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I chose this article because concrete is a widely used material in construction. This article talks about the creative ways that it can be used, not just for function, but also for aesthetic appeal.

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The city of San Francisco is in constant movement as the technology hub of the world, and the crown jewel city of Silicon Valley. With this coveted distinction also comes world-class architecture and construction projects. The office of Jett Landscape Architecture + Design, and specifically the founder Bruce Jett, was called upon by the developer to create an updated hotel venue that would integrate the unique aged and nautical spirit of Fisherman's Wharf and also add a touch of elegance, appreciated by the younger technology crowd that frequents San Francisco. The old hotel was the Radisson Fisherman's Wharf and the new hotel has become the Zephyr Hotel.

Jett is a renowned San Francisco Bay Area Landscape Architect and he immediately called upon his friend Michael Price, the owner of Bay Area Concretes (BAC) and PolishedCrete, to help him turn his architectural design vision, into a beautiful concrete hardscape. Jett and Price have collaborated on exceptional architectural concrete designs and projects for the past 20 years. These men are both pioneers of new concrete products and technologies, in that Price brings new ideas and products to market while Jett and his team design them into real world developments. Bay Area Concretes typically installs the vision. This collaborative formula has worked well for them for years and thus here again an artistic idea has once again materialized into an award winning concrete project.

You will notice creativity and originality in concrete are present throughout this project. Jett wanted to achieve the look of worn nautical and distressed seaside paving elements within a unique and warmly inviting hardscape interior courtyard. He also wanted the exterior to flow well into the interior environment and vice versa. He designed abstract shaped concrete walls throughout the project, which would have a distressed seaside appearance, yet be structurally sound and uniquely artistic in final appearance. The Bay Area Concretes team worked for several weeks to develop the look and finally came up with a means and method to achieve the distressed walls.

"We used a variety of surface retarders and carrying vehicles for these retarders, that were integrated into the form work of the walls. Many mock-ups were constructed in our shop to create the effects," Price says. "Bruce had explained the wall look he was after as "Distressed Beirut" to me and only because of our long history together was I able to envision the look he had in his mind."

The hardscape utilized the exceptionally diverse and patented product called Aggretex. Aggretex is a bagged mix architectural concrete product that can be blended with special sands, exotic aggregates and glass aggregates to create any look in concrete, that a designer can visualize. Aggretex surfaces can be exposed, ground, or polished. To continue the seaside-distressed theme into the hardscape, Bruce and Mike used Aggretex to provide both subtle colors in four to five different tones, and more importantly an aggregate/sand tip exposure blend that would be predictable throughout the project. The technique used to expose the Aggretex pre-colored surfaces was the EcoSand system. This is an environmentally friendly system of surface exposure utilizing surface abrasion machines or grinders and hepa filtered vacs to eliminate the need for a sandblaster on newly placed concrete projects. This final finish look was this time described to Price by Jett, in early design collaborations stages as the "acid washed jean look". To achieve this look the BAC team again went to work in their R and D laboratory and went through countless poured concrete samples until they achieved the approved look. With the EcoSand finish system. You will notice that this look is integrated into the hardscape, in many areas, taking the form of a family "Board Game" of different checkered paving colors, that create a meandering pathway pattern within the enclosed courtyard hardscape paving. This effect was achieved via randomly splashed liquid retarders in different levels of reveal, during placement of the Aggretex paving types. Topcast and Solomon-Brickform's Surface Deactivator were the retarders of choice, on this particular project, and used with the EcoSand exposure system. In addition to these concrete surface-revealing techniques, BAC used certain custom architectural tooling to abrade the concrete surfaces of both the walls and hardscapes, to different artistic levels and in small controlled areas. Some of these tools are available through Engrave-A-Crete and specifically the BAC Artistic Team used the both the Barracuda and the Wasp concrete engravers. Mike Price proudly states that "Exceptional communication and extreme detail is the key to success, in any architectural concrete project".

Bay Area Concretes is the only remaining original Bomanite stamped concrete paving contractor, in the world, and has been stamping concrete with the Bomanite brand since 1966 - longer than anyone stamping concrete today. As such, Michael was able to convince Bruce and his design team to integrate a small amount of Bomanite stamped concrete, into the Shuffle Board game location of the exterior hardscape. There is actual ShuffleBoard woodwork in the middle of the board game location (see Picture), and then a Bomanite Boardwalk Plank imprinted concrete around this area. Bay Area Concretes used QC Durango Tan, Color Hardener in this area flashed with several other similar color hardener tones to create a natural looking and permanent stamped concrete "wood" surface. Michael Price says his two "go-to" brands of Color Hardener are QC Construction Products and Brickform and that these leading labels are used in 90 percent of his stamped concrete projects.

In addition to the beautiful exterior hardscapes, you will also notice there is beautiful polished concrete, that flows from the interiors of the Hotel. The polished concrete was installed by Mike's other company PolishedCrete. PolishedCrete was created by Mike in 1999, just when diamond polished concrete was simply an idea and only being installed on a limited basis. Mike saw the opportunity to help create the next big market in architectural concrete finishing, just as they had done with the Bomanite stamped concrete model, back in the late 60's. Since then, PolishedCrete has grown into the largest Union Labor concrete diamond polishing company in the nation. PolishedCrete employees SASE grinding machines along with some HTC and some Innovatech Diamond Grinders and Polishers, among others. Blastrac plays a large role withing the PolishedCrete business as well as they employ several models of bead blasters. At PolishedCrete the go-to vacuum equipment is typically manufactured by Ermator.

The unique graphic effect that is depicted herein, was applied over the diamond polished final concrete finish. PolishedCrete utilized the Prosoco Consolideck LF Densifier and LSGuard to provide the lobby and inside gaming center with an 800 grit level diamond polish. The concrete surface was ground to a medium level, honed, refined, and polished to perfection. In addition, the PolishedCrete Team working with Jett Landscape Architecture + Design created a whimsical graphic that resembles a "swirl" effect within the polished concrete surface. This artistic technique was achieved utilizing a product by Skudo USA called "HT". This is normally a protective mat for polished concrete surfaces and other architectural concrete finishes, during construction. However the PolishedCrete team saw an opportunity to use this material as a graphic sandblast template material, which in turn created a beautiful artistic and undefined frayed edge to the actual concrete graphic. Once the whimsical swirled graphic was in place the PolishedCrete team employed a Blastrac 10" self propelled shot blasting system to create the differential in surface texture from the 800 grit level Diamond Polished Concrete, in the shape of the graphic. The final result is both unique and stunning and carries to the Aggretex exposed EcoSand exterior paving area seamlessly.

BAC hopes to win several awards surrounding this project on the paving side and Jett Landscape Architecture + Design hopes to win awards on the design side of the equation, in the coming months. Michael Price states, "Bay Area Concretes is currently enjoying our 50 th year in business and the limits to architectural concrete design seems to have less and less boundaries with each passing year."

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Creativity and Originality Transform the Zephyr Hotel

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The city of San Francisco is in constant movement as the technology hub of the world, and the crown jewel city of Silicon Valley. With this coveted distinction also comes world-class architecture and construction projects.

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I chose this article because it gives guidelines on how to be a good/effective project manager. These tips can be very helpful towards the future.

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I chose this article because it emphasizes the importance of insulation and how it works. Insulation is important in energy cost and saving money.

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Insulation saves homeowners money and improves comfort.

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I picked this article because it emphasizes the importance of glass. Not only can you maximize natural light, glass can also provide aesthetic appeal.

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Design Considerations | Vitro Glass Education Center

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Glass building construction projects face unique challenges. Learn about tops design considerations to perfect your project in our Glass Education Center.

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I chose this article because masonry is an important part of construction. Masonry provides the foundation for a building.

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Masonry walls are the most durable part of any building or structure. They provide strength,, durability to the structure and also helps to control indoor and outdoor temperature. It separates a building from outside world.

Masonry is the word used for construction with mortar as a binding material with individual units of bricks, stones, marbles, granites, concrete blocks, tiles etc. Mortar is a mixture of binding material with sand. Binding materials can be cement, lime, soil or any other.

The durability and strength of masonry wall construction depends on the type and quality of material used and workmanship.

Based on the type of individual units used for masonry walls and their functions, the types of masonry walls are:
1. Load Bearing Masonry Walls:
Load bearing masonry walls are constructed with bricks, stones or concrete blocks. These walls directly transfer loads from the roof to the foundation. These walls can be exterior as well as interior walls. The construction system with load bearing walls are economical than the system with framed structures.
Fig: Load Bearing Masonry Wall
The thickness of load bearing walls is based on the quantity of load from roof it has to bear. For example a load bearing wall with just a ground floor can have its outer walls of 230mm, while with one or more floors above it, based on occupancy type, its thickness may be increased.

The load bearing walls can be reinforced or unreinforced masonry walls.
2. Reinforced Masonry Walls:
Reinforced masonry walls can be load bearing walls or non-load bearing walls. The use of reinforcement in walls helps it to withstand tension forces and heavy compressive loads. The un-reinforced masonry walls are prone to cracks and failure under heavy compressive loads and during earthquakes. They have little ability to withstand lateral forces during heavy rain and wind. Cracks also develop in un-reinforced masonry walls due to earth pressure or differential settlement of foundations.

To overcome such problems, reinforced masonry walls are used. Reinforcement in walls are at required intervals both horizontally and vertically is used. The size of reinforcement, their quantity and spacing are determined based on the loads on the walls and structural conditions.
3. Hollow Masonry Walls:
Hollow or Cavity masonry walls are used to prevent moisture reaching the interior of the building by providing hollow space between outside and inside face of the wall. These walls also helps in temperature control inside the building from outside wall as the hollow space restricts heat to pass through the wall.
Fig: Hollow Masonry Wall
When the wall is exposed to moisture for a sustained period and penetrates through the outer face, the water reaches the cavity or the hollow space and flows down. Then they are drained through the weep holes to the exterior of the building. These hollow spaces may be coated with water repellent coating or damp-proofing to further reduce the ingress of moisture.
4. Composite Masonry Walls:
These walls are constructed with two or more units such as stones or bricks and hollow bricks. This type of masonry wall construction is done for better appearance with economy.

In composite masonry walls, two wythes of masonry units are constructed bonding with each other. While one wythe can be brick or stone masonry while the other can be hollow bricks. A wythe is a continuous vertical section of masonry one unit in thickness.
Fig: Composite Masonry Wall
These wythes are interconnected either by horizontal joint reinforcement or by using steel ties.
5. Post-tensioned Masonry Walls:
Post-tensioned masonry walls are constructed to strengthen the masonry walls against the forces that may induce tension in the wall such as earthquake forces or wind forces.

These walls are constructed from the foundation level and post-tensioning rods are anchored into the foundation. These rods are run vertically between the wythes or in the core of concrete masonry units.

After the masonry wall construction is completed and cured, these rods are tensioned and anchored on the steel place at the top of the wall.

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Masonry walls are the most durable part of any building or structure. They provide strength,, durability to the structure and also helps to control indoor and outdoor temperature. It separates a building from outside world. Masonry is the word used for construction with mortar as a binding material with individual

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This article talks about sustainability benefits of metal building construction. With metal being a very commonly used item in construction, efforts in sustainability for metal products is highly important.

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August 13, 2014

Metal building construction often outperforms other materials in terms of longevity. However, sustainability can be a difficult trait to determine, and facility managers often have to decide which sustainable characteristics have the highest return for their organizations.

Designers and architects say that questions should be asked in more than a rhetorical manner. Does a given level of sustainability reduce material consumption? Improve building longevity? Does it lower energy use? Or something else entirely? With metal building construction, conscientious and careful design can yield sustainable benefits.

Take roofing as an example. Firstly, a longer lifespan means fewer reroofing jobs. Metal roofing at the conservative end of the scale will last 20 to 30 years. Another benefit is recyclability. Everything in the shell can be recycled.

In addition, consistency during construction results in a dramatic reduction of scrap, down to as little as 2% for metal buildings. Also, unlike masonry, where bits of broken unusable materials end up in landfills, every piece of metal scrap can be recycled. Smart facility managers know these characteristics can translate into reduced costs on the jobsite because nobody has to cull unused masonry or wood or pay fees for the disposal of discarded material.

If you are a building owner, you may be concerned about the appearance of metal building construction. However, new steel-forming technologies can alleviate these worries. For example, many contemporary churches are made of metal because it is economical and has the ability to span large spaces.

At H&M Constructors in Asheville, NC, we can tailor metal building construction to suit your organization's needs. Contact us today for more information!

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The Sustainability Benefits of Metal Building Construction

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August 13, 2014 Metal building construction often outperforms other materials in terms of longevity. However, sustainability can be a difficult trait to determine, and facility managers often have to decide which sustainable characteristics have the highest return for their organizations. Designers and architects say that questions should be asked in more than a rhetorical manner.

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I chose this article because of their diversity in construction (i.e., sustainability). They also have a wide range of services they provide, from simple renovations to large projects.

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We use cookies on our websites to improve their performance and enhance your user experience.

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Re-Shingling a Roof | Episode 9, Season 4 (2006)

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Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey starts the show with a suggestion sent in by a viewer. Richard shows how to use a common wire nut to save a partially-used tube of caulk and demonstrates a new replacement caulk tip. Then, general contractor Tom Silva helps a pair of homeowners replace the worn-out roof on an old garage.

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Created on February 19, 2010 using FlipShare.

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Brick Masonry Techniques for Builders - Full Head Joints

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Full Head Joints Featuring master mason Bryan Light, the "Brick Masonry Techniques for Builders" DVD demonstrates construction techniques with brick that masonry craftsmen can use to speed up job completion, maximize work quality, reduce call-backs, and increase profitability.

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Basics of Land Surveying | Georgia Land Surveying Co.

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www.60Cubits.com Step by step video documentation of the construction of a rural home. This episode shows the surveying and staking of the house location.

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Full Construction Process For A Home Remodel & Addition

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House Construction - Start To Finish (6)

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This is the sixth house in my time lapse series. I dug up some old videos I took of it. This was in late 2010

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I chose this website because this company not only delivers what the client wants, but goes beyond that. A company that is always striving to do better and please their clients will continue to grow and be successful for a long time.

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A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCEClark Construction Group is one of the most experienced and respected building and civil construction firms in the United States. For over a century, we have been transforming the ideas and visions of our clients into award-winning projects.

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This video shows the simple animation of modern style of construction of houses in various stages like excavation work, foundation work, fixing of trusses, etc. Many Thanks to The Animation Annex for creating this informative video.

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Civil Engineering: High rise construction and Form work

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This video show how to efficiently manage the form works during the construction of buildings or structures. WTF aluminum formwork is a rapid paced construction system for forming cast in place concrete structures. WTF provides aluminum formwork for reinforced concrete construction of single and multi-story buildings and enables the walls and slab to be placed monolithically in the same operation.

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I chose this website because this company values the employee/client relationship. Their employees take time out to talk with and listen to their client in order to get the best results of a project. This type of relationship is essential to a successful project and happy client.

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Jacobs is a global provider of technical, professional, and scientific services, including engineering, architecture, construction, operations and maintenance.

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I chose this website because this company works in multiple markets. They are a diverse business. Their diversity is one of the major things that has helped them to be successful.

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I picked this website because this company is "forward-thinking". They know how to think outside the box, be open-minded, and move with the time. These things have helped them to be successful and grow as a company. They are a great example for me to learn from.

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Our vision is to "transform the construction industry by building smart." Because we believe if there's a better way, we'll find it. We're always challenging the norm and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. At Suffolk, to constantly innovate is a pledge and promise we make to our clients, partners and communities.

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I chose this website because the Walsh Group works with their workers (union labor, etc). They are not just about profit. They care about the workers and their needs too. That is important in running a successful business.

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You appear to be near: Central/Midwest

Please confirm or change to view projects in your region.

YOUR REGION

Central/Midwest

Confirm

Founded in 1898, The Walsh Group is a fourth-generation family-owned company providing design, build, finance, operation and outfitting services. We are the 13th largest contractor in the United States, operating out of 18 strategically located regional offices across North America. Our three companies are united by a shared dedication to deliver exceptional customer service, while upholding the highest standards of ethics, quality and safety.

Walsh Construction

Incorporated in 1949, Chicago-based Walsh Construction is one of the city's largest and most respected general contracting, construction management and design-build firms, and recognized as a top-15 contractor nationally. The firm operates out of regional offices across North America, working with union labor and union subcontractors in the building, civil and transportation sectors.

Archer Western

Established in 1983, Archer Western maintains a central corporate office in Atlanta, Georgia and serves a diverse client base across seven regional offices. Archer Western is a recognized expert and proven performer in a wide range of projects in the building, civil, transportation and water sectors. Archer Western is an open-shop contractor that primarily operates in the southern and western regions of the United States.

Walsh Canada

Walsh Canada was established in 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, expanding our reach and capabilities beyond the borders of the United States. Today, On-Site Magazine ranks Walsh as Canada's 24th largest contractor, and we've established a track record of success in the Canadian building, civil, transportation and water sectors, bringing to bear all the resources of The Walsh Group.

From early-phase planning to post-construction facility management, we offer a full continuum of customer services, managed with a proven, highly disciplined process.

We operate out of 18 regional offices across the United States and Canada, each strategically located to support maximum quality and responsiveness to a growing customer base.

Being consistently listed as an industry leader in a variety of market sectors indicates deep experience and proven performance. We are proud of the reputation and leading positions we occupy in the many markets we serve.

Our story began with Matthew Myles Walsh's small carpentry business in 1898. Since then, our company has evolved through four generations of family ownership to become the multi-billion dollar contracting business we are today, with more than 8,000 skilled tradespeople and professional staff.

We are a company rich in history and tradition. One of our most treasured traditions dates back more than six decades, placing Miraculous Medals in a project's first concrete pour. The Miraculous Medal is an oval-shaped depiction of Mary according to Saint Catherine Laboure's vision. The gesture of placing Miraculous Medals symbolizes an inspiration for the workers to successfully complete the job safely. We continue this tradition as a commitment to project, team, company and family.

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You appear to be near: Central/Midwest Please confirm or change to view projects in your region. YOUR REGION Central/Midwest Confirm Founded in 1898, The Walsh Group is a fourth-generation family-owned company providing design, build, finance, operation and outfitting services. We are the 13th largest contractor in the United States, operating out of 18 strategically located regional offices across North America.

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I chose this website because this company formed a bond together with all of their workers. They are a family. I would like to be able to bond and work with others like that too.

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Meet our Team

​​​​The PCL family of companies has a century-long tradition of excellence, hard work, and a can-do attitude when providing construction services in the commercial, civil infrastructure, and heavy industrial markets.This family of independent construction companies forms one of the largest general construction contracting organization in North America.

PCL is 100% employee-owned​​. As owners, employees are motivated to excel, to hold each other accountable, and to ensure that everyone has the responsibility, the freedom, and the power to act. ​​

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Meet our Team ​​​​The PCL family of companies has a century-long tradition of excellence, hard work, and a can-do attitude when providing construction services in the commercial, civil infrastructure, and heavy industrial markets.This family of independent construction companies forms one of the largest general construction contracting organization in North America.

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I chose this website  due to the wide range of areas this company works with. One day, I hope to have a business that expands to other countries.

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About Fluor - A Global Engineering and Construction Services Company

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Fluor is a FORTUNE 500 engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction and maintenance (EPFCM) company delivering integrated solutions to Clients since 1912.

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I chose this website because like the brothers who started Kiewit, I wish to start my own company someday. Their growth and longevity is an inspiration and great example of what a real construction company is.

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"Just as a rock is not shaken by a strong or sudden gust of wind, neither should we be affected by praise or success. We must not be satisfied with our past accomplishments and we should make every effort to improve and expand our operations - but only in an orderly and beneficial manner...a company cannot stand still for long - either it goes ahead or it slides back."

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I chose this website because Turner Construction is one of the leading companies in the construction industry. They are modern, innovative, and tend to take on challenges. I am a person who likes challenges. That is why I chose this article.

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Turner is a North America-based, international construction services company and is a leading builder in diverse market segments. The company has earned recognition for undertaking large, complex projects, fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and making a difference for their clients, employees and community. With a staff of 5,200 employees,

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This article talks about sustainability and its importance in construction. Recycling materials and being green has become more important considering the damage being done to the environment. Sustainable construction is an effective method in addressing the issues of pollution, waste, etc.

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Defining sustainable construction "Sustainability" is one of the world's most talked about but least understood words. Its meaning is often clouded by differing interpretations and by a tendency for the subject to be treated superficially.

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I chose this article because it talks about the violation of an OSHA safety rules. These rules are very important and could be the difference between life and death. That is why it is important to follow them.

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OSHA says these two companies failed to provide employees with the training, protection and tools required to safeguard them from the leading cause of death in construction: falls.

The agency issued five violations to two companies, D.R. Horton Inc. and Garcia Carpentry LLC, after an inspection at a work site in Ocala, FL. OSHA inspectors observed employees installing roofing sheathing without fall protection.

D.R. Horton received one repeat citation for failing to ensure subcontractor employees were protected with a fall protection system when working from heights up to 25 feet.

To abate this violation, the employer must ensure that all employees working at elevations of six feet or more are protected from falls by a fall protection system.

Garcia Carpentry was issued a repeat citation for the same violation and another repeat violation for allowing workers to use the top step of a ladder to access and exit the roofing trusses. OSHA also cited Garcia with two serious violations for employees not wearing hard hats and for operating powered nail guns without eye protection.

Proposed penalties total $107,785: $68,591 for D.R. Horton and $39,194 for Garcia Carpentry.

"Four in 10 [construction] industry fatalities result from preventable falls," noted Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville, FL.

D.R. Horton is one of the largest home builders with about 4,000 workers in the U.S. Garcia Carpentry is a framing contractor based in Winter Garden, FL.

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the violations to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest them to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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Workers 25 feet up without fall protection: $108K OSHA fine

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OSHA says these two companies failed to provide employees with the training, protection and tools required to safeguard them from the leading cause of death in construction: falls. The agency issued five violations to two companies, D.R. Horton Inc. and Garcia Carpentry LLC, after an inspection at a work site in Ocala, FL.

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Construction managers play a very important role in the construction industry. They are the engine that keeps everything going and they are the gps that keeps everything on track. Without their guidance and know how, projects cannot be done effectively or correctly.

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Construction managers are a lot like mothers, really. They have to set schedules, keep an eye on finances, make sure everybody is where they're supposed to be every day (and doing what they're supposed to be doing), ensure there are no safety hazards around, and, in general, keep everyone happy. Sounds like quite the job already. But the details are even more dizzying.

More specifically, construction managers are hired to lead and oversee a variety of building projects from start to finish. The jobs can range from a small remodeling or renovation job to the construction of a large commercial structure, such as a school or hospital. About two-thirds of American construction managers are self-employed, and are hired by clients because they have appropriate work experience and, increasingly, at least a bachelor's degree in a construction-related field [source: Bureau of Labor Statistics]. As of May 2010, the median annual wage for American construction managers was $83,860 [source: Bureau of Labor Statistics].

While some people use the terms " general contractor" and "construction manager" interchangeably, these are actually two different jobs. Construction managers are typically involved from the start of a project, helping the client with the initial planning, as well as the selection of an architect and general contractor. Construction managers may also perform the first two tasks, then serve as general contractor. True general contractors aren't involved in the building process until the initial planning and design work is completed [source: Austin Stanovich].

There are several specific tasks that construction managers perform: project management planning, cost management, quality management, contract administration and safety management. Here's a brief look at what each entails [source: Construction Management]:

Project management planning. This initial stage involves laying out a plan for the entire project, including the various jobs that need to be done, the materials required and a timeline.

Cost management. Construction managers must constantly keep tabs on costs, making adjustments if unexpected issues or complications arise.

Quality management. Projects often involve numerous contractors and subcontractors; construction managers must make sure they're all doing a good job and not cutting corners.

Contract administration. Lengthy contracts with the client are part of all construction projects, and it's the construction manager's job to ensure all of the contract provisions are being met and all parties are satisfied.

Safety management. Construction sites are filled with potential safety hazards that construction managers must be aware of and guard against.

Above all, construction managers have to keep everyone in the loop during the entire project, from clients and architects to contractors and subcontractors, and quickly attend to any problems that arise. Sound like an interesting career? Read on to see how you could become a construction manager [source: Construction Management].

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Construction managers are a lot like mothers, really. They have to set schedules, keep an eye on finances, make sure everybody is where they're supposed to be every day (and doing what they're supposed to be doing), ensure there are no safety hazards around, and, in general, keep everyone happy.

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OSHA Office of Information & Consumer Affairs

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Construction safety Choice or chance? Number: VT01280 Material: video, 15 minutes Industry: construction Highlights the four leading causes of fatalities on construction job sites and stresses that safety is also the workers responsibility. OSHA Office of Information & Consumer Affairs, 1996

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A day in the Life of a Construction Worker

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This is a typical day for those hard working men and women who build the roads that everyone depends on. Watch as they go about a normal 16 hour day at work.

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A Day in the Life: Construction Project Management

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Being able to work with steel and other types of metal is important in the construction industry, especially in commercial construction. Metal is a commonly used material due to the diversity and abilities of its use.

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Technology and machines play a big role in the construction industry and just about every industry today. It is one of my goals to learn how to operate and use these machines effectively.

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Surveying the grounds of a construction project is very important due to boundaries and limitations. In order to maximize the use of a space, make sure a building is level, prevent property line issues, etc.the grounds of every construction project must be surveyed.

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Construction managers always have to work with different people. From architects to engineers to clients, etc. it is always in everyone's best interest to form good relationships. In the interest of the project, it is even more important to have good communication.

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Even though construction managers/workers don't make the blueprints, they need to be able to read them. Being able to read blueprints and develop an idea of what a structure would look like visually is important in the process of building correctly and efficiently.

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I've always enjoyed working with wood and seeing how a building comes together. This is a type of building I would enjoy working on.

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I believe in teamwork. It gets the job done faster and creates comfort while working .

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Doing the manual labor in construction gives you an insight and better understanding of how a building comes together. You get to experience what it really means to be construction worker. That insight helps when making a decision as a construction manager.

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One day, I hope to work on a project as big and detailed as this. I also hope to work on even bigger projects later on.

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This picture is representative of green (sustainable) construction. This type of construction is becoming more important in the construction industry every day.

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Being precise when measuring is very important because simple mistakes can cost lives and/or money.

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This article focuses on the way change can impact a construction project. These changes are meant to help and improve the construction process to make a project as successful as possible.

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Benjamin Franklin was once quoted saying, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." It is obvious that Franklin was not a construction expert; otherwise he would have included project changes in his famous quote. Most projects have changes that impact scope, cost, or schedule - it's how the changes are managed that determines project success.

An effective change management process includes

Identification of the change

Notification of the change as required under the contract

Documentation of the impact of the change

Preparation of the change order proposal

Resolution of the change order proposal

Provided below is a step-by-step guide for change management best practices that, if consistently followed, can maximize your ability to successfully manage your project through changes.

Identification

Identification of a change is often the hardest part of change management, as some changes may initially be subtle in nature, with the resulting cost increases and delays not apparent until much later in the project. In general terms, a change can be defined as any anticipated or actual deviation from the contract basis, scope of work, cost, or schedule. Easy changes to identify include owner-directed additional work. However, more subtle changes can include:

Construction means and methods (e.g., requiring hand excavation when the plan was to use heavy machinery)

Late and defective material supply

Late and insufficient engineering and construction drawings

Work stoppage or disruption

Schedule acceleration or delays

Over-inspection

Site congestion or trade interference

Out-of-sequence work

Regulatory compliance, risk, or health and safety requirements

Many changes occur "down in the trenches" of a project, as opposed to at the upper levels of the project management team. As such, all key project team members should be familiar with the contract scope, estimate basis, and schedule in order to enable them to more quickly identify variances from the contract basis.

Notification

Most contracts have change notice provisions that require a contractor to provide notice to the owner of potential changes within a fixed period of time, such as within seven days of when the change is first identified. Construction disputes often result from a failure to provide timely and written notice of a change. Timely notice enables the owner the opportunity to review the potential impact of a change and perform a cost/benefit analysis before deciding whether to implement the change.

Documentation

The next step is to document the change and its impacts, including cost and schedule. Contemporaneous records are critical to proving and demonstrating the impact of a change. To the extent possible or required, at least the following documents should be kept current with each potential change:

Marked-up drawings or specifications illustrating the change

Schedules showing the impact of the changed work

Photographs and videos before and after the change

Cost records and timesheets, including segregating time and costs spent on the changed work

Meeting minutes

Drawing logs showing submittals, client approvals, and relevant correspondence

Periodic progress reports, summarizing all approved, pending, and rejected change orders, and any issues and concerns resulting thereof.

Furthermore, confirm in writing all relevant oral directives and changes. Confirming letters and correspondence should be professional, and cooperative, not accusatorial.

Change Order Preparation

The change order proposal and estimate should be prepared as soon as possible, keeping in mind any contractual time limits. The estimate should be based on the best available data using the contractual unit rates and mark-ups or other contract requirements, where applicable.

While this paper does not address cost estimating techniques, care should be taken to ensure that the change order proposal includes, as appropriate, all direct costs (i.e., labor, material, equipment, subcontractors, utilities, and other direct costs) and indirect costs (i.e., management and supervision, site overhead, home office overhead, insurance, bonds, overhead, profit, and other indirect costs)

Certain changes and excessive changes can reduce labor productivity, which increases project costs. In the absence of clear contract requirements, the parties can either elect to estimate and include labor productivity impacts in the change order proposal, or they can exclude them. Industry sources relative to labor productivity impacts include the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the Construction Industry Institute (CII), and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) International, to name a few. The contractor may wish to consider appropriate reservation of rights language should the parties decide to not include certain costs, such as impacts, in the change order proposal.

Resolution

Parties are encouraged to settle changes as quickly as possible, as the cost of changes made earlier are often less expensive and less disruptive than the same change made later in the project. Changes made earlier typically result in less rework and allow more time for efficient planning and scheduling, hence minimizing project cost.

A properly documented and prepared change order proposal stands a much higher chance of resolution when it is based on contemporaneous data and factual information.

Lastly, be aware of preprinted forms that may contain exculpatory language that may attempt to modify the terms of the contract or change orders by waiving certain rights. Lien waiver forms or payment application forms may contain language noting that there are no outstanding claims as of that date. Care should be taken to carve out pending change orders or other issues that are likely to result in changes from such exculpatory language.
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construction experts and claims consultants articles

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Article PDF] Benjamin Franklin was once quoted saying, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." It is obvious that Franklin was not a construction expert; otherwise he would have included project changes in his famous quote.