steel contract document

[cmrdata]

I have a detail showing the typical shelf angle that supports the cladding system. The contractor submitted a RFI asking if the shelf angles coming in at 90 degrees at the building corner should be mitered and welded together, and my response was yes. Six months later and after the work is done, they came back and submitted a request for additional payment because such welding requirement at the corner was not specifically called out in the documents.
I understand this is a grey area and it comes down to how far we should go as far as detailing is concerned. I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this subject. Thanks.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

You said "yes" - now who pays for it?

 

[msquared48]

If it was not needed, you should not have said yes, which bvecame a change to the contract since it was not specified in the CD's. For him, it was extra work, not much, but payable.

Contractors will nickle and dime you to death when they have to lowball the bid. Don't know what your circumstances were, but I would not change the drawings unless it was a glaring structural omission (you pay), a contractor requested change that was acceptable (he pays), or an owner requested change after the CD's were completed (he pays).

Sounds like this was not a glaring structural omission and may have been only for appearance.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com