Construction Stage

Each structure goes through a construction stage to ensure its quality and longevity. The phases vary from one building to another depending on many factors, such as cost and resources. This is what makes the setups meet the deadline or not. It’s quite common to see projects stop for a while due to sudden problems.

Construction stages are crucial as every building development has major impacts on the surroundings. In addition, it relates to land-related affairs that may be prone to legal issues. Therefore, a lot of work takes place before ground dredging and levelling starts. This article will go through the phases that will add to your insight into just how complex such a venture is.

What is the construction stage?

A construction stage is a series of steps that make up a building's development. In general, stakeholders have to undergo work before, during, and after the setup. The roles for each of the phases can be varied depending on the type of work, resources, and budget. In this regard, a one-storey house will need a simpler and quicker timeline.

A multi-storey office building will require many complex tasks that take years to complete. Construction stage can also be long for undertakings with difficult designs and luxurious materials. Advanced building design with rare metals will require extra levels of accuracy and precision, making it longer and costlier. Another fun fact is that the length of the phase completion varies.

For example, the pre-construction stage for creating a toll road can take years to wrap up. This is usually due to legal issues, especially regarding land clearing. The phase can take longer than the actual building itself. Yet, one thing is for sure: careful execution in every phase will determine the outcome.

The phases of a construction stage

Each of the three construction stage gives birth to some smaller tasks. The number of minor tasks varies depending on the scope and resources. As a result, you will find that one similar building project can start and finish in different timelines. More resources, in terms of labourers and materials, usually shorten the overall completion.

Budget issues are one of the biggest issues to jot down the construction stage. Every architect and site owner has to adjust the phases with the available cost, including unexpected money arising from currency fluctuation. This is due to the fact that some materials must be imported. Meanwhile, below is the whole phase.

1. Project planning and designing

The first in the pre-construction stage is  planning and designing. After receiving a request from a client, the developer and related parties plan the structure. The plan includes the general blueprint, the size, the environmental condition, the number of labourers, and the possible problems. Added to this are the material types and the locals. Each of the tasks requires different timelines for completion.

2. Legal permit

Obtaining all legal permits is very crucial to avoid any disputes during and after the building is constructed. All of the stakeholders must study the law aspects, including which authorities to go to get the licenses. This aspect can be tricky and confusing. And you will need to go back and forth to meet the local authorities. Yet, when this is settled, you can proceed with the construction stage of the project comfortably.

3. Budgeting

Accurate cost calculation covers the prices of materials, labourer wages, electricity bills, accommodation, transportation, and other things. The site owner can later set up a team consisting of a project manager, field engineer, contractor, health and safety manager, and architect. Moreover, they can visit the site for final checking and detailing the overall schedule.

4. Procurement

Procurement in the construction stage refers to buying materials and equipment. The actual cost may differ from the initial budget. The process can run a bit longer because the project owner and contractor usually will pick suppliers who provide the best products at reasonable prices. To trim the whole cost, you can appoint multiple suppliers as long as the materials and equipment are qualified.

5. Development

The heart of the construction stage is the actual building itself. It starts when a shovel hits the ground for an empty site or when a bulldozer tears down the old structure. As the work is underway, monitoring it will take place. Among others, the architect and supervisor evaluate the construction task to make sure it follows the plans.

6. Post-construction      

After the building stands solid, the tasks in all construction stage are not over yet. The owners and the related parties have to check every single part of the work. If errors are present, they must fix them as this may cause harm or accidents in the future. They must complete all documents regarding the checking so that they can show them to the client.

7. Project handover

Finally, the construction stage end with the project being handed over to the client.  The whole structure, including the interior sides, must meet the client’s needs and safety standards before this phase. To officiate, some hold a separate event that may be open to the public. The whole contract should be over by now, except that the client has appointed the same contractor for maintenance tasks.

Benefits of the construction stage

Having and implementing all construction stage will offer tremendous benefits. They serve as a roadmap, not only for the building's look but also for safety. Without thorough planning, a structure is prone to collapse, is shorter to survive, or suffers from damages that will cost a fortune. All those risks can become smaller with strong compliance with the plans.

The second relates to coordination. From the top to the bottom, several parties are involved in every structural work. Laying out a list of construction stage brings them all together to hold meetings at every step of the process. Furthermore, this reinforces their teamwork, giving them space to fix problems right away. Any communication gaps may cause the project to fail.