For a QCP-licensed woodworking firm, the value their qualification adds to any interior architectural woodworking project is obvious. But for the architects and general contractors who hire them, it can be hard to see how certifying a project through QCP significantly changes the outcome. As such, they might be persuaded by an unqualified firm to cut corners and remove QCP from their specifications.
But doing so can put the success of your project at serious risk. That’s because QCP carries a range of quality, communication, and risk assurance benefits that empower you to achieve the best possible results.
To help you identify the value of QCP, here are just a few ways that certification can be the difference between success and failure in your woodworking project.
How does QCP improve the outcome of interior architectural woodworking?
Proof of skill and quality
Many architects and general contractors choose a woodworking firm based on their reputation. While this is a useful indicator of how cooperative and responsive a firm might be, it offers no guarantee of lasting product quality.
But firms that hold a QCP license have proven their exceptional knowledge and skills through rigorous testing by a trusted industry authority. Their use of AWI Standards ensures a clear common language for the project team, and provides an objective reference for the quality of their products.
When you include QCP in your specifications, you make your project exclusively available to woodworking firms with definitive proof of their commitment to quality and compliance. This vastly reduces the risk of failure in your project, and inspires confidence in your client.
Materials conform to specifications
All QCP-licensed firms follow strict guidelines on the quality of the materials they provide. This means that the materials listed in their bids will match those required by the project specifications, where unlicensed firms might bid with low-quality materials to reduce costs. By choosing a QCP-licensed firm, you receive the highest possible caliber of workmanship, making it much easier to deliver outstanding service.
Fabrication testing
A non-licensed woodworking firm will fabricate products in line with their stated construction methods and materials, and then perform a visual check to their own satisfaction. Beyond the woodworker’s professional opinion, there’s little to guarantee the integrity of their work. And if you spot any flaws, they’ll need to deconstruct, rework, and refabricate their products, which adds time and costs to your project.
But a certified project receives an inspection from a trained QCP representative at various times during fabrication to evaluate the woodwork against AWI Standards. If any non-conformities are detected, these are highlighted to the woodworker for correction. Since fabrication isn’t complete, it’s also much quicker and cheaper to make changes before installation.
Performing compliance checks at this stage saves time and money, and raises the end quality of your woodwork. They also give you quantifiable evidence to defend your products and your firm in the event of a dispute. This combination of superior woodwork and risk assurance creates a reliable foundation for project success.
Preparing for installation
Once wood casework has been fabricated, most woodworkers would be eager to begin installation. After all, the quicker a piece is fixed in place, the easier it is for the firm to meet their projected timeline.
But the installation environment plays a huge role in the longevity and quality of the final product. For example, a humid environment can cause wood to swell, while dry air can cause it to shrink. Frequent or prolonged changes in humidity can lead to major dimensional problems that reduce the lifespan of woodwork, ruin its aesthetic qualities, and cause it to fail in function.
Since earning a QCP license requires detailed knowledge of AWI Standards, licensed firms know that jobsites must be properly conditioned to maintain temperature and humidity before installation. Rather than rush the installation and jeopardize their products, these firms push to make sure those conditions are met. They also keep a record of their efforts to justify any additional time investment.
While this can add extra time to a project, the woodworker can provide clear evidence and explanation to show why this delay is recommended. Including QCP in your specifications protects you against project failure by ensuring high-caliber woodwork products.
Post-installation inspection
As the final step, installation can make or break a project. If the woodwork isn’t properly installed, there can be safety and aesthetic issues that cause significant problems down the line.
On an uncertified project, the architect is responsible for performing a final review once the woodwork has been installed. But if they notice a flaw, there’s no established protocol for putting things right. This leads to a difficult conversation with the woodworker and client about who is responsible for covering the costs, leaving all parties dissatisfied.
Similar to the inspection during fabrication, woodwork receives another inspection once it’s been installed if this was included in the certification requirements. Since the initial checks highlight any fabrication issues, most changes at this stage are simply concerned with aesthetics and proper anchorage. This provides further evidence of adherence to AWI Standards as risk assurance, all but ensuring a successful project.
Final result
Without proof of their skill or access to standardized compliance checks, there’s no assurance of quality from woodworking firms that lack a QCP license. Choosing an unlicensed firm means risking additional time and expenses compared to the initial bid, and results in a lower quality product overall. This increases the likelihood of project failure, frustrating the client and causing you to miss out on repeat business.
On the other hand, QCP-certified projects benefit from quality and risk assurance through talented woodworkers and inspections from trained industry representatives. As well as staying close to projected budgets and deadlines, this makes it easy to identify and resolve flaws for a successful project. That means you can become a trusted partner for your client, and receive further work from them in the future.
Register your project for QCP certification today
The first step to ensuring a successful project is to register for QCP certification. Use our handy online form to register your project in less than five minutes, and ensure the best possible outcome for you and your client.