Introduction
For anyone who works in this industry, particularly those who have their boots on the ground as builders and tradies, knows very well that things onsite don’t always go according to plan. That is despite how well a project is thought out.
I’d be guessing if I tried to measure this as a percentage. Generally, construction follows steps A, B, C, etc., so you would assume the best builders are proactive in everything they do in programming, coordination, delegation, and execution. Of course, the best builders are just that! Speed, quality, budget, and safety all depend on proactive management and cooperation from every contractor onsite. In reality, the straight‑line plan always takes some kind of detour and problems arise.
Problems include late deliveries, incorrect or poor installations that affect the following trade, people getting injured, installs being damaged or something crucial simply being overlooked. We’re human, and making mistakes is a certainty but how the site team reacts and recovers from this is the most valuable quality of a builder.
Positive Reaction
Builders and trades who are quick to problem solve and react with confidence and calmness are most valuable to the project. Building day to day is really about problem solving, and being a good reactive builder is just as important as being a proactive builder. It wasn’t until later in my building career that I learned from my site manager and mentor that being a reliable, reactive builder is a defining quality.
Being reactive isn’t always a sign of repairing mistakes. It’s about responding to the dynamic nature of this industry. With many moving components, people, agendas, timelines and whatever “human” factors are learned through experience, the day that is programmed on the whiteboard will not always go to plan. It’s a matter of doing many controllable actions right to keep speed, quality, budget, and safety on track as best as possible.
Execute the Controllables
Being proactive with tasks in our control is easy to enforce and cuts down the likelihood of issues. This includes key hold‑point inspections such as reinforcement checks prior to pouring concrete. This is a must, of course, but you can also inspect every penetration and hob to ensure they are installed correctly to prevent unnecessary concrete cutting later. Similarly, inspecting rough‑ins prior to sheeting walls and ceilings means cross‑connections are avoided in the plumbing, A/C drains are connected, and electrical outlets and switches are installed in the correct locations. I’ve made all of these mistakes myself in the past which only experience can teach.
Proactivity with Innovation
When clever innovation proves valuable in protecting your installations and saves you time at the back end of the project prior to handover, I say these investments are worth every dollar. They are insurance policies.
In my experience, three difficult defects to repair at and after occupation include:
- Window water leaks
- Blocked plumbing
- Bent sliding door tracks
I can’t say that every one of these defects can be completely prevented in high‑rise residential construction because the projects are so big. I do know that I would be PROACTIVE at the beginning to prevent issues and that doing nothing, hoping these issues won’t happen, in fact costs more at the end. Tearing up wet carpet, cutting holes in walls and then repairing it all just to find a water leak costs time and money. The same goes for replacing a sliding door track that has been severely bent and identified by the client. The cost and delay in doing this is huge and completely avoidable now with TOUGHTRACKS.
Visit www.toughtracks.com.au to see how this new ramp system will take the hits so your site doesn’t have to. Subscribe online for the latest news and offers, and take advantage of 10% off your first order.
I created TOUGHTRACKS because I was sick of dealing with the same problems over and over again and no one else seemed to be talking about them. It’s a solution that’s been tried and tested by some of the biggest builders in the industry, with outstanding results and real satisfaction onsite. Not only are they intended to protect your project but they act as a safety device under foot to replace slippery and unstable plywood ramps. 20 years in the industry and I’m still seeing this reoccurring issue onsite without any other solution but shifty make shift ramps. I’m proud to bring a solution to the industry knowing it will help both builders and tradies.
Tedd Poulos
Founder & Creator | TOUGHTRACKS
info@toughtracks.com.au
www.toughtracks.com.au