Accidents on construction sites can jeopardize the safety of your team and the public while causing delays or financial loss. While most construction sites already require safety with the use of protective gear and adherence to safety standards; reminders are never a bad idea.
It’s a sad reality that more contractors fail than make the grade. Why the high failure rate? There are certain perceptions that pervade the industry that negatively affect a contractor’s ability to achieve success. We’d like to bust some of these price-related myths and help contractors to financial success in the long term.
If your residential build occurs in building science climate zones one, two or even three, you may want to reconsider placing the ductwork for your air conditioning units in the attic, even if the attic is ventilated. Studies show you could be adding 15% or more to your energy bill with poor ductwork placement.
Intersecting walls pose an energy-efficiency conundrum. The usual way to address the situation is through ladder backing (as opposed to 3-stud wall bucks) and continuous sealant for the top and bottom places along the stud edges. But this incredibly clever solution is easier, and provides room for more robust insulation.
As new products flood the market and changing climates and rising water levels change the face of construction, building codes are constantly changing to keep up with the shifting landscape. Every three years, building code are updated in order to improve the way we build. For small business owners, these constant changes may prove difficult to keep up with.
While an upswing in the housing market is good news for the construction industry, many builders are concerned about higher materials costs. Innovative construction companies are utilizing advances in technology to make their builds more efficient as the time and management improvements they provide are too impressive to be ignored.
The best way to design a crawlspace that accentuates your building envelope and does not allow unwanted moisture into the home is to treat them as if they were miniature basement spaces. Crawlspaces should be insulated, sealed and all exposed masonry should be covered to prevent condensation.
At a 2013 Remodeler’s Advantage Summit, attendees were asked what advice they would give to construction professionals about running their business. Business management is a facet of the construction industry that often gets neglected resulting in poor service or low profit margins. Here are a collection of the best business tips professionals in the construction industry had for their peers.
Floors expand and contract with changes in moisture, heat and season. This movement can pull tiles apart creating cracks or push them together so that they pop up or ‘tent’. Proper planning and preparation of the subflooring will help to prevent tenting and cracks in tiled bathroom floors.
As a business owner or site manager, you know the value of competent employees and the costs associated with getting rid of those employees who compromise the quality of your workmanship. Not only can incompetent employees reduce the quality of a build, they can also compromise the relationship you have with your clients and may cost you thousands in referrals.
