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 …
Sweater weather is here and we need to prepare our homes for the coming cold. Getting ready for the onslaught of winter can help you to maintain your home and can even prevent damage and save you money. Mind the Gap Caulking the gaps in your home is an easy way to increase comfort and …
Your shingling job is only as good as the quality of your roof sheathing and framing members. OSB roofing panels are popular because they are durable and easy to work with, but you must install them properly as mistakes at this level, such as buckling, can telegraph through the shingles.
Framing walls plumb and straight is a matter of precision and patience. Doing so will avoid wavy walls, squeaky floors and those dreaded callbacks that eat into your profit margins. Here are some ways to improve your frame game. Store Materials Properly Most framing materials are able to withstand the kinds of weather that normally …
The building industry has traditionally been reticent to adopt change. Construction professionals have been building homes in the same way for decades and, while they are quick to upgrade tools, they don’t usually go for every technological fad that hits the market. Drones, however, are no fad and their usefulness coupled with relatively inexpensive upfront …
Following the phenomenal success of last year’s Thank A Framer video (over 4 million views and counting!) Norbord has released its second video to mark the start of “Thank a Framer” month. This video follows the process of manufacturing Oriented Strand Board (OSB) from the forest to the construction site, paying homage to workers in …
