Q: What is Lifecycle Assessment?
A: Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) is a way to evaluate and estimate the value of a particular building product or system across its usable life. LCA considers a product or system’s cradle-to-grave environmental impact, from its raw material source to its capacity for recycling and reuse. LCA is a tool for design and building professionals, providing their clients a better, more thorough understanding of the materials being used to construct a project.
Homebuilding is a highly specialized and complex process. And like builders themselves, no two clients are exactly the same. Some homeowners are very interested in the homebuilding process, while others are more content to follow the lead of the builder and be available only when needed. Most clients fall somewhere in between. Regardless of their approach or comfort level with new home construction, clients play a vital role in its success.
The ideal homeowner is a partner, making appropriate and timely decisions to help ensure the home is completed on schedule. In addition, pro-active homeowners become educated about the home building process so that they understand and respect its nuances.
A critical part of that education is knowing what is and is not in a builder's control and having realistic expectations for how issues will be managed, questions answered, and problems solved.
One of the most obvious issues is the weather. Rain, freezing temperatures, and other severe climate conditions are out of any earthly being's control. When the weather results in delays in the delivery of materials or their installation, however, it can have a ripple effect on the entire construction schedule. While professional builders cannot control the weather, they can prepare for it by communicating regularly with subcontractors and materials suppliers to gauge their availability once the weather clears and keeping homeowners informed about changes to the schedule.
Q: My builder seems somewhat removed from the day-to-day construction process and I deal mostly with the site superintendent. Is that normal?
A: Increasingly, today's builders rely on others both inside and outside the company to actually build a house. Your home is more than 'sticks and bricks'. Builders must also coordinate a vast behind the scenes network of trade partners and vendors to keep production on time and on budget. Successful companies find it advantageous to assign a home's construction to a superintendent, whose job it is to keep their customers informed, facilitate changes, and manage the day-to-day happenings on the job site.