5 Tips to Avoid Construction Delays

Delayed construction projects are a nightmare for everyone involved. Project managers can only plan so much—with so many moving parts to coordinate, it's easy for unexpected problems to arise.

These can be small, even minute things, but they stack up quicker than you think. The next thing you know, the project is running late and you're losing even more time and money just to catch up.

Many different things can delay construction projects, but it’s important to know where the biggest holes in your process lie so you can get past them and finish strong.

Here are our five tips for avoiding delays on any project:

1. Plan Everything in Advance

If you're not sure what your contingency plan is when something goes wrong, it's best to put one together before the time comes. But make sure you also have a backup contingency plan if the first one doesn't work out... and a backup for that! 

If you don't, the chances of a construction delay skyrocket, and all because you didn't want to do a little extra planning beforehand.

2. Start Preparing for Problems Early

Problems lurk behind every step of your process. The last thing you want is to get halfway through a project before realizing that your contractor mixed up your steel beams or that you have a problem with the foundation of your building.

Create backups for each step from start to finish, whether it's having enough material on hand or lining up subcontractors who can take over if necessary. Contingency plans are great but they're not meant to be permanent—if you don't need them after all, that's fine! But it's better to have them just in case.

After all, you don't want to be the only one who knows what should happen when something goes wrong. Your whole team needs to know so that no time is wasted making decisions or figuring things out on the fly.

3. Constant Communication is Key

You can't have too much communication during a project. Make sure you and your team are always on the same page and that everyone is following the agreed-upon gameplan. 

Don’t stop communicating when things are running smoothly, either! Your team members will appreciate knowing where they stand even if nothing goes wrong; it gives them a sense of security that they're doing their part to help the project along.

When your team is on board and knows what's going on, it gives everyone a shared goal to work towards together. It also helps keep everyone accountable, making it easier to spot issues that could otherwise cause delays.

4. Don't Assume Anything

One of the easiest ways to avoid construction delays is not assuming that your subcontractors will know what you want them to do.

Leaving a detailed project plan behind for each subcontractor to follow along with your vision of what needs to happen onsite can make everything go much more smoothly in the long run. It may cost a bit extra upfront but it'll save time and headaches down the road when you don’t have to worry about missing or incorrect parts arriving onsite.

A detailed plan will also help your subcontractors know how much time they need, allowing them to estimate their own timelines and give you a more accurate estimated completion date in the process. Your team's productivity is only as strong as its weakest link, so make sure you know what you're working with to avoid construction delays.

Not assuming anything goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. Instead of assuming that your team knows what to do, make sure everyone is on the same page before a project begins.

5. Shore Up Your Site's Security

Safety is a vital part of every construction project. Having an injury or fatality on a construction site can be catastrophic to the project's timeline and overall progress. Moreover, if your workers don’t feel safe on the site, they won't dive into their work with 100% of themselves like you need them to.

Data tools empowered by AI are emerging as the leading solution for site safety. Many construction software suites already have built-in features that allow engineers to monitor workflows, track weather patterns, and forecast productivity rates on their sites with ease. These can work with AI-driven robots and drones to survey for potential safety risks in real-time, allowing project managers to deploy countermeasures early.

The power of AI in construction lies primarily in its ability to see, hear, and analyze troves of data no one human could ever hope to. Accidents can happen anytime. Using AI to monitor site safety is a proactive way to minimize such risks without requiring additional manpower.

 Delays are all too common in construction. A lost hour here and there might not seem like a big deal, but multiply that by the number of people on your site for each day of work and you'll get an idea why even small delays are important to avoid. Following the tips we outlined above will help you and your team avoid construction delays and get the job done right on time.