Everything You Need to Know to Build a House in Half the Time

What if there was a way to do the same job your competition can do, but in half the time? You get twice the work, twice the income. That sounds promising, right? While there isn’t really a magical solution to give you this ability, we’ve compiled a list of suggestions on how to increase efficiency and speed in your construction. If you apply them, you’re likely to see strong improvements in your finish rate.

Team work makes the dream work.

When beginning a project, building a house or any other project, meet with your team first. Go over the schedules and plans, and then ask for their input on ways to speed it up, increase efficiency and reduce waste. Recognize that each builder has had a unique experience and may have learned something useful through that. By compiling the knowledge of a group of experienced builders, you will undoubtedly reap the benefits. You might also consider cash incentives for jobs well done and ahead of schedule. Cash is a great motivator for construction crews. If you get done sooner, you’ll be saving money in labor as well, so you may be able to create a bonus budget from that.

Use high-quality, high-speed tools.  There have been tremendous advances in tool manufacturing that have led to a wide range of fast-moving tools that are built to last. Pneumatic tools are fast, more power + cycles per minute = more efficiency. The driving force of the air compressor delivers greater pounds per square inch (psi) than can be generated by hand. They are easier to use than traditional electric tools and tend to be smaller, lighter and easier to control. Plus, they may last longer than electric ones due to their robust design. While electric tools could burn up, air tools run cooler and are less affected by dirt and debris when properly maintained.

Use high-quality, combination fasteners. Combination fasteners mix the speed of a nail with the versatility and holding power of a screw. They are twice as fast as collated screws, eight times faster than bulk screws, easily adjusted, quickly removed and have dramatically increased holding power over nails. When collated and used in combination with pneumatic fasteners, like the full line offered by Fasco America®, your time to completion will be greatly reduced.

While going faster can lead to more jobs, be careful not to sacrifice quality in the name of speed. That’s a good way to get yourself a lot of free time, because no one will hire you. Striking a balance between speed and quality is a sure way to win in the construction business.