ᐅ Is Membership in a Private Home Builders Association Worthwhile?

HGZT2025 schrieb:

If it’s something serious that might end up in a legal dispute, documenting it definitely makes sense. Once everything is covered up, you can’t prove anything anymore. It was different in our case.

The trick is to fix the defect before everything is covered up. And that’s where the challenge lies.

Let’s say the building inspector says the reinforcement was installed incorrectly. Then you have to stop construction and resolve the issue. Until that is clarified—which could potentially go to court—the construction site remains idle.

There is absolutely no point in this case in having the concrete mixer pour the foundation slab, only to prove with photos and order forms two years later in court that the slab might be compromised because too little reinforcement was used and of the wrong grade. I mean, if damage occurs, at least you can prove who is responsible. But whether the construction company even still exists then… who knows.

And for the documentation mentioned above, you don’t even need an expert. It’s enough to buy a 128GB memory card and simply photograph everything—really everything—that is done on the construction site every day. Whether the reinforcement is installed according to plan, if enough mats were used, and which quality, that can be documented with photos.
The material is usually delivered to the house a few days before the work starts, with a label indicating the quality. You can count how many mats there are, and the reinforcement plan is included in the structural calculations for the house.

So, if anything, it should be done alongside construction, as 11ant already said. Reporting defects only after the trade has already been covered by the next one… that doesn’t make sense.

MachsSelbst schrieb:
The trick is to fix the defect before everything is sealed up. And that’s exactly where the problem lies.

Let’s assume the building inspector says the reinforcement was installed incorrectly. Then you have to stop construction and resolve the issue. And until that is sorted out — which may ultimately have to be settled in court — the construction site remains idle.

It makes absolutely no sense in this case to have the concrete mixer arrive to pour the foundation slab, only to prove with photos and order receipts two years later in court that the slab is potentially compromised because too little reinforcement was used, and the wrong grade as well. I mean, if damage occurs, at least you can still prove who’s at fault. But whether the construction company even exists then... nobody knows.

And for the above documentation, there is no need for an expert. It’s enough to buy a 128GB memory card and take photos of absolutely everything that is done on the construction site every day. Whether the reinforcement is laid correctly according to the plan, enough mats were installed, and what quality — all of that can be documented through photos.
The materials are usually delivered a few days before work begins, with a label indicating their grade. You can count the number of mats, and the reinforcement plan is included in the house’s structural calculations.

So, if anything, accompany the construction work as it progresses, as 11ant already said. Complaining about defects only after the trade has already been covered by the next one... that makes no sense.

It doesn’t make sense, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Fortunately, we didn’t have anything like that 🙂

MachsSelbst schrieb:

The key is to fix the defect before everything is sealed up. And that’s where the problem lies.

Let’s say the building inspector says the reinforcement was installed incorrectly. Then you have to stop construction and resolve it. And until that’s settled, which could potentially involve court proceedings, the construction site remains halted.

In this case, it makes absolutely no sense to have the concrete truck come, pour the slab, and then try to prove in court two years later with photos and order forms that the slab is potentially compromised because insufficient reinforcement was used, or the wrong grade. I mean, if the damage happens, at least you can prove who is at fault. But whether the construction company even still exists then… no one knows.

And for the above documentation, you don’t even need an expert. It’s enough to buy a 128GB memory card and simply take pictures of everything being done on site every day. Whether the reinforcement is placed according to the plan, whether enough mats have been installed, and what quality they are can all be documented by photo.
Usually, the materials are delivered a few days before the work starts and there’s a label indicating the quality. You can count the number of mats, and the reinforcement plan is shown in the structural calculation of the house.

So, if anything, document construction progress from the start, as 11ant already said. Reporting defects only once the next trade has already covered them… that makes no sense.

Photo documentation is definitely highly recommended. I would like to be on site daily for critical issues. From a tradesperson’s perspective, it can be annoying—any tips on this?

Go there in the evening when the builders have finished for the day to take a calm look around, take pictures, etc.
I tried to be there at least once every day whenever possible. Many builders are also happy to chat; if they are not, you quickly notice it.

But this definitely does not replace a building inspector, because you also need to know how to carry out things correctly and at least be able to convincingly demonstrate some technical knowledge when asking the site manager.

HGZT2025 schrieb:

However, we did not receive a prose construction specification, but a bill of quantities detailing what is done where and how. That couldn’t be managed, only with a construction specification.

I would need that explained, please.

HGZT2025 schrieb:

By the way: the service we booked is called "construction-accompanying quality control" or construction supervision.

But obviously it was not provided if irreversible situations could occur.

HGZT2025 schrieb:

If that was the case, then the architect would be at fault beforehand. And then?
Even if it’s marked as a critical point and then noted by the expert, it’s no longer possible to change it.

Apparently, there was no architect involved here but rather a draftsman or technical drawer. Both take the client’s drawings without correcting the unrealistic dimensions that disrupt the workflow during construction. From the contractor’s perspective, the extra effort caused by cutting is cheaper than the planner’s mental effort. Once the approval of the flawed plans is granted, changing them with a reasonable effort becomes impossible. That is why I correct this directly in the planning review. However, a construction supervisor could still intervene, making "installation plans" if necessary depending on the severity of the workflow disruptions. Ideally, the client should consult a construction advisor before the building permit/planning permission application phase. For me, this is such a small and affordable service that I’m seriously considering offering it as a gift voucher during the Christmas season.

HGZT2025 schrieb:

If I add a second construction manager for 180 EUR an hour, I could as well just build a second house myself.

It’s not a second one; it’s the first one – 0 + 1 is not 2. Your construction manager does not create redundancy because the general contractor’s "construction manager" is not really one in quotation marks. Any benefit they might have for your interests is just a byproduct (because only a few of their principal’s interests overlap with yours). Construction supervision will never fail to be worth its cost (in the sense of paying for itself).

HGZT2025 schrieb:

When we consistently talk about execution A (real slate) in all emails and conversations, and something different is delivered (plastic imitation), someone could have at least said, "Dear clients, I understand you want real slate since that’s all you mention, but for this door there will be no real slate. Please be aware. The order only stated slate.

You seriously chose a front door panel with a slate-look filling?
If it had been the real material, not an imitation, the door would be as heavy as a vault door and require five hinges, which would still have to be adjusted quarterly and replaced every five years. That would have been a bigger defect — you would have actually received it that way!
The order might as well have said “copper-metallic slate,” since tastes can vary endlessly.

D-Zug88 schrieb:

Photo documentation is certainly very advisable. I would gladly show up daily for the critical issues. I think from the craftsmen’s perspective it can be annoying – any tips on the topic?

If the person showing up can demonstrate to the craftsmen at eye level exactly how the particular execution should be done, good craftsmen welcome that.

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11ant schrieb:

(...)
It’s not a second one, but the first—0 plus 1 is not 2. Your construction manager does not create redundancy because the general contractor’s “construction manager” is not really one without the quotation marks. Any benefit they might have for your interests is merely a byproduct (since a few of their employer’s interests overlap with yours). A construction supervision will never fail to be worth the money (meaning it will pay for itself).
(...)

However, there are limits to this. Certainly, the construction manager (who are usually civil engineers, so I find it a bit disrespectful to put that in quotation marks as if they were unskilled workers with only two weeks of construction training) is paid by the general contractor and is therefore biased. I am in the same position as an employee of my company when it comes to problems or errors...

But even so, I cannot simply accept major defects as acceptable, and many construction managers will not do that either, even if the general contractor pays them. Because very few construction managers work exclusively for a single contractor. There are exceptions, of course, and you are most likely to get to know those—that is just the nature of the situation. People usually only call me to sites where systems are not working properly, not the ones running smoothly, so I can admire the flawlessness of our work...