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Have you ever wondered why construction takes too long? It is not one thing; many things delay a project. Although we have made many innovations in this space, still when too many parties are involved, things are expected to be delayed as construction is a nightmare of logistical and management issues. The following are 10 reasons why construction takes so long:
1- Miscommunication between engineers, builders and managers
One of the main issues of construction delays is miscommunication. When things are misunderstood by one party or mislaid by a different party, things can go sideways very quickly. This is common when different companies work together as every company will try to stick the fault to the other company.
Because construction can not be done by one company, different companies have to work together under conditional contracts from the superintended or the client. When one company does not fulfil its contractual obligations, delays happen.
Avoiding miscommunication is sometimes impossible, especially in technical areas of construction where it requires engineers, builders and project managers to work together. Unfortunately, this is one of the unavoidable delays that are always expected. However, the delay outcomes are always positive as things get resolved when those parties communicate to find a solution.
2- Delays in materials supply
Supply shortages and delays are always expected. This is mainly because concrete and steel are the main materials used in construction. Construction materials, in general, can be very hard to supply in economic recessions and where there is a supply chain shortage.
Steel fluctuates explicitly throughout the year, especially in inflationary periods, making it very hard to price for work and to supply on time. In addition, the rising cost of steel can result in going out of Budget, which introduces another possibility of project delay.
Delay in material supply can introduce a major delay in construction, while shipping to the job site can also increase the delay as construction materials can be heavy and difficult to transport, especially if those materials are shipped from overseas. This is why planning for projects is a critical part of finishing projects on time. However, it is usually not possible and running into supply delays is very common in construction.
3- Changes in design
Construction design is usually finalised before the beginning of construction works. However, changes in design usually happen because of the following reasons, which result in delays:
- Inconsistencies between the design and the construction site: These are usually issues unaccounted for during the design stage, such as shoring and measurement constraints.
- Change of design due to change in materials used: Because supply shortage can be a big issue in construction, changes in design usually occur to account for the characteristics and the capacity of the new material used instead of the old materials that can not be supplied.
- Change of design because of budget constraints: Sometimes, last-minute design changes can save money, especially when spending is expected to go over Budget. This usually involves finding a cost-effective solution but can delay the project as a side effect.
- Change in design due to safety concerns during construction: Yes, changes in design can happen when the construction methodology can be unsafe and can risk injuring or killing people. This is common for big projects such as skyscrapers.
- Changes in design to comply with design codes: This is common when the design has some flaws and does not comply with local design codes. While the design can be safe, engineers still need to certify if the design complies with those design codes, which sometimes can involve different engineering consultancies and result in delays.
4- Extreme weather conditions
Because construction is done outside, workers are exposed to extreme weather conditions, which means very cold days, stormy days, rainy days and very hot days. This can significantly delay the projects as it introduces safety and health concerns.
Skin cancer when exposed to direct sunlight for very long, frostbite when working in extremely cold weather, getting cold on rainy days, and developing respiratory and asthma conditions in dusty weather and dusty job sites are very real threats that put workers’ lives in danger. This is one of the reasons Why Does Construction Start So Early? Which is to minimise the risk of extreme weather conditions.
Those issues are very much emphasised in construction these days, which is one of the reasons that construction incidences and deaths have been reduced a lot in the last few decades. However, the awareness of those issues has introduced a lot of construction delays. Yet those delays are difficult to escape and very much expected in extreme weather conditions.
5- Getting permits and inductions
Getting permits and site inductions is a significant hassle in construction; this is a safety issue that the only way to get around is to induct workers to the job and get a permit for work.
Accessing construction sites requires permits. This safety tool has been created to ensure that the person accessing a specific work area, such as a railway corridor, is qualified enough and has been trained to act responsibly in an emergency. Permits usually include licenses that require training. For example, you can not operate heavy earth-moving machinery without a license proving you can operate that machine safely.
On the other hand, induction is another safety tool designed to introduce new workers to the construction site. This is a way of showing people where are the major hazards on site and where are the emergency exit and first aid kit and what to do in case of fire.
Permits and inductions can result in delays because not having the right qualification for something mean you may not do the work safely, even if your tasks fall into the project’s critical path. This significantly reduces incidents and saves lives in an emergency; however, it introduces many delays.
6- Bureaucracy and legislation
While private investors develop buildings and houses, public facilities such as roads, bridges, dams and hospitals are usually owned by the government. While government development packages offer lots of work opportunities, getting the project from planning to design to construction can take years.
The government rules, regulations and expectations of construction quality are very sophisticated. Bureaucracy can be felt specifically in road development. Roads take too long to construct, especially bridges and tunnels. In addition, working with an unlimited budget mean that things can drag on for a long time until the project is complete.
In addition, government infrastructure such as tunnels and dams are quite complicated techniques that can increase the project’s cost. Therefore, securing funding takes government officials and political negotiations to get the project started. This process can happen even during construction which can delay the project further.
7- Inadequate planning and coordination
This major flow in the construction industry always delays the project. This is mainly related to how the industry runs, bidding for jobs and planning a project in the early stages. Just because there is a year gap between design and construction that does not mean project planning will be adequate.
Because construction companies make money by bidding for new jobs, those companies will require to supply a cost of service and a program or time frame to complete their tasks. However, because construction is a very competitive space, most companies will try to provide low prices and tight time frames. And because the main contractor or the client will try to save money as much as possible, choosing the cheapest options is usually preferred more over experience.
Because cheap is not always better, choosing a less qualified contractor can delay the project in the long run. To learn more, read: How Construction Companies Make Money? Insider Knowledge
On the other hand, planning for most projects is done based on a project scope set by the client, and that is before there are a site or construction works. This means there is a huge possibility for unforeseen issues unknown until the work starts. This flaw in construction usually leads to changes in design or construction method, which leads to more delays.
8- Running out of budget & lack of funding
Construction has huge overhead costs. Labour, materials and hire equipment eat most of the revenue, leaving most construction companies on thin profit margins. Unexpected design changes or unexpected weather can delay the project, which means spending more on labour, materials and equipment.
Small setbacks can cost construction companies some financial losses. In contrast, significant setbacks to the projects can cost companies a lot of money, potentially losing money on the project or, worst, clients running out of Budget or lack of funding which brings the project to a halt.
Most construction companies run on funding. Investors will not see a return on investment until the project is finished. This means the development capital can be huge, and the risk of running out of budget and stopping the project is very high.
9- Subcontractor and labour management
Construction will be easy if it can be done by one company, but that is not true. Unfortunately, there is no jack of all trade companies in construction; while there are quite a few companies that can do everything still, there is always something that needs to be subcontracted to other companies.
This means major projects will include many subcontractors, which require project managers to run the projects. Project managers try to coordinate between all contractors to ensure that the project is running smoothly and is work done in the right sequence.
However, this is not always possible. There are always expected delays from one or two subcontractors, which can ultimately delay the work. While project managers will try their best to ensure things are done on time, things are always expected to slip, especially in big projects.
10- Safety concerns and labour union
Safety is a major issue in construction. Infrastructure is a high-risk business. In the US, Thousands of people are injured on job sites, with many permanently disabled. Fatalities are a real threat if you work in construction; the US record, on average, around 1000 death every year because of construction incidents.
Incidents delay the work because major injuries and fatalities will require immediate action, stopping the work and assessing the risk and likelihood of injuries happening again. Moreover, revising the hierarchy of control is a critical step to reducing future incidents by introducing a new safety protocol.
This is also one of the big reasons why labour union is a big part of the construction industry today, as it aims to make construction sites safe for everyone.
To learn how project managers make construction sites safe for everyone, read: What Are The Daily Tasks Of A Project Manager?
Delays are expected to happen if construction sites are not safe and if there is huge negligence of safety rules around the site. Stopping work and assessing risks can delay the project but also save lives.
Final Thoughts
The above reasons are why construction takes too long. Most of the construction delays are out of control. Delays are always expected to happen no matter how well you can plan things or make the site safe. This makes construction a big logistical hassle, which requires many people working together to ensure minimal project delays.
