Construction projects are way more complex than you can imagine. Despite months of planning and scheduling, construction projects often experience delays. Each day in the construction industry costs the project owner. No matter whether the work at a construction site is fast or slow, the labor and equipment are constantly engaged. With every delay, the cost of the construction project increases. Even with extensive planning, Los Angeles construction scheduling can go wrong. This calls for intervention from a Los Angeles construction delay expert witness.

This blog will take you through the reasons why Los Angeles construction scheduling may go wrong and how an expert witness can help.

Why Construction Scheduling Goes Wrong?

Numerous factors are in play in construction projects. While you can control certain factors, there are many factors that you just can’t control. No matter how extensive your project planning and construction scheduling is, you must keep room for delays because they will happen. The big question is – why? Let’s have a look at the many reasons why construction schedules fail.

Not Understanding the Project Well from the Beginning

One of the most common reasons construction schedules fail is poor understanding of the project. You may assume that the project is simple and straightforward and that you can get done with it within the specified timeframe. You might be underestimating your project’s scope or time, which means all your planning will be inaccurate from the very start. When the construction project starts, you’ll come across numerous factors you didn’t consider in the beginning, which will create bottlenecks in the project’s execution.

Scope Creep

Scope creep is quite a common occurrence in construction projects. It is when the scope of the project changes after the project schedule is finalized. This could be due to additional requests from the stakeholders or unexpected circumstances of the construction site. Scope creep can put a project off track and cause major delays.

Delays

Every construction project has to secure multiple approvals from various departments. You must get approval from the government, health and safety organizations, environmental departments, and electrical and plumbing permits, among many others. You can’t proceed with construction as long as you have all the permits and approvals. A delay in one or more approvals can delay the entire project.

Labor, materials, and equipment delays can also put the project schedule off track. Other common delays in construction projects are equipment breakdown and labor shortages. On-site accidents and natural disasters are also common causes of project delays.

Another common delay in construction projects is differing site conditions. This mostly happens when a project schedule is created without a thorough on-site evaluation. When construction work starts, the site conditions come out to be different from what the planning was initially based on. In this case, all the technicalities of the project have to be reworked.

Finances

One of the most critical aspects of construction project planning is financial management. If financial management isn’t accurate, your project cost will exceed budget. When you run out of project finances, the project gets delayed till you arrange further funding to keep your project going.

Unreliable Contractors

Another common reason why construction schedule fails is unreliable contractors. Every task at a construction site is assigned to a relevant contractor. Contractors can cause delays by not taking matters seriously and not resolving issues on time. Since every task is interlinked, the entire project will be put behind schedule if one contractor lags.

Poor Planning

If the construction schedule is planned poorly, it’s bound to fail. Setting unrealistic timelines or budgets is sure to result in project failure. Construction delays are inevitable, and a construction plan must be flexible enough to accommodate these delays.

These are some of the major reasons why construction schedules fail. You can work on contingency plans and strategize your project flow smartly, but if you don’t keep your project schedule flexible for delays (which will happen), your construction schedule is doomed to failure.

How Expert Witness Can Help?

The role of a Los Angeles construction delay expert witness is crucial when it comes to construction scheduling failures. As explained earlier, construction delays are costly, and it’s only natural for each party to put the blame on the other party to protect itself from liabilities. This is where the job of an expert witness starts. Let’s see how an expert witness can help when a project schedule fails and a construction project is delayed.

They Assess the Cause of the Delay

An expert witness investigates thoroughly and identifies why there was a construction delay. They review project documentation, review project schedules, and even question the personnel working on the construction projects to reach the bottom of the cause. It’s their job to identify whether the delay was due to contractor performance, changes in site conditions or design, or any other reasons. Expert witness then compiles their findings in a report that can be used as evidence during legal proceedings.

They Analyze the Impact of Delays on Timeline

The expert witness also uses schedule analysis methods to ascertain how construction delays affect project timelines. Every delay affects the project milestones and timelines. An expert witness will quantify the impact and help predict new project completion timelines.

They Quantify the Financial Impact of Delays

An expert witness will also quantify how the delay will affect the budget. This quantification will reflect the actual scale of damage caused by the delay. This will be particularly useful at the time of claim and dispute settlement.

They Prepare Detailed Reports

An expert witness is considered an expert in the area and their input has massive weightage in legal proceedings. The expert witness prepares detailed reports that clearly state the causes of delays, who is responsible for delays, the cost of delays, and the impact of delays on the project timeline and budget. All of these findings are considered solid evidence in court and can be used to hold the responsible parties accountable.

They Testify in Court

Expert witnesses also testify in court. They share their findings and conclusions before the court and facilitate fair closure of construction delay disputes.

They Facilitate Settlements

In some cases, expert witnesses also participate in settlement discussions and help involved parties reach a settlement amicably without proceeding to the court.

Construction Schedule Off-Track? Contact HPM Consultants

Construction delays, no matter how small, shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re falling behind your construction schedule, contact an expert witness immediately!

HPM Consultants offers reliable expert witness services to help settle disputes related to construction delays. Our highly experienced and skillful experts know their way around construction schedule failure cases. So, if your Los Angeles construction scheduling is failing, a Los Angeles construction delay expert witness is what you need!