As a general contractor, you take on major construction projects, but you don't always do all of the work within your own company. For instance, maybe you bring on subcontractors to do painting or plumbing. You use them because it gives you a wide variety of skills and because you can get the job...

As a developer, you want your construction project to be completed flawlessly. However, it is not always the case due to the possibility of defects in the building. While construction defects are fairly uncommon, they can cause a construction dispute whenever they occur. When such defects are not...

A contract is extremely important in the construction industry. A contract outlines the rights and privileges of all parties. While both parties may have every intention to follow through with the terms of the contract, things happen to thwart the best of plans. If the contract does not come with...

If there's one thing that's certain in a construction project, it's that nothing is certain. That's why smart contractors include contingencies in their contracts regarding deadlines and budgets. This way, the unexpected doesn't have to throw a project into turmoil. When it comes to budgets, it's...

Whether you help remodel historical buildings, design and erect new facilities or retrofit existing edifices to make them more environmentally friendly, your company may not have all of the skilled staff it needs for big projects. It is common for businesses in the construction industry to work w...

As subcontractor, one of the issues you have to avoid running into is not getting the pay you deserve. When you're subcontracted in, you rely on the main contractor to pay you as they said they would. If they fail to do so, you could have trouble covering your expenses from the project and may ha...

Anyone in the construction industry knows that protecting their reputation is imperative because good reputations bring in clients via word-of-mouth.  One part of protecting your reputation — your company's quality controls — can also protect your bottom line. Why is a quality control program imp...

Three different types of construction defects may occur, including design, materials and workmanship. These can cause property damage, resulting in structural problems that leave a homeowner hurt or cause them financial loss. Your obligation as a contractor is to exhibit a particular “standard of...

You take a job building a home for a new client. It seems fine at first, and you spend a few weeks starting the project.  Quickly, though, you realize that this just isn't someone you can work with. Maybe they keep changing their mind, accusing you of poor workmanship, altering the scope of the p...

Construction projects go over budget all the time. Generally, when giving a quote, you try to add a bit extra in. You may quote at 10% over what it should actually cost, for instance. This way, the customer has already agreed to the higher number if you need that money for anything.  But you can'...

Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers servicing the New York construction industry have the right under the law to ensure they receive payment for the services that they provide. Most contractors and suppliers will execute written contracts with clients to help protect their rights. When comp...

As a contractor, payment issues can be tricky. The future homeowner wants to pay when the job is done because that's when they're actually getting the home that they hired you to build. For you, though, getting paid at the end represents a risk. You've already done all of the work and you are out...

As a contractor, you stand behind all of your work. You always do work that is up to code and you seek to exceed your clients' expectations. What if you brought in a subcontractor who doesn't live up to those standards. When you bought them on, you felt like it was a good fit, but it quickly beca...

Working in construction means taking responsibility for everything that your crew does at a job site. It also sometimes means people expecting you to take responsibility for things that happen well after you finish your construction job. For example, you may have built someone a home half a decad...

In construction, disagreements with builders, subcontractors and owners will occasionally happen. When they turn serious, however, you need to know the difference between a breach of contract and a breach of warranty — as well as how that may ultimately affect your legal options. How does a breac...

If you are a homeowner who bought a newly constructed property in a subdivision, only to have the contractor use the wrong materials, the issues with your home might compromise your enjoyment of the property or even its value. If you are a construction professional, vague requirements and instruc...

Construction is a difficult industry in that it's very hard to please everyone you work for. The person who hired you to do the job may seem less than thrilled with the results, but does that mean it's your fault? They may claim that there are defects and subpar craftsmanship, but is that actuall...

As a company in the construction industry, there's no denying the fact that you work with many other companies and/or individuals on a regular basis. While this is all part of the business, you must take steps to protect your legal rights. Should you find yourself face to face with a construction...

When you arrived to work at the site of a new project, you were surprised that it wasn't exactly what you expected. You saw a few additional large rocks jutting out of the ground that weren't included in the original plans, and you worried that the subsurface area may not be as expected, either. ...

You were hired to complete a renovation in New York, and you thought that all was going well. You had a great contract with the client, and they were covering your work and materials based on a project rate and additional hourly rate once you exceeded the hours allowed in the initial contract. Th...

The New York construction industry is thriving, but that does not mean that contractors are without problems plaguing their business endeavors. One of the most troubling and damaging problems contractors face is when their clients will not pay their bills. Non-payment can turn a growing construct...