How to Create a PDF Report for Plumbing Work Done

Plumbers Who Send Reports Get Paid Faster

Most plumbers send a handwritten invoice or a WhatsApp message when a job is done. Nothing wrong with that — it gets the job done. But the plumbers who send a proper completion report alongside their invoice get paid faster, get fewer disputes, and get more referrals.

Here's why: a PDF report proves the job is done. It shows what the site looked like before, what work was carried out, and what condition everything was left in. A client who receives a professional report has less reason to delay payment because the evidence is sitting in their inbox.

What Should a Plumbing Completion Report Include?

A good plumbing report doesn't need to be 20 pages. Clients don't want to read a manual — they want to see the key information presented clearly.

Job details:

• Date of work
• Property address
• Client name
• Brief job description (e.g., "Replace kitchen mixer tap, fix leak under basin, install new bathroom radiator valve")

Pre-work condition:

• Photos of what you found on arrival — the leaking joint, the failed valve, the corroded pipe
• Any pre-existing issues you noted but were not in scope to fix (write these down explicitly)

Work carried out:

• Description of each task completed
• Materials used (brand and specification matters for boilers, cylinders, pumps)
• Any deviations from the original quote and why

Completion photos:

• The repaired joint or new installation, photographed clearly
• Pressure tested if applicable — include the gauge photo with the reading
• Any areas patched or tidied after access

Sign-off:

• Your name and contact details
• Any guarantees or warranties on parts or labour

This doesn't need to be a formal certificate. A clean PDF with photos and notes is enough for 90% of domestic plumbing jobs.

Why Photos Are the Most Important Part

Written descriptions of plumbing work can be disputed. "Replaced the isolation valve under the kitchen sink" doesn't mean much to a client who later claims the valve is leaking and thinks it's your fault.

A photo of the new valve in place, labelled with the make and date of installation, is unambiguous. A photo of the pressure gauge after a system pressure test tells the client — and any future plumber — what the system was tested to and when.

For gas work and boiler servicing, photos of the flue, the combustion chamber, and the gas pressure readings are standard practice. Apply the same discipline to all plumbing work.

The Pre-Work Photo: Your Most Important Insurance

Before touching anything, photograph:

• The fault as found. The leaking joint, the blocked drain, the seized valve, the corroded connection. Photograph it clearly — this is what you were called to fix.
• Any pre-existing damage adjacent to your work area. If the cabinet under the sink is already water-damaged before you arrive, photograph it. You won't be blamed for that damage if it's documented on arrival.
• The condition of pipework and fittings around your work area. If there's old lagging falling off a pipe you're working next to, photograph it.

These pre-work photos take 3 minutes. They have resolved disputes that would have taken weeks.

When to Send the Report

Send it the same day you complete the job — ideally before you leave the property.

A report sent immediately after completion:

• Creates a clear timestamp for the work
• Gives the client something concrete to acknowledge before the invoice
• Prevents the "I haven't had a chance to check the work yet" payment delay

JobDone lets you document a job, generate a report, and share it with your client in under 2 minutes. Take photos through the job on your phone, add brief notes, and send the PDF before you drive away.

Bigger Jobs: The Interim Report

On larger projects — bathroom fitouts, heating system replacements, new plumbing to an extension — don't wait until the end to send documentation.

Send an interim report at key stages:

• After all pipework is run and before walls are boarded
• After pressure testing
• After first fix is complete and before second fix starts

Each interim report acts as a sign-off at that stage. It means that by the time you invoice for the full job, there's a documented paper trail of work accepted at each stage. This significantly reduces end-of-project disputes.

For generating a comprehensive handover document for larger renovation projects, see what to include in a client report after renovation — a guide covering multi-trade reporting from the general contractor's perspective.

For jobs requiring a full completion certificate rather than just a report, it's worth reading generate-job-completion-report (coming soon) for digital certificate options.

Common Reasons Plumbers Skip Reports (And Why They're Wrong)

"My clients don't expect it." They might not expect it, but they will appreciate it. And when they next need a plumber, they'll call the one who sent them a professional report.

"It takes too long." With JobDone, generating a report takes under 2 minutes from the photos you've already taken on site. The report almost writes itself.

"It's only a small job." Small jobs have disputes too. A £150 tap replacement can generate a £500 dispute if the client claims you damaged their under-sink cabinet. The report prevents that.

Try It on Your Next Job

Every job you complete without a report is a missed opportunity to protect yourself and impress the client. The next time you replace a valve, fix a leak, or fit a bathroom, take photos before and after — and send the report before you start the engine.

Download JobDone free