Establishing a project timeline is a crucial first step in commercial construction. Many factors affect your commercial construction project, and your contractor can only control what is within their power.
Weather is one of the most unpredictable factors in commercial construction, and it can disrupt even the best-laid plans. Weather can significantly affect the budget, safety, and timeline, regardless of the project’s size.
Even though a contractor can not control the weather, an experienced contractor understands its potential impact and prepares for it to minimize disruptions.
The Weather’s Influence on Commercial Construction
There is almost no phase of construction that the weather does not affect. From site preparation to final inspections, conditions like rain, heat, wind, and cold can delay work, damage materials, and affect workers’ safety.
For example, pouring concrete in heavy rain can weaken its structural integrity, while extreme heat can make it dry too quickly and crack. High winds can also affect the use of the crane, especially when installing large structural elements.
If construction occurs in a city like Miami, you know that tropical storms and rains are unpredictable. This means you have to consider these factors no matter what time of the year you are constructing the commercial building.
Common Weather Challenges in Construction
Here are various weather conditions and how they affect the construction project.
Rains and Storms
This is a prominent challenge in construction. Heavy rainfall can cause the following in a construction site.
- Delay foundation and excavation work: Heavy machinery cannot function effectively in muddy conditions.
- Materials damage: Rain can erode drywall, rust steel, and warp wood, leading to expensive replacements.
- Flood sites: Poor drainage or heavy downpours can result in flooded sites that stop work for days.
Extreme Heat
While rain can seem like the worst problem, hot weather can also be challenging, especially in southern climates like Florida.
- Health and safety risks: Employees are more susceptible to exhaustion and heat-related illnesses like heatstroke and exhaustion.
- Material Performance: Heat can impact the performance of materials such as asphalt and concrete, which must be cured at particular temperatures.
- Reduced productivity: Excessive heat affects the workers’ bodies no matter how much they stay hydrated, slowing down productivity.
Cold and Snow
Although cold weather is less of a problem in warmer climates, contractors in northern areas or during the winter months need to be concerned about it.
- Frozen ground: No one can perform excavation and foundation work when solid ground is frozen.
- Material complications: Just like the materials won’t cure under hot weather, adhesives and coatings may not cure properly in freezing temperatures.
- Slippery conditions: Ice and snow increase the risk of accidents, requiring more safety precautions.
High Winds
Even though the wind may seem like the least concerning weather conditions, it can cause severe delays, especially when working at height.
- Lifts and cranes: Heavy winds can make it dangerous to operate cranes, which can stop high-rise jobs like steel erection.
- Material stability: Additional anchoring may be required for lightweight materials to keep them from blowing away.
- Worker safety: Scaffolding and elevated work can be dangerous in strong winds.
The Cost of Weather Delays
Weather delay does not only slow down your work, but it can also do more harm, including:
- Increase labor expenses: Any disruption due to the weather conditions requires you to pay workers for idle time or rescheduling time.
- Increased rental fees: Project slowdowns mean you must pay extra if you use any rented machinery.
- Material Waste: Replacing damaged or weather-compromised materials means more time and more to get new materials and get back to work.
A general contractor can manage the construction budget by incorporating strategies to mitigate weather impacts on the project.
Strategies to Mitigate Weather Impacts
Even though you can’t control the weather, you can limit how much its unpredictability affects your construction.
Plan for Weather Incidence
A detailed project timeline should leave space for whatever the weather brings. In climates where events like rain and hurricanes are common, schedule the seasonal change and work around it.
Monitor Weather Forecasts
Many contractors rely on specialized apps or services to track weather the weather and make informed decisions about work schedules. This works well because you will have avoided many predictable disruptions despite some unpredictable weather disturbances.
Use Weather-Resistant Materials
A commercial builder should know how to build resilient structures that adapt to climate change. When choosing the material, consider your region’s typical weather conditions and get fitting materials.
In addition, materials should be stored in weatherproof areas, and equipment should be covered with tarps or temporary shelters. This reduces the unforeseen risk of damage and ensures that work can resume as soon as conditions improve.
Adapt Work Hours
Adjusting work hours can help mitigate extreme heat or cold. For example, starting early in the morning during summer can help crews avoid the worst of the afternoon heat.
Safety First
Commercial general contractors are to ensure safety during projects. Never compromise on safety to meet a timeline. Postpone work in hazardous conditions to protect your crew and minimize liability risks. Provide enough safety tools and outfits according to the weather conditions.
Invest in Site Drainage
This is basic knowledge for any skilled constructor. Poor drainage can lead to flooded sites and extensive delays. Installing adequate drainage systems early in the project can save time and resources.
Weather-Specific Strategies for Contractors in Tropical Climates
In regions like Miami, contractors face unique weather challenges, particularly during hurricane season. Here are a few extra tips:
- Avoid starting critical phases of construction during peak storm months if possible.
- Secure scaffolding, cranes, and loose materials before severe weather hits.
- Set up tents or covered areas for workers to stay safe during sudden rain showers.
Conclusion
Weather will always remain a variable in construction, but contractors who prepare for it can maximize useful strategies and work within the average timeline. Consider the region’s weather, work around it, and take necessary precautions; you will have a predictable outcome.
Every commercial construction project comes with risks and challenges. Still, you need a level of awareness and commitment to reduce weather risks and earn your position as a legend in the industry.
Construction companies are not magicians, but with well-thought-out strategies, they can work within the timeline given.
