Us Painters Get Screwed On Blue Prints

Dorman Painting

I picked up a set of blue prints yesterday for a local school cafeteria addition. It's been a little while since I've bid anything off of blueprints but man I forgot how much of a bitch it really is.

The MAJOR problem is that the architects don't specifically designate one page solely to the painter. The other trades such as roofers, plumbers or heating and air all have their cut and dried pages to read from. We get a friggin finish schedule page that just touches on the painting in most cases.

This could be because I'm certainly not the best at reading prints, but I can generally work my way through them after an hour or so. I think they should be much more detailed regarding the paint schedule and more specifically what's to be painted.

This is a basic cafeteria addition, it's only 2750 square foot of additional space. So it's not the biggest add on in the world. It's a scale job too. I just feel like I'm shootin in the dark on this one and it's because of lousy prints.

Grumpy

Request For Information (RFI)

This simple submission usually clears up all your questions. I always submit my RFI's by fax or email so there is a paper trail.


The other option is certainly as useful, a detailed scope of work. You tell them what you are going to do... Personally I prefer when I have a very limited and vague scope of work. It allows me to bid the job how I want to do it, what's easy for me to do, and what materials I like working with, but you MUST document it with a detailed proposal stating EXACLY what you are going to do.

needthingsdone?

Ha, you think you're the only one! I have a siding job right now that specs for crown molding on the rake fascias, but there is not 1 single detail on the soffits or fascias. To top it off, this house has no overhangs on the rakes and a 27' radius from a 9/12 down to a 3/12 at the front porch. try putting crown molding on that.
The architect thoughtfully included an entire page in the plans with full sized drawings of the interior trim, all stock off the shelf profiles.

__________________
"It's not the first freakin' time I've done this you know!"

GPI

Not only should there be a finish schedule but a spec book also. Do not bid blindly. If the GC cannot accomodate and provide this or cannot give a updated set of plans, dont bid.
Ask them if they would like to sign a copy of your extra charges approval with nothing filled in!!!!They would think your nuts, well you would be nuts to bid a project with half the info you require.