Avoiding Commercial Construction Delays

Commercial Construction projects are large-scale undertakings and no matter if it’s a multi-floor office building, hotel construction, or car dealership construction, you have to properly prepare the job efficiently. Unfortunately, many commercial projects encounter delays which cause a project to take longer than needed. By being aware of these problems and solutions to them, you can anticipate and sometimes avoid unnecessary delays.

Causes of Construction Delays

Lack of Proper Permits: getting the proper permits for a commercial construction project can be a time-consuming process. A common error is not setting a long enough time frame for permit approval. When this happens a project grinds to a halt and valuable time and money are lost.
Delays When Acquiring Materials: not every type of material used in a large-scale commercial project is easy to acquire. Some material is considered long-lead and takes time to order and have delivered. Typically, this is the case when ordering customized materials or larger materials. Similar to permits, an easy mistake to make is waiting too long to order these types of materials. This can greatly delay a project as construction reaches a key step in the process.
A Lack of Good Communication: commercial projects have lots of moving parts and included parties. With several teams, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and others, keeping the channels of communication open is key. Unfortunately, a lack of clear communication and parties being left out of important discussions can quickly cause problems.

How To Avoid These Issues

Have Realistic Time Frames For Permits: When it comes to government approval there is no way to speed up an approval process. The best course of action is simply to allow enough time for such permits to be approved. This should come up early in the planning process.
Have a General Idea of Your Material Needs: as some materials can take time to have them delivered the best way to avoid any delays is to order these long-lead materials as soon as possible. Working with an experienced general contractor can provide you with the information needed to make these important orders and avoid delays.
Organize Communication: being able to get information and updates to involved parties is critical. A clearly defined chain of communication, an information-sharing process, and a clear list of various important points of contact can keep information moving and keep people properly informed. Regular meetings also keep people informed and updated on information and events.

Other Best Practices

Prepare Your Funds: to avoid delays, budget planning is important. In addition to a broad overview of costs, you should also look to ensure that funding is secured. Having alternative funding sources (such as approval from various banks) and contingencies in place can prevent delays.
Plan Ahead: a good plan is one of the most important parts of a successful commercial construction project. You should have clear ideas of what you are trying to accomplish, how much you are looking to spend, how long it should take, and what the scope of the finished project should look like. For example, during apartment construction, you want to know how many floors, how many units, and what the overall floor plans are.
Avoid Unneeded Changes: changes to your design build can quickly change the scope and time frame of a project. While some changes are unavoidable and needed to do the job correctly, avoiding optional changes can keep the project on time and expenses within budget.

Finding a Construction Partner You Can Trust

At M. H. Williams Construction Group, Inc we have been helping our clients with their commercial construction needs since 1987. Some of our clients include well-known brands such as Lexus, Audi, Chipotle, Starbucks, Hilton Hotel brands, and more. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you meet your goals.