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Builders ‘cautiously optimistic’ despite slow growth
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsHopes that momentum from last fall's burst of building activity would carry forward into 2016 have faded following a lackluster first quarter. Figures from March reveal an industry holding steady in the face of economic uncertainty and weak consumer confidence, neither advancing nor receding substantially.
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Safety Week 2016: Think outside the box
Danielle Manley Construction & Building MaterialsMay is a big month for construction safety with both Safety Week 2016 and the National Safety Stand-Down occurring in the first week of the month. With jobsite injuries and fatalities occurring at such a high rate — nearly three times that of other industries, according to the CDC — it is no wonder safety has become a top concern for the industry.
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Living large in tiny houses
Dave G. Houser Waste Management & EnvironmentalTiny houses have been making big news in recent years, with TV coverage on networks like CNN, HGTV and FYI, articles in House Beautiful, Country Living, Mother Earth News and BusinessWeek, and countless appearances on YouTube, Pinterest and other social media forums.
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Green and smart growing up together
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhile "smart" homes remain a vision more than a reality, new smart products and services continue to flow into the market. Refrigerators that alert you when you've run out of milk or stoves that text you when the roast is done have gotten a lot of media attention. Along with their "wow" factor, they offer a certain level of convenience and control, although at a price beyond the reach of most consumers.
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How lien waivers can benefit entire projects
Nate Budde Construction & Building MaterialsWhat makes a successful waiver policy? Waivers must be sent with the proper payments. Also, the waiver must written correctly and fairly (some states provide statutorily required forms) and the proper type of waiver should be used (there are four types depending on the stage of the project and the type of payment being made).
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As demand resurges, builders struggle to keep pace
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsThe building industry righted course in February, with all indicators trending upward. Activity increased in both the residential and nonresidential sectors, and the outlook at present is for continued steady growth throughout the remainder of 2016. The level of growth, however, remains in question, as builders struggle to keep pace with demand in the face of mounting industry challenges.
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The union is here — now what?
Wally Zimolong Construction & Building MaterialsDisgruntled unions are anything but unimaginative. Sometimes it is a ubiquitous inflatable rat. Other times it is a banner advertising a "labor dispute." And sometimes it is a full blockade of project that causes a complete project shutdown. Whether these antics are merely a nuisance or are causing actual economic harm, no developer is happy to see a trade union airing its "labor dispute" at a project.
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Millennials: Housing’s lost generation
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials"You are a lost generation," remarked Gertrude Stein to the young Ernest Hemingway, referring to the devastating loss of millions of young lives — either dead or incapacitated — as a result of World War I. Today, Stein could be referring to the millennial generation, that cohort of 75 million people born between 1985 and 2004, whose relentless march toward adulthood has not quite captured the attention of mainstream America yet. Nowhere, perhaps, is that more evident than in the housing market, where anticipation of a millennial housing boom has had little impact on ensuring supply will be available to meet demand.
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How to get paid by waiving your lien rights
Nate Budde Construction & Building MaterialsMechanics liens are powerful tools, for many reasons. Ironically, one of the most effective "uses" of your mechanics lien rights is not using them. Waiving your right to file a lien may be the fastest way to get paid. To understand why, it helps to consider the potential consequences of a validly filed mechanics lien: stopped projects, compromised funding, lawsuits, foreclosed property and more. Due to the severity of these potential consequences, parties at the top of the contracting chain want to avoid mechanics liens being filed against their property and on their projects.
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Industrial marketing begins with great content, but how do you…
Kyle Fiehler EngineeringMore and more research in the industrial sector is being conducted online. For instance, a study of 2015 digital media use in the industrial sector published by the firm IHS Engineering360 found that 77 percent of engineers use digital media to find parts, services and suppliers.
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