Let's Fix Construction
  • Blog
  • Why & Who?
  • Workshops
    • Upcoming Workshops
    • A & E Coordination
    • CDT Education Program
    • Let's Fix Construction
    • Social Media & AEC
    • Specifier/Product Rep
    • Specs 101
    • Young Professionals
    • Past Workshops
  • Contributors
  • Submit
  • Accolades
  • Donate
  • Contact

The Cost of Custom

3/27/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
Contributed by Sheldon Wolfe
​Many products offer not only a selection of standard finishes at a standard price, but offer more options at additional cost. Some will offer those options in price groups, such as Standard, Group 1, and Group 2, where each group is more expensive than the last. Finally, some manufacturers offer to match any color.

Unfortunately, the requirements for getting a custom color often are vague, and a minimum quantity may be required or other limitations may apply.

The result? I may tell a project architect that a custom color will cost more, but because I often don’t know how much, the response usually is, “It doesn’t matter; we want custom.” 

The problem, of course, is that bidders, who are trying to get the job, are forced to either comply with the specifications and risk losing the job, or bid a standard color in hopes of getting away with it - which too often is the case. I recall a project that required all exterior metal finishes and all concrete coatings to be bid as custom, to match a specific color. Had that color been something unusual or exotic, that might have made sense, but the chosen color was essentially off-white. Trying to get all those colors to match was a nice theory, but in practice, there was as much difference in appearance between adjacent panels, one in shade and the other in full sun, as there was between the colors submitted. And then there are the effects of dirt and UV exposure… Colors change, and some change more than others, so the carefully selected finishes may no longer match after only a short time. For that project, the owner probably paid the price of custom color and got a standard color for some of the finishes. 

A couple of years ago we had two projects going, which just happened to have the same custom color for the metal roofing. An astute supplier was able to combine materials for both in a single order. Individually, neither project had enough material to meet the minimum for a custom color, but together they almost did, so the supplier was able to cover most of the added cost. It's always possible for the architect to insist on a custom color regardless of quantity, but that can be more than a bit embarrassing when the contractor tells the owner that the cost can be reduced by a large amount simply by changing to a slightly different color.

Some joint sealants can be produced in virtually any color, and architects are accustomed to always asking for custom colors. It’s usually not a problem for a large project, but the architect should know that the contractor might have to buy fifty gallons of sealant for a joint that's only ten feet long. 

Specifying acoustic properties presents similar challenges. Many assemblies will meet a given STC or NRC rating: brick, CMU, CMU with filled cores, multiple layers of gypboard, high density gypboard and similar products, resilient channels, clips, resilient adhesives for multi-layer assemblies, etc. What do they really cost? How do they really perform? Without knowing the relative costs and properties, detailing a particular assembly may result in performance that is lower than expected, or it may cost more than another assembly that would perform just as well. 

And what about dimensions? It's easy to draw a large panel in elevation, but can it be produced? Do the length or width force the fabricator to alter the orientation of panels, which can affect appearance of some finishes? Do the dimensions require greater thickness of material, thereby increasing the cost beyond what the designer expected? 

These are all very real issues that big-D Designers don't think about, yet it's essential to evaluate such information early in design - before the client has been sold on the design. 
4 Comments
Evan Adams
3/28/2017 03:29:05 pm

Finish colors are often chosen at the very end of project. So I don't know if early conversation helps.

But what we do is we match to other products. Then I can say to the design team we can match to that brand or that brand but not that brand. Then they also get the benefit of I usually work with those other product reps closer and the customer (design team) get less questions later on on issues of coordination during construction.

As always, the solution is communication. Get out from behind ARCOM/BSD and talk with a rep. It'll get you everywhere.

Reply
Asphalt Sealcoating link
10/22/2020 06:17:47 pm

Thank you for the article. Customer work is always tricky in my opinion. The expectations versus reality added with additional cost make it difficult. We always include a hassle factor when bidding on a customer job. If the client wants to pay it, great we are paid for the extra headaches. Thanks

Reply
Mavis Wanczyk
11/6/2024 09:43:15 am

My name is Mavis Wanczyk, from Chicopee, Massachusetts. I’m excited to share my fantastic experience with Dr. Kachi, who is outstanding at lottery spell casting online. No matter where you are or how challenging your situation might be, Dr. Kachi can help you win in lotteries and other gambling games. If you’ve been searching for winning numbers without success, Dr. Kachi’s spells are known for providing the right numbers and lucky letters. Many have become millionaires after just one game using his powerful spells. I contacted Dr. Kachi shared the necessary details, and he provided me with six Powerball numbers: 6, 7, 16, 23 26, plus the Powerball number 4. I played them and won $758.7 Million! My life has changed dramatically, and I am incredibly thankful to Dr. Kachi. If you’re interested, you can reach Dr. Kachi by text or call at +1 (209) 893-8075, email him at [email protected], or visit his website here https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site. Thank you so much, Dr. Kachi.

Reply
Manuel
11/10/2024 07:05:08 am


I promised Great Odunga to always post his testimony and I really want to say "Thank You" to everyone who supported me through the years. My name is Manuel Franco, New Berlin, Wisconsin. My story of how I won the Powerball lottery of $768.4M is a bit of a tale. I was feeling very lucky that day because I had contacted Great Odunga to help me with the winning Powerball numbers. I really had that great great feeling that I looked at the camera wanting to wink at it. I only did a tiny part of it when he told me he would give me the numbers and trusted him. He gave me the numbers after I played a couple other tickets along with it for $10. I checked my ticket after the winnings came online and saw the numbers were correct including the Power play. I screamed for about 10 minutes because it felt like a dream coming into reality. I had won $768.4M. Thank you Great Odunga. Well, his email is [email protected] and [email protected] You can also call or Whats-app him at +2348167159012 so you guys can contact him


HE CAN ALSO FIX THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS. RELIABLE AND TRUSTED

Lottery Spell
Love/Reunion Spell
Pregnancy Spell
Protection Spell
Marriage spell
Healing/Cure spell


Contact him for any of these today:
EMAIL: [email protected] OR [email protected] also Call and WHATS-APP HIM +2348167159012.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About

    Let's Fix Construction is an avenue to offer creative solutions, separate myths from facts and erase misconceptions about the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.


    Check out Cherise's latest podcast
    Picture


    Get blog post notifications here

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    March 2022
    May 2021
    May 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Architecture
    Certification
    Collaboration
    Communication
    Concrete
    Construction
    Construction Administration
    Contract Documents
    CSI
    Education
    Estimators
    Fabrication
    Fix
    Manufacturing
    Misconception
    Myths & Facts
    Podcast
    Refresh
    Specifications
    Subcontractors
    Technology
    Training

    Tweets by FixConstruction
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • Why & Who?
  • Workshops
    • Upcoming Workshops
    • A & E Coordination
    • CDT Education Program
    • Let's Fix Construction
    • Social Media & AEC
    • Specifier/Product Rep
    • Specs 101
    • Young Professionals
    • Past Workshops
  • Contributors
  • Submit
  • Accolades
  • Donate
  • Contact