A Story about Bandikui House (Part 2)
As we mentioned we are an online design consultancy services provider so we started online site supervision with photos and short videos as usual for the Bandikui House Building. We started getting site photos and videos regularly from the client side. Online site supervision was a new experience for our client and contractor they were very excited about it.
The contractor was not professional so he was finding it difficult to read and understand the structural drawings. He was unable to follow the drawings on the steel bar and tie it. We suggested a physical site visit by our structural engineer which the client gladly accepted. In the physical site visit, we explained how to read structural drawings and how to coordinate them with architectural drawings.
But still, we didn’t trust that contractor so we wanted to see the work in front of us once. Because that contractor had never worked with an architect or engineer, had never worked on any designs and drawings, but knew how to tie steel bars to foundations, columns, beams, and tie rings. We just told the difference between right and wrong according to the drawings and it was applied by the contractor on the site. This gave us a little confidence in that contractor, but we urged the client to follow all our instructions.
It seemed that everything was being managed properly due to which the client fell victim to the contractor’s overconfidence and after a gap of a few days we stopped receiving the live photos and videos from the site. We tried to find out why, and they told us that everything is fine. We were a little surprised by this statement of the contractor and the client, on which we expressed our desire to see the live site through video call.
On this the hesitation of the contractor started then as soon as the client showed us the steel of the column and beam through live video call, it was found that he did not follow the drawing to save the steel and labor and the contractor told the client that following the drawing will result in higher consumption of steel in the building, which will increase your expenses. The responsibility for the construction material was with the client himself. The contractor had nothing to do with this. This was disappointing for us.
On this we first showed the client the “I.S. Code” written on the structural drawing, then reminded that we have already shared with you in writing about the estimated cost of the building. The building is designed with structural stability in mind and drawings are emailed to you based on that. And for which you have also paid us professional charges. Then what is the reason for not trusting us?
While your contractor is not a professional contractor, he is not a civil engineer, you do not have a written agreement with him, he has not given you the estimated cost of the building in writing, and he is not giving any document in writing about structural stability. Please tell me What is the basis of your trust in his spoken words?
The client said that the contractor is the best in the vicinity and he says that you are also from here and I am also from here. I am responsible for the building. If anything happens, you can hold me anytime.
Such behavior by any Client absolves any Architect or Engineer from responsibility. In this type of building construction, the architect or engineer cannot give you the structural stability certificate, or no objection certificate, because you have already absolved the architect or engineer of the building responsibility by not following the design and drawings on site.
We also had a contract for physical site inspection in the construction of this building, but whenever our team visited the site, the contractor and his team did not come to the site, causing a lot of trouble for us and the client. The client’s money was constantly being spent, materials were being wasted, and construction time was progressing.
According to the contractor, the customer had to hire subcontractors and vendors, who were all troubling the customer as a single entity. The cost of which was to be paid by the client. Because the contractor and his team started threatening to leave the site midway and no other contractor was ready to work on the site. The acquaintance who had introduced him to the contractor was also not helping the client.
The contractor spoiled the front elevation (façade) of the building by unnecessarily installing beams and also did not differentiate between the main finish floor and the finish floor of the kitchen, toilet, and balcony, which should have been down from the main finish floor. Repeatedly puncturing waterproofing, misplacing drainage slopes, and many more. Overall, the decision taken by the client to reduce the building construction cost resulted in cost escalation and poor execution, and construction could not be completed in one go and on time.
It was our first experience as an architect that firstly the client did not accept our suggestion, then when the client got into trouble, the contractor did not like our intervention. Want to make people aware through this blog and by sharing this new experience. Please be aware, be alert, and make the right decision. Thank you!