Plumbing Contractor Daily Reports: Best Practices
A plumber daily report isn’t busywork—it’s your only proof once the trench is backfilled or the slab is poured. If you’ve ever had a GC ask, “Are you sure that cleanout was there?” three months later, you already know the pain: underground and rough-in mistakes (or blame) don’t show up until finish, and by then everything’s concealed. This guide is plumbing-specific, heavy on testing documentation, and focused on the stuff you can’t afford to “remember later.”
Table of Contents
- Plumbing-Specific Documentation
- What to Track Daily
- Underground and Slab Work
- Template for Plumbing Daily Reports
- Common Documentation Mistakes
- FAQ
Plumbing-Specific Documentation
Plumbing crews live and die by what’s concealed: underslab drains, vent runs behind walls, carrier locations, water piping above hard lids. That’s why plumber documentation needs to be tighter than a generic “daily log.” You’re not just recording labor—you’re recording exact locations, test results, and pass/fail conditions.
Two real-world situations where a plumbing contractor daily log saves you:
- Underground reroute dispute: The structural crew says your 4" sanitary main is “in the wrong bay” after the slab is poured. If your daily report has layout references (gridlines), photos before cover, invert elevations, and an inspection sign-off, you’ve got facts, not opinions.
- Leak after drywall: A unit has a slow drip behind a shower wall. The owner points at “bad plumbing.” If your log includes rough-in pressure test (psi + time + gauge photo), material batch/brand, and who witnessed, you can separate workmanship from later damage.
Practical takeaway today:
- Treat your plumbing work daily report like a “future courtroom exhibit.” If it wouldn’t convince a third party, it’s not detailed enough.
- For anything that gets covered (underslab, in-wall, above ceiling), document it the same day with photos + notes.
What to Track Daily
A plumbing foreman daily log should read like a clean story: what was installed, where it was installed, what was tested, what passed, what held you up, and what needs follow-up.
Below are the plumbing-specific items that actually matter in the field.
Pipe installation
Pipe notes shouldn’t be “ran pipe on 2nd floor.” That doesn’t protect you when someone questions sizing, slope, or routing. Record type, size, route, method, and reference points.
What to capture:
- System: sanitary, storm, domestic cold/hot, recirc, gas, med gas (if applicable)
- Material: PVC/ABS, cast iron (no-hub), copper (Type L/M), PEX, CPVC, HDPE, steel
- Size and length ranges: “Installed (6) sticks 4" PVC + fittings”
- Route/location: gridline, unit #, room, corridor, riser ID, elevation notes
- Key details: slope (for gravity), hangers/support spacing, firestopping locations, sleeve/penetrations
Two examples you can copy:
- “Installed 4" PVC sanitary main from Grid B/4 to B/6, approx. 48 LF, 1/4" per ft slope, (2) long sweeps, (1) 4x4x2 wye to future branch. Photo set: UG-03 to UG-07 before cover.”
- “Ran 1-1/4" domestic cold in ceiling of Corridor 2A from Mech Room MR-1 to Stack S-2, approx. 110 LF, Type L copper, brazed, insulated after test. Noted conflict at Grid D/8 with duct main—RFI submitted.”
Practical takeaway today:
- Always include a location anchor (gridline, room, unit, riser ID). “North side” won’t help you later.
Fixture rough-in
Fixture rough-ins are where jobs get sideways fast—especially with carriers, wall-hung toilets, shower valves, and ADA heights. If the tile guy hits your valve, or the casework conflicts with your stub-outs, your report should prove you roughed-in per plan.
What to capture:
- Fixture type + count: lavs, WCs, showers, tubs, mop sink, floor drains, drinking fountains
- Rough-in dimensions: centerline from wall, height AFF, spacing, carrier elevation
- Special items: trap primers, cleanouts, hammer arrestors, mixing valves, backflow, recirc balancing valves
- References: plan detail number, ASI/RFI direction, unit type (A1/A2), room number
Two examples you’ll recognize:
- “Unit 304: Set (2) wall-hung WC carriers (Zurn) per Detail P4.1, rim height 17" AFF, waste outlet 4" to stack S-3. Verified clearance with framing foreman before close-in. Photos: RH-11 to RH-14.”
- “Rough-in (6) shower valves (Moen) in Rooms 210-215, valve body at 48" AFF, drop-ear elbow for shower head at 80" AFF. Flagged (1) stud conflict at Room 212—framing adjusted.”
Practical takeaway today:
- If you don’t document fixture locations, you’ll own every “it’s off by 2 inches” argument after tile.
Testing (pressure, camera)
Testing documentation is where plumbing logs separate pros from chaos. A “tested OK” note won’t protect you when a leak shows up or an inspector asks for proof.
Pressure testing documentation (non-negotiable)
Record it like you expect someone to challenge it:
- System tested (domestic, gas, DWV)
- Test method (air/water), required standard (per spec/code), test medium
- PSI, start time, end time, duration
- Gauge location, gauge photo, calibration (if required)
- Who witnessed (inspector, GC, owner rep), pass/fail
- What was isolated/capped (zones, risers, unit stacks)
Two field-ready examples:
- “Domestic water rough-in test: Zone 2, 3rd floor units 301-312. Pressurized to 150 psi at 9:10 AM, held to 11:10 AM (2 hrs), no visible drop. Gauge installed at riser S-2. Witness: GC (J. Rivera). Photos: PT-02 gauge, PT-03 manifold.”
- “Gas line test: 2" steel from meter room to branch valves, 10 psi air per spec, start 1:05 PM end 1:35 PM, stable. Soap checked joints at unions. Witness: City inspector (Lee). Passed.”
Camera inspection records (your future insurance)
Camera videos/notes protect you on underground sanitary/storm, especially when there’s a backup months later.
What to capture:
- Line ID (San Main UG-1, Storm Branch SB-3)
- From/to points (cleanout to MH-2, stack base to tie-in)
- Findings: bellies, offset joints, debris, sags, root intrusion (on remodel), acceptable slope
- Corrective actions (re-cleaned, re-shot, replaced section)
- Date/time and who ran the camera
Two examples that stop claims:
- “Camera inspection: 4" sanitary UG-1 from CO-1 at Grid C/5 to tie-in at MH-2. Video shows no standing water, joints seated, no debris. Saved clips referenced in report; still photos attached: CAM-01 to CAM-04.”
- “Camera re-check after jetting: Storm branch SB-3 had construction debris at 90° long sweep. Flushed and re-scoped—line clear. Documented before backfill.”
Practical takeaway today:
- Put test results in the report the same day. If you wait until Friday, you’ll miss who witnessed, which zone was capped, and what gauge you used.
Inspections
Inspection notes should document what was requested, what was inspected, what passed, and what corrections were required. The goal is to avoid the classic argument: “We failed because you weren’t ready.”
What to capture:
- Inspection type: underground, top-out, rough-in, final, backflow, gas, water heater
- Authority: city/county inspector name, third-party, special inspector
- Status: requested/approved/failed/partial
- Corrections: exact punch items, room/unit locations, re-inspection date
Two examples:
- “Underground inspection requested 7:30 AM, inspector onsite 10:05 AM. Passed sanitary/storm at Grid A/1–A/8. Noted correction: add nail plates at Units 105-108 lav vent penetrations. Scheduled re-check tomorrow.”
- “Rough-in inspection partial: Units 201-206 passed. Units 207-210 not ready due to framing delay; documented schedule impact and notified GC at 2:15 PM.”
Practical takeaway today:
- When you fail, write exactly why and what you did next. Vague notes turn into blame.
Underground and Slab Work
Underground/slab work is the unique angle where plumbers get burned. Once it’s covered, your report is the only evidence you had the right slope, the right bedding, the right depth, and the right fittings.
Your underground documentation should be heavier than anything else on the job.
What to document before cover:
- Trench condition: depth, width, bedding type (sand/stone), compaction notes (if applicable)
- Pipe install details: size, material, fittings, cleanouts, wyes, long sweeps vs short turns
- Invert elevations and slope checks (laser level readings, benchmark reference)
- Sleeves and penetrations through grade beams/footings (location and size)
- Protection: tracer wire (for non-metallic where required), marking tape, warning tape
- Photos: wide shots + close-ups + reference points (tape measure, gridline marker, spray paint markings)
Two scenarios that happen all the time:
- “Your line is too high” after pour: The concrete crew hits a stub-up that “doesn’t match the plan.” If your daily report shows the stub-up location with dimension from column line, elevation reading, and a photo with tape, you can prove it was set correctly when inspected.
- Backup claim months later: A tenant reports frequent clogs. If you’ve got camera inspection records before backfill showing clean flow and no belly, it shifts the conversation from “bad install” to “something changed” (settlement, improper use, damage).
Practical takeaways today:
- Do a “before cover” checkpoint: photos + test + inspector sign-off. No exceptions.
- Add a simple rule for foremen: if it’s going under concrete or dirt, it gets double photos—one wide with location reference, one close with joint/slope detail.
Template for Plumbing Daily Reports
A good plumbing contractor daily log is structured so you don’t forget the critical stuff when you’re juggling material, manpower, inspections, and change work.
Use this plumbing-focused template layout (copy it into your notes app or reporting tool):
Core fields (every day)
- Project / Area:
- Date / Weather / Site conditions:
- Foreman:
- Crew size / Hours (reg + OT):
- Work performed (by system and location):
- Deliveries (materials, equipment):
- Delays/impacts (trade conflicts, inspections, access):
- RFIs/ASIs/Change notes:
- Safety notes (JSA, hot work permits, trench safety):
- Photos taken (count + labels):
Plumbing-specific fields (the difference-makers)
- Underground/slab work (before cover):
- Location (gridline/area), pipe size/material, slope/invert notes
- Bedding/compaction notes
- Sleeves/penetrations documented
- Inspector status (requested/passed)
- Rough-in locations:
- Fixtures roughed in (room/unit), heights AFF, centerline notes, carriers set
- Testing documentation:
- System tested, method, psi, start/end time, duration, witness, pass/fail
- Gauge location + photo reference
- Camera inspection records:
- Line ID, from/to points, results, corrective actions
- Punch/corrections:
- Item, location, assigned to, target date
Here’s what a filled-out example can look like (short but defensible):
- “UG sanitary: Grid C/1 to C/4 installed 6" PVC, slope verified 1/8" per ft, inverts shot and recorded. Camera scope from CO-2 to MH-1 clean. Underground inspection passed 2:40 PM. Backfill approved by GC after photos UG-21 to UG-28.”
And a rough-in example:
- “Floor 2: Units 201-208 lavs and tubs roughed in. Shower valves at 48" AFF, heads at 80" AFF. Domestic water pressure test at 150 psi for 2 hrs, witnessed by GC. No drop.”
Practical takeaway today:
- Don’t aim for a long report—aim for a report that proves location + test + approval.
Common Documentation Mistakes
Most plumbing contractor paperwork fails in the same predictable ways. The fixes are simple, but you have to do them on the day the work happens.
Mistake 1: “Tested OK” with no numbers
If your report doesn’t include psi + duration + witness, you don’t have test documentation—you have a sentence.
Fix:
- Always write: “Pressurized to X psi, held Y minutes/hours, start/end time, witness.” Add a gauge photo.
Example of a claim-proof note:
- “DWV air test: Stack S-1, 5 psi for 15 min, no drop, inspector present.”
Mistake 2: No underground proof before cover
Once the trench is covered, you can’t prove slope, fittings, or cleanout placement. This is where underground/slab documentation must be obsessive.
Fix:
- Do a “before cover” bundle every time: photos + inverts/slope check + camera scope (when applicable) + inspection status.
Example:
- “Before cover package completed for UG-2: photos 12, invert readings recorded, scope video saved, inspection passed.”
Mistake 3: Vague locations
“Installed venting on 3rd floor” doesn’t help when the drywall crew nails a pipe and everyone argues which unit it was.
Fix:
- Write locations like a map: Unit 312, Bathroom 2, Wall A, or Grid D/7, Corridor 3.
Mistake 4: Missing rough-in dimensions
If you don’t record heights/centerlines, you’ll get dragged into punch fights over trim alignment.
Fix:
- Document the critical dimensions: valve heights, carrier elevations, cleanout access, stub-out centerlines.
Mistake 5: No record of constraints and trade conflicts
When you lose time because the slab wasn’t cut, the framing wasn’t ready, or electrical is in your bay, you need that captured daily.
Fix:
- Write one sentence: what blocked you, where, and how many hours/men it cost.
Example:
- “Lost 6 man-hours: unable to hang 4" cast iron in Corridor 2 due to duct install at Grid B/9. Notified GC at 1:30 PM.”
Practical takeaway today:
- If it impacts schedule, quality, or inspections, it belongs in the plumbing work daily report that day—not in a text thread.
FAQ
Q: What’s the most important thing to include in a plumber daily report? A: Anything that becomes hidden: underground/slab work, in-wall rough-in, above-ceiling runs, plus pressure testing documentation (psi + time + witness). If it’ll be covered tomorrow, document it today with photos and location anchors.
Q: How do I document pressure testing so it holds up later? A: Record the system, test method, psi, start/end times, duration, gauge location, and who witnessed it. Add a clear gauge photo. “Tested OK” isn’t defensible; “150 psi for 2 hours, no drop, GC witnessed” is.
Q: Do camera inspection records really matter on new construction? A: Yes—especially on underslab sanitary/storm. A scope before backfill proves the line was clean and properly sloped at turnover. If there’s a backup later, your camera notes help shut down “bad install” claims.
Q: What’s the best way to document underground work before it’s covered? A: Use a repeatable checklist: wide photos with gridline reference, close photos of fittings/joints, slope/invert readings, and inspection status (requested/passed). If available, add a short camera scope summary.
Q: How detailed should a plumbing contractor daily log be without taking all night? A: Detailed on the items that protect you: locations, tests, inspections, and concealment. You don’t need a novel—just consistent structure. A tight log can be done in minutes if you follow the same categories every day.
Ready to tighten up your plumber daily report without staying late? ProStroyka speaks plumbing—record a quick voice note in the truck and get a structured, professional PDF with testing, underground “before cover” notes, and photo references built in. Start your free trial — no credit card required.