Here are some tips for Preventing and Solving Construction Defects with BIM

The construction industry is faced with the problem of defects in buildings on a regular basis. It will be easier for all parties involved to navigate the system if you can understand the issues and take simple steps to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Construction Defects Types

Design

Typically, design defects are the result of an unorganized and inaccurate construction document from the design team. There are many ways in which these defects can occur, such as omissions or errors. A change order is typically used to fix omissions that require an additional scope of work by one or more contractors.

Material

When a building material is damaged, either directly from the manufacturer or after it has been installed, it is considered to be a material defect. Material defects can be particularly costly; it's not uncommon to discover them only after a contractor uses them. The problem is especially acute when it comes to defective materials.

Workmanship

When you think of construction defects, you usually think of workmanship defects. When components or structures are built improperly, they occur due to failure to follow the project's documents. Workmanship defects can range from aesthetic problems to structural issues. In either case, allocating responsibility and fixing the defect can be a complicated process.

Communication

Due to lack of communication, project stakeholders, construction crews, office staff, and contractors fail to complete the project, resulting in construction defects. Besides rework, excessive delays, budget and cost overruns, and safety hazards, poor communication can also cause billions of dollars in rework. It is one of the most important aspects of project management and the construction industry overall.

How to Solve Construction Defects

Gather Your Documents in One Place

The use of outdated building drawings by subcontractors is a common cause of construction defects. Design errors have been corrected on these old drawings in the latest building models.

This type of issue can be significantly minimized if all stakeholders have access to the most current information. By ensuring everyone has immediate access to important documentation on-site, you can prevent construction defects caused by inefficient document management.

Through the use of construction management software like BIM, companies can avoid the loss and damage of documents and speed up the distribution of files among teams by moving from paper to digital forms.

Using a digital platform like BIM is a great way to manage your documentation so that all users will have access to the latest revisions, reviews, and comments in the same place.

Choosing Right Material

It is important to use only the materials specified in the building plan when constructing a building to minimize defects. In spite of the temptation to replace one material with a cheaper one, it could backfire if the cheaper alternative turns out to be the culprit.

Utilize BIM for Defect Management

It is crucial to overhaul your defect management processes in order to prevent defects in construction caused by poor quality control.

By allowing everyone to access punch lists and inspection documents, BIM can help prevent and reduce defects, allowing you to identify issues on the site before they become a problem.

Quality Inspection

The site manager is responsible for the quality of the work performed on their property. The team should conduct frequent site visits from the beginning so they can monitor the progress and identify any problems as early as possible. An important aspect of quality inspections is catching problems in the bud, preventing more time consuming remedial actions later on.

Read User Manual

The architect or lead contractor should be consulted first if there are any doubts about the use of a building material. It is equally important for subcontractors to follow all instructions when using a building material, especially if they are not familiar with the method.

To get online demonstration, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Plannerly - The BIM Management Platform

Real Time Communication & Progress Sharing

Communication channels must be used effectively and project progress must be shared in real time in order to prevent workmanship defects due to miscommunication in construction.

You can reduce construction defects and facilitate communication among all project participants with BIM Model. With BIM, team members can share team progress and reports in real time.

Subcontractor Evaluation

If you have never worked with a subcontractor before, conduct a thorough appraisal of the company and a background check before hiring them. Aside from collecting references, finding out about their quality assessment procedures, and verifying their licenses and certifications, it is also helpful to collect references.