Construction Supervision Engineer: Competition Has Improved Building Quality in Estonia

Construction costs have risen sharply in recent years, forcing clients to seek savings. Construction supervision engineer Jaan Rooma explains why selecting only the cheapest contractor can lead to major problems and how building quality is monitored in Estonia.

Construction costs have risen significantly in recent years, putting clients in a difficult position to maintain budgets without compromising building quality. According to construction supervision engineer Jaan Rooma, this dilemma is becoming increasingly acute in both the private and public sectors.

Competition as a Quality Driver

In Rooma's view, strong competition between companies is one of the positive developments in Estonia's construction market. It is competitive pressure that has compelled many construction firms to invest in skills, equipment, and processes, which ultimately raises the overall standard of construction work. However, the lowest price does not always mean the best choice.

"When a client selects a contractor solely based on the lowest price, there is a high risk of unexpected additional costs or quality problems later on," Rooma stresses. According to him, the effects of an overly optimistic budget often become apparent only during construction, when mistakes have already been made and fixing them becomes exponentially more expensive.

Common Construction Risks

The construction supervision engineer points out that the most frequent problems arise from incomplete design documentation, substitution of materials with cheaper alternatives, and insufficient qualification of the workforce. The role of supervision is to identify these risks early and prevent them.

Rooma emphasizes that construction supervision is not merely a formality, but functions as a mechanism to protect the client. Proper supervision ensures that construction work complies with both the design and applicable standards, and helps avoid costly corrections later. In Estonia, organizing construction supervision for buildings requiring a construction permit is generally mandated by law.