Delays are, unfortunately, a common occurrence in the construction industry. While a delay is never a welcome circumstance, delays should be expected and planned for. Tucker Paving has operated in the paving industry in Central Florida for over 30 years, and we work hard to plan ahead to avoid the most common mistakes that end up delaying construction projects.
Most Common Causes of Construction Delays
1. Plans That Aren’t Thorough. Planning a project involves a lot of moving parts, including blueprints, specifications that accompany building plans, legal approvals like building permits, and more. If the plan is not thorough and complete, then there will be problems—and thus delays—down the line.
These types of delays can be avoided by taking the time to create a fully-developed plan where every i is dotted and every t is crossed. It’s a good idea to map out the steps to the pre-building process and go through it every time, ensuring that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.
2. Issues With Approvals. Zoning approvals, building permits, and specialty clearances all take time and effort to secure. Not getting approvals is not an option, and not having them can seriously delay your projects.
The building plans you create should outline each and every approval needed with details like timelines for approval, who is responsible for each approval, and any prerequisites that might be required. Working with local contractors and local government officials will make sure that nothing is missed.
3. Frequent Changes That Create Scope Creep. Scope creep is the continued, unchecked expansion of a project’s requirements that are beyond the original plan; these changes can lead to delays, among other undesirable effects.
Building plans should be detailed so there is no ambiguity that could lead to multiple changes; it should also outline how changes that are deemed necessary will be handled.
4. Not Factoring in Issues with Labor and the Supply Chain. Both supply chain issues and labor shortages can create major delays.
Experience in understanding both the supply chain and labor issues is key with these factors. Knowing the timeline required for securing materials and where to turn for workforce additions is learned through years in the industry.
5. Poor Communication. Miscommunication among stakeholders can cause all sorts of problems, and most of those problems will have delays as a side effect.
Clear communication that includes regular updates between stakeholders is paramount, and progress meetings should be a part of your building plan.
At Tucker Paving, we pride ourselves in having the skill, experience, and expertise to deliver projects with top efficiency and quality, no matter big or small! We have over three decades in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or fill out our contact form online, to let us help you with your next asphalt paving project!