How to Handle Errors During the Construction Process
Whether you’re working on a domestic property or a commercial project, the construction of a new building involves careful planning. Everything from the construction to the wiring is accounted for before any work is begun.
But even the most meticulous plans can go wrong. Human error is a huge factor to account for, even when you have a team of experienced professionals working on the job. Your surveyor might miss something, or the plumber might make a mistake.
If you’re just starting a construction project, it’s worth having an idea of the most common errors that can occur and the best way to deal with them. Here’s a look at how to approach some of the typical blunders that can be made.
Miscommunication issues
There are many people involved in the construction of a building. It’s so important that there is a clear line of communication between the client and the different professionals working on the project. A breakdown in communication or a missed conversation can lead to work being carried out or designs going ahead that aren’t quite right and need fixing later on.
One common example of a communication breakdown is when the client doesn’t understand the report from the surveyor. There is often a lot of data to sift through, and if the client doesn’t regularly work with this type of information, it’s possible that things are missed or misinterpreted.
To avoid this happening on your project, the surveyor should supply clear data and you should question everything. Expect to see maps and models to help visualise the building and if there’s anything you aren’t sure of, ask. If any terms crop up that you don’t understand, ask for an explanation and get the surveyor to show you what this means for the project.
This applies to other professionals working on the building, too. If you need to know more about the plumbing, have any questions about the wiring or you need to have a conversation with the architect, putting your questions to them before any work begins is crucial.
You must be happy with the work being carried out, otherwise things can go wrong, and you could find that you don’t have what you thought you were getting. By having an open stream of communication, you can avoid issues cropping up later.
Failing to meet timescales
This is another example of how good levels of communication can help to avoid mixed messages. A lot of clients may be new to working with the professionals involved in building and construction projects. If you haven’t had much experience of working with a surveyor or architect, you might not know how long things take.
If you are given estimated completion times and these are missed, it could be that the professionals involved have encountered some issues that are blocking them from completing each stage of the process. But it could also be that there have been some mistakes made and these are pushing things back. For example, there might be a mistake with a document or an issue with scheduling.
If there has been a setback, it’s important that you are working with a team that is honest with you about what has happened and that are able to give you updated timeframes to work to.
Incorrect measurements and miscalculations
Another common error that occurs in building projects is miscalculation. This all begins with the survey. Land surveyors are responsible for providing information in the survey that’s used by business owners and homeowners, as well as architects and engineers. However, these surveys can be wrong.
One of the most typical miscalculations is getting the property boundary lines wrong. This can be caused by issues with the measuring equipment or it can be that the surveyor missed something when measuring. When it comes to building projects, even the slightest incorrect measurement can have a significant impact on the project that can prove time consuming and expensive.
To avoid mistakes like this happening, make sure you find out everything you can about the surveyor before you take them on. What’s their track record? What other projects have they worked on? What are their credentials? By doing your homework and hiring a surveyor with a great portfolio, you’re more likely to be getting someone who is skilled and less likely to miss something.
What next?
If things escalate for any reason, you may need to seek legal guidance, especially if you find there’s been professional negligence and it’s impacted negatively on the whole project. But hopefully, by doing your research into the team you hire and ensuring all your questions are answered satisfactorily at each stage, it won’t come to that and your construction project will run smoothly.
