Construction, Lessons Learned in Construction and Renovation

I helped my dad build houses when I was a teen.  We also renovated our house and added two bedrooms and a bathroom.  Construction technologies have improved since then and I appreciate the advances in construction technology.  I recently used a router table, miter saw, electric drill and circular saw to build two overhead garage doors for my garage.  

In my experience in design and construction, I have learned: 

• Safety issues do not automatically get a priority 

• Plan to relocate wiring and plumbing during demolition of walls and partitions

• It is difficult to implement life-cycle cost improvements if first costs are the only consideration

• Always run new services to renovated areas.

• Changes are easily made early in the design process

• Hidden conditions usually exist and must be dealt with 

• "As-built" drawings do not exist

• "Discovered" asbestos or lead (P_b) can kill a project budget

• "Left-handed bidding" is under bidding a contract to win the bid; then uses change orders to be profitable.  Poorly conceived or designed projects with inept project management are especially vulnerable to this uncompetitive practice.