Framing is the single biggest contributor to the construction budget, accounting for (on average) around 18%. With rising costs and labor shortages, framing is becoming increasingly expensive. It behooves the small to medium construction firm to find ways in which to make the framing as efficient and cost effective as possible. You can mitigate some of the framing costs with careful planning, an efficiently run jobsite and the right tools.
If your residential build occurs in building science climate zones one, two or even three, you may want to reconsider placing the ductwork for your air conditioning units in the attic, even if the attic is ventilated. Studies show you could be adding 15% or more to your energy bill with poor ductwork placement.
Painting problems can really ruin an otherwise perfect job and you get stuck with time-consuming call backs. While selecting the wrong paint for the job can cause issues, most call backs result from improper application. Whether you are spaying, rolling, brushing or using a combination of these methods, becoming adept in paint application not only saves you time and money, it also finishes your job so professionally that you will turn your customers into raving fans.
As a business owner or site manager, you know the value of competent employees and the costs associated with getting rid of those employees who compromise the quality of your workmanship. Not only can incompetent employees reduce the quality of a build, they can also compromise the relationship you have with your clients and may cost you thousands in referrals.
Every successful business owner will tell you that you need to be getting a little better every day in every way. Businesses require constant tending and nurturing if they are to grow. Here is a list of improvements you can make to your construction business to help it to grow from strength to strength.
Biological and bio-chemical hazards are present on just about every construction site and should be effectively managed in order to comply with safety standards and to keep your employees and trades safe. Not only should you ensure that safety comes first, but accidents on site can cause costly delays too, even if no one is injured.
Frozen pipes on construction sites and in new homes are one of the issues builders face over the winter. Burst pipes, especially when they go undetected, can wreak havoc as they spew water into the building or erode the surrounding landscape.
Burst pipes occur during extremely inclement winter weather when water in the pipes expands and places so much pressure on the inner walls of the pipe that it bursts. You can avoid burst pipes by either preventing the water from freezing in the first place or by managing pressure when it does.
Most construction firms rely on word-of-mouth to get new referrals, but you can’t just sit idly by and hope your customers do all your marketing for you. With a little forward planning and investment, you can give your referral rate a boost in 2015 which will allow you to take on more work and grow your company.
The owners of small to medium construction firms must wear many hats and one of the most vital is that of sales manager. You must convince the home buyer that their trust in you is justified and that you will build the house of their dreams. Here are some tips no how to improve your closing rate so you spend less time pitching to clients and more time building homes in the coming year.
After the housing crash, many construction industry professionals retooled or left to pursue careers in other fields. Coupled with a drop in intake numbers, the industry is facing a lack of qualified personnel to fill positions in the coming year. When the time comes to face these shortages, how will your construction company cope? What strategies do you have in place to guarantee your continued profitability?
