some example of construction design

Some problems on design part of work easy to cause problems on construction.

As I said before. Make a good plan before construction start is important, but construction not a “one plus one equal two job”. Architect even good one, some time still can not figure out every details or can not figure it out right on the drawing. Bad architect or designers really make it worse.


A week and half ago, one of framing contractor come over to consult me about drawing. Because he don’t know how to order material.


Once I saw the plan. This architect have different information on structural plan, on floor framing plan, he have floor joist layout on 24 inches on center, with 4x6 girder support. But on structural details shows, floor joist at 16 inches on center, with 4x8 girder support. It is obviously this architect doesn’t have enough experience on construction. In San Francisco Bay area most of the floor use 16” on center layout on floor joist. But most of roof rufter lay out is 24” on center. Also architect note, floor plywood use 5/8” thickness plywood without tone and grove but ask nail blocking on the plywood connection. This shows exactly this un experienced architect put roof detail requirement on the floor.


This kind of architect either just start work in architect office or he start his own business too early, as owner of course use him because his charge is cheap. He just copy some detail from office file on the drawing without really understand why.


Another problem on earthquake sheer wall. He maked sheer resistant holdown on the less sheer value wall, and miss maked sheer resistant holdown on the high sheer value wall. I am glad this framing sub contractor is a good one, he realize this plan have some unusual things.


You must wonder, is this a draft plan or construction use plan. No kidding it is the plan city building department proved. And it is not the only one. Same problem everywhere. No body realy check the plan very carefully.


I used hire some draft person help me on the design work. Some on really drive me crazy, if the one have not enough experience on basic information, the time I spent on check his drawing will cause me 3 time long for me to draw from scratch to finish. So I understand, the architect put seal on the beginner’s drawing, he never spent time to lock through this plan, when city engineer saw the license architect seal on the plan, he would not even think it will have this kind of problem.


That is the reason I feel glad that the owner got luck to have a good framing subcontractor. Because, if contractor build as the drawing, for sure, it will have a lot unfixable settlement crack all the time on drywall and exterior stucco. The future law suit possibility is very high, and it will bring every one in the case the case will drag very long. Owner can sue general contractor along with framing sub contractor, of course framing sub will complain he did with drawing, architect will complain contractor should point out during contraction with any questions…., owner’s house have to be opened to check the reality construction work quality. Things can be really nasty.


For this case, the framing sub contractor just eat the extra cost by put 8 sheer holdown in to foundation and bought some extra joist material and tong and grove ¾ plywood on the floor. He eat those cost build this home addition better quality as I suggested. But think about it, not every one that lucky. Most case, sub contractor will ask extra charge to general contractor, or owner, and those meter is the first start point of any arguing or lose trust in between owner and general for later on through this project.


Good luck