This is an ok introduction to some decisions that are part of the process of building a home, and can certainly help you avoid allowances--but just know that it doesn't cover everything. Also, you'll have some products named but this template gives no consideration to standards for execution (preparation and how the products are incorporated). Complete specifications would also describe quality control, tolerances, repair/replacement of damaged/defective/poor work, cleaning, among many other things to make sure that you get what you intended--not just that the products you wanted are there, but that it's all put together the way it should be. While you can acheive this without the CSI format, CSI is something that all of the professionals involved in the project should be familiar with. An architect would prepare specifications as part of standard design services.

Hi, Thanks for your heads up. On the granite I selected there are some green spots that I don't want in a prominent space, particularly the 30" backslash behind the range. The fabricator is acting like if he can do this for me, it will be a big favor on his part. My KD said it happens all the time that someone wants or doesn't want a particular part of their granite on the island or used for the table. I appreciate your comments to make sure I'm there for the templating because then I can see exactly what they are doing. I find whoever is in charge of the job or that aspect of the remodel doesn't like me around watching. But the workers don't seem to mind me there and can be more helpful than the GC when answering questions. The GC even went as far as to tell me not to talk to the workers as it will only make the job take longer! So far my fabricator seems to have the same type of personality as my GC. But I'll make sure I'm there for the templating. Thanks again! Karen

It's been about a month since I originally posted this, and so much has happened, and we're still not quite done. I was going to post several times, and just couldn't make myself go through all the gory details again. Here's a quick summary: The work was originally scheduled for March 4, but for several reasons (only some of which we know) it was postponed until March 9. The installers arrived 5 hours later than we expected them. We were expecting four large pieces - one for the Island Bar top, one for the main Island (cooktop) top, and two for main sink counter - seamed at the sink, and one small piece about 24" square. Instead, they brought six pieces - the sink counter was made into three pieces. Not one of the six pieces was exactly correct. We're happy enough - now - with the island, and the small piece, but we're gearing up to have the sink counter replaced this week after being on vacation for the last 10 days). The single most egregious problem is the seam (not all that well done anyway) over the dishwasher. We would not accept that, and somehow between all of the parties involved, they agreed to replace that entire countertop. At least we got the sink, disposal (air switch under the counter for now) and the main faucet hooked up, so the kitchen is pretty functional. Our next concern was matching the granite. Fortunately, they were able to secure the next slab in the block, and we went back to Arizona Tile to inspect it. It looks fine, and the fabricators agreed it should be two pieces seamed at the sink. The counter gets removed on Wednesday this week, then the new countertop arrives on Thursday (fingers crossed!) and the plumbing gets finished on Friday. The backsplash is scheduled for next week. If we had it to do over again, we'd have taken more control of the granite process. We trusted the GC on this, and that turned out to be a mistake. Hopefully, it only cost us time and not money or quality. I'll post pictures when it's all done.

I'm sorry, but fabrication is expensive and these countertops are expensive and so I don't see how working with a customer to make sure they like the templating is "donating time." Are you saying that people spending thousands of dollars on countertops should just take it however the fabricator decides (which would likely be whatever is most convenient for him and never mind how it looks in the end or if the customer likes it)? There are several people in the trades on this board who seem to have rather dim views of their customers. I don't understand this because you make your living off of these people. I do understand that some people are more difficult than others, but that's how it goes, right? I interact with my clients every day that I'm at work. So, I do understand how some people can be, but...there are so many threads on here with photos of stuff that's really not acceptable. My Dad worked in construction. He did work for both general contractors and for individual homeowners. He took pride in his work, did a good job and wanted his customers to be happy with the work he did. He had no problem taking time to make sure these things happened and he worked REALLY hard, often in unpleasant weather, to produce a good quality finished product. I never heard him complain about anything...not the heat that he worked in over the summers, the lack of bathroom facilities on many of his jobsites, the condition his job left his hands in, etc. He never complained that his customers wanted a good job or that he had to spend time with them. He also didn't gouge people or charge more when he was busy. He didn't call any of his customers a PITA or try to charge anyone a PITA fee or anything like that. I see many tradesmen, contractors, etc., these days, who seem to have really big egos, look down on their customers, try to take advantage of customers whenever they can, who feel entitled to be paid a lot of money for a minimum amount of work (or poor quality work), who refuse to take hard jobs because they are only looking to do what's easy, and who take no pride in their finished product. I'm not saying this is anyone here, but I am saying that you often seem pretty quick to criticize the customers, who are paying a lot of money and who mostly just want a good job in exchange for their money. Overall, I've been very disappointed with most of the people I've hired to do work on my home. No, I've not hired anywhere near the cheapest guys and, yes, I've been willing to pay for someone who does quality work. You can jump to calling me a PITA, if you want, but then we could talk about how much I've paid/been willing to pay (much more per hour than my husband or I have ever earned and we make a decent living) and I have photos to show the poor quality of work these guys have tried to leave us with. We could also talk about the way some of these men have acted in my home (regarding bathroom facilities that I provided, the use of my refrigerator/icemaker, etc.) and about the shocking lack of any work ethic (sheer laziness and lack of any pride in their work, not caring about the quality of their work and trying to take advantage of us in many ways, including by trying to pass off horrible quality work as perfectly fine/a good job) some of them have displayed. We could also talk about the various lies we've been told by multiple people we've talked to about doing jobs. Thank goodness we know enough to mostly prevent ourselves from being taken advantage of... Then, we could talk about the experiences of a good friend who is a single woman and how everyone she has hired over the past 15 years (and she's paid them a LOT and has never tried to hire anyone on the cheap) has basically taken advantage of her, charging a LOT and then doing subpar work. Things have changed, and not for the better. It seems that you can't trust anyone these days. I'd NEVER pay thousands of dollars for new countertops and then not be present for both templating and installation. If someone tried to charge me for that, I would find someone else. If I couldn't find someone else, I'd put in countertops myself (tile, butcherblock or maybe cut soapstone myself--which is what a family member did and it looks beautiful) before I'd allow myself to be treated that way.