Royce Custom Homes

What makes a project take too long?

There are several reasons for a project to drag on for months...some expected, some avoidable, and some just awful.

Kitchen Cabinets
No cabinet supplier will start to make your cabinets until they have measured the newly framed space. Since the cabinetry can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks to be delivered, this is an expected cause of construction delay.

Bath Fixtures in Special Colors!
Beware those wonderful & exotic colors for your porcelain fixtures...they could take anywhere from 2-8 weeks for delivery, so be sure to ask about delivery time
when you are about to order them.

The Jacuzzi
The Jacuzzi, also referred to as Hydro Tub or Whirlpool Bath, is a very complicated installation that requires several trades to complete. Depending on the style
you choose (corner or rectangle.... drop-in or stand-alone), additional electrical, plumbing, and framing are required. This fixture, unlike a sink or toilet, requires all of its plumbing
to be installed and tested at the rough or 'open wall' plumbing inspection. The tub will be filled & drained several times by the inspector to ensure proper function. It is a good practice to have the Jacuzzi on-site right from the start of the project so that all
dimensions and accessories can be confirmed. When these precautions are not taken, any issues with fit or function will stop the installation, which delays the inspection. You cannot install the insulation and close the walls without the plumbing inspection. Another potential set-back is if you order the tub and it is not in stock. The delay in delivery can stop your entire project.

Sub-Contractor Shopping
Sometimes, a Contractor will shop for the lowest price sub-contractor to perform a
specific task on your job-site. It could be anything...masonry, tile installation, sheetrock...
Unfortunately, while he's shopping to save money, you're job comes to a halt.

Contractor vs. Inspector
The contractor may be in conflict with the inspector, not wanting to make a change that
has been requested by the Inspector. It could be a matter of additional cost, or just a matter of code interpretation. Either way, your project suffers and both reasons are bad. Having been an inspector myself, I can tell you that unless you happen to be an expert
on the Building Codes and can definitively prove your point, you are going to lose the debate and only succeed in delaying the project and inconveniencing your customer.

Money Trouble
The Contractor's company may have run out of money and is waiting to book another project or collect a deposit from another customer, and use that money to continue
work on your job.
NOTE: RCH has a policy of NOT taking large deposits in advance. We use a payment schedule where we only request amounts that reflect the work that is about to be done.
Our initial deposit at contract is capped at $5,000...regardless of the value of the project!

Plan Changes
I cannot stress enough the importance of a good set of plans.
There is no substitute for doing the homework and making sure that the plans submitted are accurate, complete, and detailed. Poor plans result in delays. Big changes can stop a job completely if the actual build strays too far from the plans that were approved.