Kitchen Construction: Problem Resolution
The process of designing, planning and building something as complex as a kitchen is not an entirely predictable one. No matter how careful you are in your planning you and your contractors cannot foresee every potential problem whether its a bottleneck in the flow of materials or a dispute with a sub-contractor. Perhaps the biggest […]
Read More..>>The Decision-Making Process
Perhaps the hardest aspect of building a kitchen is the sheer number of decisions you’ll be asked to make at every stage. The painter needs a final color choice, the electrician is waiting to place the lighting and the carpenter has three crown molding choices and is pushing for one you’re not sure about. Add […]
Read More..>>Murphy’s Law: If it can go wrong, it will
Murphy’s Law might have been originally written about construction projects. When you’re hit by a snag just when things seem to be going well, just focus in and work on it rather than panicking. We’ve seen people build small things up into major problems just because they can’t leave well enough alone. When a problem […]
Read More..>>Negotiating Tactics
Many problems require negotiation either at the planning and estimating stage or during the construction process. If you face an obvious attempt to lie to you, rip you off or cheat, get rid of the people involved immediately. If the problem is not an overt attempt to undermine you but is the result of uncontrollable […]
Read More..>>No-Shows and Late Shows
Workers and materials that don’t show up when promised or are chronically late can wreak havoc with your construction scheduling. To avoid this situation you must set ground rules for communication including the fact that you must know ahead of time if there is a problem so you can plan around it. If they don’t […]
Read More..>>Jobs Done Wrong or Poorly
Poor workmanship or aspects of a job done wrong are often problems with communication. You must communicate the level of craftsmanship you expect from your general contractor and make sure he in turn hires workers who are capable of it. He must communicate an intolerance for sloppy or shoddy work and find replacement sources for […]
Read More..>>Material Substitutions
Another common problem stemming from a lack of communication and/or an unclear determination of who’s in charge is unauthorized material substitutions. You or your contractor should specify in your plans in writing exactly what materials are to be used with acceptable substitutions where applicable. When you use a designer or architect their plans will (or […]
Read More..>>Change Orders
If a material is unavailable or you run into a problem that requires a change in plans, it must be put in writing in the form of a change order after you and your general contractor agree on the solution and terms. The change order must include specific instructions, drawings, material specs and agreements on […]
Read More..>>Money
Money is the root of many of the potential conflicts on the job and one of the primary reasons for putting everything in writing and getting specific quotes and contracts prior to the start of construction. Don’t go into a process based on ‘guesstimates’ without establishing limits. If a plumber cannot quote a job, for […]
Read More..>>Zoning and Permit Problems
In many areas failure to comply with zoning, permits and local building codes can mean closing down of the project, stopping of any funds advanced from loans and worse, being required to tear out any work done without permits no matter how legal. To put it another way this means that local authorities can and […]
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