For an exterior stair, is galvanizing worth the expense, or is paint sufficient?
Submitted by Ron in Philadelphia.
Rust is always a problem for an exterior stair in northern climates, and paint only protects the outside surface temporarily. Most stairs are constructed with steel pipe, which tends to rust from the inside out. Hot-dip galvanizing after fabrication puts a layer of zinc on both the interior and exterior surface to maximize corrosion resistance. A second-best effort is to use a zinc-rich primer.
What is a specification writer?
A specification writer is a member of the architect’s project team who is responsible for preparing the specification manual that is issued with the drawings for construction. Most specification writers are registered architects with a special expertise in product evaluation, technical writing, and construction methods.
How are specs written?
In a face-to-face or on-line meeting, the architect describes the requirements of their project to the spec writer, including their design goals and the project schedule. The specification writer provides an outline specification during the design phase of the project, and complete specs for bidding during the construction documents phase. The specification writer will usually use a checklist to gather information, coordinate with the project engineers, and consult with building product representatives for technical review.
Why are specs important?
Specs are important to control the time, cost, and quality of the project. Most projects are competitively bid, and the spec needs to provide clear and concise information on acceptable products, submittal requirements, warrantees, even construction tolerances. Drawings alone do not provide sufficient information to construct the project.
What makes a complete spec?
A specification that contains enough information for the contractor to bid and construct the project within budget is a complete spec. A complete specification manual should give the owner the confidence that the project can be constructed to meet their goals and the architect the tools needed to enforce their product selections.
