free counters

Construction

Posted by subash | Friday, September 24, 2010 |



In large construction
projects, such as this
skyscraper in Melbourne,
cranes are essential.


In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking. Normally, the job is managed by a project manager, and supervised by a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect.
For the successful execution of a project, effective planning is essential. Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider the environmental impact of the job, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction site safety, availability of building materials, logistics, inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays, and bidding, etc.







Types of construction projects
In general, there are three types of construction:
  1. Building construction
  2. Heavy / civil construction
  3. Industrial construction
Each type of construction project requires a unique team
 to plan, design, construct, and maintain the project.

Building construction

A building site for a row of riverside
apartment blocks in Cambridge
Building construction is the process of adding structure to cheese graters real property. The vast majority of building construction projects are small renovations, such as addition of a room, or renovation of a bathroom. Often, the owner of the property acts as laborer, paymaster, and design team for the entire project. However, all building construction projects include some elements in common - design, financial, and legal considerations. Many projects of varying sizes reach undesirable end results, such as structural collapse, cost overruns, and/or litigation reason, those with experience in the field make detailed plans and maintain careful oversight during the project to ensure a positive outcome.
Building construction is procured privately or publicly utilizing various delivery methodologies, including hard bid, negotiated price, traditional, management contracting, construction management-at-risk, design & build and design-build bridging.                                                                               
Residential construction practices, technologies, and resources must conform to local building authority regulations and codes of practice. Materials readily available in the area generally dictate the construction materials used (e.g. brick versus stone, versus timber). Cost of construction on a per square metre (or per square foot) basis for houses can vary dramatically based on site conditions, local regulations, economies of scale (custom designed homes are always more expensive to build) and the availability of skilled tradespeople. As residential (as well as all other types of construction) can generate a lot of waste, careful planning again is needed here.
The most popular method of residential construction in the United States is wood framed construction. As efficiency codes have come into effect in recent years, new construction technologies and methods have emerged. University Construction Management departments are on the cutting edge of the newest methods of construction intended to improve efficiency, performance and reduce construction waste.

Industrial construction


 
Construction of a prefabricated home
Industrial construction, though a relatively small part of the entire construction industry, is a very important component. Owners of these projects are usually large, for-profit, industrial corporations. These corporations can be found in such industries as medicine, petroleum, chemical, power generation, manufacturing, etc. Processes in these industries require highly specialized expertise in planning, design, and construction. As in building and heavy/highway construction, this type of construction requires a team of individuals to ensure a successful project.



Construction processes
In the modern industrialized world, construction usually involves the translation of paper or computer based designs into reality. A formal design team may be assembled to plan the physical proceedings, and to integrate those proceedings with the other parts. The design usually consists of drawings and specifications, usually prepared by a design team including architects, landscape architects, interior designers, surveyors, civil engineers, cost engineers (or quantity surveyors), mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, structural engineers, and fire protection engineers. The design team is most commonly employed by (i.e. in contract with) the property owner. Under this system, once the design is completed by the design team, a number of construction companies or construction management companies may then be asked to make a bid for the work, either based directly on the design, or on the basis of drawings and a bill of quantities provided by a quantity surveyor. Following evaluation of bids, the owner will typically award a contract to the most cost efficient bidder.
The modern trend in design is toward integration of previously separated specialties, especially among large firms. In the past, architects, interior designers, engineers, developers, construction managers, and general contractors were more likely to be entirely separate companies, even in the larger firms. Presently, a firm that is nominally an "architecture" or "construction management" firm may have experts from all related fields as employees, or to have an associated company that provides each necessary skill. Thus, each such firm may offer itself as "one-stop shopping" for a construction project, from beginning to end. This is designated as a "design Build" contract where the contractor is given a performance specification, and must undertake the project from design to construction, while adhering to the performance specifications.

Shasta Dam under construction
 in June 1942

Several project structures can assist the owner in this integration, including design-build, partnering, and construction management. In general, each of these project structures allows the owner to integrate the services of architects, interior designers, engineers, and constructors throughout design and construction. In response, many companies are growing beyond traditional offerings of design or construction services alone, and are placing more emphasis on establishing relationships with other necessary participants through the design-build process.
The increasing complexity of construction projects creates the need for design professionals trained in all phases of the project's life-cycle and develop an appreciation of the building as an advanced technological system requiring close integration of many sub-systems and their individual components, including sustainability. Building engineering is an emerging discipline that attempts to meet this new challenge.


Financial advisors
Many construction projects suffer from preventable financial problems. Underbids ask for too little money to complete the project. Cash flow problems exist when the present amount of funding cannot cover the current costs for labour and materials, and because they are a matter of having sufficient funds at a specific time, can arise even when the overall total is enough. Fraud is a problem in many fields, but is notoriously prevalent in the construction field. Financial planning for the project is intended to ensure that a solid plan, with adequate safeguards and contingency plans, is in place before the project is started, and is required to ensure that the plan is properly executed over the life of the project.

Apartment complex under
construction in Daegu, South Korea

 Mortgage bankers, accountants, and cost engineers are likely participants in creating an overall plan for the financial management of the building construction project. The presence of the mortgage banker is highly likely even in relatively small projects, since the owner's equity in the property is the most obvious source of funding for a building project. Accountants act to study the expected monetary flow over the life of the project, and to monitor the payouts throughout the process. Cost engineers apply expertise to relate the work and materials involved to a proper valuation. Cost overruns with government projects have occurred when the contractor was able to identify change orders or changes in the project resulting in large increases in cost, which are not subject to competition by other firm as they have already been eliminated from consideration after the initial bid.
Large projects can involve highly complex financial plans. As portions of a project are completed, they may be sold, supplanting one lender or owner for another, while the logistical requirements of having the right trades and materials available for each stage of the building construction project carries forward. In many English-speaking countries, but not the United States, projects typically use quantity surveyors.








at 6:10 AM 0 comments

Choosing Different Types Of Model Building Toys

Posted by subash | Tuesday, September 21, 2010 |

Toys play a vital role in building your child’s future. They send messages about values and the world around them. So you as parents should think twice before getting a toy, as they lay the foundation in your kids’ lives. It is the not the number of toys that matter but the quality of a single one. Remember with the right set of toys, your child will be able to learn new skills and develop their existing ones. If you want your child to get into the field of technological innovation, then you can start at an early stage itself, by buying him model construction toys.
Developing Creativity


Initially you child will need instructions to play with model building toys. The components of these toys can be used in different combinations to make different models. This will help develop your child’s creativity as they come up with original ideas and designs. They will learn to experiment and use their imaginations to create something that is unique.

Developmental Benefits

Toys and models lead to a variety of developmental advantages for your kids. They improve hand eye coordination of your children when they construct different models. In addition, their fingers become dexterous when they use them to combine small pieces of the model construction toys to build a model.

Appropriate to Age Groups

It is important to select the model building toys according to your children’s age. Your child passes through different developmental stages and there are age appropriate toys that will enhance your child’s construction capabilities. They even encourage children to become technical engineers when they grow up. These toys inculcate the fundamentals of science and math in them at an early stage itself. So always encourage your children in any activity they do, you never know where they will find their calling for the future.


at 12:26 AM 0 comments

Eco-friendly Building And Construction Of Manufactured Homes

Posted by subash | |

'Green' building is a really hot subject these days for a wide variety of base factors. Rising electric costs are making house efficiency more essential for the regular homebuyer. Increasing attention and cognizance of the environmental impacts, including global temperature rises issues, are rocketing clients interest in bringing down their individual carbon 'footprint' on Earth.
If you are new to the concept of natural construction and building, you should know that made and modular construction works in the earth-friendly industry area of construction.


Homes which get built in a manufacturing area possess some basic positive aspects outside the old school 'site-built' houses built in normal house construction.

A producing plant is able to profit from resources a little more efficiently than the standard build team at a building site. Cuts of natural supplies just like raw lumber, drywall, paint, wiring, plumbing and insulation could be projected better and left-over supplies are commonly reused, repurposed and even recycled rather than being sent to the landfill as waste materials.

In addition, inside a climate-controlled manufacturing area environment, items aren't subjected to the elements as they constantly are in job sites, which frequently ends in resources being delivered not fit for your builder's needs and so landfill-bound.

According to the nation's organisation of Residence Builders, the conventional 2k sq. Ft. Modular household and made home industrial facilities are usually equipped to shed that waste material by 50 to seventy five percent.

As an illustration of the efficacy and efficiency of modular homes, latter-day factory-built houses are getting used to replenish devastated regions of the Gulf Coast. Crafted to stand up to winds more than two hundred mph, these types of houses will probably outlast nearly any sort of site-built conventional houses.

EnergyStar is a nationally identified, voluntary marking plan which is meant to stipulate and showcase energy-efficient products, brand spanking new places of residence and structures to customers and firms across the nation.

Started by the US Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) in 1992, EnergyStar is essentially a combined effort of EPA also, the US Department of Energy. EPA is answerable for administering the EnergyStar tag for dwellings. An EnergyStar registered home is a load more utility-economical in its home heating, chilling, and water heat than those houses built within standard property codes.


at 12:23 AM 0 comments

Classification Of Construction Machines As Per Application

Posted by subash | |

It is a common fact that we find a wide variety of construction machines on every construction sites, which make the construction jobs easy, safe and quicker. Depending on the application, construction machines are classified into various categories which we are discussing here.
The construction work can be classified into 3 major groups:
Earthworks
Road Works and
Lifting


Earthworksb

Earthworks refer to the construction and engineering works which involve the moving or transfer of large quantities of soil or unformed rock. The two most popular type of construction machines used in earthworks are digging machines and surface digging machines.

Digging Machines: Excavators and Loaders
Excavators are the most popular and widely used types of heavy equipments, which are mainly used for digging holes and building pits. They are available in different construction variants. Loaders are another type of digging machines which are very fast compared to excavators. The main purpose of loader is to move loose soil.

Surface Digging Machines: Dozer, Grader, Scraper
The surface digging machines are used to prepare the construction surface by moving and changing the soil. A dozer is an important surface digging machine which pushes soil in and out to create a somewhat flat surface. This flat surface can further be flattened by using graders. The grader as a construction machine is popular as it can do leveling jobs very effectively, creating a smooth surface for construction. This becomes particularly helpful in projects of road construction. Scraper is another type of surface digging machine, used to scrap a thin slice of soil. The scraper further moves the scraped layer of soil material to an area few meters away. Scrapers are most widely used in big earthwork construction sites.

Road Works: Milling Machine, Paver, Compactor
One of common applications of construction machineries is in road works and road construction. The milling machine in road works is used to machine solid materials or remove a layer of unwanted material from roads. Widely used for repair jobs, so that a new layer can be created by milling off the destroyed layer. A paver is an important construction machine used to lay asphalt or concrete on roadways. Compactors are used for compacting concrete or asphalt. Compactors as earthwork or road construction machines are used to compress soil and hard materials in construction sites and roads. They press and stabilize the soil for further construction purpose or pave the asphalt or concrete roads to make them smooth and plain roads.

Lifting machinery: Tower Crane, Portal Crane, Cable Crane, Tractor Crane, Truck-Mounted Crane
Lifting machinery as the name suggests refers to the lifting machines used to lift objects in construction sites. There are different types of lifting machines. For example: Tower Cranes are used to lift concrete, steel, large tools and different building materials. They can rise to great heights and are a common machine at any major construction site. Portal cranes can lift heavy loads and seen mainly on storage sites and and trans-shipment centers. There are cable-operated cranes that are seen at dam construction and other construction sites which have the appearance of a line layout. These cranes can move over huge distances and deep valleys. The tractor cranes can move freely around the construction site. The truck mounted cranes are used for lifting jobs of short duration. Their basic advantage is that these cranes can drive on roads.


at 12:18 AM 0 comments

The Steps Involved In A Road Construction Project

Posted by subash | |

There are many steps involved in the road construction process, involving many teams of people and much organization. From the use of a surveying company to handle land surveys to project managers, there are a large number of people involved. The steps must be carefully followed to ensure a successful project is completed.
Yes, it often seems that we are plagued with construction projects, especially in those states where the weather stays relatively nice year round. While construction is a daily part of life, if we stop to consider how difficult it is just to plan the process, we might find it to be less of a hassle and more of an important part of life.

Plan

The first step to a good construction process is to identity the needs of the transportation in the area and of the road. Teams must thoroughly examine the road and define the project in order to get buyoff from the appropriate officials. Make sure the project selected is going to actually enhance the roads.

Design
After a plan is defined the design can be constructed. This is where a boundary or land surveyor may come in, especially in the event of a new road being developed or lanes being added to an existing road. If additional property must be purchased or arranged that would enter into this phase, as would any review of environmental concerns or land in the area that might be impacted by the project. Once the design plans are completed then bids for work can be solicited and awarded.

Construct
The construction begins and drivers begin to grumble. However, even the times of day that construction takes place and any detours that need to be set up have to be considered. If the road is a busy one or if the construction is taking place on a highway then it is very essential that construction companies take into consideration when rush hours are in the city and when the least amount of people will be inconvenienced. Once completed, the project is wrapped up and the road is again open to travel.

Maintenance
Although the project may be completed, the work is never done. Proper maintenance and observation must be done to ensure that the road stays in proper working order. When a road is traveled on extensively it can seem that it is always wearing down. Proper analysis must be done of the road to keep it in working order.


Each state may have different rules and regulations regarding the construction process. From start to finish, it is essential that each piece of the construction puzzle is done right. The last thing any contractor wants is the reputation of taking forever, making drivers upset and creating roads that need to be immediately fixed again. When assembling a team to begin and complete a large scale construction project, it is essential to develop a team that will work well together and will provide excellent service. It’s true that the construction process can be difficult to understand from the perspective of an angry driver. All we see are delays and frustration. However, take a moment to consider the immense planning and people involved in the process to making our roadways safe, secure and drivable.


at 12:17 AM 1 comments

The History Of Glass In Architecture

Posted by subash | |

Glass was discovered, seemingly by accident, nearly 4000 years ago and has since evolved into one of our most used and most revered materials. It was only 2000 years ago that the manufacturing of glass progressed to being able to create sheets strong enough to be used as windows and architectural features. Today glass is used in everything from revolving doors to skywalks and interior partitions and is one of our most striking architectural materials with a fascinating history.
The Beginnings of Glass in Architecture

When glass was first used in architecture and construction, the limitations of masonry and weaker building materials meant that its prominence was restricted to small windows. With developments in construction, this began to change and by the Medieval Era glass started to be used as more of a decorative feature than simply a way to let light in. The trend for tall, stone Gothic churches facilitated the use of elaborate glass windows made up from fragments of coloured glass and depicting striking biblical scenes. These windows related the stories of the bible to an illiterate populace and spurned the architectural trend of searching for transparency, luminosity and weightlessness through glass.

The Next Big Step in Glass

It wasn’t until the 19th century that glass in architecture took its next significant step forward. Before this time, the manufacturing process itself restricted the use of glass to only small sheets, which is illustrated in the prominent use of cottage pane glass and intricately divided windows in 18th century architecture.

The introduction of iron and other materials during this time meant that glass could take on a whole new role in architecture. Thanks to the materials now existing to hold it in place, coupled with the new ability to mass produce large sheets, the possibilities for the use of glass in construction became nearly limitless. Architects began to experiment with things like conservatories and entire walls of glass that were held together by high trussed steel arches and finger fixings. The Crystal Palace constructed in 1851 represents the most ambitious glass architectural projects of its time – a construction made up of 300 000 sheets of glass.

Glass in Architecture in the 20th Century

Architects use of glass continued to evolve throughout the 20th century although most of the larger, ambitious projects were confined to large office buildings with massive budgets. The idea of transparency and dematerialisation was dominant during this time and architects the world over tried to use glass to create ‘honest’ buildings that focussed on a sense of light and space. One of the biggest changes during these years was the move away from seeing glass as only the material for the openings within a structure, but rather as the material for the structure itself. Glass skins became the challenge to tackle whereby a thin steel structure literally supported skyscrapers of full glass walls.
The Fagus Factory in Germany was one of the first buildings to employ this technique. This urban shoe factory was designed by Walter Gropius in 1911 and used a thin steel structure to hold up a full glass façade to meet the client’s brief of an attractive outlook.
One of the greatest feats in glass architecture in this century is the new Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan which is set to open its doors to the public in early 2009. The steel sphere of the planetarium is an 87-foot structure which can accommodate 585 people. What’s so breathtaking is that is seems to float in the centre of a breathtaking glass cube.

Using glass in architecture has certainly come a long way from its start. As structures like the Hayden Planetarium are constructed, limitations fall away and glass architecture takes on a life of its own.

Glass in Architecture Today

Constant innovations in glass and building materials continue to increase the possibilities for the use of glass in architecture and today have resulted in some of the most spectacular buildings imaginable. Lightweight, strong plastics, new cladding materials and fixing technologies have allowed for even more experimentation with glass and has enabled architects to translate many of these styles to work in the domestic environment and not only in corporate skyscrapers. Other innovations in glass have also enabled it to become less of a building material and more of a design feature in homes across the globe. Glass is now stronger and safer than ever, allowing it to be used anywhere from roofs to staircases and interior walls – glass is no longer just for windows and the occasional sliding door.

Other innovations in glass have made it possible to fully utilise glass as a building material and prominent feature in domestic homes. Before, architects shied away from a fully-fronted glass home as the heating and cooling bills were astronomical and were only practical in an office environment. With new innovations in double-glazed glass, thermal insulating glass and solar control glass, this problem becomes less of an issue as the glass itself helps to regulate the temperature inside.

Another drawback of abundant use of glass in the home was the need to keep it clean. Glass roofs, conservatories and high walls were often avoided due to the time or cost involved in their cleaning. The advent of self-cleaning glass has helped to reduce this problem, encouraging and allowing for new innovations in the use of glass in domestic architecture. Self-cleaning glass utilises a special coating that reacts with sunlight to break down and loosen organic dirt that is then washed away by the rain. This same coating prevents the water from settling and streaking, rather encouraging run off, leaving the glass naturally cleaner and clearer. This allows architects the freedom to use glass for any exterior that their creativity can take them and has left us with some of the finest architectural uses of glass yet.


at 12:12 AM 0 comments

How To Minimize Risks In Construction Sites

Posted by subash | |

The construction site is obviously one of the most accident-prone places. The presence of machines, equipment and materials, and the activity of men make it an inherently risky place. In some cases, accidents also occur when harmful chemicals or substances come in contact with equipment that can lead to fires or explosions.
According to Department and Labor statistics, construction accidents occur more frequently than many believed. Some of the most common injuries include sprains, bruises, cuts strains, contusions, lacerations, heat burns, amputations, carpal tunnel syndrome, fractures, and tendonitis.

While most of these injuries are not fatal, they can lead to long-term unemployment or a disability condition such as spinal cord injury, severe burn, and in worst cases, death. With these, the victims are entitled to file their legal actions with the help of their construction liability attorneys.

The real estate boom, which gave rise to the construction of residential homes, commercial buildings, and roads, has also contributed to the incidental increase in the number of accidents and resulting injuries in the past years.

Particularly in Los Angeles and other areas in California, the following construction accidents commonly occur:

• Falls from ladders, roofs and scaffolding

• Injuries caused by falling debris or materials

• Scaffolding collapse accidents

• Falling material or debris

• Accidents caused by contact with electrical wires

• Open trenches

• Nail gun accidents and puncture injuries

• Forklift and crane accidents

• Delivery truck accidents

• Injuries to pedestrians

Some accidents may be preventable. In construction sites, the wearing of hard hats and other protective clothing are required as part of safety measures. And despite strict safety laws, thousands are still injured or get killed due to construction site accidents.

Nevertheless, to minimize the risk of accident in the construction site, here are important things to consider:

1. Develop a formal, written accident prevention program - An accident prevention program must suit the needs of your particular workplace or operation and to the types of hazards involved. This is an outline of your safety and health plan or an injury prevention program.

2. Make sure your accident prevention program has the following elements:

• A description of your total safety and health program

• How to report unsafe conditions, hazards and practices

• The use and care of required personal protective equipment (PPE)

• How to exit the workplace during emergencies

• Identification of hazardous gases, chemicals, or materials used and instruction about its safe use

• Emergency action to take after accidental exposure to substances or chemicals

3. Develop and supervise the implementation of your safety and health training programs to make it effective in practice

4. Enforce the training program to improve the employees’ skill, awareness, and competency in the occupational safety and health.

5. Train workers and employees before being assigned to their job, which may also include on-the-job safety instructions on the use of the following:

• Powered materials-handling equipment such as forklifts, backhoes, etc.

• machine tool operations

• How to handle toxic materials

• The use and operation of utility systems

However, in most cases, accidents are caused by violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA). And under California law, a violation of safety law can be used as evidence of negligence in construction site accident cases.

If you were injured in a construction site accident in Los Angeles, for instance, and you need to claim for your injuries, it is very vital for you to seek the aid of an attorney to support your in filing a lawsuit.


at 12:12 AM 0 comments

Frequently Asked Questions About Building Construction

Posted by subash | |

How much money should I pay my contractor in advance?
• It depends on whether you are talking labor or materials. If you are dealing with a weak contractor, you may be asked to pay for the materials in advance...This is risky, however, you may want to take this risk to get a lower overall price. Make the check payable to both the contractor and the supplier. And get a lien release which is discussed further in this article.
• Regarding the labor part of the contract, I see no reason to pay the contractor for his labor in advance of the work being done...Do you get paid in advance?
How do I find a contractor?
• Word of mouth, internet, yellow pages, advertisements in your local newspaper, and you might try asking your local hardware store if they could recommend someone.
How do I know if the contractor is trustworthy?
• You must keep in mind there will always be some risk no matter who you choose.
I have sustained some storm damage to my house when a tree fell on it. The insurance appraiser is telling me that their cost of repairs is less than the contractor will charge me to repair the house. What can I do?
• Get more bids on the cost of repairs.
• Negotiate with your insurance company, and if no resolution;
• Get a construction consultant's opinion.
• Get a Lawyer.
What does cost per square foot mean?
• It all depends on how the term is used. If you are discussing land it is the total cost divided by the square footage. A 10,000 square foot lot that cost $50,000.00 would have a cost per square foot of $5.00
• If you are trying to get the cost per square foot of a house you would divide the square footage of the house into the price of the house. A house with 2,000 square feet that is worth $100,000.00 would have a cost per square foot of $50.00.
What is a change order?
• A change order is a deviation from the original plans and specifications at the request of the owner or due to some unforeseen need to alter the construction from the original plan.
How should I handle change orders during construction?
• Very carefully... Some contractors thrive on getting as many change orders out of you as they can. This is viewed as extra money in their pocket. You should only approve of a change order if you are convinced that the contract did not include this work, such as a change you requested after the contract has been signed. Even when you want the change, you must insist upon the cost being broken down into labor and materials. If the price is too high, negotiate or do without. Do not be very accommodating with change orders. Turn down all change orders you do not agree with. You do not want to declare open season on your pocketbook.
What is a lien release?
• This is a statement of costs from the builder or supplier which have been paid. All lien releases should be notarized.
• Do make sure you get a notarized lien release from the material supplier. You also want to get a notarized partial lien release when you are making partial progress payments to your contractor. You will also need a final lien release from your contractor when the work is finished and the last payment is to be made. You want to exchange the final lien release for the final check, Not the check first.
What are forms?
• Forms are used to create a shape of some building material such as concrete.
• They are used for footings, slabs, driveways and many other uses. They can be made from various materials such as, wood, metal, cardboard and even the earth becomes a form for the footings of a building.
What are reinforcing rods?
• These are hardened pieces of steel, often called rebar, which are used to strengthen the concrete when placed in the form at designated locations prior to pouring the concrete/
What is meant by the term, 'dried-in."
• This is the stage of construction when a building can be worked in without the workmen getting wet. Generally the exterior walls have been erected, and the roof is in place.
When would I be considered a General Contractor?
• When you engage the subcontractors to work on your building and over see the scheduling and completion of the work.
• Most states will allow the owner of the proposed structure to act as their own General Contractor. You need to be check with your local building authority, prior to acting as your own General Contractor.


at 12:03 AM 0 comments

Speed Up Your Building Construction

Posted by subash | |

Your building is under construction and things are going well. Not great, but well. The sooner your building is completed, the sooner you will be out of interim financing and start to realize an income stream from your new apartment building.
The question is; How to improve on the time scheduled for construction of your building without sacrificing quality of construction? In other words you want to complete your building faster than originally scheduled.
I am sure you have heard that old saw, "money talks and bulls----t walks." Well that is as good a place as any to start looking at what incentives you could offer which will motivate your construction people to complete your project faster without sacrificing quality.
1. You can easily calculate how much money will be made if your project is completed faster than scheduled and offer to split the extra earned money with the contractors, fifty/fifty.
2. Schedule cash bonus awards for each week your contractors can pick up or improve their progress by one day.
3. For the five key people involved in this project, arrange for a three day vacation, for them and their wives, to an exotic area if the project completion date is improved by one month.
4. Start taking your contractors out to lunch for your weekly construction meetings, with a focus on the contractors providing you with ideas on how to improve on the time of construction. Have a small bonus for the best idea of the week from $100.00 to $500.00 to be paid upon acceptance and implementation of the new idea.
There are other good methods of using cash to motivate your contractors, and if you use your imagination, you will find many more methods for using money as an incentive.
Here are some other motivational methods which do not use direct payments of cash as the incentive.
1. Fear; threaten the contractors with no more work from your company unless they can improve on the schedule.
2. Leadership; stress craftsmanship and pride which will allow the project to be completed ahead of schedule.
3. Hold a party for the contractors whenever significant time has been reduced from the schedule.
And Lastly, Consider hiring a construction consultant such as, to implement these and other strategies. For best results, have him or her report directly to you on a daily basis with a chart of the days progress along with suggestions for upcoming improvements.


at 12:00 AM 1 comments

Latest Construction Techniques

Posted by subash | Monday, September 20, 2010 |

The design of housing blocks is without doubt one of the most interesting and attractive subjects of contemporary architecture. This is because in these projects the architects face some of the most serious conflicts generated by present-day society: the problem of high density development in large cities, the shortage of development land and the degradation of quality of life due to factors such as acoustic and environmental pollution.
During the second half of the 20th century, the use of vertical construction has proven to be the most logical and effective solution. However, real-estate speculation has led to serious new problems such as the building of large ring roods surrounded by mediocre construction, volumetric exaggeration and on impersonal life-style.
In the face at this situation, some architects are beginning to came out in favor of the recovery of quality and dignity in present-day society. This is the attitude underlying the projects that form the present volume of Architectural Design, a practical guide in which the professional will find the most attractive and functional solutions that have been applied by some of the architects who are most committed to these current problems.
The selection of works has not been made according to the prestige of the architects, but according to the quality of the projects. Therefore, in this volume some of the firmly established stars of contemporary architecture (Gustav Peichl, Martorell/Bohigas/Mackoy, Jean Nouvel) shore the limelight with some of those who are beginning to make a name for themselves. The present article also serves to offer a wide range of the latest tendencies in both community housing and single-family units, and to show the latest construction techniques that are now being incorporated into this area of architecture.


at 11:58 PM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Pages

Powered by Blogger.

Followers

Construction

Posted by subash



In large construction
projects, such as this
skyscraper in Melbourne,
cranes are essential.


In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking. Normally, the job is managed by a project manager, and supervised by a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect.
For the successful execution of a project, effective planning is essential. Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider the environmental impact of the job, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction site safety, availability of building materials, logistics, inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays, and bidding, etc.







Types of construction projects
In general, there are three types of construction:
  1. Building construction
  2. Heavy / civil construction
  3. Industrial construction
Each type of construction project requires a unique team
 to plan, design, construct, and maintain the project.

Building construction

A building site for a row of riverside
apartment blocks in Cambridge
Building construction is the process of adding structure to cheese graters real property. The vast majority of building construction projects are small renovations, such as addition of a room, or renovation of a bathroom. Often, the owner of the property acts as laborer, paymaster, and design team for the entire project. However, all building construction projects include some elements in common - design, financial, and legal considerations. Many projects of varying sizes reach undesirable end results, such as structural collapse, cost overruns, and/or litigation reason, those with experience in the field make detailed plans and maintain careful oversight during the project to ensure a positive outcome.
Building construction is procured privately or publicly utilizing various delivery methodologies, including hard bid, negotiated price, traditional, management contracting, construction management-at-risk, design & build and design-build bridging.                                                                               
Residential construction practices, technologies, and resources must conform to local building authority regulations and codes of practice. Materials readily available in the area generally dictate the construction materials used (e.g. brick versus stone, versus timber). Cost of construction on a per square metre (or per square foot) basis for houses can vary dramatically based on site conditions, local regulations, economies of scale (custom designed homes are always more expensive to build) and the availability of skilled tradespeople. As residential (as well as all other types of construction) can generate a lot of waste, careful planning again is needed here.
The most popular method of residential construction in the United States is wood framed construction. As efficiency codes have come into effect in recent years, new construction technologies and methods have emerged. University Construction Management departments are on the cutting edge of the newest methods of construction intended to improve efficiency, performance and reduce construction waste.

Industrial construction


 
Construction of a prefabricated home
Industrial construction, though a relatively small part of the entire construction industry, is a very important component. Owners of these projects are usually large, for-profit, industrial corporations. These corporations can be found in such industries as medicine, petroleum, chemical, power generation, manufacturing, etc. Processes in these industries require highly specialized expertise in planning, design, and construction. As in building and heavy/highway construction, this type of construction requires a team of individuals to ensure a successful project.



Construction processes
In the modern industrialized world, construction usually involves the translation of paper or computer based designs into reality. A formal design team may be assembled to plan the physical proceedings, and to integrate those proceedings with the other parts. The design usually consists of drawings and specifications, usually prepared by a design team including architects, landscape architects, interior designers, surveyors, civil engineers, cost engineers (or quantity surveyors), mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, structural engineers, and fire protection engineers. The design team is most commonly employed by (i.e. in contract with) the property owner. Under this system, once the design is completed by the design team, a number of construction companies or construction management companies may then be asked to make a bid for the work, either based directly on the design, or on the basis of drawings and a bill of quantities provided by a quantity surveyor. Following evaluation of bids, the owner will typically award a contract to the most cost efficient bidder.
The modern trend in design is toward integration of previously separated specialties, especially among large firms. In the past, architects, interior designers, engineers, developers, construction managers, and general contractors were more likely to be entirely separate companies, even in the larger firms. Presently, a firm that is nominally an "architecture" or "construction management" firm may have experts from all related fields as employees, or to have an associated company that provides each necessary skill. Thus, each such firm may offer itself as "one-stop shopping" for a construction project, from beginning to end. This is designated as a "design Build" contract where the contractor is given a performance specification, and must undertake the project from design to construction, while adhering to the performance specifications.

Shasta Dam under construction
 in June 1942

Several project structures can assist the owner in this integration, including design-build, partnering, and construction management. In general, each of these project structures allows the owner to integrate the services of architects, interior designers, engineers, and constructors throughout design and construction. In response, many companies are growing beyond traditional offerings of design or construction services alone, and are placing more emphasis on establishing relationships with other necessary participants through the design-build process.
The increasing complexity of construction projects creates the need for design professionals trained in all phases of the project's life-cycle and develop an appreciation of the building as an advanced technological system requiring close integration of many sub-systems and their individual components, including sustainability. Building engineering is an emerging discipline that attempts to meet this new challenge.


Financial advisors
Many construction projects suffer from preventable financial problems. Underbids ask for too little money to complete the project. Cash flow problems exist when the present amount of funding cannot cover the current costs for labour and materials, and because they are a matter of having sufficient funds at a specific time, can arise even when the overall total is enough. Fraud is a problem in many fields, but is notoriously prevalent in the construction field. Financial planning for the project is intended to ensure that a solid plan, with adequate safeguards and contingency plans, is in place before the project is started, and is required to ensure that the plan is properly executed over the life of the project.

Apartment complex under
construction in Daegu, South Korea

 Mortgage bankers, accountants, and cost engineers are likely participants in creating an overall plan for the financial management of the building construction project. The presence of the mortgage banker is highly likely even in relatively small projects, since the owner's equity in the property is the most obvious source of funding for a building project. Accountants act to study the expected monetary flow over the life of the project, and to monitor the payouts throughout the process. Cost engineers apply expertise to relate the work and materials involved to a proper valuation. Cost overruns with government projects have occurred when the contractor was able to identify change orders or changes in the project resulting in large increases in cost, which are not subject to competition by other firm as they have already been eliminated from consideration after the initial bid.
Large projects can involve highly complex financial plans. As portions of a project are completed, they may be sold, supplanting one lender or owner for another, while the logistical requirements of having the right trades and materials available for each stage of the building construction project carries forward. In many English-speaking countries, but not the United States, projects typically use quantity surveyors.







Friday, September 24, 2010
Read More

Choosing Different Types Of Model Building Toys

Posted by subash

Toys play a vital role in building your child’s future. They send messages about values and the world around them. So you as parents should think twice before getting a toy, as they lay the foundation in your kids’ lives. It is the not the number of toys that matter but the quality of a single one. Remember with the right set of toys, your child will be able to learn new skills and develop their existing ones. If you want your child to get into the field of technological innovation, then you can start at an early stage itself, by buying him model construction toys.
Developing Creativity


Initially you child will need instructions to play with model building toys. The components of these toys can be used in different combinations to make different models. This will help develop your child’s creativity as they come up with original ideas and designs. They will learn to experiment and use their imaginations to create something that is unique.

Developmental Benefits

Toys and models lead to a variety of developmental advantages for your kids. They improve hand eye coordination of your children when they construct different models. In addition, their fingers become dexterous when they use them to combine small pieces of the model construction toys to build a model.

Appropriate to Age Groups

It is important to select the model building toys according to your children’s age. Your child passes through different developmental stages and there are age appropriate toys that will enhance your child’s construction capabilities. They even encourage children to become technical engineers when they grow up. These toys inculcate the fundamentals of science and math in them at an early stage itself. So always encourage your children in any activity they do, you never know where they will find their calling for the future.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Read More

Eco-friendly Building And Construction Of Manufactured Homes

Posted by subash

'Green' building is a really hot subject these days for a wide variety of base factors. Rising electric costs are making house efficiency more essential for the regular homebuyer. Increasing attention and cognizance of the environmental impacts, including global temperature rises issues, are rocketing clients interest in bringing down their individual carbon 'footprint' on Earth.
If you are new to the concept of natural construction and building, you should know that made and modular construction works in the earth-friendly industry area of construction.


Homes which get built in a manufacturing area possess some basic positive aspects outside the old school 'site-built' houses built in normal house construction.

A producing plant is able to profit from resources a little more efficiently than the standard build team at a building site. Cuts of natural supplies just like raw lumber, drywall, paint, wiring, plumbing and insulation could be projected better and left-over supplies are commonly reused, repurposed and even recycled rather than being sent to the landfill as waste materials.

In addition, inside a climate-controlled manufacturing area environment, items aren't subjected to the elements as they constantly are in job sites, which frequently ends in resources being delivered not fit for your builder's needs and so landfill-bound.

According to the nation's organisation of Residence Builders, the conventional 2k sq. Ft. Modular household and made home industrial facilities are usually equipped to shed that waste material by 50 to seventy five percent.

As an illustration of the efficacy and efficiency of modular homes, latter-day factory-built houses are getting used to replenish devastated regions of the Gulf Coast. Crafted to stand up to winds more than two hundred mph, these types of houses will probably outlast nearly any sort of site-built conventional houses.

EnergyStar is a nationally identified, voluntary marking plan which is meant to stipulate and showcase energy-efficient products, brand spanking new places of residence and structures to customers and firms across the nation.

Started by the US Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) in 1992, EnergyStar is essentially a combined effort of EPA also, the US Department of Energy. EPA is answerable for administering the EnergyStar tag for dwellings. An EnergyStar registered home is a load more utility-economical in its home heating, chilling, and water heat than those houses built within standard property codes.

Read More

Classification Of Construction Machines As Per Application

Posted by subash

It is a common fact that we find a wide variety of construction machines on every construction sites, which make the construction jobs easy, safe and quicker. Depending on the application, construction machines are classified into various categories which we are discussing here.
The construction work can be classified into 3 major groups:
Earthworks
Road Works and
Lifting


Earthworksb

Earthworks refer to the construction and engineering works which involve the moving or transfer of large quantities of soil or unformed rock. The two most popular type of construction machines used in earthworks are digging machines and surface digging machines.

Digging Machines: Excavators and Loaders
Excavators are the most popular and widely used types of heavy equipments, which are mainly used for digging holes and building pits. They are available in different construction variants. Loaders are another type of digging machines which are very fast compared to excavators. The main purpose of loader is to move loose soil.

Surface Digging Machines: Dozer, Grader, Scraper
The surface digging machines are used to prepare the construction surface by moving and changing the soil. A dozer is an important surface digging machine which pushes soil in and out to create a somewhat flat surface. This flat surface can further be flattened by using graders. The grader as a construction machine is popular as it can do leveling jobs very effectively, creating a smooth surface for construction. This becomes particularly helpful in projects of road construction. Scraper is another type of surface digging machine, used to scrap a thin slice of soil. The scraper further moves the scraped layer of soil material to an area few meters away. Scrapers are most widely used in big earthwork construction sites.

Road Works: Milling Machine, Paver, Compactor
One of common applications of construction machineries is in road works and road construction. The milling machine in road works is used to machine solid materials or remove a layer of unwanted material from roads. Widely used for repair jobs, so that a new layer can be created by milling off the destroyed layer. A paver is an important construction machine used to lay asphalt or concrete on roadways. Compactors are used for compacting concrete or asphalt. Compactors as earthwork or road construction machines are used to compress soil and hard materials in construction sites and roads. They press and stabilize the soil for further construction purpose or pave the asphalt or concrete roads to make them smooth and plain roads.

Lifting machinery: Tower Crane, Portal Crane, Cable Crane, Tractor Crane, Truck-Mounted Crane
Lifting machinery as the name suggests refers to the lifting machines used to lift objects in construction sites. There are different types of lifting machines. For example: Tower Cranes are used to lift concrete, steel, large tools and different building materials. They can rise to great heights and are a common machine at any major construction site. Portal cranes can lift heavy loads and seen mainly on storage sites and and trans-shipment centers. There are cable-operated cranes that are seen at dam construction and other construction sites which have the appearance of a line layout. These cranes can move over huge distances and deep valleys. The tractor cranes can move freely around the construction site. The truck mounted cranes are used for lifting jobs of short duration. Their basic advantage is that these cranes can drive on roads.

Read More

The Steps Involved In A Road Construction Project

Posted by subash

There are many steps involved in the road construction process, involving many teams of people and much organization. From the use of a surveying company to handle land surveys to project managers, there are a large number of people involved. The steps must be carefully followed to ensure a successful project is completed.
Yes, it often seems that we are plagued with construction projects, especially in those states where the weather stays relatively nice year round. While construction is a daily part of life, if we stop to consider how difficult it is just to plan the process, we might find it to be less of a hassle and more of an important part of life.

Plan

The first step to a good construction process is to identity the needs of the transportation in the area and of the road. Teams must thoroughly examine the road and define the project in order to get buyoff from the appropriate officials. Make sure the project selected is going to actually enhance the roads.

Design
After a plan is defined the design can be constructed. This is where a boundary or land surveyor may come in, especially in the event of a new road being developed or lanes being added to an existing road. If additional property must be purchased or arranged that would enter into this phase, as would any review of environmental concerns or land in the area that might be impacted by the project. Once the design plans are completed then bids for work can be solicited and awarded.

Construct
The construction begins and drivers begin to grumble. However, even the times of day that construction takes place and any detours that need to be set up have to be considered. If the road is a busy one or if the construction is taking place on a highway then it is very essential that construction companies take into consideration when rush hours are in the city and when the least amount of people will be inconvenienced. Once completed, the project is wrapped up and the road is again open to travel.

Maintenance
Although the project may be completed, the work is never done. Proper maintenance and observation must be done to ensure that the road stays in proper working order. When a road is traveled on extensively it can seem that it is always wearing down. Proper analysis must be done of the road to keep it in working order.


Each state may have different rules and regulations regarding the construction process. From start to finish, it is essential that each piece of the construction puzzle is done right. The last thing any contractor wants is the reputation of taking forever, making drivers upset and creating roads that need to be immediately fixed again. When assembling a team to begin and complete a large scale construction project, it is essential to develop a team that will work well together and will provide excellent service. It’s true that the construction process can be difficult to understand from the perspective of an angry driver. All we see are delays and frustration. However, take a moment to consider the immense planning and people involved in the process to making our roadways safe, secure and drivable.

Read More

The History Of Glass In Architecture

Posted by subash

Glass was discovered, seemingly by accident, nearly 4000 years ago and has since evolved into one of our most used and most revered materials. It was only 2000 years ago that the manufacturing of glass progressed to being able to create sheets strong enough to be used as windows and architectural features. Today glass is used in everything from revolving doors to skywalks and interior partitions and is one of our most striking architectural materials with a fascinating history.
The Beginnings of Glass in Architecture

When glass was first used in architecture and construction, the limitations of masonry and weaker building materials meant that its prominence was restricted to small windows. With developments in construction, this began to change and by the Medieval Era glass started to be used as more of a decorative feature than simply a way to let light in. The trend for tall, stone Gothic churches facilitated the use of elaborate glass windows made up from fragments of coloured glass and depicting striking biblical scenes. These windows related the stories of the bible to an illiterate populace and spurned the architectural trend of searching for transparency, luminosity and weightlessness through glass.

The Next Big Step in Glass

It wasn’t until the 19th century that glass in architecture took its next significant step forward. Before this time, the manufacturing process itself restricted the use of glass to only small sheets, which is illustrated in the prominent use of cottage pane glass and intricately divided windows in 18th century architecture.

The introduction of iron and other materials during this time meant that glass could take on a whole new role in architecture. Thanks to the materials now existing to hold it in place, coupled with the new ability to mass produce large sheets, the possibilities for the use of glass in construction became nearly limitless. Architects began to experiment with things like conservatories and entire walls of glass that were held together by high trussed steel arches and finger fixings. The Crystal Palace constructed in 1851 represents the most ambitious glass architectural projects of its time – a construction made up of 300 000 sheets of glass.

Glass in Architecture in the 20th Century

Architects use of glass continued to evolve throughout the 20th century although most of the larger, ambitious projects were confined to large office buildings with massive budgets. The idea of transparency and dematerialisation was dominant during this time and architects the world over tried to use glass to create ‘honest’ buildings that focussed on a sense of light and space. One of the biggest changes during these years was the move away from seeing glass as only the material for the openings within a structure, but rather as the material for the structure itself. Glass skins became the challenge to tackle whereby a thin steel structure literally supported skyscrapers of full glass walls.
The Fagus Factory in Germany was one of the first buildings to employ this technique. This urban shoe factory was designed by Walter Gropius in 1911 and used a thin steel structure to hold up a full glass façade to meet the client’s brief of an attractive outlook.
One of the greatest feats in glass architecture in this century is the new Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan which is set to open its doors to the public in early 2009. The steel sphere of the planetarium is an 87-foot structure which can accommodate 585 people. What’s so breathtaking is that is seems to float in the centre of a breathtaking glass cube.

Using glass in architecture has certainly come a long way from its start. As structures like the Hayden Planetarium are constructed, limitations fall away and glass architecture takes on a life of its own.

Glass in Architecture Today

Constant innovations in glass and building materials continue to increase the possibilities for the use of glass in architecture and today have resulted in some of the most spectacular buildings imaginable. Lightweight, strong plastics, new cladding materials and fixing technologies have allowed for even more experimentation with glass and has enabled architects to translate many of these styles to work in the domestic environment and not only in corporate skyscrapers. Other innovations in glass have also enabled it to become less of a building material and more of a design feature in homes across the globe. Glass is now stronger and safer than ever, allowing it to be used anywhere from roofs to staircases and interior walls – glass is no longer just for windows and the occasional sliding door.

Other innovations in glass have made it possible to fully utilise glass as a building material and prominent feature in domestic homes. Before, architects shied away from a fully-fronted glass home as the heating and cooling bills were astronomical and were only practical in an office environment. With new innovations in double-glazed glass, thermal insulating glass and solar control glass, this problem becomes less of an issue as the glass itself helps to regulate the temperature inside.

Another drawback of abundant use of glass in the home was the need to keep it clean. Glass roofs, conservatories and high walls were often avoided due to the time or cost involved in their cleaning. The advent of self-cleaning glass has helped to reduce this problem, encouraging and allowing for new innovations in the use of glass in domestic architecture. Self-cleaning glass utilises a special coating that reacts with sunlight to break down and loosen organic dirt that is then washed away by the rain. This same coating prevents the water from settling and streaking, rather encouraging run off, leaving the glass naturally cleaner and clearer. This allows architects the freedom to use glass for any exterior that their creativity can take them and has left us with some of the finest architectural uses of glass yet.

Read More

How To Minimize Risks In Construction Sites

Posted by subash

The construction site is obviously one of the most accident-prone places. The presence of machines, equipment and materials, and the activity of men make it an inherently risky place. In some cases, accidents also occur when harmful chemicals or substances come in contact with equipment that can lead to fires or explosions.
According to Department and Labor statistics, construction accidents occur more frequently than many believed. Some of the most common injuries include sprains, bruises, cuts strains, contusions, lacerations, heat burns, amputations, carpal tunnel syndrome, fractures, and tendonitis.

While most of these injuries are not fatal, they can lead to long-term unemployment or a disability condition such as spinal cord injury, severe burn, and in worst cases, death. With these, the victims are entitled to file their legal actions with the help of their construction liability attorneys.

The real estate boom, which gave rise to the construction of residential homes, commercial buildings, and roads, has also contributed to the incidental increase in the number of accidents and resulting injuries in the past years.

Particularly in Los Angeles and other areas in California, the following construction accidents commonly occur:

• Falls from ladders, roofs and scaffolding

• Injuries caused by falling debris or materials

• Scaffolding collapse accidents

• Falling material or debris

• Accidents caused by contact with electrical wires

• Open trenches

• Nail gun accidents and puncture injuries

• Forklift and crane accidents

• Delivery truck accidents

• Injuries to pedestrians

Some accidents may be preventable. In construction sites, the wearing of hard hats and other protective clothing are required as part of safety measures. And despite strict safety laws, thousands are still injured or get killed due to construction site accidents.

Nevertheless, to minimize the risk of accident in the construction site, here are important things to consider:

1. Develop a formal, written accident prevention program - An accident prevention program must suit the needs of your particular workplace or operation and to the types of hazards involved. This is an outline of your safety and health plan or an injury prevention program.

2. Make sure your accident prevention program has the following elements:

• A description of your total safety and health program

• How to report unsafe conditions, hazards and practices

• The use and care of required personal protective equipment (PPE)

• How to exit the workplace during emergencies

• Identification of hazardous gases, chemicals, or materials used and instruction about its safe use

• Emergency action to take after accidental exposure to substances or chemicals

3. Develop and supervise the implementation of your safety and health training programs to make it effective in practice

4. Enforce the training program to improve the employees’ skill, awareness, and competency in the occupational safety and health.

5. Train workers and employees before being assigned to their job, which may also include on-the-job safety instructions on the use of the following:

• Powered materials-handling equipment such as forklifts, backhoes, etc.

• machine tool operations

• How to handle toxic materials

• The use and operation of utility systems

However, in most cases, accidents are caused by violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA). And under California law, a violation of safety law can be used as evidence of negligence in construction site accident cases.

If you were injured in a construction site accident in Los Angeles, for instance, and you need to claim for your injuries, it is very vital for you to seek the aid of an attorney to support your in filing a lawsuit.

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions About Building Construction

Posted by subash

How much money should I pay my contractor in advance?
• It depends on whether you are talking labor or materials. If you are dealing with a weak contractor, you may be asked to pay for the materials in advance...This is risky, however, you may want to take this risk to get a lower overall price. Make the check payable to both the contractor and the supplier. And get a lien release which is discussed further in this article.
• Regarding the labor part of the contract, I see no reason to pay the contractor for his labor in advance of the work being done...Do you get paid in advance?
How do I find a contractor?
• Word of mouth, internet, yellow pages, advertisements in your local newspaper, and you might try asking your local hardware store if they could recommend someone.
How do I know if the contractor is trustworthy?
• You must keep in mind there will always be some risk no matter who you choose.
I have sustained some storm damage to my house when a tree fell on it. The insurance appraiser is telling me that their cost of repairs is less than the contractor will charge me to repair the house. What can I do?
• Get more bids on the cost of repairs.
• Negotiate with your insurance company, and if no resolution;
• Get a construction consultant's opinion.
• Get a Lawyer.
What does cost per square foot mean?
• It all depends on how the term is used. If you are discussing land it is the total cost divided by the square footage. A 10,000 square foot lot that cost $50,000.00 would have a cost per square foot of $5.00
• If you are trying to get the cost per square foot of a house you would divide the square footage of the house into the price of the house. A house with 2,000 square feet that is worth $100,000.00 would have a cost per square foot of $50.00.
What is a change order?
• A change order is a deviation from the original plans and specifications at the request of the owner or due to some unforeseen need to alter the construction from the original plan.
How should I handle change orders during construction?
• Very carefully... Some contractors thrive on getting as many change orders out of you as they can. This is viewed as extra money in their pocket. You should only approve of a change order if you are convinced that the contract did not include this work, such as a change you requested after the contract has been signed. Even when you want the change, you must insist upon the cost being broken down into labor and materials. If the price is too high, negotiate or do without. Do not be very accommodating with change orders. Turn down all change orders you do not agree with. You do not want to declare open season on your pocketbook.
What is a lien release?
• This is a statement of costs from the builder or supplier which have been paid. All lien releases should be notarized.
• Do make sure you get a notarized lien release from the material supplier. You also want to get a notarized partial lien release when you are making partial progress payments to your contractor. You will also need a final lien release from your contractor when the work is finished and the last payment is to be made. You want to exchange the final lien release for the final check, Not the check first.
What are forms?
• Forms are used to create a shape of some building material such as concrete.
• They are used for footings, slabs, driveways and many other uses. They can be made from various materials such as, wood, metal, cardboard and even the earth becomes a form for the footings of a building.
What are reinforcing rods?
• These are hardened pieces of steel, often called rebar, which are used to strengthen the concrete when placed in the form at designated locations prior to pouring the concrete/
What is meant by the term, 'dried-in."
• This is the stage of construction when a building can be worked in without the workmen getting wet. Generally the exterior walls have been erected, and the roof is in place.
When would I be considered a General Contractor?
• When you engage the subcontractors to work on your building and over see the scheduling and completion of the work.
• Most states will allow the owner of the proposed structure to act as their own General Contractor. You need to be check with your local building authority, prior to acting as your own General Contractor.

Read More

Speed Up Your Building Construction

Posted by subash

Your building is under construction and things are going well. Not great, but well. The sooner your building is completed, the sooner you will be out of interim financing and start to realize an income stream from your new apartment building.
The question is; How to improve on the time scheduled for construction of your building without sacrificing quality of construction? In other words you want to complete your building faster than originally scheduled.
I am sure you have heard that old saw, "money talks and bulls----t walks." Well that is as good a place as any to start looking at what incentives you could offer which will motivate your construction people to complete your project faster without sacrificing quality.
1. You can easily calculate how much money will be made if your project is completed faster than scheduled and offer to split the extra earned money with the contractors, fifty/fifty.
2. Schedule cash bonus awards for each week your contractors can pick up or improve their progress by one day.
3. For the five key people involved in this project, arrange for a three day vacation, for them and their wives, to an exotic area if the project completion date is improved by one month.
4. Start taking your contractors out to lunch for your weekly construction meetings, with a focus on the contractors providing you with ideas on how to improve on the time of construction. Have a small bonus for the best idea of the week from $100.00 to $500.00 to be paid upon acceptance and implementation of the new idea.
There are other good methods of using cash to motivate your contractors, and if you use your imagination, you will find many more methods for using money as an incentive.
Here are some other motivational methods which do not use direct payments of cash as the incentive.
1. Fear; threaten the contractors with no more work from your company unless they can improve on the schedule.
2. Leadership; stress craftsmanship and pride which will allow the project to be completed ahead of schedule.
3. Hold a party for the contractors whenever significant time has been reduced from the schedule.
And Lastly, Consider hiring a construction consultant such as, to implement these and other strategies. For best results, have him or her report directly to you on a daily basis with a chart of the days progress along with suggestions for upcoming improvements.

Read More

Latest Construction Techniques

Posted by subash

The design of housing blocks is without doubt one of the most interesting and attractive subjects of contemporary architecture. This is because in these projects the architects face some of the most serious conflicts generated by present-day society: the problem of high density development in large cities, the shortage of development land and the degradation of quality of life due to factors such as acoustic and environmental pollution.
During the second half of the 20th century, the use of vertical construction has proven to be the most logical and effective solution. However, real-estate speculation has led to serious new problems such as the building of large ring roods surrounded by mediocre construction, volumetric exaggeration and on impersonal life-style.
In the face at this situation, some architects are beginning to came out in favor of the recovery of quality and dignity in present-day society. This is the attitude underlying the projects that form the present volume of Architectural Design, a practical guide in which the professional will find the most attractive and functional solutions that have been applied by some of the architects who are most committed to these current problems.
The selection of works has not been made according to the prestige of the architects, but according to the quality of the projects. Therefore, in this volume some of the firmly established stars of contemporary architecture (Gustav Peichl, Martorell/Bohigas/Mackoy, Jean Nouvel) shore the limelight with some of those who are beginning to make a name for themselves. The present article also serves to offer a wide range of the latest tendencies in both community housing and single-family units, and to show the latest construction techniques that are now being incorporated into this area of architecture.

Monday, September 20, 2010
Read More