Horror stories and amusing anecdotes often are the best way to learn something. I’m sure we all have our favorite goof-ups; I’m starting this thread so we can put them all in one place.
My initial offering is a contractor’s literal interpretation of what the drawings seem to show. It illustrates the need to think about what we draw. Stair tread
Now that’s hilarious!
Are you really putting the onus of this mistake on the Architect’s drawing? This is a standard detail designation with a standard leader pointing to the detail. This is absolutely, completely, unequivocally, the contractor’s problem. And on top of it all, the risers look to be substantially short of code required height. How come the contractor didn’t make an imprint of the arrow head at the threshold, and where is the dashed line? The contractor obviously had some additional forming to do that was completely neglected. This is NOT the architect’s problem.
Sheldon,
What was the GC’s explanation and did they do this one time?
Thanks
Wayne: I don’t know where it happened or why. The picture was sent by a friend at another firm.
Don: Good grief, take a deep breath! I had intended this to be something a little less serious. Yes, the contractor’s brain may have a twelve-inch slump. No, I wouldn’t blame this on the architect.
The point of the thread is that clear communication is important, we must think about what the person in the field will think, and sometimes the results are interesting. And sometimes it’s impossible to guess. 
Sorry, after my posting I was hoping your tongue was lost deep in your cheek somewhere.
So it took less than 18 hours for the stair picture to make it to me from another source, with serious discussion about paying attention to what we draw.
I’m with you, it’s just funny. I can’t help myself but chuckle when I look at the picture.
You’ll be glad to know that the contractor who built the stair referred to in my first post was severely reprimanded and told to rebuild the stair. After much apologizing for not reading the detail correctly, the contractor did as instructed - tore out the stairs and built them again. Much better.
(Thanks, Wayne and ???)
A true testimonial to low bid contracting.
Just found a good one while editing a structural engineer’s masters. They refer to NAAMM’s “Metal Stairs Manuel”.
Wonder whether they got his permission?
The NAAMM Manual is a good resource, but is it written in enforcable language or should it be excluded from the specification?
In the past I have been able to specify design build stairs without referencing this manual.
I have to wonder if there isn’t more than one Manuel at NAAMM, too. Shouldn’t they clarify which Manuel they are referencing?
Perhaps in this case. . . E.Manuel
I guess some would think that NAAMM is a god…
Another interesting interpretation of drawings, this one courtesy of Lynn J. clouds. (I know there is a rational explanation, but I prefer the funnier view.)
Sheldon - your clouds image just made my day, and this has been a crappy day, I’ve always said that humor makes even the worse of times better, thanks for the laugh - even though the image is way too true.
