Construction of Asphalted Surfaces - How to Choose A Contractor

Are you planning to hire a contractor who will take charge of the construction of a drive way, parking lot or a tennis court for you? You need to be prepared to spend good money on this project in order to ensure that the surface that is created lasts very long and does not give you any trouble. However, are you certain that the contractor you are planning to hire is a reliable one? The following tips will help you select one who will do the job for you in the best manner possible.

At the very outset, you need to check whether the construction company has the necessary expertise and equipment to get the job done. Asphalting a surface, even one as short as your driveway, is a complicated job involving various processes. If the contractor is not able to handle the job properly then the surface that is created will not last very long.

At the same time, there is a possibility that well established and popular businesses will not be able to give you the level of attention you require. You should only give your business to a company whose representative takes the time out to understand what your specific needs are and also whether your property has any unique problems. This will ensure that you are offered a solution that matches your needs.

Make sure that you deal with a company that is known for sticking to precise timelines. The last thing you need is a construction crew stationed on your property for days on end. The company you give your contract to should be able to inform you in writing regarding the completion date of the project. You will also get a good idea about a company's level of professionalism from its ability to stick to a schedule. It is also a very good idea to enquire whether the contractor has taken the necessary insurances that will protect you in the event of any accident whilst the work is going on in your property.

Feel free to ask the company for any references of clients for whom it has done work in the past. If the construction company is hesitant about sharing this information then you have every reason to be suspicious about the quality of services it offers. If you choose your contractor based upon these tips then you can be sure that you will be satisfied with the results of its work.

Using A Scaffold Hoist

Builders and scaffolders will most likely know how utilising a scaffold hoist can be advantageous in many ways, if you do not know or wish to know more regarding these hoists then this article provides that information.

So what is a scaffold hoist? It is an electrical device that is used primarily on scaffolding towers to enable the safe and swift lifting and lowering of resources and equipment to practically any height. They clamp securely to any of the scaffolding poles enabling them to be placed just about anywhere they may be needed. Principally seen employed within the construction industry and for roofing purposes, or wherever scaffolding is used. Available devices will vary in the speed of their lifting capability and also the length of wire rope to provide a version to suit nearly all purposes.

Most forms of construction work will require materials to be taken up to a height where they are needed and normally use some kind of scaffolding arrangement. Individuals alone take risks simply by climbing up the scaffold tower to where they need to work, if they should carry up supplies and tools too then the chance of accidents considerably increases; this is where the use of a scaffold hoist comes in, placed Wherever you need it, the hoist will take up all your equipment and supplies at the touch of a button, this technique is not just a great deal quicker but more significantly a great deal safer.

The accessories that are available to be used with the scaffold hoist offer huge benefits. They permit particular items to be lifted with the hoist to wherever required; the accessories consist of buckets for mortar, chutes to carry waste to a skip at ground level, chains to lift a loaded wheelbarrow in its entirety as well as chains for lifting smaller skips.

A scaffold hoist's cost effectiveness is a significant advantage, now we'll consider how.

Numerous construction businesses quote jobs depending on the time it's going to take, longer builds usually cost more. Because a scaffold hoist is electrically driven it will lift up and lower loads pretty quick, as compared to a human carrying objects unsteadily up and down a dangerous scaffold tower. Time off for accidents and injuries are common, frequently caused by lifting heavy loads, more so when awkwardly carrying them up a scaffold; Back and knee injuries are renowned amongst builders, yet the stress on the human skeleton may be minimised by the use of a builder's scaffold hoist, therefore resulting in less time off work for injuries, no reduction in manpower and consequently no time lost on the job.

Does Your Contracting Company Suffer From a Hidden Problem?

Millions of contractors share a problem. It's so common that many contractors feel that they just have to live with it and no longer even think about it. So, it hides in the shadows of their business preventing them from making a good profit.

What is this problem? NOT ENOUGH CUSTOMERS.

How do I know this? I've been a contractor in Los Angeles since 1979, for over 30 years. We've been through several recessions where some of my competitors have gone belly up. I'm not saying that my business has always thrived, but it's survived. For me, the saving grace that has allowed me to build a 25-person electrical contracting company has been having enough customers.

If you're a contractor, let me ask you: What would happen if you had two or three times as many customers waiting for bids? Wouldn't you bid your jobs higher, sell more jobs, and make more profit? For most contractors, the answer is yes. But why is the answer yes? After all, contractors need to do a lot of things right to make a profit, not just find customers.

There are a lot of steps in contracting -- and a lot of things that can go wrong. From the moment a customer first calls you to the moment you're paid in full on a completed job, you must handle each step and many details skillfully. You must bid the job, sell the job, schedule the work, purchase material, organize all the aspects of the work, complete each aspect satisfactorily, and finally, get paid.

Fortunately, most contractors do well enough at these steps that if they could just get enough customers, they could take it from there and make a fine profit. The one thing most contractors agree they have a problem with is not enough customers.

Getting customers is done in two steps. The first is promotion. Promotion is getting the word out so that you get calls or e-mails from customers. Contractors have typically done this with Yellow Pages, flyers, telemarketing, and even radio and TV ads. Today, of course, a lot of promotion is done on the Internet. When Internet promotion is done properly a contractor can expect a large percentage of qualified customers looking for their specific services to find the contractor's website and then call or e-mails them.

Once your promotion has gotten the customer to call, the second step is sales -- bidding the job and selling the customer on your doing the job

Things to Watch Out for in a Modular Office Building

Modular office systems actually are used for numerous purposes which range from guard shacks to long term in-plant office buildings. You simply can not overcome the flexibility of these prefabricated office buildings. So for starters, you will be able to count on no messy cleanup of construction waste materials once the structure is assembled and if you want to move the structure at some point, that much simpler also. 

So what exactly are prefabricated office systems?

Having the ability to bolt these types of buildings together from prefabricated panels is their real secret. The prefabricated wall panels are bolted together with a metal stud technique that defines the constructs fundamental layout.

You ought to talk over with your distributor what wall finishes are most appropriate for your situation. This will likely be included while in the development phase. They also run in a variety of sizes to simplify construction and give more design flexibility.

Don't forget to consider options...

It truly is your options that make modular offices quite popular. The options help them adapt to any kind of circumstance. While steel doors are common selections, frequently people choose the solid wood doors if provided with the option. Windows in doors are normally a great option and therefore are usually high on the checklist of features people would like.

Another primary option you'll want to take into consideration is windows. Which windows, if any, has to be operable is one more thing to consider. Don't forget to take into account the benefit of full height glass panels when planning your office space. Your manufacturer could possibly make suggestions.

Electrical raceways built into the structure is yet another solution you might like to take into account given that they can be entered from inside and outside the structure.

So what type of rewards will modular engineering present?

There are few features greater than having the ability to dismantle a structure with ordinary tools and move it to a new area easily and quickly. What's more, because of its hassle-free bolt together system, it can be easily altered when you need more room or need to allow for layout modifications

Form Protection Coating

In the prestress/precast concrete industry, a critical component to the manufacturing process is the form (mold). Forms give the concrete components their unique shapes and they help hold the internal reinforcing in place. Depending on the type of concrete structure being built, some forms can cost well over $100, 000.00 and require hundreds of man hours to set up and erect.

With all that money invested in forms, there is one little thing that can turn your investment into scrap metal and that is rust!

In order for your finished concrete components to look smooth, unblemished and professional, the forms have to have smooth, undamaged contact surfaces. With moisture, rain and salt air, if your steel forms are left unprotected, they will start to rust and pit making your forms unusable and resulting in thousands of dollars that will have to be spent in labor to grind and smooth the form surfaces. In some cases, the forms have to be scrapped altogether.

PSI Form Protection Coating is a valuable tool to protect your forms while not in use. Application is easy. Using a mop, apply one coat. Wait for it to dry and then apply a second coat. This will protect your form for short or long term storage. When you are ready to start using your form again, just spray the coated surface down with mineral spirits and let it activate for a few minutes. Wipe off the coating and you are ready to pour.

If you have a steel form you are about to store, try some of the PSI Form Protection Coating and you will be convinced that this is the only way to store your forms.

How It Works

PSI Form Protection Coating works hard to protect your precious forms by creating a dual-action film on the surface of any form that will double as a weather protecting agent. It contains a high molecular weight, with non-reactive, chemically inert ingredients that combine to form a highly protective layer to protect forms made out of any material from damage during storage, both inside and out.

It is so safe to use that it can be used on both forms and other equipment for both protection and easy cleaning, as often as needed. It can be applied to both pre-stressed and pre-cast forms, and will not stain or discolor concrete during use. It produces cleaner casts, increases the life of wood forms, and prevents rust and corrosion from building up on metal forms.

Five Things To Know About Builders Risk Insurance

Those in the construction business are aware of the risks involved in building or remodeling a structure. Lightning could strike newly installed electric utilities. Wind could blow materials away or someone could vandalize the property. Owners and contractors need to be protected from numerous events that could result in property damage or loss. Builders Risk Insurance is a type of property insurance specifically for buildings under construction. However, policies vary depending on insurance companies and the construction contract between the owner and contractor. Before undertaking a construction project, owners and contractors should consider the following five questions.

Who is responsible? Builders Risk Insurance is usually purchased by the owner of the building. However, the general contractor will sometimes make the purchase if required as part of the contract. Simply put, the person or company with insurable interests in the property should make the insurance purchase. For example, if a person buys a house intending to renovate it and rent it, he or she has the insurable interest. In some cases, however, the contractor has the insurable interest. For instance, a contractor developing homes in a new sub-division pays for materials, permits, labor costs and other expenses sometimes before a buyer is even secured. He or she would want to make sure his or her investment is protected. Also note that some city, county or state building codes require proof of insurance before the project begins.

How should an insurance company be selected? A good place to start is the owner's current insurance company. Companies usually offer discounted rates for clients who have preexisting homeowner's, renter's or automobile insurance polices. If purchasing a fresh policy, many insurance companies allow policyholders to easily convert to a homeowner's policy at the end of the construction project. Shop around and compare prices online. Ask specific questions about coverage and the process for filing a claim. Typically, owners need to supply the contractor's name, business address, business license number, and the age and size of the building under construction.

How much should be purchased? Remember damages are only paid up to the coverage limit. So, if a project experiences a total loss, as in the case of a fire, an owner would want to make sure he or she is protected. The policy should cover the structure, all the materials and labor costs, but not include the land value. Your construction budget is a good gauge for determining how much is needed. An owner would also need an accurate estimate of the length of the project from the contractor. Most policies are available in terms of three, six or 12 months and are usually only allowed to be extended once.

What Profession Should New Entrepreneurs Choose - Construction?

The other day, I was at Starbucks I was talking to someone from a mid western state who was now out here in California putting together a group of investors for a construction project. Now you might think this is a silly time to construct anything, or attempt to build anything, and to that I might agree. However, as we got to talking it seems there are a couple of categories that still make sense. He had been involved in converting office towers into apartment buildings previously, and now with all the foreclosures, more people are renting, and it's working out nicely for him.

Rather than build any more of those, because he doesn't want to press his luck, he was putting together investors for apartment housing for college students, and two-story medical buildings adjacent hospitals. Indeed, he has a number of investors, and has sailed through the planning process because the cities want the sewer hookup fees and the jobs in their towns. They are making all sorts of concessions, and making it easy for him. That's a switch, and anyone who was building during the construction housing bubble surely knows what a 180-degree turn for some of these municipalities, and county governments.

The Wall Street Journal published an article on March 22, 2012 titled; "More Entrepreneurs Turn to Construction" by Sarah E. Needleman which stated that; "One usually thinks of start-ups as cutting edge. But it turns out the hottest growth area for new businesses - isn't so sexy. It's construction." In fact it's up over 8% since the economic crash, yes it was hammered to hell, brought there in the proverbial hand basket, but being down so far means there is a lot of upside now.

So, the question is; how much upside is there really - and will the real estate prices be back up in places like California, Florida, Nevada, and Arizona where they were hit hardest in the next 5 to 6 years? We don't know that for sure, but judging from past experience, the answer would be yes. Is this the time to get in on construction, and real estate development?

There is still a lot of inventory, so perhaps single-family dwelling housing wouldn't be so great except in a few spots in our country, but for commercial real estate in the right category it certainly could be the right time to get in at the bottom, and ride up the next business cycle in the industry. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it

Find Out Which Epoxy Floor Coatings Meet Your Needs

One of the first things you would usually think of when setting about transforming the appearance or environment of a place of business is probably changing the colour of the walls by painting them. The great thing about modern industrial techniques is that the same process can now be applied quickly and simply to the floors of your place of business. Whether it's a shop, a factory, a warehouse or a storage facility, epoxy floor coatings of various types can be used to ensure that the floor not only looks good but is also safe and able to cope with whatever is thrown at it. The process of floor painting is almost as quick and simple as that of painting any other part of your business environment, and the most difficult part of the entire process may well be choosing exactly which coating is ideal for your needs, such is the range available.

For many businesses, the key is to have a floor covering which is hard wearing, able to cope with heavy levels of traffic, and non slip in nature, meaning that it is much safer for both your staff and your customers. The type of floor covering you require may differ for different parts of your premises, with heavily used areas such as stairs requiring heavy duty coverage, whereas other parts of the building may need a floor which is impervious to heat or the corrosive effects of certain chemicals.

Epoxy flooring is flexible enough to meet the physical requirements of your business whilst also coming in a wide range of colors, meaning that the flooring you need can be applied in a manner which blends in with and compliments the rest of your decor. The industrial coatings available are also robust enough to be applied to a broad range of existing floors, meaning that whether the floor you wish to cover is concrete, vinyl, wood or something else, the whole range of coverings will be available.

At the end of the process, you'll be left with a floor which is tough, safe, robust and hard wearing. The specialized nature of the task means that the flooring can be matched to your needs, being able to survive whatever it is that the nature of your business is likely to throw at it. Ensuring that the people who work for you are safe as they go about their tasks is one of the most vital responsibilities of any business, and making sure that the floor beneath their feet is smooth, non-slip, sound and free from dangerous bumps and flaws is one of the easiest ways of doing this. When it's as simple as applying a liquid coating which has been especially tailored to meet your precise needs, there really is no excuse for not doing so.

The Benefits of Using a Design and Build Contractor

If you are considering working with a design and build contractor for a building project, you will need to understand how this process differs from other methods of completing a project. Traditionally, anyone who is interested in completing a building project would first need to find a qualified designer or architect to help them create necessary plans for the type of building they desire. Once the plans are complete and all details of the design have been worked out, the project is often sent out for bids from various contractors. These contractors will bid on the project according to the outlined plans and the job is typically awarded to the lowest bidder, or the one deemed most capable of delivering on time. However, when you hire a design and build contractor, you leave all of the work to this one entity and they oversee the entire project.

Choosing a design and build contractor can make the process much easier for the property owner. For one thing, there is no need to work with a variety of different contractors in order to get the project completed. You simply hire one company, individual or entity to handle all aspects of the building project. Everything from the initial design through project completion is left in the hands of the company who has contracted for the project. Of course, the property owner will still have input as to design features and other issues, but they are not the one who needs to constantly be coordinating activities and making arrangements with the subcontractors.

When you work with a contractor on a design and build project, you will be able to concentrate on other important matters and leave the construction of the building to the professionals. They will typically have a construction general contractor who will oversee the subcontractors, materials and day-to-day aspects of the project. This person will be responsible for making sure that the project stays on target and that everything is coordinated and managed for optimum efficiency.

While there may be some advantages and disadvantages to each type of method for project completion, it is important to keep in mind that most property owners are not experts in construction or building. Having a company dedicated to ensuring that you get the type of building you want and that all the important details are handled in a timely manner is an important step in having the project completed on time and successfully. Negotiating and overseeing contractors and workers is something that can be left to the general contractor that the design and build contractor has hired for this position.

If you are considering an office renovation, you have a lot to think about. You have to consider whether your motivating factors are strong enough to overcome the difficulties that will ensue once you begin a building renovation. While most experts will recommend an office renovation if your location is particularly old or has suffered some sort of damage that makes it less safe or unsightly in any way, they will also admit to certain difficulties that must be suffered while the remodeling takes place. Reasons to Renovate There are plenty of good reasons to begin an office renovation. One thing that drives many owners and managers to initiate such work is the opportunity to save money in the long term. This can happen if the renovation is carefully planned to enhance the efficiency of the staff working there. Many managers also consider how a remodeling of the workplace might increase worker satisfaction, which will also increase productivity in the long run. Finally, some office managers and business owners request a renovation in order to help their office space become more environmentally friendly by weatherizing the entrances and exits and otherwise support environmental sustainability. Second Thoughts There are definitely some good reasons to hesitate when it comes to a building renovation. The two most immediately pressing concerns with such work are the costs and the short-term disruption of work which will ensue no matter how hard you try to avoid interruptions. There is no question that office renovation can cost a lot of money. The more ambitious your remodeling plans are will increase the cost and the interruption of work. You can justify the expense as a tax write-off but the disruption of work can have long-lasting effects on income. Costs The costs associated with any building renovation will vary according to location and the extent of the work requested. As an example of what might be involved, consider the following workspace adjustment. A businessman recently installed four dual-flush toilets and a waterless urinal in the bathroom of his company office. This cost $1,715 up front. However, this saves him 38,000 gallons of water each year. Depending on water rates where you live, this could save you an enormous amount of money on the utility bill. Provided that you can afford the immediate cost, an office renovation is usually a good idea. The savings can easily make up for the initial costs. Increasing worker satisfaction and the mere appearance of the office can have a big impact on productivity. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7027866

Retail construction is a relatively simple concept to understand. When it comes to building and renting retail spaces there are certain obligations that the builder has to the tenants and vice versa. Basic retail construction means the building of a space that is either finished on the interior or left for the tenant to complete.

When a company starts a retail construction project they generally have an idea of what type of business and tenant they will be hosting when the building is complete. With this in mind builders generally construct a building to the specifications that they believe will best fit the type of business that may be housed within the building. For instance, a company that wants to attract restaurants to their retail construction project will likely structure their project to reflect the needs of a restaurant space. Adding rooms like rest rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and utility closets to mimic the interior of a restaurant. For companies that want to attract stores they may build large show rooms and stocking rooms.

For businesses that do not have a preconceived notion about what type of business may be housed in the building it is generally better for them to build only the outer structure. This means building four walls with space inside that can be customized by the renter or tenant when they start renting the space. This type of build is generally beneficial for businesses that have a highly specialized style or that have special needs when it comes to a space. Though this is good if you want an incredibly custom space for your business, it is also a bit pricier than renting a completed space.

Tenant build outs are a process by which the tenant rents or purchases a building that has been zoned for commercial use and they complete the interior of the building themselves. This can include painting, flooring, lighting, any extra rooms, furnishing, and any other sort of customization that they require. Because they provide the finishing touches to the building, it is no longer the responsibility of the retail construction company to complete the building unless they are contracted to do so by the tenant. The price of rental and other fees may change after the building has been completed and there is also the possibility that the retail building owner can essentially purchase the completion from the tenant should they vacate the building