Construction Forms Simplified: The Digital Transformation Guide

If you’re a general contractor or construction company owner, relying on paper forms or spreadsheets can slow down processes, increase errors, and limit accessibility. Transitioning to digital forms not only saves time but also enhances data accuracy and collaboration across teams. With Knack, there’s no limit to the custom forms you can build in just a few minutes, enabling you to transform cumbersome paperwork into streamlined digital workflows. Here, we explore 19 essential contractor forms that can be digitized to optimize your construction management process and boost productivity. You can build any of these forms in minutes with Knack via AI or building from scratch.

19 Contractor Forms That Can Be Digitized with Knack

With Knack, there is no limit to the custom forms you can build in just a few minutes.

1. Project Proposal Form – Used for submitting detailed project proposals to clients or stakeholders, including fields like project overview, estimated budget, project timeline, resources needed, and client information.

2. Construction Work Order Form – Tracks work orders for various tasks during a construction project, with fields such as work order number, job description, assigned team, start date, expected completion date, status, and priority level.

3. Daily Progress Report Form – Captures daily updates on construction progress to keep stakeholders informed, with fields like project name, date, completed tasks, delays/issues encountered, weather conditions, and equipment used.

4. Material Requisition Form – Manages requests for construction materials, including requested materials, quantity needed, project site, requested by, and approval status.

5. Inspection Checklist Form – Ensures that construction sites meet safety and quality standards, with fields like project name, inspector’s name, inspection date, checklist items (e.g., safety gear compliance, structural integrity), pass/fail status, and comments.

6. Change Order Form – Documents and tracks changes to the original construction plan or contract, with fields for change description, reason for change, cost impact, approval signatures, and revised timeline.

7. Permit Application Form – Used to apply for necessary construction permits, featuring fields such as project details, contractor information, permit type, submission date, and required documents attachment.

8. Safety Incident Report Form – Records safety incidents and accidents on construction sites, with fields for incident date and time, type of incident, individuals involved, detailed description, and corrective actions taken.

9. Accident Report Form – Documents accidents on construction sites, including fields for date and time of the accident, description of the incident, individuals involved, witness statements, and corrective actions taken.

10. Employee Time Tracking Form – Keeps track of hours worked by employees at the construction site, including fields for employee name, project name, start and end time, total hours worked, and type of work performed.

11. Client Approval Form – Collects client approval for various stages of a construction project, with fields like project phase, client name, approval date, comments, and digital signature.

12. Bid Submission Form – Allows contractors or subcontractors to submit bids for specific project tasks, including fields for contractor details, bid amount, scope of work, estimated completion date, and terms and conditions.

13. Punch List Form – Lists outstanding tasks that need to be completed before project finalization, with fields for task description, responsible party, deadline, status (complete/incomplete), and comments.

14. Equipment Request Form – Handles requests for construction equipment needed on-site, including fields for equipment type, quantity, project name, requested by, expected usage date, and return date.

15. Budget Tracking Form – Monitors project expenses and budget utilization, featuring fields like project name, budgeted amount, actual spending, variance, category of expenses, and notes.

16. Subcontractor Agreement Form – Manages agreements with subcontractors involved in the construction process, with fields such as subcontractor name, scope of work, start and end date, payment terms, and signatures.

17. Progress Payment Application Form – Used to submit payment requests based on the percentage of project completion, with fields for project name, payment period, completed work value, previously paid amounts, and requested payment amount.

18. Estimate Form – Provides detailed cost estimates for construction projects, including fields for project details, estimated labor costs, material costs, equipment usage, total estimated cost, and notes.

19. Inspection Form – Facilitates comprehensive inspections for various stages of a project, with fields for inspector’s name, date, location, checklist items, findings, and recommendations.Tutorial for Building Construction Forms

Method 1: Building a Construction Form with Knack’s AI App Builder

Step 1: Log in to your Knack account.

Step 2: Click on “Create New App” and select the “AI Builder” option.

Step 3: Enter a brief description of your app and form. Here are some example prompts:

• “Create a construction project management app to track project details, timelines, budgets, and client information.”
• “Build an inspection form app for safety and quality checks on construction sites with checklists and pass/fail status.”
• “Create a safety form app for construction sites to document incidents, including date, time, type of incident, individuals involved, descriptions, and corrective actions taken.”

Step 4: Let the AI app builder generate the initial structure based on your input.

Step 5: Customize the AI-Generated Form

1. Review the generated app and form.
2. Make adjustments to the form’s fields and properties to better align with your project needs.

Step 6: Test and Publish

1. Preview the form in “Live App View” and test entries to ensure everything functions as expected.
2. Return to the “Builder” view to make any tweaks based on test feedback.
3. Publish the form and customize user permissions for access control.

Method 2: Building a Construction Form from Scratch

Step 1: Start Your Project

1. Log in to your Knack account.
2. Click on “Create New App” and choose “Build from Scratch”.

Step 2: Set Up Your Database

1. Create a Table for Construction Projects
   • Go to “Data” and click on “Add Table”.
   • Name the table “Construction Projects“.
   • Add fields such as:
     • Project Name (Text)
     • Project ID (Unique Identifier)
     • Client Name (Text)
     • Project Start Date (Date)
     • Estimated Completion Date (Date)
     • Budget (Currency)
     • Phase/Stage (Dropdown – e.g., Planning, Foundation, Framing, etc.)
     • Status (Dropdown – e.g., Not Started, In Progress, Completed)
     • Notes/Comments (Text Area)
2. Add Supporting Tables (Optional)
   • For comprehensive tracking, create linked tables such as Work Orders, Material Tracking, and Labor Logs.

Step 3: Build the Form Page

1. Create a New Page
   • Go to “Pages” and click “Add Page”.
   • Select “Form” as the page type and link it to the “Construction Projects“ table.

1. Customize the Form
   • Drag and drop relevant fields into the form.
   • Configure field properties (e.g., required fields, labels, default values) and add validation rules to maintain data accuracy.

Step 4: Enhance with Automations

1. Optional: Set Up Knack Flows
   • Add automations that trigger when the form is submitted, such as notifications to stakeholders or updates to project timelines.

Step 5: Review, Test, and Publish

1. Test the Form
   • Preview in “Live App View” and run test entries to confirm functionality.
2. Adjust as Needed
   • Return to the “Builder” view to refine fields or settings based on test feedback.
3. Publish and Share
   • Publish the form, set user permissions, and distribute the link or embed the form on your company website or intranet.

Start Building with Knack for Free

Moving away from paper forms and spreadsheets can make a significant impact on how your construction business operates. Digitizing contractor forms not only streamlines processes but also reduces errors, enhances data accessibility, and improves team collaboration. Knack provides the tools you need to build custom forms effortlessly, whether you choose to leverage its powerful AI app builder or create from scratch. With Knack, transforming manual processes into efficient, digitized workflows is quick and easy.

Ready to optimize your construction management and leave paper forms behind? Start building with Knack today and see how simple digitizing your contractor forms can be. 

FAQs

Can I import my data into Knack?

Yes, you can import your data into Knack using formats like .CSV, .XLS, .XLSX, and Google Sheets.

Does Knack offer integrations?

Knack also offers over 200 native integrations through Knack Flows. Knack also integrates with various third-party services through platforms like Zapier and Make.

Does Knack have any free templates?

Knack offers over 90 template apps, many of which include form templates. You can view them here.

Are Knack’s apps and forms accessible from jobsites?

Yes! Users can complete forms by accessing their Knack app on their mobile or tablet browser. You can have your team bookmark the link on their phone or tablet to expedite the process. Be sure to check that your app layout responds well on mobile.