Are You Getting What You Paid For?

At IBACOS, we’re often asked for our opinion on building products. Sometimes it's a new product hitting the market; other times it’s a familiar question: “Is Brand A better than Brand B?”

While we are agnostic about what logo is on the package, we do believe that product characteristics matter. You can read more about that in my previous post which reminds us to always look beyond the marketing and dig into the details on products.

Here, I want to focus on something just as critical: It’s not just what you specify… it’s how it’s installed. Take shower waterproofing, for example. A typical shower sees the equivalent of 1,000+ inches of rainfall a year, making it a high-risk area for failure… and a common source of callbacks.

There are few things worse than meeting with a builder after they have struggled with something like water intrusion and have decided to invest in a more robust solution – only to have that more robust (and more expensive) solution be installed incorrectly.

In this example, the builder was using a mix of products from different manufacturers which resulted in inconsistent performance and leaks. Moving forward, the made the smart move to invest in a more robust, well-regarded waterproofing system. Sounds like a win, right?

Not quite.

The product was specified, but the trade contractor was unfamiliar with the product and wasn’t trained. They used the wrong thinset mortar, neglected key parts and pieces of system, and ultimately did not qualify for the manufacturers’ warranty. The result? The builder—and ultimately, the homeowner—didn’t get what they paid for.

You can’t specify your way to better performance – you have to execute. Ensuring your trades are trained to use the products you specify, partnering with manufacturers who provide training, and ensuring proper oversight are all key elements in aligning expectations with execution.

Specs matter. Products matter. But execution is everything.