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3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!

Every construction project has a schedule to keep. Even in the early stages of a construction project, Clients and Contractors alike must create a master schedule to determine a feasible, realistic completion date along with the steps it will take to get there. While master completion schedules are important, they don’t really provide enough data to determine the fine details of what’s happening today vs. tomorrow. Ironically, Contractors must get the short-term, “this week”-type of tasks nailed down solidly in order to ever actually keep up with the master schedule! In order to plan out the near future, Contractors rely on a specific technique. Today, we’re talking about the 3-week look ahead schedule in construction. We’re also giving away a FREE 3-week look ahead Excel template, too!

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What Is A Look Ahead Schedule?

A look ahead schedule in construction outlines what will be happening in the near future on a day-to-day basis. Unlike a master schedule that spans months or even years, the look ahead schedule is specifically meant to outline what’s happening in the next one, two or three weeks.

Nearly everyone involved with a construction project and appreciate and utilize a well-coordinated look ahead schedule:

Clients enjoy knowing exactly what will be happening today, tomorrow and the next day on their project. They can visit the site for themselves!
Upper management likes to see that the overall schedule is being hit, and the look ahead schedule provides an in-depth look of how time is actually being spent onsite.
Project Managers need to know what’s happening day-to-day onsite in order to coordinate the next steps. The look ahead allows Project Managers to plan accordingly.
Superintendents & Foremen must know what needs to be completed every day, along with who will actually be doing it. The look ahead schedule is vital to their daily operations.

Frequently updating the look ahead schedule and tracking its’ progress every day is a vital and necessary part of the construction process!

What To Include In A Look Ahead Schedule?

The purpose of a look ahead schedule is to outline as much specific detail as possible. In construction, this can include several different variables. Because of this, we’ve created a few different versions.

First, be sure to download your FREE 3 Week Look Ahead Excel Template below!

In order to access this free template, you must first enter your email in the form above. A button will then be visible upon entry, which will allow you to download this template instantly. Occasionally, some readers are not able to see this form. If an email form is not displaying above this section, please try the following steps:

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Email me at pat@solvepmproblems.com.

3 Week Look Ahead Template For Labor Forecasting

Use this template for forecasting labor usage by work task. This template functions based on man-days (MDs).

The template will automatically total the man-days by task, by day and the total man-days expected in the 3-week forecast.

Below is a sample screenshot:

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule Template - Labor & Man Days

3 Week Look Ahead Template – Color Coded By Trade

This look ahead template allows you to color-code all man-days by trade. Assign colors for up to 7 15 different trades / contractors in the worksheet [Updated 7/1/21]. Feel free to name them whatever you choose, rather than ‘trade 1’ that’s automatically entered.

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule Template - Color Coded By Trade — As Of 7/1/21, Template Allows For As Many As 15 Trades To Be Listed

Once you’ve assigned a color to each trade and contractor, you can select them in the dropdown menu for every task. As you forecast man-days for each work task, they’ll automatically highlight in the color assigned.

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule Template - Labor Color Coded By Trade

This sheet also totals the man-days by task, by day and during the entire three-week period.

2 Week Look Ahead Template For Equipment & Material Forecasting

Lastly, we’ve included a template for a two week equipment and material forecast. You can note the materials and equipment that’ll be in use for each task throughout the forecast.

We kept this one to two weeks, because any larger of a sheet doesn’t look right when printing.

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: In Summary

Construction projects succeed or fail based on how well-prepared the contractors are when performing the work. The 3 week look ahead schedule in construction is essential to contractors when figuring out the next steps for their project. Using the free Excel look ahead template in this article, you’ll be able to know exactly what’ll be happening on your project in the near future. Thanks for reading!

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Contractors, CPM, Free Templates & Downloads, Look Ahead Schedule, Project Scheduling

Pat Finnegan

Hello! I'm Patrick, the creator of PM Problems. I have an educational background in Civil Engineering and I've worked in the construction industry since 2008, working on many types of projects in that time. I love talking about project management as well as helping others learn and grow!

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4 thoughts on “3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!”

t n rajapaksha says:

May 16, 2021 at 7:31 pm

why is it can’t download the templates

Reply
1. Patrick says:
  
  May 17, 2021 at 9:22 am
  
  Hello,
  
  Our apologies on the download issue. We’re trying to reproduce this issue but the download/email form is displaying correctly on our end. Several people have had this issue recently. We just cleared the cache on our site which hopefully fixed it, but if not you can try clearing your browser’s cookies for our site, too. At that point an email signup form should display and the download button will appear immediately after signing up.
  
  If the problem still persists please let me know!
  
  Reply
Cody Brown says:

June 30, 2021 at 4:14 pm

I love this software and use it often, but I need to add more trades to it. Once I add more trades, I can’t add them to the lines with colors attached. I need at least 15 trades total, not just 7. Can you send me one that allows 15 trades or tell me how to add them without messing up the sheet? Please, I am begging you for your help

Reply
1. Pat says:
  
  July 1, 2021 at 11:15 am
  
  Hello Cody,
  
  Awesome! Glad to hear you’re finding this template useful. No problem, we’ve just updated this spreadsheet to include 15 color-coded trades – we’d include more if we could but some of the colors start looking alike after a certain point! Ha.
  
  The new template can be downloaded through the same form above (by entering email) but if you enter the same address you used for the first download, you’ll only be on our list once. Hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any issue downloading the new version.
  
  Best,
  PM Problems
  
  Reply

Is My Boss Manipulating Me? Here Are 12 Signs Of A Manipulative Boss

Pat Finnegan April 3, 2022

Working in a toxic environment is what I consider a ‘silent killer’. Maybe you can relate to this. The effect settles in over time, not all at once. You start feeling less enthusiasm for your work. You start questioning you own abilities and skill. You take home a little more baggage with you each day. You’re working more to ‘keep up’. You feel worn out, tired, and Monday mornings are your worst enemy. You feel like you’re being drained of your life force one day at a time. Let’s get into the ways bosses manipulate employees, and what to do about them!

What Do Building Inspectors Do? 4 Construction Inspector Responsibilities

Pat Finnegan June 11, 2021

We all know that buildings and structures are designed to meet certain standards. Whether they’re related to engineering requirements, material placement or building codes, it’s understood that contractors must adhere to strict guidelines when it comes to performing construction duties correctly. While owners and project initiators could simply trust that everything’s being built 100% correctly, the numerous construction disasters that’ve happened over the years prove just how costly – and even deadly – improper construction can be. Sure, there’s pretty much zero risk involved in painting a wall or putting down some new flooring, but projects that involve structural work, utilities, major alterations or public exposure must be monitored closely throughout the process to ensure that all work is being done correctly. That’s where building inspectors come into play. Let’s go through four key construction inspector responsibilities.

Buying Materials For Contractors Directly? The Pros & Cons To Consider

Pat Finnegan June 4, 2021

When hiring a contractor, nearly everyone is looking for the same outcome: a successful completion of the work for the best (lowest) price possible. It’s instinctual for our minds to ponder how we can save money on the total cost of construction through whatever means possible. This commonly manifests itself through choosing the “cheapest” contractor right from the start, but there are many other ways that clients and general contractors alike try to save some cash when it comes to hiring contractors. One of these ways involves purchasing the materials directly, rather than leaving it to the contractor that’s being hired. Why? Markup. When we receive a proposal from a contractor, their price typically includes labor, equipment and material costs – all of which are then marked up higher to include the contractors’ overhead and profit margins. Clients can therefore save money by buying materials for contractors directly; if clients or general contractors buy the materials, the contractor (or subcontractor) won’t be able to charge overhead and profit on top of these material costs. This means the client gets to keep that money in exchange for buying the material themselves. That’s a big win…right? Well, that depends. While there are certainly some benefits to buying materials for contractors ourselves, there are also some potential drawbacks. Let’s go through the pros and cons!

My Boss Doesn’t Have My Back: What Should I Do? My 5 Personal Tips

Pat Finnegan May 27, 2021

Do you ever feel betrayed by your boss? Does it seem like the two of you are always at odds, or that you simply can’t trust them? Unfortunately, this is something many of us can relate to. While we hope to have positive, productive relationships with our bosses, it’s certainly not a guarantee. Many of us feel like our bosses are only out for themselves – or even worse, working against us. In the land of the modern workplace and corporate culture, it can feel like work is just as much about office politics, individual advancement and covering our butts as it is about actually doing our jobs, and our bosses are no more exempt from this than we are. While our relationships with our bosses may feel worse in our minds than they really are, we may also notice certain patterns of behavior in them over time. Whether it be that our boss rarely offers us support, disagrees with us in front of others, throws us ‘under the bus’ or just plain doesn’t like us, we eventually reach the point where we think “My boss doesn’t have my back! What should I do?”. As someone who’s definitely been there, I’m happy to share with you the techniques I’ve used to mitigate this situation with success. Let’s get into them.

Do Construction Managers Have To Travel? Let’s Break It Down

Pat Finnegan May 21, 2021

Let’s kick this one off with a bit of history. It’s the year 1848. Location? North America. What were folks up to? The Revolutionary War was over, but the Civil War had not yet begun. While I can’t speak for everyone since I wasn’t there, about 300,000 people decided to pack up their belongs, leave the family homestead and head to California, often on perilous journeys. The reason? The Gold Rush. Although gold had been discovered in California by local residents earlier, 1848-1849 is when the rush truly began to occur. Often referred to as ’49ers, people from all over the world began arriving in California – not only from the eastern parts of America, but also from Mexico, Peru, China, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and more. The prospects of wealth and prosperity – even through word of mouth and letters – was sufficient reason to give up everything, leave home and spend time digging or ‘panning’ for gold in the desert. In short, people wanted money and California was the best place to find it. While things in America are a bit more stable now, the idea of traveling to find prosperity is far from over – actually, that goes for any country of origin. While working from home is pushing things in a new direction, the prospect of traveling to find better opportunities is still relatable for millions of people. This group certainly includes people working in the construction industry, but there are many nuances to consider. If you came here after wondering “do construction managers have to travel?”, fear not – I aim to answer this with as much detail as I can.

Writing Skills For Project Managers: These 6 Are Essential For Success

Pat Finnegan May 14, 2021

When one imagines a Project Manager, they may picture a person meeting with team mates, reviewing reports or giving presentations. While Project Managers do all of these things, there’s one task that nearly every P.M. spends quite a bit of time on, especially these days: writing. Whether it be writing letters or responding to endless emails, a significant portion of a Project Managers’ performance is underpinned by their ability to write. For many Project Managers (myself included), it takes years of time and experience to finely hone their writing skills. While the best way to get better at writing is to simply spend time doing it, there are many easy ways to improve writing abilities too; many of them are more about what not to do than anything else! Let’s talk about 6 essential writing skills for Project Managers that I’ve picked up over the years. Note that some of these tips aren’t necessarily about writing per se, but rather the intent and strategy behind why you should sometimes write a certain way. Let’s go!

Tracking Construction Productivity: A Few Examples [Free Excel Template]

Pat Finnegan May 7, 2021

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I just finished watching “The Smartest Guys In The Room”. It’s a documentary about Enron, the once-revolutionary Texas energy trading company that famously collapsed in 2001. From the early 90’s right up to their downfall, Enron was a darling of Wall Street, ranking #7 on the Fortune 500 in the same year that news of its’ massive accounting fraud and unethical business practices swept the world. In the summer of 2000, Enron’s stock hit an all-time high of over $90 per share. In late 2001, Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is still known as one of the largest corporate scandals in American history. Not only was Enron a business titan on Wall Street, but they were also well-known on ‘Main Street’ too. Enron’s collapse led to nearly 30,000 lost jobs, thousands of evaporated retirement accounts and countless investors left with worthless stock. Enron was once a (mostly) legitimate energy company before it essentially became an energy stock market in the 90s. What the heck happened? The Enron story is complex yet simple at the same time, unpinned by human ego, greed, deceit and pride. As for the specifics of what happened, we’ll get into those too. Let’s discuss six project management lessons from Enron and their demise that came to me after watching the film.

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Pat Finnegan April 16, 2021

Not all companies are meant to last unfortunately. Whether it be due to poor management, changing times, a rise in competition or even economic recession, many businesses end up closing their doors as the years go on. While some of these closures are sudden, other companies take several years before they’re completely shut down. As you probably know already, the daily experience employees have at a failing company is not always great – the atmosphere can range from unmotivated to extremely stressful and everything in between. This experience can also apply to your department or specific branch closing too, even if the company as a whole is not going out of business. If this is your experience, I can relate. The last two years at my previous company were spent seeing the ‘tidal wave’ coming in slow motion; most of us knew our division – once one of the largest in the company – would be shut down eventually given our overall performance, but no one knew exactly when. Here are six things I learned while working for a failing company that’ll hopefully be helpful!

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Many students and young professionals aspire to become a Project Manager at some point in their careers. Some of us desire the title and decision-making authority that being a P.M. provides, while others long to overcome challenges and deliver projects successfully. Of course, many of us want the higher salary and other financial perks that Project Managers often enjoy. Whatever your reason for wanting to become a P.M., it’s likely that other people out there also want to become a Project Manager for similar reasons. How many others are looking to become P.M.s? Is project management competitive? If you’re thinking about becoming a Project Manager and are looking for some stats, then read on!

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As we all know, project management is an exciting and dynamic field. There are plenty of ways we can challenge ourselves and continue to grow year after year. These are the aspects of project management that most of us love. As we gain experience, we learn a wide variety of skills in leadership, budgeting, scheduling, organization and more. If we can manage a decent-sized project, how much harder can it be to work for ourselves? After working as a Project Manager for awhile, you may begin to crave a challenge beyond what your typical position or company may offer. Perhaps you want to create a business from the ground up. Maybe you crave the ability to make your own schedule, or no longer answer to a boss. For many different reasons, there’s a growing percentage of working professionals who decide not to pursue their current career path anymore, and instead pursue the road less traveled…the path of the entrepreneur. Cue the dramatic music. There’s plenty of reasons why being ‘your own boss’ is great, but there are plenty of reasons one shouldn’t just dive in without preparation, either. I know because I’ve done it! At least to a certain extent. While I was prepared in some ways, there are several things I wish I understood much earlier – that’s what this article is about. For the project managers becoming entrepreneurs out there, let’s go over 5 tips based on my own experience, plus a little detail as to why I became an entrepreneur after thirteen years in construction management.

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!

Watch The Video Version On YouTube

What Is A Look Ahead Schedule?

What To Include In A Look Ahead Schedule?

First, be sure to download your FREE 3 Week Look Ahead Excel Template below!

3 Week Look Ahead Template For Labor Forecasting

3 Week Look Ahead Template – Color Coded By Trade

2 Week Look Ahead Template For Equipment & Material Forecasting

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: In Summary

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Pat Finnegan

4 thoughts on “3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!”

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Is My Boss Manipulating Me? Here Are 12 Signs Of A Manipulative Boss

What Do Building Inspectors Do? 4 Construction Inspector Responsibilities

Buying Materials For Contractors Directly? The Pros & Cons To Consider

My Boss Doesn’t Have My Back: What Should I Do? My 5 Personal Tips

Do Construction Managers Have To Travel? Let’s Break It Down

Writing Skills For Project Managers: These 6 Are Essential For Success

Tracking Construction Productivity: A Few Examples [Free Excel Template]

6 Project Management Lessons From Enron & Their Historic Collapse

6 Things I Learned While Working For A Failing Company

Is Project Management Competitive? The Answer Is Complicated

For Project Managers Becoming Entrepreneurs: 5 Tips From Experience

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3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!

Watch The Video Version On YouTube

What Is A Look Ahead Schedule?

What To Include In A Look Ahead Schedule?

First, be sure to download your FREE 3 Week Look Ahead Excel Template below!

3 Week Look Ahead Template For Labor Forecasting

3 Week Look Ahead Template – Color Coded By Trade

2 Week Look Ahead Template For Equipment & Material Forecasting

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: In Summary

INDEX TAGS:

Pat Finnegan

4 thoughts on “3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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