Free change order template for fence & deck builders
Fence and deck jobs are full of small, reasonable-sounding asks that quietly turn into unpaid work: one more gate, a material upgrade, an extra footing because the grade wasn't what anyone expected. None of it is a big deal in the moment — until the final invoice, when it suddenly is. Use this template so every add-on gets a price and a yes before a post goes in the ground.
The extras that eat fence & deck margins
- Additional gate or walk-through
- Upgraded post caps or hardware
- Composite/upgraded decking material swap
- Extra footings for uneven grade or rock
- Added stairs or landing
- Post spacing change after layout
- Permit-driven design change
- Railing upgrade or added section
Any of these showing up mid-job should trigger the same habit: quote it on the spot, write it down, get the yes before you touch it.
CHANGE ORDER — FENCE / DECK
Change Order # ______ · Date: ____________
Company: ____________________
Phone: ______________________
Project
Client name: ______________________________
Job / address: ____________________________
Original contract amount: $________________
Linear feet / sq ft affected: ______________
This change
Price of this change: $____________________
New contract total: $______________________
Schedule impact: ______ additional day(s)
Material change: Y / N — noted below
Description of added / changed work (material, hardware, footings, layout)
Client signature: __________________________
Name & date
Contractor signature: ______________________
Name & date
Why footings and material swaps are the riskiest asks
Unlike a straightforward add-on, grade-driven extra footings and mid-job material upgrades often get agreed to verbally while you're standing in the yard — because stopping to draft paperwork feels like it'll slow the crew down. That's exactly why a fast approval habit matters more here than almost anywhere else: the asks are frequent, they're easy to underprice on the spot, and they're the first thing a client questions when the final number is higher than expected.
The faster version: a one-tap approval link
Swornbook turns this exact template into a link you text from the job site — no printing, no waiting for a signature. Your client taps, types their name, and the approval lands on the job's time-stamped record, connected to photos and the final invoice. Free 14-day trial, no card: protect your next change order →
This template is provided free for your business use. It is not legal advice — have a professional review the paperwork you rely on.