Step 7 – Adding Value to Your Project

It was first developed during the Second World War by Lawrence Miles when shortage of materials meant a search for alternatives was needed. This method continues to provide huge benefits to those companies who choose to adapt to it.

When should value engineering be carried out?

Although it is possible to apply value engineering at any point in construction projects, we highly recommend companies begin the process at the demolition phase. By applying the methodology early, it will save time and costs further down the line, providing a better return on investment for the project.

How can value engineering benefit your project?

The ultimate goal for any construction project is to remain on scope, within budget, and to finish on-time. As delays can be caused by several things, such as transportation issues and site limitations, value engineering can minimise these obstructions by identifying their potential and creating a solution at the start of the project. Doing so will benefit the overall project by eliminating time constraints, leading to a decrease in the programme duration.

For those landowners who choose to sell the land after the demolition project is complete, carrying out value engineering will help to maximise the asset value on the project due to the time and money that can be saved. As well as this, as a landowner, you will be able to more clearly understand the land’s building potential meaning a better valuation can be provided when selling.

By ensuring value engineering is carried out at the demolition stage of the project, professionals such as Weaver Demolition can directly work with clients from the start to accurately identify materials that can be recycled or reused. The need for export and import can then be dramatically reduced as well as limiting the costs of the production of new products going into the construction phase.

As well as this, being able to highlight what materials can be salvaged and then reused will also lead to a reduction in overall waste, for example, recyclable waste streams such as timber, metals and plastics can be maximised which will also help to improve the contribution to the circular economy.

Importance of incorporating land remediation and decontamination in your value engineering

To help to further increase the value of the land and improve the environmental impact of the project, land remediation and decontamination work should play a vital part in value engineering. Land remediation is the process of cleaning up and decontaminating land and soil that is derelict or has been polluted by things such as industrial activity, asbestos and natural contaminants.

The treatment can be done on-site and can aid in reducing your requirement for export and import due to using techniques such as soil stabilisation and deep soil mixing. Soil stabilisation is a highly efficient method of re-engineering soil properties in order to improve both its strength and durability. Deep soil mixing is typically used to enhance the strength and stiffness characteristics of weak and very soft formation soils, and can also be designed as a composite ground improvement system to control settlement.

By enhancing the qualities of existing soils with these techniques, it can offer an alternative to imported aggregate and reduce the disposal of surplus excavated spoil off-site, meaning it is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Potential buyers who know the land has been decontaminated will also see this as one less problem for them to consider, making it more attractive to purchase. Which, in turn, could lead to the possibility of not only a higher sale but one that might be completed quicker.

Are you planning a demolition project that will require value engineering? Weaver Demolition can offer professional advice and will provide a comprehensive quotation for all prospective work. For more information and to speak with one of our team, please contact us here.