Remodeling does not come cheap, but when you look at remodeling as an investment, it does take the sting out of all those home improvement costs. As a construction professional, you advise your potential customers on which renovations will add value to their home, but here are some ideas that may actually reduce the value of their homes.
Looking for innovative flooring techniques? Check out the APA’s newest video which shows a premium I-joist floor assembly that uses 7/8 Performance Category OSB glued and nailed to 14-inch-deep I-joists that are spaced at 24 inches on center. This new flooring assembly results in a stiff floor with a quality feel.
Inaccurate quotes cause headaches for you and for your clients. The ability to create accurate quotes is essential to providing good service. While past experience will help you to avoid common mistakes, it’s important to remember that no two jobs are the same. This means you must create custom estimates for each new client. Here are some tips to help you streamline and develop your process.
Hardwood can make for a durable and beautiful floor, but small mistakes in the subflooring or installation can wreak havoc and buckling, squeaky, uneven floors can all result from poor installation. While this is not a definitive guide to hardwood installation over OSB panels, there are some important points to ponder.
In an increasingly competitive market, most contractors are working to the slimmest profit margins. One way to improve your profit margins is to reduce the cost of each build. When you run a tight ship, your processes are streamlined and you offer a better, faster service with an organized, experienced crew. Many of the costs associated with a build are beyond your control; materials, land and labor all come at a price which the market dictates so your focus should be on the direct construction costs.
The winters can be hard on tools and if you are consistently working in below zero temperatures, there are some essential maintenance steps you must take in order to keep your compressors and pneumatic tools in good working order. If at all possible, avoid using pneumatic tools in sub-zero conditions. If you must work below zero, then ensure that your equipment is properly maintained.
Mold is insidious and occurs where moisture collects in a home. Once you get mold in your home, it can cause cosmetic damage, stains to furniture and drywall and reduce the quality of indoor air. Worse still, it can cause rot in wood and this may compromise the structure of the home. As with all things, prevention is the best cure, so here are some ways to stop moisture from collecting in the first place.
The rising costs of gas and construction materials, as well as increased competition mean that small to medium construction companies have to work hard to keep costs to a minimum. One of the ways to do this is to conserve energy and water onsite. However, there are really great reasons why you should turn on the HVAC and leave it on for the duration of your build.
Framing is the single biggest contributor to the construction budget, accounting for (on average) around 18%. With rising costs and labor shortages, framing is becoming increasingly expensive. It behooves the small to medium construction firm to find ways in which to make the framing as efficient and cost effective as possible. You can mitigate some of the framing costs with careful planning, an efficiently run jobsite and the right tools.
Wall panelization or stick building homes? We asked a couple of pros for their opinions on this issue and got really great answers.
