Change and Resilience

3 Ways We Are Overcoming Covid-19 Challenges In The Construction Industry

It’s March of 2021, and Covid-19 has been impacting our daily lives for an entire year. Work is at home, school is online, and our routines have shifted dramatically. If you are considering a new construction project for your home or business, it is crucial to understand the pandemic's impact on operations and how your contractor will mitigate these complications. This article explores 3 ways Covid-19 affects the construction industry and how we manage these challenges to create seamless results.

Changes in Cost:

Since the start of the pandemic, the costs of construction materials have risen tremendously. With a 73% increase in the cost of softwood lumber, lumber prices have skyrocketed. According to the National Association of Home Builders, this spike has increased the cost of an average, new single-family home by nearly $16,000. Not only are material costs rising, but companies must include Covid-19 protocols to keep their workers safe. PPE, safety equipment, and increased sanitizing efforts require a larger budget.

Providing the best quality work for the lowest possible cost is our team's top priority. So, how do we ensure your project remains affordable? One important strategy is creating contingencies within the budget. When we bid a job, we allocate a certain percentage, approximately 3%, of the project cost for contingencies. This helps mitigate unforeseen price changes due to rising material costs, supply delays, or labor-shortages impacted by Covid-19. By creating thorough and detailed budgets, we lower construction costs significantly.

Delays:

Covid-19 disrupts the supply chain, ultimately causing building delays. While construction is deemed essential in California, manufacturing plants and trucking companies may not be operating to serve the industry’s needs. Reasons vary, but a diminishing workforce due to symptomatic employees, care for family members, or the possibility of infection is a principal factor.

To avoid added delay, a detailed plan should be set in place before receiving an estimate, or before the project is contracted and ready to start. If a client postpones selecting special-order materials, a stall in construction may occur for several months. Design considerations such as choosing an in-stock size & material door might be preferable over a custom size or material at this time. If this is not a possibility, allow additional months in your planning. Overall, it is important to know your specific desires before beginning a project. We understand this can be overwhelming! We pride ourselves in assisting you through this process, pointing you in the right direction to make informed decisions about your home.

Staying Safe:

The third and most important issue facing the industry is safety. As cases continue, many clients are rightfully hesitant to open their homes to a construction team. When considering a new project, each client should contemplate their unique circumstances to make the right choice for them. We wholeheartedly respect these decisions and are committed to supporting you through this process. 

As a company, we do everything in our power to keep both our workers and clients safe. We follow CDC guidelines, use masks, regularly perform temperature checks, ask employees with symptoms to stay home, and have increased our sanitizing efforts. Before they can return to work, a negative test result is required from any employee who may have been exposed to the virus. We continue these procedures on each job site, expecting everyone, including subcontractors and suppliers to follow them. If remodeling a client's home or business, we partition off the work area with plastic and close ventilation areas connecting to the rest of the house. Throughout the entire construction process, every step is carefully considered to keep you safe. 

Like businesses everywhere, we are continually finding new strategies to operate safely. Throughout this year, we have been amazed by the resilient community of Santa Barbara. We are grateful for the ability to run our business, and we are proud of our hardworking team.