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 08:25So bad weather must be clearly defined and then also reported (--> check the contract!).
Hello, the fine print most likely states that bad weather periods are not counted as construction time. So, the completion date is probably closer to November 26. Usually, the totals are calculated so that the construction company can afford a delay of 1–2 months, and you might then receive a credit of around 1000€ for the delay. In that case, you would still be fully on schedule. Currently, however, it is really difficult to get companies started. It’s better to wait a little and get a trusted subcontractor than to have your site manager pick the first available contractor from the phone book who is willing to do it for the price out of desperation.
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HilfeHilfe20 Apr 2018 08:32The craftsmen, especially in the outdoor areas, had a significant backlog of orders that they are now working through... this, of course, affects all trades.
A landscaping contractor among friends almost went crazy. 6 weeks at home.
A landscaping contractor among friends almost went crazy. 6 weeks at home.
Müllerin schrieb:
Ha right. Usually there’s something included about bad weather and other uncontrollable circumstances potentially delaying completion.
Is that also the case for you?Yes, something like that is in our contract. But regarding bad weather, there are court rulings from the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) that define what qualifies as bad weather. According to that definition, based on our records, we have about 3-4 weeks. If it ever becomes a point of dispute, it will end up with a lawyer anyway.
I recommend you stay calm and not alarm everyone right away. The construction will still take a long time. And yes, the company will likely claim more than 4 weeks of bad weather, but in the end, only a judge can decide on that. However, you have to ask yourself if you really want to go down that route, especially since the amount in dispute probably won't be significant. You also shouldn't compare this to the construction shows on RTL2, where entire houses are built within 7 days.