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Construction glossary

What is a Performance Bond?

A Performance Bond is a type of surety bond issued by an insurance company or a bank to guarantee satisfactory completion of a project by a contractor. In the construction industry, a Performance Bond is often required to protect the client if the contractor fails to complete the contract or does not meet the agreed standards or time frame in performing the project. It is essentially a safeguard tool that ensures the project owner will not incur financial loss due to the contractor's inability to fulfill the contract. This bond provides assurance that the contractor has the necessary resources and competencies to execute the project according to the stipulated terms.

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Other construction terms

Breaking Ground

What is Breaking Ground?

Breaking ground refers to the official start of construction on a project, typically marked by the initial digging into the ground. It’s the first step toward site preparation, which involves various tasks, like soil testing, land clearing, excavation, leveling, etc. The term originates from the literal act of "breaking" or disturbing the ground to begin foundation work.

Breaking ground marks the transition from pre-construction activities (permitting and design finalization) to actual building work. This is when project timelines become essential to track, material deliveries need coordination, and subcontractors start mobilizing their teams and equipment to the job site. 

Once its time to start building, it’s time to start billing. Siteline helps subcontractors streamline their pay app and lien waiver processes, eliminating bottlenecks that can hold up payments for faster payments. Learn more about Siteline.

Conditional

What is Conditional?

In the construction industry, the term "conditional" typically refers to a state or situation where certain obligations, requirements, or criteria must be met for a particular outcome or transaction to occur. This term is often used in contracts or agreements. For instance, a construction project could be conditional upon gaining necessary building permits or approvals, meeting safety standards, or obtaining adequate funding. The failure to fulfill these conditions could suspend or terminate the project.

Current Liabilities

What are Current Liabilities?

Current Liabilities are financial obligations or debts that a construction company has to settle within a short-term period, typically within a year. These usually include suppliers' payments for building materials, salaries and wages for construction workers, short-term loans for immediate project needs, interest payments on construction loans and taxes. These might also consist of project-related accrued expenses, or money that the company owes but has not been billed for yet, such as utilities. It's critical for businesses running construction projects to properly manage their Current Liabilities to ensure financial stability and the smooth completion of projects. The ability to meet these short-term financial obligations is a key indicator of the financial health of a construction company.

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