The Shocking Truth About Sandbagging In The Construction Industry

In this blog, we’re diving into the term “sandbagging” and its implications in the construction industry. You’ve probably heard of sandbagging, but what does it really mean? Why is it harmful to the construction process? And why does it happen in the first place? Let’s explore these questions in detail, using concrete examples to show why sandbagging isn’t the practice you want to see on your projects.

What Is Sandbagging in Construction?

At its core, sandbagging refers to underrepresenting one’s true abilities or overestimating the time it takes to complete a task. In construction, this often manifests as inflating the duration needed to finish work, despite knowing it should take less time.

It’s important to note that there’s a difference between sandbagging and using buffers. Buffers in work packages or takt cycles are essential for absorbing variations and ensuring smooth transitions. There’s nothing wrong with incorporating reasonable buffers to accommodate variations in workflow. However, sandbagging is dishonest—it’s when someone intentionally misrepresents how long something will take, often as a way to cover themselves or avoid responsibility.

Think of sandbagging like putting extra weight in a seemingly light bag. The bag may appear harmless, but the added weight packs a much stronger punch. This metaphor works perfectly for construction sandbagging: it’s about misrepresenting the reality of work time to make things seem harder or more time-consuming than they truly are.

Why Does Sandbagging Happen in Construction?

The root cause of sandbagging in construction often lies in a toxic environment of mistrust between parties, especially between general contractors and trade partners. When a general contractor creates an atmosphere of high pressure, poor communication, and unhealthy accountability practices, trade partners may feel the need to protect themselves. As a result, they may add extra time to their work durations to ensure they’re not punished for potential delays or unrealistic expectations.

It’s a cycle of tug-of-war where one side pulls and the other pulls back, and the mistrust breeds inefficiency. Sandbagging becomes a response to this toxic environment, a way for individuals to cover their bases when they feel unsupported.

A Normal Takt Plan vs. Sandbagging

In a healthy construction environment, Takt planning (or Time by Location planning) helps ensure that every task has an accurate and fair duration, leading to a smooth flow of work. Trade partners and contractors collaborate to align expectations, and buffer time is built into the plan to absorb variations. When trust is present, everyone can accurately represent how long tasks will take, and the entire project stays on track.

However, when sandbagging takes place, the timeline is manipulated. Trade partners who feel unsafe or unsupported may intentionally overstate their durations. This disrupts the flow, causes inefficiencies, and increases the overall project cost.

The Effects of Sandbagging on Other Trade Partners

Sandbagging isn’t just detrimental to the individual doing it—it has a ripple effect across the entire construction project. If one trade partner adds unnecessary time to their task, it delays the next trade’s work. This creates a gap in the workflow and causes inefficiencies. Even worse, if the next trade moves forward before their area is fully ready, it leads to variation and further disconnects the supply chain.

This can snowball into a significant project delay, increasing costs, and causing friction between trade partners. The result? A fragmented, inefficient project that ultimately impacts everyone involved.

How Sandbagging Affects Your Own Work

Let’s also consider how sandbagging impacts the individual who engages in it. Imagine that your team is ready to move faster, but the sandbagging practice holds things back. The result? Inefficiencies, wasted resources, and unnecessary downtime. The workers are still being paid, but they’re standing around instead of contributing to actual work.

When workers or trades are delayed, they may need to be demobilized or moved to another part of the project, which disrupts their productivity and wastes valuable time and resources.

The Ripple Effect: Sandbagging Hurts Everyone

So, what happens when everyone participates in sandbagging? Well, you get a project that’s running at a slower pace than it should. The inefficiency gap widens, and workers are either standing idle or forced to adjust to an unproductive pace.

In contrast, when everyone works honestly and fairly, trust is built, tasks are completed efficiently, and the project moves forward smoothly. Everyone wins when you avoid sandbagging.

Conclusion

Sandbagging in construction is a harmful practice that results from a lack of trust. It leads to inefficiency, project delays, and increased costs. Whether you’re a general contractor, trade partner, or subcontractor, it’s essential to recognize the detrimental effects of sandbagging on your work and your relationships.

Creating a culture of trust and clear communication will ensure that all parties can represent their true work durations without fear of repercussions. This will improve efficiency, reduce project overruns, and keep everyone working together toward a common goal.

If you’re tired of sandbagging slowing down your project and want to ensure things run more smoothly, it’s time to have an honest conversation and establish a culture of trust on your next construction project.