Stop the Rework: Why Construction Teams Must Ask More Questions (and How It Saves Time, Money, and Sanity)

Construction Champions Podcast
Nov 27
4 min read

Rework is one of the biggest hidden profit killers in construction and most of it is completely preventable.

In this episode of Construction Champions, Ron Nussbaum talks with Brendon Nielsen, Managing Director of JK Engineers in Australia, about the real reasons construction projects blow up: bad communication, unclear expectations, weak drawings, and teams who are afraid to speak up.

Brendon explains how engineering, leadership, and culture connect on every job site and why asking more questions is the single fastest way to eliminate rework, avoid stress, and build projects right the first time.

This blog transforms the conversation into a simple, clear guide for contractors, PMs, engineers, and field teams who want to stop wasting time and money.

Asking Questions: The Real Mark of a Construction Champion

Brendon defines a construction champion simply:

“A construction champion is someone who is not afraid to ask a question.”

Most crews are taught the opposite:

“Just do it.”
“Follow the drawing.”
“Don’t ask why.”
“That’s how the engineer designed it.”

This mindset is killing projects.

Workers sit in job-site meetings thinking the same thing:“Why are we doing it like this? This makes no sense.”But they don’t want to be blamed, so they stay quiet.

That silence leads to mistakes that cost days, weeks, or even months.

Brendon challenges the industry:

Ask questions early
Challenge unclear drawings
Speak up when something feels wrong
Get clarity before building

If the engineer or designer can’t answer the question, it means they don’t know and they need to figure it out before anyone starts building.

The Blame Culture That Stops Teams from Speaking Up

One of the biggest problems Brendon sees on job sites is the “blame culture.”

Workers don’t question anything because:

They’ve been yelled at before
Leadership dismisses concerns
They don’t want to look difficult
They’re afraid mistakes will be pinned on them
They want to avoid conflict with engineers or PMs

Brendon explains that good leadership flips the script:

“We’re not blaming people. We’re looking at the process. How did we arrive here, and how do we prevent it next time?”

When teams feel safe asking questions, confusion drops and rework disappears.

The Hidden Cost of Rework (and Why It’s Accepted as “Normal”)

In Australia, about 12–13% of every construction budget is wasted on rework and similar patterns show up in the U.S.

That means:

Time wasted
Money wasted
Morale crushed
Schedules blown
Crews frustrated
Clients disappointed

Even worse, many companies budget rework into the project as if it’s “just part of construction.”

But Brendon makes it clear:

“Rework is almost always preventable if people ask questions early.”

Why does it keep happening?

Drawings don’t match reality
Designers assume construction teams “just know”
Leaders ignore early warnings
Crews follow instructions even when they know they shouldn’t
Political budgets encourage waste instead of efficiency

The people on the ground care about the work. They want to do it right the first time. Rework crushes them mentally and professionally.

Engineers vs. Field Crews: Why the Disconnect Is So Big

Brendon has lived on both sides, engineering and field construction and has seen the communication gap firsthand.

Designers often think in straight lines:

“Step 1 + Step 2 = Done.”

But construction crews think about reality:

“How do we access this?”
“What equipment fits here?”
“How does the sequence work?”
“What happens when A affects B?”

Designers assume. Crews guess.

Nobody asks enough questions.

And the result?

Mistakes, delays, arguments, and rework.

Why Brendon Started JK Engineers

Brendon built his firm after years of being the guy in the field saying:

“What the hell is this? How are we supposed to build this?”

He saw a massive gap:

Engineers weren’t thinking about constructability
Crews weren’t allowed to question designs
PMs were stuck in the middle
Leadership expected perfect execution without perfect communication

So he launched JK Engineers to bridge the gap:

Practical engineering
Clear communication
On-site understanding
Real-world solutions
Support during high-stress project moments

Brendon’s team often steps in when companies are in trouble, behind schedule, over budget, or stuck in a problem they can’t solve.

Their job is to deliver solutions and help teams communicate those solutions in a way that lowers stress instead of adding fuel to the fire.

The Communication Skill Every Contractor Needs

One of Brendon’s strongest insights is this:

“How you deliver the message is what wins or loses the entire outcome.”

When a mistake happens, most people panic.

They blame.

They snap.

They get defensive.

But great project managers and foremen do the opposite:

Slow the situation down
Communicate clearly
Keep the temperature low
Speak calmly
Show empathy
Tell the story in a way that helps everyone understand

Because in high-stress construction moments, communication determines whether a problem becomes a crisis or a solved issue.

How Contractors Can Avoid Rework Starting Today

Brendon gives simple steps every contractor can use:

1. Review your workflow.

Understand the sequence. Know how your task impacts everything that follows.

2. Ask questions early.

If it feels wrong, it probably is.

3. Look at personalities.

Sometimes a foreman and a PM don’t mix. Move people where they can succeed.

4. Focus on team culture.

Supportive teams communicate better. Unsupported teams stay silent.

5. Learn to deliver bad news calmly.

Your tone decides whether things explode or get solved.

6. Get help early.

When you’re stuck, don’t wait until it’s a dumpster fire. Bring in an expert who can see the bigger picture.

Brendon’s advice is simple:Problems will always exist, but confusion doesn’t have to.

About Brendon Nielsen

Brendon Nielsen is the Managing Director of JK Engineers in Australia. His firm specializes in bridging the gap between design and construction, solving complex engineering challenges, and helping contractors eliminate rework through clear communication, practical problem-solving, and field-focused engineering.

Connect with Brendon on LinkedIn or through JK Engineers.