Construction Manager Pro

  Avoid Costly foundation repairs. Here is a recent article about a homeowner spending $800,000 to repair and stabilize their home.  Expansive clay soil is the leading cause of foundation repair. The clay swells when it is saturated with water causing the building to lift and crack at the foundation. Determine if there is expansive soil before you start construction. Conduct a preliminary soil investigation by researching the USGA website. (United States Department of Agriculture)  Review your area by plugging in your address and it will provide you with the soil conditions at your project site.  If the soil has clayey material, you may want to perform a Geotechnical Soils report.  A Geotechnical Soils report is a professional report of the soil condition below your planned foundation that will support your building loads.  Soil borings must be performed at your project site.  Check with your Geotechnical firm to determine the number and depth of soil ...

Metal Wall Panel Warranty We completed a custom house for a client, and he requested to have maintenance free metal wall panels on the exterior of his  house. He wanted a Wow-type color that would stand out.  He selected the Hawaii Blue from Lehman.  I investigated this color because I was concerned about the fading that may occur. You see in the following photo that his next-door neighbor had fading on his garage, In reviewing the following chart, you will see that bold colors like Colonial Red and Regal Blue have a low SRI number. SRI is the Solor Reflective Index number. These colors absorb the sun's heat and will break down the color pigments.  Whereas the lighter colors will reflect the sun's energy.  In selecting the Hawiian Blue color I investigated the Paint Warranty from Lehman. They indicate a 40-year limited warranty on their painy. And the limited warranty is as follows; They will provide coverage within 30 years and if the p...

A poorly constructed project is also dangerous during and after the construction of the project.  You need to adhere to quality control on your construction projects .  Here are two examples of building failures due to a poorly constructed project. The Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans occurred on October 12, 2019, in which 3 people died,  The Champlain Towers South Building collapsed occurred on June 24, 2921, in which 98 people died.  In review of the Hard Rock Hotel Collapse, you will see from this picture that the west side of the building sheared off from the core of the main building.  Hard Rock Hotel    In OSHA's review of the collapsed building, they reviewed the structural drawings and found that the decking spans exceeded the pan decking manufacturer's recommendations for span distances.                      Spans Exceed metal decking requirement OSHA also found that the west side o...

  Did you read the specifications and study the drawings? Are the materials what is specified? Are the masonry units the right size, color, and texture? Check this against the approved sample/ Is the mortar as specified? Are certifications on the masonry available? Do you have the approved sample panel? Sample Panel At the start of the masonry work, inspect the proper layout and horizontal coursing. Layout procedure. Did they conform to the sample panel? Are the joints properly tooled? Joint Design  Is the mortar type correct? Check the specifications/ Type M- Below grade application in contact with earth. Type S-- general Use, severe exposures (1800 psi) Type N-- general use, severe exposures(750psi) Type O-- interior Use(350psi) Type PL & PM are masonry grouts (2500 psi) Has the good face of the masonry been designated? Masonry units must be cut with a masonry saw. Is the masonry cleaned without acid and with brushes? Verify mortar color is provided and approved if requi...

1) Did you read the specifications and study the  approved shop drawings? 2) Did you inspect the materials and verify their suitability and size for the application? 3) Does the material conform to the specifications and approved shop drawings? 4) Did you verify the support and provisions for expansions? 5) Are beam clamps being used? 6) Are items hung from panel points of the joist or with the support bottom chord reinforced? 7) Did you verify the support of vertical runs? 8) Verify the testing of piping before backfilling or covering with finished materials or insulation. 9) Check the pipe insulation for complete coverage and covering requirements. 10) Verify pipe type and thickness. 11) Check the valves for type, size, and accessibility. 12) Check the backflow preventer for location, type, and proper direction of flow. 13) Check all buried pipes for required thrust blocks. 14) Verifying sanitizing. 15) Verify existing lines and conflict with other's work is coordinated to avoid ...

  Concrete Inspection Checklist  1. Have the formwork surfaces been cleaned? 2. Have they been properly patched? 3. Have the formwork surfaces been cleaned? 4. Have the forms been coated with a form release? 5. Is the  reinforcing steel cleaned and rust-free? 6. Is the reinforcing steel of the proper manufacturer? 7. Check the placement of the rebar versus the drawings.  8. Are bolsters and/or chairs in place? 9. Is the rebar properly tied? 10. Verify that chamfer strips, Nailer strips, and chases are accurately placed, aligned, fastened, and protected. 11. Verify that expansion, construction, and contraction joints are provided, required, or indicated. Meet with the concrete foremen on this.  12. Is there to be saw cutting after the slab is poured? When? 13. Verify forms provide for features such as doors, openings, etc., and that they are removable.  14. Ensure preparations for patching are made as soon as practicable, and methods are appro...