In addition to hiring an architect for the production of construction documents (drawings and specifications) for a home improvement project or a new house, the architect can be a real resource in protecting the owner from the very difficult process which is a construction project. Besides being well-versed in the construction process, an experienced architect knows intimately the pitfalls of construction and has a working knowledge of construction law and, in my case, Florida lien law.
An architect can make real suggestions for protecting the homeowner for an unscrupulous or inexperienced contractor.

Protecting the homeowner from an inexperienced or unscrupulous contractor

When an architect is hired to provide services during construction, he/she will generally:
review shop drawings for all materials on the project answer Requests for Information (RFI’s) review Material and Labor Cost Schedule and Contractor Requisitions make periodic visits to the job to review the progress of the work

Shop drawings provided by the contractor or subcontractor, through the general contractor, show the manufacturer’s information on the actual material and sometimes his recommendations on how the material should be installed. When a contractor asks permission to substitute one product for another, the architect would make sure that the products are equivalent items.

The architect who is hired for services during the construction phase will review the pay requests and make sure that what the client is getting is what is in the permitted drawings. When he/she goes to the site, the architect can make sure that what was submitted in the shop drawings is really what is being installed in the field. In addition, the architect can make sure that the contractor is not “front-loading” the schedule of material and labor costs. Front-loading means that the contractor is trying to secretly collect more money up front by stating that items which are to be installed first actually cost more than they do. In other words, he will put in more money for the steel for the footings and the concrete than what they actually cost so that he can put more money in his pocket at the beginning of the job.

By providing these four services during the construction phase, the architect will help the homeowner avoid a dispute with the general contractor or his subs. It is easier to AVOID a dispute with contractor than to try to fix a dispute once it starts.

Here are a few suggestions to avoid when dealing with a general contractor:
Hiring a contractor without checking him out thoroughly. References are necessary. Visiting several projects he has built is a good idea. Making the contractor angry at the very beginning of the project. Bills have to be paid on time. Cooperation with the contractor will establish the “tone” for the project and the project will run smoother. When I am hired to do jobsite meetings, I like to start the meeting with what went right that week on the job. This is an amazing tool to get the contractor’s cooperation. All people like to be recognized for what they do right and not what they do wrong. Contractors with limited construction knowledge and experience. The contractor may not understand the plans and this could lead to mistakes in the project. Contractor demands and collects substantial amounts of money from the client prior to doing any work. I advise my clients never to give more than 10% of any contract for mobilization (to start the project). Changing any details, but especially structural details, without the prior consent of the architect/engineer. This could lead to a problem that is not visible in the present but could cause a problem in the future. Paying the contractor too much money with each pay request, leaving the client vulnerable to the contractor not finishing the job. The amount of work that is left could end up being more than the money that the contractor would collect, if he finished the job. Signing a contract with the contractor which the contractor drafted, that is not to any known standard, such as the ones published by the American Institute of Architects. Paying the contractor month after month without verifying that the required county/city inspections are getting done. The client pays all the money required by the contractor at each pay requisition, but fails to obtain Partial Releases of Liens from his subs, leaving the client vulnerable to having to pay each sub again, if the contractor runs off with the money. Hiring a contractor for a job that the contractor considers a “small” job for him or where the company is a large company with substantial resources to spend years in court fighting a lawsuit. Look for a company that is neither too large nor too small to complete the project and who will want to finish the project correctly. Not getting a final city/county inspection and not getting a final certificate of occupancy/ completion.

These are a few suggestions that need to be implemented on any construction project, but hiring an architect to provide services during construction could actually save the homeowner money in the long run. An experienced architect can bring years of knowledge on the construction process and prevent a homeowner from making costly mistakes due to his inexperience.

By: Maria Luisa Castellanos