Bill of quantities and specs: how to keep costs under control – for historic centres
Before you start, align documents, scope and priorities. That alone prevents most late changes and cost overruns. In Sicily, coastal exposure and mixed building stock make early checks even more important.
Schedule and cost control
Set up a bill of quantities and specifications that describe works, materials and tolerances in measurable terms.
Build a realistic programme and the right sequence of trades.
- How to document decisions
- Documents you should have
- Questions to ask contractors
Permits and documentation
Choose the correct route (CILA, SCIA or permit) based on the scope and the building context.
Prepare a complete technical report to reduce requests for clarifications and delays.
- How to document decisions
- Questions to ask contractors
- Documents you should have
Technical details that matter
Focus on critical junctions (waterproofing, thermal bridges, services) because most post-handover issues start there.
Verify material compatibility with substrates, especially near the coast where salt air accelerates decay.
- How to keep changes under control
- Questions to ask contractors
- Documents you should have
Where to start
Define priorities and constraints: what is mandatory, what is desirable and what can wait.
Commission an accurate measured survey and clear drawings: without reliable measures, design is guesswork.
- Documents you should have
- How to keep changes under control
- How to document decisions
- You are planning a renovation and want decisions backed by drawings and documents.
- You have doubts about compliance and cadastre alignment.
- You want one technical point of contact to coordinate the process.
- You need site supervision with clear records.
- Mixing up cadastre updates and building permits (they are different).
- Ignoring waterproofing, slopes, ventilation and other “small” details.
- Applying standard solutions without reading the building context.
- No clear responsibilities between client, contractor and designers.
If you want a clear starting point for a project in Sicily,Studio 4ecan review your context and outline the right technical steps.
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