Three words no contractor ever wants to see are “Stop Work Order.” An SWO can come from a project owner. However, the reasons they can issue a SWO typically need to be detailed in the contract. These often include things like payment or health code issues. Because they're included in the contract...

You were badly injured while you were working on scaffolding for a construction site. You worked on scaffolding in the past and your work went smoothly, with no incidents or accidents. When your employer won the bid to work on this construction project, you may have expected your work while on a ...

The price of building materials has risen significantly over the past couple of years. Shortages, supply chain issues, natural disasters, worker strikes, fuel prices and tariffs are some of the key reasons for this. There's not expected to be any pricing relief (or end to the volatility) soon.  I...

Working in construction comes with many risks. There are obvious physical risks that come from working on a building or handling heavy machinery. There are also certain financial risks, as not every client will make good on their obligations to a construction company or professional in a timely m...

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...

As a member of upper-level management at a construction company here in Central Islip, you're likely well aware that there are various regulatory requirements that you must meet. One of those that you must abide by is Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.  It's imperative that you learn more about ...

A breach of the contract is a risk anyone who enters into a legal agreement faces. If you are in the construction industry, there is a pretty good chance that you will run into a contract that does not deliver on the agreed terms.  Contracts are legally binding agreements. As such, if one party f...

Even losing workers for a brief period of time can damaging and costly for a company. In addition to lost productivity, avoidable accidents can also be harmful to a company's reputation, workplace morale, and can result in litigation. One of the most effective strategies to safeguard your commerc...

If you are working in construction as a business owner, then you know that there will be times when your client wants you to speed up a project. If that happens, then you may be asked to pay extra to the construction team to get the job done sooner. If you receive an acceleration claim, then you ...

As the owner of a construction company, you know that your business could potentially face a lawsuit for any number of things that might go wrong on a project. However, what if a worker on a construction site is accused of committing a crime? A company can be held liable for damages if the plaint...

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...

Construction is big business in New York, and contracts often mean millions of dollars in revenue changes hands. With big budgets comes the risk of big disputes and major financial liability. An employee could try to bring a civil lawsuit against you under the scaffolding law. You might have to f...

New York is an at-will employment state. That theoretically means that either your company or its employees can sever an employment relationship without warning. In fact, you don't even need a reason, as long as you don't terminate someone for an illegal reason. However, while state law does make...

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'...

When you create a construction contract, you should ensure that it protects your best interests while also offering your clients some protections. The contract should specify the scope of the project, payment terms and similar matters. The more detailed the contract is, the better protection you ...

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...

Pursuing litigation in a construction dispute increases how long it takes to resolve your differences and is often costly. The longer the court takes to resolve an issue, the more expensive it can be. Finding a way to settle contentious matters that arise outside of court can be effective for eve...

Construction contracts can be very simple or very detailed. Before either party signs the contract, they must ensure that they understand every term in it. One of the important things to check before signing is the termination clause. This outlines what steps must be taken to break the contract. ...

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...