Site preparation and operation
It is much easier, safer and ultimately more profitable for all concerned to operate a professional site. For example, installing temporary steel fencing not only acts as a safety barrier, deterring theft of construction and pool equipment, it also portrays the company in a professional light. A lock on the access gate prevents unauthorized entry and limits liability. Site fences also provide an ideal location to post marketing signs, permits and contact/safety information.
Site preparation can also include the hoarding of both private and city-owned trees. A thick bedding of mulch, covered with steel plates and combined with fencing around trees, will ensure they survive the construction process. Many municipalities are rigid in their enforcement of tree protection, requiring hoarding, permits and bonds.
Site access often involves entry onto neighbouring properties. Municipalities often require a letter signed by the neighbour allowing access for the duration of the project. It is in a builder’s best interest to do everything in its power to prevent damage to the clients’ and neighbours’ property. Gravel access roads, covered with steel plates, prevent damage to foundations from repeated heavy equipment access. Less dirt and mud is transported onto the city streets when proper right-of-way access corridors are established. Streets will need to be swept of dust and debris on an as required basis. Water trucks can also be employed to minimize dust and clean up the roadway.
Project timelines
Successful site preparation is just one component of overall project management. With today’s web-savvy clients, residential projects are becoming increasingly complex with the demand for more elaborate aquatic features, better quality and materials and shorter time frames for completion.
Optimism should not be the cornerstone of project management—realism is essential. Deadlines that only look good on paper to the customer and trades only set the project up for failure, which can impact the relationships between everyone on the job, resulting in frustrated clients.
The project’s scope should detail all the activities involved, including the duration of those activities, sequencing, timelines, resource allocation (both physical and people) and budget constraints.
Changes in the project’s scope are normal and can be expected, as design modifications may be contractor- or client-driven. Site conditions may also change due to unexpected ground obstructions or extreme weather conditions, while material changes may be the result of design or availability. As the scope changes, design drawings, ‘as built drawings’ and contractual agreements will also have to be modified.
Changes will result in delays in the critical path of the project. Updating the tasks and progress of all parties involved is key to successful project management. Communication via e-mail, site meetings, phone or software scheduling programs are all vital to keeping everyone informed. Computer programs such as Microsoft Project and other open source software allows builders to track and plan projects sufficiently to accommodate all changes in time, cost, scope and quality.
Safety on the site
Site safety includes access to first aid and eye wash stations, readily accessible Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), fire extinguishers, areas for safe storage of flammable materials and potable drinking water. All employees, subcontractors and visitors should also be required to wear appropriate safety gear.
Underground utilities can be located by either a private or public agency. In all cases, ‘Call before you dig.’ Public utility locates will not detect private gas lines, sprinklers, water lines, sewers and right of way easements. All of these hazards must be located, documented and spray painted or flagged.
The actual construction site should be spray painted and staked. All structural elements, (e.g. decks, landscape boundaries, plumbing chases, drain/gas/electrical lines, irrigation, trenches and grades) should be established as per the plan. A copy of the site plan should also be posted and made available to all interested parties.
Site necessities
A portable toilet should be the first item delivered to the site, and the last to leave. A quality submersible pump should also be on hand to keep the excavation free of standing water, by evacuating it to a suitable location. Silt barriers erected around the site perimeter should prevent run off from disturbing adjacent waterways, swales and neighbouring properties.
A large garbage container, along with numerous smaller waste bins, should be available to keep the job site safe and tidy. Recycling bins should also be available, as they are environmentally responsible and good for site image.
Finally, plastic or landscape fabric is a simple and cost-effective way to protect houses and plantings from having to scrape or power wash concrete and other construction debris. This type of protection pays back quick dividends in public relations and final project settlement.
