Tips

Avoiding Construction Delay Claims

Written by: Lyle Charles

Summary: Avoiding construction delays is the best way to save yourself from unanticipated costs.

It’s no secret that the construction industry costs money before you can make money, but there should be a limit to the amount of needless spending that a project accumulates. Every time a project planner puts together a change for the plans, or if supplies fail to arrive on time, the owner of the project will end up paying more than what they have anticipated. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to manage construction claim preparation efficiently or avoid them altogether.

Proper Documentation

One of the common problems crews run into is documentation. For inexperienced crews, documentation can often take a back seat to getting actual work done. Construction consultants have to be excellent record keepers because those documents will come back during a dispute. Documents outline everything, from the project plan to contracts for specific materials. Failure to track your documents is a liability, and will end up costing you in the long run. It may not be this project, but sooner or later you’re going to need to show proof that you have done something or ordered something. Documentation is crucial.

Scheduling in Advance

Another common problem on construction sites is the issue of getting schedules done well enough in advance to predict what might change on the ground. If you work in an area with four seasons, for instance, you might need to plan for days where you’ll be snowed in. There are also excessive overtime requests that could result in “over manpower.” It’s not easy to judge how much manpower you’ll need throughout the project, and you can’t predict which deadlines will present the most stress.

A good project manager needs to balance the deadline for a project, and structure operations so that nothing overlaps or lags. Every day that construction can’t happen is a day that everyone loses money. You should also consider scheduling inspectors, especially for permit issuing, well in advance and plan your changes accordingly. Even seemingly small changes may necessitate a new inspection.

Final Thoughts

Construction claims management is both an art and a science. Every case will present new challenges, but much of the conflict boils down to the same thing. The disputes differ only in detail most times. That’s why good consultants can save crews money and time. They know which documents to keep, how to create a solid filing system, and they can offer advice on scheduling that might not otherwise occur to the project manager.

Two Big Causes of Construction Delays

Written by: Lyle Charles Consulting

Summary: These two causes are a common source of construction delays.

A construction delay can cost a lot of money to deal with, especially if the process of filing and resolving the claim drags out. As a result, it’s important to stick close to the schedule and do your best as a project manager to come in under budget. Unfortunately, even the best-planned jobs can go awry. When they do, a construction consultant can make the difference in navigating the legal process.

The Issue With Supplies

Materials can be a tremendous thorn in the side of any project manager. It’s tough to budget for the costs of materials early into the project, and there are many potential delays that can occur in the shipping of supplies. You may need to retain a structural steel expert to determine the integrity and strength of the steel you’re using to build the frame if you want your building to be up to code. Failure to follow up on these

Managing Personnel

Commercial construction projects have large demands with regards to personnel. There are also time frames to remain conscious of, especially as workers grow fatigued over the course of the project. One of the best defenses a project manager has against this problematic situation is to review personnel ahead of time and contract out to extra firms as needed. You may be able to save money in the budget paying two firms cost, rather than one firm with over time.

Conclusions

A construction consultant can help assess the state of your project at any point, and help you avoid making a bad problem worse. Small mishaps like scheduling are easily fixable, and sometimes a levelheaded third party is all that’s needed to solve the problem.

Bio: Lyle Charles is a construction consultant and structural steel expert specializing in commercial and residential construction projects.

Be Aware Of Local Building Codes

By Lyle Charles

A lot goes into going from a cleared lot to a finished building. Companies in charge of constructing these structures have no shortage of things they need to worry about. One of the things that must concern them the most, however, are local building codes.

Generally, when an architect plans a building out, they do so within the confines of the local building codes. This means they don’t make it taller than it can legally be. They don’t make it go to deep into the ground. It doesn’t have windows that will pose a serious threat to the birds in the area, etc. There are countless boxes to check.

However, building a structure also means following a number of codes too. Any number of things can go wrong, though, that result in infractions. When that happens, you want a construction claims management expert to take the wheel.

This will be a third party who is experienced in handling these types of infractions. They work hard to ensure that the claim gets resolved ASAP, so you can get on with finishing the building.

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When you need a bit of extra help with your current build, look no further than Lyle Charles for support and insights where it matters. Through his firm, you can get everything from his skills as a construction mediation expert, help with turnaround services, consultations on matters that may be holding you back and much more. Don’t try facing down big challenges on your own, get help from the best.

Common Problems When Building a House

Written by: Lyle Charles

You’ve gathered all of your materials, you’ve spoken with and hired the right crew. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, lots of things can go wrong on a construction site. Before you begin work on a new house, try these tips to make all phases of construction go smoothly.

Planning

Lots of issues can creep up in the planning phase of any major construction project. The most obvious dispute deals with time frame. A builder will estimate the time it takes to complete a project, working through all foreseeable consequences, but unintended problems happen all the time. Delays in getting materials, or delays in finding manpower are quite common. While these challenges are understandable, they still create serious hiccups in the construction process. Companies like Lyle Charles Consulting will often monitor schedules, and will go over any potential liabilities that can cause hiccups in the process.

Don’t forget that these issues extend beyond the house itself. There may be delays while engineers run tests on the soil of an area, or investigate the integrity of a home’s foundation. Demolition presents even greater problems, as there is usually debris that needs clearing before the project can begin.

Materials

The acquisition of supplies can create even greater challenges to construction projects. It can be difficult to acquire a certain kind of metal, depending on scarcity. Limited supplies of wood often cause delays while companies scramble to find a more reliable supplier. In these situations, it helps to use a steel fabrication expert to identify the materials, and to make sure that the structure is built to code.

Costs

Costs are an important factor to consider. Costs directly impact both the quality and time of the job. AS costs go up, quality increases. Lower costs often mean lower quality materials, shoddy work and a job that takes longer. A construction claims consultant can help you set a reasonable cost for your project by evaluating all potential aspects of construction. They can help you find reasonably priced crews, and choose low-cost and high value materials. They can even help in the planning stages, consulting on blue prints or foundation

Other Disputes

Injuries on the job can also lead to disputes, which is why you might consider insurance for the job before work begins. Injuries can be costly, and may eat a lot of your time before and after the project.

Real Estate Sales Are All About the Details

Holding an open house event is one of the best ways to sell a home. Prospective buyers respond to many different stimuli when evaluating real estate. Deciding on a new place to call home isn’t just about square footage and number of bedrooms for most. Since the seller and his or her agent don’t know many of the people attending an open house, creating appeal with as many buyers as possible is important. Here are some ideas to help sellers realize this goal:

Pets and Small Children

Many people love dogs, cats, birds, and other pets, but it’s best not to assume that Fido, Fluffy or Polly are positive selling features. Take pets to day care or arrange for a pet sitter outside of the home on the day of the open house.

When the seller has an infant or small children, it’s important for safety reasons to arrange for grandma or an offsite babysitter during the open house. According to “Open House Murders,” bad things sometimes happen during these events.

Clean the Yard and Patio

With Fido, Fluffy, or kids in mind, it’s important to pick up toys or pet residue from the yard or outdoor areas. Make sure that the flower bed looks great and that shrubs are trimmed, too. A fresh coat of paint or stain on the deck or fence will also make a good first impression on prospective buyers and agents, too.

Refresh and Relax

It’s nice to offer something to eat at an open house, but it’s best to keep it simple. Finger foods, such as cut fruits and vegetables, are both refreshing and healthy for all. It’s important to consider floors and carpets when offering foods at an open house because some people are likely to eat while they browse around the property.

 

Kuba Jewgieniew is the CEO of Realty ONE Group. He began Realty ONE Group in 2005, and it is now the seventh largest real-estate brokerage in the United States.

3 Unforeseen Problems that Cause Construction Delays

Written By: Lyle Charles

Construction jobs are tightly scheduled, with little room for error. A good construction company is one that is well staffed, and able to meet those tight restrictions. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly vet each job before you take it. One method of due diligence involves hiring construction advisory services. These professionals will assess your job, give detailed recommendations on how to perform it on schedule and provide assessments after the fact to discuss how to improve your work flow. Delays are a concern for any serious contractor. Here are some tips on how to avoid these common pitfalls.

Change Orders

A change order occurs when there is something about the project that needs to be re-spec’d. This could be due to foreseen consequences, like a material shortage that will hit or a construction site with a complex layout. Changes can occur when work has been improperly estimated, but weather can affect it too. Projects also uncover delays as they happen, like a new request or obstacles that prevent a team from continuing work.

The best thing you can do for a change order is to try and plan as best as you can. Construction turnaround services can help you assess a potential job site before the bid, identifying key concerns that could cause problems as the project progresses.

Material Delays

Material delays could be due to a shortage of supplies, or a lack of access. In some cases, materials must be imported from other countries. Hang ups during customs can cause problems that you have little to no control over. You can control material shortages, or at least anticipate them. You can also design the project with minimal materials in mind. A structural steel expert is a good person to consult when you are looking for answers on which materials will work best in your site.

Material ordering issues can also creep up on computer systems, where ordering is largely automated based on the parameters the project manager sets. To prevent these types of errors, employ a second set of eyes to review the project parameters and work requests.

Failure to Coordinate

Manpower is essential to a construction project, but smaller companies hoping to scale often underestimate the value of good workers. A lack of experience can lead to construction delays because work may need redoing, or the project may not be up to code. Inexperience is also a danger to your site, as it can cause physical harm to your workers.

Vetting your employees thoroughly and consulting peers in the industry will help you manage employees more efficiently.

Floor Medallions Buying Guide

Installing new marble or tile medallions is a great way to update your property and inject style into your home. But with so many designs and materials available, selecting the right medallion can seem overwhelming. Do you want one large floor medallion or a few spread out evenly throughout the floor? Do you want the natural beauty of travertine or marble floor medallions or would you prefer a low-maintenance surface such as linoleum?

Some medallions are created for use on floors, while others also work as backsplashes. When it comes to upgrading your floors, make sure to purchase floor medallions. To help you find the best floor medallion for your home, here’s a look at the options available on the market and the cost for each.

Select the material of your choice. Ideally, you want to select a floor medallion that is made of the same material as your floor. But this is a rule that can be broken. Floor medallions are available in marble, granite, travertine, or can also be custom made by the material of your choice. Selecting a material depends on your budget and maintenance recruitments.

While natural stone medallions are beautiful, they are also porous and might be stained easily. For this reason, natural stones such as travertine require regular maintenance, including sealing. Marble is also a great choice for floor medallions, but it’s important to remember that it’s a soft material that is vulnerable to scratches. To maintain marble medallions, simply have it sealed regularly.

Select the design and shape of the medallion. Floor medallions are available in a variety of designs and shapes. Designs include everything from Italian-inspired motifs to Renaissance patterns and mosaics. You can also find classic Tuscan motifs, Spanish motifs, and other designs inspired by countries or popular destinations around the world. The key to selecting the right motif is to match the style of your home. If the majority of your home features Renaissance architecture and/or furniture, consider purchasing a floor medallion that features a traditional Renaissance motif.

When it comes to shapes, there is also a myriad of choices to be had. Floor medallions are available in circle, square, oval, and rectangular shapes. Selecting the right shape depends on how much room you have for the medallion and personal preference. It might also be helpful to have an interior decorator select a shape that complements the area in your home.

Choose a color scheme. Finally, consider the color scheme of the medallion. Ideally, you want to select a color scheme that matches the rest of your home. However, it’s also important to feature colors that will stand out from the rest of the flooring. After all, the point of a medallion is to create a statement piece that will enhance your property.

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This feature article has been sponsored by Medallion Depot, an online retailer of high-quality marble medallions, floor medallions, backsplashes, and borders. Visit the website to view an online catalog of residential and commercial medallions.

Smart Technology in the Home

Have you heard of the Internet of things? It will be the wave of the future, especially in the home. Technologists are imagining a future where all things are connected, and one device will control elements of your home.

Soon we will be able to open our garage door from our smart phone, monitor our home’s security from our desktop computers, and set our home to welcome us with a musical overture when we arrive from a busy day. One California Water Heater company suggests that tankless water heaters will even eliminate our need to wait for hot water. These new advances will help improve our quality of life, and make our homes smarter.

Smart Stove

Using an integrated Android tablet, your stove now offers a range of options to help you cook at home or while you’re out and about. The new debut at CES 2014 shows how users can adjust the internal temperature from a smart phone, or view a cooking video while they work on the stove top. Available in both gas and electric, this stove is one of a few gadgets that will upgrade your kitchen to the future.

Smart Fridge

Have you ever been at the grocery store and realized that you don’t know whether you have that essential ingredient? Imagine being able to view your grocery list, which catalogues everything in your fridge. Early iterations of the product were mostly unsuccessful, but the newer versions incorporate more handy technology. Wi-Fi connectivity lets you use apps to determine your family’s meal plan. Newer fridges even feature a function to deliver hot, filtered water straight from the tap.

Controlling Temperature

Smart thermostats are the new rage for home improvement. These intelligent devices learn your preferences and make adjustments according to your desires. For example, a smart thermostat would know that the mornings are cold and would adjust heating before you wake up so you can feel warm and refreshed. Buy a tankless water heater to improve the rate at which your house warms water. These improvements end up saving you money in the long term, and you have the ability to over write these settings at any point.

Smart Beds

Smart beds will utilize technology to make adjustments that will improve your sleeping habits. One of the bed’s basic uses is to adjust firmness of each side, so you and your partner sleep comfortably. A built in ambient light provides the room with low-light sleep conditions, and built in hydraulics can even adjust your partner’s head height to prevent snoring.

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This guest post was written on behalf of Payless Water Heaters, a distributor offering tankless water heaters and energy efficient models.

Tips to Pick The Right Color For Your Fence

Article Submitted by Jeff Azzio of Home and Gardens Blog

While some folks like to ‘wing it’, others like to deliberate on the pros and cons before coming to any conclusions. And perhaps the latter comes to use the most in the case of choosing a color for your fence at home.

The truth is that the options are endless, and while one can get bogged down by them, it is important to note that there are a few things that you have to keep in mind before you make that all-important selection.

1)      The Big Picture

You have to remember that the whole idea of selecting a fence color involves color matching with the house and the general backdrop, and thus, one must take their time in selecting a color that matches all these requirements.

2)      Color issues with fences

Depending on the types of fence that you wish to use for your home, one must remember that each of these fences have unique issues with particular colors. So, one must watch out for this factor before making any choices.

3)      Other things to consider

If you’ve got the first two factors down, then it is important to take into consideration the garden, the coloring of the guttering, roof and any other features that stand out in your home. One more factor is to check how the color looks in broad daylight.

Taking all these factors into consideration, while checking with your supplier whether they have the color or not, one should be able to pick a suitable color for their homes.