1. Inclement weather and stand-downs
Rain, heat, wind, or storm events that stop work safely proceeding. Usually an excusable delay (more time), but often not compensable (no extra money) unless your contract says otherwise. Record the date, the conditions, which works and crews were stood down, and for how long. See how to document weather and stand-down delays.
2. Late or restricted site access
You can't start or continue because the area isn't released, another trade is in the way, or access is blocked. Often excusable and compensable — the delay is caused by others, not you. Record when access was promised, when you actually got it, and what your crew and plant did in the meantime.
3. Late design information or RFIs
Drawings, details, or RFI responses arrive late and hold up your sequence. Usually compensable — you're entitled to time and the cost of the disruption. Record the date you needed the information, the date it arrived, and the works that waited.
4. Variations and scope changes
A direction changes what you're building, which pushes out your programme. Variations carry their own time and cost entitlement — but only if the impact is recorded. Keep the instruction, the changed scope, and the dayworks or variation records that price it.
5. Idle plant and standing labour
A delay leaves plant sitting and crews standing — a real cost even when no "work" is happening. This is the cost side of most claimable delays. Price it with the Plant Downtime Cost Calculator and Labour Standby Cost Calculator, and see the delay costs subcontractors miss.
6. Concurrent delays
Two or more delays overlap — say late access *and* weather at the same time. These are the hardest to claim because entitlement gets shared or reduced. The only thing that protects you is clear, dated, day-by-day records showing which cause affected which works.
7. Non-excusable delays (the ones you can't claim)
Delays caused by your own resourcing, rework, or sequencing. These carry no entitlement — and trying to claim them weakens your credibility on the delays that *are* claimable. Knowing the difference keeps your claims clean.
How to tell which delay you can claim
Two quick tests: was the cause within your control? (if not, it's likely excusable) and did it cost you money, not just time? (idle plant, standing labour, extended supervision = compensable). If a delay is excusable and compensable, the next step is almost always to serve a delay notice and start recording, then build it into a delay claim.
Common mistake
Treating every delay as claimable — or recording none of them until the end. The subcontractors who recover costs are the ones who identify the *type* of delay early, serve the notice, and record the day-by-day impact while it's happening. Keep the right delay records as you go.
FAQs
What are the main types of construction delay?
The common ones for subcontractors are weather/stand-downs, late site access, late design information, variations, idle plant and standing labour, concurrent delays, and non-excusable (self-caused) delays.
What's the difference between an excusable and a compensable delay?
An excusable delay entitles you to more time; a compensable delay entitles you to time and money. A delay can be excusable but not compensable (weather often is), so the cause and your contract decide which applies.
Which construction delays can a subcontractor claim for?
Generally delays caused by others — late access, late information, variations, and the idle plant and standing labour that follow — provided you served notice on time and recorded the impact.
What is a concurrent delay?
When two or more delays overlap in time. Entitlement is often shared or reduced, so day-by-day records showing which cause affected which works are essential.
