Write the finish, not the catalogue name

Specification

A named product is a starting point. A usable specification names size, finish, performance and tolerance — the things a mill can actually make twice.

Interior schedules often inherit a catalogue code from a previous project or a mood board. That code is useful as a visual intent. It is not, by itself, a procurement document. When the named item is discontinued, or the mill will not export, or the fire rating does not match the destination code, the project discovers that nobody wrote down what the code was standing in for.

A minimum finishes specification

For porcelain: size, thickness, finish, rectification, water absorption, slip method and value, shade variation class, and whether trims are in-kiln. For stone: species, finish, thickness, mesh, and a viewing standard for movement. For hardware: finish family, cycle test, and the door or cabinet system it must work with.

Poligono will help translate a named product into this language. The translation is the work. The brand name is the shorthand.

Substitution without theatre

Substitution is normal. Dishonest substitution is not. A replacement should be presented with a sample, a test delta, and a clear statement of what is different — sheen, calibre, lead time — so that the design team can accept or refuse with eyes open.

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