NALP LCT key terms

A written statement listing every task, material, and deliverable a contractor will provide under a contract. It defines what is included and, by omission, what is excluded.

The complete set of drawings, specifications, scope of work, general and supplementary conditions, and addenda that together legally define a project. Conflicts among them are usually resolved by a stated order of precedence.

A written amendment signed by owner and contractor that modifies the contract price, schedule, or scope after execution. Without one, extra work is often unpaid.

A documented list of incomplete or deficient items identified near substantial completion that the contractor must correct before final acceptance and final payment.

The stage at which the work is sufficiently complete for the owner's intended use, even though minor items remain. It typically starts warranty periods and releases retainage in part.

A percentage of each progress payment withheld by the owner until project milestones or final completion are met. It protects the owner against unfinished or defective work.

Periodic payment to a contractor for work completed and materials stored during a billing period, usually based on a schedule of values and approved by the owner or architect.

A breakdown allocating the contract sum across work items, used to evaluate progress payment requests. It should reflect the actual distribution of cost, not an arbitrary front-loaded split.

A legal claim against a property securing payment for labor, materials, or services provided. Landscape contractors and suppliers must follow strict statutory notice and filing deadlines to preserve it.

A document in which a contractor or supplier gives up the right to file a lien, either conditionally upon payment or unconditionally after receiving it. Signing one prematurely can forfeit leverage.

A surety instrument guaranteeing that a bidder will enter the contract at the bid price if selected. It protects the owner if the low bidder withdraws.

A surety guarantee that the contractor will complete the work according to the contract terms. If the contractor defaults, the surety funds completion or pays the owner's loss.

A surety guarantee that subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers will be paid. It substitutes for lien rights on bonded public projects where liens are generally unavailable.

Contract provisions covering administration of the work, such as payments, submittals, insurance, and dispute resolution. They apply across the whole project rather than to one trade.

Written requirements describing materials, products, workmanship, and quality standards. They complement drawings and typically govern where dimensions or quality conflicts arise.

A contractor-prepared drawing detailing how a specific component will be fabricated or installed. It is submitted for review and does not relieve the contractor of design responsibility unless stated.

Any product data, sample, mockup, or drawing the contractor sends for approval before installation. Review confirms general conformance but does not authorize deviations from the contract documents.

A formal written question from the contractor asking the design team to clarify ambiguous or conflicting documents. The answer becomes part of the record and may lead to a change order.

The time after acceptance during which the contractor must repair defects in materials or workmanship at no cost. Plant warranties are usually separate and shorter than hardscape warranties.

A scheduling technique that identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks, which determines the shortest possible project duration. Delays on critical activities push the completion date.

The amount of time an activity can slip without delaying the project completion date. Activities on the critical path have zero float.

A bar chart showing activities against a calendar timeline, with durations and overlaps visible at a glance. It is useful for communication but shows dependencies less clearly than a network diagram.

A process that breaks a task into steps, identifies hazards at each step, and defines controls before work begins. It is most effective when crews participate in writing it.

A ranked approach to reducing risk: eliminate the hazard, substitute something safer, engineer controls, adjust administrative practices, then rely on personal protective equipment last.

Gear worn to reduce exposure to hazards, such as eye protection, gloves, hearing protection, and chaps for chainsaw work. It is the last line of defense, not a substitute for eliminating hazards.

A short, focused safety meeting held at the start of a shift to review a specific hazard or task. Documentation of attendance supports compliance and reinforces accountability.

An unplanned event that did not cause injury or damage but could have. Reporting near misses reveals failing controls before a serious incident occurs.

An individual capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and authorized to take prompt corrective action. Trenching, scaffolding, and tree work standards often require one on site.

Shoring, shielding, sloping, or benching used to protect workers in trenches from cave-ins. A competent person must inspect it daily and after rain or other changing conditions.

The process of marking underground lines before digging, typically through a one-call service plus private locating. Hand digging near marked lines protects workers and prevents service outages.

A standardized measure of recordable injuries or lost workdays per hours worked, commonly per 200,000 hours. It allows fair comparison of safety performance across crews or years.

The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil. It governs drainage, water holding capacity, and how easily roots penetrate.

The arrangement of soil particles into aggregates and pore spaces. Good structure supports air and water movement, while compaction destroys it and stresses roots.

The densification of soil that reduces pore space and restricts air, water, and root growth. Construction traffic is a common cause, and remediation may require aeration or soil replacement.

A field measurement of how quickly water moves through soil, used to size drainage and infiltration systems. Results depend on soil texture, structure, and moisture at the time of testing.

A geographic rating based on average annual minimum temperature that guides which plants are likely to survive winter. It does not account for soil, moisture, or summer heat.

A design principle of matching a plant's light, water, soil, and space requirements to the site so it thrives with minimal inputs. It reduces replacement costs and maintenance.

A species that occurs naturally in a region without human introduction and has adapted to local climate and soils. Natives often support pollinators and need less irrigation once established.

Design and construction practices that limit environmental harm, such as preserving existing vegetation, managing stormwater on site, and reducing irrigation demand. Documentation of these measures can earn green certification credits.