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The Ideal Timing of a Constructability Review for Maximum Impact

November 16, 2025

Introduction

In construction, timing is everything. Even the most thorough constructability review loses effectiveness if performed too late in the design process — after key decisions are made or documents are nearly ready for bid.

The most effective reviews are those performed early enough to influence the design, but late enough to evaluate a fully developed set of documents. Finding this balance is the key to achieving maximum impact — reducing change orders, improving coordination, and protecting project budgets.

Why Timing Matters

A constructability review is about more than catching mistakes — it’s about preventing risk before it reaches the job site. The earlier potential design issues are identified, the easier, and less costly they are to resolve. 

According to industry research:
  • Change orders typically add 4–5% to project cost on average, and can reach 10–15% on poorly coordinated projects.
  • Each RFI costs roughly $1,000 to process and averages 9–10 days to resolve.
A well-timed review directly reduces these impacts by resolving coordination gaps long before they trigger costly field changes.

The Three Key Phases for Constructability Reviews

Understanding when to perform a Constructability Review is an important decision when undertaking this process. There are a number of variables that can affect the ideal timing for reviews, such as the size and complexity of the project, the design schedule, when the project will go to bid, the budget for constructability review, etc. There is no "one-size fits all" answer, however, here are some basic guidelines on deciding when to review your project.

100% Design Development

Timing: When the design team completes the DD set (typically 60–70% overall design progress).


Purpose: Identify big-picture coordination and constructability issues before systems are locked in.


Key Focus Areas:

  • Structural and MEP system coordination (ducts, beams, risers, penetrations)
  • Floor-to-floor heights, clearances, and access requirements
  • Material selections and constructability of proposed systems
  • Early logistics, phasing, and construction sequencing


🔹 Impact: This review ensures disciplines are aligned and that drawings are coordinated before construction documents begin.

90-95% Construction Documents 

Timing: Near completion of the CD phase, typically when a project is submitted to plan check.


Purpose: Conduct a detailed, multi-disciplinary review to ensure the drawings and specifications are complete, coordinated, and buildable. This is the most critical review milestone—the point where all systems converge and coordination gaps are most visible.


Key Focus Areas:

  • Cross-discipline coordination between Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Civil documents
  • Consistency between drawings and specifications
  • Details of waterproofing, finishes, and critical assemblies
  • Clarity of scope and intent to minimize contractor interpretation
  • Confirm all prior comments have been addressed (a “back-check review”).
  • Review final details, schedules, and specifications for completeness.
  • Verify scope clarity between drawings and specs (to minimize scope gaps during bidding).


🔹 Impact: Ensures the bid set is technically complete, coordinated, and ready for accurate pricing, reducing RFIs and change orders once construction begins.

 100% Construction Documents (Back Check)

Timing: After the design team incorporates all comments from the 90–95% CD review and finalizes the documents.


Purpose: Verify that prior comments have been fully addressed. This final quality-assurance review closes the loop on all prior findings, confirming that the set is truly bid-ready.


Key Focus Areas:

  • Confirm all previous review comments have been resolved
  • Validate that no scope or coordination items were lost during edits


🔹 Impact: Provides confidence that the drawings issued for bid (or permit) are fully coordinated, reducing project risk from day one.

Additional Considerations

  • Small (under $20 million) and/or simple projects can get away with a two-step review such as a 90-95% CD primary review and 100% CD Back Check. 
  • Large (above $20 million) and/or complex projects should always follow the three-step review process (100% DD / 90-95% CD / 100% CD Back Check). 
  • If budget is limited, perform a single review at the 90-95% CD phase.
  • We highly recommend not skipping the back check — this will leave uncertainty about whether comments were addressed.
  • Thorough reviews take time and should be incorporate into the project schedule. Assume 2-3 weeks for smaller projects, 3-4 weeks (or longer) for larger projects, and 1-2 weeks for back check. 

Structured constructability reviews at the three defined milestones create predictable outcomes and minimize surprises during construction. Ultimately, the most successful projects build these review milestones into their design schedule from the outset—treating the constructability review not as a reactive check, but as a proactive risk management tool.

Conclusion

The most effective constructability review process isn’t just about what’s reviewed—it’s about when.
By establishing a structured schedule at 100% DD, 90–95% CD, and 100% CD (back-check), project teams can proactively address issues, improve coordination, and deliver truly bid-ready documents.

The result: fewer surprises, fewer change orders, and a more predictable construction phase.
If you’d like to learn how a structured Constructability Review can benefit your next project, contact Constructability Review Group for a free consultation. 
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About the Author

Constructability Review Group is a specialized consulting firm providing independent constructability and QA/QC review services nationwide.
We support Developers, Owners, Architects, and Construction Managers by applying decades of design and construction experience to identify risks, coordination issues, and potential constructability challenges before bidding or construction begins.
Our reviews have consistently proven to significantly reduce Change Orders and RFIs, helping teams save both time and money while improving overall document quality.