The project team is reviewing a mock-up of a faux plaster ceiling finish. The mock-up is a 4'x4' board on an easel in the contractor’s construction…

The primary purpose of a mock-up is to establish a standard of quality and verify the aesthetic appearance of a finish as it will be in the final installation. The perception of a finish's color, texture, and sheen is critically dependent on the viewing angle and the lighting conditions. A ceiling finish is viewed from below (horizontally), and its appearance will be significantly altered by the specified lighting. Viewing a vertical sample in a construction trailer with generic lighting does not accurately represent the final in-situ condition and is therefore an invalid basis for approval.

A. While a larger mock-up with adjacent finishes is a good practice for coordination, it does not solve the fundamental problem of incorrect orientation and lighting.

B. Requesting different shades is part of the initial material selection process, not the review of a final mock-up which is meant to confirm a previously selected finish.

1. Piotrowski

C. M. (2017). Professional Practice for Interior Designers (6th ed.). Wiley. In Chapter 16

"Contract Administration: Construction and Move-In

" the text emphasizes the designer's role in reviewing samples and mock-ups to ensure they meet the contract document requirements. The evaluation must be based on how the material will look in the actual installation

which includes lighting and context. (Specifically

see section on "Submittals

" pp. 458-460).

2. Grimley

C.

& Love

M. (2013). The Interior Design Reference & Specification Book. Rockport Publishers. In the "Materials

Textiles

and Finishes" section

the book states

"Color and texture should always be reviewed in the lighting conditions of the space in which they will be installed. The same color can look dramatically different under various types of lamps." (p. 111). This principle directly applies to the review of a mock-up.

3. Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). (2018). The CSI Construction Contract Administration Practice Guide. Wiley. Chapter 8

"Submittals

" discusses mock-ups as a tool to verify aesthetics and workmanship. It clarifies that mock-ups are used to "establish a standard by which the completed work can be judged

" which necessitates that the mock-up be reviewed under conditions that replicate the final installation as closely as possible. (See section 8.5.6 "Mock-ups").