Construction

New construction windows or replacement windows Which is right for you)

Construction blogger

Hello, my name is John Rocco.I grew up around the window and door business. My father owned a glass shop that dealt in every aspect of residential and commercial glass.Naturally, when it came time to choose a profession, i wound up in the window and door business. I have been in the business for about 27 years, and i have been self employed for 20.One of the things that seperated my company from my competitors was my willingness to show my customers how to replace their windows themselves. Whenever i would encounter a customer with a curiosity or willingness to learn how to install their own windows,i would offer to sell them the labor on one window,using them as my helper.Then,they would install the rest of the windows using the knowledge gained from helping me install one.Most window companies would never do this because there is so much money made on the labor.But i was always so busy,i never felt like it was costing me money.Eventually, i made an installation video for those homeowners who wanted to do their own windows.While the video is for sale on my website, i decided to take excerpts from the video and write an article once a week covering some part of the window replacement project.This article is going to cover the difference between window frames used in new construction homes, and the window frames that are used to replace existing aluminum or wood windows.

When a new home is being built,the windows are nailed to the wood studs that make up the house frame.In order to accomplish this, new construction windows have a fin around all four sides of the frame that rests against the outside of the stud, and nails are driven into the studs through the nailing fin. After that,flashing paper is applied to prevent water leaks, then the exterior, material is applied. That material can be stucco, brick, siding, etc.Now, imagine 10 or 20 years later when you want to replace those windows. If you were going to install your replacement windows the same way the original windows were installed, you would have to remove the exterior material around each window in order to get to those nails holding the frame in there. You can see how this pro- ceedure could cause many problems, not to mention all the labor involved. I have seen homes in california with stucco exteriors where the homeowner had the stucco cut out in order to remove the old windows.The problem was they were unable to match the stucco colors after patching. Its just not a very efficient way to replace windows. So the replacement frame was designed. In most parts of the country it’s simply a new construction window frame with the nail fin removed. In the west,where stucco is a common home exterior,a retrofit frame was designed. If you’re going to be replacing the exterior material on your home, then you might want to consider going with the new construction window since the nailing fins will be exposed anyway. Also, chances are that a contractor will be doing your exterior replacement,and it would be wise to let the contractor install the windows as well.Since my installation videos deal with window replace- ment only, these articles will focus on replacement frames and retrofit frames. Using these two frame styles,a do it yourselfer can replace their old windows without any damage to existing interior and exterior surfaces.And the job can be done using common tools such as a drill,tape measure, and caulking gun. In next weeks article,we will discuss the replacement of wood sash windows.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978 To learn more, visit How To Install Windows

Renting Construction Equipment Will Save Project Cost

Construction blogger

When you are renting out construction equipment, you are saving on the cost of your project. Construction equipment rentals have helped to save costs on many construction projects. Not every construction company owners would like to purchase such equipment because it would not fit their budget. Also the utility of such equipment would be less as per the whole project. Each of such equipment would cost a lot but there use would be only limited from project to project. Therefore it makes no sense to buy such equipment and keep for such a high price for a single purpose alone. This is why it is better to rent such equipment out and control the cost of the project.

There can be different vehicles required for construction. These can include mixers, excavators, industrial loaders, boom lifts, rollers etc. Purchasing all such equipment can quite often cost a fortune for the company. Therefore it is necessary for companies to rent such equipment out. This will help save the company money time and labor.

There are many other cost benefits that can be associated with renting out construction equipment. Breakdown costs are totally eliminated. If there is any fault in the machine then it is taken care of by the rental company. It is the duty of the rental company to provide fault free equipment that will help to complete the construction on time. If there are any breakdowns then they will be attended to and repaired by the rental company. Similarly all the maintenance cost of the equipment is taken care of by the rental company.

The construction company would only rent these vehicles to use them. However, the maintenance and the service of these vehicles would be taken care of by the rental company. Now if the construction company had purchased these vehicles then they would have had to take care of their maintenance as well which is again a lump sum amount at intervals of time. This cost is now being completely eliminated.

Storage of the vehicles will also be a big problem. If you have purchased such vehicles, you would also have to think of their storage facility. You cannot just store them in a garage. This equipment is quite bulky and most of the times you need to store them in a special manner. This is taken care of by the rental company. You dont have to go looking for special places to store these vehicles.

There is no capital investment involved in the. The equipment is rented out on a contract basis. The money that is saved by this can be effectively used in other areas. Also this increases the borrowing power of the construction company. The equipment that is rented out will not appear as a liability. It on the other hand increases the asset to liability ratio in favor of the construction company.

With so many benefits at hand, it is obvious why more and more construction companies are now going for renting out construction equipment rather than purchasing them.

Decline In Construction Accidents Linked To Economy

Construction blogger

With the U.S. economy in the midst of a recession, many businesses have suffered the effects of a significant decrease in consumer spending. Real estate, historically regarded as an exceptionally good investment, has proven to be less than lucrative as home prices continue to fall in most areas of the United States. Houses sit empty in newly constructed neighborhoods and many contractors are struggling to find financial stability. Many construction workers who have previously found steady employment with a professional contractor have also struggled to find any work at all. Many skilled laborers, though highly qualified, find there is little to no demand for construction workers.

While there has been a significant decrease in the number of jobs for construction workers, there is an oddly positive bright side to this downturn. On August 20, Bloomberg news reported that deaths in the workplace fell to their lowest levels in 16 years, down 10 percent in 2008. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that there was noticeably less activity in dangerous fields such as building construction. Indeed, while deaths for construction workers dropped 20 percent from 2007, spending on construction projects fell 5 percent. According to the report, transportation accidents were still responsible for the highest number of work-related deaths.

Though construction accident deaths fell in 2008, workers should still be aware of potential safety hazards on the job site. There have still been many high profile construction accident fatalities over the past few months. Most recently, a man fell to his death in Branson, Missouri while working on a construction tank at an ethanol plant. Another man lost his life in Brooklyn, New York, while investigating incorrectly assembled scaffolding. According to a New York Times report, a section of rope disconnected, detaching the scaffolding from the fifth story wall. The worker fell to a first floor terrace and died.

Many times, construction accidents can be prevented by simple oversight and a conscientious commitment to safety by all workers on the job site. The tragic reality, however, is that safety is often not the primary concern of the workers or those in charge. Time constraints, deadlines, and a casual attitude often are contributing factors to preventable construction accidents. Workers on job sites that seem potentially dangerous should not only take extra precautions, but also notify their foreman or other job site supervisor. Vigilance regarding safety, especially in a dangerous profession such as construction, is its own reward.

Why It Is Very Important Pay Attention To Construction Signs On The Highway

Construction blogger

The average American spends a good part of their lives on the road. Whether they are traveling to and from work, taking a road trip, or doing errands, it is common to spend time in the vehicle driving. When you are traveling, you may come across various construction signs. These signs are sometimes bothersome to a busy driver and can create more time for a driver on their regular commute. This is no way gives you the opportunity to avoid these warnings. Instead, all drivers would be wise to pay attention to construction signs. There are many reasons why you should pay attention to these signs.

These construction signs are an alert to danger ahead first of all. Signs in construction zones signal there might be workers or materials that could perhaps be a risk to those driving. To help avoid these risks, many times these signs will urge drivers to reduce speed. To help signal the driver of the construction ahead, lights or cones can also be used along with signs. When the driver adequately follows these signs, he or she will be safer on the road and avoid potential dangers.

Next, several of these signs also signal a change in the driving rules. It is always best to strictly adhere to the sign guidelines, even though some drivers think they are just suggestions which they are not. You can avoid getting a ticket when you follow these straightforward guidelines. In construction areas, it is often usual to have fines doubled for driving transgressions. Consequently, it is more risky not to adhere to the guidelines on the signs. Additionally, these driving rules are established to protect your safety and the safety of the passengers in your automobile. Remember this and do your best to respect the laws in all areas, particularly construction zones.

Sometimes construction signs indicate a change in the traffic and driving conditions on the streets. If this occurs, drivers might be required to merge or exit. Failing to follow the signs can create further hiccups for drivers. Any detour signs that accompany construction signs need to be paid attention to by drivers at all times. The end result is drivers are able to get to their planned destination without delays by simply following the signs. A number of these signs and detours in addition to providing safer and quicker ways to travel on city streets and roads.

The actual construction runs more efficiently as well when drivers adhere to the signs in these construction zones. Never ever fun for drivers, construction areas and road delays can be troublesome. These problems are usually solved quicker when drivers respect the signs and allow the workers to finish their work on time and accurately. Drivers should realize that they play a vital role in the completion of these projects. Causing issues in a construction areas only leads to further delays and complications for both the driver as well as the road crews. Instead, they would be smart to adhere to the signs and stay out of the way.

The signs in a construction zone symbolize one of the best tools for safety in an area of high risk. To protect your safety and the safety of other motorists, it is important and necessary to respect these construction signs on the highway. Next time you are on the road, do your part and adhere to the signs.

Improving Construction Quality, Enhanced Market Transparency.

Construction blogger

While stocks and bonds have held their positions as traditional investment, investors are increasingly looking towards the alternative investments real estate, hedge funds, private equity and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to engineer an overall enhanced performance of their portfolios.
Improving construction quality, enhanced market transparency, and availability of suitable options have made the Indian real estate market a definitive asset class to invest, which provides a stable and predictable income yield along with a possibility of capital appreciation. While residential markets in India have already witnessed a rapid bounce, commercial markets have touched a cyclical low and are expected to recover to 4-6 quarters.
The market value of investment grade real estate in India under construction has increased from $69.4 billion at end-2006 to $101.3 billion by end June 2010, which equates to 8.2% f Indias nominal GDP FOR 2009.
The market value of commercial office and retail under construction has remained range-bound during 2006-2010, due to the effect of an increase in construction activity offset by a fall in capital values. However, the contribution of residential segment has amplified due to a confluence of increase in construction activity and rapid recovery of property prices.
A significant portion of this market value is required as costs of construction and development of these real estate assets. The costs have been assessed to be $48.5 billion over a period of 2-3 years.
The market value of commercial (office and retail) real estate under construction is $34.8 billion. Commercial office space under development contributes to 74% of the estimated market value being developed in the commercial sector.
As of 2Q 2010, Tier I cities of Mumbai, NCR-Delhi and Bangalore contribute to 70% of the market value of commercial office space under construction, while Tier 2 cities of Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata contribute to 21% of the pie. Other investment grade developments in Tier 3 cities contribute to a more 9% of the pan-India market value being developed in India today.
However, with infrastructural developments and lover real estate costs, the shared of Tier 3 cities is likely to grow In future. While the Tier I cities contribute to 62% of the commercial retail space under development,27% is supplied by the Tier 2 cities.
Residential sector has been the most resilient in the recent downturn, aided by the high demand for housing in India. While residential property prices slumped in 1H09, their raped recovery in 2H09 and 1H10 was accompanied by a slew of launches across India.
As of 2Q 2010, the market value of residential properties under construction is $66.5 billion, contribution 66% of the value of total real estate under construction in India.
While the premium segment comprises only 4% of the saleable area being developed, it contributes to 24% of market value. While NCR Delhi leads in terms of volume of residential properties being developed, Mumbai contributes a larger share to the market value.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into housing and real estate in India increased steadily from $0.04 billion in 2005-06 to $2.18 billion In 2007-08. Since 2007-08, a total FDI of %7.82 billion has been put into housing and real estate in India. Considering an average construction period of three years for real estate properties, this equates to 7.7% of the market value of investment grade real estate under construction as of 2Q 2010.
Courtesy:-Times Property 02-10-2010