When does a task actually constitute additional work, and when is it already covered by the construction contract? This question has repeatedly been the subject of arbitration cases in the construction industry. In September 2026, the law firm MOWE once again focused on the issue and highlighted the importance of clear agreements, documentation, and proper billing. For construction companies and contractors, it emphasizes the importance of having control over both the agreed-upon and the completed work.
Extra work requires documentation
In the construction industry, changing customer needs, unforeseen circumstances, and adjustments to the project plan can continuously affect the scope of work. This can raise questions about which tasks are covered by the original construction contract and which ones provide the basis for additional payment.
As the law firm MOWE describes in its article on handling overtime work, Disputes are not necessarily only about whether a task is overtime work, but also about whether the payment claim is sufficiently documented. Contract agreements can set detailed requirements regarding both registration, invoicing, and the documentation that must support the claim.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure clear agreements and ongoing documentation, so that both the contractor and the client have a common basis for assessing the scope of the work and the financial implications.
When exactly is it considered extra work?
It may seem straightforward at first to distinguish between the agreed work and additional work. But in practice, the boundary can be less clear, especially when different parts of the project material do not match.
It illustrates two arbitration cases, which MOWE discusses overtime and contract work in its article.
In one case, KFE 1976.51, an contractor was successful in a claim for extra payment for work that was based on the drawings but not the sanitary specifications. In another case, T 2015.62, an contractor, however, was unsuccessful in a claim for extra payment for fire dampers because the required number was derived from the drawings.
The cases show that the assessment of overtime work does not solely depend on whether the work was expected or planned by the contractor. The overall contractual basis and the specific circumstances play a crucial role.
From completed work to documented value
For craft businesses and contractors, good project economics are closely linked to the ability to track resource consumption. When a project changes, it is important to be able to distinguish between the originally agreed upon work and the additional tasks that arise along the way.
It requires a systematic approach to recording and monitoring. When hours, materials, and equipment used are documented continuously, it becomes easier to assess how changes affect the overall project budget. At the same time, the project management team gains a better basis for following up on additional work and ensuring that the relevant information is included in the invoicing.
As MOWE highlights in its advice to contractors, Therefore, it is important to view the construction contract, the technical conditions and the actual course of events in context. Records from the construction site can therefore be a valuable supplement to, among other things, agreements, meeting minutes and written correspondence.
Better documentation leads to better project economics
Working overtime is not just about legal matters and billing. It also has a direct impact on the company’s project finances.
When projects change along the way, it can affect both schedules, resource consumption, and the expected revenue. Therefore, it is beneficial to be able to keep track of the developments continuously rather than only calculating the total costs when the work is completed.
With a systematic approach to project registration, project management gains better opportunities to compare planned work with actual consumption. This can make it easier to identify deviations, follow up on additional work, and assess how changes affect the project’s finances.
At the same time, the experiences can be used in future projects. A more precise insight into time consumption and materials can contribute to better quote calculation, resource planning, and financial management.
In this way, documentation becomes not only a matter of ensuring payment for work performed, but also a valuable tool for developing the company's project management.
Good documentation creates value throughout the construction project
The arbitration cases highlighted by MOWE illustrate the importance of a clear contractual basis when questions arise regarding overtime.
But the value of good documentation extends beyond the handling of any disagreements. It also supports more structured project management, where changes, resource consumption, and financial implications can be tracked throughout the entire construction process.
For craft businesses and contractors, this can contribute to better collaboration, more precise billing, and a stronger financial foundation for future projects.
With Intempus Companies can collect time recording, material consumption and project information digitally and create better consistency between the construction site, administration and the financial system.
Integrations must fit the company's system landscape
The most important thing, therefore, is not to have as many integrations as possible, but to choose the integrations that support the company's actual workflows.
At Intempus, time tracking can be integrated with a range of payroll, financial, ERP and fleet management systems. The purpose is not to replace the systems the company has already chosen, but to make time tracking a cohesive part of the existing system landscape.
Because the best integration isn’t necessarily the one you notice. It’s the one that ensures data ends up in the right place without anyone having to move it manually.
Here you can read more about the integration possibilities with Intempus.
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