Getting your building project in Singapore up and running has to be one of the most exciting prospects you are undertaking in some time. The progress has been nothing but wonderful, up to a point.

However, it is not uncommon for various teething issues to crop up. In fact, it would be a marvel if there are no issues for a project of any given scale, size and complexity. These issues could contractual issues with the parties involved.

So, what are some of these common issues, and how are you going to resolve them?

Issues with compliance to Singaporean Authorities (URA, BCA, FSB).

Construction is a complex process that involves many parties working together in collaboration. In order to realise your dream project, the construction process has to be subjected to the rules and regulations of various authorities. The regulations by the Singapore authorities ensures the process is conducted in a proper, responsible and regulated fashion.

However, it is very easy to find yourself on the wrong side of these authorities. In order to avoid falling short of the law, you should engage the services of a professional – a registered Architect.

In Singapore, a registered Architect is one who has been through the necessary education and training. Furthermore, he or she would have gained the required work experience to be able to be qualified. This architect will usually be found on the registry of architects.

Therefore, the professional is certainly not only a builder with track record of relevant works. It should also not be a designer of sorts, even with experience in relevant works.

It is important to add that the Singapore registered Architect is also governed by the code of conduct and ethics as stipulated by the Architects Act.

With the guidance of a professional Architect, you should be able to navigate through the codes and regulations for compliance in your project to achieve completion and satisfaction.

Contractual Issues.

From the start of any project, it is inherent that you would want to trust the person you engage for the overall construction. For a typical new house construction, this is a relationship that will last about 12 months or more. However, issues can and do arise during the process of construction.

Without a guiding agreement to help define procedures, things can easily turn messy with multiple misinterpretations and misunderstandings. This agreement between the Owner and Contractor has to be defined by a set of drawings and documentation.

A Singapore Architect will assist you by developing a set of contract documents and drawings. A typical format is by the Singapore Institute of Architects.

Before any project can commence, the contract documents should by signed by all parties. The documents include drawings made by the architect, material specifications and workmanship agreements that the contractor must adhere to.

Payment Issues.

In a typical project, a quantity surveyor is responsible for ensuring the materials bought and work done on site tally with the payments made out. Only after the quantity surveyor has approved of this will the Singapore architect issue a Certification of Payment to the contractor.

The quantity surveyor working with the architect, will help to ensure works and quantities are accurate as per constructed. This will reflect on the certification of payment to the contractor. It is vital also that this process is defined in the contract as elaborated earlier. If you wish to have a peace of mind when it comes to making monthly payment to the contractor, consider to engage an architect and a quantity surveyor on your side.

Delay in project construction.

In many cases, it is possible that a project will not be able to meet the timeline projection. Unforeseen issues will usually mean there will be a delay in a construction project. This could be due to weather conditions, material procurement delays or even unforeseen issues (Covid-19 in our current pandemic situation!).

A Singapore architect will know how to evaluate the requests by the contractor for more time and evaluate their application for an Extension of Time (EOT). Again, the processes for this is documented in the contract documents, and made known to all parties.

Hence it is clearly evident that an Architect will have the knowledge and expertise to administer a project – to guide you as the owner through all these conditions in a professional manner.

So do you wish to complete your project with minimal headache and hiccups? It is highly recommended that you engage the services of a Singapore registered architect as part of the project. Contact us if you would like to learn more about how an architect can be of service to you and your project.