As a business owner planning for an upcoming construction project, you know there are many challenges to overcome. You need to find a contractor who will deliver on time and within budget, coordinate with other tradespeople to ensure the project is completed without issue, and handle any questions or issues that may arise during the build. But there are also some less obvious challenges you should know about before starting construction—like what happens if you cannot get the necessary permits?
Or what happens if your contractor doesn’t have enough workers for the project? While these issues may seem small, they can quickly snowball into major problems that impact the timeline of your project. Read on to learn more about these common construction challenges and how to deal with them.
Shortage of Qualified Contractors
With the recent economic growth, the demand for construction services has increased while the number of qualified contractors has stayed relatively static. This imbalance has created a competitive market for construction services, driving up prices and leading to delays in project timelines.
Start the contracting process early. Begin by reaching out to multiple contractors to get quotes and compare rates. Once you have found a contractor you are comfortable with, be sure to get everything in writing—including a detailed timeline of when the work will be completed. This will help hold your contractor accountable and ensure that your project stays on track.
If you are having trouble finding a contractor, you may want to consider hiring a company specializing in contractor resources. Such a company will be responsible for finding and coordinating all the contractors needed for your project. This can save you time and money and give you peace of mind knowing that your project is in good hands.
Inadequate Planning
Often, plans are not drawn up with enough detail or precision, leading to challenges with the execution of the project during construction. Poor planning can also lead to a lack of coordination between different tradespeople, which can impact the timeline and quality of the finished product.
To avoid these problems, you must work with a qualified architect or engineer who can create detailed plans for your project. Review these plans and make any changes or adjustments before construction begins. Once the plans are finalized, share them with all the contractors involved in the project so everyone is on the same page.
Another way to avoid inadequate planning is to use building information modeling (BIM). This technology creates a 3D model of the construction project, which can be used to plan and coordinate the work of different tradespeople. BIM has been shown to reduce construction costs and improve project coordination, making it a valuable tool for avoiding common planning mistakes.
Lack of Necessary Permits
Before starting any construction project, you must obtain the necessary permits from your local municipality to avoid challenges. These permits ensure that your project meets all the building code requirements and is safe for the people using it.
However, the permit process can be challenging, as there is often a lot of paperwork and red tape involved. To make things easier, you can work with a construction management company specializing in obtaining permits. They will be able to handle all the necessary paperwork and help you get your project approved quickly.
If you are working with a contractor, they should also be familiar with the permit process and be able to help you obtain the necessary documents. Be sure to ask about this before hiring a contractor, as dealing with permits can add considerable time and cost to your project if they are not handled properly.
Final Word
Construction projects are complex undertakings that require careful planning and coordination. By being aware of the most common challenges, you can be better prepared to avoid them. Good luck!
