Weather and its impact on construction projects
On our client’s project in Bexleyheath, PLG have erected a temporary roof solution to safeguard against onsite delays.
A little rain may not seem like much, but weather conditions can impact many areas of a construction project.
Rain, snow, frost, and even hot weather can all have a major impact on the construction schedule and cause potential delays.
Heavy rainfall can cause flooding on a site and completing works becomes near on impossible. Water can also affect any unfinished elements that are exposed during a downpour.
High wind and storms can make sites unsafe for construction workers to carry out works, especially if they are working at height. Even the cold snaps can cause issues due to frost which is dangerous for the workers, and also affects the effectiveness of machinery in to plummeting temperatures.
According to research, the inclement British weather can potentially cause delays of up to 21% of the scheduled programme. Not only would this affect the delivery of the project, but it could have possible implications on the budget too.
But its inevitable that bad weather will hit at some point in the project timeline…
Providing protection against weather is crucial especially when the works include removing a roof or opening the property up to potential damage.
Erecting a temporary roof solution can safeguard against potential delays and implications, these temporary roof solutions are usually made up of scaffolding and strong roof tarp material.
According to the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) a temporary roof is, “a sheeted structure designed to provide cover over an area from the effects of weather, dust, etc. It may stand on the ground or on top of a building or be an extension of a scaffold round a building. It may have fully sheeted walls and roof or only a roof or a roof with skirts, they are usually constructed of corrugated steel, corrugated aluminium or flexible plastic panels.”
Temporary roofing can protect different aspects of the project such as:
- Shielding sites from weather conditions
- Protection against dust
- Protection against environmental damage
- Enclosures to eliminate any debris from demolition works
- Prevents delays
- Eliminates damage to materials onsite
- Savings on budget implications
For our project, using a sheeted structure has allowed our contractors to continue to work during some of the wettest weeks of the year. They have also been able to stay on schedule to adapt a forever home for our young client with cerebral palsy.