Winter is here, and the constant cold is quickly approaching. For the retail industry, business is surely booming this time of year, but those in the construction industry may soon experience a frustrating winter slowdown, however.
Why Do Construction Projects Slow Down in the Winter?
Winter presents a unique set of challenges to the construction industry. The cold weather, snow and ice, and frozen grounds can make projects more expensive and difficult to complete in the winter.
For example, project stages that involve concrete are impacted by winter. Concrete footings can’t be installed when the ground is frozen, and concrete must be treated for winter curing to prevent it from weakening. Fuel costs increase during the winter, making equipment more expensive to run and threatening budgets.
Because other phases can’t begin until certain intial stages are complete, the entire project can be affected by the winter.
How Does Winter Affect Construction Workers?
Winter makes construction jobs more hazardous as well. In 2014, there were 42,480 injuries caused by ice, sleet, and snow that resulted in at least one missed day of work. Construction workers are like gears in a well-oiled machine; one missed worker can upset the workflow of an entire project, resulting in further delays.
As work slows down, so does the demand for workers. A lot of construction workers offset this challenge by traveling to warmer states to find work in the winter. Unfortunately, traveling to other states is not an option for every contractor.
How Can PlanHub Help You Find Work?
Not every project or construction worker can wait for the spring thaw. Deadlines and budgetary constraints still exist during the winter, and both can be exceeded if schedules aren’t closely adhered to. Construction projects are costly, and bills don’t hibernate for the winter. Projects need to be completed as soon as possible so that investors can see returns on their investments and construction workers can be paid. Fortunately, there are construction projects available on PlanHub year-round.
PlanHub is an online bid management application. Our cloud-based software allows general contractors to post projects, share plans and files, and receive bids all in one platform. Projects are constantly being uploaded to the system, making it easier than ever for subcontractors to find work, even in the winter. Unlike job search engines, every project invitation is reviewed by a PlanHub Project Coordinator to ensure that erroneous, fake, and duplicate content never gets posted.
To find out more about how PlanHub can help you find contract work, even in the harsh winter season, contact us today.
