Construction Cost Index

A pre-agreed financial penalty charged when a subcontractor misses deadlines or fails to meet contract milestones. The amount is fixed in the contract, not calculated after the fact. LDs can seriously erode your project margins if schedule risks aren't managed upfront.

A charge issued by an operator or general contractor to a subcontractor for costs incurred due to defective work, delays, or failure to meet contractual obligations.

The seasonal period when thawing ground and flooding restrict heavy equipment access to remote job sites. For subcontractors, it typically means project delays, suspended haul routes, and reduced billable work. Plan cash flow carefully to cover the slow period.

A pricing model where contractors are paid a fixed daily rate for equipment and/or personnel, regardless of the amount of work completed that day.

A variable fee added to invoices to recover fuel cost fluctuations on equipment-heavy jobs. Subcontractors often tie it to a published index, such as the weekly rack price. Review prime contracts carefully — some owners cap or exclude surcharges entirely.

A buffer of extra labour, equipment, or budget set aside to cover unexpected delays or scope changes on a project. Subcontractors use it to avoid cost overruns when field conditions shift. Typically expressed as a percentage of the total estimated project value.

What Happens to Subcontractor Billing When a Project Stalls, Goes Over Budget, or Never Gets Commissioned

You did the work. The project was cancelled, shelved, or never activated. Here is what subcontractors need to know about billing rights, legal remedies, and how to get paid when no one wants to discuss the invoice.

Post-Completion Warranty and Punch Work: Protecting Your Margins After the Job Ends

Warranty walks, punch lists, and post-completion callbacks eat into subcontractor margins. Learn how MSA warranty clauses work, when you can push back on mobilization costs, and how to document your way out of disputes.

Mechanic's Lien Rights for Subcontractors: What to Do When You're Not Getting Paid

A practical guide to mechanic's lien and materialman's lien rights for oilfield and construction subcontractors in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alberta — deadlines, filing steps, and leverage tactics.