Designing a Hair Salon - Part 5
The Concept and Design Development packages have been approved and signed off. Next up is Phase 4 (which includes permit drawings and the construction set).
PHASE 4 - CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
Construction drawings, millwork drawings, and specifications are prepared by your Interior Designer and allow for the project to be properly quoted and built by the General Contractor and their trades.
The package includes graphic drawings and written documents that communicate the design and is critical for a successful build-out.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERMIT DRAWINGS AND CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS?
Yes! A permit drawing set is typically not as detailed as a construction drawing set. For instance, millwork drawings and finishes schedules are not required to obtain a permit.
Here are the drawings typically required for permit:
Site Plan
Demolition Plan
Construction/Partition Plan
Floor Plan
Reflected Ceiling Plan
Elevations
Structural Details (if any)
Mechanical Drawings – HVAC, plumbing, etc. (by Mechanical Engineer)
Your Designer will typically focus on the permit set first, since it can take the City approximately 3-4 weeks to approve the drawings and issue the building permit. Construction cannot begin until a permit is issued, so obtaining it is a priority.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS SET?
Once the permit drawings are issued, the Designer continues with the drawings, schedules and specifications for the construction drawings set.
Working Drawings is another term for Construction Drawings and may include the following drawings within the set:
Demolition Plan
Partition/Construction Plan
Floor Plan
Reflected Ceiling Plan
Power and Communications Plan
Wall Finishes Plan
Floor Finishes Plan
Elevations
Sections and Details
Custom Millwork and Fixtures Details
Schedules and Specifications
Phase 4 may take 4-8 weeks depending on the scale of the project and amount of customization required.
Once this package is completed, it will go out for tender/quotes. The General Contractor will use the package to create an estimate of construction costs, as well as a construction schedule.
The General Contractor will present the estimate to the salon owner and will get all necessary approvals, signatures, and payments before any work begins.
PHASE 5 – CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
The last phase of the design process is just as important as the earlier phases and having your Designer by your side during this phase is key to a successful outcome.
During the Construction Administration Phase, your Designer may provide the following services:
Regular site visits to review and photograph construction progress, to ensure the drawings are being followed, to answer any site questions, and to meet with the general contractor and salon owner
Issue site instructions and change orders, as required
Be available to answer questions that may come up due to site conditions, problem solve, etc.
Review shop drawings from cabinetmakers, fabricators, etc.
Review and approval of samples
Visits to the cabinetmaker’s or fabricator’s shops to review progress and quality
Be available during millwork and equipment installation
Conduct final walk-through and deficiencies/punch list
Prepare As-built Drawings for the Landlord
Preparation of required reports and letters confirming substantial completion
It is highly recommended you invest in your project’s success by including your Designer in this last phase.
LAST STEPS
Once the construction is completed, the millwork and equipment are installed, and the salon is professionally cleaned, your Designer will conduct a walk-through and note any deficiencies. These deficiencies may take the General Contractor and the various trades several days or weeks to complete.
After the deficiencies have been completed and the salon is set up by the salon owner and staff, the Designer will schedule their photographer to take professional photos of the space. We recommend salon owners consider collaborating with the Designer to share the cost of the photo shoot. This way, the salon owner will also have access to professionally photographed images that can be used on the salon website, for social media, etc.
EXPECTED TIMELINE FOR THIS PHASE
Phase 5 may take 6-12 weeks.
EXPECTED TIMELINE FOR THE ENTIRE DESIGN PROCESS
The design process, from your initial signed contract to the finished drawing package (Phases 1-3), will typically take your Designer a minimum of 3 months. This may be expedited for an extra fee or may take longer depending on other factors – such as project scale, intricacy of the design, availability of all parties, flow of information, etc.
Phases 4-5, including wait time for the permits, tender, construction, millwork fabrication, etc., will require a minimum of 3-4 months, depending on several factors, including any supply chain issues.
Overall, prepare for the entire process to take a minimum of six months if all goes smoothly.
Ideally, all parties should work together as a team, in a timely manner, and with great communication to achieve the same goal: to create a beautiful and functional hair salon that is built on time and on budget!