You need to complete a construction project on a tight budget. What are your options?

Live by the mantra that it is easier and less expensive to make changes on paper than it is on site, so invest in ensuring all design stages have been completed (and aligned before proceeding to the next stage) including making the right strategic decisions at the very start.

Before I start project, I need to define its schedule and scope. Schedule refers to milestones, timeline and deadlines of the project. Scope refers to the requirements, deliverables and goals.

To complete a construction project on a tight budget, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the scope of work and project timeline. Evaluate materials and finishes to find cost-effective options or substitutes if needed. Consider purchasing materials internally and hiring subcontractors for labor only to avoid their logistics and markups. Obtain competitive bids from multiple subcontractors, level their scope, and negotiate clear expectations to avoid additional costs from delays and scope misinterpretation.

From the perspective of commercial construction, recycling of materials is not as big a cost-saving as it might seem on the surface. Reclaimed lumber needs to have all metal removed and typically be re-planed before use, reclaimed bricks need old mortar chipped off, etc. This will depend to a large degree on the value of the local labor market. Some items are not a good idea to reuse, such as roofing. While I don't rule on-site recycling out, my primary recommendation would be to find products that incorporate post-consumer recycled materials during the design process.

Si es tu propia construcción pues bienvenido está idea para abaratar costos. Si estás construyendo para tu cliente necesitas hacer de su conocimiento y aprobación, siempre indicándole que ello ayudará a tener fondos en caso de imprevistos como puede ser la subida en el precio de materiales que no se contemplo o uno que otro contratiempo que no considerado en el proyecto o en gastos de permisos no considerados. En fin, en obra siempre aparecen gastos que elevan tu presupuesto inicialmente considerado.

Using recycled materials is a way of reusing the materials that have already been used and also correcting the mistakes that we might have made. For example, if we did not follow some codes in a certain area and the material was rejected, we can cut and use the same material for another area in the same project. This way, we can reduce the waste and avoid the backcharge for our error.

Utilization of recycled materials can depend on the type of construction project you are working on. Working on Civil Enviromental Construction projects (like creek & streambank re-alignments, ponds and wetlands, open space reclomations or low water crossing areas) our company has had great success utilizing existing/native materials surrounding the site. Things like native boulders that the land owner will allow to be used, downed trees, barrow areas for fill, and havesting of native saplings to use in establishing soil stabilization can help greatly reduce costs to an owner, while also maintaining the native landscape. Construction is all about options, and knowing when to apply those options.

Uma coisa que achei muito interessante é alguns materiais reciclados s?o mais resistentes em rela??o a alguns materiais novos dependendo de fabrica??o.entao é bom sempre certificar antes de adquirir um material novo.

One important step is to hire professional and experts who has a construction experience especially if we have some tasks which requires special expertise or license such as electrical wiring crimping or mechanical torque tightening.

Experienced and professional people always able to make proper right decision and less mistake. It would always support the project completion within budget and keep the project schedule on time.

In my opinion, Collaborative contact may bring greater results for the successful completion of the project. Advantages of Collaborative contract: Risk Sharing: Collaborative contracts allocate risks more evenly among parties, fostering a shared responsibility for cost overruns and delays. Early Involvement: Early collaboration enables better planning, leading to optimized project designs and schedules, thereby reducing potential costly changes later on. Innovation: Collaborative environments encourage innovative solutions and value engineering, which can lead to cost savings through more efficient construction methods

As a union contractor, labor takes up 60-70% of our budget. In this competitive market most of all our jobs are on a tight budget. We got our layout labor down 50% by investing in a digital layout station. Also, Supervision is key to control production and making sure the budget is kept throughout the project. Managing a project closely can be critical on any tight budget job.

It's all about the people you have on your project. The best laid plans of mice and men can unravel quickly. Circumstances always change as do situations. Countless times I have experienced unexpected obstacles that must be worked through, there was no choice. We were there, on-site, sometimes we could get ahold of higher ups, sometimes not. Sometimes decisions had to be made in the field at that moment. Sometimes they were not consistent with existing regulations. Sometimes regulations and or circumstances were in conflict with each other. As a regulatory expert on these jobs, my fallback in these situations was always this, could I justify what I am about to do in front of a jury of my peers. In short, hire professionals wisely.

My father used to say a man is only worth a dollar without any tools. Tools are the next important aspect after material, for labor to preform. Not only having tools , but the right tools for the job. Same goes for equipment, normally if that equipment is productive 80% of the time on the job it's making you money. You have to really evaluate if equipment is on the job but only used for convenience, and not production.

Contrata softwares de calidad que te permitan tener un trabajo mucho más ágil. Muchas veces cuesta más el precio/hora del personal que el alquiler de una licencia. Se puede ahorrar mucho.

Quality tools are a must, cheap ones break and cause injuries $$$. and damage to equipment and products. $$ Assign equipment to personnel to maintain.

I don't understand the original article's reference to physical tools in this context. Yes, we need competent tradespeople who bring quality tools to the work. We also need to invest in quality management tools. Appropriate software to communicate effectively, store information and make it accessible is critical. Sometimes, the appropriate tool is physical. Sticky notes on a wall can be more effective at building and communicating a schedule than scheduling software. It depends on the project's needs.

Discrepo con esta idea. Invertir en herramientas para un unico trabajo le quita fondos al presupuesto ajustado que se tiene. Más acertado es contratar un contratista que ya cuenta con las herramientas que se necesiten.

Value engineering, design and specification review for cost efficient alternatives. New products providing cost effective changes without sacrificing the architectural aspects and energy effective benefits for the users

I agree, but it's essential to recognize the time, patience, and dedication required, as well as ensuring you possess the necessary skills, tools, and knowledge to execute the project successfully.

La clave para afrontar cualquier proyecto, en este caso con presupuesto ajustado, es ser capaz de formar y crear un equipo de trabajo el cual sea capaz de desarrollar todo tipo de trabajos y gestiones, no es necesario un equipo especifico para un solo proyecto, la clave es saber mover las fichas en el momento adecuado permitiéndote optimizar costes para tareas que, aparentemente, debería necesitar de una fuente externa, ya lo decía Séneca “No hay viento favorable para quien no sabe a dónde va”.

DIY or Self-Perform Work: Consider handling certain tasks yourself or using in-house resources for specific aspects of the project. Be cautious not to take on tasks that require specialized skills, as mistakes could lead to costly repairs.

Keep your client in the mix. They need to understand the implications and impacts to certain decisions and what items are crucial to include in the project to allow for future work or expansions without investing too much in the opportunity (structural allows for expansion of the facility, the electrical system has ability to be increased/expanded, infrastructure laid out for ability to expand, etc.). Do not hang a lot of investment in projects/expansions that may not happen, but allow for clear tie-ins, additions with minimal disruption to future operations. This has worked well for many projects I have managed.

Para poder ajustar un presupuesto es imprescindible tener claro el alcance al que no se quiere renunciar y ver a cual si, para poder modificar y optimizar ese alcance no tan imprescindible. Una vez elegido eso, optimizar materiales y/o sistemas constructivos será lo mejor para poder ajustar el presupuesto.

Las claves serían: - Saber qué partes del proyecto son prescindibles - Realizar seguimiento de obra junto con partidas ejecutadas - Contratar profesional que demuestre el ajuste de sus presupuesto.

To save on construction, you may purchase identified materials and equipments, utilities and power, and free issue it. Then, you may opt to award the project to a contractor with few sub contractors to lessen the fats underneath the lumpsum price. Lastly, the best payment type is milestone ie. you only pay the contractor once they have completed the agreed milestone. Include in the contract a time of essence clause with Liquidated Damages of 1/4 of 1% for every day delay up 10% of milestone value or PO value. Conduct due-diligence on all contractors and sub contractors, qualifications and success rates in completing projects on time. Among others.

Dois aspectos mais podem contribuir para o controle do custo de uma obra: Retrabalho representa um desastre para uma obra de or?amento apertado. Portanto, cuidar da qualidade na execu??o dos servi?os é essencial para concluir obras com or?amento apertado. O outro aspecto que quero fazer men??o é conhecer sistemas construtivos para propor altera??o de escopo com possível redu??o de custo. Como exemplo, cito que uma laje sobre a qual venha a cobertura é mais barato que uma estrutura metálica que sustente a cobertura.