Why schedule at all
A schedule lets you commit to a substantial completion date with confidence, sequence trades so they are not on top of each other, and bill progress payments on time. Even on small residential jobs, a one-page bar chart pays for itself in fewer change orders.
Activities, durations, and dependencies
Break the work into activities of one to ten days each. Estimate duration based on crew size and productivity. Connect activities with logical dependencies, usually finish-to-start. Foundation must finish before framing starts; framing must finish before drywall.
The critical path
The critical path is the longest chain of dependent activities through the schedule. Any delay on the critical path delays the entire project. Activities not on the critical path have float, which is the amount of time they can slip without delaying the project. Knowing your critical path tells you which activities deserve the most attention.
Mini-quiz
Attempt 1 · 3 questions
Check your understanding. Passing is 70% — but you can keep going to the next lesson either way.
Question 1
Based on "Activities, durations, and dependencies", which statement is correct?
Question 2
Based on "The critical path", which statement is correct?
Question 3
Based on "The critical path", which statement is correct?