WHY THE CHEAPEST WASHROOM PACKAGE OFTEN BECOMES THE MOST EXPENSIVE OUTCOME

The following project example outlines the differences in the initial upfront cost relative to the long-term outcome of a Dolphin WashWall System when compared to a traditional washroom system.

 

40 Storey Commercial Office Tower
2 Bathrooms per Floor | 3 User Positions per Bathroom | 240 Total User Positions

WHAT THE BUILDER SEES

WASHROOM SYSTEMINDICATIVE BUILDER PACKAGE
Traditional Multi-Trade Package$1.85M
Dolphin WashWall System$2.03M

Dolphin appears 8–10% more expensive upfront

At tender stage, this is often where the comparison stops. However, the Developer cost exposure is not the trade coordination itself — it is the programme, quality, tenant, and lifecycle impact that follows.

WHAT THE BUILDER OFTEN UNDER-ALLOWS FOR

HIDDEN PROJECT COSTSINDICATIVE COST EXPOSURE
Trade Coordination & Site Management$120K
Installation Sequencing & Programme Coordination$180K
Service Clashes & Design Resolution$150K
Rework & Rectification$180K
Variations & Site Unknowns$150K
Multiple Supplier & Warranty Interfaces$90K
Defect Management Prior to Handover$110K
Programme Recovery Measures$170K

The Builder Sees An Extra $185K Upfront.

The Developer Inherits The Consequences.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BUILDER DISCOVERS THE REAL COST?

1. Margin Pressure
Builders begin recovering lost margin through tighter trade management, reduced supervision and increased commercial pressure.

2. Programme Compression
Installation programmes become compressed as lost time is recovered elsewhere on the project.

3. Reactive Onsite Decisions
Service clashes and coordination issues begin driving onsite decision making rather than planned delivery.

4. Defect Risk
Reduced supervision and programme pressure increase defect exposure.

5. Issues Pushed to Handover
Problems that would normally be resolved during delivery begin moving towards practical completion.

WHERE THE COSTS LAND FOR THE DEVELOPER

TOTAL POTENTIAL BUILD PHASE EXPOSURE = $700K - $4.45M+

DURING BUILD PHASEPOTENTIAL EXPOSURE
Programme delays and extended delivery$250K - $2M+
Delayed rental revenue and tenant commitments$100K - $1M+ / project specific
Finance, interest and holding costs$150K - $750K+
Variations, rework and design resolution$150K - $500K
Client, consultant and superintendent management$50K - $200K

WHAT THE DEVELOPER INHERITS POST BUILD

TOTAL POTENTIAL AFTER BUILD EXPOSURE = $525K - $1.55M+

AFTER BUILD PHASE10 YEAR EXPOSURE
Poor access to services$100K - $300K+
FM team fault management$75K - $200K
Asset and development manager involvement$50K - $150K
Third-party PM or consultant support$50K - $200K
Replacement and rectification works$150K - $400K+
Incorrect soap viscosity and consumablesIncluded in maintenance exposure
Tenant dissatisfaction and relationship damageHard to quantify
Future refurbishment complexity$100K - $300K+

The real question should be:
“What creates the lowest total project & asset risk over the life of the building?”

Contact Us

Schedule an appointment with our Commercial Team