Familiarity with Site. Of prime importance to the architect in starting a new building is a familiarity with the site and with local conditions and customs, and it will he of advantage to him to make the greatest possible use of the time usually spent in prelimi nary visits to the locality, to observe what is being, or has been done in the vicinity. The more familiar the architect is with local customs or possibilities, the more efficient will his supervision of that particu lar building become, that he may reject practices which are bad and profit by those which are good. There are very few buildings erected from which the young architect cannot learn something, and it is an unprogressive builder who has not some particular method which will be new to the superintendent.
Drawings. Another essential, and one of greatest importance, is that the superintendent should have a perfect understanding of the drawings and specifications. If they have been prepared by the architect who is to superintend the work, an understanding is assured, but even in this case it will be necessary to consult the plans often, lest something be overlooked or confused with some other building which the architect may have in mind. It will also be of service in enabling him to look ahead, and to prevent many unintentional devia tions which may cause delay or damage to the construction if once started upon, through carelessness or unfamiliarity on the part of the builder, or of the foreman upon whom will devolve many of the duties and responsibilities of modern building operations.
With the foreman an understanding should be had at once that he is to work with the architect, and not against him. It is poor policy for the architect to ignore suggestions made by the foreman, for if he is a thorough mechanic of ability and foresight, as the fore man of a building of any importance should be, he will often be in a position to save the owner from needless expense, and the architect from many of the vexatious conditions and minor complications which often arise in ordinary building transactions. The foreman, as well as the master builder himself, should receive personal instruc tion from the architect, and should be particularly instructed to look the drawings over carefully, and to report to the architect any dis crepancies in figuring, or any apparent difficulties of execution which they may discover, as well as any points not clearly shown or fully understood.
Confidence in Decisions. With this feeling of co-operation thoroughly established between the owner, the architect, and the builder, the architect will be in a position to decide any questions of difference with an assurance that his decisions, being fair and im partial, will be respected, and being satisfied that his opinions are correct, he should announce his decisions promptly and impartially, and his answer being once given he must have the courage to main tain his position unless he be proved to be in the wrong. A lack of confidence in his own judgment, or indecision may affect the prestige of the architect, and might be taken advantage of.
Systematic Plan of Supervision. In following the construc tion of a building the superintendent will find it of importance that some systematic method shall be followed in order to insure that attention is given to the various details of construction at the proper time. If this is not done many defects of construction and workman ship are liable to be concealed or built upon in such a way as to make the remedy impossible or at the least inconvenient. To guard against this, the superintendent should make a point of going all over the building at each visit and examining carefully any work which has been done since his last visit. In this way he will not only guard against concealed defects but he will be able to time his next visit so that special operations, which he will be able to foresee, will receive his personal attention and direction at the proper time.
Rejection of Materials. One of the most important safe guards against defective building is the careful inspection of the materials as they are delivered at the building site, and the prompt rejection of any improper materials at that time. These should be marked plainly, in such a way that it will be impossible to use them in the superintendent's absence without the mark being seen. If poor materials have been brought into the building, they should be rejected at once, and if possible removed from the building site. If the contractor finds at the start that all poor materials will be surely rejected, and that all work which is not properly done must surely be rebuilt, he will be careful that both workmanship and materials kept up to the proper standard, and will keep on the building only workmen who prefer to do a good job rather than a had one; for his own sake as well as for the good of the building.