A successful construction project finishes on time, cost-effectively. The builder is happy, and so are the contractors and the customers. However, the reality is quite different. There are high chances for blunders. Things may take a wrong turn and fail. More reasons hamper a project, amongst which communication gaps and natural disasters rank higher.
If a construction project gets delayed, it can incur additional expenses for contractors and workers. Moreover, most equipment taken on rentals has to be renewed at different rates. To add to dismay, customers are also not happy about it. Most customers take loans and start paying EMIs even before occupying the property. So, this delay can lead to many financial issues for them. Moreover, such delays lead to below-par quality, as the last few jobs are often completed in a hurry.
Delays
Let us look into the reasons why delay occurs. Government sanctions, site permits, and legal delays often keep a project stalled. It can cause costs to multiply manifold. Moreover, local unions also have a huge role to play here. It has been seen that builders have to face the wrath of such locals if they do not abide by their norms. You will often find such wrath translating into broken foundations and concrete slab displacements that is purposefully done. Therefore, builders need to calculate such delays when committing timelines to investors, contractors, and customers. Therefore, builders should survey the area and take locals into confidence before starting any such projects.
Unforeseen Conditions
Some specific circumstances are behind many project failures. Natural calamities can cause more damage to an under-construction project than you thought they could. No one can plan for such unforeseen events. However, these often happen and mostly during heavy rains. Today, most of the soil cover has been replaced with concrete. So, when it rains incessantly, much runoff occurs. This runoff often takes whatever comes its way. It includes washed nutrients from the top of the soil, pesticides, fertilizers, and much trash. It usually enters basements and parking lots. Additionally, it does not leave the sewerage system alone as well. It also leads to flooding. Many crevices and gaps are yet to be filled when a building is being constructed. The runoff enters these spaces and damages the very foundation.
The water also leads to bacterial growth. Builders might need to rework such areas. That is the reason why a rainwater management system is necessary. Most communities are harvesting such water in separate enclosures to make it easy for the community and the ecosystem in general. Many neighborhoods in the U.S. are utilizing specialized sewerage and waterways to arrest such unsolicited seepage. These incidents have to be handled efficiently, otherwise leading to damage to construction projects.
Underestimation
This is the third reason why construction projects fail. Inaccurate estimates are a cause for worry from all sides. If you have not pre-ordered the materials, equipment, and other miscellaneous supporting goods, in the right quantities, it can be worrisome. When, you realize, it may be too late. Additionally, the cost of the goods might have increased by then.
Insufficient supplies can stall the project in more ways than one. Having a detailed plan and checklist helps. That is what the best builders and contractors do. If you fail to procure at the approved rates, it may lead to a shortage. And, since the price will be high for an emergency purchase, you may have to wait. Labors sit idle at the spot, thus leading to wastage of human resources.
Communication Gaps
This is something significant and to be concerned about. But most people do not realize it. If your subordinates at the construction site have no idea about what is happening or what he is supposed to do, it can be detrimental for your project. Moreover, you have to delegate the right task to the right persons. All the laborers concerned should be briefed about their role on an ongoing basis. You also need to connect with the client to know about his preferences. If you are not doing all of these, get ready for failure. If the customers do not like what they see, they may request a change. And, it is pretty evident that once you get something built, it may be difficult to amend it. Apart from structural problems, financing and additional costs can be huge.
These are a few of the reasons why construction projects fail. You have to endure all these in every project. So, the only way out is proper calculations and planning. It should see you through your construction journey. Without the correct estimation, your client may consider you fraudulent, whereas, without communication, they may get disappointed about the work done. So it’s better to be cautious than regret later.