​With the construction industry and associated professions thriving. We want to delve into the skills that set a successful engineer apart from the crowd. An engineer who possess the following five skills has the power to turn any building situation around. Read on to find out more!

1. Excellent Communication skills
The number one skill civil engineers should possess is, excellent communication skills. Construction sites are one of the most dangerous work spaces, therefore an engineer should leave little room for error and miscommunication on site to ensure work progresses smoothly. Although the professional involves a lot of technical language, civil engineers should have the ability to communicate issues, ideas and plans clearly to not only a team of industry professionals but those unfamiliar with the field.

2. Attention to Detail
This is most certainly an important skill for an engineer to have when assessing defects and offering solutions. Engineers must ensure during inspection that they have a high level of attention to ensure all defects are identified and nothing is forgotten that could lead to a more problematic issue for the client later in the project.

3. Time Management/Organisational Skills
With the construction industry thriving at the moment, engineers are in demand, which means they must be organised and have amazing time management skills to ensure they can manage all the projects they are involved in while maintaining a high standard of work. In addition to this engineers should ensure that they keep up to date with projects, that the project is progressing well and most importantly that the client is satisfied with works thus far. Just remember, in construction, time is money and you don’t want to waste the clients’ money by being unorganised and way off the estimated time and budget for the project.

4. Critical thinking
Engineering involves a combination of maths and science to determine the best long term solution for a building with an issue. Engineers must use their critical thinking to solve the issue at hand while also remaining inside budget, a certain time period and with as minimal as risk as possible. To factor all these in for every single project and pull each project off successfully takes a special kind of person!

5. Adaptability
There may be constraints placed on an engineer during their time on a project whether it be time, money, space or condition of the building to name a few. Therefore, an engineer must be ready to offer alternatives ways to achieve what the client desires. This skill is a test of both creativity and flexibility for the engineer and how well they know their profession to find a way around the issue that is effective, sustainable and satisfactory. An engineer’s ability to be adaptable will also prove valuable when an unforeseen issue  requires immediate action arises on site . 

​When it comes to the different parties that are present at a construction site, it is fairly obvious why contractors and managers are there. However, it isn’t always clear what role engineers play on site. While all projects require different tasks, the following is an example of the general roles undertaken by an engineer on site.
 
You may imagine an engineer as someone who spends most of their time in an office on a computer drawing up plans and writing reports, however,  this isn’t always the case during the construction process.
 
An engineers role on site begins with the initial inspection of the building which involves identifying issues, assessing the nature of them in relation to the buildings overall health and history and reporting back with solutions to be approved by the client.
 
Once these solutions have been approved, the engineer will supervise the work undertaken by the contractors from time to time to ensure that the job is carried out to specification, on schedule and within the budget. The engineer will also work to ensure that the plans on paper created prior meet the work that is being carried out. 

As the project continues the engineer will manage the project and can offer solutions for unforeseen issues should they arise. When all works have been finalised, the engineer will conduct an inspection and review of the building and ensure that the client is satisfied with the structural condition and aesthetic of the building.
 
Once the client confirms they are happy with the final product, the engineer will head back to the office to write their final reports and get stuck into the next exciting project!
 
Now that you know the role of an engineer on a construction site, why not go ahead and get in contact with us so we can work our magic and give you the healthy building you desire! 

When it comes to buildings that have been damaged by water, there are three methods of repair an engineering consultant can use, these are either a membrane, cavity flashing or damp proof course. Not sure what any of these are? Read on to find out!
 
Membrane:
A waterproofing membrane is a thin layer of watertight material that is laid, injected into or sprayed onto a surface to prevent water from passing through.  There are three different types of membranes that can be used, these are sheet, liquid and injectable, which all achieve the same outcome but through different applications.
 
Cavity Flashings:
This type of waterproofing method involves a continuous sheet of waterproofing material that is installed across the gap of a cavity wall. Cavity flashings run along the length of a wall, diverting water out through weep holes, thus keeping the structural integrity of the building intact.
 
Damp Proof Courses:
And finally, Damp Proof Courses. DPCS are a layer of waterproof material in the wall of a building near the ground, to prevent rising damp. DPCS help to prevent excess moisture entering the building which in turn prevents serious structural damage and issue such as wet rot, dry rot, timber decay, rising damp and black mould.
 
And that’s it for solutions to waterproofing issues within your building. So now if an engineer comes to inspect your building in response to water damage within your building you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about! 

In recent years, there has been a spotlight on preserving the environment when it comes to building new infrastructure and improving the outdated.  The “Green Building” movement promotes the preservation of the natural environment on which new infrastructure is built for the overall benefit of the environment and its occupants. This environmentally conscious movement allows us to make the buildings we need to, while also considering the future and the disastrous impact the use of hazardous material will have on future generations and the amount of available resources.
 
To go green or not go green that is the question
 
It is no secret that humans have not been the kindest to the environment. It would be highly beneficial for us to do everything in our power to reduce our carbon footprint and use of resources.

Going green has no real cons
Other than a slight cost increase, there is nothing bad to be said about the construction industry working to improve the environment when building by reducing pollution, efficiently using resources such as energy and water and promoting the health of buildings for their communities.
 
What are your thoughts on this topic…? Is it time to go green or continue business as usual?