Wrapping Up Construction Projects (CE) (PjM) (PDD)

"All’s well, that ends well," also applies to construction projects. Regardless of smoothly the design work, or even the majority of the construction has gone, problems closing out the work in a smooth and professional manner, will leave a poor taste in everyone's mouth.

When discussing project closeout, we are referring to the final processes to be implemented in a construction project, as established in the contract documents. These will be the procedures to be followed in making a final inspection, collecting all necessary documentation from the contractor for the owner, final acceptance of the project by the owner and the architect, certifying and making the final payment for the work, and compiling documents to be kept as records of the project.

Paying attention to the details in these processes, will also pay dividends. When done well, closeout procedures will be the first step in obtaining the next project from a satisfied customer.

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

• Recognize the importance of beginning a project with a strong, complete, and precise set of construction documents
• Differentiate between specifications and a project manual
• Identify the primary tasks, which should be accomplished during a project closeout
• Discuss what is meant by, and the importance of, substantial completion
• Examine what should be done before certifying final completion of a project
• Explain the many project participants waiting for the architect to certify final completion and approve a final payment

Paul Spite, BS, BA
AFD Consulting, Founder and Principal

Paul is a Registered Architect with over forty years of experience, a course developer and has been a teacher in multiple venues in the past. He is also a writer in many venues, having developed many studies, a few published articles, numerous short stories, multiple screenplays, two non-fiction manuals for church design and one novel. More to the focus of this endeavor, Paul has also created presentations for twenty-six lunch and learn presentations for building material manufacturers, webinars covering the subjects of Aging-in-Place and Architectural Acoustics and eleven distance learning courses for architects, engineers and contractors. As he nears retirement from managing his small architectural practice, Paul hopes to focus even more of his energy on teaching and on course development.