Stages of construction 

No matter which construction project you are talking about each and every project needs proper planning for it to succeed. You also need to find the right equipment and resources, determine the timeline and budget, and meet the other complex requirements. This means that you need to go through various steps to get proper planning done. Here, we will explain the various stages of construction and how each of these phases varies. Projects in construction could also vary based on their size, budget, the number of stakeholders involved, and the delivery date. Regardless of this, a construction project is always a demand and long process.

Pre-Construction Phase

The first among the stages of construction include the pre-construction phase which begins when the contractor has been chosen to start with the work.  As soon as the contractor has been chosen the project team is put together to start with the same.

Usually, a project team has the task of preparing the construction site before the work starts. As a rule, it consists of the following roles:

• Project manager
• Contract Administrator
• Field Engineer
• Health and safety manager
• Superintendent

In close collaboration with the contractor, the project team is responsible for ensuring the field is ready and this is done by visiting the field to complete the site examination. The site examination allows the project team to check for any environmental challenges that might come in during the stages of construction. Soil testing is also one of the most important steps in the pre-construction phase.

When all of the information has been collected, along with the plans being finalized, the findings should reviewed by the city authorities. This however will be a long process as all opinions and concerns need to be heard to and addressed right away.

Design Phase

It is now time to sit down and talk about the design. This design phase is still a preliminary stage, which means nothing has been guaranteed at this point. However, it doesn’t matter since the design stage is usually where you will be planning on the final design and the preparation to begin the construction starts. For example, a project roadmap is created to outline what needs to be done and how it can be achieved. It is at this design phase that the blueprints are drawn up, and the cost estimates are evaluated.

The design development work undertaken at this stage is especially important since it will help find the right equipment and materials required for the procurement phase. The team that is in charge of the design, usually an engineer or an architect, will need to ensure that the state regulations and codes have been met while respecting the vision of the project owners.

There are majorly four steps that are involved such as programming and feasibility, schematic design, design development, and contract documents.

During the programming and feasibility stage, each of the goals of the project needs to be outlined extensively. Numerous decisions which are important are taken at this stage including deciding how large the building will be and how much space will be used.

After this, you get the schematic design step where a sketch shows how the space as well as the colors and textures will look. This sketch is then used to research the equipment required along with what the cost will look like. Once the contract documents have been finalized everything is almost done with the final drawing and specifications. These documents then help to place bids for the work.

Procurement Phase

Now, it is time for the project team to order and get the required equipment, materials, and workforce. This stage could either be more or less complex and challenging based on how big the project actually is and whether the resources are readily available or not. Many of the large construction organizations have their own procurement departments. In such cases, it is common for the company to simultaneously order the equipment, labourers, and materials for many projects. This process might vary a lot when it comes to smaller projects.

All this work is normally performed by the general contractor however there are times when subcontractors are also in charge of certain steps. The subcontracts may also be responsible for hiring their own workers or getting their materials so that they know what exactly is required to do their job.

Construction Phase

Before the actual construction phase starts, a pre-construction meeting is held to ensure everyone is on the same page when the construction starts. The meeting usually includes information about the following topics:

• The quality control of the project
• The hours that everyone is expected to work
• How and where should the materials be stored
• How to get to the job site

While each worker might have their own schedule, it is important to note that the schedule of each agent might vary based on their role. This part is especially true for subcontractors who need certain parts of the job completed before they can start with their part. It is easily evident that bad planning could lead to serious budget overruns and delays.

Once the meeting has been completed and there are no more questions left to be answered, the very first step of the construction phase is started. The goal at this point is to have a better-planned direction so that everything is off without an issue. Of course, that might rarely happen as something always goes wrong during this phase. To avoid this issue while planning your project, it is essential to use some kind of digital solution.

Post-Construction Phase

The post-construction stage is when the work on the job site has been completed, and the project will now come to a close. However, there will be a few steps that need to be done before the keys to the building can be handed over. In general, the final stage of the construction project could be divided into two steps as follows:

Step 1 – New construction building commissioning

The first thing to be done first and that is the inspection of the whole building needs to be done. If everything is done properly then the inspections are quite easy to pass. The reason is that other inspections normally get completed during the project itself. It is during those previous inspections that issues should be found and corrected right away.

As soon as everything has been cross-checked it is now time for the project team to train the clients in operating and maintaining the newly built structure. That is a step of considerable importance since it will contribute to increasing and maintaining the quality of the project.

Step 2 – Owner occupancy

Now that the training has been completed, the owner can take over the ownership of the building. This is when the warranty period starts. In that way, the project owner can feel safe that there is enough time to check all the different equipment, systems, and materials that have been installed. There are three main types of warranty when it comes to construction.

• Statutory warranty: It is introduced in the state’s regulations
• Express warranty: It is normally included along with the contract terms
• Implied warranty: It is imposed by the law

Closeout Phase

The last and the final stage of this long process is the closeout phase. The project team in this stage has to check the overall contractual agreements and make sure that the project is devoid of any type of legal burden.

At this point, it is also a great practice to carry out a post-project review which could help various agents to detect any tasks that weren’t able to complete and analyze why this has happened. This will also help put together insights to predict any future obstacles. A post-project review is essential since it could be the foundation for the creation of an in-depth project completion report.

Key Considerations for Successful Construction Projects

So much goes into a construction project and to make it smoother you might need a few tips that can help with the same. Here are a few of the professional tips that can help with successful construction projects.

Creating a detailed plan

Creating a comprehensive plan helps set the foundation for your project and is also the best way to avoid any issues, especially during the various phases of construction. You might also need to create a roadmap and stick to it to help finish the construction project within the set time.

Efficient tracking of project progress

The planning phase could help you create a strong foundation for your project however you will still need to review the project throughout its duration so that you can tackle any unexpected obstacles. An efficient way to check for progress is by setting certain KPIs or key performance indicators. They help track the progress of the project efficiently.

Ensuring there is clear communication

No matter which project you consider, clear communication can help with the success of the project. Make sure that everyone involved in the project is on the same page at all times.

Aiming to finish the project before time

While it is great to finish the project by the deadline that has been set, finishing the project earlier could give you extra time to cross-check everything. You can check for errors or delays in that small interval of extra time you get.

Prioritizing Safety

All construction projects involve a lot of potential hazards and the moving of heavy equipment. During such conditions, safety should be kept at the top, and regular safety inspections should be conducted to provide safe working conditions for the employees.

Conclusion

At the end of the day no matter which stages of construction you are talking about, each of them is very important and is a chain of decisions, tasks, and numerous tools being involved. While the complexity will highly vary based on the type and the size of the project that is involved, there are always a few core steps that will remain the same and should not be skipped. Impeccable communication between the various stakeholders and fact-based decision-making are two very important pillars in the effort to streamline a project, especially in the construction field.

FAQ

What are the 5 steps of construction?

The basic 5 steps of construction include the following:

• Step 1: Pre-design Phase
• Step 2: Design Phase
• Step 3: Procurement Phase
• Step 4: Construction and Monitoring Phase
• Step 5: Post-construction Phase

What is 5S in construction?

There are five key principles when it comes to construction, and could be provided as follows:

• Sort
• Set in Order
• Shine
• Standardize
• Sustain

What is the lifecycle of construction?

The lifecycle of construction revolves around 5 stages such as initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.

What is in the design phase?

During the design phase, all the ideas are put down into design and the software helps check for the plans and come up with solutions for possible obstacles.