “closed up” or “double sided”.
