Anyone who has had a discussion with a contractor, particularly regarding a large project, such as an office building, has likely heard talk about how a construction material supplier will fit into the process. Construction material delivery is essential to getting any job moving forward, and it needs to be handled by competent people in an orderly manner. As you start dealing with the details of a building effort, it can be beneficial to learn more about this key link in the chain.

Feasibility Studies

While you'll get valuable opinions from folks like architects and engineers, it's often the people who work hands-on with the materials who can tell you the most about their feasibility for specific applications. A construction material supplier will help you choose products that meet your specifications. In some cases, such as producing pre-cast concrete forms, they can even help you customize solutions to difficult problems. If there's a serious concern with how well a material used in a building might hold up, they can also point you toward alternative products and even engineers who might have more expertise regarding your specific situation.

Tendering

Once the details of a design have been ironed out, you'll move into the tender phase, a period where the specifics of the contract will be sorted out. This will include putting together documents and contracts that outline the exact requirements. A quote will be assembled during this phase, and you, your contractors and the supplier will also hammer out delivery dates and deadlines. You should also make sure that contingencies are worked into the agreements in order to handle unforeseen issues, such as unusual weather.

It's important during the tender phase to be as specific as possible regarding your requirements. If you're handling a job that has clearly defined eco-friendliness requirements, for example, you want to be absolutely sure that all sourcing of materials has been thoroughly vetted for sustainability. You should also keep an eye on the materials being proposed for a job to ensure that everything will be up to local codes for your build.

Assembly and Delivery of Materials

Once a tender has been accepted, your construction material supplier will begin putting things together. This may include a period for casting materials, pulling them out of inventory and taking delivery from third parties. The supplier will provide appropriate equipment for delivery, and they may even handle on-site placement.