PDCA Cost & Estimating Committee's Specification Checklist

New construction jobs usually have formal specifications written by an architect, engineer, or paint consultant. These specifications will contain two sections; the general specifications and the technical specifications. The general specifications will provide overall information about the project and the technical specifications will provide information about the materials to be used and the application procedures to be followed.

Novice painting estimators often make the mistake of going right to the painting section, commonly section 09900, and ignoring the rest of the specification provisions. That can be a costly mistake as there is usually information in many sections of the specifications that will affect the scope of work of the painting and finishing contractor.

PDCA's Cost & Estimating Committee has devised the following specification checklist to assist the painting contractor during this important stage of the bidding process.