Choosing durable materials is one way to ensure your project stays on schedule. Durability also reduces future maintenance costs and safeguards your build for decades after it’s completed.
Locally sourced materials are another option that saves time and money on logistics. For example, CLT panels are prefabricated offsite and can be installed quickly.
Cost
A significant factor that contributes to time and cost variations in construction projects is the poor planning of activities. This problem is often caused by the failure to assess the amount of work involved and the actual availability of resources in the construction phase. This leads to unforeseen expenses, project delays, and a loss of customer satisfaction. To avoid such issues, it is important to have a clear understanding of the time-cost trade-offs when choosing building materials.
Another issue facing contractors is the soaring prices of construction materials due to supply chain disruptions and price inflation. These increased costs affect the entire value chain, from raw materials to manufacturing and transportation. For example, steel mill products went up 127% in 2022 compared to the same period last year and aluminium profiles and construction plastics saw an increase of 34% and 30% respectively.
With this in mind, it is important to stay updated with the latest information regarding the availability of construction materials and plan ahead as much as possible. This way, you can ensure that you have enough stockpiles of these materials to finish all ongoing and future projects on time. Moreover, openly communicating with clients about the construction material shortages can help you find alternative solutions and prevent costly delays and contract penalties. You can also consider choosing local suppliers to cut down on shipping costs and schedule delays.
Durability
Durability is a crucial aspect to consider when choosing building materials. You want to choose a material that can withstand the climate it will be used in. For example, some materials degenerate quickly in humid environments, while others are less prone to moisture or corrosion. In addition, a durable material will require less maintenance and replacement over time, which can save you money in the long run.
It’s also important to consider how long it will take for your building materials to be delivered. Some materials have a longer lead time than others, which can make it difficult to meet project deadlines. When evaluating your options, look for local suppliers to save on shipping costs and delivery times. This will help you keep your budget on track and avoid costly delays.
There are a number of reasons why construction materials shortages occur, including factory closures and price inflation. These factors can increase the cost of a material, which will cause a delay in construction. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to work with your clients to find alternative solutions and openly communicate any potential issues. Fortunately, most construction contracts include force majeure clauses and other provisions that allow contractors to negotiate with suppliers when necessary. For example, if you need a special type of material that’s in short supply, you can ask your client to wait a few weeks while you search for an alternative.
Sustainability
The use of sustainable building materials has become increasingly popular during the construction of commercial and residential buildings. These environmentally friendly materials help reduce carbon footprints by minimizing the negative impact of construction on the environment. In addition, they are easy to maintain and durable. They can also be reused or recycled at the end of their lifecycle. There are many ways to incorporate sustainable building materials into a construction project, including research, sourcing information, and designing for reusability.
Sustainable materials can be used in a variety of ways, including as insulation or for finishing. They can also be used for flooring, roofing, and walls. Several of these building materials can be sourced from renewable sources, such as bamboo and upcycled cotton. Many of these materials are also biodegradable and can be disposed of without harming the environment.
Sustainability in the field of construction is becoming a hot topic, with many developers and engineers now choosing to build greener projects. However, it is important to remember that the sustainability of a building goes beyond construction; it also involves the maintenance and repair process.
There are many barriers to achieving sustainability in construction, including resistance to innovation and lack of awareness. Some of the most serious barriers are higher first dollar costs and construction delays due to the use of traditional techniques and materials. Other challenges include limited knowledge of GBMs among industry professionals, a lack of government policies promoting the use of GBMs, and a misunderstanding of the sustainability concept.
Environment
The environmental impact of building materials is an important consideration for many homeowners and companies. Sustainable materials use less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which help to reduce global climate change. Many of these materials also offer health benefits. Traditional insulation, for example, emits harmful chemicals that can harm indoor air quality. Eco-friendly alternatives, such as cellulose and cork insulation, are made from recycled materials that can be reused.
Other environmental considerations include the amount of fossil fuel energy needed to create a particular material. Concrete, for example, requires enormous amounts of energy to produce, and is one of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. Steel production is similarly energy-intensive, and since it is a nonrenewable resource, its use is detrimental to the environment (Shams, Mahmud, & Amin 2011). Sustainable materials like wood require significantly less energy to make than concrete or steel, and they are reusable.
Construction project managers should consider the sustainability of all materials and products used on their projects, and ensure they adhere to all applicable government or industry standards. They should also research the technical information on building materials, including their manufacturers’ Material Safety Data Sheets, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test data, source material characteristics, recycled content data, and environmental statements. They can also consult commercial databases, academic research, model green building product specifications, and other sources of information.