How A Contractor Keeps A Steel Building Project on Time and Within Budget
A general contractor can save you time and money when constructing a steel building.
General contractors or construction project managers serve as the structural centre of a steel building. They are the mathematician, the problem solver and the teacher.
Not only are they responsible for making sure a project is completed on time by hiring the right workforce and by managing timetables and scheduling, they are the ones that make sure the project comes within budget.
Estimates are one thing –an educated guess, at best– it’s the actual ‘doing’ that matters. So how do general contractors keep their projects on time and within budget? Well, it helps when you are working with the right materials under the right conditions…
Design is Part of the Job
Your general contractor is as much a part of the design process as is the architect or the engineer. He is the one that needs to understand the code requirements for the job. He also orders and supplies the building materials required, so has to understand industry market trends and measure the associated costs to keep the job within budget.
In fact, many general contractors who work in the pre-engineered or structural steel building trade don’t actually need to use costly architectural plans as these buildings use simpler construction, with clear open floor plans and few interior walls.
Steel Yourself Away
Many contractors and construction project managers are turning to pre-engineered steel buildings not only for industrial and commercial projects, but also for residential. The reason? With prefab buildings, most of the work is done away from the construction site. The components are pre-manufactured in a factory then shipped to the construction site, which saves both time and money not only on labour costs, but also on the costly cleanup of debris while the project is underway and after it is finished.
Other ways prefab saves money include:
- Latest technology is used from construction management software to smart gadgets and tools in the factory
- Better worker productivity. Labourers each have a role to play.
- According to recent news reports, there are fewer accidents and unsafe working conditions when more of the work is pre-manufactured such as in the modular home industry.
Knowing When to Build
Delays from weather can be costly, and although there can be high demand for construction during certain times of the year, general contractors have considerable knowledge on knowing when to build, and when not to. This means they know that it might not be the best time to erect a wood-frame structure during extreme weather conditions, such as when there is a high-fire risk or during the wet storm season.
A bonus in building with steel is that the material is extremely weather resistant. Special applications allow it to remain durable and resist corrosion and abrasion even in hurricane force winds and rain. If installed properly, steel buildings don’t warp, bend, twist or rot, which saves money during construction, and in the building’s lifespan.
For more information on how Canadian-related environmental issues can affect building costs, read our blog on How Nature Can Affect Metal Building Prices For Commercial Projects.
Steve Ivanitz, founder, owner and contractor with Metal Structure Concepts (MSC), is a third generation steel building expert, who, along with his team, is well versed in supplying and erecting high-quality prefab buildings as well as offering project management and turn-key services from design to fabrication to installation.