Silent is The Most Expensive Mistake in Construction

Recently, I sat with a subcontractor who had delivered excellent work on a major project. They were owed a large sum of money, overdue for months, and the financial pressure was crushing them. When I asked why they hadn’t raised it earlier, they lowered their eyes and said: “We didn’t want to cause trouble.”

That sentence has stayed with me. And it isn’t the first time I’ve heard it. Too many contractors believe that staying silent will somehow keep them safe. That if they don’t rock the boat, the problem will sort itself out. But in construction, silence is rarely safe, it is often the most expensive mistake you can make.

When issues aren’t raised, they grow. A variation that isn’t discussed becomes a loss. A late payment that isn’t chased becomes a hole in cashflow. A promise made on site but never clarified in writing becomes the start of a major disagreement. Silence doesn’t protect relationships, it just delays conflict until the stakes are much higher.

For many, especially those from migrant or underrepresented communities, speaking up feels uncomfortable. In some cultures, raising a disagreement is seen as disrespectful. The fear of being labelled “difficult” can be paralysing. But avoiding disputes doesn’t preserve trust, it risks your livelihood.

Here’s the part that I wish every contractors knows: disputes are not about fighting. They are about fairness. They exist so both sides can tell their story and be heard.

The dispute process might sound intimidating, but in reality it’s a structured pathway designed to be fast and fair:

1. Raise the concern early – Put it in writing. Whether it’s a variation, a delay, or a payment issue, clarity matters.

2. Try informal resolution – Often a simple meeting with documents on the table can resolve the issue.

3. Mediation or facilitation – A neutral third party can help both sides share their perspective and find common ground.

4. Adjudication – Under the Construction Contracts Act, an independent adjudicator can make a binding decision in weeks, not years, to keep cash flowing.

5. Arbitration or court – The last resort. More formal and costly, but available if needed.

Each step isn’t about proving who’s right or wrong, it’s about balance. It ensures both parties have a chance to be heard, and that decisions are based on fairness, not silence.

By choosing to speak up early, you aren’t starting a fight. You are protecting your work, your team, and the integrity of your business. When disputes are handled with respect and professionalism, they don’t have to destroy relationships. In fact, they can strengthen them , they creating clarity, trust, and better ways of working together.

Our construction industry depends on partnerships. Those partnerships only work if every party has a voice. If something doesn’t feel fair, silence won’t make it go away. It only pushes the problem underground, where it grows into resentment, financial loss, or collapse.

That subcontractor believed silence would protect them. In the end, it nearly cost them everything. So don't make that same mistake, speak up early, get it sorted promptly, when you can.