If you’ve ever worked on a public construction job, you know the paperwork can be just as demanding as the work itself. Prevailing wage (aka Davis-Bacon) rules are strict—and even one small slip-up can lead to big headaches.
At Stonewing Builders, we’ve seen it all. Over the years, we’ve learned how to stay ahead of the curve so our projects—and our subs—don’t get tripped up by avoidable mistakes. Here’s a quick look at the most common prevailing wage issues we see, and how we keep things running smoothly.
Common Prevailing Wage Mistakes
1. Wrong Job Classifications: One of the biggest mistakes is listing a worker under the wrong trade. A skilled laborer gets logged as a general laborer—or a roofer gets misclassified under sheet metal. That kind of error can lead to underpayment and compliance violations.
2. Messy Certified Payroll: Certified payroll reports need to be clean, accurate, and submitted on time every week. Missing hours, fringe details, or job codes? That can delay payments—or worse, trigger an audit.
3. Fringe Benefit Mix-Ups: You can’t just lump fringe benefits into one line or guess at values. You must show exactly what’s being provided and how it adds up. No backup? It doesn’t count.
4. Not Keeping an Eye on Subs: Even if your work is clean, you’re still responsible if a sub doesn’t follow the rules. On public projects, the GC is ultimately accountable for everyone’s compliance.
5. Using Outdated Wage Rates: Prevailing wage rates don’t stay the same. Using an old rate sheet—especially if a project spans multiple years—can get you in trouble fast. Always double-check before you submit payroll.
How We Keep It Clean
Here’s how we make prevailing wage projects stress-free for our team, our clients, and our subs:
We prep before we build: We review wage rates, worker classifications, and reporting requirements before the project starts. Everyone on our team—including subs—knows the expectations upfront.
We help our subs succeed: We work with many small and diverse subcontractors. If someone’s new to public work, we don’t leave them guessing—we walk them through what’s needed and help them stay on track.
We check in weekly: Our office team reviews certified payrolls as they come in. If something looks off, we catch it early. That way, there are no surprises down the road.
We keep the lines open: If there’s ever a question or gray area, we get answers fast—no assumptions, no guesswork.
Why It All Matters
Prevailing wage compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about doing right by the workers, building trust with agencies, and making sure everyone gets paid fairly and on time.
At Stonewing Builders, we’re proud to bring not just great construction—but great processes—to every public job we take on.
Got a public project coming up?
Whether you’re a school district, a public agency, or a sub looking for a solid GC to partner with—we’d love to talk. Let’s make the process smoother (and smarter) for everyone involved.
Prevailing Wage Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Public construction work comes with a whole-lotta of paperwork—and prevailing wage compliance is one of the biggest pain points we consistently see in the field.
From misclassifying trades to fringe benefit confusion, small mistakes can lead to serious delays or penalties. Here’s a quick look at some common issues we help prevent:
- Misclassifying workers under the wrong trade
- Incomplete or inaccurate certified payroll
- Fringe benefits not documented or calculated correctly
- Subs not staying in compliance (and GCs being held responsible)
- Using outdated wage rates
At Stonewing Builders, we strive to keep things clean with:
Pre-job compliance reviews
Hands-on guidance for newer or diverse subcontractors
Weekly payroll audits
Open, proactive communication with owners & agencies
Compliance doesn’t have to be stressful when you build the right process into the job.
If you’re an agency, school district, or sub looking for a solid GC that knows how to navigate public work the right way—we’d love to connect.
