Can a construction delay constitute breach of contract?
Construction projects can be expensive, and those who are depending on a project’s completion and see lost revenues for every day that the project isn’t completed. This is why timeliness in the construction industry is such a big deal. But regardless of your reputation and how hard you work, sometimes things get out of your control. While this may lead to nothing more than an inconvenient delay, in other circumstances it might leave you facing construction litigation. Construction delays and breach of contract A construction delay can be deemed a breach of contract. In some instances, construction contracts have a firm finish date which if not adhered to can result in a breach of contract. But even contracts that don’t specify a completion date can be subjected to a claim of breach if the project isn’t finished in a reasonable amount of time. This might be especially true if you’ve lost communication with the client or you’ve been pulled away from the project for a significant period of time. Defenses to a delay claim If you’re facing a breach of contract claim due to abandonment or delay, then you need to know your defense options. You might have several at