Underbidding the finishing labor for a complex job is a gamble. Relying on manual field polishing can slow down project completion. Embracing solutions that stabilize project budgets reduces these risks. It’s why project managers, estimators and other decision-makers are choosing pre-polished metals.
Pre-Polishing vs. Field Polishing
It’s crucial that you deliver a solution that meets the project’s specifications. Here’s how pre-polished metals compare to field-polished options:
- Labor: Field polishing results depend on the availability and cost of skilled labor. Pre-polished work has a quality machine-grade finish every time.
- Consistency: Manual hand polishing in the field can cause streaking and uneven grain. This approach can lead to client rejection due to poor workmanship.
- Delays: Sending raw, fabricated parts to the worksite exposes your parts to potential damage in transit, which would lead to necessary rework, repairs or more intensive polishing in the field.
- Worksite conditions: When field polishing, laborers often do not have access to a controlled environment with proper ventilation or ample room to work.
- Cleanup: Polishing architectural components at the jobsite creates dust that can contaminate other areas of your project, requiring additional time to set up protection and clean up afterward.
Benefits of Pre-Polished Metals
Achieving a uniform polish grain is almost impossible to do by hand. The benefits of pre-polished metals for commercial construction jobs and other projects include:
- Speed: Machine-grade finished materials like pre-polished metals quicken processes. Shops can cut, assemble and ship immediately.
- Cost certainty: Pre-polished metals eliminate variable labor costs. This consistency turns an obstacle into a fixed material cost, improving bid estimate accuracy.
- Quality: Machine-polished materials deliver uniform quality in all areas, including aesthetics and specifications.
- Less waste and rework: A factory-controlled finish reduces the chances of material rejection, rework and scrap costs.
For project managers and estimators, eliminating the risks associated with finishing cost guesswork streamlines processes and enhances reputation.
Reduce Labor and Increase Quality for Your Next Bid
Nationwide Architectural Metals’ (NAM) leadership is built on generations of polishers and advanced polishing solutions. We don’t just take your order. Instead, our team works with you to suggest substrates and finishes to deliver the best product for your specific application.
We’ve been a one-stop shop for pre-polished stainless steel, aluminum, brass and bronze since 1981. We understand how simplifying procurement can benefit complex projects. It’s one of the reasons we also offer custom solutions.
Are you looking to eliminate the guesswork and implement consistency for finishing costs? Contact us before your next bid.
