Site preparation particulars
Site preparation details are also important; therefore, be sure to call for locates, arrange permits, bonds, tree hoarding and site security (e.g. temporary fencing for the project should be considered). In many circumstances, site security should be augmented with 24-hour video surveillance equipment. The fencing keeps the site safe and secure as well as presenting a professional image for the company in addition to limiting potential liability.
Designers/builders should also use silt barriers and steel plates along the access path to the site, in addition to plywood hoarding and/or landscape fabric to protect the client’s home and possessions. It is also a good idea to post professional quality site signs around the area to promote the company.
Finally, a portable toilet and first aid kit should be easily accessible and required posting for permits, emergency contact phone numbers, workers compensation, labour board requirements, and notice of project to government agencies should be on-site.
Keeping the neighbours happy
Sweep the street, keep dust to a minimum and be sure to maintain the site’s cleanliness. It is also important to abide by the local bylaws regarding noise and hours of work. Although designers/builders do not live on the site, the client does, and they have to live with the neighbours long after the project is completed.
The time and effort spent during the design stage, combined with proper site supervision, will pay back quickly on the construction stage by eliminating costly mistakes and dissatisfied clients.
The fine points of construction
A fully engineered design will result in a superior finished product, more profit and a satisfied referral-generating client. The construction process is thoroughly dependent on the details; therefore, an onsite meeting between the architect, landscaper, contractor and sub-contractors, prior to construction, is imperative to ensuring everything runs smoothly and meets everyone’s expectations.
Attention to details on the day shovels hit the ground will also pay large dividends. Exact excavation depth not only prevents unnecessary material waste and trucking costs, but also speeds up the construction process. The advent of laser-equipped excavators can result in perfect site preparations. A thoroughly detailed plan will also allow utility chases (i.e. trenches) to be excavated efficiently by machine, rather than hand dug at a later date. A fully prepared excavation crew should have water pumps, filter blankets and drainage hoses on hand in case water invades the excavation. Installing a well-constructed, permanent sump well on the first day will also help to keep the project dry, safe and efficient for construction.
Smaller sites will often require just-in-time delivery, as storage space is at a premium. In contrast, larger sites can stock pile gravel, soil, rebar and various other necessary materials and equipment. Project management skills, site organization and safety details will all result in cost savings and a more productive, efficient construction effort. Co-ordination of sub-contractors is an art form; detail oriented planning, including the use of Gantt charts (a bar chart illustrating the start and finish dates of the project’s terminal and summary elements) or scheduling software keeps the project on time and on budget. Detailed design plans will also indicate rebar and plumbing layouts, while concrete placement, waterproofing, drainage, deck supports, utility corridors and automation elements also benefit from detailed planning and scheduling.
Finally, a detailed plan is also required before handing the project over to the clients. Every project should use a punch-list system (i.e. a list of tasks to be completed to satisfy the terms of the contract) when testing all parameters and correcting any deficiencies.
Managing the client’s expectations at this stage of the project is critical. The more elaborate the project, the more difficult and time consuming the start-up process becomes. Pumps and heaters will fail, automation will have to be tuned up—there will be problems. Looking after the details and addressing problems quickly will give the client confidence in the company’s abilities and professionalism.
A professionally designed, planned and constructed project will result in satisfied clients who will be happy to pay the designer/builder and provide the company with well-deserved referrals—the best way to acquire new business.
Barry Justus is the founder and president of Poolscape Inc. He designs and lectures internationally, is a member of the Society of Watershape Designers and is a faculty instructor with Genesis 3 Design Group. Justus can be reached via e-mail at barry@poolscape.com or by visiting www.poolscape.com.
