CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES
When construction begins, it’s important to have the right frame of mind regarding the process and the final outcome. Critically, one must realize that any design is ultimately an intent, and the actual result must adapt to specific site and construction methods. The good news is that the end result will be better because of it.
Minor differences between the design drawings and the finished product are inevitable. Don’t worry, this is part of the process, and it allows for a more thoughtful, better tailored result in the end. The key is to keep all the critical players (contractor, architect, and homeowners) involved during construction to ensure that the best decisions are made when it comes to design modifications or addressing unforeseen conditions.
In addition to a project showing the spirit of the human mind, it will inevitably bear the marks of the human hand and the materials used to build it. In this regard, one must be accepting of certain construction tolerances which practicality demands. Here are a few common ones:
FINISHES
WOOD MOVES: All materials respond in some degree to temperature and humidity conditions. Of those commonly used, homeowners are most likely to notice wood’s seasonal expansion and contraction. Typically this shows at joints in trim and in floor boards (though less with engineered wood). After a year, it’s good to have the painter come back and touch up, but there may always be some movement noticeable certain joints.
PAINT IS APPLIED: For most walls and trim, it’s still best to paint by hand. This means that some texture and brushstroke will be visible. And where two materials come together, a painter will do their best to create clean lines. Also, some spots are bound to be imperfect, and it’s expected that the painter will return for touch-ups after the homeowners move in.
DRYWALL SHOWS JOINTS: Unless one is investing in the expense of skim coat, certain oblique views of drywall may reveal where compound has been applied over joints and screw holes. Unless you’re looking for it, you usually don’t notice. But if you are concerned about this possibility, be sure to request pricing for skim coating before the drywall goes up.
CONCRETE IS UNPREDICTABLE: For areas of exposed concrete, it’s never a sure thing how the finish will turn out. Clients should be prepared for inconsistencies and cracks. If a finish is not satisfactory, the floor can always be ground and polished or covered over at an additional cost.
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
INDOOR CLIMATE VARIES: No HVAC system can make it the exact same temperature and relative humidity throughout an entire house, nor is it possible to keep adjacent spaces at very different temperatures. All systems, though, will allow for some basic balancing, and it takes time and experience for a homeowner to harmonize their desires with the available capacities of their HVAC system.
DRAFTS & CONDENSATION: Canadian winters can be so cold that you’re bound to feel some difference at the windows and doors, and depending on humidity levels, even insulated, double-pane glass can attract condensation on the coldest days.
PLUMBING NOISE: All reasonable efforts can be made to mitigate plumbing noise, but it can never be fully silenced. Typically batt insulation is added to the joist and stud bays where pipes are present, and waste stacks and toilet waste lines are made in cast-iron (less acoustically-resilient PVC is used elsewhere to save cost unless a special request by the homeowner is made).
DESIGN ADAPTATION
DIMENSIONS ARE TARGETS: Most dimensions on design documents are intended to serve as targets, and there is rarely the need that they be precisely observed. We note dimensions of particular flexibility with “±”, though usually accompanied by “VIF” which means “verify in field” in case there is a major deviation that should be considered. In all cases, the standard is to ensure that the design intent can be made, and it is understood that, especially in a renovation project, an inch here or there may be lost in the process.
THE LITTLE THINGS: Design documents do not show absolutely every conceivable detail that will be a part of a project—it would be impossible and prohibitively expensive to try to do so. Some elements, like toilet and radiator supply piping, as well as AC refrigerant lines on the exterior, for example, will be installed where needed in as sensible a fashion as possible.
AT THE MERCY OF THE MANUFACTURER: The architect and contractor will recommend or use products that have a good track record or otherwise seem wise for a particular application, but unfortunately no one can be completely familiar with every product detail. That why it’s important for homeowners to familiarize themselves with what has been specified and alert the architect to any concerns.
OLD HOUSE CHARM
LOST SPACE: Old houses come with a lot of irregularities, and it’s not unusual for a few inches to get lost through the process of making rooms square. A good design will anticipate this, so that critical dimensions are held and design intent is preserved where space must be squeezed.
OUT OF LEVEL: Unless an existing space is completely gutted, it is impossible to make existing planes level and plumb, even when resurfaced. Often to save cost, a homeowner will agree to leave certain areas untouched or structure unlevelled. This is fine as long as the right expectations are maintained. As architects, we do are best to advise our clients on where future regrets may lie, known as the “Diderot Effect”, but ultimately the homeowners are responsible for managing their own expectations appropriately.
EXISTING OBSTRUCTIONS: In an old house it’s impossible to know what unknown obstructions are lurking behind the walls. Sometimes a situation will present itself that it’s best for the design to just adjust around. That’s part of the reason we insist on being involved during construction.
DRAFTS AND COLD SPOTS: Old houses often have spots where it’s difficult to install insulation, typically at joints between the floor and wall. Similarly, when pouring a new basement slab, it’s sometimes necessary to thin out the slab along the edge to preserve head height, which can make these areas less warm than other heated parts of the slab. Underpinned sections of wall can have a similar differential. Short of rebuilding, consider these cold spots and related minor drafts just part of the charm.
NEIGHBOUR NOISE: rowhouses and semi-detached homes are structurally intertwined with their attached neighbours. This means noise travel can never be fully eliminated. Reasonable mitigation measures should be taken where work allows for it or it is otherwise desirable, but the result will never be absolute acoustic isolation.
TRUSTING YOUR ARCHITECT & CONTRACTOR
On a final note, it is important to trust that your architect and contractor have your best intentions at heart. And it is their job to ensure that reality meets the design intent in the best way possible. That said, mistakes will occur, and a post-occupancy review is always a good idea so that genuine defects can be assessed and addressed.
