Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Construction Project

Introduction:

It’s almost like magic watching a construction project unfold; watching empty land or an old building is transformed into something new and purposeful. There are always a thousand choices to be made in every successful build, but unfortunately, there are also often many mistakes that can be made. I’ve seen projects go over budget, schedules stretched like taffy, and dreams deferred or destroyed by needless mistakes.

As you determine your scope, whether it is building your dream home, adding an addition, or trying to complete a large commercial development, the process of construction requires rigor and deliberate thinking. The contrast between a project that is going smoothly and one that turns into a nightmare generally comes down to avoiding mistakes, which can lead to trouble even for experienced builders. Let us walk through the ten biggest mistakes in a construction project that often lead to disaster, and most importantly, how to avoid or overcome the mistakes altogether.

1. Skipping the Planning Phase

The thrill of breaking ground can often make carefully prepping for a project feel like a waste of time. This may be the most dangerous view in the construction world. To move into a construction project without proper and thorough planning is like sailing on a ship without a map. You may eventually get somewhere, just not where you wanted to go!

Take the time to build a thorough set of architectural plans, receive all the necessary permits, and create realistic timelines. It may take an extra month to get to construction with a well-considered and planned project, but you may save 6 months of back and forth changes as the project develops. So just remember, for every one hour of planning ahead of time, you may save a day or more of time in constructing the project.

2. Underestimating Your Budget

Construction costs have a unique way of multiplying. Materials become more expensive, unexpected site conditions become apparent, and all the "little upgrades" add up quicker than you'd think. The classic mistake is only anticipating obvious expenses when creating a budget, without cushioning for reality.

A good rule of thumb is to always add 15 to 20% contingency on top of your estimated budget. It's not negativity, it's just practical budgeting. That cushion will cover the unavoidable surprises: plumbing that needs to be moved, soil that needs extra stabilization, and materials that arrive broken and need to be replaced.

3. Hiring Based on Price Alone

Everyone would like to save money, but choosing contractors only because they gave you a low bid is a flip of the coin with poor odds. The lowest bid typically goes to a contractor willing to cut corners, does not have proper insurance, or simply does not know what the overall scope of work encompasses.

Instead, you should evaluate contractors based on their experience, references, portfolio, and the way they communicate with you regarding a project. A contractor with a mid range bid that performs work responsibly is worth infinitely more than one who is at a bargain price and disappears mid-project, or does subpar work needing a pricey fix.

4. Neglecting Proper Contracts

​​A handshake and friendly conversation do not protect your investment. If you do not have any written, detailed contracts you are leaving yourself vulnerable to disputes, misunderstandings, and legal headaches. The contract you have should include everything, such as the scope of the work needed, the materials to be used, payment schedule, estimated timelines, and warranty information regarding the work to be done, as well as what to do if there are changes.

Do not feel weird about wanting to get everything in writing. It is expected of you and any reputable contractor expects contracts. If a contractor objects to anything detailed in a contract, that is an immediate red flag to consider.

5. Ignoring the Importance of Communication

Construction projects typically require many individuals: architects, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and inspectors. When communication fails, mistakes increase in number. That nice vision you have in your mind needs to clearly and thoroughly communicate with all involved parties, and you need to hear updates at regular intervals to ensure things are advancing toward your vision and report any potential problems.

Schedule weekly meetings with your contractor, communicate openly, and document discussions that seem particularly important. Do not assume everyone knows your expectations. Make it clear and confirm everyone understands at every single point in the project.

6. Making Constant Changes Mid-Project

As your project takes shape and your vision starts to take shape, you may recognize opportunities for improvement. However, change orders are one of the quickest ways to obliterate your budget and timeline. Modifying any part of construction will require additional materials, modification of said material, revision of schedules, and possibly increased labor, which is sure to increase costs.

When at all possible, make your major decisions during the planning period when changes are still fairly inexpensive. However, if you must change something during construction, stop and think about the real cost of the change. It is typically advisable to talk to your contractor about modifications to the cost of the budget or timeline.    

7. Overlooking Quality Materials

When faced with escalating costs, materials are frequently the first item evaluated to reduce costs; this is a measure with a very short horizon. Using lower-cost materials may save some initial cost, but it will lead to higher maintenance costs, earlier replacements, and lower resale value.

Invest in durability and quality especially for essential elements such as roofing, foundations, and structural systems. It is better to be conservative with wall square footage than to build a larger space with inferior quality materials that will create problems in the future.

8. Forgetting About Future Needs

Today's layout may feel cramped in 5 years. Many are designing for today without thinking about how real life evolves. Families grow, businesses expand, lifestyles change. Take the time to build in flexibility wherever possible.

Things like extra electrical outlets, structural reinforcement for potential future additions, and creating adaptable spaces are easy to accomplish during initial construction. Don’t forget accessibility features as well; it’s a lot easier to do at the initial construction phase than later on.

9. Failing to Schedule Inspections

Building officials may often consider inspections as a nuisance and try to avoid all inspections or rush through them. These are certainly risky moves that can be easily avoided. Inspections are meant to uncover issues or problems before they're behind walls or finished, so you don't ever see them or have to remedy the problem. Inspections also help verify your project is meeting code requirements, which helps protect your investment and future problems when you sell.

Be sure to schedule all inspections at appropriate milestone points: site and foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, and final inspection. And when you are notified of a problem, resolve it immediately. Don't simply hope it won't matter, because it will.

10.  Not Planning for Weather and Seasonal Delays

Mother Nature won't necessarily consult your construction schedule, which makes it very difficult to assign a schedule to a construction project. Extreme weather can bring a halt to all work and harsh conditions can easily slow progress. In fact pretending weather will not matter would simply be denial. When planning, build in realistic seasonal considerations.

If you're building in an area that has extreme winters, you can't expect the same progress in January as you will in July. You should also have a contingency plan to deal with weather and remain flexible with your schedule.

Conclusion:

Construction projects can involve a substantial level of expense, time investment, and emotional investment. Each of the mistakes noted below have derailed too many projects, and turned a thrilling time into a stressing time. The best news is that these land mines can all be avoided with planning, reality, and asking professionals.

Construction success is not luck, it is a result of planning, communication, and informed decisions at every stage. Don’t wait for the day when the project starts, spend the time in planning, and hire good people, communicate throughout the project, and build a buffer in your schedule for the inevitable discoveries.

Yes, it may, in fact, appear to take longer and cost more to plan and build in buffers, but you are going to save time and money, and be much happier with the end result that you can be proud of for the next 30-50 years.

It is not acceptable for your construction project to be "good enough." It should be your pride and joy. If you avoid these common mistakes, you will be constructing a project that qualifies and occupies a worthiness of value for generations. Listen to those that have learned these lessons the hard way, the extra effort you invest to avoid these mistakes is the best investment you will make in your entire project.