Construction Types - Effective Tips for Major Challenges!

Development projects can be categorized in a variety of ways, leading to different construction types. If you are planning to hire a contractor for a particular project, learning about different types of buildings and fire-resistant ways of construction will help you make informed and better decisions.   

This article will first explore six main types of development based on how the owner plans to use the structure after it’s finished. It will also cover five different methods to make a building highly fire-resistant, enhancing fire protection. 

Finally, you’ll learn how a project owner can streamline the construction process with pro tips on choosing the right construction type, hiring the best responsible contractor, taking potential challenges en route into view, and more. Let’s get started.  

What are the 6 Major Project-Based Construction Types?

According to the difference in the purpose of use, there are 6 major construction types, namely, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, mixed-use, and heavy civil. Design and specific requirements underline key differences among these forms. The following table provides a detailed discussion.

Construction Type	Definition
Residential	All the constructions that are built for the purpose of living, such as homes, flats, condominiums, etc., are called residential construction.
Commercial	Buildings meant to be used for commercial purposes, such as company offices, shops, stores, and malls, are called commercial constructions.
Industrial	Industrial constructions include buildings that are to be used for manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. Construction of factories and warehouses is the most common example of this type of development.
Institutional	All the public use developments are subsumed under the term institutional constructions. Common examples typically include schools, hospitals, government offices, etc.
Mixed-Use	A mixed-use building contains different types of spaces within the same development unit, such as commercial space on the ground floor, office spaces on middle floors, and residential sections on the top floors.
Heavy Civil	Every type of large infrastructure project is categorised under the heavy civil construction type.

All these different types of constructions are classified based on the needs and purpose of use decided by the project owner. This is the primary way to differentiate between several development units. 

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What are the 5 Building Construction Types?

The above section has classified developments based on the ultimate purpose of use. Taking it further, each construction project in the table above has 5 building construction types. 

In other words, to put it simply, each type of project can be built with 5 different types of materials, coming with varying fire resistance capabilities. Hence, according to the materials used in construction and their fire resistance, there are 5 types of construction, namely, Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, and Type V. 

The following table summarises all types of building construction briefly. 

Construction Type	Features
Type I	Fire-resistive materials are used in construction, such as concrete and steel, ensuring high fire resistance.
Type II	Noncombustible materials & resources are utilised for the development of a build like type I, but fire resistance isn’t that strong.
Type III	Non-combustible materials are for exterior walls, while combustible ones are for interior walls.
Type IV	This method uses heavy timber to construct a building; the thickness of the timber works as a natural fire resistance provider.
Type V	Wood framing is chosen over other alternatives and is typically considered the first option in residential building projects.

1. Type I Construction: Fire-Resistive Materials 

Under this construction type, a building is constructed with the help of highly fire-resistant materials, such as concrete and steel. As a result, the final development boasts a high level of fire protection. Type 1 Construction is the best choice for all tall structures, whether residential or commercial. Normally, this method is ideal and thus used for every project meant to stand up to 75 feet (ca. 23 m) tall or around the same height. 

2. Type II Construction: Non-Combustible

Similar to type I construction, type II also utilises non-combustible materials for major components such as walls, floors, and roofs. However, there is often an absence of fire-resistant coatings or insulation, like type I, making type II structures less secure when it comes to fire protection. 

The ideal condition to use this material for construction is when it is not meant for residential purposes, but for temporary storage in commerce, logistics, or otherwise.    

3. Type III Construction: Ordinary

Type 3 Construction is also called ordinary construction. This type of building is made up of non-combustible materials for external walls, while the internal structures are built from combustible materials such as wood. 

The construction type III is frequently seen as a smart approach where a balance of fire resistance and cost-effectiveness is required. The method is considered best when the client cannot afford the high costs of construction. 

4. Type IV Construction: Heavy Timber

Type IV buildings are constructed with large, solid wood structures like beams, columns, and planks for creating a fire-resistant environment. Generally, construction codes recommend at least 8 inches (ca. 20 cm), 6 inches (ca. 15 cm), and 3 inches (ca. 8 cm) thick wood columns, beams, and roof planks, respectively. 

The large wood parts get charred when facing fire, allowing for a longer burn time before the structure collapses. However, heavy timber often requires high expenses. 

5. Type V Construction: Wood-Frame

Also known as wood-frame construction, this is a method of development where wood is primarily used to frame the structure. This is the least fire-resistant method of all construction types discussed so far, as the wood is highly combustible when exposed to fire. Clients mostly opt for this option due to its high affordability. 

Additionally, wood is known for its versatility when it comes to crafting shapes and designs. Whether a client should use wood as a construction material or not totally depends on specific needs, climate, and availability, among other things. 

This has been a general discussion on different types of construction from the perspectives of the final purpose of use, as well as the fire resistance level of the material used! 

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How to Choose Among Different Construction Types?

The project owner just needs to factor in utility, fire resistance level, budget, availability, climate, and timeline to choose the best construction types for you.

• Purpose of Use: The first step is to decide why you require a new building. For example, if you need to build a multi-storey building that will be later rented out to companies looking for office spaces. Here, you need to hire a commercial contractor to complete the project, as the nature of use is commercial. 

• Desired Level of Fire Resistance: If you are looking for a highly fire-protected and resistant structure, you must choose type I construction. However, clients with financial constraints can either select type 2 or type 3 from the available 5 types of building construction. 

• Budget: In case your budget is very low, and you can afford to compromise on fire resistance, you can pick type 5 construction. Otherwise, with no budget constraints, a client must decide on type 1 construction for better fire resistance. 

• Availability: The materials you need to complete a construction project must also be available nearby. For example, if wood materials aren’t accessible, you might have to end up selecting any other alternative construction type. 

• Climate: In mostly hot countries or regions, it is best not to use highly combustible materials to build a structure. It will put the security of people using the building at high risk. 

Finally, the timeline is a major factor as well. Specify how much time you consider reasonable for a project to complete. If you need a site to be built fast, decide accordingly. Type 1 residential properties take relatively shorter periods of time for completion than other alternatives. 

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Tips on Hiring the Best General Contractor? 

To get to the most suitable contractor among many service providers, make sure that you research thoroughly, verify credentials well, compare prices, get help from people you know, consider Google ratings, and reviews from past customers.  

1. Research: Explore all the information available on the internet about different construction service providers. Go through their unique selling propositions and values, so that you have enough options to select from. 

2. Verify Credentials: During your research, never forget to check experience, expertise, incorporation of the organisation, licence, and other essential details so that you end up with a well-qualified service provider. 

3. Compare Quotations: Ask for estimates from various vendors and then compare to find the most affordable solutions. 

4. Get Referrals: If you cannot trust anyone from the internet, it is advised to talk to your friends and family members to see if they know a reliable development service provider. References are highly trustworthy.  

5. Consider Google Ratings: For each company offering construction services, check its Google ratings before proceeding further. This will help create the right first impression about the company. 

6. Check Customer Reviews: Go through customer experiences to gauge the value of the services provided by a particular general contractor. Online reviews are the best way to get insights in this direction. 

While finalising a deal with any provider, never sign any contract with a general contractor if you haven’t already read the general conditions of a construction contract. Furthermore, if required, hire a construction lawyer to effectively manage legal complications that are common in large-scale construction projects. 

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Challenges Faced by Project Owners During Construction

There are a variety of demanding situations that can make the building process difficult to manage. Some potential issues are cost overruns, delays, technological changes, communication gaps, shortage of labour, poor planning, etc. Consider the following table for more.

Challenges	Explanations
Cost Overruns	Expenses go beyond the budget initially allotted, due to poor construction estimating, design changes during construction, and delays in payments.
Delays	Disputes, unrealistic design changes, the elements, etc., prevent the project from getting completed on time.
Technological Changes	Slow adaptation to new technological changes leads to inefficiency and high consumption of time, cost, and limited resources.
Communication Lack	Often, during construction, clients and contractors don’t communicate very well with each other, leading to miscommunication and wastage of limited resources. This creates a huge gap between expectations and realities.
Labour Shortage	Sometimes, labour requirements increase, but there aren’t enough labourers available to meet the demand.
Poor Planning & Budgeting	This often happens when a contractor doesn’t estimate potential costs properly, leading to spikes in unexpected costs.
Contract Loopholes	If a construction contract isn’t formulated well, the other party might try to exploit the loopholes to their undue advantage.
Cash Flow Problems	Clients not providing funds at different completed phases of the construction process can bring the morale and overall enthusiasm of the builder down and lead to delays and waste of limited resources.

If you want to learn about all these challenges specifically, conduct your own independent research on the internet or talk to your contractor about these issues and resultant inefficiencies in advance. 

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How to Reduce Wastage of Limited Resources During Building?

Consider the following points and use the resources intelligently during the process of construction. It will help reduce the overall cost and use the saved money and materials somewhere else. 

1. Plan and use Building Information Modelling (BIM) to simulate various stages of the building process on any trusted digital platform. It will help minimise errors and wastage of the expensive and scarce resources. 

2. Reuse all the items in good condition attached to the existing structure if the new construction is being done on an old one. Examples of such reusable items are doors, windows, fixtures, etc. 

3. If you need materials to fill spaces in the new site of construction site, use concrete and masonry debris from the existing building parts.

4. Don’t mix different types of solid waste like concrete, steel, timber, etc. 

5. If possible, consider deconstruction over demolition, as it will help salvage all the reusable materials. 

6. Always hire competent and experienced construction service providers so that you can leverage their expertise for accurate estimates and reduced inefficiency. 

Furthermore, to keep things organised and sorted at least on paper, never forget to draft and sign a cost-plus contract. It will help put potential costs and profit margins on paper, eliminating any room for ambiguity later.

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Conclusion 

Understanding different construction types is essential for making informed decisions during the building process. This is because each type of construction requirement varies significantly, and neglecting this can lead to financial losses and inefficiencies. 

For example, residential buildings require completely different planning compared to commercial structures. Thus, if you have any doubts about your construction needs, don’t hesitate to have an in-depth conversation with a contractor before finalising a deal. 

Also Read: Get a General Construction License in California

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