The challenges in the construction industry has the biggest threat on labors. It is not surprising the people working in it have a lot of challenges to overcome. With concerns over COVID-19 and safety measures in the past two years, they are now facing new challenges.
From site managers, supervisors, and engineers to construction workers who physically operate on construction sites and get their hands dirty to turn construction projects into reality, all are facing common challenges.
Let us go ahead and jump right into them to provide you with a better picture of what is going on in the industry.
Rising Cost of Materials
As the economic crisis continues to rage, the cost of raw materials and primary resources used in construction is spouting on the rise and is here to stay. Be it dollar rate, inflation, or tariff and trade issues, some material costs rose at least 200%. Global supply chain problems should also be added to the top of the list since it closely tied to the cost of materials. In fact, supply chain management is critical at this point and is facing almost every industry.
Many projects require aggregates, concrete, cement, asphalt, lumber, metal, copper, steel, fiber, wires, iron, waterproofing materials, and other materials, which have all seen drastic increases recently. To that added the price bumps of base items like crude oil, fuel, and energy have, in turn, made the creation of all other materials more expensive.
This significant increase in prices that is unpredictable for each month is causing problems with budgeting, scheduling but mostly with the quality of the construction work.
Quality of Materials
Quality and construction should always go hand in hand. From start to finish, managing quality can improve every aspect of the construction work. Not only the construction work but also workers! Unfortunately, many chain suppliers are substituting high-quality construction materials with low-quality materials of lower prices. Left with no options, project owners are buying these materials that workers have to deal with. Poor quality materials have lower endurance and resistance to both time and weather, so using them will always cut into the project’s performance and profitability. On top of that, poor quality construction materials (and equipment tools) can cause a higher number of health and safety incidents.
Safety
Construction is one of those industries that is constantly in motion. A construction worker’s career is filled with several dangerous safety risks. If you have ever been on a construction site, you might have noticed cluttered environments, heavy machinery, hazardous chemicals, and very sharp tools and complex equipment, all of which can lead to lethal injuries. During the construction process, exposed wiring and electricity, chemical works being carried out, low-hanging equipment, heavy falling objects, and tripping risks are common threats to fatal accidents.
Construction workers are the unsung heroes of the construction industry. Without them, no building or bridge or, highway will ever be constructed. Thus, it is important for them to work in a risk-free environment. Sometimes walking into a construction site without taking the necessary precautions is like entering a dead zone. Construction workers should never cut corners when it comes to safety and should never skimp on taking safety measures in their workplace. If construction projects placed an emphasis on safety, the main challenge faced in construction could be reduced.
Poor Productivity
Poor productivity occurs from a wide range of issues. In construction projects, delays in supplying materials can lead to a number of difficulties and problems such as idle time, delaying schedules, increasing the cost of construction projects, increasing human resources waste, and reducing both performance and productivity.
To that added the challenge of weather conditions that are frequently inclement, complications arising midway during construction, insufficient supplies, shortage of workers, construction vehicles breaking down, friction between the different stakeholders (e.g., owner and contractor), etc.
Sustainability
The construction industry demands 60% of the natural resources and is one of the largest contributors to pollution. It, therefore, has a huge responsibility to aid sustainability and build a world that will improve the lives of future generations and use eco-friendly practices in the long term.
Making the transition to sustainable construction materials may help reduce the demand for other resource-intensive supplies It is therefore a great switching option. However, building with renewable and recyclable resources and material is hard. There is a perception that sustainable construction is expensive, which can make it seem the less attractive option. Moreover, issues arise where, what is considered to be the most appropriate environmentally friendly products for a particular purpose is not available locally, thereby making materials selection extremely complex.
Reduce the Stress of Construction Challenges by Purchasing Construction Materials from Bardawil
The construction industry comes with a unique set of obstacles to overcome: Dealing with industry-specific struggles like the quality and rising cost of materials, productivity setbacks, problems with safety on construction sites, and sustainability.
Something you shouldn’t feel stressed about is how you’re going to manage the material rise costs with sustainable materials and equipment of good quality, while keeping your workers comfortable. We have you covered!