Teamwork in Construction

Teamwork in Construction

Feb 1, 2017 | Communication in Construction

When a new construction project begins, it is usually an exciting time for the teams involved — ideas take shape, goals and milestones are established, and everyone is eager to get started.

In order for that project to reach those goals, or sometimes, to reach completion at all, it is absolutely necessary for everyone to recognize the importance of teamwork while working on the project.

Who is on the team?

If you take a quick glance at a commercial construction project, you may think that the team consists only of the construction crew, the general contractor, and maybe an architect. Depending on the size and type of project, there may be city officials required for permitting, zoning officials, engineers, utility companies, a team of architects, and, of course, the client.

How does a project management team master teamwork?

In a word – communication. With so many individuals, trades, and responsibilities, commitment to communication is essential. For example, DBG utilizes Procore Construction Management software to track and log critical deadlines and project information. They can keep everyone’s calendars synced and up-to-date, plus they can also make sure that everyone is sent any changes or updates to deadlines or budget information.

Project management and teamwork go hand in hand.

We recently completed a project for Pizza Studios that required an extra emphasis on teamwork and communication. Prior to the start of the project, we communicated thoroughly with the team of architects, so we knew from the outset that we would be working with a tight timeline.The client needed to work with a general contractor that could achieve milestones quickly and open Pizza Studio’s doors on time.

As a local general contractor that has operated in the commercial construction industry for ten years, we rely on our good working relationships with subcontractors and city officials.

The project started in November, so we already faced challenges with potential weather delays and holidays. Our client needed permits expedited and customers walking through their doors as soon as possible. Our project team had to expand, and our sense of teamwork and effort to communicate along with it.

Pizza Studio has since opened its doors, reaching substantial completion in just under 6 weeks. We owe a lot to our team of subcontractors and superintendents who stayed on-site during the holidays to see the project through to completion. It is one of those projects that reminds us that communication, proper management, and teamwork are critical to success.

Have more questions about how to help your team work together and communicate well? Feel free to contact us and ask. We will be happy to help any way we can!

Preparing for Inclement Weather

Preparing for Inclement Weather

Jan 25, 2017 | DBG Construction, Starting a Construction Project

While the height of construction season is around the corner, there are still the remaining months of Winter and the upcoming rainstorms and tornadoes of Spring.

Mother nature gives us beautiful, sunny days, but she’s also unpredictable. When it comes to executing a construction project, weather is one of the most notorious factors that causes unpredictability and inhibits progress on the construction site.

For those of you beginning projects during these seasons, our team of pre-construction and project management professionals compiled a few pointers to avoid unwanted delays and unplanned cost increases:

  • Assess the weather conditions in the project location.
    Before beginning any construction project, our team researches and identifies possible weather delays. They explore the climate of your project’s location and find the most common weather patterns in the area. More importantly, you will learn how impending inclement weather may run affect the projected timeline.
  • Make recommendations and adjustments given weather trends.
    Depending on your company’s timeline and needs, we may suggest making changes to the project’s start date in order to minimize weather-related risks. Time is often an uncalculated cost in construction. At DBG, we understand that avoiding delays means your business opens and becomes operational, earning returns on your investment as soon as possible.
  • Plan on-site fixes for anticipated weather challenges.
    If you’re planning to begin construction during rainy season, for example, our team will recommend incorporating specific types of equipment – such as plastic sheets and storm drains – and develop flooding contingencies for your construction site. The overall costs of extra equipment and exigency panning are less than being caught unprepared by an onslaught of weather conditions.
  • Create a realistic budget and timeline considering common weather patterns.
    Our team develops a projected schedule accounting for probable weather-related delays, and how long these delays could last in your area and time of year. With our 10 years’ of experience as a general contractor, we predict how much these weather patterns may affect your projects progress; we create a timeline that takes realistic weather projections into consideration and develop a budget that is prepared for whatever the weather brings.

Although we can’t control mother nature, we have an impeccable record when it comes to dealing with the unexpected and delivering projects with quality in timely fashion.

Contact us today to learn more about how our professional pre-construction services can help your commercial project.

Starting a Construction Project: Permit Considerations

Starting a Construction Project: Permit Considerations

Jan 18, 2017 | Reasons to Use a General Contractor, Starting a Construction Project

When beginning a commercial construction project, it is uncommon to be able to break ground and get started immediately.

The vast majority of commercial projects require you, or your general contractor, to apply for a permit from local municipalities.

Depending on the project’s scope and location, the complexity and requirements of the permit will vary.

 

Things to keep in mind when applying for a permit:

  1. Permits take time before receiving approval.
    City permit offices can get backed up, particularly at the peak of construction season. When developing a construction plan, keep in mind that even a simple permit can take several weeks to get rubber stamped. A qualified and respected general contractor that has well-developed relationships with local municipalities can often speed up the approval process by knowing who to contact and how to monitor the permit’s status.
  2. Inspections or meetings may be necessary.
    As a part of their due diligence, some city committees will need to inspect your building, property, or construction plans before approving them and providing the permit. You may even be required to share your plans with a city planning committee at a live hearing. To ensure a seamless approval process, have your plans reviewed and inspected by a general contractor before presenting to a committee.
  3. Your construction project might need revisions.
    Your permit may not receive approval upon the first review – especially if the committee or city has concerns that the property or existing infrastructure may not be able to sustain the project size or type. Your permit may be delayed by other concerns including neighborhood disruptions. Sometimes you’ll also need to re-submit for simple reasons like not filling out the paperwork quite correctly. Be prepared to work with the city to alter plans, or possibly consider a new site.

There are consequences to not acquiring the correct permits that not only affect your timeline but also your finances.

If discovered without a permit, or with the wrong one, your company may be fined or asked to halt the project until obtaining the correct permit through the correct approval process. These types of delays increase costs for any business, preventing them from opening up their doors and accessing customers.

As a local general contractor, DBG has spent 10 years working alongside municipalities and planning committees to achieve timely permitting.

We have the resources and the reputation to apply for permits in a way that maximizes your project’s odds at rapid approval.

If you are considering a project that may require permitting, contact us for help today!