Anyone managing a construction programme knows that not everything can be controlled. One of the biggest variables is the British weather.
For specialist resin surfacing works, changing conditions aren’t simply inconvenient. Rain, low temperatures, excessive heat or a wet substrate can affect when certain systems can be installed and, ultimately, the quality of the finished surface.
When surfacing forms one small part of a much larger construction programme, a lost installation day can also have consequences for other trades, traffic management, handover dates and project costs.
So, what happens when the weather changes the programme, and how can contractors minimise the impact?
Why weather matters for specialist surfacing
Different surfacing systems have their own installation requirements, but factors including temperature, rainfall, surface moisture and humidity can all influence whether work can proceed.
For resin bound, resin bonded, High Friction Surfacing and other specialist resin systems, installing in unsuitable conditions can potentially compromise curing, adhesion or the long-term performance of the surface.
On a commercial project, pushing ahead simply to meet a date can therefore create a much bigger problem later.
The priority should always be to install the specified system under appropriate conditions and achieve the performance expected from it.
Planning starts before the installation date
Weather management shouldn’t begin when the installation team arrives on site.
For HMS Decorative Surfacing, planning is an important part of preparing for any commercial project. In the run-up to installation, forecasts can be monitored alongside the programme so that potential problems are identified as early as possible.
That becomes particularly important on larger schemes where surfacing may involve multiple installation days, significant quantities of materials and coordination with several other contractors.
Advance planning also allows discussions to take place with the main contractor before changing conditions become an immediate problem.
Communication is key
If the forecast changes, early communication can make a significant difference.
Rather than waiting until the morning of installation to identify an issue, keeping the project team informed gives everyone an opportunity to consider the wider programme.
That could mean adjusting the sequence of work, moving to another suitable area of the site or agreeing an alternative installation window.
There won’t always be a way to avoid disruption completely, but good communication can prevent a weather delay from becoming an unexpected programme delay.
Can the work be resequenced?
On larger projects, a change in weather doesn’t necessarily mean everything has to stop. Depending on the project and conditions, there may be opportunities to resequence the works.
For example, another area may be ready for surfacing, preparatory work may be able to continue or the installation sequence could potentially be adjusted around other site activities. This is where involving the specialist surfacing contractor in programme discussions can be valuable.
Understanding the complete project rather than treating the surfacing package in isolation makes it easier to identify practical alternatives when circumstances change.
Protecting quality is more important than forcing the programme
There can understandably be pressure to maintain programme dates, particularly as a project approaches completion. However, installing a surface when conditions aren’t suitable can be a false economy.
A short-term programme gain isn’t worthwhile if it increases the risk of a surface failing prematurely and creates additional remedial work, disruption and cost later.
An experienced specialist contractor should be prepared to advise when conditions are unsuitable rather than simply proceeding because a date appears on the programme.
For the client and main contractor, that approach helps protect both the finished project and the investment being made in it.
Build realistic contingency into the programme
Weather risk is particularly important when specialist surfacing is scheduled towards the end of a construction project.
If every preceding element slips by a few days but the final completion date remains unchanged, the time available for finishing trades can become increasingly compressed. Add several days of unsuitable weather and the programme can quickly become difficult to achieve.
Where possible, allowing sensible contingency around weather-dependent activities gives the project team greater flexibility.
It’s also worth considering seasonal conditions when setting installation dates. A programme that provides several potential installation windows is naturally less exposed than one dependent on a single day being dry.
Site readiness matters too
Weather isn’t the only factor affecting whether surfacing can begin. The site itself needs to be ready. Access, substrate condition, drainage, levels and the completion of surrounding works can all affect installation.
If a specialist surfacing contractor loses the available weather window because another element of the site isn’t ready, the next opportunity may depend on both the construction programme and suitable conditions coinciding again.
Clear communication about site readiness can therefore be just as important as monitoring the forecast.
Experience makes a difference when programmes change
Commercial surfacing projects don’t always go exactly to plan. The important question is how those changes are managed.
At HMS Decorative Surfacing, we work on projects ranging from highways and public realm schemes to housing developments, commercial sites, footpaths and major infrastructure projects.
That experience means our teams understand the need to work alongside main contractors, local authorities and other trades while maintaining the installation requirements of the specified surfacing system.
When weather affects the programme, the objective isn’t simply to find the quickest solution. It’s to find a practical solution that helps protect quality, programme and the long-term performance of the surface.
Planning a commercial surfacing project?
Early conversations can make programming specialist surfacing considerably easier.
If you’re preparing a tender, developing a construction programme or already have drawings and a surfacing specification, speak to HMS Decorative Surfacing about the project requirements, site conditions and proposed installation programme.
The earlier we’re involved, the more opportunity there is to identify potential challenges before they reach site.
Don’t leave surfacing until the last minute
Planning a commercial project that includes resin bound, resin bonded, High Friction Surfacing or specialist decorative surfacing?
Talk to HMS Decorative Surfacing early in the programme. We can review your surfacing requirements, specification, site conditions and proposed installation dates to help identify potential issues before they affect the programme.
Have a project coming up? Send us your drawings or specification and talk to our team about your surfacing package.
