By Daine Halley

Measure twice, cut once.” We have all heard this cornerstone of construction. Yet, on a larger home renovation project, the real key is everyone knowing exactly what is being measured and what is to be cut.

The many renovators I work with all do things a little differently, depending on the type and scale of projects, the size of their team and trades. We constantly tighten, tweak and improve our processes to run smoother projects.

Yet, I have seen the overall renovation plan presented by the homeowner as a simple sketch, sometimes on a napkin. In one project, we were supplied with a drawing of cabinets over an island in a kitchen with a high cathedral ceiling. Nothing appeared to be supporting the cabinets from above or below, and so the “air cabinets” could not be built. This situation was alleviated using a three-dimensional drawing that allowed the client to see what is not possible in the real world.

I shudder to think about how much room for error there can be when a small or unclear drawing is introduced to members of a whole team, each of whom is doing a part of the whole renovation. Each person has their own perspective on what the plan is and so they do what they think needs to be done. The next trade comes along and does the same thing, and so on. By the end of the project, tile is not lining up, lights are misplaced, or cabinets do not square up with windows or appliances.

Imagine opening the door to a newly drywalled and painted room and discovering that a thermostat, an electrical outlet and an alarm keypad are all installed where a favourite painting was to be hung; or not being able to furnish a renovated room because no one drew the existing furniture onto the plan; or purchasing new furniture for the updated space and finding it simply won’t fit.

Save time and money

Having a complete set of drawings does more than improve the aesthetic; it allows for better adherence to building codes, more accurate quotes from suppliers, better transition between materials and clear allotment of work to specific trades.

Each home renovation needs a specific floor plan, a furniture plan, a ceiling and electrical plan, and elevations of all areas being worked on. This makes it simple for the client and the team to understand how the space will be changed. The team would also know what is to be done as the members check the drawings against work that has already been completed.

When a wall comes down, and we can experience the space as never before, what was not previously apparent can be suddenly unworkable, which requires a rework of the plan. Yet an adequate design done at the beginning of a renovation would limit such emergency on-site design intervention. On projects where time is severely limited, I often receive calls during construction requesting information that should have been on the drawings. Once they understand that it saves both time and money, most of my clients would rather have design input from the beginning than live with irritating, costly mistakes for years to come.

Information overload can also happen when the information is in too many places: a contract, a scope of work plan, a few sketches, some e-mails, or a few notes thrown into the project binder. It is frustrating when the work is clearly specified and no one knows or reads what is in the project binder and keeps referring to an outdated, faxed, reduced concept sketch taped to a wall.

Team must meet

A system is needed to keep the team updated and old information purged. E-mail is wonderful, but six people “replying to all” can render any system useless. All team members (client, designer, architect, engineer, project manager) must meet on site to ensure proper execution of the plans and share information as efficiently as possible. After construction starts, the project manager’s responsibility is to ensure the team is working from the most current set of plans and to report any discrepancies to the designers.

I will leave you with something scary to think about: If there is room for error, someone will almost certainly find it.

Daine Halley, a four-time CHBA-BC Georgie Award finalist, is owner of Comet Interior Design. Contact: www.cometinteriordesign.com or 604-240-0230.

Reprinted from: Home Makeover March/April 2007