Understanding the Building Construction Process

Choosing a construction method creates contractual working relationships and interactions between parties. These working relationships and interactions are the building construction process. Typically, the parties include the owner, contractor(s), and design consultants. Building contractors and design consultants conduct business engaged in the building construction process but rarely does the owner. As a result, the owner often lacks knowledge of the process, which can cost them thousands of dollars. This unique book explains the building construction process in easy-to-understand non-technical language. It provides the knowledge owners and or their representatives need to have some control over the process regarding cost and risk reduction. After all, the owner pays for the construction and should have some say in the process. People working in the building construction industry or with some knowledge of the process will also benefit from the book, as will educators and their students. The book is a knowledge elevator and goes well beyond the minimum required to understand and be involved successfully in a building construction project.

Leon P. Gander has been in the construction industry since he graduated from the University of New South Wales, Australia in 1968. Since 1971, his experience has been in North America, specifically in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1980 he began operating a consulting practice in the design of electrical services for buildings among other aspects of electrical consulting. He is a Professional Engineer registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Leon has a keen interest for the inner workings of building construction and in 1999 self-published the first version of this book, which has now been updated for relevance in 2022 and beyond. The perceived need for a knowledge-elevating book resulted from observations made in all-participant construction site meetings where the only person(s) lacking knowledge and experience were the owner and or their representative(s). Yet owners are paying for the construction and when issues arise, they are often required to pay more. It was clear that owners and their representatives deserved much more knowledge about how the building construction process operates and affects their interests.