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Bonding off liens: Projects keep moving and claimants get paid
Nate Budde Construction & Building MaterialsMechanics liens are powerful tools. Through the consistent use of these security instruments, construction industry participants can nearly assure payment on every project. However, because liens are such powerful tools, they can have consequences that reach beyond getting the claimant paid.
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Drones are evolving into worker bees
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsThe use of drones — or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — is increasing on large construction projects. Cheaper, less risky and more flexible than helicopters or other types of surveillance, drones currently can perform a variety of routine and specialized tasks. They can survey and map sites, monitor and document a project's progress, track the location and use of materials and equipment, and check that crews are adhering to work and safety standards.
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Increase cash flow through mechanics liens and bond claims
Nate Budde Construction & Building MaterialsConstruction industry payment challenges can limit a company's available cash and result in too much past-due A/R. Because of this, construction companies fail at a higher rate than nearly any other industry. However, even when the problems are mere annoyances and frustrations and don't rise to a level critical for the solvency of the business, the associated headaches and the time consumed just trying to get paid can be severely burdensome.
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The keys to preventing lead exposure
Piyush Bakshi Waste Management & EnvironmentalLead is among the six common air pollutants that impact air quality in America, according to the EPA. The others are particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone and sulfur dioxide. Once upon a time, unleaded gasoline used in vehicles was the biggest source of lead in the air. However, over a period of two decades from 1980 to 1999, the EPA managed to bring down lead pollution from the transportation sector by 95 percent. Today, the most common sources of lead emissions include lead smelters, metal processing units, waste processing units and lead-acid battery manufacturers.
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Builders confident that 2015 will end on a positive note
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsBuilders shrugged off a rather lackluster September, choosing to focus instead on regaining ground in the fourth quarter. Regardless of the month-over-month decline from August in nearly every industry sector, builders remain optimistic — buoyed by indicators of future demand, job growth and cumulative year-over-year gains.
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The future of building comes a few steps closer with new technology
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsTwo recent news items reveal that revolutionary advances in building technology are just around the corner. Both how we build and what we build may radically change within the next decade. These innovations have the potential to make construction safer and more affordable, as well as faster and more malleable.
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Common lien waiver problems and solutions
Nate Budde Construction & Building MaterialsLien waivers are commonly exchanged on construction projects, and they are crucial to the payment process. However, the ubiquity of lien waivers doesn't mean they are always well understood, or that problems don't arise from their exchange.
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Builders betting boomers will occupy senior housing
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsIf you play the numbers, the numbers are promising. Every day 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 and, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, they will continue to do so until 2030. When the last of the boomers hits the magic number, the first wave will already be in their 80s.
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Reports: Housing construction turns a corner
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsAfter another disappointing start to the year, housing appears to have gained traction. Second-quarter indicators point to sustained recovery in housing construction for the remainder of the year. Industry sources are reporting prerecession levels of activity. Builder and realtor confidence are up, boosted by positive signs in both the single-family and multifamily sectors.
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Reduce your risk through better visibility
Nate Budde Construction & Building MaterialsConstruction payment is complex and full of challenges. The credit-heavy nature of construction projects and the lack of visibility throughout a project can give rise to critical payment problems that can reverberate up and down the payment chain.
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