Whether you’re trying to expand your current space, build on space on your lot, or are building everything from scratch, commercial construction projects are very serious and expensive. This is why making mistakes here could have serious consequences. Your project may not be completed on time, you might go overboard on your budget, or you might experience labour issues. These are all things you need to be aware of and be ready for before you start. Here are some commercial construction mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
Not Focusing on Outside Logistics
A lot of people make the mistake of starting a project without thinking about everything that will be going around the construction site. One example is traffic management. If you’re in a shopping center near a busy driveway, for instance, you will have to have a plan in place to divert traffic and make sure that there isn’t any congestion. You also want people to know that you’re still open and give them clear instructions on which way they should go.
In this case, we would suggest you work with traffic management services like KWIK logistics. They are experts in traffic management and their team has been working on projects big and small for years. They will be able to help coordinate traffic around the area safely and efficiently thanks to their team of professionals on the ground.
Poor Communication
This is another very common issue on commercial construction projects and one of the most potentially disastrous. Before you start, you need to sit down with your engineer, contractors, and architects and speak on the expectations for each. You want to set clear guidelines and what the chain of command is for modifications. You want them to have decision-making powers in some cases, but they still need a way to notify you or other key players.
You have to set rules for communications. You have to assess which method should be used and the frequency. Make sure that you are comfortable with whichever method is being used, that you know what your responsibilities are, and be ready to hold everyone accountable for their role, including yourself.
Plan for the Unexpected
You also have to be ready to adapt if something goes wrong because something will eventually go wrong at some point. Maybe it’s a delay in the shipment of a particular material. Or maybe you have to wait for the results of an inspection before getting started on the project on a certain part of it. You will have to work these into your timelines. You need to leave some space for these kinds of events and start working on a contingency plan for different situations.
These are some of the most common mistakes you will see on commercial construction projects. This is why you must plan early and work with a qualified team that will be able to keep you on the right track if they spot any potential issues.
