Can a Framing Contract be e-signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws when parties consent; verify no statutory exception applies to the specific transaction.

Is notarization required?

Most framing contracts do not require notarization. When a state or lender requests a notarized signature, follow local notary rules or use RON where permitted.

What if work deviates from scope?

Follow the contract's change-order procedure: document the change in writing, obtain authorized approval and record schedule or price adjustments to avoid disputes.

How should change orders be handled?

Require written change orders signed by authorized parties with clear price and schedule impacts; do not rely on verbal approvals for scope changes.

Who can sign for a company?

An officer or authorized agent with corporate signing authority should sign; attach a corporate resolution or power of attorney when necessary to prove authority.

How long must the contract be kept?

Retain for at least 3 years after the contract term for tax purposes (IRC §6501(a)); consider longer retention (7+ years) for construction claims and statutory limits.

Framing Contract

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What a Framing Contract Is and When It Applies

A Framing Contract is a construction agreement between an owner and a framing contractor that defines the scope of structural carpentry work, materials, schedule, payment milestones, change-order procedures, insurance and warranty obligations. It allocates risk for site conditions, inspections and permits and can include lien waiver and indemnity clauses. When executed properly, the document establishes measurable deliverables and payment timing. Electronic execution is generally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes where adopted, subject to the parties' consent.

Why a Clear Framing Contract Matters

A precise Framing Contract reduces disputes by documenting scope, schedule, price and responsibility for materials, inspections and safety. It clarifies payment timing, retainage and change-order approval to protect both parties and streamline project administration.

Who Typically Prepares or Signs This Agreement

The Framing Contract is routinely prepared by contractors or project managers and signed by property owners, general contractors or authorized company representatives.

Independent framing contractors who perform structural carpentry and subcontract directly to a general contractor.
Property owners or developers commissioning framing work on new construction or renovation projects.
General contractors and construction managers coordinating subcontractor scopes, schedules, and payment flows.

Who Signs and Their Typical Role

General Contractor

Project-level lead responsible for coordinating subcontractors, approving change orders within delegated authority, and verifying completion milestones prior to payment. Must ensure subcontractor insurance and lien waivers are in contract.

Property Owner

Contract counterparty that funds the project and confirms scope acceptance, payment approvals and final release of retainage; should verify contractor licensing and insurance before signing.

Essential Information to Include

Contractor Name: Full legal name

Owner Name: Full legal name

Property Address: Street, city, state, ZIP

Scope Summary: Short work description

Payment Terms: Milestones and retainage

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY format

Common Legal Risks and Contractual Penalties

Late Completion: Liquidated damages

Unapproved Changes: Cost disputes

Missing Insurance: Liability exposure

Improper Signatory: Enforceability risk

Faulty Documentation: Payment delays

Unfiled Liens: Title encumbrance

Avoidable Preparation Errors

Vague scope language that omits specific assemblies, connection details, or material grades, creating room for differing expectations and claims.
Omitting clear change-order procedures, approvals and pricing methods, which often causes work to proceed without documented authorization.
Failing to verify licensing, insurance certificates and worker classification; this can expose owners to liability and payroll audits.
Not confirming the signing party's authority or corporate resolution for company signers, which can render the agreement voidable.

Core Clauses Every Professional Framing Contract Should Include

A comprehensive Framing Contract bundles scope, schedule and payment with clauses that manage risk and change; each element should be measurable and legally enforceable.

Scope of Work

Detailed list of framing tasks, materials, installation standards, applicable codes and reference drawings; attach plans and specifications as exhibits to prevent ambiguity and scope disputes.

Materials & Quality

Material grades, substitutions policy, delivery responsibility and acceptance criteria; define who inspects and signs off on delivered materials to avoid later disagreement.

Schedule & Milestones

Start date, progress milestones, mobilization deadlines, and completion targets; include weather allowances and schedule adjustment mechanisms tied to change orders.

Payment Terms

Contract price, payment schedule, invoicing process, retainage percentage and release conditions; include remedies for nonpayment and interest on overdue sums.

Change Orders

Written change-order process with authorization thresholds, pricing method (time-and-materials or lump sum) and updated schedule impact procedures.

Insurance & Indemnity

Required coverages (general liability, workers' comp), minimum limits, certificate of insurance requirement and indemnity language allocating risk for third-party claims.

Step-by-Step: Completing a Framing Contract

Follow these steps to prepare, verify and execute a clear, enforceable Framing Contract.

01

Draft Scope: Define deliverables, drawings and acceptance criteria in plain terms.
02

Set Schedule: Add start date, milestones and weather allowances.
03

Agree Payment: Enter amounts, retainage, invoicing and payment windows.
04

Sign and Distribute: Obtain authorized signatures and circulate final executed copies.

How to Configure an Online Framing Contract Workflow

Key workflow settings streamline review, approval and electronic execution across owner, GC and subcontractor roles.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel routing options
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA
Conditional Fields	Show fields when options are selected
Notifications	Automatic reminders and completion emails

Technical Requirements for eSigning and Submission

Use a secure eSignature platform that supports PDF/DOCX uploads, audit trails and common signer authentication methods.

File Types: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Connects to ERP and storage
Authentication: Email, SMS, or KBA

Where to Send or File the Executed Agreement

After execution, distribute copies to project stakeholders and retain an unalterable record in your contract repository.

Owner: Retain executed copy for records
General Contractor: Use for scheduling and payments
Subcontractor: Keep on-site for reference
Project Files: Store in cloud and local archive

Common Deadlines and Timing Expectations

Standard contract dates and processing expectations help prevent payment and scheduling disputes on framing jobs.

Mobilization:

Begin within 7 days of effective date

Progress Invoices:

Submitted at agreed milestones or monthly

Final Inspection:

Scheduled upon completion and punch list resolution

Retainage Release:

Released after final completion or statutory hold

Lien Filing Window:

State-specific deadlines apply for lien claims

Key Contract Milestones

Sequential milestones create a clear project timeline from contract award to final closeout.

01

Contract Execution

Agreement signed and effective

02

Material Procurement

Long-lead items ordered

03

Framing Completion

Structure framed to inspection point

04

Closeout

Punch list cleared and final payment

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Framing Contracts

Compare common vendor pricing and compliance characteristics relevant to contract signing and project workflows. Prices reflect typical starting plans; feature availability varies by plan tier.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real-World Examples of Online Contract Execution

Organizations handling construction and property management use eSignature workflows to speed approvals and maintain compliance.

Martin Properties — Tim Martin

Company moved to online execution to manage remote projects and approvals.

100% compliance and built-in security
"I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security. Whether on mobile or working offline, I can get forms back to their necessary parties efficiently."

BIS — Dan Rotelli

Enterprise team required strict compliance and audit trails for contract signings.

SOC 2 and ESIGN focus mattered
"We felt most comfortable with airSlate SignNow given their SOC 2 certification and strict focus on ESIGN and UETA act compliance."

Distribution Methods for an Executed Agreement

Choose distribution channels that preserve the signed record and make it accessible to stakeholders and auditors.

Email Copies: Send signed PDF to all signers
Cloud Archive: Store in secure cloud for retrieval
Project Management: Attach to project records and schedules
Local Backup: Keep encrypted local copy for redundancy

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about using and validating a Framing Contract, including eSignature and retention concerns.

Need help? Contact support

Can a Framing Contract be e-signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws when parties consent; verify no statutory exception applies to the specific transaction.
Is notarization required?
Most framing contracts do not require notarization. When a state or lender requests a notarized signature, follow local notary rules or use RON where permitted.
What if work deviates from scope?
Follow the contract's change-order procedure: document the change in writing, obtain authorized approval and record schedule or price adjustments to avoid disputes.
How should change orders be handled?
Require written change orders signed by authorized parties with clear price and schedule impacts; do not rely on verbal approvals for scope changes.
Who can sign for a company?
An officer or authorized agent with corporate signing authority should sign; attach a corporate resolution or power of attorney when necessary to prove authority.
How long must the contract be kept?
Retain for at least 3 years after the contract term for tax purposes (IRC §6501(a)); consider longer retention (7+ years) for construction claims and statutory limits.

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