ᐅ Construction keeps getting delayed – should I call the site manager?
Created on: 20 Apr 2018 06:50
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V3ctra
Hello everyone, do you perhaps have any advice on what to do when construction keeps getting delayed, besides constantly calling the site manager?
We are building with a general contractor. Construction started in mid-October 2017, but from December 1, 2017 to March 1, 2018, work was paused due to “bad weather.”
Since March 1, there have already been several interruptions of up to a week because the trades were not properly coordinated. The fact is, two weeks ago the roof structure was built and the gable was bricked. Now, nothing has happened again for a week. The site manager only makes unhelpful remarks like, for example, “I can’t expect someone to be on site every day?” Other construction sites in the area only started at the beginning of March and have already overtaken us.
Have you experienced something similar, and how did you apply pressure?
We are building with a general contractor. Construction started in mid-October 2017, but from December 1, 2017 to March 1, 2018, work was paused due to “bad weather.”
Since March 1, there have already been several interruptions of up to a week because the trades were not properly coordinated. The fact is, two weeks ago the roof structure was built and the gable was bricked. Now, nothing has happened again for a week. The site manager only makes unhelpful remarks like, for example, “I can’t expect someone to be on site every day?” Other construction sites in the area only started at the beginning of March and have already overtaken us.
Have you experienced something similar, and how did you apply pressure?
B
Bieber081520 Apr 2018 11:15kaho674 schrieb:
Otherwise, the minimum would be to wait for the standard construction period to pass first.You certainly don’t have to wait until the final completion date if it’s already clear beforehand that it won’t be met (which I’m not saying is the case in the situation discussed here).
Bieber0815 schrieb:
You don’t necessarily have to wait until the completion date if it’s clear beforehand that it won’t be met (which I’m not saying is the case in the situation being discussed here). On what basis do you want to enforce your interests then? On "predictable delay"? I don’t think anyone cares about that. You’ll only make yourself look ridiculous.
Of course, you can have a serious talk with the site manager occasionally—but I wouldn’t do it too often.
We also felt like there was a delay in the first three months and progress was slow. But suddenly, three different tradespeople showed up at the same time, and the general contractor caught up so that the project was finished on time.
B
Bieber081520 Apr 2018 11:39kaho674 schrieb:
On what basis do you want to enforce your interests then? On "foreseeable delay"? Based on the building code, of course, and naturally only with a lawyer. However, it is true that it will be difficult... see Federal Court of Justice, judgment of June 14, 2012 - VII ZR 148/10
Wow, first of all, thank you very much for your active participation. [emoji2]
I will take your posts into account and draw my conclusions from them.
I joined the Association of Private Homeowners some time ago and, optimistic as I am, have scheduled an appointment with the expert for the structural inspection next Friday.
I will take your posts into account and draw my conclusions from them.
I joined the Association of Private Homeowners some time ago and, optimistic as I am, have scheduled an appointment with the expert for the structural inspection next Friday.
I see it differently as well: nobody wants to build with a general contractor (GC) who completes only one house per quarter.
Neither does a GC who hires cheap subcontractors from abroad.
So, you end up choosing a GC who also manages other clients and builds a house for them.
We didn’t have a fixed completion date in our contract, yet we finished within 8 months. Despite that*
Of course, we wondered and complained a couple of times about not seeing any workers on site.
But that is the GC’s logistics, not ours. We were told the construction was ongoing, but we shouldn’t expect to see workers there every day.
If one trade finishes on Wednesday, the next trade may not be available immediately on Thursday. A week’s delay is quite common.
When a builder provides a construction schedule to the client, like Viebrockhaus for example, they usually charge extra for it because they employ more tradespeople than cheaper providers.
But it’s understandable: every client focuses only on themselves and can be very self-centered [emoji4]
You still have plenty of time. Just wait and see.
For example, we started earlier than our neighbors. They quickly overtook us, but another house nearby dragged on longer.
One architect-designed house even took 2 years.
While the shell construction was finished in one week by another company, it took us 6 weeks.* Yes, with our offset shed roof having two different slopes and all the shooting-brick details on the north side at the upper floor varying in railing height, the tradespeople had to think and calculate more than just lay bricks.
Good things take time anyway. Speed can also mean shoddy work. And as a building layperson, you shouldn’t worry about how long a trade spends on a particular task—the important thing is the result... and in your case, with a deadline, also meeting that deadline.
I wouldn’t recommend terminating your apartment lease until the heating installation work has started... and a smart builder always plans a buffer for interim interest on construction loans.
Neither does a GC who hires cheap subcontractors from abroad.
So, you end up choosing a GC who also manages other clients and builds a house for them.
We didn’t have a fixed completion date in our contract, yet we finished within 8 months. Despite that*
Of course, we wondered and complained a couple of times about not seeing any workers on site.
But that is the GC’s logistics, not ours. We were told the construction was ongoing, but we shouldn’t expect to see workers there every day.
If one trade finishes on Wednesday, the next trade may not be available immediately on Thursday. A week’s delay is quite common.
When a builder provides a construction schedule to the client, like Viebrockhaus for example, they usually charge extra for it because they employ more tradespeople than cheaper providers.
But it’s understandable: every client focuses only on themselves and can be very self-centered [emoji4]
You still have plenty of time. Just wait and see.
For example, we started earlier than our neighbors. They quickly overtook us, but another house nearby dragged on longer.
One architect-designed house even took 2 years.
While the shell construction was finished in one week by another company, it took us 6 weeks.* Yes, with our offset shed roof having two different slopes and all the shooting-brick details on the north side at the upper floor varying in railing height, the tradespeople had to think and calculate more than just lay bricks.
Good things take time anyway. Speed can also mean shoddy work. And as a building layperson, you shouldn’t worry about how long a trade spends on a particular task—the important thing is the result... and in your case, with a deadline, also meeting that deadline.
I wouldn’t recommend terminating your apartment lease until the heating installation work has started... and a smart builder always plans a buffer for interim interest on construction loans.
V3ctra schrieb:
I joined the Association of Private Builders some time ago and, optimistic as I am, have scheduled an appointment with the expert inspector for the shell construction acceptance next Friday. That’s absolutely the right approach; good luck moving forward!
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