The 5 biggest mistakes in painting work on large construction sites
In the execution of large painting projects many companies fail due to recurring mistakes that can cost up to 15% of profits. Poor calculations based only on experience are one of the main causes of financial imbalances. Without precise data, there is quickly pressure on employees who cannot meet the calculated time targets.
Another problem is insufficient planning, where often more than 20% of the details remain unclear at the start of construction. This leads to employees on-site missing important information or materials, delaying the entire process. A professional project management software can provide a solution here by enabling centralized planning. These oversights directly lead to friction losses and reduce productivity by up to 10%.
The following list shows the most common sources of error:
- Quotes without capacity check: Contracts are accepted without checking the availability of personnel for the over 1,000 hours of work.
- Missing quality agreements: Written standards are missing in over 50% of contracts, leading to conflicts.
- Poor calculations: Estimates instead of accurate calculations lead to coverage gaps of 5-10%.
- Insufficient planning: Lack of material and personnel deployment planning causes daily delays of up to 2 hours.
- Poor documentation: Less than 30% of companies document the construction progress comprehensively.
These mistakes are avoidable and not only cost money but also erode client trust, jeopardizing future collaboration on successful large projects The solution lies in the digitization of essential processes, starting with communication.
Deliberately avoiding communication chaos and documentation gaps
On a large construction site, often more than 50 people communicate via unstructured WhatsApp groups. This leads to important instructions getting lost in a flood of over 100 messages per day. The result is misunderstandings that can cause rework worth thousands of euros. Structured communication is therefore not a luxury but a necessity for any profitable project.
Even more critical is the lack of documentation, a mistake made by over 60% of companies. Although today 99% of employees own a smartphone, it is rarely used for legally secure documentation. Photos of obstacles, defects, or additional services are often missing or not systematically stored. These gaps make it impossible to assert claims legally secure, as the VOB often requires from construction companies for large projects often demands.
Valoon turns these weaknesses into strengths. Instead of relying on confusing chats, all agreements, photos, and documents are automatically assigned to the correct project and securely archived. A photo of an obstacle becomes evidence with just one click, securing the profit. Thus, seamless construction documentation becomes the simplest exercise for your team.
Legal certainty per VOB through seamless construction documentation
For public contracts and many large painting projects the award and contract regulations for construction services (VOB) are contractually binding. The VOB/B requires traceable documentation of the construction process, a duty that many companies fulfill only inadequately. Incomplete construction documentation can lead to the loss of claims and fee reductions of up to 10% in case of disputes.
A central aspect is the documentation of defects and obstacles. With a digital solution like Valoon, employees can document defects or delays caused by other trades in less than 60 seconds via photo. These entries are timestamped and immediately visible in the office. This creates a chain of evidence that protects against unjustified claims.
The warranty periods per VOB for painting work are often shorter than for other trades, sometimes only 2 years. Therefore, thorough documentation of the acceptance and any defect reports is crucial. A digital app for defect management ensures that all processes remain searchable with just a few clicks even after years. This protects the business against 90% of all unjustified late claims.
Increase efficiency: Digitize measurements and time tracking
An accurate measurement is the foundation for the economic efficiency of any painting project and can reduce material costs by up to 15%. Traditional methods are time-consuming and error-prone. A digital app for measurements allows for capturing areas and quantities directly on-site, reducing effort by at least 50%. This data forms the basis for precise material ordering and realistic scheduling.
Digital recording offers decisive advantages:
- Accurate material ordering: Avoids surplus or shortage and protects the company’s liquidity by up to 5%.
- Realistic scheduling: Enables reliable planning of employee deployment and timely follow-up orders.
- Ongoing cost control: Real-time data from the construction site allows for daily accompanying calculations and prevents budget overruns.
The same applies to time tracking. Instead of manually filling out and assigning timesheets, employees record their times via the app directly for the respective project. This reduces administrative effort in the office by up to 8 hours per week. The precise assignment of working hours is also essential for correctly assessing the profitability of large projects in controlling correctly.
Your advantage with Valoon: Simple, efficient, and legally secure
The successful execution of large painting projects depends on three factors: simplicity, efficiency, and legal certainty. Valoon has been developed to optimize exactly these three areas without your employees on-site having to learn new, complex software. Using WhatsApp as a basis ensures acceptance of over 95% from day one.
Through automatic and structured documentation, you not only save at least 5 hours of administrative effort per week but also create a seamless chain of evidence for all processes. This effectively protects you against unjustified claims and secures your profit margin. The live translation feature also overcomes language barriers, reducing the error rate in international teams by a proven 30%.
Valoon is completely free for employees on-site and requires no training effort. Start optimizing your processes today and making your projects more profitable. Better organization is the key to success, especially when large projects are at risk of failing threaten.
Are you ready to take your projects to the next level? Book your free demo now and find out in 15 minutes how Valoon increases efficiency and legal certainty in your company.
More Links
Das Federal Statistical Office provides comprehensive information and statistics on building, including industry figures and company statistics.
BIM Germany is the central platform for the digitization of the construction sector in Germany.
Der Main Association of the German Construction Industry illuminates the digitization in the construction industry and its effects.
A study by PwC from 2019 analyzes the digitization of the German construction industry.
Das Fraunhofer IESE provides a document on the digitization of the construction industry.
Wikipedia offers an overview of Building Information Modeling (BIM), a method for optimized planning, execution, and management of buildings.
Die Green Bundestag parliamentary group presents a position paper on digitization in construction law.
Der VDI (Association of German Engineers) provides information on guideline 2552, which deals with Building Information Modeling (BIM).
FAQ
How does Valoon help avoid mistakes in large projects?
Valoon structures all onsite communication. Instead of confusing WhatsApp groups, all messages, photos, and documents are automatically assigned to the correct project and securely archived. This prevents loss of information and misunderstandings that can lead to costly mistakes. Thus, rework can be reduced by up to 30%.
Is training required for employees to use Valoon?
No, absolutely no training effort is required. Valoon uses WhatsApp as an interface to the construction site. Your employees communicate as usual via a WhatsApp number that they receive from you. All intelligent processing and archiving happens in the background.
How is the legal certainty of the documentation ensured?
Every message, every image, and every document sent via Valoon receives a timestamp and is permanently stored in the respective digital project file. This creates seamless, chronological documentation that meets the requirements of the VOB and can serve as evidence in case of disputes.
How much does Valoon cost for employees on-site?
For employees on-site, using Valoon is completely free. Costs only apply to users in the office (e.g., project managers) who use the central platform for management and evaluation. This pricing model lowers the entry hurdle and promotes acceptance throughout the entire team.
Does Valoon also support international teams?
Yes, Valoon has an integrated live translation feature. Messages can be sent in the employee’s respective native language and read by the recipient in their preferred language. This overcomes language barriers and reduces error rates in multilingual teams by a proven 30%.
Can I try Valoon for free?
Yes, you can get to know Valoon through a free and non-binding demo. In just 15 minutes we will show you how to make your projects more efficient and legally secure. Simply book an appointment on our website.
