Bollards in Projects – Small Products, Big Consequences

For many contractors, bollards are a relatively small part of the project – but one with the potential to cause a disproportionate amount of trouble. The wrong grade, late deliveries or uncertain choices can quickly eat into margins, lead to extra meetings with the client and, in the worst case, result in warranty claims.

In this article, we look at common bollard problems from the contractor’s perspective – and how we at Nordguard can help make the bollard part of your project safer, simpler and more profitable.

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1. When bollards don’t hold up in the real world

One of the most common problems we hear about is that bollard quality isn’t good enough for real-world use. They look good on the drawing and in pictures, but bend at the first real impact, rust quickly or look worn out long before the rest of the outdoor environment does.

For the contractor, this means, among other things:

• Increased risk of warranty claims
• Dissatisfied clients who feel they didn’t get what they expected
• Extra work you can’t bill for

Nordguard’s solution: Nordguard bollards are engineered for tough environments – in terms of material thickness, anchoring and finish. The goal is simple: the bollards should withstand the real world, not just make it through the final inspection. When bollards stay in place and look good over time, the risk of trouble down the line goes down.

2. Delivery that fits the schedule – not the other way around

Another recurring problem is uncertainty about delivery. Bollards are often among the last products to be installed, but delivery problems can arise much earlier:

• Long lead times
• Vague information about when delivery will actually take place
• Partial deliveries and backorders that disrupt the workflow

As a result, planned installations have to be rescheduled, other tasks have to be reshuffled, and the contractor ends up caught between their own production and the client’s expectations.

Nordguard’s solution: We work with clear delivery times and stocked models for common project needs. This means that, as a contractor, you get concrete answers when you’re pricing a job – and actually get the bollards on site when it’s time to install. Less “I just need to check with the supplier,” more control.

3. When bollards eat into your margin

Bollards are rarely the largest cost item in a project, but their price level can have a disproportionate effect on the contractor’s margin. When the estimate is tight and fixed prices have already been submitted, there’s often little flexibility left.

Problems arise when:

• Purchase prices for bollards are high
• Volumes per project are relatively small
• It’s hard to justify change orders or price adjustments to the client

Nordguard’s solution: Nordguard offers competitive prices on bollards for professional projects. The idea is that you can include the bollards in your bid without being embarrassed by the contribution margin, deliver a solution the client sees as reasonably priced, and still maintain a healthy margin on the project.

4. The right size and design – without guesswork

A classic source of frustration is when the drawings and what’s actually available don’t quite match up. The documents might specify:

• A certain height
• A specific diameter
• A desired color or appearance
• A requirement for fixed or removable function

But the standard range only offers something “almost right” – and you have to start compromising or interpreting. That takes time, and there’s a risk that someone further down the chain will question the choice.

Nordguard’s solution: We help you translate the specifications into concrete products. You can start from height, diameter, environment (urban, industrial, parking, courtyard) and function (fixed/removable, drive-over or not). Instead of clicking your way through generic product images, you can let us put together proposals that turn the documents into actual bollards.

5. Product selection that takes more time than it should

Bollards shouldn’t be what takes up the most time in a project – but they often do. Especially when:

• The client is detail-oriented and has clear requirements
• The documents are long and technical
• The project has no previous standard solution to reuse

You’ve probably been there: you have the drawings, specification and requirements, but end up spending an unreasonable amount of time finding “exactly the right” product in a jungle of variants.

Nordguard’s solution: Send us documents, drawings, photos or a short description of your needs – and Nordguard will help you identify the right type of bollard, provide specific article numbers and give you quick documentation you can price from or pass on. Instead of spending hours on research, you get a ready-made solution to evaluate.

6. Technical documentation that stands up to scrutiny

Clients, designers and inspectors today expect clear technical documentation. When all you have is a simple product image and a line of text, the discussion easily becomes unnecessarily long and difficult.

Typical problems include:

• Unclear or missing drawings
• Lack of dimensions and details
• No clear installation instructions

Nordguard’s solution: We provide documentation that can go straight into the project workflow: dimensional drawings, technical information on material and finish, and recommended installation principles. This makes it easier for you to get the solution approved, give clear information to both site management and installers, and avoid unnecessary questions on site.

7. The fear of choosing the wrong bollard

Finally, there’s perhaps the most uncomfortable problem: responsibility if something goes wrong. The bollards may not be seen as robust enough, may not match the rest of the design, or may be perceived as “not per the documents” – even if the requirements were unclear from the start.

This often lands on the contractor:

• “Why did you choose this particular model?”
• “This isn’t quite what we had in mind.”

Nordguard’s solution: We see our role as helping you make the right choice from the start. By working from the documents and requirements, documenting why the specific bollard was chosen and making sure the solution is technically sound for the environment, you have something to rely on when you present the solution. This reduces the risk of the bollards becoming a point of contention afterward.

Summary: Bollards should just work – for everyone involved

For the client, bollards are often a matter of design, safety and demarcation. For you as a contractor, they’re just as much a matter of quality, margin, time and responsibility.

When the bollards:

• Hold up in the real world
• Arrive on time
• Are reasonably priced
• Come in the right design
• Are backed by good technical documentation
• Are chosen together with a supplier who takes responsibility

…bollards become exactly what they should be in the project: an important but undramatic component that just works.

Want to avoid wasting time on bollards in your next project? Nordguard can help make that part of the job much easier – from the first inquiry to the last installed bollard.