Anyone have a construction specification list they care to share? A doc that would be part of the contract, that spells out certain specific items/details. Something that enumerates what is on the drawings, but easier to read (for the HO) and grouped into disciplines. Looking for some thing like:
Concrete slab per engineered drawings;
Walls shall be 2×6 w/5/8 gwb etc;
Roof to be architectural shingles, color to be selected by HO;
Plumbing fixtures to be Kohler models ….
Do it right, or do it twice.
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Doing custom remo work, I write my own for each job.
The comment I wanted to make though is that I try hard to avoid havin notes or sp[ecs refer back to the draweings as much as possible. I write the contract to refer to drawing and specs with a heirarchy that places greater emphasis on the notes and written specs. It can be very confusing when a sub or builder haas to keep cross referencing and checking dates of the updates or revisions to find out which applies. It is much easier and lkess expensive for most revisions or change orders to accomplish the paperwork with the notes/specs than redoing all the drawings and more specifics can be included in notes than in drawings.
So the slab spec would read something more like, "Place monlithic concrete slab 4" thick with 12"D x 18"W thickened edge containing two #4 rebar placed at 4" and 12" from outside, and 6" x 6" rewire chaired to eliminate ground contact throughout. Concrete should be perpared to provide 3000PSI strength after 30 days cure. Concrete shall not be placed until GC notifies ... that soils have been properly drained and compacted."
Soils guy would have a spec for adding soil in lifts and compacting as a separate spec. unless same guy is doing both.
Fact is that I don't use too many specs and contracts with subs. We work together pretty well up here. If I were a big guy and not on site most days, that would be necessary though.
Excellence is its own reward!
Interesting response Piff, but you're on the wrong track for my needs.
Rather than construction specifications, maybe I'm looking for a construction proposal. A not-too-specific doc that tells the client what the builder will be providing. Let me try again:
List of Kohler model numbers for plumbing fixtures;
Allowance of $xxx for electrical fixtures;
Allowance of $xxx for landscaping;
Interior doors to be hollow core masonite;
Exterior to be brick veneer with hardieboard soffits;
That kind of stuff. Not how to build the concrete slab, but just that it is a conc slab of x inches. No specs for brick ties and weep holes, but a statement that there will be brick veneer.
Do it right, or do it twice.
A not-too-specific doc that tells the client what the builder will be providing. Let me try again: Elcid72, by chance are you gearing up for your next "Project" on the Clients property?? I'am guessing that you are just about thru with the current project.. Any who,, I will answer your question by,, It's on the "Blueprint", or it sure otta be, I know,, with some changes here and there. Now when it comes time for flooring, appliances, paint colors ,,,etc, etc,,, that is also, when you earn your money. be safe out there Jim J
Jim you're partially correct. Looking at the next project, probably for the current client. The first project was a remodel, with loosly defined specs, many changes. This one will be much better defined before any work begins. So I'm looking for a doc that can be part of the contract that lists the basic specs of the house. And at the same time a doc that could be modified for other projects as well. Fer 'zample...it would list 1/2" gwb textured & painted, but would not go into detail about nailing pattern or number of coats of joint compund. Same for the roof structure...it would list the type of outer covering (fiberglas shingles, galvanized tin, etc) but would not detail the roof sheathing, underlayment, drip edge, etc. Piff had a good doc for specifications that would be between the arch & gc, or the gc and subs, but certainly that's not something the HO would need to see. He had converted the blueprints to text; I'm looking for a summary of the house.
Do it right, or do it twice.
ElCid, I think simpler may not be better, although I do not know you or your business or your client. I've found that once something unhappy occurs and we're starting to look back at the specs, no amount of detail is too much. Sure it could say "6 inch concrete slab" without elaborating, but once those hairline cracks open up and the HO starts to freak, you're going to want to point out that the spec is for 3000 PSI concrete with a quart of lampblack per yard, a broom finish, control joints every 8 feet, a #4 mat 12" O.C., a 6" bed of 5/8" crushed rock tamped in underneath, a vapor barrier, 3 days of wet cure under plastic, etc. When freaking, the HO will always call in someone to back them up, someone who is more familiar with specs than they are, so the more complete they are and the more photos you have, the better. I've also found that this detail is good for productivity, because a heads-up lead man will be looking at them well in advance and will have fewer work-stopping questions (oh, I didn't know I needed rock under that slab, guess we gotta pull the mat out and put the rock in... where can I rent a jumping jack?)
I've put together may spec sheets and scope of work sheets for jobs and for subs, and it's amazing how much detail they can include once you really think about it. Takes a lot of time.
Do a search for United States Department of Agriculture Form RD 1924-2
I used to have it but I deleted the file. It may help some. It will be in .pdf format so you will need Adobe to open it.
This past August as part of a post I made in the "So who decides if work is good enough?" topic I posted a copy of the specs I wrote for having my house painted (Hayes Residence Spring 2K.pdf). I don't write specs from scratch for every project (geez, no way) but I been writing a bug huge comprehensive spec document for years now that I can pull text from when I need it. I started out on this endeavor after reading through The Architect's Remodeling, Renovation, & Restoration Handbook By H. Leslie Simmons which was full of great ideas and concepts for spec writing as well as having a lot of good spec boilerplate text too. Unfortunately it's sort of hard to find nowadays but you try running it down through http://www.fetchbook.info if your really interested. They're showing prices there for it at around $5.50 used to $79.00. Looking at the price tag on mine I paid $69.95 for it a at least a decade ago.
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