Who bears the costs to correct work that was performed contrary to the contract documents?

• A. The contractor
• B. The owner
• C. The architect
• D. The subcontractor

Answer: (A)

The contractor bears the costs to correct work that is not in conformance with the contract documents. In AIA A201, the contractor is responsible for performing the Work in strict accordance with the contract documents, and any work that does not meet those requirements is considered defective. The financial obligation to fix that defective work—whether the defect comes from the contractor’s own labor, materials, or subcontracted work—falls on the contractor, who must rework it at no additional cost to the owner. The architect may direct the corrections and issue necessary orders, but the duty to cover the cost remains with the contractor. The owner generally does not pay for correcting defects, except in situations where the nonconformity arises from owner-provided information or directions, rather than from the contractor’s execution.