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HEADLINES ADDED: February 29, 2008
High Perceived Cost of Green Persists, Says Survey
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Atlantic City Planning $20 Billion in Projects
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The Economy and Construction: Review of Recent Indicators, February 2008
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January Construction Jumps 8%
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Engineering Firm Plans Tower Twice as Tall as Burj Dubai
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Case Studies: Increasing Throughput with Lean Concepts
After attending a Lean 101 class, Joe Oakley, powdercoat team leader for Edmond, OK-based Pelco Products Inc., manufacturer of traffic signal hardware, structural poles, decorative lighting and utility hardware, knew he wanted to use lean in his department.... Read More
Prevailing Wages on GC/CM Projects
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HEADLINES ADDED: February 28, 2008
"But I have a license......"
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Importance of the Lis Pendens
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Release of Lien Form
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GreenBiz intro
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Will “smart streets” offer more opportunity?
Want to get a little insight into what your paving, striping, or sealcoating job might involve in the not-too-distant future? Take a look at what 52 towns and cities, six counties, and 10 regional governments have already instituted. The American Association of Retired Persons AARP Bulletin (I read it in the checkout line) reports that walkers, bikers, and the disabled might be the driving forces behind major changes to city streets and intersections. In an article titled StreetSmart AARP focuses on Kirkland, WA, which it says might just have... Read More
Bid Protests: Timing
In a recent Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals (“Board”) case, the Board found that a contractor failed to file a timely bid protest. The Board ruled that the bid protest should have been made when the construction company knew or should have known the basis for its protest and not at the time the bid was awarded. A high burden is placed on any contractor submitting bids for State contracts, because a bid protest may need to be filed before the bid is awarded or repercussions felt by... Read More
International Cooling Tower fined $150,000 in death of worker
An Edmonton-based company has been fined $150,000 over an accident in Whitby, ON that left a worker paralyzed.... Read More
University of British Columbia’s new Faculty of Law building meets needs of students
Construction is expected to get under way in 2009 on a new Faculty of Law building on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 26, 2008
The 100-Page Start-Up Plan -- Don't Bother
FEB 2008 from the Wall Street Journal | Read the full story» [A] growing body of research suggests that some entrepreneurs spend way too long polishing 50- or 100-page business plans when they should be out in the marketplace selling their product or service.... Read More
Construction Cost Increases for Four Structure Types Range from 2.3% to 4.2% in January
A typical parking garage had the largest year-over-year increase in construction costs in January 2008 (+4.2% on average for 25 cities) among four type-of-structure categories monitored by RSMeans. In second place was a community center (+3.6%), followed by a town hall (+2.8%) and an underground parking structure (+2.3%). As for the actual dollar-per-square-foot cost of construction, a town hall is most expensive, followed by a community center, an underground parking structure and a parking garage.... Read More
90,000 new workers needed every year until 2011
Construction needs to recruit almost 90,000 workers-a-year as growth in the industry climbs to a peak in 2011, according to the latest employment predictions from the ConstructionSkills Network.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 25, 2008
Case Studies: Process Improvement Drives Operational Excellence
In September 2006, glass producer AGC partnered with the Juran Institute to launch an initiative to drive operational excellence and improve profitability. This initiative has been coined JPI (Jikko Process Improvement) by AGC and is based on the principles of Value Stream Management.... Read More
The Inside Track on Six Sigma Training
It is essential to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of training methods that lead to certification and implementation of Lean Six Sigma and related methodologies. This is necessary for any organization to ensure alignment not only with all operational processes, but equally important, the entire enterprise.... Read More
Fixed Price Quotations or Itemization?
I saw an article in a newsletter recently telling contractors (both general and specialty) to give out itemized estimates to their customers. Oh joy. The writer talks about the goodwill, the trust, the ability to compare estimates and the usual tripe that accompanies this type of advice. Let me tell you why I disagree. First, your customers won’t be able to compare your estimate to any other estimate. Common sense will tell you that. I couldn’t compare your estimate to a second contractor’s estimate, nor could you compare your... Read More
How to Get Workers to Think and Act Like Owners
FEB 2008 from the Wall Street Journal | Read the full story» Companies that want to create an ownership culture need to make an explicit effort to teach employees about their stake and keep them focused on increasing stock value, says Corey Rosen, executive director of the National Center for Employee Ownership. To that end, they should give workers the freedom to take initiatives to cut costs and boost a company's bottom line. Companies should "push decision-making down," he says.... Read More
OSHA Fines Key Contractors At 'Ground Zero' Demolition Job
The U.S. Labor Dept. plans to fine two key contractors that worked on the demolition of a bank building at Ground Zero a total of $464,500 for violations discovered after two firefighters died fighting a blaze in the structure last summer.... Read More
Twenty Large Upcoming U.S. Construction Projects – February 2008
The accompanying tables show 10 of the largest upcoming construction projects in California and 10 of the largest in Florida. All of the projects shown share the same common factors. Shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, medical buildings, educational buildings, libraries and museums, sports and entertainment complexes, industrial projects and government buildings will all be covered on a rotating basis.... Read More
It is a 50 Year Career
All professionals are in a long swim as they pursue their career while providing for themselves and others. As we can work longer with better health, it is a longer swim than our father's (my mother was not allowed to work outside the house). So, whatever we choose we will be at it for a while. Even if our "ship comes in", we still have to do something in a serious way, otherwise the person we will become is not worth much. Choose carefully. We have concluded that construction... Read More
Construction Estimating Software Study
Go to any national convention and you can't miss seeing dozens of software vendors. It is a big business and there is high value to construction firms. The product has made estimating a less clerical and more automated. Also, it has made estimating more efficient. Due to its power, counting and measuring is less of a task; taking hours instead of days. For those of us who don't looking forward to the job of estimating, computers and software has made it bearable. We feel that most estimating software is... Read More
Construction Youth Trust launches scheme for 'Budding Brunels'
The Construction Youth Trust is to launch the ‘Budding Brunels’ pilot scheme, giving pupils aged 16-17 the chance to experience aspects of construction, including trips to construction and engineering sites and visits to working museums.... Read More
Groundbreaking For World’s First Zero-Carbon, Zero-Waste City
In 2006, Abu Dhabi determined to establish itself as the world leader in renewable and sustainable energy technologies with the launch of the Masdar initiative. A key part of this initiative was, and is, the building of the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city. Masdar City will run on nothing but renewable energy. No cars will be allowed, yet “at the same time the city will offer the highest quality of life possible for its residents,” says Khaled Awad, director of the Masdar project’s property development unit of the Abu... Read More
Learning Blueprint Basics
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HEADLINES ADDED: February 22, 2008
CanaData’s Latest Square Footage Forecasts – January 2008
The accompanying table sets out CanaData’s latest square footage forecasts for ICI construction in Canada, by region, out to 2010. ICI stands for industrial, commercial and institutional. These are the three major non-residential building construction categories. Total ICI starts in 2007 were a little lower than had been expected due to a weak fourth quarter. 2008 forecast levels have been adjusted down as well, to take into account the spillover effects of the slowdown in the U.S. economy.... Read More
Top 10 and Trend Graph – January 2008
The attached table records the 10 largest construction project starts in Canada in January 2008, according to dollar volume. In the latest month, six of the projects were in Ontario, two were in Alberta and there was one each in Québec and Manitoba. Also included is the latest trend graph on starts. This looks at 12-month moving totals (based on dollars) of the two major non-residential building categories in Canada − total ICI starts and engineering work. ICI stands for industrial, commercial and institutional.... Read More
Expanding apprenticeships, developing world-class skills
Today sees the start of the first Apprenticeship Week, now set to become an annual event following the recommendations of the Apprenticeship Review ‘Expanding apprenticeships, developing world-class skills’ published at the end of last month. We have a special report for Buildingtalk from Eric Turner of Proskills who reviews the new production apprenticeship programme [...]... Read More
Hot Marketing and Selling Trends for 2008
Preferred choices emerge in trends, which later lead to movements. Respond to the trend or scramble after the movement. It’s your choice.... Read More
OSHA Issues Portland Cement Guidance
OSHA recently released Preventing Skin Problems from Working with Portland Cement, a new guidance document created to educate employers and employees about effective ways to prevent skin-related injuries in the cement and cement-related industries.... Read More
Subcontractors List
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HEADLINES ADDED: February 21, 2008
Critics Rip OSHA's Construction Confined Space Standard
Its comment deadline is a week away, and the ones posted so far complain it is confusing, unneeded, and burdensome.... Read More
Green Construction May Help Builders Overcome the Blues
Homebuilders may be feeling blue about the depressed state of the U.S. housing market, but many think they can set themselves apart from their peers by adopting green building practices.... Read More
Warehouse Starts and Job Site Spending Decline
Warehouse construction spending has been stalled at a high level for more than a year after a surge in activity in 2004 to 2006, early in the economic expansion. Warehouse construction is tracking trends in the overall economy very closely. Reed Construction Data expects little if any decline in warehouse construction spending in 2008 because new facilities to consolidate distribution and renovations to reduce operating costs will offset any slack in total space demand.... Read More
Growth is Good?
Construction is different. We don't know of another industry with all the good and bad that construction has to offer. Several business characteristics are unique. A general approach can help in some areas but, hurts in others. Growth of all types is not good. In certain areas, it is desired and growing other parts is not. What am I talking about? Growth of your employees as professionals is important. It allows benefits past a more efficient staff. Intellectual growth is important, that is, always searching and finding better ways... Read More
OSHA Proposes $195,200 in Fines against Pelham, Ala. Masonry Contractor
A Pelham, Ala., masonry contractor was hit with $195,200 in proposed fines after OSHA inspectors identified a total of 21 violations, including inadequate scaffolding construction, fall protection and PPE.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 20, 2008
ABA Forum Meets in New York to Discuss New 2007 AIA Contract Documents
On January 31, 2008, the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry (the "Forum") met in New York City to discuss the new 2007 American Institute of Architects ("AIA") Contract Documents. In a widely attended program with close to 1000 attendees present to enjoy the Forum's Midwinter Meeting entitled "The 2007 AIA Documents: New Forms, New Issues, New Strategies", members of the Forum spent the day parsing and dissecting the the 2007 changes to the AIA Contract Documents published by the AIA in November, 2007.Throughout the day, presenters... Read More
What Constitutes a "Real Scheduler"?
Project controls personnel typically are familiar with both cost and schedule, can recognize the ability to forecast trends and have the ability to determine whether a project is really “on time and on budget.” On large complex projects, it is common for the Project Controls Group to comprise both schedule and cost personnel. However, given the multi-faceted nature of scheduling today, what constitutes a “real scheduler?” One might comment that it is a person who understands critical path method scheduling (CPM) and from his or her personnel experience can... Read More
Time and Material (T & M) Contracts
I have read several posts on forums lately from contractors asking for help on how to write a T & M (time and materials) contract. If you know anything about me, you know what I think about T&M contracts. Just say no. The first reason on my “Don’t Do Them” list is that there isn’t any agreement on their definition. Think about it. If you need help writing the contract, doesn’t that mean you don’t know how to define it? I am not being mean and nasty, this is... Read More
Lean Project Management
="http://bradapp.blogspot.com/">Brad Appleton reviewed Lean Project Management, by L Leach concluding, "I found Lean Project Management to be a fairly quick read providing a good overview of some TOC and CCPM fundamentals and how they align with Lean thinking." © 2008 Hal, Reforming Project Management. | Permalink | No comments Add to del.icio.us. | Search blogs linking this post with Technorati Want more on these topics? Browse other posts tagged asides.... Read More
Humility Makes Toyota Different
e Lean Insider: Speaking to Toyota employees at the Detroit Auto Show President Watanabe asked that they take responsibility for recent quality problems. "I do not regard the problem as something that suppliers are responsible for. We must work together so that we are fully aware of where suppliers are." Bernstein closes saying, "At Toyota, they know that doing the best job of serving the customer is what makes the company profitable." © 2008 Hal, Reforming Project Management. | Permalink | One comment Add to del.icio.us. | Search blogs... Read More
Coast to Coast: January 2008
Ontario’s list of new projects coming on-stream is both varied and distributed right across the province: Defense Construction Canada has issued two Expressions of Interest for projects in Ottawa and Trenton while Waterloo and London will see new education-related facilities get underway.... Read More
Economic and Construction Outlooks for Canada in 2008
The late 2007-early 2008 slowdown or recession in the U.S. will have spillover implications for Canada. Canada’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2007 was around 2.5%. In 2008, it will likely come in slightly under 2.0%. The Canadian economy has performed better of late than the U.S. economy for three primary reasons. Going forward, these factors will help Canada to continue to do relatively better than the U.S. in 2008.... Read More
Low Vacancy Rates Won’t Translate into Stronger Rental Apartment Construction
According to a recent report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), apartment vacancy rates are lowest in Western Canada. However, the largest recent declines in vacancy rates have occurred in Eastern Canada. Market demand for apartment buildings has greatly improved, but this is not translating into actual construction activity. The reason for this is that there is an increasing supply of rental condominiums (purchased as investments) in many major metro areas.... Read More
Provincial and City Housing Start Forecasts: A 200,000-unit Year in 2008
CanaData is forecasting that total housing starts in Canada in 2008 will fall to 200,000 units from 228,000 units in 2007. There are several reasons to expect that the national starts figure will begin to drop off. The ripple effects of the U.S. slowdown will cause employment and income growth to moderate. Interprovincial population shifts are no longer as strong as they once were. High house prices are cutting into single-family housing demand in some regions. The final reason is “satisfied pent-up demand.”... Read More
Materials Inventory Surge Promises Price Weakness Ahead
Construction materials wholesalers held a record level of surplus inventory of lumber and other construction materials in December according to the Census Bureau’s latest wholesale trade report. At 1.48, the ratio of month end inventory to previous months’ sales was the highest reported in the last 10 years.... Read More
Construction Starts Weaken Further in January
Reed Construction Data announced today that the value of construction starts in January 2008, excluding residential contracts, totaled $21.347 billion, down 13.1% from January 2007 and 8.0% below December. Monthly starts totals have been ebbing since October of last year, although starts increased 10.6% in full-year 2007 versus full-year 2006.... Read More
West Led Gains in Non-residential Building Starts in 2007; Northeast Led in Heavy Engineering Work
The accompanying table, based on Reed Construction Data’s (RCD) record of regional construction starts in full-year 2007 versus full-year 2006, shows that the West (+21.5%) led in terms of percentage gain in the non-residential building category. Among regional percentage increases in heavy engineering work, the leader was the Northeast (+36.5%). The rankings of other regions, in terms of percentage gains and actual dollar volumes of starts in the two type-of-structure categories, are also set out in this story.... Read More
Construction Economic Environment Worsens
The economic environment for construction worsened significantly over the last month and is almost certain to deteriorate further in the next few months. Recession fears are the reason for the weaker business conditions. Builders and developers are now concerned that space demand may decline in 2008 or grow more slowly than they anticipated. This article, with accompanying tables, looks at major construction sub-market drivers.... Read More
Destination Hotel Building Boom Not Yet Over
The rapid development of destination hotels, largely in Nevada, California and Florida, has driven the exceptionally strong hotel building boom in 2004 through 2008. The boom is beginning to slow, but hotels will remain the fastest-growing commercial construction market. Spending will decline from a 66% annual growth rate at the end of 2007 to an expected 31% in 2008 and 12% in 2009. Long-time-ahead reservations will be cancelled in a weak economy and a turnabout is expected for the value of the U.S. dollar.... Read More
Housing Starts Edge Up in January
For the second day in a row, the housing market received a bit of good news as HUD and the Census Bureau reported that total housing starts in January were at 1,012,000 units, a 0.... Read More
Haymill's Steve Farrant speaks out
t's people who make companies. Your staff are your biggest asset. This is a mantra every finance director in a construction company should have to...... Read More
Education Market Embraces the Green Building Movement
These days, discussion of green AV and green buildings are gaining recognition and media coverage in the AV industry. But ask Scott Walker, president and CEO of Waveguide Consulting in Atlanta, if the green building movement exists in the education market, and he will tell you: “Schools were the first to adopt sustainability and the LEED rating system when it first came out... Read More
Practical Manual of Land Development, 4th Edition
By Barbara C. Colley. McGraw Hill Book Company. Price: $99.95. Publish Date: 06/2005... Read More
2008 Residential Construction Costs, 27th Edition Book CD Package
By Lee Saylor. Saylor Publications. Price: $74.95. Publish Date: 12/2007... Read More
2008 Current Construction Costs, 45th Edition Book CD Package
By Lee Salyor. Saylor Publications. Price: $74.95. Publish Date: 12/2007... Read More
Employer’s Must Pay Accrued but Unused Vacation Leave
The information below is for historic purposes only and does not reflect the current MD Law. Please click here for the latest update. If you have any questions, please contact J. Nicole Windsor at 410-583-2400.Employers beware! You are now required to pay departing employees for their accrued, but unused, vacation leave. In a surprising reversal, the Employment Standards Service of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR), the agency responsible for administering Maryland's wage and hour laws, recently changed its long standing regulatory position that employees had... Read More
2008 NEC Looseleaf National Electric Code
By ZA-7008LL. Delmar Publishers. Price: $85. Publish Date: 09/2007... Read More
2007 AIA 201 - Multiple Prime Contracts
The 2007 AIA 201 shifts the risk from the owner to the contractor in instances where the Owner enters into agreements with multiple contractors for a single project. In this instance, (known as a multiple prime project), the 2007 AIA 201 provides that if the contractor’s work depends upon the work of another contractor, the contractor must, before beginning work, notify the architect of apparent discrepancies or defects in the work of the other contractor that would prevent the contractor from properly performing work. The failure to notify the... Read More
Cement manufacturers continue quest for “greener” technology
Most cement manufacturers are already using more efficient kilns and additives as fly ash and blast furnace slag to make concrete “greener,” but the quest for more efficient technology continues, too, writes Daily Commercial News columnist Korky Koroluk.... Read More
15 Things You Never Want To Say At Work
I was reading a newsletter from CareerBuilder today, and it had a piece in it that inspired me: the “10 Worst Things to Say at Work.” I thought it was a good piece, and definitely food for thought, but I thought they left some things out. So I’ve augmented their list to give you 15 Things You Never Want To Say At Work. 1. “That’s not my job.” If somebody comes to you with an issue, there’s probably a reason. It might be your responsibility to deal with it or your... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 18, 2008
Cut the Fat
download as PDF“Two rules: #1 Preserve the principal and #2 When in doubt, see Rule #1.” –Warren BuffetQUESTION: What possible good could come out of the construction slow down? ANSWER: Too many to cover in just one short article! Here are just a few. Of course some action may be required on your part. This first series is on cutting the fat and turning a financial downturn into a win for your construction company.Forced Ranking Look around your company for those employees that just don’t shine quite as brightly... Read More
Leasing Heavy Construction Equipment
(Edited by Loren Faulkner) Despite an ever-changing economy, equipment leasing might provide a simple solution to grow your business. Think: Fair Market Value Lease, Dollar Buy Out Lease and Commercial Leasing. Capital is key in order to operate a successful business, especially when the economy is as fickle as it is today.... Read More
Rock Trenching Opens Door To Growth
Here's a look at how the decision to buy specialized equipment opened the door to business growth for a Tennessee contractor. There was a time when some folks in Lebanon, Tenn., were concerned that Eddie Conrad had gone a little crazy. His company, Conrad Construction, was primarily in the business of building roads.... Read More
Equipment Acquisition Options
With new technology available, contractors have another method to acquire construction equipment: online buying. Although no figures have been published, the number of contractors buying equipment and tools online is rising, based on website hits. At Molstad Excavating in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Drew Molstad, president of the company, said he thinks the equipment business is changing because...... Read More
Exercise And Pre-Fab At Skanska Project
Two things come to mind for Micah Parker, executive project manager for Skanska's San Jose Regional Medical Center Addition and Renovation Project, when asked about issues that are helping the construction effort. The first is overall conditioning of crews by way of morning group-stretching exercises before starting work.... Read More
High Performing Contractor - Feb 2008
High-Performing Contractor - NEWSLETTER - Feb. 2008 This e-newsletter is dedicated to supporting High-Performing Contractors and all contractors working to become one. Written by Dennis Sowards read more... Read More
Two firms fined after demolition workers severely hurt
Two firms have been fined for breaching health and safety legislation which resulted in the serious injury of two construction workers.... Read More
Canadian construction economist predicts U.S. troubles will dampen Canadian economic growth
The subprime mortgage crisis and weak performance of the residential sector in the US will dampen the growth of the Canadian economy, according to construction economist Alex Carrick. Mr. Carrick, chief economist for Reed Construction Data, was speaking at the Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s Annual General Meeting on January 30, 2008.... Read More
Form of Mechanic's Lien
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Construction law attorney offers tips for keeping contractors out of disputes
To hear Derek Brindle talk you have to wonder why contractors would ever wind up in disputes. It all sounds like such common sense.... Read More
Dispute-resolution plan can help keep construction companies out of court, construction law experts say
Vancouver lawyers specializing in construction law say that having a good dispute-resolution mechanism for project problems is a good way to stay out of costly court battles.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 17, 2008
Construction Netcast (Trauner Consulting)
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Hvac service ideas (that can be extended)
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Substantial Similarity Test: Altered by Reality?
In a recent case in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, two architectural firms sought the Court's guidance with respect to whether one of the firms had infringed the copyright of the other firms design and site plans. In Tiseo Architects, Inc. v. B&B Pools Service and Supply Co., ---F.3d ---, 2007 WL 2141375 (6th Cir. 2007), the Plaintiff, Tiseo Architects, were engaged by B&B Pools to design a site plan for an expansion project. Prior to Tiseo being hired, however, Gary Olson, another architect,... Read More
Contractor Business Coach
I’ve been asked by potential coaching clients, “If I’m a contractor looking for a business coach, why should I go with your company instead of another? What is the difference between you and other business coaches?” Good question. When businesses call us for help, it’s because they want to do better with their business. They want business management coaching that will make their construction-related business stronger and more profitable. But with a number of coaches available, what separates one business coach or consultant from another? I know that the... Read More
Harvard Research to Be Free Online
Harvard University will soon begin posting research and articles produced by its faculty on the Internet for free.... Read More
Point! Click! Sold!
The construction business is tough, especially on equipment: It takes a beating at all points on the construction cycle. Sometimes it's in the best interest of contractors to make equipment productive as long as possible before replacing it for newer makes or models. However, many contractors are in the market today for used, reliable equipment and want the best deal possible.... Read More
Fashioning a fraud: analysis of expense patterns exposes crime.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY * Businesses must clearly define the roles and responsibilities of employees who sign expense reports and those who process the reports. That should eliminate confusion about whether a manager's signature means that the individual is authorizing the expenses Publication: Journal of Accountancy... Read More
Builders Tell Success Stories
Last year wasn't just a good year, it was a great year for Hubble Homes, West Des Moines, Iowa.... Read More
Big Dealers Speak Up at IBS About Sales and Strategies
The heads of ProBuild, Stock Building Supply and HD Supply revealed more details about their sales and strategies during interviews Wednesday and Thursday with ProSales, in particular regarding ProBuild's recent acquisitions in the Atlanta area and Florida.... Read More
Housing Slump is Tamping Down Remodeling Expenditures
Remodeling expenditures are projected to expand by nearly 62 percent, between 2006 and 2016, to $369.... Read More
Smaller Builders Share Survival Strategies
Getting more from less was a common theme expressed by small builders and remodelers who participated in a seminar at the International Builders' Show in Orlando on Thursday that focused on how to weather the housing downturn.... Read More
Rebar prices follow steel as construction inflation continues
Reinforcement manufacturers are increasing prices by £100 a tonne as a result of increased global demand and high prices for scrap metal.... Read More
Success With Hispanics: How to Give Safety Talks to Latinos
Company leaders consistently tell me that their No. 1 priority is safety. For the most part, I believe this is the case. This being said, the reality is that our safety talks to Latinos very frequently fall short of the level of importance and priority we affirm. I would like to help you with your safety talks with Latinos. I am speaking specifically here about the presentation of the actual safety talks. There are three key words that will point the way as it relates to delivering information on... Read More
Smart Business: Time For A Manners Check
The late 1990s were the best time ever for the airline industry. Seats were packed elbow-to-elbow and the airlines made more money than ever before. United Airlines, then the nation’s biggest carrier, saw its stock price jet to more than $125 a share. United’s biggest hub is in my hometown of Chicago. They go almost everywhere out of O’Hare Airport and their fares are usually among the lowest, so I fly them a lot. What I remember most about traveling in that prosperous era was the rudeness and arrogance... Read More
Safety Advice: Say Goodbye to GC’s Liability
One indicator of a contractor’s success is the literal allocation of safety liability on the multi-employer jobsite, either through contract language or on-site practices. Ignoring these hidden liability traps during bidding and contract negotiation has landed many contractors in court without much of a clue as to why they’re there. When it comes to multi-employer projects, pay attention or pay up.... Read More
Measuring Up: How to Avoid Plunder in Slower Economic Times
Sometimes it can be difficult to keep things in perspective. Adapting to a changing market versus panicking and imagining problems that don’t exist can be a tough balancing act to follow. How do you keep your business sharp and prepare for the future without making mountains out of molehills? This article contains some business tips designed to help you keep things in perspective.... Read More
Legally Speaking: Construction Contracts — The Waiver of Owner Notice Provisions
In construction contracts, the contractor is frequently required to notify the owner in writing of differing site conditions, changes in the scope of work, unforeseen delays, extra work and breaches by the other party. These notice provisions often contain a deadline for the notice to be given to the other party. For example, a contract may require the contractor to notify the owner in writing within 21 days from the occurrence of the event giving rise to a claim for additional compensation, extra time or relief under the contract.... Read More
Leadership Selling: The First Rule of Business
Rule No. 1 in the roofing business — We don’t put new roofs on houses, we put roofs on homes. There is a big difference between a house and a home. A house is a project, a physical entity, which is built and remodeled according to schedules with ladders, scaffolds and materials. A home is a place that neighbors admire and where families raise their children. Adhere to Rule No. 1 and you will already have distinguished yourself from the competition.... Read More
This Truck Supplier Knows Contractors
Rick Pogue of Arrowhead Building Supply in St. Louis knows what contractors want when it comes to service truck fleets. Pogue, liaison to Arrowhead’s president, has been in the business of outfitting trucks for contractors for 11 years, and he learned about the roofing business from the best — his father, Arrowhead President Jerry Pogue.... Read More
Product Focus on Software
Product Focus on Software... Read More
Getting the Truck Job Done
When it comes to service trucks in the construction business, it’s all about “getting the job done” at General Motors. And this year, GM has a new lineup of full-size pickups, hardworking vans, chassis cabs and cutaways, and medium-duty models for contractors to choose from.... Read More
Commercial Property Decision Makers Survey
We surveyed commercial property decision makers in both 2001 and 2004 about their thoughts related to our industry. Those market research initiatives demonstrated what we all thought we knew — manufacturers, contractors and consultants are being asked for products and services that are better, quicker and cheaper.... Read More
Best Value Procurement
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Ideal Home Show celebrates 100 years of innovation
Next month the 2008 Ideal Home Show will be celebrating 100 years of innovation and inspirational ideas for the home and garden when it opens at Earl’s Court in London. One of the highlights of the show will be an experimental Eco House specially designed to demonstrates how new homes can be zero carbon but [...]... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 14, 2008
Battle Plans
Corporate war games could be the best way of testing business strategy.... Read More
Demolition Company Receives VPP 'Star'--A First for OSHA
Brandenburg Industrial Service Co. has about 300 employees in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas and more than 700 employees nationally.... Read More
An Installer’s Guide to Selling Audio
Growing home audio systems sales isn’t easy. Unfortunately for integrators, there are a number of obstacles that need to be overcome.... Read More
A Glossary of Sound Terms and Descriptions
Want to learn more about audio and sound? We provide a glossary of common terms and descriptions.... Read More
Life in the Mainstream GreenHome
The owner of the country's first house to be built under the NAHB's model green building guidelines loves the energy savings- and instant hot water for baths.... Read More
International Builders' Show 2008 Recap
Hanley Wood's editors and writers were out in full force for this year's International Builders' Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.... Read More
NAHB Lays Out Details for Green Building Program
Voluntary. Flexible. Market driven.... Read More
How the Subprime Mortgage Mess Began
The federal government made the subprime mortgage mess inevitable when it imposed social engineering rules on private mortgage contracts. The long process began with the 1975 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and the regulatory bureaucracy that these two legislative acts required.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 12, 2008
Have You Enjoyed Yourself this Week?
lass="pull_ad">Hi. I’m Alan Mossman, a consultant based in the UK. Hal has invited me to contribute occasional posts to RPM in the areas of design, safety and collaboration. my profs at Uni, Stafford Beer, asserted "A system is what a system does". So why would anyone create a system that in Hal’s words “turns strangers into enemies”. Will Lichtig addressed this issue in an article for the Fall 07 American Institute of Architects Practice Management Digest. In Projects as Patients, Will suggests a scoring system for project health —... Read More
Please Welcome Alan Mossman
We have another new blogger at RPM, Alan Mossman, Director of Lean Construction Institute UK. He trained as an architect and then worked as a socio-technical systems consultant. Returning to construction in 2000 he is co-editor of the Lean Construction Journal and from 2005-07 was Director of Constructing Excellence South West. Alan will be contributing articles every few weeks, or so. Please welcome him with your comments and questions. When you're done reading the following post, head over to ChangeThis to vote on his manifesto proposal Together at the... Read More
Converting 2D Construction Documents into a Building Information Model (BIM) for Construction
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2007 AIA 201 - Protocal for Electronic Records
The new AIA 201 contains a provision that requires the parties to agree on a "protocol" for the transmission of information and documents. This requirement is an obvious reaction to the diffuse manner in which information is exchanged with the advent of electronic and wireless technology. While the AIA 201 provides little guidance on the various considerations necessary to establish this protocol, the new ConsensusDocs provide a comprehensive list of factors that the parties must address when arriving at an agreed upon protocol. The ConsensusDocs, which are the contract... Read More
Collaborative Project Delivery
One of the new ConsensusDOCS contract forms is entitled "Standard Form of Tri-Party Agreement for Collaborative Project Delivery" (ConsensusDOCS 300). The tri-party, as one would expect, consists of the Owner, the Designer, and the Constructor. The contract form incorporates many concepts that are foreign, and probably antithetical, to traditional project delivery methods.What, really, is Collaborative Project Delivery (CPD)? To understand the concept (at least from the perspective of the drafters of Form 300), a good place to start is to examine the "Collaborative Principles" set out in Article 3... Read More
Specializing in Everything
I was in New York last week, participating in a workshop to develop the new national test for commercial contractors. I’ve been involved with this group for the past 3 years. When the test is complete, commercial contractors nationwide will be able to take the test allowing them to work in any state in the nation without having to deal with the differing requirements now heaped on them by the Contractor Licensing agencies of different states. I’ve written before, both here and in our newsletter, on the importance of... Read More
Is Our Infrastructure Prepared for Alternative Energy?
We all recognize that we must reduce the carbon in the atmosphere now if we are to survive in the future. We all recognize that we must minimize our dependence on foreign oil. We all recognize that in order to improve the quality of life, we must look at alternative energies and we must do so now. But alternative energies proposals have consequences and those consequences must be fully evaluated before committing to any one alternative energy solution. There are multiple barriers to execution that must be examined before... Read More
U.S. Equipment Market: Steady Sales and Constant Prices
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Construction prices rise despite credit crunch
Construction prices are set to rise by four to seven per cent during 2008 and by the same amount again in 2009, according to a market forecast compiled by Davis Langdon.... Read More
Good Impressions- How Not to Screw Up
Ohio Public Relations Professional Kimberly Kayler explains how to do pre-planning and good presentations. How Not to Screw Up Forum :: Share a lesson you learned- the hard way. File Download (9:52 min / 9 MB)... Read More
Non-Residential Construction Spending Expected to Rise in 2008
There has been a lot of talk about what 2008 will bring in terms of construction spending. From the chatter I’ve heard, the response has been reluctant to positive about the upcoming year. On the high end, I have not seen anyone calling for a record year and I don’t think anyone in their right mind would expect this. On the flip side, the good news is that I’ve yet to hear anyone calling for doom and gloom (As a note, I must say I am generally speaking towards... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 11, 2008
Building product manufacturers look to BIM for sources of new business
For building product manufacturers, the push is on right now to create data-rich 3D BIM objects for every building product they sell, in order to ensure that they continue to be specified on large institutional, commercial and industrial building projects. For building product manufacturers, the push is on right now to create data-rich 3D BIM objects for every building product they sell, in order to ensure that they continue to be specified on large institutional, commercial and industrial building projects. The adoption of B IM design solutions by architects... Read More
The Proximity Principle and Project Success: Revisiting Project e-Tip 016
lass="pull_ad">In my first guest-blogger entry, I mentioned the importance of managing perceptions. I wrote that not doing so was the main cause of why only one project out of three was considered successful by major stakeholders, according to the Standish Group's Chaos Report1. I concluded that "not managing perceptions" could be considered the 10th waste of ill-managed projects. asy to say that we have to manage perceptions. But where and how should we start doing that? The Chaos Report gives us pretty good leads on that. The report identifies... Read More
Four Steps To Your Next Truck
As vocational trucks continue to grow in complexity and sophistication, companies are under increasing pressure to maximize their vehicle investments. This process should start well before a new work truck is ordered. No longer is it prudent just to buy what you've always bought. To keep your vehicle maintenance and operation costs down, you need to do some homework before making another call t...... Read More
Construction Cameras Bring Benefits To Projects
Jack Waghorn, president of Vienna, Virginia-based developer NV Retail, knew that he would put a construction camera to work on his company's Rutherford Crossing retail center project in Winchester, Virginia, after learning that a friend and fellow developer was able use photographs taken by his camera to prove liability for a multimillion-dollar error that flooded his project.... Read More
Our Next Boot Camp is April 15-17 in Philadelphia, PA
4_2008 Boot Camp Brochure.pdf References of our Business Management Boot Camp, double click here... Read More
Recovery of Costs and Fees in a Lien Foreclosure
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The Debtor's Financial Position
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Ecobuild event for sustainable design, construction and built environment
Ecobuild begins at the end of the month at Earl’s Court in London. With Cityscape and Futurbuild happening alongside, Ecobuild is now Europe’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment.... Read More
What does “the owner is not obligated to accept the lowest or any bid” really mean?
How much discretion do you have in the selection of tenders? If you are using standard tender documents, less than you may think.... Read More
B.C. construction expo ready to set sail in Vancouver on Feb. 13
Hundreds of products and services for the commercial construction industry will be under one roof at Western Canada’s largest Construction expo.... Read More
Building life cycle costs explored in seminar
The life cycle cost of building operation can be lowered by implementing sustainable maintenance and repair practices.... Read More
Western Canada’s construction expo goes green
The 2008 B.C. Construction Show will include a large contingent of green products, services and seminars.... Read More
LEED and Go Green differences explained
BOMA Go Green and LEED-EB certification can be used in combination to develop strategies that help building managers meet new environmental standards.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 08, 2008
The New Generation
To paraphrase, "They are reckless, ill-mannered and disrespectful of adults". Sounds like today's young people. You're right. However, Socrates said this over 2,000 years ago about the youth of his day. We can be awfully harsh on the next generation. Most of it is undeserved. They are just young and inexperienced, full of emotion and ideals. No scar tissue. They just don't know some basic truths about what can happen to them. How fragile life is and how fickle it can be. Lastly, that God has a sense of... Read More
Construction Training Basics - Part 1
As we look to grow our present workforce to assume more responsibility (and authority), a training approach has to be option 1A or 1B. It has to be the first option. Another option is "let the cream rise" or your best people will just naturally earn more responsibly and authority. I don't think it is a second option, that is, let all you people make mistakes and learn. Darwin would understand this approach. The fittest become rulers and the rest of us work. As you know, this approach is... Read More
New orders Jan 08: growth slowing, says Construction Products Assocation
Growth in new orders slowed considerably in 2007, ending up only 1% higher than 2006. Dr Noble Francis, economics director of the Construction Products Association, looks at what this means for 2008.... Read More
Employee Retention
Linda Hanson, one of ForConstructionPros.com’s regular contributors, is our guest on this episode of the Construction Equipment Owner’s Podcast. Linda talks about how the shortage of skilled employees is affecting the construction industry and the factors that can contribute to reducing a business’ turn-over rate. For more information on Linda and her company’s services - LLH Enterprises - visit llhenterprises.com.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 07, 2008
How do you fix an undersea cable?
Four [now 5] undersea telecom cables have broken in the past week, cutting off or severely slowing Internet traffic in countries along the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. In an "Explainer" column first published last year and reprinted below, Lindsay Goldwert looked into how exactly they fix cables thousands of miles long and located thousands of feet under the waves.... Read More
Masonry Firm Caught Not Paying Overtime; Pays $70,000 in Back Wages
The FLSA requires that covered employees, unless otherwise exempt, be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $5.85 per hour for all hours worked, plus time and one-half their regular rates of pay for hours worked beyond 40 per week. This law also requires that employers keep accurate time and payroll records.... Read More
CEDIA Forms Professional Service Action Team
CEDIA has formed a Professional Service Action Team (PSAT) aimed at providing members with help and outsourcing services in training, marketing, promotion, consultation and business development. ... Read More
Communities Run Into Difficulties In Quest To Go Green
The New York Times reported today on the many obstacles communities are running into in their effort to ‘go green’. “Constraints on budgets, legal restrictions by states, and people’s unwillingness to change sometimes put brakes on ambitious plans,” reports Felicity Barringer. Both individuals and municipalities are realizing that going green does have its costs, and sometimes they are steep. An individual in Austin, TX paid $600 for energy-efficient Christmas lights: many times the expense of traditional incandescent bulbs. Another individual from Arlington, VA shelled out nearly $18,000 for new... Read More
Clockwork Home Services Exceeds Franchisee Benchmark
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing marks 400th franchisee... Read More
Bush Proposal Roughs Up Construction Funds
President Bush's $3.1-trillion fiscal 2009 budget proposal would clamp down hard on domestic spending, with widespread cutbacks in federal construction accounts, including the highway program.... Read More
Multiple Errors Led To Beam Failure
Design, material, fabrication and construction errors led to the Feb. 5, 2007, collapse of a steel beam and its floor slab at the nearly six-year-old David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, says a report released last week.... Read More
16 / 3 Rule
Over the years, general contractors have consistently taken small gambles on young or unproven subcontractors. Time and again, the ratio I used to see was 16 / 3. That is, if a GC had 16 subcontractors on a project, he or she was using 3 who were not proven or simply cheap. As you know, this is a rational gamble as the building owner was asking for price first and then asking for speed second. In my experience, this ratio has changed to 16 / 2 or 16 /... Read More
Green Buildings Boast High Occupancy Rates
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Kansas Town Rebuilding as the Greenest in America
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A Green Step Forward
Building a new school building is a daunting task for any school district, especially when the plan is for a green building project. The Sidwell Friends Middle School in Washington, D.C., opened in 2007 as a testament to the possibilities of an environmentally friendly, healthy environment for school kids... Read More
Radiofrequency Energy Poses Unseen Hazard
Construction workers need to be aware of the dangers that communications and broadcast towers can create.... Read More
Voltage Awareness Devices Increase Electrical Safety
A voltage awareness device that is wired into an electrical panel main isolator or other incoming power sources will increase safety for electrical maintenance personnel.... Read More
New Federal Rules on E-Discovery
Covered electronically stored information (ESI) is very broadly defined. Potential ESI includes: Internet web accounts, voice-mail servers, thumb drives, metadata, cell phones with messaging, and personal digital cameras. As soon as litigation is reasonably anticipated (not after it is filed): Advise all relevant employees to preserve ESI; Suspend automatic ESI destruction policies and programs. Meet early with counsel and ESI storage experts to address preservation and disclosure issues. Serious sanctions can be imposed for failing to protect ESI from routine destruction. Be prepared to address discovery of ESI very... Read More
"Cost Corner" for January 2008
Interest RateFor the period starting January 1, 2008, and ending June 30, 2008, the US Treasury has set the interest rate used to calculate interest due on claims under the Contract Disputes Act and the Prompt Payment Act at 4.75 percent per annum, a decrease of 1 percent from the previous six-month period. 72 FR 74408.Performance-Based Payment (PBP)PBP is a contract financing technique pursuant to which payments are based on specifically described events, or measurable criteria of performance, other than the signing of the contract or modification, the exercise... Read More
False Claims and Word Games: Does the FCA Require "Presentment" to the Government?
For the second time in as many terms, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider a case testing the scope of the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. § 3729. The High Court has agreed to review U.S. ex rel. Sanders, et al. v. Allison Engine Co., 471 F. 3d 610 (6th Cir. 2006), cert. granted, 2007 WL 2374900 (Oct. 29, 2007), which held that the FCA applies to a contractor’s claim for payment, regardless of whether the claim was “presented” directly to the government. The Court’s latest interpretive review... Read More
Arbitration and Lien Foreclosure Actions
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Nonresidential Construction Continues to Climb
On Friday, two reports were released showing that nonresidential construction sectors continue to grow, despite the drastic correction in residential construction. The numbers for 2007 indicate that it was a rather good year for nonresidential building. The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce released the first report on December 2007 Construction Spending. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $380.4 billion in December, 1.3 percent above the revised November estimate of $375.6 billion. Not only did private nonresidential construction grow in December, but it also grew... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 06, 2008
Christina Trondsen New Director of Marketing for Daikin
Responsible for strategic marketing, sales communications, marketing support... Read More
Measuring Marketing ROI (Return On Investment)
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Small Businesses Turn to Circle Lending for Financing
"Peer-to-peer" or "circle" lending sites are offering entrepreneurs and business owners a new way to borrow money from relatives, acquaintances, or total strangers. Is this a good way to obtain business financing?... Read More
Government of Alberta invests $1.5 million in trades-training facility for women
The Government of Alberta announced on Jan. 31 that it is investing $1.5 million toward the completion of a training facility for women entering the trades. The program, operated by the Women Building Futures not-for-profit organization, helps women achieve economic independence and build strong futures through trades training, mentorship and employment support.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 05, 2008
Electrical design/drafting software
Design Master Electrical 7.0 is an update to the company’s integrated electrical design and drafting software program.... Read More
How to combat negative press
I've heard a lot lately from remodelers that are frustrated with what they see as unbalanced coverage of the housing downturn in the national and l...... Read More
Are you a Market Leader?
We're in the process of putting together this year's Market Leaders list, which looks at the top remodelers in 20 top remodeling markets in the cou...... Read More
Future Schools bid costs cut by a third
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) bid costs are to be slashed by up to 30% and procurement time cut by two months under new procurement rules to be introduced...... Read More
CodeMaster: Seismic Design Category Based on the IBC 2006 and ASCE 7 - 05
By 9294S06. ICC. Price: $7.5. Publish Date: 06/2006... Read More
General Contractor / Sub or Specialty Contractor Relationships
In another post, Larry Steward commented: “Related to jump starting new leads, in addition to advertising, is to get your sub contractors to refer. Most subs are delighted to be assigned to one of our projects but I have to constantly remind them that this process is a two-way effort. I encourage them to look for opportunities for us when they visit their own customers. After all, if we can help their customers, it makes them look good and certainly helps us with a flow of work. I believe... Read More