Thank the Architect .(jalcoplumb)

jalcoplumb_2

I am currently doing a renovation for a customer who was adding a family room. The existing heating system is Cast Iron radiators. The plan was to add a new baseboard zone to the new family room, move a couple of radiators. The homeowner loves the old radiators. I was asked to install new ones in the family room. When they got the cost they decided that the baseboard was the way to go.

The homeowner was replacing all the old drafty windows with new Marvin windows that the Architect specked.

I got a call from the contractor about three weeks into the job when the new windows showed up. The Architect specked windows that were longer than the old. They were now six inches below the top of the radiators.

The homeowner now will be removing all the radiators that they love to accommodate the new windows. The cost will be considerable.

What was this guy thinking? The homeowner explained to him at the start of the project how much they love the radiators. The homeowner told the Architect that they had a set budget.

I see this stuff way to often.

I see Architects that draw and speck stuff that are way out of the homeowners’ budget all the time. The homeowner pays them a boatload then the contractors come in to bid the project and are told that the Architect said that the project should cost less.

What are they teaching these guys?

Venting over,
Joseph A. Landree
J.A.L. Co. Plumbing & Heating
Allentown, NJ

Steamhead

I would have fired the architect

and not paid for the wrong windows!

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jalcoplumb_2

I agree ...

but for some reason time and time again I have seen customers keep going to the same Architect, or keep them on the project.

gerry gill

ditto - i agree with steamhead

fire the architech

ScottMP

Let him pay

to change the windows back to the appropiate size.

Yea, thats gonna happen.

Scott

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JimGPE_3

At the VERY least....

I would not pay the Architect! and I WORK for an architect! That is completely unacceptable. Have the "architect" pull some strings with the manufacturer to take the windows back and provide the corrected ones.

The architect thinks the client should pay the architect who messed up the job, then pay for bigger windows, then pay the heating guy to rip out the radiators that the client wants, then pay the heating guy to put in what the baseboard client doesn't want, then pay the general to patch and paint the walls where the radiators were? I don't think so!

That's just wrong!

Um, provided there isn't more to this story than the home owner is sharing....

jalcoplumb_2

Well the

homeowner was torn. They are nice people. They decided that the boiler was old and they were thinking of replacing it anyway. That and they liked the idea of bigger windows. Then they talked about how they would be able to put the funriture where they wanted it if the radiaotors were changed.

It was a shame that such nice folks had to be put in that situation. It should never happen.

Guy_5

Radiators

I need to find one of those situations near me: I want a nice old C I Radiator for the playroom that I am building in tne basement. I love the feel and history of them.

Jaitch

Remember to set

the system up on constant circulation (if you can) to cut down on the tinkle, tinkle, plink, of the wonderful baseboard products that we have to-day!

The customer is already upset enough to change out the radiators (against better advice, I'm sure) don't compoound the problem with new piping noises.

jalcoplumb_2

constant circulation ...

and Vision 1 with a T-80 Munchkin. The old boiler was an oversized oil. It was firing at about 135,000btu. The heat loss of the house w/ new windows and a fairly large addition is 72,000btu. The heat bill should go down a bit.

J.C.A._3

Forgive the ham fisted typing ,

Being able to place the furniture where they want? Do they realize that they are in effect, making the room smaller?

While they might not have gotten it where they wanted to before, now they have to leave it far enough away so that the convection currents can work their magic. They KNEW wher the furniture didn't go with the C.I. rads in place.

I've tried to talk many folks out of doing a swap to baseboard for just this reason. If they have small rooms, they are made smaller.

The achitect should open wide and be willing to have a big bite of this one, I know that's what I'd be looking for.(He'd be looking for a new client and wouldn't EVER get any help from this end) JMHO.. Chris

Boiler Guy

Better One

Check this out. Old 1912 complex, converted to codos in 1980. Old 1 pipe system converted to Gas in 1961. System has been running @ 5-7PSI for the last 6 years - to 2002 with no end of grief!! Of couse due to overheating rads were shut off and some removed/discarded!!?? I have worked on this building since Nov 02. Steam pressure is now 2PSI max. During the summer of 2003 one of the owners decided to undertake a major renovation. The architect advised the discard of all the rads and return piping to accomodate a "funky" design. Got a call last week from freezing occupants. Go figure!! Now it is my problem !!??? I don't think so. Architects -- gotta love em.

Constantin

Ah yes, architects...

... like many professions, there are the ones you love, and then there are the ones you hate. I still lament the recent trend towards building ostentatious ego-trips for architects that masquerade as something else, like a Museum, school, etc. More and more, it seems like the whole purpose of a building is being left at the wayside in the endless quest for magazine-coverage.

Anyway, we're delighted by our architect in general. He brilliantly got the building mostly right. Small oversights like the 4'-long master bath tub or the windows in the bathrooms whose frames extend well below the decks of undermount bathtubs indicated on the other side of them add to the "charm".

It is rare indeed to find an architect that gets the vision and the details right. Luckily for us, our contractor has been the perfect details-obsessed counterpart, the right person to flesh out the vision that the architect had.

J.C.A._3

The biggest problem,

I have with architects is that they think mechanicals appear through magic. There is seldom enough room for the appliances and accoutriments that are required, and then they want them "hidden" . That usually entails having to jump through hoops to SERVICE the equipment. (THIS STUFF DOES REQUIRE SERVICE!!!)

Having to remove panels or crawl through cabinet doors takes time and we aren't working with pencils here, there is dirt and grime involved.It also takes time to clean up after that,not to mention all the drop cloths and rug runners that have to be brought in and out. (then they have the nerve to ask why it takes sooo long and costs so much for service.)

We're not talking about pretty looking things here, but they are NECESSARY peices of a home. The folks that want to live in that style home I'm sure would also like to be comfortable. If they would give us the space we need to do it right the first time and understood why, we would all be much happier . Chris