Who bears the expense of uncovering work found in compliance with Contract Documents?

In construction contracts, the responsibility for expenses related to uncovering work generally falls to the Owner, especially when the uncovered work is found to be in compliance with the Contract Documents. This situation typically arises when the Contractor is required to expose or uncover work for inspection or to verify whether it meets the specified requirements in the Contract Documents.

When the work is confirmed to comply, it signifies that the Contractor has executed the work correctly, following the plans and specifications provided by the Owner. Since the goal of uncovering such work is to confirm adherence to the Contract Documents, the Owner is generally responsible for the associated costs. This aligns with the principle that the Owner has a vested interest in ensuring the integrity and quality of the work being performed, and they benefit from confirming that the Contractor has met the obligations set forth in the contract.

Other options suggest that the Contractor or both parties would bear the cost, which tends to deviate from standard contract practices regarding compliance issues. The Architect, while an important figure in the construction process, does not typically bear costs associated with uncovering work unless specified otherwise.