How does using Building Solutions impact your project?
Our process does require a longer planning process, however, both our pre-construction planning and the actual production of a prefabricated product takes place during the excavation and foundation phases of work, thereby using this time much more efficiently than conventional stick-building. More importantly, the issues that our process will identify during the planning stage will vastly minimize trade coordination delays and related change orders as well as the delays caused when cabinetry does not fit, or a door location prohibits improper trim, or the landing clearance does not work, etc; commonly experienced with on-site stick framers.
What type of cost savings can we expect by using the turnkey trade ready engineered building systems installed by American Pride Builders, Inc. and Building Solutions?
While we are competitive with most large-scale contractors, the primary benefits are a significant improvement in quality and a huge difference in scope of work performance. The cost savings really depend on the project, site location, and labor issues. In urban work, our product and process minimize the risk of vandalism and hazard liability. In high-cost labor markets and/or prevailing wage projects, the savings can be extremely significant. There are real savings with our system based on a much shorter construction cycle time, not only in our scope of work but in all the trades that follow.
How are dimensional differences that may have an impact on other components of building dealt with?
Due to the attention to detail during our pre-construction process; There will not be dimensional differences unless there is an error in the foundation. In the event there are some dimensional differences in the contract documents, these will be clearly identified and communicated when we overlay the panels to the DWF CAD files. Our process will identify any issues very early in the process and will enable the project management team to avoid delays and claims for additional compensation during the execution of work behind us.
What are the building lifespan issues associated with panelized construction?
Same as or greater than site built. The quality control standards and process far exceed the typical site built process.
What are the maintenance issues associated with panelized construction?
No different than a site built technology except that our raw materials are purchased under very exact standards and are moisture metered upon arrival at our plant and are fully protected during storage, production, and delivery to the job site. We are far less likely to introduce moisture than a site built process. Building Solutions warrants its framing system and all products incorporated into our scope of work to be free of defects and that our workmanship meets or exceeds code requirements and industry standards.
Green Building impact?
Our system is fully approved under the National Green Building Program and earns more than 100 points under the ANSI Standard scoring process.
Insulation issues (how hard is it to get the same R-value for walls)?
There is no difference from site-built construction. The fully engineered turnkey trade ready framing system is an open wall system.
Who determines the structural sufficiency of panelized v. stick-built construction?
We design our panel plan and all the individual panels on Mitek software. We use Struck-u-calc software to verify compliance with the design parameters established by the design professional of record. All of our framing details are submitted to and approved by the design professional of record for each project as part of our six stage pre-construction process.
When can the other trade contractors begin their scope of work and who coordinates the MEP and other services with the panels?
Once American Pride Builders, Inc. is under contract and has the panel plans fully developed for each building type, we will ask your project management team to host an on-site meeting with the MEP subs to review the framing and coordinate issues. We need all the mechanical subs to attend and participate in this eliminates many issues throughout the building process.
We usually construct multi-story buildings in a full vertical sequence on a floor-by-floor basis. Once we have each floor protected by the floor sheathing installation of the next floor, our project manager will request a walk-thru, develop and immediately complete any punch list. Once our customer has accepted our work on a floor-by-floor basis the trade contractors work right behind us. This project management technique can result in a savings of 28 construction cycle days on a typical 100,000 square foot four-story building.
What are the warranty issues that come from the manufacturer?
Out of an abundance of caution, it is important to understand our corporate organization. The turnkey trade ready framing contractor is American Pride Builders, Inc. Building Solutions Since 1977, LLC is our manufacturer. Both companies are owned and operated by Gary L. Grossman and his sons. Building Solutions Since 1977, LLC warrants that its products are free of workmanship and material defects for a period of one year from the date of delivery. Both companies carry completed products and liability insurance.
What is the potential impact on windows and doors (what if sizes and locations are not proper in the panels?)
Our customary pricing and scope of work call for the general contractor, construction manager or owner to purchase the windows direct, and ship them to the site on a building elevation by building elevation sequence. We will inspect, accept, properly store them in a designated area of the project site, and install them during our framing process.
Does the panelized sub-contractor rebuild the panel if the windows and/or doors are not located properly?
The windows and doors will be framed exactly where the contract drawings call for them to be and the rough openings will be built in strict compliance with the rough opening sizes provided by the general contractor. This is part of the reason we do the Autocad DWG© cad file overlay.
How are the panels connected side by side, one above the other, at the corners?
Our typical corner has a full sheathing overlap. All interior to exterior walls have a full flat stud, plus a full-length drywall nailer on both sides of the flat stud. Our typical installation detail includes a sheathing band that ties the wall panels together across the floor system to meet the code requirements. All of our typical framing details will be submitted and approved by the design professional.
Will contractor’s engineer for panelized systems assume liability for structural issues that may arise on the project?
We will design and seal the floor and roof trusses. We will accept responsibility for our design and installation. The interior and exterior framing will comply with the contract plans, the structural issues therefore run to the design professional. All of our typical framing details will be submitted and approved by the design professional. Again the finished product will meet or exceed the site built contract design.
What will the Building Inspector Department require from the design team to approve the project?
A systems built approach using an open panel system is really a means and methods issue. There is no basis in the building code for any building official to impose additional requirements. If we delete the installation of the building wrap, there is no basis in the code to require anything more than they require of a stick builder.
Is any other additional coordination work required?
Yes, there will be a clear learning curve for the management team of the general contractor. Our process will force the project management team to anticipate issues much earlier in the process. We are committed to a successful relationship and will work hand in hand with the project management team to ensure a successful project.
Who will be responsible to review shop drawings and submittals for the new system? If the original design team is to have any role, will there be an additional fee to reflect the additional work?
On many of our projects but not all we do have the design professional reviewing the shop drawings. At a minimum any design professional would already have the burden of reviewing and commenting on the floor trusses and roof truss shop drawings. We will produce these and seal them with a seal at our expense.
Who does the punch list and project sign-off on the panels?
Our project manager will seek an inspection from the project management team or the general contractor, will develop a written punch list, will complete that punch list and seek re-inspection.