New Materials Take Concrete from Gray to Green
When it comes to the concrete and masonry trades, you don’t have to look far to find lots of buzz around green and sustainable construction methods and materials. This includes everything from scientists studying how cigarette butts can conduct energy in bricks and pavement to paint developers rethinking chemicals and colors for more energy-efficient homes. If you’re a […]
Four Ways You Can Work Smarter in 2020
With another holiday season behind us and a new year (and decade) just beginning, you may be searching for new ways to maximize your time, increase your efficiency, and generally get more done in both your professional and personal life. Time—let’s face it—is the great equalizer. Whether you’re a roofing contractor in Iowa or a […]
How to Win the Hiring Game in 2020
It’s not surprising that the 2020 FMI Industry Report found that 57% of construction leaders listed “attracting and retaining skilled labor” as their No. 2 concern for future success. When asked their top three concerns, hiring came in just below maintaining jobsite safety (66%) and right above maintaining field productivity (52%). These concerns about the […]
Why Contractors Should Invest in Integrated Tools
Whether your construction business is focused on roofing or concrete, your bidding process may involve lots of moving parts. While you may already be using a digital takeoff tool to eliminate paper blueprints, your estimating workflow may still include a mixed bag of supplier and vendor spreadsheets. Inevitably, this can make bid day a mad scramble—especially […]
Setting and Achieving Your Construction Goals
As a construction professional, what kinds of goals did you set for yourself in 2019? Did you resolve to get a promotion or to take on more responsibility in your current role? As we round out this year and head into another, where do you stand with your goals? Whether you’re an estimator or a […]
6 Do’s and Don’ts for Sharper Listening Skills
Construction is a complex business with many moving parts. Getting the details of each project correct is critical for your productivity, ability to win bids, and overall business position among competitors. This is probably why almost every job posting for estimators and project managers cites “listening” as a critical skill for success. Ask any estimator […]
It’s Back! $1 Million Tax Break
Despite recession fears and stock market jitters, construction demand and activity have held steady this year with backlogs dipping only slightly in most areas of the U.S. In fact, employment has remained strong with wages rising to their highest in the last decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Odds are your construction business […]
What Type of Training Is Right for You?
If your company recently purchased new takeoff and estimating software, your next step is to choose the best type of training. Do you want to attend an in-person class, participate in online (virtual) training, leverage other “self-study” resources, or some combination of the three? You’ll want to weigh a variety of factors. I may not […]
Navigating the Ever-Tightening Labor Crunch
It’s been a long, hot, busy summer for most everyone in the construction industry. If you’ve had a moment to catch your breath, you’ve probably noticed backlogs are still running nearly nine months and demand for all types of construction workers—from hourly craft jobs to emerging roles like construction technologists—has held steady. Officially, the U.S. […]
6 Tips and Tricks to Ace Your Estimator Training
OK, it’s time to learn the new takeoff and estimating software that your company recently purchased. But where do you start? How big of a learning curve will you face? How long will your ramp-up take? If you’re asking these questions, you’re not alone. Most estimators, project managers, and other construction-industry professionals share these concerns […]