Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Stephenson&Turner: New Zealand Government Building
As Lenders Hold Homes in Foreclosure, Sales Are Hurt
A decade later, firefighters bring 9/11 home
Construction Headline News for August 31, 2011
Mike Rowe Invites You to Join I Make America
In this video, I Make America spokesman Mike Rowe invites viewers to support the I Make America movement. The campaign currently has over 175 company ambassadors, over 10,230 supporters, and in the last week gained 460 new supporters, the largest one week increase to date. ( More at ForConstructionPros.com… )
Global Demand for Construction Machinery Will Reach $171 Billion in 2015
World demand for construction machinery is projected to
Bottlenose Dolphins? Tool Helps Find Fare on Seafloor
Some dolphins use marine basket sponges to forage for food because it allows them to uncover prey undiscoverable by echolocation.
New Business Development Manager for Lakesmere International
Lakesmere International has been appointed to work on a number of high-profile projects including the Princess Noura University in Riyadh, where the company is delivering a multi-million dollar Kalzip roofing contract. With existing offices in both Abu Dhabi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lakesmere International is also planning to establish premises in Oman to support a number of newly won contracts. Formerly known as
Franklin Hodge partners with Pan Asian Holdings in Singapore for growth in South East Asia
Franklin Hodge has created a new joint venture company with Pan Asian Holdings (formerly Pan Asian Water Solutions) of Singapore. The joint venture is aimed at increasing sales of its bespoke water tanks to the fast-expanding Asian market.In addition to the growth potential for Franklin Hodge, the joint venture also presents a significant opportunity for the products and services offered by sister company Carter Environmental
Group Questions Cost of Rail Realignment
A group suing to stop rail has a new complaint. It alleges it cost taxpayers a lot of money to realign the route off Aolele Street because the original path put the rail line too close to protected airspace around the Honolulu International Airport.
Training Seminar
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Abra Horne Joins Parsons Brinckerhoff
Abra Horne has been named a senior supervising planner in the Orlando office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering and program/construction management organization.
Eiko & Koma at Lincoln Center Out of Doors - Review
Eiko & Koma?s performance piece ?Water? made use of that element at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival.
What type of insulation do you recommend for a 1959 tri-level home in Illinois? Our house has cathedral ceilings without attics.
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Yvette Glenview, IL
We had a complete tear-down/ new roof placed w/ watershield throughout done 5 yrs ago & now are having buckling in roof & cracking, staining in our ceiling in our upper level. The roofer stated the ridge vent provides enough ventilation & the plywood is damaged on the inner side. Our
Bottlenose Dolphins? Tool Helps Find Fare on Seafloor
Some dolphins use marine basket sponges to forage for food because it allows them to uncover prey undiscoverable by echolocation.
Strains Visible in Homes Data
Construction Headline News for August 30, 2011
Green Scissors Wants Energy Subsidies Cut
Green Scissors, a coalition of groups that has campaigned to make environmental and fiscal responsibility priorities in Washington since 1994, is recommending deep cuts in energy spending. The four organizations – Public Citizen, Friends of the Earth, the Heartland Institute and Taxpayers for Common Sense – identified $380 billion in government subsidies over the next five years ‘that are not only wasteful but environmentally harmful.’
Big Island recovery hampered by slow construction
Gains in tourism will be offset by a "downbeat" construction industry on the Big Island, which is seeing a slow recovery from the recent recession, according to economist Leroy Laney .
April Newsletter
Landia mixers deal with the problems caused by composting-leachate
In addition to the obvious proven benefit of reducing foul odours, Landias mixers are also now being specified in order to steadily and evenly introduce oxygen, maintain humidity and greatly speed up the active biology of the leachate so that it can be re-used for irrigation of wind rows. If the option to irrigate is not taken up, there is also a strong possibility that sewage discharge costs will be reduced because the aerators
Construction industry pays tribute to Jack Layton
Jack Layton's presence will be felt for years to come.His legacy, according to construction industry stakeholders, was that he was a committed advocate for infrastructure.
Construction may see brief bounce from Irene
Hurricane Irene didn't turn out to be the $15 billion disaster experts predicted, but it's still a financial headache for home and business owners along the Eastern Seaboard.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Housing sidesteps financial volatility
My family vacation's stop at the must-ride Cedar Point rollercoaster collection in Ohio was a perfect metaphor for global financial markets during my time away from Orange County.
8 House
Battery Park City: It’s a Wrap
More than three decades after its inception, this planned community in Lower Manhattan is nearly complete.
By Carl Yost
As Tropical Storm Irene roared toward New York last week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the order to evacuate Battery Park City (BPC), on the waterfront in
Top Realtor Grace Sergio Dominates Chicago Real Estate as Featured in Chicago Social
Grace Sergio, one of Chicago's real estate elite and owner of Sergio & Banks Real Estate was featured in August's Chicago Social magazine.
Bottlenose Dolphins? Tool Helps Find Fare on Seafloor
Some dolphins use marine basket sponges to forage for food because it allows them to uncover prey undiscoverable by echolocation.
Construction Headline News for August 29, 2011
Strongco Adds Terex Finlay Product Line in New England
Strongco Corp.’s U.S. business unit, Chadwick-BaRoss, has been granted distribution rights for Terex Finlay mobile crushing, screening and washing equipment in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. (More at ForConstructionPros.com . . . )
Private Investment Buoys Nonresidential Construction in Canada
Total spending on nonresidential construction in Canada was up 3.4% in the second quarter of
California City Chops Fees to Lure Development
Road Closures
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Panama Expands Canal to Increase Shipping Capacity
An expansion of the Panama Canal should double the amount of goods that can pass through it each year.
Super Dock: Eco-Architects Design Mushroom-Topped Science Park Concept for Brooklyn Navy Yard
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Brooklyn-based Terreform ONE is a non-profit architecture and urban planning firm that promotes green design, particularly in downtrodden municipal areas. You may recall the firm’s “Self-Sufficient City” submission for the History Channel’s “City of the Future: New York 2106? competition several years ago, which won an award for the contest’s best presentation (and proposed the elimination of private cars from Manhattan entirely).
Terreform’s
ETS Election April 26 - May 1
Gov. Scott appoints education consultant, real estate agent to Broward School Board
The Broward School Board on Friday got two new members: an educational consultant and a real estate agent.
Dupuis: The GTA is now a four-season housing market
Nothing says fall more than the Canadian National Exhibition, so I guess we can start talking about the fall housing market - assuming we will be able to tell the difference from the hot summer market, which was itself a continuation of the very strong spring market.
Little Risk of Home Builder Liquidity Woes, Analyist Says
New school in East San Jose offers manicured campus, plus tech tools...
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Construction industry pays tribute to Jack Layton
Jack Layton's presence will be felt for years to come.His legacy, according to construction industry stakeholders, was that he was a committed advocate for infrastructure.
PMI Seminar
March Newsletter Online
This newsletter has information about the upcoming March section meeting, April's Technical Seminar and Golf Tournament...
Resident to be the next ringmaster of Barnum Festival
Frank J. Carroll, vice president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and a Bridgeport native, has been selected by the Board of Directors of the Barnum Festival as the 2012 ringmaster of the annual celebration.
Insituform Technologies Awarded Coating Contracts Valued at $5.0 Million
Alabama?s Builders Dreading New Immigration Law
Internet Marketing Gets More Complicated?and Simpler
Friday, August 26, 2011
Design Details: Outbuildings
While they may be relegated to the backyard, these outbuildings are no afterthought.
Albemarle EMC prepares for Irene
Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation employees are preparing to restore power as quickly as possible, following the departure of Hurricane Irene.
Stocks rise after durable goods, home prices beat forecasts
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 143.95 points to 11,320.71. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 21.63 points to 2,467.69 and the S&P 500 Stock Index rose 15.25 points to 1,177.60. The markets responded early to a report showing orders for durable goods rose 4 percent in July led by autos and commercial aircraft.
New Worries for Buyers Seeking Mortgages
New York buildings may face storm damage
Construction Headline News for August 26, 2011
US DOT Provides $745 Million to Upgrade Northeast Corridor Rail
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced nearly $745 million for rail construction along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) to upgrade some of the most heavily-used sections. Enhanced electrical systems and tracks are expected to increase top operating speeds to 160 mph, initially. Other improvements will eliminate congestion between intercity and commuter trains and allow growth of high-speed service along the
Welcome to the Wilmington News Journal, Wilmington, Ohio
Dr. Gabrielle Wedding DeHart has joined the team at Country View Pet Hospital, Inc., 6609 West State Route 73 in Wilmington.
Street Crane to share technical expertise with Dubai Crane
Dubai Crane is one of many subsidiaries of Dubai Investments PJSC a public company with capital of a total asset value of AED 14.745 billion (USD 4 billion) and diverse interests. The 47 companies in the Dubai Investments portfolio span activities such as building, development, glass, technology, plastics, pharmaceuticals and food. The UKs largest factory crane manufacturer, Street Crane operates globally via a network of over 60
Strong linemen abundant this year in WPIAL
Fox Chapel lineman Adam Bisnowaty will be bigger and stronger than most everyone he faces, but that alone isn't what makes him stand out.
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The 45,000 striking union workers have returned to their posts at Verizon Communications after nearly three weeks on picket lines.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Home Prices Decline nearly 6% in Second Quarter
U.S. home prices fell 5.9 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the biggest drop since 2009, as foreclosures added to the inventory of properties for sale, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
White House may back proposal to refinance mortgages - NY Times
The Obama administration is working on proposals to prop up the weak U.S. housing market and may back a plan to refinance government-backed mortgages at today's lower interest rates, the New York Times said, citing two people briefed on the discussions.
A Few Facts about the Gas Tax
Did you know that American roads are about on par with those of Malaysia? That’s according to the World Economic Forum’s ranking of national infrastructure systems, which shows the U.S. has fallen sharply in the last few years. In the forum’s 2007-2008 report, American infrastructure was ranked 6th best in the world. The 2011-2012 report due in September will show America at No. 16, with South Korea overtaking the U.S. during the last year, according to the ranking obtained by
Markup and Profit Blog | We like to see the Good Guys Win!
I was talking with a good friend this morning, he told me about some recent quotes he received from a few of his specialty contractors.
He said he asked for a quote on a given job, and the quote he received from this sub was way higher than expected, based on past jobs they had done together. When he asked the sub about the quote, the response was something like, ?Well, I just wanted to see if it would stick?, and then he tried to laugh it off.
The same thing happened on another job with a different subcontractor. The quote was not only higher than expected, but it didn?t include some of the items that had been specifically requested. Again the answer was a flippant remark, followed by a laugh as though it was all a big joke or game.
This isn?t a practice round gang, you can?t afford to laugh your way through. In case you haven?t noticed, business is much tougher to come by today than it was a few years ago. Business today is the real thing and if you want your piece of the pie, you must conduct yourself in a professional manner. You have one chance to get it right, seldom two.
You need to be responsive to positive requests for quotes on jobs and price your work in a responsible manner. You can?t ignore items that have been specified on a given job because you don?t know how to do them or what they will cost. It isn?t okay to refuse to quote on some items because you don?t like to crawl up in an attic or under the house. You?re in business, and you take the bad right along with the good. That?s life.
I?m not talking about ?Being Competitive? here. I?m talking about compiling a quote that allows you to cover all your costs, your overhead and make a profit, and presenting that quote in a professional manner.
Of course, this is a two way street. If the person you are quoting to, whether a general contractor or an owner, is more concerned about price than the job you will do for them, you have every right to just walk away. As a matter of fact I recommend walking away. Price shoppers never learn that in the long run, chasing the lowest price will seldom if ever result in a good job. And low price contractors will seldom if ever be able to feed and clothe their families.
Always do your best, whether you are presenting a quote or building a job. In the day-to-day scheme of things, you will come out ahead.
Tell me what you think.