Questions on the Jobsite? Here's the Answer, Every Time.
Whenever there's a question, or confusion, say "let's take a look at the drawings." That is where you should start, every. Friggin. Time.
"But the drawings aren't good!"
Then hire a good architect. That's on you as owner. If the document that's supposed to be setting your GC up for success is crap, it'll delay the project and cost you money.
"But we don't have time to stop everything and look at the drawings every time we have a question!"
Do you consult a map when you're lost, or do you wander around hoping the answer drops from the sky? A construction project is not the time for meandering and exploring.
"But my GC doesn't like following the drawings, he wants to do it his way."
Do you go to a restaurant and order a dish, but are totally cool if they give something completely different without asking? Drawings represent what you ordered and paid for, and that's what you should get.
Drawings are actually called Contract Documents. They are an actual contract, written (drawn) by the architect, representing what the GC is expected to provide the owner. The terms of that contract are separate, including cost, default provisions, invoicing, obligations etc.
But as to *what* those terms apply to, that contract refers to the Contract Documents. Hiring a GC with a crappy set of CDs means you're going to contract with a crappy level of clarity about *what* they're providing. People do this because they misunderstand what drawings actually are.
And GCs also misunderstand this. They too are obligated by the CDs, to provide what's shown in the drawings (within the bounds of code and constructability). If they don't follow the drawings, they are at fault. What happens if the drawings show something that's not up to code?
The GC must first alert the architect. They may not change anything on their own. Architects are charged with understanding and implementing code. We are highly trained, for years, to do that. We likely understand code way better than the GC, especially in a holistic way.
I've had GCs argue me into the ground on a code point, and they may be right in the certain circumstance, but they're not understanding how that fits within the construction type, building type, or any of the other myriad ways code has to be understood and interpreted as a whole.
That's OK, because that's not their job, it's the job of the architect. If you have an architect who doesn't understand this stuff, get one who does.
Again.
GET ONE WHO DOES.
It won't be the cheap one, or a kid fresh out of school. Don't hire crappy and blame them for being crappy.
As an owner, when a GC is bombarding you with questions in the field, always, always, always say "let's take a look at the drawings." It's the exact same thing as saying "let's take a look at this contract we already drew up, that lists what we all agreed to." It's simple.
It also reminds you as owner what you agreed to and decided before the heat of the moment. The drawings represent your clear vision for the project, both aesthetically and cost-wise. Projects and budgets unravel soooo fast when owners start making impulsive changes in the field.
GCs, I've been in your shoes, I've been saddled with crappy drawings because the owner was too shortsighted to hire a good architect. It sucks. You can always say as much before going under contract: "these drawings aren't good enough for us to sign a contract on."
Can't always do that, so when you're stuck with crappy drawings, it puts way more of the burden on you as GC. So the owner will have to pay for that. There is real work that needs to be done, don't do it for free or expect the owner will do it.
The labor of making good drawings exists whether an owner pays for good drawings or not. *Somebody* still has to do the work, be it the owner, GC, or architect. My vote is, pay the person whose job it is, who's trained (the architect) and let everyone else focus on their jobs.
Drawings are not fluffy things for aesthetics or marketing purposes. They are an actual contract, between owner and GC. It's surprising to me to see owners obsess over so many things in a contract or deal and totally miss the biggest thing that the whole entire thing is based on.
And THAT is why owners need to understand what drawings actually do, and why good GCs (and lawyers) will beg you to get good ones, and why you shouldn't hire crappy architects, and why you should pay well for good architectural services. The drawings *are* your contract. Get them right.
And every time there is a question onsite, you know what to do: refer to your drawings first!
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Always great info to share, do you ever share any of your construction details? Thanks!