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# Gold Plating

Gold plating, also "overengineering", is the frustratingly common design practice
of arbitrarily requiring components or methods far more stringent than typical.

In [[construction-estimating]],
such cases quickly reveal every error of assumption made by the estimator.

> [!example] Aluminum Feeders ILO Copper
> The typical value engineering option for electrical installations
> is to use aluminum wiring in lieu of copper above a certain size.
> Assuming competent installation,
> such an option is strictly functionally equal to the design.
> There is _no_ difference to capacity, future expansion, or long-term maintenance.
> Moreover, the substitution is invisible to the client,
> such that they would have to employ an electrician
> to determine whether it had been taken.
> Despite this, copper wiring is still a common specification default
> because clients care about that sort of thing for some reason.
