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This post was last edited by “Hasty Passerby” on October 23, 2018, at 08:26. Come and take a look at these “unspoken rules” regarding construction visas. Regarding earthwork: Groundwater wasn’t taken into account during the bidding process for earthwork. If water seepage is observed during excavation, it’s possible to obtain a visa specifying the groundwater level. The cost of excavating wet soil is higher than that of dry soil; excavating silt is even more expensive. In cases where underground obstacles are encountered, a visa should be obtained as well—the cost of removing such obstacles isn’t cheap either. If there’s significant water seepage, a construction plan can be drafted to request measures for drainage, dewatering, and slope stabilization. Check whether the distance for earthwork transportation is favorable; if it remains within the specified limits, no action is needed. If it exceeds those limits, a separate fee for the transportation distance must be incurred. During foundation construction, brick formwork may be used to meet the client’s requirements, to accelerate the progress, or because of concerns regarding slope stability that require early backfilling. If there are no such requirements in the tender specifications, a separate approval can still be obtained for its use. The cost of brick formwork is higher than that of conventional formwork. During the base period, if work is halted due to rain or delays caused by the client, the costs associated with water drainage can be claimed through shift-based visas. If work is suspended for an extended period, it is essential not to wait until work resumes to issue the visas; they should be issued at least once a month. This is also the reason for having regular visas – otherwise, over time, it becomes difficult for the client’s supervisor to keep track of things, and it becomes troublesome to issue visas retrospectively. The construction entity shall be responsible for the preparation of the site, including ensuring access, utilities, and a level surface; if Party B also participates in this work, it can negotiate with Party A. Pile foundation section: In addition to keeping proper records of the concealed work related to pile foundations, it is also necessary to pay attention to documenting any underground obstacles. If such obstacles are encountered, the depth at which the piles penetrate the rock should be recorded promptly. The records of the concealed work should be as detailed as possible, including at least the hole depth, pile length, length of the rebar cage, length of the empty section, diameter, and depth of penetration into the rock. Masonry section: The most common issue with masonry work is the repeated demolition and reconstruction. Demolishing walls is not a problem, but the permit must indicate the extent of damage caused by such demolition; otherwise, the auditor will deduct costs related to the materials used. If the damage is not severe, then the permit should specify the consumption rate of bricks, as well as the number of workdays required for removing debris and other residues from the masonry. Regarding the rebar: Many people don’t know that rebar can also be claimed as an additional cost. Nowadays, many supervisors lack expertise and give arbitrary instructions on site, telling where rebar should be added or that the structural reinforcement bars need to have bends. Anyway, they won’t be satisfied unless rebar is added; but it’s fine – the more rebar that’s added, the better. Regarding the formwork aspect, many projects these days are priced using bill of quantities methods. Some items in the bill of quantities related to measures are not clearly specified, which causes difficulties in subsequent settlement; formwork solves this issue. Therefore, the visas added through the template are particularly important; if they aren’t specified, it’s very likely that your application will be rejected outright. Although you can appeal, it’s always better to take precautions in advance. There’s also the increase in templates due to rush work; it’s legitimate to ask for a rush fee, but in reality no one asked for one. It depends on the statutory construction period or the period specified in the bid; now the client wants an acceleration in the timeline, which results in an increase in the number of formwork sets required. The calculations involved are quite complex, so it is recommended to consult relevant publications for a better understanding. Roofs: Roofs are also areas that clients often change frequently. If you know the right tactics, you can bid at a low price; once those clients who keep making changes come up with new roof designs, you can then recalculate the unit price to get a better figure. When calculating the unit price, be sure not to forget the exhaust pipes and fittings of the insulation layer, as well as the oil-impregnated wood wool boards and sealants used for the surface protection layer. For precipitation and drainage, the drainage included in the quotas refers only to the removal of surface water and a small amount of free water; dealing with large amounts of water or flowing sand is a more complex task. Generally, wellpoint drainage is used for this purpose, and this requires approval through a permit process. Note that it’s about well points – check whether the conditions are met. If not, try to create the conditions necessary to use well points; don’t try to deceive people with a small collection pit, as that will expose the deception. If well points cannot be used, then try to use pumps to lower the water level; don’t hold back in doing this, as it’s impossible to verify such actions later on – you must pay whatever amount is agreed upon. A visa should definitely be obtained in cases where the foundation construction is halted or delayed. Pumping operations are not cheap, so it’s necessary to specify the model of the pumps; choose the larger models. The on-site supervisor and the client may not necessarily understand these details. Vertical transportation: This is similar to the formwork process; the only thing to keep in mind is that overtime work entails additional costs such as wages for operating the machinery, as well as other expenses related to reduced efficiency. Installation and removal of the equipment, as well as its transportation outside the site: It’s interesting to note how handling this equipment when it enters or leaves the site works. I drive the excavator outside the construction site – that costs a fee – then drive it back in, which also incurs a fee. I do this back and forth several times, and that way I’ll become rich, haha. Just kidding. It’s no longer called entering and exiting; it’s called installation, dismantling, and transportation. Regarding the shipping distance, there’s no need to say more about it – enough has already been said. As for installation and removal, be careful: don’t follow the client’s requests to dig in one place today and another place tomorrow. Machinery is meant to be used collectively; even if it’s your own, treat it as if it were rented, and return it as soon as possible after use. If you want to enter again after returning, a visa will be required. For example, after the house is built, work may be required to dig septic tanks, lay the foundation for walls, level the ground within the community, and carry out centralized backfilling; in such cases, machinery is needed, and a permit should be obtained. Decorative visa: This type of visa is rather simple; there’s nothing easy to overlook, and its value is low. But as for other subcontractors who cause chaos in the building by installing doors and windows, painting, laying pipes, or causing damage, they must be properly disciplined until they learn to respect the work of others. There should be no leniency when dealing with such people; the next point also addresses this issue. Coordination fee: I didn’t expect that a coordination fee could also be used to obtain a visa. The coordination fee is merely for providing services such as water, electricity, scaffolding, and vertical transportation to help other subcontractors carry out their work (note that the costs related to water and electricity are not included in this fee; it depends on what is specified in the contract). However, if a subcontractor damages or contaminates your property, you should demand compensation from them without hesitation; if an agreement cannot be reached, turn to the client for approval to deduct the corresponding amount from their payment. Protection of finished products: This protection isn’t something that comes naturally; just because you’ve laid marble doesn’t mean the finished products are automatically protected. It requires proper measures to ensure such protection. Although it doesn’t cost much, it’s not worth having the products damaged. Even if one uses bamboo poles to enclose the area or lays broken burlap there, it is necessary to prove this as soon as possible. There are things where auditing makes no sense.