If you run your own construction business, then you be aware of just how demanding such an enterprise can be, with the familiar feeling of being continuously pulled in multiple directions as you endeavour to simultaneously care for your employees whilst also keeping your various projects and day-to-day operations running smoothly. By managing your business competently and effectively, you will not only be rewarded with a higher employee satisfaction, you will also increase the likelihood of securing future works by prospective customers, rather than them choosing an alternative from the other 914,000 enterprises in the construction sector.
Keeping projects running smoothly comes down to many factors, including having adequate staff to complete tasks, ensuring you have the proper tools, and being able to transport and store construction materials properly. The latter has never been more important with the current material shortage that the UK is facing. Business owners must keep the materials they order protected, so they don’t end up damaged.
Not sure how to do that? This is the article for you. We’ll discuss all of the things you need to keep in consideration for transporting and storing construction materials.
Consider where you will store materials
With the unpredictable weather in the UK, scouting out the most suitable and optimised place to store your materials is vital. For example, in winter it is imperative to keep materials safe by storing them undercover – preferably in an airtight capacity. This will keep them from getting damp, wet, or accumulating mould, which could potentially render them unusable.
It’s also important to keep materials well-ventilated on hot days. Failure to do this may lead to moisture building which can result in mould forming.
How to store materials
Once you’ve decided where you will store your materials, it’s time to decide how you’ll do it. This will take careful planning but will help to mitigate the risk of your materials getting damaged. Try the following examples to keep common materials safe:
Steel – This metal is susceptible to rust, corrosion and scaling when in storage. Try to coat it in cement wash to prevent any of these from occurring.
Plasterboard – Plasterboard is a vital material for any project which is why it should be kept well clear from any other materials. We recommend using a cantilever racking system to achieve this.
Lumber – This material can be extremely porous, so it will need to be stored undercover. In the unlikely event that it does get wet, be sure to store each piece horizontally with air space between them, so they can dry.
Know the weight of your materials
Take note of how much different objects weigh as this will ensure your staff know whether they can transport it to or from the storage spaces by themselves. Heavy materials should be moved by multiple staff or machinery if possible. By doing this, you’ll be able to prevent injury on site which will keep the project moving smoothly.
