Episode 34: Top 5 Things To Know: Working with Contractors

Should Contractors simply be treated as hired help or indentured servants? Or do they deserve the same respect as other building professionals?

Join Eric and I as we discuss the best ways to work with a Contractor to ensure a successful relationship (and project).

Listen to the Audio

Click to Watch

Show Notes:

Contractors are oftentimes the last people to become involved in any construction project, and in some cases will end up doing all the heavy lifting.

The architectural and construction industries both play a critical role in a building project. Contractors are responsible for putting together the physical pieces of the puzzle that bring an architect’s vision to life.

Contractors come in to take an Architect’s vision and create the physical structure.

A positive relationship between the architect and contractor is important because it helps the construction project flow smoothly from start to finish. When contractors and architects develop a positive relationship and communicate effectively, disagreements can be minimized (if not avoided altogether) and the project can move efficiently from one phase to the next. It might even make you a better Architect!

A negative or adversarial relationship could mean:

delays, poor communication, increased liability or worst of all, legal disputes.

Top 5:

1. Contractors are building professionals too. Be part of a Team, not adversaries.

View the Contractor as a vital part of the design project team (cause they are!)

Don’t view the Contractor as a hired hand, but as a building professional bringing their expertise to the project like everyone else.

2. Contractors need information. Communicate, and then over-communicate.

The key to any successful architect-contractor relationship is open, honest communication and a mutual respect for one another. Contractors should take strides to keep the design team informed on a regular basis throughout the construction process to avoid confusion and minimize mistakes. Likewise, architects should be open to the reality of the situation in the field.

Drawings aren’t perfect. Sometimes Contractors find conflicts (REMEMBER: drawings and specs are complementary). Sometimes they have questions. Questions are good as they show interest and a desire to make things correctly.

Communication is key to an effective working relationship between an architect and a contractor. It’s important to hire a contractor who has many years of experience working with architects on building projects ranging from home additions to large commercial construction projects. Without good communication, the project can lose focus and desires of the property owner may be lost.

At the beginning of the project, the architect and the contractor should have a conversation to understand and agree upon how changes will be tracked. An efficient and centralized tracking system will result in better quality control and field communication and will also eliminate the potential for missed items. – See more at: http://www.sbci.com/contractor-architect-communication/#sthash.zdoTw0t1.dpuf

Schedule regular site visits and honor the time of those visits. Don’t schedule contractor meetings at 6pm (they like to start early and end early,.)

3. Contractors have specific responsibilities. Trust your roles.

Architect has a lot of responsibilities during construction:

Change Orders

Application for Payment

Review Shop Drawings

Design complies with building code

Certify date of Substantial Completion

Approve Notice of Final Completion & Final Application for Payment

But so does the Contractor:

means and method of achieving the design in the Contract Documents

paying their subs / release of liens

manage inspections

submit RFIs

Punch Lists