HEADLINES ADDED: August 30, 2008

3 Ways to Improve Your Sales Skills

 |  from CE Pro Recently Filed  |  Read the Full Article

Like any self-improvement endeavor, working on growing your sales skills is an ongoing journey. Here are three ways to improve them.... Read More

Self-builders hard at work despite downturn

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

While professional housebuilders are struggling to stay busy, self-builders are getting on with the job.... Read More

Vancouver Island construction companies feeling the pinch from rising B.C. Ferries costs

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

The construction industry on Vancouver Island is being hit hard by rapid increases in B.C. Ferries fares, while escalating costs are contributing to an increase in the cost of living in small island communities.... Read More

Construction Estimating

 |  from Markup and Profit Blog  |  Read the Full Article

One of the most common requests we receive is information on how to estimate a construction job. To meet that need, Michael Stone will present two 75-minute free online classes in September on the fundamentals of estimating. In these two classes, planned as the first in a series of classes on construction estimating, he will cover the basics any contractor needs to prepare to estimate a remodeling job or estimate a new home construction project. This class will benefit every remodeling contractor, new home builder or specialty contractor. Michael... Read More

Bam reports 10% rise in turnover for first half of 2008

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Dutch construction group Bam has reported a 10% rise in turnover for the first half of 2008, to £3.4bn.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 28, 2008

£100m social housing boost for Scottish builders

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Up to £100m worth of social housing work will be brought forward by two years to prop up struggling housebuilders in Scotland.... Read More

Bid-rigging: OFT probe leads to book changes

 |  from Contract Journal - Construction Law  |  Read the Full Article

Move by Office of Fair Trading is to ensure graduates know cover-pricing is illegal.... Read More

News & Moves: August 11, 2008

 |  from HousingZone Headline News  |  Read the Full Article

Here's the latest housing industry news.... Read More

USGBC Tours Virginia Cement Plant

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

Members of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Southwest Virginia Chapter toured Roanoke Cement Company's (RCC) Troutville, VA, plant recently to learn from the company's successes in reducing energy use, as well as how cement and cement-related products help build a more sustainable community.... Read More

Government's green HQ gets woeful rating for energy efficiency

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Energy efficiency assessors have handed an 'F' rating to the headquarters of Communities and Local Government (CLG) - the department responsible for cutting public buildings' carbon emissions.... Read More

Scott Construction’s Opal condo project promises to add sparkle to Richmond’s skyline

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

General contractor Scott Construction Group is building the Opal condominium for developer Kamdo Tower Inc.... Read More

Fluke Launches Web Site to Answer Questions From Building Maintenance Professionals

 |  from Electrical Construction & Maintenance  |  Read the Full Article

Fluke Corp. recently launched a Web site designed to help technicians solve problems and meet building maintenance challenges.... Read More

Establishing a ROI for a Construction Firm

 |  from The Construction Contractor's Digest  |  Read the Full Article

What is the appropriate compensation for an owner of a contracting firm? How much is the right number? Isn't just a salary with expenses enough? These are good questions for all construction contractors. People have different answers. Thus, it is reflected in the bid results on any given day. Some contractors want to make a living while others are trying to build wealth for themselves. To be sure, if you compete with those who just want to make a living, you will have to be satisfied with just that.... Read More

Home sales rise but not enough to force a rise in housing starts

 |  from Reed Construction Data:Notes from Jim Haughey  |  Read the Full Article

This weeks’ home sale reports suggest that deep discounts in home prices have stopped the slide in home sales but that a measurable recovery in housing starts is still being prevented by the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, the domestic recession it set off and the abandonment of more than million homes.... Read More

Work at Vancouver’s Vita at Symphony Place continues

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Vita at Symphony Place will include 29 stories above grade and five below. Construction started in May 2007 and is expected to be complete by early 2009.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 27, 2008

Serious Standards for Green Builders, Inc.

 |  from HousingZone Headline News  |  Read the Full Article

Clark Wilson, president and CEO of Green Builders, is ahead of the trend in the green building industry. While others offer options for energy efficiency, his company makes it standard and affordable.... Read More

Committee begins draft of Canadian building-commissioning standard

 |  from Green Building - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

A committee that includes representation from building owners, government agencies and the design and contracting communities is gearing up to draft a long-awaited national standard on building commissioning.... Read More

Victoria’s Dockside Green community achieves LEED Platinum certification

 |  from Green Building - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

The first phase of Dockside Green, a 1.3-million-square-foot community built on a former brownfield site in the heart of Victoria, has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the Canada Green Building Council.... Read More

Construction Chart of Accounts

 |  from The Construction Contractor's Digest  |  Read the Full Article

For a complete chart of accounts for construction contractors, buy our book, Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day (McGraw Hill, 2007, 406 pages). It is available in all major bookstores including ours. To order the book, go to Stevensci.com, Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Browns Stationer's (UK), Reiters, Walden Books and other fine book retailers. You will find a section in the book outlining "Contractor Chart of Accounts" . Remember, Stevensci.com bundles the book with 60 Excel Templates and an On-Line Course, a solid value.... Read More

Construction Retainage

 |  from The Construction Contractor's Digest  |  Read the Full Article

Retainage costs everyone in the construction industry from the owner to the contractors and to the suppliers on any project. The "holdback" of 10% in most cases is a drag on cashflow and thus, keeps cost higher for the job than it should be. The question is "what is a smarter way for a contractor to approach retention?". Here is our answer: Approach it like a creditor. If you do, then you realize may be a bargainin chip with the client. First, let's ascertain the cost of retention -... Read More

The Best Industry in the United States

 |  from The Construction Contractor's Digest  |  Read the Full Article

My child is in college. She is starting to ask about industries and careers. Olivia has made me think further about what construction contracting has to offer her. I have concluded it is the best career a young person could choose. You may not believe it, but the facts will show our business is unmatched. It offers participants long term tangible benefits. However, many people will argue that point. Let me show you the many virtues our industry has. You be the judge. The Industry is Not Going Away... Read More

China to build 50,000 skyscrapers in 20 years

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

China will build between 20,000 and 50,000 skyscrapers in the next 20 years, on top of huge spending on infrastruture, according to a report by McKinsey.... Read More

Building Official's and Inspector's Guide to Codes, Forms and Complaints

 |  from Recently published books about Architecture & Construction  |  Read the Full Article

By Linda Pieczynski. Delmar Publishers. Price: $46.95. Publish Date: 06/2007... Read More

Unionized construction workers in British Columbia subject to new drug policy

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Unionized construction workers, who have a problem with drinking or getting high on the job, are being targeted by a new drug testing program, which is the first of its kind in Canada.... Read More

EllisDon wins contract for Education Centre in Calgary, Alberta

 |  from Green Building - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

An $80.5 million contract for an Education Centre for the Calgary Board of Education has been awarded to EllisDon. The project will be LEED certified, targeting Silver.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 26, 2008

"Total lunacy" of construction director jailed over skylight death plunge

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

A company director has been jailed for one year over the manslaughter of a Chinese man who died after a fall on a Norfolk building site.... Read More

Surgo Construction lifts profit margin to 1.1%

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Surgo Construction has unveiled a profit margin of 1.1% which represents an increase on the previous figure of 0.9%.... Read More

More bad lending news for remodelers

 |  from Jonathan Sweet - Remodeling Notes  |  Read the Full Article

More homeowners are having trouble making payments on their home equity credit lines, according to the latest report today from the American B...... Read More

Bay State Seeks To Cut School Construction Costs

 |  from Top Stories from ENR.com  |  Read the Full Article

As it prepares to invest more than $2.5 billion for new school construction in the next five years, Massachusetts is taking a bold step to try and reign in extravagant school building costs by adopting a model school pilot program.... Read More

Southern Kentucky's Highway Construction Boom

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is overseeing another busy construction season, with many key highway and bridge projects taking place across the state — most notably in District 8 in the southern part of the Bluegrass state. District 8, which is comprised of 10 counties — Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Lincoln, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, and Wayne counties R...... Read More

Committee begins draft of Canadian building-commissioning standard

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

A committee that includes representation from building owners, government agencies and the design and contracting communities is gearing up to draft a long-awaited national standard on building commissioning.... Read More

Victoria’s Dockside Green community achieves LEED Platinum certification

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

The first phase of Dockside Green, a 1.3-million-square-foot community built on a former brownfield site in the heart of Victoria, has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the Canada Green Building Council.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 23, 2008

£600m gas plant scheme will create 650 construction jobs

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Around 650 construction jobs will be created with the construction of a £600m gas power station in Lanarkshire.... Read More

New OSHA Regional Emphasis Program Focuses on Crane Safety

 |  from OH-Construction Safety and Health  |  Read the Full Article

The OSHA Region VI office in Dallas, Texas, established a Regional Emphasis Program (REP) covering employees in the construction industry who perform crane operations. The program conducts safety inspections of workplaces in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and sites in New Mexico that are under federal OSHA jurisdiction.... Read More

The Hidden Risks of Going Green

 |  from Womble Carlyle Construction Industry Blog  |  Read the Full Article

In a recent article entitled "The Hidden Risks of Green Buildings: Avoiding Moisture and Mold Problems", authors J. David Odom, Richard Scott and George H. DuBose of the Liberty Building Forensics Group, LLC caution owners and other parties thinking of building a "sustainable" or "green" building to pay close attention to the materials being used to determine whether the materials have been adequately tested to ensure that the materials not only qualify as sustainable or LEED certified materials, but also to ensure that the materials are durable and will... Read More

Construction output down by over £300m in Q2

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Construction's output was down by over £300m in the last quarter compared to the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest GDP figures for the UK economy.... Read More

"Total lunacy" of construction director jailed over skylight death plunge

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

A company director has been jailed for one year over the manslaughter of a Chinese man who died after a fall on a Norfolk building site.... Read More

Self-builders hard at work despite downturn

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

While professional housebuilders are struggling to stay busy, self-builders are getting on with the job.... Read More

Number of homes being built slumps 19%

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The number of new homes being built in England has slumped by 19% in the past year, new figures show.... Read More

Construction Safety - Good News or Bad

 |  from Reforming Project Management  |  Read the Full Article

lass="pull_ad">Beware of headlines. ENR reports: Fatalities Fell in 2007, Labor Dept. Reports. The story leads by telling us construction deaths were down 5% in 2007. Shall we celebrate? I think not. Have a look: td> Fatalities Construction* Other Industry 2007 1,178 (p) 3,778 (p) 2006 1,239 4,081 2005 1,192 4,022 2004 1,234 3,995 2003 1,131 3,912 p: Preliminary Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, * as reported by ENR You don't have to be a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt to see that the latest results are consistent with the... Read More

First site worker receives Constructing Better Health card

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

A site manager from Dudley & Sons has become the first site worker to receive a Construction Better Health (CBH) card.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 22, 2008

LEED Green Building Rating System Works Toward Third-Party Certification

 |  from Electrical Construction & Maintenance  |  Read the Full Article

U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) V3, the certification bodies for the LEED Green Building Rating System were recently announced.... Read More

OSHA Launches Local Construction Emphasis Programs

 |  from Occupational Health & Safety  |  Read the Full Article

OSHA's Region VI office in Dallas, Texas, has established a Regional Emphasis Program covering employees in the construction industry who perform crane operations. The program conducts safety inspections of workplaces in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and sites in New Mexico that are under federal OSHA jurisdiction.... Read More

Kansas Construction Companies Targeted for Inspection by Zip Code

 |  from Occupational Health & Safety  |  Read the Full Article

Cities with a population of 8,000 and greater will be eligible for inspection, and all active residential and commercial sites within a selected zip code will be inspected.... Read More

Housebuilders to share low carbon building lessons

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

A green housebuilding group has joined with academics to produce a road map for builders on how to meet zero carbon building targets.... Read More

Market Your Construction Business

 |  from Markup and Profit Blog  |  Read the Full Article

In his most recent newsletter, Joe Gracia talks about the “10 Money-Making Elements for Your Marketing Pieces”. Joe outlines any number of mistakes that most businesses make when they try to advertise their businesses. One of those mistakes is believing that graphics and pretty pictures sell you and your company. Joe says they don’t. He says that words do the selling. I believe he is right on track. You must give your customers a reason to buy and one of the best ways you can do this is to... Read More

Chicago’s Trump Tower built with concrete

 |  from Construction Equipment Owner's Blog  |  Read the Full Article

Concrete has been instrumental in the building of many beautiful and architecturally progressive structures, such asthe Guggenheim Museum in New York City and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The construction world’s latest concrete masterpiece comes in the form ofChicago’s Trump Tower, the city’s second tallest skyscraper andNorth America’s tallest concrete-reinforced building.If you want to learn more about the construction of Trump Tower andread someinteresting facts — such as how many cubic yards of concrete were used in building the behemoth –read this article about the completion of the... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 21, 2008

Housebuilders propose tax-free savings scheme for buyers

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Housebuilders have urged the government to introduce a tax-free savings scheme for first-time buyers.... Read More

Construction bosses warned over legal costs of mass redundancies

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Construction bosses have been warned to approach decisions on mass redundancies with caution to avoid costly legal mistakes.... Read More

One third of construction firms don't train their staff

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

A government training body has urged construction firms to train more staff, despite the downturn in the sector.... Read More

£600m gas plant scheme will create 650 construction jobs

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Around 650 construction jobs will be created with the construction of a £600m gas power station in Lanarkshire.... Read More

30,000th site registered with Considerate Constructors Scheme

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The Considerate Constructors Scheme is celebrating after signing up its 30,000th building site.... Read More

Improving Trade Balance Keep Construction Materials Production Steady

 |  from Reed Construction Data:Notes from Jim Haughey  |  Read the Full Article

US construction materials production, including an improving trade balance for construction materials, increased 0.4% from April to July while total construction spending (after subtracting project cost increases) fell 1.5-2.0%. Construction materials exports are about 20% above a year ago while imports have declined slightly.... Read More

£100m social housing boost for Scottish builders

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Up to £100m worth of social housing work will be brought forward by two years to prop up struggling housebuilders in Scotland.... Read More

Warning for construction firms with Iraq connections

 |  from Contract Journal - Construction Law  |  Read the Full Article

UK construction firms which dealt with Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq under the Oil-For-Food Programme need to brace themselves for possible criminal investigations.... Read More

Seismic Design of Buildiing Structures, 9th Edition

 |  from Recently published books about Architecture & Construction  |  Read the Full Article

By Kurt M. McMullin. Professional Publications. Price: $76. Publish Date: 08/2008... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 19, 2008

Non-Residential Building Starts Decline in July

 |  from Electrical Construction & Maintenance  |  Read the Full Article

The value of non-residential building starts nose-dived 31% in July, compared to July 2007, according to Reed Construction Data, Norcross, Ga.... Read More

Marketing Ideas for your Construction Company

 |  from Markup and Profit Blog  |  Read the Full Article

Join us for a free online seminar the evening of Thursday, August 21, when Michael Benedict, Market Opportunity Director for Deluxe Corporation, shares his knowledge and experience in marketing. With a focus on low cost, easy to implement marketing tactics, Michael will walk through a discussion of why marketing is important, and provide ideas specifically for construction-related small businesses. Michael Benedict has over 10 years experience helping small business Contractors manage and advertise their business. He works in Marketing for the Deluxe Corporation (formerly NEBS, Inc.), a Fortune 1000... Read More

Enka Construction Racks Up A Borderless Bonanza

 |  from Top Stories from ENR.com  |  Read the Full Article

Istanbul-based Enka Construction & Industry Co. Inc. is Turkey's largest construction conglomerate, reaching that pinnacle with projects almost all outside the country's borders.... Read More

Housebuilding land value drops 20% in first half of 2008

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

The value of residential building land dropped 20% in the first six months of the year and could still fall by up to 50%.... Read More

Construction bosses warned over legal costs of mass redundancies

 |  from Contract Journal - Construction Law  |  Read the Full Article

Construction bosses have been warned to approach decisions on mass redundancies with caution to avoid costly legal mistakes.... Read More

Mears wins two London social housing contracts worth £57m

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Mears has collected two new social housing contracts in London worth a total of £57m.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 18, 2008

The Top 225 International Contractors: Prices Soar in a Boom Market

 |  from Top Stories from ENR.com  |  Read the Full Article

The global construction market continues to boom and large international contractors are reaping the benefits.... Read More

Scaffolding contractor fined after three men fall six metres

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Pedley Scaffolding of Willenhall was also told to pay costs of £5,318 by the Stafford Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to health and safety offences.... Read More

Balwin & Shell Construction Building "Green"

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

Balwin & Shell Construction Co. has broken ground on their new corporate headquarters at 1000 West Capital in Little Rock, a new location for them. In doing so, they plan to be the first general contractor in Arkansas to build its own corporate headquarters as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified "green" facility.... Read More

Housebuilding land value drops 20% in first half of 2008

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The value of residential building land dropped 20% in the first six months of the year and could still fall by up to 50%.... Read More

Housebuilders propose tax-free savings scheme for buyers

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Housebuilders have urged the government to introduce a tax-free savings scheme for first-time buyers.... Read More

CFA names Contractor of the Year

 |  from Construction Equipment Owner's Blog  |  Read the Full Article

I recently attended the Concrete Foundations Association(CFA) Summer Meeting in New Mexico. The theme of the meeting was “Surviving a Down Economy.” Many of the seminars and lunch table discussions focused on business strategies contractors are using to stay profitable despite the current new homes construction market. The strategy most people are finding success with is diversification, includingthe CFA’s Contractor of the Year, K-Wall Poured Walls out of Traverse City, Michigan. K-Walls owner Rich Kubica said the residential market in his area is really struggling, but his company has... Read More

750,000 foreclosed homes for sale: CA – 71,508; VT – 3

 |  from Reed Construction Data:Notes from Jim Haughey  |  Read the Full Article

It is no surprise that California (71508) and Florida (37,506) have far more foreclosed homes for sale than any other state in the RealtyTrac database. But why do the poorer states have so few foreclosed homes for sale? Vermont has only 3, North Dakota 23, South Dakota 30, and West Virginia 42.... Read More

Canadian construction industry steels against rising rebar prices

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Steel prices generally are being driven by demand for construction materials as China, India and Russia ramp up building of infrastructure and productive capacity.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 14, 2008

Diamond Construction goes into administration

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Bolton-based contractor Diamond Construction has sunk into administration.... Read More

Durkan wins £70m Clapham housing job

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Durkan has won a £70m deal to build 229 homes and refurbish a further 537 in south west London for Clapham Homes.... Read More

Cheesegrater tower faces delays

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

British Land may delay the construction of its planned London skyscraper dubbed the Cheesegrater as demand for offices dries up.... Read More

Bank of England cannot stop housing slump

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The Bank of England is powerless to stop the building slump, its governor has said.... Read More

Housing group sues Wokingham council for £150,000 over tree damage

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

A social housing group is suing Wokingham District Council for more than £150,000 after it was forced to spend 12 months repairing major structural damage caused to one of its properties.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 13, 2008

Van Hampton and Illia: 2008 World of Concrete with Tony Illia

 |  from ConstructionCast from McGraw-Hill Construction  |  Read the Full Article

Tudor Van Hampton and reporter Tony Illia recap the 2008 World of Concrete Trade Show from the Las Vegas Convention Center floor.... Read More

M&A Roarty Construction in administration

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Stratford-based M&A Roarty Construction has dropped into administration.... Read More

Diamond Construction goes into administration

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Bolton-based contractor Diamond Construction has sunk into administration.... Read More

Our New 6-1/2 Hour CD Set - Turn Your Truck Into a Classroom

 |  from The Construction Contractor's Digest  |  Read the Full Article

Our 6+ Hour Audio Series, The Business of Construction Contracting is perfect for busy construction professionals who have "Windshield Time" These inclusive CD's contain management insights and worksmart thinking in the areas of 1) The Business of Construction Contracting - Business, Strategic and Economic Issues and Insights 2) Work Acquisition - Estimating, Bidding, Priciing, and Selling 3) Building Work - Project Control, Project Management and Labor Productivity 4) Keeping Track - Financial and Adminstrative Practices 5) People - Management, Recruitment and Training of Your Most Valuable Asset 6) Miscellaneous... Read More

Ceremony marks construction start on Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital

 |  from Green Building - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is a public-private-partnership between the Vancouver Island Health Authority and ISL Health.... Read More

No summer fun for struggling builders

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Housebuilders are redesigning their homes in efforts to revamp their offerings and adapt their business to changed market conditions.... Read More

Association seeks support for national deconstruction standard for existing buildings

 |  from Green Building - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is seeking support from industry stakeholders to kick-start development of a national standard on “deconstruction” of existing buildings.... Read More

Current GDP trends overestimate construction demand

 |  from Reed Construction Data:Notes from Jim Haughey  |  Read the Full Article

GDP growth has improved from -0.2% last fall to 0.9% during the winter and 1.9% in spring. The 1.9% growth in the 2nd quarter will be revised up to about 2.8% to correct the underestimate of June exports and overestimate of June imports used in the first GDP estimate. But construction spending dropped 4.5% over the same period, as much as 10% after inflation, and the value of construction starts fell as least twice as much. The domestic economy has been in a recession since last fall but the... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 12, 2008

Mainline Paving On Cumberland Parkway

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

Columbia, KY-based paving contractor Gaddie-Shamrock LLC recently rehabilitated a 9.53-mile segment of the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway — a four-lane, east-west corridor across the southern tier of Kentucky counties. The contractor, working under a $6.7-million contract with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, placed approximately 70,000 tons of asphalt on the parkway, between the Ru...... Read More

Casey County Construction

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

Extensive bridge and earthwork operations are taking place in Casey County in southern Kentucky. Near the city of Liberty, crews are busy realigning KY 70 and connecting that route to U.S. 127. Haydon Bridge Co. Inc., Springfield, KY, is the prime contractor for the project under a $10.8-million contract with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.... Read More

Recession here for two years

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Industry experts are predicting a recession until the end of 2009 at least as construction’s main trade bodies released their gloomiest ever trade survey today.... Read More

Construction orders plunge once again

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Experts claim the construction industry is in a recession after new statistics showed orders have plunged yet again.... Read More

Chandos Construction goes for gold at Jasper Avenue project

 |  from Green Building - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Chandos Construction Ltd. aims to earn LEED Gold for the $70-million redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Professional Building.... Read More

Crane Accident Prevention: Training, Maintenance, Regulation

 |  from Construction Equipment Latest News  |  Read the Full Article

The construction industry has been plagued by a series of fatal crane accidents in recent months. According to experts, lack of training combined with inadequate safety standards and subpar inspection services are to blame.... Read More

No summer fun for struggling builders

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Housebuilders are redesigning their homes in efforts to revamp their offerings and adapt their business to changed market conditions.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 11, 2008

90% of Olympic construction waste to be recycled

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has pledged to reuse or recycle 90% of construction waste on the 2012 Olympic site.... Read More

Homebuilders, learn to sell your services

 |  from HousingZone Headline News  |  Read the Full Article

Learn to turn the perks and services you offer from price tags to benefits in your home buyers’ eyes.... Read More

2,500 firms could go bust by end of year

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

At least 2,500 construction companies could be declared insolvent before the year is out - a sharp rise on the 1,500 in 2007.... Read More

Ledcor Construction reaches skyward at Centro Towers project

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes designed the building for owner Rize Alliance Properties Ltd. The project includes a parkade with green roof, exercise facilities, garden space, play area and space for outdoor dining.... Read More

Construction boss fined after worker suffers memory loss

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

A construction boss who failed to report a fall that left a man with short-term memory loss put a further two employees at risk of a similar accident.... Read More

Pavement Construction: A Cost-Effective Alternative

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

Additional materials provided by the Southeast Cement Association and Site-Prep, Inc. of NC. A portion of the original pavement design on the State Route 5 widening and relocation project in Smyrna, South Carolina, has been replaced with a plant-mixed Cement Stabilized Aggregate Base Course (CSABC) that is delivering an economical and structurally competent alternative to traditional materials ...... Read More

Construction orders plunge once again

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Experts claim the construction industry is in a recession after new statistics showed orders have plunged yet again.... Read More

Economic activity in Canada’s construction sector continues to shrink

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Economic activity in Canada continued to fluctuate between monthly periods of moderate economic growth and decline in May. All components of the construction sector declined, including residential buildings, non-residential buildings and engineering and repair work.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 09, 2008

GPS Reduces Need For Equipment

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

A 7-mile section of Interstate 75 between Bridgeport and Birch Run is being reconstructed and widened with concrete. The southbound lanes were reconstructed in 2007 and the northbound lanes are being reconstructed this year. The approximately $50-million project is expected to be completed in October.... Read More

Construction activity falls fuel recession fears

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

The Times has warned that the prospect of a recession loomed closer as figures published yesterday showed that construction activity dropped to its lowest level since 1997 and analysts prepared for a round of bad news from the service sector.... Read More

Carillion fined £70,000 for worker's fatal fall

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Carillion JM, formerly known as Mowlem, has been fined £70,000 after one of its employees fell 17m to his death in 2003.... Read More

Balfour Beatty confirms £103m US housing deal

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Balfour Beatty has reached financial close on a £103m housing privatisation project at West Point in New York.... Read More

Construction Disputes and Nonpayment Issues- Marilyn Klinger

 |  from CSI AudioCast  |  Read the Full Article

Los Angeles lawyer Marilyn Klinger of Sedgewick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, LLP discusses the five remedies for nonpayment issues during a construction project. CSI Webinars :: Registration for "Construction Project Disputes from the Legal Perspective" on September 2 is now open File Download (2:47 min / 3 MB)... Read More

Crane Safety Improved with Training, Maintenance, Regulation

 |  from Construction Equipment Latest News  |  Read the Full Article

The construction industry has been plagued by a series of fatal crane accidents in recent months. According to experts, lack of training combined with inadequate safety standards and subpar inspection services are to blame.... Read More

Two firms fined £120,000 after death fall

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Two construction firms have been fined a total of £120,000 following a fatal fall from height.... Read More

Construction boss fined after worker suffers memory loss

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

A construction boss who failed to report a fall that left a man with short-term memory loss put a further two employees at risk of a similar accident.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 08, 2008

Florida Construction Firm Makes AEDs Standard Equipment at Jobsites

 |  from Occupational Health & Safety  |  Read the Full Article

While AEDs are increasingly being installed in public gathering places such as stadiums, shopping malls, hotels, airports, and bus terminals, their use in the workplace is just beginning to gain momentum, said Brian Trusky, vice president of loss prevention at Moss & Associates.... Read More

Green Building Council seeks carbon cutting consensus

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

GBC chief Paul King wants builders to reach a consensus on how to cut carbon emissions from existing homes.... Read More

£10m earmarked for green technology to help builders

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

More than £10m has been earmarked to develop cutting-edge sustainable technologies that could be used to “green” existing buildings.... Read More

Buildingtalk helps buyers find new suppliers

 |  from Buildingtalk Blog  |  Read the Full Article

There is certainly a great deal of anxiety in the industry with construction companies announcing several thousand job cuts in recent months. Industrial production is now falling too, and the service sector, which constitutes 74% of GDP, has also slowed. However, there is still a lot of business out there, particularly as buyers look [...]... Read More

While housebuilders are suffering an unprecedented sharp slump in demand

 |  from Buildingtalk Blog  |  Read the Full Article

While housebuilders are suffering an unprecedented sharp slump in demand, civil engineering remains as strong as ever. The organisers of the Civils 2008, which takes place in London in November, wrote to say that GBP30 billion worth of projects are being showcased. With landmark projects like the 2012 Olympics, Crossrail and new developments in nuclear [...]... Read More

Six construction markets hardest hit by recession

 |  from Reed Construction Data:Notes from Jim Haughey  |  Read the Full Article

Construction spending reported by the Census Bureau has dropped sharply for single family homes, conservation, communications facilities, retail and religious buildings and highways from November to June which is approximately the time period likely to be labeled a recession when final monthly economic and market data is analyzed sometime next year.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 06, 2008

Construction insolvencies shoot up 35%

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

The number of construction companies falling into insolvency since April has risen 35% on a year ago.... Read More

Construction activity falls fuel recession fears

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The Times has warned that the prospect of a recession loomed closer as figures published yesterday showed that construction activity dropped to its lowest level since 1997 and analysts prepared for a round of bad news from the service sector.... Read More

Build Washington Awards

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

The Associated General Contractors of Washington honored the 2008 Build Washington Award winners in a gala event recently at the Seattle Art Museum. Build Washington Awards for Construction Excellence were presented to 12 contractors for their 13 projects. Tacoma Narrows Constructors, a joint venture of Kiewit Pacific Co.... Read More

How a court will assess a claimant's damages

 |  from Contract Journal - Construction Law  |  Read the Full Article

In a recent case in the Technology and Construction Court, useful guidance was given on how the courts would assess damages in the event that a claimant's quantification of damages was unopposed by the defendant.... Read More

Hundreds of half-trained apprentices laid off by housebuilders

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Housebuilders are calling for help from the construction industry's training board as they are forced to lay off hundreds of half-trained apprentices.... Read More

2,500 firms could go bust by end of year

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

At least 2,500 construction companies could be declared insolvent before the year is out - a sharp rise on the 1,500 in 2007.... Read More

2006 IRC Turbo Tabs International Residential Code

 |  from Recently published books about Architecture & Construction  |  Read the Full Article

By 0101TL06. Delmar Publishers. Price: $16. Publish Date: 03/2006... Read More

Ledcor Construction reaches skyward at Centro Towers project

 |  from Green Building - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes designed the building for owner Rize Alliance Properties Ltd. The project includes a parkade with green roof, exercise facilities, garden space, play area and space for outdoor dining.... Read More

Six construction markets still expanding despite recession

 |  from Reed Construction Data:Notes from Jim Haughey  |  Read the Full Article

Construction spending reported by the Census Bureau for manufacturing, power, water, hotel, residential remodeling and public safety building projects has increased faster than rising project costs from November to June which is approximately the time period likely to be labeled a recession when final monthly economic and market data is analyzed sometime next year. The inclusion of residential remodeling is suspect because of serious measurement problems in this market.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 05, 2008

90% of Olympic construction waste to be recycled

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has pledged to reuse or recycle 90% of construction waste on the 2012 Olympic site.... Read More

Technical Details: Recent Changes to Building Codes Relating to Roofing

 |  from RC - Column  |  Read the Full Article

Recent changes to roofing materials, application methods and destructive weather events have combined to create changes to roof-related items in the building codes. Prior to 2000, there were three main building codes recognized and adopted throughout the United States.... Read More

There is certainly a great deal of anxiety in the industry with construction companies announcing several thousand job cuts in recent months

 |  from Buildingtalk Blog  |  Read the Full Article

There is certainly a great deal of anxiety in the industry with construction companies announcing several thousand job cuts in recent months. Industrial production is now falling too, and the service sector, which constitutes 74% of GDP, has also slowed. However, there is still a lot of business out there, particularly as buyers look [...]... Read More

Pelican Hill Resort Construction

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

Snyder Langston, of Southern California, is constructing a 5-star hotel at the Resort at Pelican Hill, near Newport Beach, CA. On behalf of The Irvine Company, Snyder Langston is working on a total of 127,622 square feet, which includes the hotel core, spa and pool grill. The architect is Altevers Associates.... Read More

Professional Builder’s 2008 Best Workplaces

 |  from HousingZone Headline News  |  Read the Full Article

This year we chose six home builders that, in spite of the glum housing market, found a way to keep employees happy and ready to do whatever it takes to keep their companies going.... Read More

McGowan Builders Begins Leaguers Headquarters

 |  from Associated Construction Publications Top Headlines  |  Read the Full Article

The Leaguers, Inc., one of the largest nonprofit community organizations in the Newark, NJ, area, and McGowan Builders, Inc. (MGB), serving as general contractor, broke ground for the two-story, 44,000-square-foot Leaguers Headquarters and Head Start Building in Newark. The total development cost of the project is $23.... Read More

Housing slowdown could force 30% price rise

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Falling output from housebuilders could cause house prices to soar by 30% between 2009 and 2012.... Read More

Kajima's UK construction losses total £124m over three years

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Japanese firm's UK construction division has made yet another loss – this time of £5m.... Read More

Prince Charles' construction bill hits £35m

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The Prince of Wales spent £35m on construction and renovation on his way to make £43m profit on property deals over the past seven years.... Read More

You Hear More Than Air Leaking from the Housing Bubble

 |  from Construction Industry News & Articles  |  Read the Full Article

Builder confidence is shrinking due to the current housing market. Now is the time to strengthen your business practices to stay in the slumping market and make a profit.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: August 01, 2008

Hanley Grange eco-town scaled back

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Developers have scaled back plans for a proposed eco-town in South Cambridgeshire after a medical charity refused to sell its land.... Read More

Tightened eco-town rules 'toughest ever'

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

Housing minister Caroline Flint has tightened the rules for eco-towns amid public opposition and the failure of key proposals.... Read More

Prospecting: Working Smarter, Not Harder

 |  from ManageSmarter.com - Sales Top Stories  |  Read the Full Article

Forget about the old-fashioned idea that some people are "born salesmen." To successfully sell building products, you need to learn the science behind the sale.... Read More

Housing crisis to persist up to 2010

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Housebuilders are urging the government to speed up a solution to end the housing crisis, in the wake of a report that says the market will suffer until 2010.... Read More

Construction jobs fall 70% in Northern Ireland

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Northern Ireland’s construction workforce has plummeted by 70% in the past 12 months, according to a new survey.... Read More

Economic crime hits 40% of construction firms

 |  from Contract Journal - Business and Finance  |  Read the Full Article

Economic crime is hitting construction companies harder, with 40% suffering from some form of theft, embezzlement, corruption, bribery, money-laundering and intellectual property infringment.... Read More

Eco-town designs 'improved' but still suffer transport issues

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The government’s eco-town advisory panel says developers have improved their designs for the settlements but are still struggling with transport issues.... Read More

Construction insolvencies shoot up 35%

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The number of construction companies falling into insolvency since April has risen 35% on a year ago.... Read More

Economic Stimulus Aids Construction Industry

 |  from Construction Equipment Owner's Blog  |  Read the Full Article

According to a survey of utility contractors released by the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) and the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) the recent Economic Stimulus Act has had a positive impact on the construction industry. The main benefit came in various incentives to purchase equipment. The report also feels that the economy and construction industry could be immediately strengthened by increasing the investment in water infrastructure and extending the ESA’s capital investment incentives which “would have a positive impact on equipment purchasing next year and demonstrates the direct impact... Read More