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Construction glossary
Construction Glossary •

Certified Payroll

What is Certified Payroll?

Certified Payroll is a specific type of payroll process required for any contractor or subcontractor working on federally funded or assisted construction projects under the Davis-Bacon Act. It is a federal compliance requirement to ensure employees are paid prevailing local wage rates and benefits. Certified Payroll records include the worker's name, their classification, hourly rates of wages paid, daily and weekly hours worked, deductions made, and actual wage paid. It provides transparency for regulators, ensuring fair wages for work conducted. This mandatory weekly submission acts as an assertive step in suppressing wage theft in the construction industry.

Trusted by trade contractors across the country

Other construction terms

Lien

What is a Lien?

A lien, particularly in the construction industry, is a legal claim or right that a contractor, sub-contractor, or supplier places on a property at which they have rendered services or supplied materials, but haven't been paid. Essentially, it's a security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation. If the property owner does not fulfill the financial obligation, the lien holder may seek legal action to enforce their rights and might even result in the compulsory selling of the property to pay off the debt. Liens are crucial elements in construction law, ensuring parties are fairly compensated for their work and supplies provided.

Schedule of Values (SOV)

What is a Schedule of Values (SOV)?

A Schedule of Values (SOV) is a detailed breakdown of a construction contract that itemizes the total contract amount into specific work categories, phases, or deliverables. It shows the dollar value assigned to each component of work that’ll be completed during a construction project. As such, the SOV is a critical component of successful project and cash flow management. It also lays the groundwork for progress billing and payment applications (like AIA® G702/G703® forms).

Here’s how it works: 

  • Contractors create initial SOVs that allocate contract value across work phases.
  • They maintain the SOVs to align with actual work schedules and ensure billing requests match project progress.
  • SOVs get updated when changes occur on the job, altering the original scope and budget.

As you can imagine, managing multiple SOVs across projects while tracking actual costs against line items becomes complex and time-consuming.

Siteline streamlines this entire process by integrating with major construction ERPs and accounting software. Subs import project data from their ERP into Siteline, compile and send pay apps directly in the system (accounting for any change orders), and then rest easy knowing that Siteline automatically syncs approved invoices back to the ERP. 

The result? Faster billing cycles and quicker payments. Want to see how it works? Book some time with us.

Debit

What is a Debit?

A debit, in the construction industry, refers to an entry which represents an increase in expenses or a decrease in income for the business. It could come from paying for labor, materials, overheads, or any other costs related to a construction project. It could also come from a decrease in revenue due to a project delay, change in project scope, or a decrease in clients' payment. An understanding of debits is pivotal in managing the financial aspects of construction because it affects cash flow and profitability. The term is part of the double-entry accounting system used widely across industries, including construction, where for every debit entry, there must be a corresponding credit entry. Therefore, properly tracking and categorizing debits is crucial in financial planning and management in construction.

Ready to end the fire drill and get paid faster?

Replace the spreadsheets and runarounds with Siteline, and see your invoice aging improve by at least 30%.
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