On Time and On Budget: Avoid Seasonal Construction Delays

No matter where your building or expansion project takes place, you’re going to encounter seasonal construction delays caused by unfavorable weather conditions. Whether it’s snow covered work sites in New England, hurricane warnings along the coasts, or extended periods of extreme heat, a contractor needs to know what is normal for the region and make the appropriate accommodations. When construction contracts are drawn up, it’s up to the contractor to account for weather delays in both the timeline and budget.

Seasonal construction delays can cause several issues that impact the project timeline and budget:

• Requiring the purchase of additional materials and equipment that are ruined on-site
• Pushing back the start dates on your next projects, creating a domino effect
• Leading to haste and careless mistakes that are more likely to occur when workers are trying to make up time
• Increasing the risk of worksite injuries due to unsafe environmental conditions

Seasonal Construction Delays You May Face

No matter what areas of the country you operate in, there are potential weather conditions that your construction project could face. Extreme temperatures (high and low) and extreme moisture can wreak havoc on your building supplies, equipment, and work force.

Rain

• Paint stored or applied in very moist conditions can face issues with adhesiveness, color, and drying time.
• Overexposure to moisture can cause mold in carpeting, drywall, wood, and insulation.
• Moisture build up in bricks can result in condensation collecting in interior walls which can cause swelling.
• High winds and hail, often associated with rainstorms, can damage materials, cause dents, break glass, etc.

Extreme Heat

• High temperatures can affect the strength of concrete and result in premature settling.
• Paint applied in high heat can crack, wrinkle or blister.
• Bricks that get too hot cannot adequately adhere to mortar paste.

In addition, extreme heat can affect worker safety. Dehydration and sunstroke are known to affect people’s judgement and reaction time, which can lead to dangerous situations.

Winter Cold

• In extreme cold, the water and solvents in paint can freeze.
• Masonry materials, including concrete and brick, can weaken when ice crystals form.
• Mortar and grout also weaken, meaning they cannot properly absorb moisture and will be less resistant to water later.