Pay apps for glazing contractors
Glazing billing, from shop drawings to the last sealant joint
Months of engineering, fabrication in your shop, then installation elevation by elevation. A glazing pay app has to show progress long before anything is on the building.
Glazing contractors spend a lot of money before the GC sees anything on the building: engineering, calculations, shop drawings, mock-ups, aluminum and glass orders, and fabrication. If your schedule of values only has "install curtain wall," you won't bill much for months.
Put the early work on the schedule of values
Most GCs will accept a schedule of values that recognizes the work before installation, as long as it's agreed up front:
| # | Description | Scheduled value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering, calcs and shop drawings | $38,000 |
| 2 | Performance mock-up and testing | $24,000 |
| 3 | Curtain wall material, north and east elevations | $212,000 |
| 4 | Curtain wall installation, north and east elevations | $96,000 |
| 5 | Storefront and entrances, material | $64,500 |
| 6 | Storefront and entrances, installation | $28,000 |
| 7 | Interior glass and mirrors | $31,500 |
| 8 | Door hardware | $18,000 |
| 9 | Sealants, field water testing and closeout | $16,000 |
Upload your subcontract and PayAppHub can read the schedule of values for you, or type it in once. After that, each month is only the lines that moved.
Material fabricated and stored at your shop
Curtain wall units and storefront frames are often built and stored at your shop for weeks before they're shipped. Many contracts allow you to bill off-site stored material if you provide the backup: a bill of sale, an insurance certificate, and photos of the tagged units. Enter the amount in the Stored column and attach the paperwork to the pay app. PayAppHub packages it all, in order, behind the signed application and your lien waiver.
When the units are installed, move the amount from stored to work on that elevation's line. Nothing gets billed twice, and the stored balance always matches what's actually still at your shop.
Curtain wall, storefront and glazing sections
Glazing subcontracts usually pull from several Division 08 sections: glazed aluminum curtain walls (08 44 13), aluminum-framed entrances and storefronts (08 41 13), glazing (08 80 00), and sometimes door hardware (08 71 00) for the entrances. Curtain wall specs typically require engineering by a licensed engineer, a performance mock-up, and field water testing, often to AAMA 501.2, during installation.
Each of those requirements costs money before or during installation, and each makes a natural line on the schedule of values. If your subcontract includes the mock-up and testing, bill them when they're done instead of waiting for the last panel to be glazed. And if the architect adds field tests beyond what's specified, that's a change order.
Water testing and closeout
Field water testing, final sealant and cleaning are often the last things between you and your retainage. Keep them on their own line. When everything's done, one click creates the retainage application with your final lien waiver.
Questions
Can I bill shop drawings and engineering?
If the GC accepts them on your schedule of values, yes. Agree on the line before your first pay app, then bill it by percent complete like any other line.
What backup do GCs usually want for off-site stored material?
Commonly a bill of sale transferring the material, an insurance certificate covering it, and photos of the units tagged for the project. Some GCs or owners also want to inspect it. Check your subcontract and the project specifications.
How do I send the pay app to the GC?
PayAppHub makes a ready-to-send email draft with the package attached. It opens in Outlook or your usual email app, so it goes out from your own address. You can also just download the PDF.