Typically, a construction project involves several subcontractors hired by the general contractor. This includes site preparation, concrete, framing, drywall, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, flooring and painting subcontractors.
A subcontractor is required to work as outlined in their contract. But this is not always the case. Disputes between the general contractor and subcontractors are not uncommon. One of the reasons behind such disputes is delays. A subcontractor may delay completing their work due to:
Poor scheduling
Poor scheduling or the lack of a coordinated master schedule can cause a subcontractor to arrive on site before prerequisite tasks are complete, or subcontractors to step on each other. For example, when a large duct is installed by an HVAC subcontractor, preventing a framing subcontractor from raising top tracks to the deck.
Out-of-sequence work can lead to trades not accessing the site or tasks needing to be redone. The general contractor is often held responsible for disruption caused by this factor. However, in some cases, a subcontractor may be responsible. For instance, when they ignore the master schedule, installing a system out of order.
Labor shortage
Subcontractors usually have workers in different active projects at a time. Spreading workers too thin across multiple sites can lead to labor shortages or result in workers splitting time across projects. This can slow down daily progress.
Material delays
A subcontractor who orders materials late or misses delivery windows is unlikely to complete their work within the given timeline. This can lead to other subcontractors not beginning their tasks on the agreed dates.
A delay caused by a subcontractor can trigger a domino effect, disrupting the entire project schedule. If you are a general contractor in a dispute with a subcontractor due to a delay, get more information to determine the best way forward.
