The extreme cold affecting large swathes of the US and Canada has many crews working in life-threatening conditions. Hyperthermia can affect you even when the temperature is above freezing, so it’s important to know the signs and ensure your crew is properly prepared for cold weather. Get the Right Gear Start by dressing right. Layering …
Sure, as the owner of a construction firm, you get to be your own boss, but construction is a very stressful occupation. As a small business owner, you have payroll, taxes and getting new clients to think about. With the construction labor shortage, it can be really difficult to keep your team together. Every building …
As customers and building codes demand more sustainable homes, you will have to adapt to meet eco-conscious demands. Being more sustainable isn’t just something we can practice for our clients, creating more sustainable jobsites means safer workplaces with less waste. It means you can save money and time if you just work a little smarter. …
Is everyone sitting around waiting because you ran out of nails? When employees leave the jobsite to pick up materials, you have a double loss with transport costs and time. Studies show that these costs can take up as much as 2-4% of the project’s profits for most small to medium construction companies. But with a better system and planning, you can vastly reduce lumberyard runs and improve your efficiency and your bottom line
Wallpaper can be a real pain to renovate, so here are some tips to make this messy task more manageable. Take your time—wallpaper takes time to remove so set aside at least two days to do a full room. Leaving enough time will mean you don’t try to rush it and end up damaging your …
You don’t need freezing temperatures to get hypothermia. Wind and rain can drop your body temperature below 95 degrees F and then you’re in trouble. When temperatures drop on the jobsite, it’s important to manage your crew and ensure they are properly protected. Sick days can really eat into your profit margins and you need …
As winter approaches, we are sure to see a few homeowners suffer the inconvenience and often exorbitant expense of frozen and burst pipes. Even when pipes are situated inside the thermal envelope, they can still be exposed to freezing temperatures through conduction. If pipes run along steel beams or concrete walls that extend beyond the thermal envelope, conductive heat can cool them below freezing. Prevent bust pipes in these situations by insulating the pipes themselves.
Change comes slowly to the construction industry, but modern homeowners are a different creature. Thanks to the internet, they are better informed and more demanding. If you want to keep your clients happy, get word-of-mouth referrals and avoid expensive callbacks, you need to up your communication game. Construction projects have a nasty reputation for being …
The National Safety Council conducted a survey called “Fatigue in Safety-Critical Industries: Impact, Risks and Recommendations,” which found that 69% of US workers who occupy safety-critical jobs are fatigued. The figures for construction were much higher with 100% of workers reporting issues with fatigue. Tired workers can have disastrous consequences on jobsites. With all of …
Investment in equipment is essential for the successful construction company, but knowing when to buy, rent, lease or borrow can really help to maximize your profits. When weighing the odds on these options, you’re really calculating risk. Buying equipment results in higher profit margins, but overinvesting can mean you actually lose money. When you are …
