When planning a commercial construction project, adhering to a strict schedule is essential. This is not only to demonstrate professionalism but also to stay on track when it comes to the client’s budget. Delays during a construction build can have serious financial consequences.
It’s not always possible to avoid every delay. Occasionally things happen that are not in control of the builder or the project owner. For instance bad weather or materials not delivered on time. Knowing some of the most common causes for delays can help planning for those contingencies. At Chad Fisher Construction, we have experienced it all. We prepare, plan and mitigate for any potential delay.
Top 5 Causes of Delays in Commercial Construction
Below we take a look at 5 common delays in construction that are important to prepare for.
Poor weather conditions
This can be a difficult one to foresee and unfortunately, delays due to poor weather conditions are sometimes unavoidable. But, this doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to mitigate the damage.
Rain and snow are two of the worst conditions for a construction site. So, during the planning stage, it’s important to plan the construction schedule around the weather in the area.
For example, for an outdoor project in winter, it’s best to try and avoid laying concrete in the snowy part of the season. If possible, the construction team should complete all outdoor construction in the summer and focus on indoor work in the winter.
Further, when building during a wetter season, it’s vital to have water pumps on site. Water pumps help remove accumulating water off of the site. This way, even if we can’t avoid the bad weather altogether, we can make sure that we have a plan in place to avoid further delays.
Unforeseen changes
You have to prepare for the unexpected. It’s not always possible to foresee all potential delays that could impact a project. In almost every build, there are likely to be some changes to the plan. The key to dealing with unexpected changes is communication.
It’s best to keep the client informed at all times of any unexpected changes that arise. When working on a project that doesn’t go as smoothly as planned, contractors need to keep all key stakeholders aware of any changes that will affect completion date and/or budget.
Sometimes, unexpected changes may be from the client’s side. If this occurs, it’s important to manage expectations. For example, clients may ask for something extra but are unaware of the time delays it may cause. It’s best to first assess whether the change is possible and then keep the client informed of potential delays it may cause.
Subcontractor delays
For the construction process to run smoothly, a hardworking, experienced team is paramount. So, it’s important to avoid using unreliable subcontractors for the job.
For projects to run smoothly, it’s important that subcontractors deliver their products/services on schedule. If a contractor uses inexperienced or undependable subcontractors, it can easily cause delays if they don’t deliver as promised.
At Chad Fisher Construction, we have a network of reliable subcontractors that we use to ensure that projects are never delayed for this reason.
Material delays
With meticulous planning and organization, it is possible to avoid material delays. Usually, the materials for a build aren’t all ordered at once. This is to lessen financial pressure on the client. But it’s best to still make provision for those materials. If you don’t, you may need certain materials later in the build and they may not be available.
To avoid this, it’s important to determine the materials you need and their quantities early on in the project. It’s the contractor’s job to pre-order or speak to the supplier to source the materials and retain them until needed.
Permit and inspection delays
Another common cause of delay is due to late permits and inspections. Often, certain parts of the build require permits. If you don’t obtain the correct permit for specific work, the builders cannot move forward with the build.
There also may be parts of the site that require inspection and approval. In this instance, you will need to have a county inspector visit the site.
There is often a backlog and it may take a while to obtain a permit or find an available inspector. So, it’s best to apply as early as possible.
Further, it’s important to be familiar with the types of builds that require a permit or inspection. This is to avoid not obtaining them altogether bringing the construction project to a complete standstill. At CFC, we can help advise you in the early stages of your project to ensure you get all the necessary permits to avoid this type of delay.
Final Thoughts
Delays in commercial construction builds are often unavoidable. At Chad Fisher Construction, we always do our best to prepare for these types of delays to ensure we can stick to the schedule and keep our clients happy.