Expert: Roger Zona - 1/28/2012

Question
QUESTION: I'm writing a mystery novel in which workers at a construction site find a buried body.  So I have a few questions.

Background:  The site is at the edge of town and used to be agricultural.  It's owned by a group of investors, who have hired a construction company to build a condominium complex.  The site was cleared and leveled a year earlier, but for various reasons they couldn't start building then, and the site sat vacant.  Now
the construction company is starting work.

1.  What kind of equipment would the company bring in to clean up the site and dig the foundations -- a bulldozer?  (The buildings won't have basements.)

2.  How many workers would be on site when the cleanup/digging is going on?

3.  What would the title of the guy in charge be?  (Site superintendent, supervisor ... ??)

4.  If construction is delayed (because they found a body and are up to their ears in cops), who would he have to notify -- the construction company, the owners, etc.?

Thank you!!

ANSWER: Hi Paula,

Congratulations.  I hope your pending novel is a best seller.

To begin a project:  The site is cleared of growth - roots, trees, etc. with a bulldozer or tractor with a back blade.  Then the site must be brought up to established elevation (usually about 18" above the crown of any public roadway) with clean fill material.  The site is then compacted to the density required by the building code and the foundation can be dug using a backhoe with a small bucket.  Next, the plumbing subcontractor installs all the underground infrastructure pipe.

Depending on the size of the construction company and the project, a Project Manager is usually the top field guy in charge.   In my company a Project Manager oversees more than one project.  The day to day work is overseen by a Field Superintendent and, depending on how many buildings are under construction, a Foreman reports to the Super.  For example:  I have a project of 120 single family homes that is part of a large P.U.D. (Planned Urban Development).  The P.M oversees the entire P.U.D. and a Super is in charge of three of the nine projects.  He has three Foremen for each phase - One for the shell work, one for the interior work and one for the finish work.  Assuming that a "start memo" is issued for one new home every week, and it is the 12th week of construction, there may be as many as 60 workmen on the this job including subcontractors.

During excavation of a footing or foundation, a body is discovered by the Foreman.  He calls his Super who secures the site and calls the police.  The Super has instructions that if something unusual is uncovered or discovered during construction, such as a skeleton, junk (disposed of years ago) or construction debris, he should immediately secure the site and notify the P.M.  In the case of human remains, the Police are notified immediately.  The P.M. will notify the V.P. of Construction who in turn will notify the project owner if other than the Contractor.

I hope this has been helpful.

Ask The Contractor
Roger  





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, that's just what I needed!  Couple of follow-up questions:

1.  In my story, the site was cleared and leveled a year ago, but it's just sat there ever since.  There would be lots of weed and grass growth, so would they bring the bulldozer back to clean it up?  (Sounds like a backhoe would be the wrong machine for this.)

2.  What's the usual work sequence on a site with multiple buildings:  (a) backhoe digs ALL the foundations, then plumbing contractor comes in and installs ALL the piping, or (b) backhoe digs one foundation and plumbers start in on that building while he's digging the next?

Thank you again!!

Answer
Hi Paula,

Yes, a backhoe would be the wrong machine.  A backhoe is used for digging trenches or excavating basements.  A small bulldozer can be used for clearing although I would suggest a tractor with a back blade and a rake.  This machines can clear surface growth such as grass and weeds and the rake can remove the root systems.

Your description is one way - if all the subcontractors have sufficient personnel to man several jobs.  I would sequence my starts based on experience that a two story, 12 unit condominium will take 4 to 6 months, depending on the size, features (such as an elevator) and the sales market.
If I determine a time line for each trade I can schedule start-ups to coordinate with a trade so that the same plumbers, electricians, framers, etc will be the same crew on each building.  Their experience can be a benefit as each building progresses.  Some trades can provide off-site operations.  For example, a plumber can build drainage stacks in his own yard and truck the part to the job site when needed.  Also, it's important to schedule deliveries on a Monday or Tuesday so the materials will be used or installed before the weekend.

I completed two 16 story condo towers near the ocean and coordinated the completion to be 90 days apart.  The 1st tower was completed exactly on the scheduled time.  The project owners were having better sales than expected so I was asked to speed up completion of the 2nd tower.  Once again, the same crews went from the 1st tower to the 2nd tower and their experience gained time in completing the 2nd tower and we C.O'ed the building in 45 days.

I hope this has been helpful.

Roger
Ask The Contractor