Tips for Staying Productive During the Spring Construction Season

As much of the country thaws out from winter, spring promises warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours and more construction jobs. The spring ramp up to the homebuilding season coincides with the wettest weather of the year, which can make project schedules challenging. To minimize delays and maximize productivity, use these tips to help manage jobsites and timelines.

Preparing the jobsite before damaging storms

Spring storms can quickly become severe, so it’s important to have an emergency plan that protects workers and property. Evaluate the jobsite for risks, which include securing equipment, structures and construction materials and evacuating workers before hail or lightning storms arrive.  

A reliable weather forecasting app or weather radio not only is useful for scheduling jobs and crews in the spring remodeling season, but for sounding the alarm when severe weather strikes. 

Increasing safety while working in the rain

Working in the mud and muck can not only slow equipment and crews, but it can also present safety hazards. Maintain a safe workplace and make sure your crew comes to work prepared with:

• Highly visible Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Bright colors ensure workers stay visible to others operating equipment
• Proper footwear: Boots with deep treads for a good grip on wet scaffolding and muddy sites
• Slip-resistant gloves: Maintain a firm grip on wet, slippery tools

Ramp up hiring efforts 

While you likely keep on a winter crew, early spring is the best time to cultivate a skilled group who can take you through the peak summer months. Before schedules becomes too hectic, take time to ensure workers are trained in safety procedures and know the installation instructions of the products used by your company.

How to stay productive with the right products

Productivity is as much about using the right products as it is about time management in the remodeling season. While framing and OSB can get wet, it’s best to choose products that can stand up to excessive rainwater or minimize moisture effects quickly so houses take less time to dry out.

LP Legacy^® Premium Sub-Flooring carries a no-sand warranty. If the roof is delayed, the crew won’t be forced to sand high spots on the sub-floor before installing underlayment and flooring. In other words you’re Covered Until It’s Covered^®, even in the case of rainy weather. 

Weather delays can cause hiccups in the schedule. However, you can also keep productivity high with products that eliminate installation steps.

“LP WeatherLogic^® Air & Water Barrier is a structural sheathing with an integrated water-resistant barrier and requires one less step in the construction process,” says Jeff Yelle, LP director of OSB/EWP technology. “Once the seams are taped, crews don’t have to go back around with housewrap.”

“After LP WeatherLogic sheathing is installed, all the rain that’s hitting the sheathing will not soak into the barrier and any moisture in the house can escape through the permeability of the water-resistant barriers,” he adds. (For more on moisture permeability, check out this article.)

If your area receives more than 20 inches of rainfall annually, it’s recommended that you add LP WeatherLogic^® Water Screen. “Some estimates suggest up to 90 percent of wall failures are caused by moisture filtration,” said Casey Smyth, marketing product manager. “LP WeatherLogic Water Screen is a lightweight, easy-to-install, mold-resistant, synthetic polymer-based screen that maximizes your build’s moisture protection.”

If moisture management is a big issue on your builds consider LP^® TechShield^® Radiant Barrier, which uses patented VaporVents^™ Technology so moisture has a means to escape before it’s covered with shingles. 

If severe weather conditions commonly cause construction delays, learn more about off-site construction.