Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Construction Contract’ Category

Talk is Cheap, Problems Aren’t

Monday, October 18th, 2010 Posted in Advice to Clients, Blueprints, Construction Contract, Construction Process, Costs, Design-Build, Getting Started, Money-Saving Tips, Remodeling Concerns, Remodels/Additions | No Comments »

By Larry Parrish, CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP   Com·mu·ni·ca·tion—The exchange of thoughts, messages, or the like, as by speech, signals, or writing.  (From The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language).   Communication is important.  During construction, poor communication can be very expensive.  One ...

Q—We’re going to build a new house this year, and would like to supply some of the materials in the house to save money. Will contractors let us do this?

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 Posted in Construction Contract, Construction Costs, Costs, DIY Home Improvements, FAQ, Handyman/Small Jobs, Insurance- Home, Materials- Construction, Money-Saving Tips, New Construction | No Comments »

A—Many contractors are willing to negotiate such an arrangement within reason—if you accept responsibility for the installation of the items you supply, and the project schedule is not impacted by late arrival or installation problems. Builders and subcontractors are naturally reluctant ...

Q—Can you please explain the roles of the architect, general contractor, and subcontractor in the construction process? What does it mean when a construction company says they offer Design/Build services?

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 Posted in Architecture, Construction Contract, Construction Process, Construction Terms, Design-Build, FAQ, Getting Started, Humorous Articles, Subcontractors | No Comments »

A—It might be helpful to strike an analogy between construction and orchestral music. I realize this may sound like a stretch, but if you’ll indulge me for a moment, I think I can demonstrate many similarities. Consider the homeowner. He or ...

Q—Our remodeling contractor has included the cost of a portable toilet at $80 per month in his bid. Is this standard practice? It seems unreasonable.

Saturday, January 9th, 2010 Posted in Construction Contract, Construction Costs, Estimation, FAQ, Humorous Articles, Materials- Construction, Money-Saving Tips | No Comments »

A—Contractors are required to make toilet facilities available to workers. $80 per month is about the going rate, but if you have a toilet you can make available, you will save considerable money. Please don’t ask the workers to use ...

Q—My contractor included “allowances” in our contract for appliance floor coverings, etc.. Can you explain how an allowance works?

Friday, January 8th, 2010 Posted in Construction Contract, Construction Costs, Construction Terms, Estimation, FAQ, Money-Saving Tips, Remodeling Concerns | No Comments »

A—Your builder followed the common practice of using an “allowance” as a budget placeholder for certain finish materials not specified in the contract documents. In other words, you are “allowed” to spend a certain amount without adjusting your cost of ...

Q—How much does it cost per square foot to build an addition on a house?

Thursday, January 7th, 2010 Posted in Additions, Construction Contract, Construction Costs, Estimation, FAQ, Money-Saving Tips, Remodeling Concerns, Remodels/Additions | No Comments »

A—That depends on which square foot you’re talking about. The square foot where the new commercial-grade refrigerator sits will cost about $600, and a square foot of the new driveway will cost about $3. Averaging these two together yields $301.50 ...

Q: I asked an architect to adapt the design of another house in our neighborhood for our project and he declined, citing copyright infringement issues. Is the architect’s response reasonable, or does he just want to charge more for a total design? How do you find out if a certain design is copyrighted?

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 Posted in Architecture, Blueprints, Construction Contract, Design Tips, Design-Build, FAQ, Getting Started, New Construction, Remodeling Concerns, Remodels/Additions | No Comments »

A: The architect’s concerns are justified. In 1991, U.S. copyright law was changed to cover not only the architectural drawings from which buildings are constructed, but also the building itself, and design elements of the building. If he “borrows” design ...