As builders work to complete a construction project (commercial or residential), equipment like excavators and bulldozers that uproot earth and relocate it elsewhere can spell disaster for construction companies directly impacted by havoc-wreaking soil erosion. When nutrient-rich topsoil is displaced due to construction site activity, the land becomes vulnerable to erosion’s devastating effects, as it’s no longer able to regulate water flow. Similarly, when construction workers deposit this soil into surrounding water sources, soil erosion is bound to ensue.
If left unregulated, this soil erosion can devastate nearby vegetation and wildlife, inflicting rampant environmental harm. How? This extra sediment and nutrient concentration plaguing water sources can lead to eutrophication, better known as the overgrowth due to added nitrogen and phosphorus.
While a large percentage of the driving forces of erosion are outside the control of contractors and construction teams, project oversight must assume the responsibility to develop effective methods to prevent soil erosion. Contractors should implement these erosion control/erosion mitigation measures with environmental protection efforts in mind. When construction industry leaders adhere to their erosion control strategies, they can protect surrounding ecosystems and prevent costly construction project delays stirred by soil erosion.
Should a construction worker accidentally misinterpret soil limitations, exposed soil, sloping land, or water drainage, a construction company may be in direct violation of the city’s erosion and sediment control bylaws. To resolve these issues, the team must halt construction, leading to costly project delays.
To avoid these project delays, many contractors have devised and implemented soil erosion control strategies to reduce the risk of water drainage issues/water pollution and ensure quick and efficient project completion.

Erosion’s effects on newly-planted grass seed

Without a thoughtfully-crafted erosion control strategy, planted grass seed may wash away due to undisrupted water flow, making it vital that construction companies keep the importance of erosion control in mind when preparing the construction site. If this planted grass seed happens to wash away, sturdy roots capable of stabilizing the soil and reducing mudflow won’t establish.
Before the project draws to close, a landscaping contractor will need to install sod or plant grass seed. Should a homeowner opt for grass seed over sod, they should remember that a high-quality grass seed comes in many varieties with superior genetic traits such as increased drought tolerance, higher density, and pest-resistant properties. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the seed mix’s ingredients before purchase to ensure the final product is an erosion-mitigating and soil-stabilizing front lawn. With the help of high-quality grass seed, you can contribute to your construction company of choice’s erosion control efforts—and not unravel their progress.

Negative Impacts of Project Delays

If your construction company fails to invest in their erosion control strategy and disobeys the city’s erosion and sediment control bylaws, project delays may be inevitable. Note that these delays can have devastating consequences for the client and construction company in question alike.

Client loss

Many construction companies depend on clients to build revenue in their construction practices. Unsurprisingly, prospective clients flock to companies that complete their work early and up to their standard.
When tenants’ occupation is delayed, a client may refuse to work with the contractor in future projects. Consequently, these clients dealing with a pushed-back completion date may choose to do business with the construction company’s competitors. If the company’s competitors promise to avoid delays at all costs, they’re likely to secure a long-term client.
It’s important to note that some clients may not understand the causes of the delays due to erosion. With an early project completion date at the forefront of the client’s focus, their disinterest in the reason for the delay may result in disgruntled attitudes.

Customer dissatisfaction

Customer dissatisfaction is one of the primary causes of lost clientele. Clients will rightfully value the work delivered, and if the quality is compromised, they tend to seek construction labor elsewhere.
Should a construction company experience a massive disposition and landslides, they should inform their client that delays are likely. If delays occur, this not only affects the project underway but can potentially endanger the residents and construction workers nearby.
Because contractors and other workers occupy construction sites around the clock, landslides put these unsuspecting workers’ lives at risk when they appear. With suffocation and physical trauma looming over construction company owners’ heads, devising a soil erosion control strategy should be a top priority.
Along with safety risks, soil-erosion-related destruction can interfere with a client’s income. With clients investing their capital in building commercial properties, their primary objective is to make a living from their businesses-in-the-making. Therefore, delaying completion dates translates to dissatisfaction and eventual clientele loss.

Best methods to control erosion on construction sites

Don’t allow your construction company to fall victim to physically and financially-devastating landslides or mudslides. Do your due diligence to prevent this erosion-related damage from straining or severing client relationships.

Establish vegetation

Establishing vegetation near construction sites helps to mitigate soil erosion. It’s essential to note that high-quality seed helps create a favorable environment for rapid growth, stabilizing the soil in a short thirty-day span. With increased stabilization, the risk of soil movement during the rainy and windy seasons is significantly lower.

Build earth walls

In many instances, earth walls are made of concrete and then filled with soil. Workers construct these earth walls on slopes in an effort to minimize shifting soil. Using this tactic, construction teams can prevent soil deposition near construction sites, making it easy for contractors and other workers to continue working without delay. Indirectly, the establishment of earth walls ensures speedy completion and optimal customer satisfaction.

Construct concrete blocks

Concrete blocks are essential tools for holding soil in place. These blocks are especially useful in areas with high moisture levels, as they can help drain standing water away from the construction sites. With concrete blocks in place, construction workers can prevent soil erosion from wreaking havoc on their projects.

Conclusion

Construction involves both intentional and unintentional movements. These movements impact the natural areas around it and cause construction site erosion. While these relocations of soil are essential, contractors can occasionally overlook the consequences of shoddy workmanship.
Unregulated soil erosion has continued to be a menace for construction sites and other parts of society alike, which is why contractors should incorporate erosion prevention into the construction plans. Failure to do so may result in company closures.