Controlling Construction Disruptions

These factors will have you asking tough questions, like:

• How will this affect the technical aspects of my project?
• What are the expectations of our investors?
• How long is the delay, and what will the delay cost me?
• Can this still get done on time?

As an owner, you can’t afford to wait and see how these factors will shake out. It may be time to consider a self-performing contractor. Partnering with a self-performing contractor offers the predictability, flexibility and reduced risk navigating uncertain or volatile market conditions. That may mean that often pricing and estimating is unchanged, skilled labor is reliably available, and all materials are shipped and stored on time so there is limited delays in construction.

The key market conditions that stand as an obstacle to construction can be mitigated with self-perform work (SPW).

In the past few years, there have been major obstacles on the availability of goods and materials, causing delays in the delivery of materials and, ultimately, construction. A contractor with self-performing teams understands the project material requirement well in advance and can leverage their pre-existing relationships, both with vendors and building partners on procurement, unlike a typical subcontracting method that requires a bid process that takes time.

As inflation remains high, the cost of construction materials, and ultimately the budget of a project, follows suit. However, there are other factors you can control, like having an on-hand, reliable and trained labor force to install materials when they arrive. According to a study presented at the Construction Research Congress, cohesive teams with a shared vision report lower cost growth, more predictable scheduling and higher quality project outcomes that result in a better building turnover experience. Another benefit of in-house vs. subcontractors is that customers do not need to re-negotiate with external trade partners or vendors when delays happen, which can also drive up cost and postpone the schedule. Internal self-perform work teams can coordinate on key considerations ahead of time, such as design, estimation and scoping, where those crews can provide expertise on the kinds of materials and equipment they need to procure for your project before the design is even complete, often locking-in pricing and making purchasing a more predictable effort.

A cohesive team with a shared vision means a better turnover experience. It also means a more stable, reliable workforce. If you're looking to mitigate labor shortages, a self-performing general contractor brings with them an experienced group of craft teammates that are extensively trained and seasoned veterans of their trade. Their experience culminates into decades of creative problem solving to mitigate risk and keep a project on track. Coupled with a clear understanding of an owner’s goals and commitment to succeed, that translates to innovative solutions tailored for the project at hand.

Environmental impacts are also placing a burden on moving goods, carbon emissions from diesel equipment, and extreme weather conditions that can often delay or outright halt construction of a project. Weather is an element that can’t be controlled by owners, and as good as some companies’ intentions might be, climate change can’t be solved overnight. However, a self-performing general contractor is set up to continue work offsite, so that construction can continue, and is certified to install prefabricated components on the project site.

As an owner of a construction project, you always want to have control of all aspect of the project, but in reality, unforeseen risks are inherent in any project, especially when it comes to elements like the economy or the weather. But having a contractor that self-performs key trades gives you the advantage of consistency, reliability and quality over the entirety of the project lifecycle that might not exist in an erratic market.