The construction phase is critical

Last week we discussed Lucynthia Knudsen's remodeling experience, but there's another aspect of her project that we would like to discuss.

Knudsen's story is intriguing, but it was actually a record project for us in the area of construction observation — we logged more than 200 hours on site during the construction process.

That equates to a visit to the site each week since the construction began last October.

One reason for this level of involvement is that Lucynthia lives in New Mexico. So, though she made numerous visits to Salt Lake City during the construction, we not only served as her architect but also as her project manager.

You may not have a project in another state, but even if you are able to visit your job site regularly (or if you are living in the middle of it!), there are good reasons to hire your architect to be involved in the construction of your project.

Knudsen made the comment more than once that she was glad to have us involved because even if she had been in town, she would not have known what to look for or what questions to ask.

While an architect should always be available to answer questions during the construction phase, most architects also offer additional options for various construction observation services, based on your needs.

The construction phase is the most critical time of any remodeling project. This is when what looked so good on paper becomes a reality.

We always remind clients that you never know for sure what is inside a wall until you open it up. This is when you find that the wiring needs to be redone, the plumbing has leaked so mold fills the cavity, or that there was an untreated termite problem.

Whether large or small, unexpected problems will come up during construction.

In addition, no set of plans is perfect or totally complete. A good contractor will have numerous questions after carefully studying the plans. Therefore, the architect must be open and available for communication throughout the construction process.

By meeting regularly (usually weekly) on the job site with the contractor and owner, the architect can keep the lines of communication open and facilitate the execution of your project.