phanomen design

by Carly Simon

Paying Attention to Quantity

Can Mean Quality Construction Savings

Taken in the most basic sense, this statement may seem like a no-brainer. But have you ever considered the amount of each manufacturer, style, raw or finish material size, color, etc. being specified on your job(s)?

If budget is a foreign word to you, then by all means skip the next paragraph to the pretty pictures of our featured client. But if I’m speaking your language, knowing that this is being considered in the design of your project could mean the difference between getting what you want and what you can afford.

Of course costs of finish materials like wallcovering, floor covering, and countertops can fluctuate depending on such factors as content, durability, safety rating, origin of fabrication (shipping), and manufacturer’s brand reputation. These variables, you and your designer may have little control over if you want a certain look and performance. However, the most important consideration may be quantity.

All materials are shipped and sold in some minimum quantity. For very few, the unit is one. All others are packaged in crates, boxes, bags, or lots that the dealer/ installer must purchase in order to fulfill the specification. Take, for example, commercial wallcovering. The standard bolt for the majority of manufacturers is 30 yards. If your project requires 30 yard increments, then the factory can pull the bolts directly out of stock and ship it to you for a price. However, if they must cut the bolt for 20 yards, leaving them with 10 yards of a certain lot to warehouse and sell, expect to pay an extra $3 per yard on average on top of the base price for each of those 20 yards.

So, if your project requires 75 yards of X, 105 yards of Y, and 39 yards of Z, you can expect that a cut charge has been applied or an extra bolt was ordered. Ordering unnecessary material is the worst of scenarios, given that in 2006, construction and demolition debris generated 1,060,577 Tons of Indiana ’s municipal waste, according to the Indiana DEM.

Can the same look be achieved if 180 yards of X or Y were installed and 39 yards of Z?

Is this design modification worth the $540 estimated savings or will it compromise the vision?

The following tells the story in the average cost comparison to an 8’-0” above finished floor (A.F.F.) standard 20 gauge 3-5/8” metal stud and 5/8” gypsum wallboard interior construction w/o insulation:

8’-6 A.F.F. = + 2.5%

9’-0” A.F.F. = + 7.5%

9’-6” A.F.F. = + 10%

10’-0” A.F.F. = + 12.5%

Is the extra wall height, which also requires added lighting and HVAC consideration, going to add to your bottom line?

The same principle applies to virtually every element of a construction project. Another example is tiles, that often come in 10 or 12 tile boxes, and certain paints like “dry fall” for open deck ceilings that come in 5 gallon or 55 gallon drums. Similarly, the number of different lamp (or bulb) types for your facility can mean that your maintenance crew must purchase, keep track of, and stock many more boxes of different lamps to keep your building lit.

Has optimizing the minimums for each material been a factor in the design of your project(s)?

Making small adjustments to the quantities in the specification can mean less waste in both materials and dollars. With regards to large scale projects this kind of saving is a washout. However, small savings can add up quickly.

On the next commercial project, take a moment to consider how much material is going into your build-out. As a designer, stereotype dictates that I am to support that the design vision is worth the costs. If your built environment brand image is the main driver to sales or if you need to reinforce a specific corporate culture, it is.