Construction projects have a reputation for being delayed. It’s easy to understand why: construction sites are busy, there’s a lot of planning and coordination that goes into them, and workers may run into things they don’t expect as they work through their tasks. So if you’re curious about why construction projects get delayed or even derailed completely, read on. You might just learn something in the process.
Workers can only do so much
While you may think that construction workers are robots, they’re actually human beings who have to take breaks and eat lunch. They also have less control over the weather than many people think, so even if there’s no rain in sight, a storm could come out of nowhere and delay your project.
It’s important to keep these things in mind when planning for a construction project because as soon as you commit yourself to it—and trust me, I know how hard it can be to do that—you’ll start seeing delays pop up all over the place. Don’t let them get you down!
Weather delays are common
In many cases, weather delays can cause a project to be delayed. When this happens, you often have to pay your workers overtime because they have to stay on the job site longer than expected. You also may need to pay extra for materials that are supposed to be delivered or stored in certain conditions (for example, if materials need to be kept cold).
Construction materials can take too long to arrive
- Materials can be delayed at the manufacturer.
- Materials can be delayed at the shipping company.
- Materials can be delayed at the port of entry.
- The materials might have been damaged in transit and need to be repaired before they’re used on your project site—or worse yet, they might not show up at all!
Inspections are required and may delay the project
Inspections are, in some cases, required and may delay the project. The city may require an inspection before issuing a building permit. The building code may require that you have your electrician or plumber inspect the work before it’s finished. The fire department may want to inspect any electrical work being done before it’s finished to ensure that it meets certain standards for safety. Utility companies also need to be consulted about what kind of materials can be used during construction so that they don’t interfere with their services (for example, if you’re digging through pipes or wires).
It is important to keep track of this information as well as any delays caused by inspectors so you know what activities need to be rescheduled once the inspector has approved them (i.e., “we’ll start digging after we get approval from [inspector].”).
Change orders may slow down construction
Change orders are expensive and time-consuming. They can also lead to delays, which is a problem for everyone involved.
If you’re ever in the middle of a construction project, you should be aware of what impact change orders might have on your schedule.
Projects can run into snags at any time, even after they’ve started.
Construction delays are common, and they can be costly. Construction delays can cause stress, frustration, and inconvenience for both the builder and the buyer.
In fact, there’s even a name for it: “construction delay.” It’s pretty much what it sounds like—a project being delayed due to some sort of snag or setback that prevents work from moving forward as planned.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Construction delays are a fact of life. They can happen for any number of reasons and can cause a lot of stress for everyone involved. However, you should know that there are steps you can take to limit the impact these delays have on your project schedule—and even prevent them altogether!
