CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT PHASE

In the Construction Documents Phase, a set of Contract Documents, which consist of Drawings and Specifications, are prepared. These drawings and specifications are the graphic and verbal descriptions of your project. They describe your preferences and wishes for the project you are building and specifically define the project's size, function, organization and aesthetics to your contractor. They will also prescribe the engineers' requirements for structural stability and will be submitted to the building department for the acquisition of a building permit. These drawings and specifications will also serve as the basis of your written agreement with your contractor about exactly what work is to be done and at what cost. They can also be used for competitive bidding among contractors so you can compare several builders' estimated project costs, construction schedules and project approach. Depending upon how comprehensive the drawings and specifications are, this phase may take from four to six weeks, on projects with limited drawings and specifications, to eight to twelve weeks, on projects with very comprehensive drawings and specifications.