Mechanic Liens in Pennsylvania

Mechanic Lien document

I know that I am always talking about the importance of filing a lien if you are unpaid for labor or materials supplied to a construction project. Liens are the best protection when a contractor or material supplier is not paid. The thing to remember is that the steps to be taken to have a […]

Extra Work in Construction Contracts

A construction worker in a safety vest crouching next to a wheelbarrow, holding a hard hat and wiping his forehead in exhaustion, with buildings in the background

With all construction projects situations arise that will require work outside the original scope of the contract. What is the correct way to add additional work? Once a contract is signed by the parties it can only be changed in writing and signed by both parties. What does that mean for contractors? If you do […]

Is There a Penalty When a Contractor Does Not Finish on Time?

A construction worker wearing a safety vest sits at a desk, holding his head in frustration, with a hard hat and a laptop in front of him

Whether or not there is a penalty for a contractor failing to finish on time depends on what the contract says about the completion date and what happens if construction is not completed by that date. Because the contracts are so very different in residential and commercial construction, I will address each separately.  Penalties for […]

What Happens After a Termination for Convenience?

Person tearing a document in half at a desk with a cup of coffee, an envelope, and a laptop nearby, suggesting the cancellation or termination of a contract

Most commercial construction subcontracts have a termination for convenience clause. This clause means that the general contractor can terminate the subcontractor at any time for no reason, just because it is convenient to the general contractor. But what happens after a termination for convenience? A termination for convenience clause exists to allow the general contractor […]