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HEADLINES ADDED: June 29, 2009
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
Reed Construction Data economist sees recovery in the next year
Recovery from the recession will stretch out longer than most would like, but there is improvement on the horizon, says CanaData’s chief economist. Construction costs and prices will begin to pick up because commodity prices and the market will be picking up within a year.... Read More
Contractor gets a homegrown lesson in LEED
Dan Bulley, executive director of the green construction institute, was unprepared for coordinating the construction of the LEED certified headquarters of the Chicago Mechanical Contractors Association. Bulley's experience prompted him to write a booklet offering tips on working with LEED from an owner’s perspective.... Read More
Inter-American Development bank is a key tool for Canadian companies
Canadian companies looking to capitalize on construction opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean have the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as a key tool at their disposal. The bank has approved a total of $170 billion in loans and guarantees to finance projects as of the end of 2008.... Read More
Contractor gets a homegrown lesson in LEED
Dan Bulley, executive director of the green construction institute, was unprepared for coordinating the construction of the LEED certified headquarters of the Chicago Mechanical Contractors Association. Bulley's experience prompted him to write a booklet offering tips on working with LEED from an owner’s perspective.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 26, 2009
British Columbia Supreme Court rules market recovery funds were collected improperly
British Columbia’s open shop construction association and an electrical workers union can’t agree on what a B.C. Supreme Court ruling on market recovery dues really means.... Read More
Home Building's False Optimism
During the recent Builders' Show in Las Vegas, everybody commented on how the crowds weren't as small as they expected. NAHB announced attendance w...... Read More
Home Building and the Stimulus Package
NAHB has done a great job of disseminating information about potential opportunities for home builders and remodelers as a result of the stimulus p...... Read More
Is Remodeling Right for Home Builders?
Home builders looking to the remodeling market as an opportunity to capture business and keep the revenue flowing should think long and hard about ...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 25, 2009
Architecture and Sci-Fi
I ran across an article at The Architects’ Journal web pageon the architecture of Star Wars. Good stuff. Who wouldn’t want to live in the Ewok Village!? I think the Sci-Fi world is a great place to look for futuristic design ideas and inspiration. I’ve always been intrigued and humored by the past’s vision of the future. (Do you remember that silly “war room/president’s office” in the original Dead Zone?) One of my favorite futurist illustrators is Arthur Radebaugh, a commercial artist and cartoonist from the mid-1900s. His stuff... Read More
Stimulus Road Signs Cost $300 Each
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 24, 2009
10 Steps to Becoming More Profitable in the Residential Industry
Learn about how you can become more profitable in the construction industry by better business management... Read More
30,000 workers in the skilled trades needed for the economic upturn
... Read More
Design and Construction Report published
... Read More
New pipeline construction goes green in Alberta
Innovations in Alberta pipeline construction are creating a greener way to do business. The new building method disturbs less topsoil by making a trench just slightly wider than the pipe.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 23, 2009
How important is it to measure your progress?
... Read More
USGBC’s Greenbuild Announces 2009's Conference Speakers
Internationally renowned industry experts and leaders make up Master Speaker Roster for Greenbuild 2009... Read More
Discovering the proven methods of construction marketing success
... Read More
Global Holcim Awards Honor Sustainable Construction
... Read More
More positive signs in the construction industry last week included house builder Taylor Wimpey reporting ‘continued stability’ in the UK housing market since April
More positive signs in the construction industry last week included house builder Taylor Wimpey reporting ‘continued stability’ in the UK housing market since April. Their order books are up 73 per cent from the low mark at the end of 2008, which is also encouraging but we still have potential problems from rising unemployment. Taylor [...]... Read More
Building envelope commissioning boosts performance
Building envelope specialists are concerned that conscientious individual efforts may not create a building envelope that functions according to its design.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 20, 2009
Stimulus Helps 18 States Add Construction Jobs, but National Numbers Continue Drop
... Read More
Lean & 5 S's #40
Newsletter #40 November 2008 read more... Read More
Only 1% of Transportation Stimulus Funds Has Been Spent
... Read More
C38: California Refrigeration Contractors' Exam Study Tool CD Only
By QuickPass. Builders Book. Price: $99.95... Read More
Photovoltaics for Professionals: Solar Electric Systems Marketing, Design and Installation
By Falk Antony. Earthscan Publications Ltd.. Price: $97.5. Publish Date: 06/2007... Read More
Austin Construction Workers Face Dangers, Low Pay: Report
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 18, 2009
Housing Construction on the Rebound
... Read More
The Supreme Court, Judicial Elections and Contract Solutions
The United States Supreme Court recently reversed a decision by the Supreme Court of West Virginia on the basis that campaign contributions by Massey Coal's CEO, Don Blackenship, to one of the Judges in the West Virginia majority created an appearance of impropriety or a "serious risk of actual bias." Unlike Maryland, West Virginia has contested elections for its appellate judges. Several years ago Bowie & Jensen, LLC represented a contractor in a residential construction dispute against one of the justices on the West Virginia Supreme Court and her... Read More
EM 385 - 1- 1 2008 Safety and Health Requirements Manual
By US Army Corps of Engineers. Government Printing Office. Price: $69.95. Publish Date: 05/2009... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 17, 2009
Fire destroys 29-unit townhouse development under construction in Coquitlam, British Columbia
A massive fire completely destroyed a development under construction in Coquitlam, B.C. last week.... Read More
Lean & 5 S's #43
Best practice How do you keep everyone focused on eliminating waste? Brian Fluetsch of Sunset Air, Inc. in Lacy, WA has a very practice approach. He explains, “One of the best things we did is to continue our MUDA meeting every Wednesday. I do minutes of every meeting and distribute them to each participant. If people are held accountable for their actions or lack there of, they normally will rise to the occasion.” Constancy of purpose James Womack reminds us to read more... Read More
Carbon-neutral design requires new approach
The leap to carbon-neutral design requires a shift in mindset on the part of design professionals, says Terri Meyer Boake, associate director of the school of architecture at the University of Waterloo.... Read More
Fire destroys 29-unit townhouse development under construction in Coquitlam, British Columbia
A massive fire completely destroyed a development under construction in Coquitlam, B.C. last week.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 16, 2009
U.S. stimulus helping ease construction unemployment
The rate of job losses in the U.S. construction industry is slowing as stimulus spending on highways and paving is helping create and save jobs.... Read More
Green labels need more precision
My eye caught a quote from Terri Meyer Boake recently, telling an audience of architects that mindsets must shift to accommodate changing design criteria in a world in which continued, unchecked emissions of carbon into the atmosphere must stop.... Read More
Green labels need more precision
My eye caught a quote from Terri Meyer Boake recently, telling an audience of architects that mindsets must shift to accommodate changing design criteria in a world in which continued, unchecked emissions of carbon into the atmosphere must stop.... Read More
Green Act Right Approach for Affordable, Sustainable Homes, Says NAHB
... Read More
Development Achieves Both LEED Gold and Certified Green Status with GE Ecomagination
Spencers Crossing achieves the nation's first Gold Level Project status with the U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Homes program, along with a Certified GREEN status in the homes inspired by GE's Ecomagination program. ... Read More
Lawley Insurance Gives 20% Off Registering Against Equipment Theft
... Read More
Contract Rights and Selling a Mobile Home
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 15, 2009
First Remodeled Home Certified To NAHB Green Building Standard
A recently completed remodeling project in Munster, Ind., is the first home remodel to earn certification under the National Green Building Standard, according to the National Association of Home Builders.... Read More
War Funding Bill Provides $4.4 Billion for Construction
... Read More
What is the difference in pay between Union construction jobs and non-union
... Read More
Construction Marketing Publicity
... Read More
Why does construction marketing (seem) to need to be difficult?
... Read More
Green Act the Right Approach for Affordable, Sustainable Homes, Says NAHB
... Read More
Legislators Overlooked Construction Industry
During the early months of 2009, transportation interest moved front and center in the national debate over the struggling U.S. economy. In February, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), providing much needed aid to states to advance “shovel ready” projects to construction.... Read More
Use and Popularityof Concrete Increases
Higher demand for concrete in the last 20 years can be attributed to an exponential increase in building projects, both in the commercial and residential sectors. With this demand, the construction industry found ways to make concrete stronger, more durable, and more appropriate for the specific project through concrete additives and the construction methods.... Read More
Fire destroys condos under development in Coquitlam, B.C
A large fire completely destroyed a small condominium development under construction in Coquitlam, B.C. last week.... Read More
Sustainable Building in North Vancouver
A new industrial development will take shape in North Vancouver for Parissa Inc. The 27,000 square foot facility will meet the warehousing, manufacturing and office requirements of the international company.... Read More
BOMA tells its energy conversation story with pictures
Every picture tells a story and as such the pictures the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada have produced to tell their tale are pure proof of energy reduction over the last decade.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 13, 2009
Pilot project set to morph into regular program to save energy
With a Canada Green Building Council pilot for existing buildings scheduled to re-emerge this fall as a full-fledged program, several participants say they plan to use the knowledge they’ve gained to work internally on energy and environmental measurement and performance.... Read More
1.4 Million Construction Workers Unemployed Since Early ’07
Unemployment in the construction sector climbed to a “horrendous” 19.2 percent (not-seasonally adjusted) as an additional 59,000 construction workers lost their jobs in May according to new federal data.... Read More
Construction Accident Kills 3 Workers in Austin
... Read More
2009 BNI Public Works Costbook
By William Mahoney. Building News, Inc.. Price: $97.95. Publish Date: 09/2008... Read More
Highway Construction Worker Fatally Struck
... Read More
Prince Charles building headlines
Prince Charles managed to make the building industry headlines twice this week. First there was news that plans for a GBP1 billion housing development at the site of the old Chelsea Barracks has been withdrawn. This controversial Richard Rogers design was heavily criticised by Prince Charles earlier this year. The site owner and developer [...]... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 11, 2009
Nevada Bill Signed to Increase Construction Safety
... Read More
Construction Equipment Auction May Break Record
... Read More
Bobcat Unveils New Construction Equipment
... Read More
Contract Modifications May Trigger Disruption Claims
A government agency hired a general contractor to construct a laboratory building. Bell BCI Co. v. United States, 81 Fed. Cl. 617 (2008). After nine months from the beginning of construction, the government asked that an additional floor be added to the building. The change resulted in over 200 modifications by the government and delayed the completion of the project by almost two years. Moreover, the government's modifications increased the cost to complete construction by $21 million. When the government refused to pay the contractor the additional costs, the contractor filed suit.... Read More
ARTBA Legislative Fly-in and TCC Recap
Sponsor:Asphalt Contractor E-newsletter Jeffrey Solsby -Director of Public Affairs - Equipment Manufacturers Division Manager of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association and Richard Juliano - Vice President for Federal and State Relations - Managing Director of the Contractors Division, also of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association join the Construction Business Podcast. Jeff and Rich recently took part in the 2009 ARTBA Federal Issues Program & TCC Fly-In May 18-20 and share the discussions they took part in and what they learned over the course of this... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 05, 2009
Chicago Area Required to Cut Construction Equipment Pollution
... Read More
Construction Labor Costs - 5 Percent Factor
Improve Your Construction Labor Costs - Most construction companies only make an average annual net profit between 2 and 3 percent. Improve your construction labor costs by only 5%, and you can improve your net profit amount to 4-5%. This can be as much as a 100 percent increase in your construction business bottom line!... Read More
2008 Fire Protection Handbook, 20th Edition
By FPH2008. NFPA. Price: $279.99. Publish Date: 02/2008... Read More
The decline in construction is ’slowing’
The decline in construction is ’slowing’. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found the fall in construction workloads, now in its fourth quarter, was less steep. Though the improvement was most noticeable in non-housing and infrastructure projects, the Federation of Master Builders think that there is definite ‘deceleration’, which means we are perhaps reaching the [...]... Read More
Stimulus spending expected to cushion recession's impact in British Columbia
The construction industry will have a softer landing during the current recession in B.C than other major industries.... Read More
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Favorite Book 2007
The Toyota Way is my favorite book for 2007. It had so many good ideas that I could not keep up and ended up reading it again and even buying the Field Book to go along with it.
Download Elegant Solutions from Change This which provides some highlights of the Toyota Production System. Too many ideas that are applicable to contractors to even count!
Recent Posts
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- Construction Estimating Software Study
- Reed Construction Data economist sees recovery in the next year
- Contractor gets a homegrown lesson in LEED
- Inter-American Development bank is a key tool for Canadian companies
- Contractor gets a homegrown lesson in LEED
- British Columbia Supreme Court rules market recovery funds were collected improperly
- Home Building's False Optimism
- Home Building and the Stimulus Package
- Is Remodeling Right for Home Builders?
- Architecture and Sci-Fi
Management Class Series
Training Modules Specifically Designed For Contractors
- Construction Documentation Overview
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- Priorities (Time Management For Construction)
- Construction Financial Basics
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- Implementing A Project Management System
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