Time and Materials (T&M) Contracts in Construction: Guide for Contractors & Project Owners

A time and materials (T&M) contract is a construction agreement where the project owner pays the contractor for all material and labor costs on a project as well as contractor markup. Unlike lump sum contracts, a T&M contract is based on the actual time spent and materials used on a project rather than a fixed fee. This type of construction agreement is often used in cases where the scope of work or project duration is uncertain — or where changes are likely to occur during the project. With projects that have unknowns, T&M contracts provide greater flexibility and transparency for both the owner and the contractor.

Read on to learn more about how T&M contracts work as well as the advantages and disadvantages of these contracts for contractors and project owners.

How time and materials contracts work

A time and materials contract is an agreement where contractors are reimbursed for materials used and hours billed on a project including a negotiated markup. Essentially, the basis of the contractor’s bid includes the unit costs of materials, an hourly or daily rate, and contractor markup. 

However, T&M contracts do not provide an unlimited budget for a project. While T&M contracts are based on the actual time and materials used for a project, the client and contractor usually establish an estimate for the project based on the known scope of work when the project commences. Sometimes, the contract will include a maximum limit (a “not-to-exceed” clause) on the amount that the client is willing to pay for the project. This clause limits the client’s financial liability, provides clarity on the overall project cost, and serves as a guideline for the contractor to manage costs, ensuring that the project is completed within the client's specific budget.

T&M contracts are commonly established between a project owner and general contractor when a project’s scope of work is not well defined or when the project duration is unknown. This contract type can also be used between general contractors and specialty contractors depending on the project parameters and goals. 

Using the known scope of work, the contractor will do the following:

1. Determine loaded labor rates, which include wages, overhead and administrative costs, and profit markup.
2. Identify and price the materials that will be required for the project, including freight as well as the contractor’s markup.
3. Provide an estimate of labor hours and materials needed to complete the work.

T&M contracts are often easier to negotiate as the financial risks are minimized for the contractor. Under a T&M contract, contractors know that their costs will be reimbursed throughout the duration of the entire project. As project conditions change or the scope of work adjusts throughout the course of construction, contractors can provide project owners with updated estimates of the total cost of the project. 

Advantages of T&M contracts

T&M contracts offer advantages to both project owners and contractors.

For project owners who are tackling projects with an unpredictable scope of work, a T&M contract generally provides them with the flexibility to handle any unforeseen conditions that arise. For contractors, profitability is much more likely as they are compensated for all the time and materials used regardless of unknowns. 

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Disadvantages of T&M contracts

Although a T&M contract offers many advantages, there are also drawbacks for both parties involved. These can be minimized by establishing a well-structured contract, building on a solid relationship, and prioritizing communication and transparency.

T&M contracts are often established between parties that have an existing relationship. The owner is more comfortable selecting a contractor they know won’t drag the project out unnecessarily to try to earn additional revenue. 

Potential solutions to mitigating the pitfalls of a T&M contract include the following:

• Building on an established relationship: T&M contracts are often the most efficient and deliver the best results when there is trust between both parties. The contractor is able to quickly and efficiently tackle problems onsite while the owner is assured that the contractor isn’t cutting corners or inflating hours in order to increase earnings.
• Adding in a “not-to-exceed” (NTE) clause: Incorporating an NTE clause into the contract decreases the owner’s risk and provides them with greater financial certainty. For the contractor, this removes the burden of managing the client’s expectations around budget because the cost is capped, like a GMP or lump sum contract.
• Establishing clear communication: Maintaining open and clear communication throughout the project can help prevent any potential issues from escalating into larger problems.

T&M contract example

A large retail company approaches Finley Construction, a general contractor, to ask them to renovate a store that was recently damaged by a storm. The project owner is looking to quickly get a contractor onsite, and assess what work needs to be done for the store to be operational again. 

Due to the uncertainty of the scope and project duration, the owner decides to use a T&M contract in order to make negotiations easier and get construction started. The two parties have worked together previously and have an established solid relationship. 

Finley Construction calculates its loaded labor rates including wages, overhead, and markup as well as unit prices for required materials. They submit this pricing information to the project owner. Eventually, Finley Construction and the owner negotiate and sign the contract, which includes standard terms around payments, change orders, dispute resolution, and more. While a T&M contract can put the owner at greater financial risk, the trust between the two parties mitigates the owner’s concerns. 

Finley Construction quickly mobilizes onsite, brings trusted subcontractors on board, and begins work on the project. Based on their contractual payment schedule, Finley Construction submits invoices to the owner monthly, detailing the hours worked and the materials used. The project owner reviews the invoices and pays Finley Construction according to the agreed-upon schedule, and Finley Construction pays its specialty contractors in turn. These invoices serve as a cost update for the owner, enabling them to cross-check the progress with the budget.

During construction, Finley Construction realizes that the storm caused extensive water intrusion and damage to the store which will need significant remediation. With the flexibility of the T&M contract, they can inform the owner, clarify the additional scope, and quickly adapt to resolve the issue.

Once construction is complete, Finley Construction compiles all documentation related to the project, including invoices, receipts, and timesheets. The contractor passes this documentation on to the owner along with a final invoice that outlines the total cost of the project. The owner conducts a final inspection and approves payment to Finley Construction. 

In this instance, a T&M contract was the perfect solution that balanced both parties' priorities. The owner was looking to quickly tackle a project with an undefined scope and unclear duration. Due to the nature of their relationship, they were able to quickly bring Finley Construction onboard. Under a T&M contract, the general contractor is likely to turn a profit as long as they’ve correctly calculated their loaded labor rate and material costs. 

With a T&M contract, Finley Construction was able to quickly mobilize onsite, handling a tricky construction project with an unclear scope. The partnership between the owner and the contractor yielded a prompt and seamless delivery of a high-quality project.

Contract formation determines success

Understanding the ins and outs of each contract type can significantly impact the success of a project for both owners and contractors. Contract formation presents an opportunity for both parties to mitigate risks and ensure their top priorities are realized. 

A well-defined T&M contract can promote clear and effective communication between the owner and contractor, afford the team the ability to adapt to any unforeseen issues that may arise, and ultimately deliver a high-quality construction project amidst the chaos of unknown or undefined conditions.  

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