What Questions do you have...

No.  DTR Consulting Services clients are Architects & Engineers, not manufacturers. Our professional services are geared toward project specific specifications and other technical architectural/engineering services. There are many independent specification writers that do write specifications for manufacturers, however, we have always felt that it would be a conflict of interest to be doing both and have chosen to be above reproach.   We select or recommend products to our clients daily and felt that should always be done based on the merits of the product, not a financial incentive from the manufacture.  Lastly, DTR does not take any funds from any manufacturer, nor have we ever done so.  Not all specification writers can say the same.

DTR is organized and operated much the same way our clients operate.  Our firm is comprised of many employees, not one or two who work out of their home.  Our clients can always reach someone in our commercial offices.  Multiple staff is assigned to each project to assure deadlines are met and quality assurance is maintained. 

DTR Staff, each with specialized experience, continue to grow within our environment unlike any other firm. This is due in part because of our open studio atmosphere which fosters a collaborative approach in addition to both the volume and diversity of projects we are engaged in on a daily basis.  Therefore, our staff brings more experience, resources and knowledge to your project team than any other….

Most manufacturer (sales) representatives do offer these services, on a limited basis for free, or at least on the surface it appears free.  These folks are paid on commission and therefore have a strong interest in writing not only a proprietary (closed) specification, but also specify hardware that excludes competitors or components that guarantee their company obtains the highest profits.  We see this all the time.  Not only is this not complementary to your services to your client, but often is detrimental to your project in so many ways (too many to mention here).   Listing other manufacturers in Part 2 of their specifications does not mean that these specifications are open or non-proprietary. True hardware services should specify a product that works best for the intended use, not because there is a profit motivation.  These services should also include detailed coordination with the Architect’s and Security Consultant drawings/schedules with the availability to interact with your client’s facility staff, coordinate with door access security systems and other building components.  As an example, the client may want locks to be keyed alike or keyed to the building such as site access gates, knox boxes, rolling grilles, access panels, casework, etc.

Lastly, if that manufacturer did not get the job, you're on your own when it comes to cross-referencing submitted hardware against that which was specified, questions submitted by the contractor or owner and fully liable for any and all mistakes made by the so-called-free consultant.

If we provide these services, your specifications and drawings will developed around what is best for the project, specific uses of the openings and the requests of the building owner and architect. DTR will be there no matter who wins the bid and will be with you throughout the process. In a recent survey, door hardware caused more change orders and additional aggravation and lost time (profits) than many other building products. Yes… we can do it better.

An independent consultant has the unique ability to look at your project with fresh eyes and may see a better approach to the details.  We can also focus on particulars with more intensity which may be skirted over by an in-house professional due to an overburdening workload and doing things the same way day in and day out. 

We maintain an extensive product library and if need be, take the time to contact a product representative, one on one, based on our on-going relationship with many manufactures.  We are also aware of changes to existing and introduction of new products based on our volume of work with many designers throughout the Western U.S.  Our extensive knowledge base on Green Building products and installation requirements is backed by the more than 80 projects over the last few years that were pursuing LEED certification. This extra effort may help to determine if there something new and better on the market to specify on your project. 

Lastly, as noted more extensively throughout the website, unlike the traditional in-house specification writer, project architect or construction manager, we work on more than 30 projects a year at a construction costs of near a $1B dollars.  Our staff routinely will obtain the knowledge and experience in a single year that an in-house individual would gain to over a six to eight year period.  Combine that with the resources and reference material we have from national licensed venues such as AIA MasterSpec, hundreds of manufacturer’s representatives, thousands of manufacturers manuals, LEED documents and the experience we gain from working with hundreds of project architects/ engineers, designers, consultants, cost estimators, geotechnical engineers, attorneys, building owners, contractors, printers, etc… we will produce better results reducing your staff manpower needs “improving your firm’s profitability”.