Originally posted 2011-07-08 09:00:13.
For this week’s Guest Post Friday, we welcome Erik Peterson. Erik has over 20 years of experience across the construction development industry, but realized there was a step missing on many projects he worked on. In 2005 he founded OAC Management Incorporated, a professional owner’s representation company (@oacmanagement) which specializes in Quality Assurance Observation to fill the gap. This innovative program protects OAC’s clients from construction defects and ensures that their projects are truly sustainable. In 2010 the OAC team certified The Ritz-Carlton in Vail, CO as the first QAO Certified structure in the world. Recently OAC has begun to train and certify industry professionals and contractors who have expressed a desire to utilize QAO internally to ensure their projects are built to the highest quality standard.
In coming up with a topic to blog on for the “industry leading construction law blog” (thanks for all you do Chris), we decided to create and discuss a checklist of the most common and costly construction assembly problems we see on projects. But after compiling a large list of specifics which included; no flashing around windows, missing sill pans, unsealed penetrations, improper caulking, incorrect application of waterproofing materials, unacceptable material preparation, etc. We decided to change our strategy and focus on the single most common issue we see.
95% of the issues on our original list contribute to this one issue.
It is not something that is eliminated with a LEED Certification, an EnergyStar qualification, or a blower door test.
It is costing our industry millions if not billions of dollars a year.
It is the two words that no owner, contractor, or insurance company wants to hear.
