90 Construction Lessons

Most construction lessons are learned twice: once in theory and once the hard way on a live project.

A tender that looks too good. A drawing revision nobody noticed. An instruction given but never recorded. A design that works perfectly on paper but cannot easily be built. A handover that begins far too late.

90 Construction Lessons brings together concise, practical advice drawn from nearly four decades of working across construction, building surveying, project delivery and estates management.

Each short chapter begins with a recognisable situation, explains what experience teaches you and ends with one clear point to remember.

The lessons cover:

• briefs, surveys, scope and tendering
• design responsibility and information control
• instructions, variations and commercial reality
• programmes, procurement and site conditions
• quality, completion, handover and aftercare
• meetings, leadership and difficult conversations
• risk management, reporting and project control
• professional judgement and career development

Written for construction students, apprentices, graduates, project managers, surveyors, site managers, client-side teams and anyone newly trusted with responsibility for a building project.

This is not another technical textbook. It is the sort of practical guidance experienced professionals pass on during a site walk, after a difficult meeting or over a cup of coffee-short enough to dip into, but useful enough to return to throughout your career.

You will still make mistakes. Everyone does. But this book may help you spot the warning signs earlier, ask better questions and avoid learning quite so many lessons the hard way.