When you expect a construction project to take months instead of weeks or even days, there are almost always going to be unexpected delays along the way. Even when you have a detailed plan in place and expect everything to go smoothly, things don’t always go as expected. The challenge is identifying potential problems and dealing with them before they become serious issues that cause unnecessary delays and cost overruns. The following are some of the most common construction delays you might encounter during your next project. Keep reading for more details about these potential challenges so you can be prepared for them on your next project.
Change orders and delays due to scope creep
Change orders are inevitable when a project is in the planning stages, but you can keep them to a minimum by making sure to clearly define the scope of the project from the outset and updating your plans as new information becomes available. If you find yourself constantly having to request additional work at a time when you’re supposed to be finishing the construction and moving on to the next phase, it could mean that your initial scope of work is too broad and you’re trying to do too much at once. This can lead to delays, cost overruns, and even project cancellation if you don’t catch the issue and cut off the extra work before it becomes too difficult to finish the project on time.
Lack of skilled labor and hiring delays
A big reason why construction projects often take much longer to complete than expected is because the job involves hiring skilled labor to complete the work in a timely fashion. Even if you have a large work force of employees and contractors, it can take weeks or even months to find and train enough skilled workers to get the job done. This can lead to significant delays, especially if the project requires a work force that is specialized in a certain area. If you can’t find the right people to hire quickly and the project is running behind schedule, you may have to extend the project and add more time to complete it. This can add even more money to the project and increase the overall cost by more than what is reasonable.
Material shortages and delivery delays
Even without a major construction project in the region, materials and supplies can run low due to a variety of factors. One of the most common causes of material shortages is bad weather that reduces the supply chain and makes it harder for suppliers to keep up with demand. If you have materials or supplies that are essential to finish the project, it’s important to monitor the supply chain closely and be prepared to order more supplies if necessary. It’s also important to make sure that materials are being delivered on time and in the correct quantities. If materials are delivered late, that could result in significant delays, especially if the materials are needed right away to finish certain phases of the project.
Poor planning and implementation of change orders
Change orders are usually a good thing, but they can cause serious issues when you don’t have a good system in place to track them and keep tabs on how much they’re costing you. If you don’t keep track of change orders or don’t have a system in place to keep track of the costs associated with each one, it’s easy to lose track of how much those changes are costing you. If you don’t catch the mistake quickly, it can lead to serious issues and unplanned costs that could make the project much more expensive than it needs to be. When you change the scope of the project, it’s important to make sure that you have the necessary materials and supplies on hand to complete the change. It’s also important to monitor progress closely and make sure everything is going smoothly before proceeding with the change.
Conclusion
Construction projects almost always take longer than expected, and there are usually plenty of unexpected challenges along the way. It’s important to keep an eye out for potential problems and address them quickly so they don’t become serious issues that cause unnecessary delays and cost overruns. With the right planning and monitoring, you can minimize the amount of time it takes to complete your project and make sure everything gets done on time and within budget.