Latest News

New Course: Aging in Place – Eliminating Pitfalls

Published on June 14, 2019 by Sara Chauvette

Every design or building issue dealing with the disabled or handicapped cannot be dealt with here. Massive laws have been passed for the purpose of guiding design decisions for buildings intended for use by the disabled. Many of these focus on commercial buildings financed with taxpayer funds, institutional projects where users regularly come when facing health challenges, and multi-family housing of various types, possibly used for occupancy by the elderly.

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New Course: Danger in the Damp

Published on June 14, 2019 by Sara Chauvette

There are straightforward steps that can be taken to reduce the chance of water intrusion. Specifying and using building materials that neither accept nor hold moisture is one practical solution. For example, rigid insulation will not hold moisture, whereas cellulose insulation will absorb the same. Metal siding will repel water, but wood siding becomes saturated unless protected. Single ply membrane roofing offers no lapped joints wherein moisture can reside, but that is not true of asphalt shingle roofing. Sandwich panels containing insulation faced with steel or aluminum sheeting are another prime example of materials which by their nature, repel moisture.

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New Course: Lean on Me – Choosing Railings Carefully

Published on June 14, 2019 by Sara Chauvette

Railing systems themselves can be certified through the CCRR process, but this certification still does not cover required project specific fasteners. If the project is straightforward, engineering for fasteners can usually also be provided by the supplier. If the project requires closer attention to fastening details, a local engineer can be hired to verify that proper fasteners are utilized. No one wants to be involved with a railing system that fails.

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Construction Company Fined after Workers Burned by Scalding Oil

Published on May 22, 2019 by Nick Walsh

Nelcon Inc, a Montana construction company, faces $261,000 in fines after three workers were burned by hot oil at an asphalt plant in Laurel last fall. The safety citation stems from an Oct. 25 incident, where Nelcon employees suffered second and third degree burns while pouring oil into a heating container used for the asphalt-mixing process. The oil heated to 450 degrees reacted with cooler oil and spilled onto the workers.

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4 Safety Practices for the Modern Jobsite

Published on May 22, 2019 by Nick Walsh

A similar trend appears when looking at materials-handling practices. 86% of contractors from large companies reported that they formally plan how materials will be handled once work is awarded, and 72% reported that they meet with employees for a discussion on how materials will be moved. In comparison, small and midsize companies reported they develop a formal plan for material handling, but only 54% conduct those meetings with employees.

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Construction Job Gains Outlook

Published on May 22, 2019 by Nick Walsh

All 50 states increased in employment from the year-to-year average ending in April. “12 states recorded annualized growth to and/or above 1.8% in employment, which was the national growth rate.” Texas added the most with 294,200 jobs.

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Contractor Convicted of Cash Bribes to Mayor

Published on May 22, 2019 by Nick Walsh

Usually in public corruption investigations the contractors are the ones who corporate with the government and testify against politicians, but in this situation, it was the mayor who cooperated with prosecutors. Webb admitted he took a combined $300,000 from Tower Contracting and other contractors beginning in 2008. Webb had a shell company that he set up using his children’s name called “Kat Remodeling” to funnel in bribes, to make payments seem legitimate.

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Would Your Construction Company Benefit from Drones?

Published on April 16, 2019 by Sara Chauvette

A recent study of two construction companies focused on how company size affected the use of drones. Bough Engineering is a family owned construction company that employs 13 people. PCL Construction is a group of independent general contracting construction companies operating in the US, Canada, and Australia. PCL employs 4,400 people. Contrary to what many may expect, representatives from both companies use drones in much the same way.

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Building the Bathrooms and Kitchens of Millennial Dreams

Published on April 16, 2019 by Sara Chauvette

71 million people in the United States fall under the millennial umbrella. This generation makes up the majority of those building and buying homes in today’s market and they spend an average of 17.7% more on kitchen remodels and 42.3% more on bathroom remodels. So, what are they looking for? 

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Should You Hold A Residential Builder License & A Real Estate License?

Published on April 16, 2019 by Sara Chauvette

MCL 339.2401(b) requires that a person who “engages in purchase, substantial rehabilitation or improvement, and resale of a residential structure, engaging in that activity on the same structure more than twice in 1 calendar year” have a residential builder or M&A contractor license unless the work is for the person’s own use and occupancy, they contract/hire a licensee to perform all the work, or they have a licensed employee who does the work.

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