COVID-19 has had a continued impact on construction and demolition around the world. With many projects on hold, cashflow is reduced – and even with government support, some firms face difficult times. But a “new normal” is emerging, which may see a slow return to business.

Project Impact

One of the biggest issues facing the construction industry is supply chain management, compounded by the need to implement strict health and safety protocols for workforces.  Deliveries of domestic construction materials like plasterboard have been delayed, pushing project completion dates further back – and with social distancing in force on all sites, inputting extra labour to complete projects on time has not been an option.

Every phase of construction has experienced some form of setback. A RIBA survey found that architects are facing significantly decreased workloads – and over a third reported project cancellations.

In April, more than 4,500 UK projects were delayed due to COVID-19, stalling £70billion of work – predominantly in housing. In commercial construction, several global firms paused operations, which included Facebook’s $750million US data centre. While the downturn in April was significant around the world, some work began to pick up towards the end of the month, as countries found ways of working through the coronavirus pandemic. UK home builders began a phased return to sites, and equipment manufacturers in Europe restarted operations.

In May, demolition work made its tentative return with reduced workforces, temperature monitoring and upgraded PPE. Some companies have employed creative solutions to keep work moving, diversifying into training during downtime, and producing online conferences and seminars to fill gaps. This has also helped keep workforces engaged and positive about returning to work.

Keeping a Positive Outlook

In July, the construction industry rebounded in a big way, accelerating at the fastest rate for five years. This is great news for the industry – while the downturn and bleak picture of Q1 was unavoidable, it’s wonderful to see some positives emerging now.

Some of this activity is thanks to the government’s Stamp Duty holiday. This came as a much needed boost to property developers and construction workers, as a lively and active property market is good news for other businesses and the economy as a whole. It keeps demolition, site clearance and construction moving as demand for homes returns.

This bizarre period in history has also helped construction firms and equipment manufacturers to become more efficient and lean, reducing waste and finding new revenue streams. Although not everyone can benefit from these changes, the net result should equate to better and more sustainable business practice in the years to come.

Weathering the storm of COVID-19 has been a monumental effort for our industry, and we’re proud to be standing strong today, keeping up with projects and providing our exemplary service safely.

Operating Safely in the COVID Era

We’re working hard to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on operations, while taking every measure we can to keep our team and our customers safe. To find out more about how K&B Crushers remains fully operational through COVID-19, read our statement.

K&B Crushers for Concrete Crushing Solutions

With our advanced fleet of mobile concrete crushers, breakers and waste transporters, we’re nationwide experts in demolition waste processing and recycling of concrete and hardcore arisings. To find out more about our services, talk to us today – call us now on 01235 769984.