Executive Summary & Recent Developments: The construction industry has faced a tumultuous period from 2022 to 2024, with building materials costs experiencing significant fluctuations. In recent developments, government figures indicate a continuing decline in material prices. The construction material price index for all construction work fell by 1.8% in September 2023 compared to the previous… Continue reading Building Materials Costs & Recent Developments in 2024
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Construction Industry Downturn Strategies for Contractors
Executive summary: The construction industry downturn means that as an industry we face an acute recession, influenced by high mortgage rates, stubborn inflation, and economic stagnation. Key sectors like private housing and infrastructure are experiencing significant declines. Private housing output is projected to fall by 19% in 2023 and remain flat in 2024, while infrastructure… Continue reading Construction Industry Downturn Strategies for Contractors
A tender is nothing without a pricing document!
I advocate for main contractors to produce a measured pricing document (BoQ) for subcontractors to price during the tender process, a topic our clients regularly raise. “Do you think I need to include a measure for this package?” For me, it is a must on almost every package. I believe you should prepare a pricing… Continue reading A tender is nothing without a pricing document!
What Makes a Good Quantity Surveyor?: Automate to boost ROI
Quantity Surveyors (QSs) play an essential role in the construction industry, providing critical financial management and ensuring project efficiency. By understanding their key functions, skills, and the latest trends in the industry, main contractors can leverage QSs to add significant value to their projects. Any modern QS worth their salt knows that digital transformation takes… Continue reading What Makes a Good Quantity Surveyor?: Automate to boost ROI
The Ultimate Guide to Subcontract Tendering
Practical Completion and Partial Possession
Once contracts are awarded and the contractor is granted access, the ‘ownership’ of the site effectively becomes theirs to allow them to complete their works. Depending on the contract conditions, they may be liable for liquidated damages if they do not complete on time. If the Employer wishes to access the site, which could be… Continue reading Practical Completion and Partial Possession
Women in Construction – Are we winning?
There’s no hiding the fact that traditionally, construction has been seen as a man’s job, for right or wrong. But, especially before the current availability of machinery and lifting equipment became widely available, there was a need for physicality. Strength to lift, height to reach and hold. Nowadays, this should be much less of a… Continue reading Women in Construction – Are we winning?
Causation in Construction
An almost unavoidable part of delivering construction projects is change management. Where this change originates from the client, the ownership in regards responsible for additional payment or relief from liquidated damages because of such instruction will, in most instances, entirely reside with the client. However, in the event of a dispute whereby the party delivering… Continue reading Causation in Construction
Who’s on a Construction Site?
We’ve all seen the gifs and social media jokes where a huge hole in the ground is surrounded by a dozen workers wearing high visibility vests, steel top-capped boots and hard hats, staring aimlessly into the dark abyss before them. The image will show confused expressions, head-scratching, and a headline asking something like, “how many… Continue reading Who’s on a Construction Site?
Self-Certification & Quality Assurance
As works are constructed on-site, how should the client check they have been completed following the design in the order they can accept the works once complete at the point of handover? Do they monitor the contractor as they build to ensure they are compliant or employ the services of a supervisor or engineer to… Continue reading Self-Certification & Quality Assurance