New construction projects are exciting. They’re a physical testament to the growth and success of your business. However, there are a few things you should know before starting your project to make sure it goes as planned.
The biggest part of planning your project should be establishing a realistic budget for the entire construction process. Evaluate the end goals of your project along with available capital to calculate how much your business can afford to spend.
When calculating your project costs, consider the price of building materials, assembly and labor fees, and building insurance. If it fits your budget, invest in broker services. These help you negotiate with manufacturers to make sure you get building materials at the best price possible. If your construction project includes specialty services, you may also have to plan for costs associated with subcontracting work.
Once you’ve calculated your budget and established a project goal, you can finally start constructing your new facility. While the nature and size of building projects vary, the steps in the construction process generally stay consistent. Explained below are the typical phases to standard construction projects.
To start the construction process, you’ll want to communicate your project goals with architects and construction managers. Explain your ideas and vision for the project so they can use that information to create a construction plan with your thoughts and wants in mind.
You’ve established a concrete plan, your construction project moves into the design phase. Architects and engineers align your project goals with your budget to create blueprints for general contractors to follow during construction. Specific project details such as building material choices, colors, and sizes are discussed during this phase to avoid any potential problems down the road.
Once the blueprints are completed and the minute details are resolved, your construction process moves into the preconstruction phase, which is when project management procedures begin. You should run a constructability review during this phase to assess your area for potential building hazards. Any issues not resolved can result in delays that affect the project’s overall cost.
After all potential issues are remediated, the project moves into the procurement stage. You should finalize any inspection reports and make sure all the materials and building equipment you need are purchased.
After you’ve accounted for all logistical requirements, the actual construction work finally begins. Your construction company starts by conducting a site clearance and laying down the foundation based on your blueprints. They then build the superstructure, followed by walls and roofing. Any mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work is done by subcontractors during this phase. Throughout the entire construction process, the construction manager should continually update your stakeholders and building officials on the schedule, costs, progress, and any issues they encounter.
After the final project is complete, the post-construction phase begins. Building officials, project managers, and construction managers should conduct a walkthrough with you to examine the finished construction project for quality expectations concerning your original project plan. Your new building will also undergo testing to assess if the facility is ready for everyday use.
Before you start any phases of a construction process, you should confirm your project plans are free of any potential legal, logistical, and financial complications.
Sometimes, local zoning requirements don’t allow certain structures to be built in certain areas. Since new construction is a big investment, you want to make sure there are no legal issues with your project before you start construction.
To confirm that your building fits your city’s construction requirements, you need to get zoning permits. Your local municipality will have specific zoning codes that dictate what type of structure you can build. After verifying that your project plans comply with local regulations, reach out to your city officials for legal documentation.
Another step in the construction process is considering what upgrades you want your new facility to have. The subcontractors hired to complete your standard electrical, building, and HVAC needs usually offer services to improve your building’s operational efficiency. Before starting the construction process, talk with your contractors to see what they can do to enhance your new building’s operations.
Cost Influence theory proposes that the number of different contractors hired affects your building project’s overall budget. Essentially, as you move through each stage of the construction process, communication gaps occur between separate construction teams, and they lose their ability to stay within the parameters of your original budget.
Carlson Kennedy is regarded as one of the top construction companies in Nebraska because of how we can take care of all aspects of the construction process under one roof. If you have a new building project on the horizon, reach out to CK Construction.