In these competitive times, industry standards are weak at the best stretch of the imagination. The focus of the consumer is cost to the detriment of quality. In earlier times in a healthy economy, there was fair competition and the quality of work insured a good industry standard in the construction industry.

What happened ?
What a change in today's market. Everyone is budget conscious to a point that the standard is CHEAP. Who do we blame ? The consumer in a short sighted approach shops for the best price. The best price is not the best value. The standard should be to receive the best product for a fair price. The cheap price will cost more in the long run. However, the speculator who builds to sell for a quick profit may only want to run with a quick return and leave the problems behind.

I remember when the architect was the King. He consulted with the best in the business, he hired a knowledgeable and capable consultant/specifier and a designer to coordinate the finishing touch. He was part of the contractor, subcontractor and product selection. He/She received a fair fee that included site inspections. The architect/specifier today is asked for the cheapest price to produce a minimal requirement.

Roulette Canadian Style
The consultant's opinion quite often is not taken and after pricing has been completed, the roulette game begins. In the game of negotiating the cheap price, everyone involved becomes a victim. The only survivors might be the ones that escaped with the fast buck. Unscrupulous entrepreneurs may even go bust rather than honour commitments and warranties.

Where do we go from here ?
The construction industry must re-evaluate responsibilities. Codes of ethics and building codes must be respected. The construction associations and trade associations can play the major role. Once the specifications and drawings are in place the quality control process begins. I believe that all associations can set standards. All trade associations should produce technical standards and specification guides. All trade workers should be certified as well as the trade contractors. Associations should control their members by monitoring the quality and product of work performed and that installations meet the industry standards recommended by the association. Third party inspections should be a part of the specification.

Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) is working on a draft that would meet the above standards. TTMAC provides a good service to the industry, produces specification guides, inspection services and technical information. Competent inspections should be carried out at every stage of construction. It is ridiculous to wait until the job is completed and then look for mistakes, errors, omissions and workmanship deficiencies.

Specifications and drawings should be reviewed by those qualified prior to completing the package. Inspections should be carried out to ensure that the specified products are being used and properly installed. Where possible, warranties and guarantees should be in place with proper insurance that they will be protected with proper funding for the time period duration.

Associations should police their members and ensure that they will abide by the rules and by-laws of the association. The time has come for everyone in the construction industry to rekindle the team approach. The quality of work lives on regardless of the cost. A cheap installation will always cost more in the long run.

It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation and one bad job or mistake to ruin it.

by Bob Sanelli
from - TERRAZZO TILE AND MARBLE ASSOCIATION OF CANADA