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How to Check Your Project Work Areas Before Construction Begins

24/5/2019

18 Comments

 

Can you start construction?

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​You are about to start your construction project. The owner (or their project manager) hands you access to the work site. You are good to go – or are you?

Unfortunately, contractors often accept possession of project construction sites, or construction work areas, and don’t check it. Only several weeks later do they discover that there’s a problem, they’re losing money, the construction work is going slower than expected, or something doesn’t fit. Only when they investigate do they discover that the problems originate because the work site given to them wasn’t in accordance with the construction project specifications and contract document. Often by then, it’s too late to complain.
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So next time you are handed access, or possession, to a work area or construction project site, make sure you check it properly before accepting handover.

​What you should check before starting construction.

​Before accepting handover of an area from the client/owner or their project manager it’s important to check the following:
  1. Can you get to the construction work area – sure the owner may have handed you access to the area but can you actually get your people, materials and construction equipment there? Frequently owners hurriedly clear the work area and think that’s good enough. If contractors can’t get their people, materials, and construction equipment to the work area, or it’s difficult to get stuff there because the owner is blocking the routes to the site then it will impact construction progress, cause delays, and ultimately cause the contractor additional expense. When pricing the construction project always understand how you will get access to the work areas. If the owner must provide a road so your team can access the work areas then ensure that they deliver the road so that you can get to the area. If there is doubt, then stipulate in your price what access you require, then ensure these requirements are included in the contract that you sign. Then importantly, before accepting the work area check that you can easily access it – can you get to it?
  2. Do you have access to the full work area? Owners and clients often only provide partial access to construction work areas. They seem to assume that as long as the contractor can start work somewhere that’s okay. But, often construction schedules require work to start in a specific area first, an area that’s on the critical path. In addition, contractors plan their construction work so that resources aren’t working on top of each other, so that work can proceed in an orderly direction, a direction where access isn’t impeded by previously completed work, where construction equipment can easily get to, and where materials don’t have to be double handled and moved backward and forwards across the work site. Be very wary about accepting partial access to the work area when you should have been granted full access. Make sure that this won’t adversely impact the construction schedule or the productivity of your resources, and that the work you complete now won’t block your access to other areas you are only able to get to later.
  3. Is the area prepared properly, to the correct specifications and tolerances? Frequently owners have to hand over sections of work that other contractors have prepared. This may be a leveled earth platform, an excavation or a concrete slab. It’s imperative that contractors check the previous work to ensure that it is in the right position, that levels and heights are correct and that the items meet the required specifications. So, if you’re accepting a leveled earth platform, is it in the right place? Is it to the right height and level? If it’s too low and you’re pouring a concrete slab on top of the platform you may find that you require additional concrete to make up the low spots. If the area is too high you may find that your crews are spending additional time and money trimming the ground lower so that your concrete will be at the right level. If the ground hasn’t been compacted properly you may later find that your concrete slab and foundations constructed on the platform cracks and the owner will blame you. Always carry out your own checks to ensure everything is in the correct position. Ask for the test results to confirm that what you’ll be building on has been formed and constructed to the correct specifications.
  4. Is the area safe? Once you accept access to the construction work area you will be responsible for the safety of the area. Sometimes owners hand over excavations done by previous contractors. Don’t accept them if the sides are excessively steep, meaning they could fall in on top of your crews. Make sure that there aren’t boulders on the sides of the excavation which could fall onto your team working below. Fixing these problems will be expensive and time-consuming. You don’t want to have the owner or other contractors working above you, or performing dangerous tasks nearby which could injure your crew. Only accept a work area if it’s safe.
  5. Has the owner fulfilled all of their contractual obligations? These might include completing demolitions, installing security and moving existing service and utility lines. If they haven’t you might end up doing the work, which will be an added cost and cause delays, or the client may do the work, but invariably this will interfere with your progress. Understand the client’s obligations and ensure that these have been met before accepting the work area.
  6. Is the construction area as you expected? If it’s recently rained and the works are flooded or boggy is it reasonable for you to take the problem over? Well, it depends on the construction project contract and what should be accepted as being reasonable. So if a previous contractor, or the owner, has excavated an area for your work, or they have prepared concrete foundations, then it would be reasonable to expect that these be handed to you in a dry state. Sure, once you accept the area it will probably be your responsibility to keep the area dry unless otherwise stipulated in the contract, but you should be handed a dry area. So too if you are expecting to be handed a leveled area to work on you would expect this area to be firm ground. If the owner or another contractor has previously worked in the area churning up the ground, excavating trenches which they haven’t filled and compacted properly, then probably you shouldn’t be expected to accept this mess. Always understand the contract document.

Conclusion - avoiding problems on your construction project

.....Continue Reading....
This article was first published on the ClockShark website. To visit this website and continue reading the article click on the link above.
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18 Comments
Mindy Jollie link
17/10/2019 02:31:11 am

I like your comments about a construction area being prepared properly. It's probably quite important that any earthmoving work be done well in advance of construction. If I had a construction site, I'd make sure the contractors for the different stages were in sync with each other.

Reply
Ron Bryant link
18/7/2020 01:22:37 am

These are actual things to consider especially if you are a excavation contractor.

Reply
Aluminium support system link
22/8/2020 07:08:42 pm

This is a brilliant post, thank you for sharing about construction management blog and how to check your project work areas before construction begins. We always tend to change something or the other in our house, thanks for this great advice.

Reply
Concrete Contractor link
9/12/2020 02:40:52 am

Hit the nail on the head here. Major key points.

Reply
Renovation Builder Whangarei link
10/2/2021 03:04:35 pm

This concept is very good which give us information regarding how to check your project work areas before construction. It is a pleasure worth reading this article. I enjoyed reading this article and would suggest others to come In this particular blog and get all the information regarding it.If possible visit this website Breckonbuilders.co.nz to gain more idea or tips on the same.

Reply
Braden Bills link
16/2/2021 11:02:28 pm

I need to have an are excavated so that I can have a building with a basement built. It makes sense that I would want to work with a professional to ensure that I get this done right! They would be able to ensure that it's prepared correctly.

Reply
Taylor Hicken link
18/2/2021 11:29:56 am

You made a good point when you shared that it is important to prepare the area before starting your project. This can be done by doing excavation work in order to ensure that the area is level and has enough space. I would like to think if a company is working on a construction project, it should hire a reliable excavation service to help prepare the site.

Reply
concrete casting formwork link
18/2/2021 01:54:45 pm

Wonderful information, thanks a lot for sharing kind of content with us. Your blog gives the best and the most interesting information on bpo companies . I wonder if we can gather such practical information about it, a great post definitely to come across.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
5/3/2021 12:18:23 pm

I like that this post mentioned that before conducting any construction service, it is important for us to ensure that the area is safe. It makes sense for us to keep this in mind as it will guarantee us that the project will go on without any hiccups. I will definitely look into hiring a contractor who is skilled and experienced.

Reply
Braden Bills link
6/3/2021 12:21:16 am

I need to get some dirt moved around for my property so that I have enough room to build a pool. It makes sense that I would want to get an excavation contractor to help me out with this. It's nice that they can properly prepare the site for this.

Reply
Basement Construction link
9/4/2021 06:26:09 pm

Thank you for sharing about construction management blog, how to check your project work areas before construction begins with us, these will be really helpful to many.. I love reading this blog; it talks so much about planning a great idea about it. Keep sharing such informative articles in future, will be appreciated.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
15/4/2021 01:55:30 pm

I do agree that it is important to ensure that the contractor we hire is experienced. In doing so, we can be certain that they service they offer is excellent. I will follow your advice when I look for an excavation contractor.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
1/7/2021 01:42:40 am

The other day my parents mentioned that they would like to have a guest house built in their backyard. I do believe it would benefit them to hire a construction management service as they can help ensure that the project will be monitored thoroughly. In fact, it would also benefit them since they know how to ensure the site is safe.

Reply
Braden Bills link
10/8/2021 09:23:38 pm

I need to get a hole excavated so that I can install a pool. It makes sense that a nice pool would make this easier for me. I'll be sure to get a professional to do that for me. That seems like a good way to ensure that I handle things properly.

Reply
Hailey Miller link
1/9/2021 10:27:33 am

Thanks for pointing out that we should prepare the area properly to ensure the safety of everyone during the project. This is really helpful because my husband and I want to get rid of our inground pool since our children now have their own families. With this, we will be looking for earthmoving equipment hire on Monday so we can turn our pool into a deck.

Reply
Mia Evans link
12/10/2022 02:49:51 pm

It's interesting to know that there should be no boulders on the construction site that can fall on any worker. I can imagine how work zone equipment has to be used effectively for the safety of the workers. It can save them from severe injuries that can affect the quality of their life.

Reply
Millie Hue link
25/1/2023 06:54:39 pm

Thanks for pointing out that the area has to be safe such as not having boulders on the sides of the excavation and to prevent any accidents for the workers. I will make sure that the earthmoving services that I will hire are going to follow safety protocols before they even start with the excavation processes we need. We just need to have the backyard excavated because we would be getting an inground pool installed there in preparation for summer.

Reply
Best Concrete Contractors In Columbus link
31/1/2023 11:17:40 am

Good to know that this topic is being covered also in this website & there are a lot of concrete contractors working on this segment but this is one of the best innovative idea ever seen.

Reply



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  • Construction Home
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    • Successful Construction Project Management
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    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
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    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
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