The LockNet ADHS Department puts a lot of work into their hardware specifications. They carefully go through each facilities’ openings and choose which piece of hardware will go with each door all the way down to the hinges and leversets. That’s why it’s always so disappointing when we find out that a facility manager allowed a general contractor to convince them they can save them money with a “like for like” option.

Like for Like: What It Means for Your Hardware Specifications

Like for like is an option that is sometimes given when a general contractor or site supervisor (I don’t want to lump all general contractors into a negative category, that certainly isn’t the case!) gives a facility manager the option to replace some of the hardware that’s been specified by an architectural consultant with a product that’s similar in style and has the same hardware grade.

This product usually comes at a lower cost so, of course, it sounds like a much better deal. However, these products typically don’t hold up as well over time and that can lead to even more money spent in the long run on repairs and replacement fees.

Why You Should Stick to Your Specifications

When you receive hardware specifications, you can bet that bad boy has been pored over for serious amounts of time to make sure every piece of hardware is exactly spec’d out to where it should go. The guys who do specifications are trained in this sort of thing so they know what they’re talking about.

We’ve had a few customers who have gone the way of “like for like” and they’ve had to pay more in the end than they expected with what we originally quoted. Below is a short video explaining what can happen when you ignore your hardware specifications.

Rob works extensively with the ADHS department and can really attest to what they do when it comes to hardware specifications. If you’re looking for a facility to be spec’d or if you just have some questions about the process as a whole, you can contact Rob directly or you can use our contact form here.