Home › Learn From The Pros › Roofing Delays and Their Many Causes Roofing Delays and Their Many Causes October 19, 2022 A complete roof replacement can be easy from start to finish when you work with professional contractors. They’ll listen to your goals so that they can provide the best solutions that fit your needs and budget. But even with careful planning and design, a few delays can still happen during the roofing process. Some delays are unexpected and beyond your control, but with the right precautions, some can even be avoided or prevented! A reputable roofer like Neumann Construction knows how to help you address these unexpected issues that may delay your roofing project. When preparing your roof replacement for possible delays, it helps to understand what they are and how they can be dealt with during the process. Below are some of the common roofing delays to look out for to avoid issues: Excusable Delays Sometimes, delays can happen as a result of a third party’s actions or omissions. They may often come from unforeseen factors that are beyond the roofing project manager’s control, so they can’t be avoided. The only way to overcome these delays is to anticipate them so that they won’t completely affect the overall roofing process. Some of the typical excusable delays include architectural design errors and owner-initiated changes. They often lead to extending the roof replacement project’s completion date, which also means additional costs. Unexpected weather and natural disasters can also be excusable and cause delays to your project. But unless the weather conditions are more intense than expected, that won’t always mean they need additional time to complete the roof. Non-Excusable Delays This typically includes the late arrival of roofing materials that could have been avoided or anticipated. However, this depends on the cause because, if the delivery was delayed unexpectedly during shipping or manufacturing, then it may be an excusable delay. Sometimes, these delays can also include the contractor being unable to properly manage the project. However, this hardly ever happens if you’re working with a contractor who has years of training and experience. Concurrent Delays This happens when two or more parties involved in the roof repair project cause delays or hinder contract performance. Because there are multiple causes, it can be difficult to deal with the problems alone. This is because you’ll need to determine the root cause, and it won’t always be easy. At the same time, you’ll also have to determine the additional damage and repairs if your roof is affected. These can drive up your roofing costs and make it difficult to estimate its completion. Compensable Delays A roof delay can either be compensable or non-compensable depending on its cause and the terms of your contract. A compensable delay simply entitles the roofer to additional compensation. This is necessary to cover incurred extra costs. It may vary from a late material delivery to a roof design error. It can even include other parties being unable to do the needed predecessor work for the project. Other Unavoidable Delays Sometimes, you’ll encounter unavoidable roofing delays no matter how much planning you made. They tend to happen as soon as the old roofing materials get torn off and underlying problems are revealed. Since they’ll need emergency repairs, this can often cause delays to your roofing project. However, this is necessary to prevent issues and costly repairs later on in your roof’s lifespan. This includes: Last-minute order changes. This happens almost anytime during the construction process and is often beyond the control of the roof repair contractor. These are caused by many factors, from manufacturing or supply issues to compatibility issues and last-minute adjustments to the roofing project. These often add more costs to your project, so be sure to discuss plans with your contractor thoroughly so you won’t go beyond your budget. Bad weather. This can cause delays to your project almost immediately even if the work is underway. Many roofing components must be installed under favorable conditions, or they won’t effectively protect your home. For instance, when installing shingles, the exposed roof must be completely dry before applying the other materials and layers. This is to avoid moisture buildup from underneath and causing mold and rot damage down the road. It is also worth noting that bad weather, whether it’s torrential rain or a drizzle, increases the risks of working on wet and slippery surfaces. This is why professional roofing contractors postpone work until conditions are favorable again. How to Anticipate Roof Delays The best way to overcome roofing delays is to prepare and anticipate all possible scenarios in your project. Here are a few helpful ways to help keep your project on track: Implement safety precautions. As long as you hire capable roofers for your project, they’ll already be aware of potential safety issues in your project. You can trust their training and experience to ensure safety and security while working onsite. And before the roofing commences, they’ll check their onsite workers if they follow proper safety measures. Your family is also checked for safety and security. Apply for the right permits. It’s important to be aware of the local building codes and guidelines related to your roofing project. Some permits may take more time to secure and can push back your completion date. Fortunately, this can be avoided if they were done as early as the initial planning stages of your project. Most contractors also take care of the required documentation, so make sure to hire one who knows what to do as soon as they start on your roofing project! Anticipate the weather. Make sure to schedule your roofing project under favorable weather conditions. This ensures that it gets done successfully and on time. Most contractors also prefer working under predictable weather conditions because they get the work done more efficiently. As one of the reliable roofing contractors in Brainerd, MN, and the rest of Crow Wing County, Neumann Construction understands how big an investment your home is and how important it is to protect it. That is why we make sure we understand our customers’ expectations and timeline for every project we do. Our experienced team of roofers is also licensed and insured for your peace of mind. To get started with your roofing project, give us a call today at (218) 270-0009, or fill out our convenient online form.