TRUST YOUR GUT: Chapter Ten, How a Standards Clause Protects Your Work

TRUST YOUR GUT: Chapter Ten, How a Standards Clause Protects Your Work

From Construction Legal Made Easy by Karalynn Cromeens

May 4, 2026 · 10 min · Season 2 · Episode 18

About this episode

Karalynn Cromeens discusses the importance of a standards clause in construction contracts to protect builders from subjective evaluations.

Standards protect you. Karalynn explains how one missing clause cost a deck builder eighteen thousand dollars, then shows how to use clear, written standards and simple links to industry guidelines so your work is judged fairly instead of by random opinions or nitpicky inspections. Grab Karalynn's new book Trust Your Gut here . Follow Karalynn Cromeens on Facebook here . Follow Karalynn Cromeens on Instagram here . Follow Karalynn Cromeens on LinkedIn here . Watch the show on YouTube here . Learn more about The Cromeens Law Firm here , and subscribe to our newsletter ! Key Takeaways 1. Without a written standards clause, your work can be judged by anyone's opinion, which leaves you exposed even when the project is functional and safely built. 2. Defining standards in your contract lets your work be evaluated against specific industry benchmarks or your documented practices instead of a client's shifting expectations. 3. Referencing recognized industry standards, such as trade association guidelines or applicable building codes through a simple URL, keeps the clause powerful but easy to implement. 4. You must read and understand any standards you reference, because once they are…

People in this episode

Host: Karalynn Cromeens

Topics covered

  • standards clause
  • construction law
  • contract management
  • industry guidelines
  • dispute resolution

Keywords

  • standards clause
  • construction
  • contract
  • industry benchmarks
  • dispute arbitration

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Cromeens Law Firm

Products: Trust Your Gut

Places: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube

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