Reviewing the design and materials list

Our designers produce design intent, not construction drawings. They work from measurements the customer gives us. They don't survey the property, check for hidden issues or confirm the design can be built. That's why we need you to look at it before anything is ordered.

How it works

1. The designer and customer produce the design. This is the design intent and a materials list, based on the customer's measurements. It doesn't take account of conditions on site.
2. Beams reviews it and the customer approves it. Our team checks the design internally. The customer signs it off when they're happy.
3. The materials list goes into the Beams app. You and the customer can both see it in the materials tracker.
4. You review the design and materials list. Ideally, go back to site and go through both with the customer. Check that what's been designed can be built, and that the items on the list are suitable. Approve items or add comments, room by room, in the tracker.
5. Our suppliers check compatibility. If the customer buys through one of Beams' suppliers, the supplier checks that the items work with each other, for example that a tap suits the basin. That's a check of products against each other, not against the site.
6. The customer places orders. The tracker shows you which items have been ordered. Use it to plan when to break ground. If you're a week out and nothing's been ordered, you'll see it in time to raise it with the customer.
7. Deliveries are checked within 48 hours. Whoever takes the delivery should confirm it's the right item and undamaged. Unpack carefully. An item that's out of its original packaging is unlikely to be returnable.
8. The customer handles delivery and returns. They agree delivery dates with suppliers and deal with any returns.

What to look for

• Will it fit? Check sizes against your own measurements, including clearances, door swings and ceiling heights.
• Will it work with what's there? Waste and supply positions, water pressure, floor and wall build-ups, support for wall-hung items, electrical loads.
• Is it right for the room? IP ratings in bathrooms, slip ratings on floor tiles, suitability for underfloor heating.
• Are the quantities sensible? Allow for cuts and wastage on tiles and flooring.
• Is anything missing? Trims, wastes, valves, fixings or backer boards the design assumes but doesn't list.
• Will lead times hold up your programme? Flag long-lead items early.

Using the materials tracker

Every customer who has used the Beams design service has a materials tracker. For each item you'll see:

• a link to the product page
• its specification
• a design code that ties it back to the drawings

Go through it room by room. Approve the items you're happy with. Comment where something needs changing or checking. Once the customer starts ordering, the tracker shows you what's been bought.

Why we're asking

The biggest cause of problems on Beams projects is the wrong item being ordered. It has to go back, which costs money and holds up the build.

Our design service covers interior design and design intent. We don't measure the property, and our designers aren't builders. You are. A proper review gives the project another layer of defence before money is spent.

We know a return visit takes time and has a cost. But an hour on site now costs far less than a returned shower tray and a lost week later.

FAQs

If I approve an item and it later turns out to be unsuitable, am I liable?

Approving an item means you've reviewed it with reasonable care against what you could see and measure. It isn't a guarantee, and it doesn't make you the buyer. Under the HIC the customer is responsible for buying second fix materials, so a return or replacement is between the customer and their supplier. If the change affects your work, it goes through a change order as usual. We'd only expect you to answer for something you clearly should have caught, such as an item that plainly doesn't fit a space you measured.

Who's responsible for what?

• The customer buys the materials and deals with suppliers.
• Our designer sets out the design intent: how the space should look and work
• You are responsible for the build. You turn the design into something that works in that house.

That's why your review matters. You're the only one who looks at the site with a builder's eye before anything is bought. Catching a problem now saves you and the customer time and money later.

What if the customer changes their mind?

That's their choice and their cost. Returns, restocking fees and replacements sit with the customer. If the change affects your work or your programme, raise a change order on the platform before you start the changed work.

When should I do the review?

As soon as the materials list is shared, and before the customer orders. The sooner you flag something, the less likely it is to have shipped.

Do I have to approve every item?

We ask you to review the whole list. Approve what you're happy with and comment on the rest. If you'd suggest an alternative, say so in a comment. The customer decides. If an item is outside your trade, say that too rather than approving it.

What if I spot a problem with the design, not just a product?

Comment in the tracker and tell the customer. A design change may need time with the designer. A change to scope or price goes through a re-quote or a change order.

What if the customer isn't buying from a Beams supplier?

They won't get the supplier compatibility check, so your review matters more. Look especially hard at items that have to work together.

Does the tracker include the materials in my quote?

No. The tracker shows what the customer is buying, mostly second fix. Materials you've priced into your quote, such as first fix, stay your responsibility.

What if a delivery is wrong or damaged?

Don't install it. Photograph it, tell the customer and keep the packaging. The customer raises it with the supplier. Make sure it's checked within 48 hours of delivery, or the supplier may refuse the return.

What if something arrives before I'm on site?

The customer takes delivery and checks it within 48 hours. Ask them to unpack carefully and keep the packaging until it's fitted.