What is included in the Substantial Completion phase?

The Substantial Completion phase is a critical milestone in construction projects, marking a point where the work is sufficiently complete for the owner to occupy or use the project for its intended purpose. During this phase, most elements of the project have been completed, allowing for practical use, while some minor tasks remain.

Choosing the option that states all work except for landscaping, minor repairs, and cleanup accurately reflects the essence of Substantial Completion. At this stage, the core components of the project meet the required standards, but some secondary aspects, such as landscaping or minor repairs, may still be outstanding. This understanding is crucial because it acknowledges that while the project can be functionally used, it is not entirely finished in its entirety.

The focus on the completion of essential work while still allowing for minor tasks to be completed afterward is consistent with standard practice in the industry. This ensures that the project can be beneficial to the owner without being held up by smaller, less critical tasks. The other options do not accurately represent the nature of Substantial Completion, either by suggesting it involves only specific aspects like landscaping or asserting that it requires full readiness without any exceptions, which deviates from the norm in construction terminology.