Why Engineering Delays Are Slowing Down Your Projects (and What Contractors Must Do About It)
- Construction Champions Podcast
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Most construction delays don’t start in the field.They start long before a crew shows up, buried inside engineering bottlenecks, permitting problems, unclear drawings, and breakdowns in communication between contractors, engineers, inspectors, and municipalities.
In this episode of Construction Champions, Ron Nussbaum sits down with Daniel McCaulley, founder and CEO of Ultimus Engineering, to expose why projects fall behind, why engineers and contractors so often misunderstand each other, and how the industry can finally bridge the communication gap that fuels frustration, rework, and missed deadlines.
This blog breaks down the biggest lessons from the conversation and turns them into actionable insights contractors can use immediately.
What Makes a Construction Champion?
Daniel opens with a simple truth:
“Champions come out on top because they don’t do what everyone else is doing.”
For him, becoming a champion requires:
Doing things differently
Refusing to settle for “good enough”
Surrounding yourself with people who complement your strengths
Staying competitive, curious, and always improving
He applies this directly to engineering. You can’t walk down the street without bumping into another engineer, but very few deliver engineering as a service, not just a set of drawings.
Ultimus Engineering’s competitive edge comes from speed, communication, and removing the bottlenecks that typically slow projects down.
The Harsh Truth: Engineering Is a Major Source of Delays
Most people blame labor shortages or material delays. Daniel points out:
In many cases, engineering slowdowns, not construction, create the biggest setbacks.
He sees it constantly:
Contractors calling on Thursday needing stamped engineering by Tuesday
Six-month delays because equipment rooms are drawn 50% too small
Municipalities rejecting drawings weeks after submission
Inspectors changing their interpretation of code mid-project
Engineers handing off projects to “the B-team” halfway through
Contractors feel the pain immediately: time, money, and momentum lost.
Daniel’s solution? Get engineers involved early. The earlier the questions get answered, the fewer surprises appear when the ground gets opened up.
Why Projects Really Fail: The Communication Gap
Daniel and Ron dive deep into the real issue:
Contractors and engineers are speaking two different languages.
Ron puts it bluntly:
“I can read the code to you, but I need you to tell me what it means in a way I can explain to an inspector.”
Most engineers explain things using terminology contractors don’t use. Most contractors describe things in jobsite language that engineers don’t use.
Neither side is wrong. Neither side is incompetent.They’re just experts in different things.
Daniel’s approach flips the script:
He starts conversations by assuming the engineer’s explanation won’t make sense
He uses analogies, simple terms, and stories
He invites clients to stop him anytime they don’t understand
He trains his engineers to be both technically strong and people-friendly
This alone eliminates misunderstandings that normally turn into expensive rework or added delays.
Why Design-Build Projects Move Faster
Daniel is a huge advocate for design-build work because it gets everyone at the table early:
Developer
Architect
Contractor
Engineers (structural, MEP, civil)
Other key disciplines
When all parties are present from day one, projects move roughly 40% faster, he says.
Why?
Because questions get answered before mistakes get built.
But design-build isn’t always an option. When working on remodels, historical projects, or retrofits, the game changes:
No as-builts
Old code compliance
Unknown conditions behind walls
Unpredictable inspectors
These projects demand deeper communication, flexibility, and problem solving.
Inside the Engineering “Bait-and-Switch” Problem
This is one of the most powerful insights Daniel shares.
Here’s the typical industry pattern:
The firm sends its best engineer to the initial site visit.
That engineer disappears after kickoff.
The project gets handed off to junior staff the client has never met.
Communication slows.
Decisions get stuck.
Quality drops.
Frustration skyrockets.
Daniel refuses to run Ultimus this way.
Every engineer from senior to junior, is involved from the beginning.Clients get to meet the real team doing the real work. There is no surprise handoff.
This alone prevents a massive amount of rework and confusion.
Why Direct Communication Matters More Than Project Managers
Many engineering firms force clients to communicate only with a project manager, not the engineer doing the design.
Daniel sees that as a major problem.
Project managers often:
Don’t fully understand the technical details
Relay information incorrectly
Slow down decision-making
Add more steps and more risk of miscommunication
By giving clients direct access to the engineer of record, Ultimus eliminates the telephone-game dynamic that stalls so many projects.
Nationwide Engineering With a Relationship-First Model
Ultimus Engineering is licensed in 19 states and expanding, but the key is not geography, it’s relationship.
Daniel grows his company by following great clients, not chasing random markets.
He shares that:
75–80% of their commercial work is repeat clients
Single-family limits repeat work, but commercial stays strong
Retention is cheaper, easier, and more productive than hunting for new clients
This is a powerful lesson for contractors: Go deeper with the right clients instead of constantly trying to find new ones.
The Real Message of This Episode: Be Humble About What You Don’t Know
Ron closes the interview with a powerful reminder:
“It’s not a weakness to ask for clarity. You can’t be an expert at everything, and that’s okay.”
The worst delays come from ego, when someone pretends they understand something but doesn’t.
Humility speeds up projects.
Honesty prevents mistakes.
Clear communication builds trust.
Everyone wins when the field and the engineers stop trying to out-expert each other and start speaking the same language.
About Daniel McCaulley
Founder & CEO, Ultimus Engineering Licensed professional engineer specializing in:
Ground-up construction
Remodels and historic buildings
Aquatics design
Manufacturing and industrial engineering
Complex problem solving with fast turnaround times
Direct communication and concierge-style service
Daniel and his team help contractors eliminate design bottlenecks, prevent delays, and build projects faster with clarity and confidence.
Website:
Email:
Phone: 972-825-7741
LinkedIn:
How BuilderComs Fits In
Clear communication isn’t just a “nice to have” it’s the backbone of every successful project. Misunderstandings don’t just cause frustration. They cause delays, change orders, rework, and lost profit.
BuilderComs helps construction teams stay aligned, communicate clearly, and protect projects from miscommunication that costs time and money.
Learn more at: www.buildercoms.com
Why Engineering Delays Are Slowing Down Your Projects (and What Contractors Must Do About It)
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