A well-developed main project, together with the statement of work, is a kind of roadmap for construction. This phase is one of the most important before construction can start.

At this stage, you need to decide on the type of contract to be used.

As a general rule, the less elaborate the project, the lower the bids will be. This is not an advantage because it can have financial consequences in the form of more and larger extra bills. In other words, the price of construction ends up pushing the budget down anyway.

For larger or more complicated buildings, the main project is needed, for example, where details are drawn to an even larger scale so that the craftsmen can see how to carry out the important building details.

Drawings

The main project is a set of dimensioned drawings, usually at 1:50, showing the precise size of the building in plan, section, and elevation.

In addition, there should be details of key points such as eaves (where cornice and roof meet), chimney stacks, etc. at larger scales, typically 1:20 or 1:10. Bathrooms and kitchens and special fittings should also be drawn at 1:20. The location of electrical and plumbing installations such as radiators, electrical sockets, etc. should be drawn on a plan.

Work description

The main project includes a work description, which is a written document detailing the materials and methods used and describing the legal norms and standards to be observed during construction. It also describes the basis of the contract with the contractor.

The statement of work is an important and comprehensive tool to guarantee that the construction is carried out with the chosen materials and in the best workmanship. You can not be too thorough in describing what work is to be done and how. Even the distance to the sea should be described to ensure that the work is carried out to the expected quality. However, even if the work description is very accurate, there will always be something that has been forgotten or not foreseen – so always set aside a sum for these things.

The bidding contractor does not know the house or the thinking behind the construction. There is no common understanding of what a wooden floor is! For example, how wide or thick are the boards, what length, how many knots can there be, should it be done with visible, hidden nailing or screwing, and in what type of wood? There is plenty of scope for misunderstandings here, both in terms of workmanship and price, unless it is specified precisely.

Even if you use the authority’s project drawings to build from, it is advisable to get a statement of work done. The cost of such a description is often quickly recouped, as misunderstandings about quality, price, and unnecessary extra work costs are avoided.

The work description forms the basis for the tender lists, which are the lists on which the tradesmen must write down their prices and which in turn form the basis for the final negotiation with the tradesman or tradesmen who win the work.