Five key aspects to guide homeowners through on-site instructions

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This post was last edited by yuchenchf on 2017-5-18 at 10:04. On-site briefing is the first step in the implementation of a renovation project, and homeowners need to pay close attention to this step; by clarifying the relevant standards as well as the responsibilities of each contractor, it is possible to avoid situations where no one is responsible when problems arise during construction. Below, we will analyze this topic in detail from five different aspects. I. Personnel required to be present at the construction site briefing: The briefing should involve all relevant parties, namely the client, the designer, and the construction supervisor. All of them must be at the construction site during the briefing, during which the designer will explain in detail to the construction supervisor and project managers the construction methods as well as the points that need attention. The project supervisor will then handle all the necessary procedures. II. Written procedures for on-site instructions 1. Equipment that needs to be retained at the construction site. In this regard, the parties to the contract should specify in writing the quantity, quality, and protection requirements for these devices. 2. Issues present on site, such as clogs in the bathroom drains, problems with the TV antenna signal, or damaged door locks with anti-theft features, etc., require signature confirmation by both parties. 3. Confirmation regarding on-site production or special handling methods. This kind of work is absolutely essential for every aspect of home renovation, such as the shaping of fine woodworking products by carpenters ； When plumbers paste tiles, the position of the waistline; and how many times painters apply paint ； How the electrical wiring should be laid, how many switches and sockets there are and where they are located, whether the plumber needs to change the route of the water supply and drainage, whether the sanitary fixtures need to be moved, and so on. If something can be expressed clearly in words, then use words. If it is difficult to express clearly in words, explanatory sketches or formal drawings are needed to provide a more detailed description. 4. Both parties to the contract should be aware that the written agreements reached during the on-site briefing hold the same legal validity as the formal contract; they are documents that must be adhered to by both parties throughout the construction process and in the subsequent execution of the contract. III. Three tasks involved in the on-site briefing 1. The first task in the on-site briefing carried out by the designer from the decoration company, the consumer, and the relevant personnel from the construction team is for the consumer to determine which items or equipment at the construction site need to be retained. 2. The second task that should be carried out during the on-site briefing is to examine the existing problems at the site. Most of the houses we encounter at present are unfinished, so it’s not surprising that they have various problems. However, if no responsibility is assigned for those problematic areas before the construction team starts working, such issues may arise in the future. 3. It is only at this point that we should begin the third task of on-site briefing, which is what most people understand by on-site briefing in home renovation projects – namely, how to carry out this work. IV. Three key points should be noted during on-site briefings: 1. Confirm all project items. Since most home renovation projects are of relatively small scale, for the sake of simplicity, both parties to the contract make many verbal commitments during negotiations, such as the designer’s verbal confirmation regarding certain methods of execution or materials to be used ； For example, the owner might promise to introduce the renovation company to several more projects if they complete the work well. Such promises can be divided into two categories. In one category, neither party to the contract takes them seriously and treats them merely as jokes; in such cases, no one will bring them up again after the contract is signed ； Another category consists of oral terms that are agreed upon in good faith by both parties to the contract; however, they may not be written down in the contract due to considerations of courtesy or trust in the other party, but still need to be fulfilled during the execution of the contract. If one party fails to fulfill such terms due to forgetting or errors in information transmission, it will cast a shadow over the cooperation between the two parties. Therefore, when conducting project briefings at the construction site, both parties to the contract must confirm all project details, including those discussed verbally. 2. Confirm the process approach. We know that currently, the design documents for home renovations are mostly quite simple; the main reason for this is that the scale of the projects is small, and if the designs are too detailed, the associated design costs are often not acceptable to both parties involved in the contract. Therefore, an important part of on-site briefing is to clarify how the project should be carried out Explain it clearly through the words of designers and consumers ； Draw it on site with the designer’s pen and mark it clearly. For example, regarding a wall paint product, designers and consumers at the construction site need to clarify aspects such as how to treat the wall surface, what methods to use to fix cracks, how many times to apply putty, and how many times to apply the wall paint, among others. If you have many questions regarding the precautions for renovation instructions, you can call the free phone number to get in touch with local renovation companies. 3. Confirm all decoration materials. Now, both consumers and the news media perceive the home decoration industry as having a serious problem of cutting corners. So, the third point is to clearly specify at the site the materials that each of the two parties is responsible for purchasing. Some might ask: if shoddy work refers to renovation companies, why does the homeowner need to clarify the materials to be used at this stage as well? Because if the owner is not clear about what kind of materials to purchase or when to purchase them, it may have an adverse effect on the contractor’s ability to prepare a construction plan or detailed construction specifications. For example, if the contractor is not aware of the specifications for the wall and floor tiles that the owner wants, it will be difficult for the tile setters to mark the lines during work, which will affect the construction progress. V. Three issues to note regarding on-site instructions 1. The instruction materials must be complete. Instructions are a step that takes place after the signing of the home renovation contract and before work begins. At the briefing, the designer, owner, foreman, and supervisor are all required to be present, with the designer providing explanations regarding the construction project. The drawings that must be available during the briefing include the original structural plan, the plans showing structural modifications, the floor plan for furniture placement, the floor layout diagram, the ceiling layout diagram, the electrical and plumbing circuit diagrams, as well as the water level diagram. Detailed drawings, elevation views, and the corresponding detail drawings should also be provided. If the construction drawings are incomplete, it is difficult for workers to understand the relevant processes, which can easily lead to conflicts with the original design intent. For example, if the ceiling plan only includes a floor plan without elevations or detail drawings, it is difficult for workers to determine the height of the ceiling and the specific construction methods required. As a result, they may rely on experience to make decisions, which could lead to discrepancies from the original design intent or even prevent the achievement of that design goal. If the cabinet diagram does not include an internal structure diagram, workers are likely to proceed based on conventional methods, which may not meet the functional requirements of the owner. It is common for construction drawings to be incomplete; the owner should ask the designer to complete them before work begins, in order to avoid discrepancies between construction and the design. 2. A superficial approach easily leaves hidden risks. \"Many designers provide explanations in a superficial manner, just to go through the formality, without giving detailed explanations.\" ”Before giving the on-site instructions, the designer should have an internal discussion with the site supervisor to discuss the design details, structural modifications, and special features in advance. In this way, the site supervisor can identify any design flaws or aspects that present significant construction challenges before the instructions are given on site, and can then communicate with the designers to make necessary adjustments. But many designers skip this step, and even the on-site explanations are rather careless. But homeowners often assume that both the designer and the supervisor have explained everything clearly. Moreover, since there are many people present during the explanations and the discussion is highly technical, even well-prepared homeowners can easily get confused; they simply follow the designer around and sign the on-site explanation form. If the designer does not provide a clear explanation of the construction processes, or intentionally hides certain special structures that present significant construction challenges, it can lead to disputes during the renovation process. In the later stages of construction, changes to the project are required due to unreasonable design; as a result, the drawings may not achieve the intended design outcomes, or they may not meet the requirements on site. This can easily lead to cost overruns or extended construction timelines, and these are precisely the sources of disputes. 3. Ask questions if you don’t understand – seek confirmation. Although many homeowners cannot read construction drawings or comprehend technical terms, to avoid disputes later on, it is essential to remember to ask questions when information is provided on site. In the event of any changes to the project, written confirmation should be obtained to protect one’s rights in the future. The most effective approach is for the owner to go through each room with the budget in hand. ”Specifically, examine the construction tasks for each room to see if some key design elements can be implemented. “Ask if there’s anything you don’t understand. ”Even if the designer wants to keep it hidden, since construction is involved and the site supervisor is in charge of the actual construction process, he or she will pay close attention to whether the design can be implemented and how it can be done; moreover, the supervisor will raise questions about any unreasonable designs. In addition to the number of construction projects, the owner also needs to pay attention to specific details of the design, such as the thickness of the TV background wall and the height of the ceiling. Due to differences in thickness and height, the construction methods vary, as do the materials used and the associated costs. For example, a background wall that is 2 centimeters thick requires only two layers of gypsum board, while one that is 3 centimeters thick needs wooden studs to be installed. Background walls that are 6 or 8 centimeters thick require wooden or even steel frame structures; different materials result in different costs and aesthetic outcomes. For the hydroelectric modification section and the structural modification section, it is necessary to ask the foreman and supervisor. Since most designers do not go to the construction site when making modifications to the water and electrical systems, homeowners need to pay close attention to such modifications. They should ask the designers to indicate the locations of the water and electrical fixtures, as well as the locations of cold and hot water pipes, and have markers placed at those locations on site. At the same time, consult the foreman and supervisor regarding the feasibility of the construction, such as the route of the pipeline and whether it is possible to demolish or modify the walls. Regarding some oral promises made on site, it is also best for the owner to request a written confirmation. For some items added temporarily, such as wardrobes fabricated on site, a discount is available if they are entrusted directly to the foreman. However, since these items are not recorded in the briefing document or in the subsequent request form for adding or removing items, not only cannot the quality of the wooden cabinets be guaranteed, but the homeowner also cannot benefit from the company’s warranty service. Therefore, if there are any explanations regarding additions or deletions, design changes, or certain commitments from the designer, the owner should insist on writing them in the comments section of the on-site handover form to avoid disputes later on.