Preconstruction is the initial phase of a construction project in which the client and the contractor meet to outline the scope of work, the construction schedule, and the budget. During this phase, the contractor will seek to understand the client’s needs and devise a plan for how the subcontractors will successfully implement the project.
During the preconstruction phase, the team should identify potential construction challenges that may stall the project. Once these issues have been identified, the contractor must devise mitigation measures to ensure the project is successfully implemented.
Why is preconstruction important?
Preconstruction is important because it enables the contractor to better understand the scope of work. Scope of work is a document that outlines the responsibilities of the contractor. These responsibilities are based on specific parameters such as milestones, deliverables, the report, and the final product. Other advantages of preconstruction include the following.
Project budget
Your budget lets you know how much your project will cost. At this stage, you’ll know whether the project is viable or not. A preconstruction budget is prepared by a cost estimator who will liaise with the designer and engineer.
If the budget is too high, the designer will source alternative materials or choose another design.
Project team
During the pre-construction phase, a project team will be established to help implement the project. The project team is vital, because your construction project can not start without them. The general contractor will have to send bids to recruit subcontractors at this stage.
Identification of project materials
Identifying project materials early on will help ensure that your construction project does not stall. This is because your team can create an effective procurement schedule that will be integrated with the overall construction schedule. This way, you increase construction efficiency by ensuring that materials are bought on time, preventing delays.
Another advantage of preconstruction is that your team can identify essential project permits and inspections. Failure to identify and apply for these permits can result in costly lawsuits, and in a worst-case scenario, the project can stall completely.
Some of the construction permits that you might require are:
- Electrical permits
- Plumbing permits
- Environmental permits
- Building permits
6 best practices for preconstruction
Because the preconstruction phase is important, it’s in your best interest to ensure that all the best practices have been observed and adhered to.
1. Use technology to create collaborative schedules
One construction technology you should use is preconstruction software to create collaborative schedules. Look for preconstruction software that offers optioneering to simulate multiple construction strategies and then advise on the best approach.
Creating a collaborative construction schedule is essential, allowing employees to give honest opinions about tasks. Collaborative plans also allow managers to be more transparent about what’s expected of their team, which has been proven to increase morale.
2. Set up proper lines of communication and establish responsibility
A project will likely fail based on what happens during the preconstruction phase. During the pre-construction stage, it’s in your best interest to ensure that an open line of communication is established. For example, engineers will need to communicate with architects, and project managers must be able to communicate easily with contractors.
If communication becomes disjointed, you risk increasing the chances of costly errors not being identified early in the construction phase. Project managers must use collaboration technology to ensure that communication is as open and as straightforward as possible.
The collaboration software used should be mobile-friendly and be able to hold people accountable.
3. Devise a site logistics plan
During the pre-construction phase, contractors must devise a site logistics plan. A site logistics plan details how materials and equipment will be stored, accounted for, and made available to the construction crew when needed. Equipment needs to be stored and organized in an orderly manner to save time.
The faster this equipment can be accessed, the better for the construction manager because there will be increased efficiency and reduction in wasted time.
4. Simplify the budget tracking process
The bigger a construction project, the more complicated it gets to track the expenses and to know whether you are within your budget. This becomes even more challenging when you stick with manual recording methods like Excel spreadsheets, which are prone to errors and cannot identify unexpected costs.
To solve these challenges, use automated budgeting and costing software. Such software should be able to identify and predict cost overruns and even make suggestions on how you can operate within budget.
5. Incorporate BIM technology
BIM technology is important because it enables designers and architects to create 3D models to visualize designs before making them. It can also improve onsite collaboration and increase productivity if prefabricated units are required. You can use BIM alongside other platforms (such as ALICE) to create 4D schedules.
This makes it possible for all key players to be involved in the project planning process, reducing risk. It will also be easier for other engineers to peer review designs, helping to identify errors that can stall the project.
6. Deal with permits and local licenses
Though permits and local licenses are time-consuming to apply for, they can save you a lot of money in the long run. It’s not uncommon to hear about multimillion-dollar projects that have stalled because the project owners failed to deal with permits and ordinances during the preconstruction phase.
During the preconstruction phases, your team must ensure that they’re compliant and that all building stages and phases have been approved.
Lastly, ensure the design is sustainable and environmentally friendly. This will increase your brand equity and make you more competitive when bidding.