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Home renovations: Are heated bathroom floors a good fit?
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesExperts and economists are optimistic about the housing scenario in 2015, and they have reasons to be after the tough past few years. Along with the overall economic recovery and an improving job market, there are other positive signs to boost the market as well.
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‘Sweet’ self-healing corrosion materials are in field testing
Alan Kelsky EngineeringMiddle-aged men who attempt skateboarding for the first time are likely to come away from that experience with lots of abrasions and cuts. But, other than cleansing the wounds, they will heal if left alone. Imagine the engineering possibilities if materials such as steel and concrete had the same self-healing properties of human skin.
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Lien waivers: How technology can solve problems you didn’t know you…
Nate Budde Construction & Building MaterialsLien waivers are an integral part of construction projects in general, and good credit management in particular. Nearly every party furnishing labor or materials has the right to file a mechanics lien in the event of nonpayment, and the top-of-the-chain parties like the property owner and the GC are generally eager to obtain waivers to ensure the property does not become encumbered.
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Energy-saving, high-tech plastics applications in green building
Don Rosato EngineeringIn the U.S., demand for green building materials — products that contribute to LEED credits — are expanding 13 percent yearly and are currently generating sales of more than $70 billion annually.
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Millennials settling down, baby boomers staying put
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsTwo factors drive the housing market: the economy and demographics. At the moment, both are trending in favor of realtors and builders. Industry experts are forecasting a stronger housing market for 2015, with millennials and boomers being major players.
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Specifying dust control for bulk materials handling
Carl Harr Construction & Building MaterialsDust suppression has become an increasingly important challenge in demolition operations. Raised awareness and tighter regulatory standards both contribute motivation for contractors to find efficient, cost-effective methods of particle control.
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Tomorrow’s buildings may be built by robots
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsImagine building an entire 30-story hotel from the ground up in just 15 days. Sounds like futuristic pie-in-the-sky? A private Chinese construction company, the Broad Group, did just that in 2012 using robotics to prefabricate entire floors, according to a new report from Robotic Business Review.
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Passive Paul meets Aggressive Homeowner Harriet
Roger Daviston Facilities & GroundsPassive Paul wakes up and starts his usual day, always moving against himself but not seeing it that way. He constantly doesn't resist anything that homeowners tell him. He finds it extremely uncomfortable to confront others, and he would rather not say much and just let things go.
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Disruptive plastic products rapidly emerging in green building field
Don Rosato EngineeringGreen building technology redefines how we make and live in buildings. From a plastics material and processing perspective, we can both reduce a building's energy consumption and simultaneously provide for a building's energy production. These plastic material and process advances "disrupt" an existing market by displacing earlier technology. Let's delve into some emerging green building technologies that involve plastic material and processing aspects.
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Growth in renovation industry spurs employment
Bambi Majumdar Construction & Building MaterialsThe U.S. construction industry is on an upward swing, which has led to record employment figures. Construction and renovation firms have added 20,000 jobs this year, reaching a five-year high in August, according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). This accelerated employment growth was the largest since 2006, with residential building and specialty trade contractors adding a maximum number of employees at 5.7 percent.
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