There are many generally reliable sources of data and articles that suggest that U.S. new household needs are about 1,500,000 Latest Floor Plan per year. This assumption developed from the steady growth of new housing between the early 1990s and 2007. Is this true?
The likelihood is that this assumption is deeply flawed for several reasons. The main and leading reason against this assumption is that prior to 1990 for almost 30 years new housing averaged in the 600,000 to 800,000 housing units per year level. At the same time, the nation base household growth pressure was very much like projections for the country for the next 40 years. Given that today’s household base Find A Plumber is substantially larger than then the replacement requirement is different, but otherwise, household growth is probably not much different than pre-1990 levels. This would put new household needs between 700,000 and perhaps 900,000 per year. All this adds up to say, we aren’t going to need nearly what has been being added on an annual basis for the next perhaps 1 to 2 generations and may be for good.
In addition to this factor, the need for mcmansions will be substantially reduced over the next 15 years. In fact, we face a huge oversupply today that probably causes issues for the entire period. These mcmansions are likely to become a source of significant substitution as baby boomers will be faced with a weak market for these properties. The clear obvious effect will be these properties become homes to 2 or more households. The fact is this could provide 200,000 to 300,000 of the base new housing need for much of this period.
Additionally, 50% of new housing needs are anticipated to be multifamily. Arguably substitution is one source, but the other component comes from what previously would have been single family housing demand.
Investors need to be acutely aware of these facts as they analyze and choose where to put capital. New home construction except in the highest growth corridors should not be the chosen direction.…
Electricians
Benefits Of Using Metal Buildings
The Internet makes it very easy to review the benefits of metal buildings, preview prefabricated designs, explore the possibilities of customized construction, and compare prices and services offered by the many online sites. Competition is high and new manufacturing methods are expanding the range and appeal of steel buildings.
A quick search will bring up words and phrases such as durable, maintenance-free, and 35 year warranty. Websites offer brochure downloads, design galleries, instant quotes from quick entry of specifications, free delivery and installation, How Long Does A Gut Renovation Take and discounts of up to 60%. You have the choice of do-it-yourself kits, using professionals to assemble prefabricated parts, and options for using your own designs for buildings from one thousand to one million square feet in area.
Barns, warehouses, mini storage units, carports, garages, stables, and even churches are now made of metal. The costs of construction are far less than for structures of similar size made of more traditional materials. It also takes less time to have a finished building when working with metal. Future maintenance expense is also a factor in assessing the practicality of metal buildings.
If you are thinking of a long, low, rectangular shape with no windows and wide loading doors at each end, you really must visit the web to look at modern designs. Architects have all the freedom of design they need to mingle form with function, since metal buildings may be as minimal as Types Of Subcontractors needed or as elaborately attractive and comfortable as desired. For instance, warehouses and barns may be simple, unheated shelters for machinery and storage, but also may be partially or completely insulated for the comfort of the humans who will work in them in all weather conditions.
Churches made of metal are one of the more recent uses for this type of construction. Beautiful, distinctive exteriors with soaring steeples and huge windows grace many a large, modern place of worship. Even the congregation may not know that the building is made of steel. No matter how many uses the building is put to, using steel makes it affordable enough to have room for all. Even the needs of future expansion are easy to take into account.
These days it is important to many individuals and to many companies that the construction be ‘green’. You can find metal buildings that either meet or exceed requirements for recycled content(some may be made of almost 90% scrap), solar reflectivity, and the ability to be recycled in future if abandoned. The energy efficiency of well-designed metal construction is very high.
Maintenance costs are as important as the initial investment when balancing the budget. Metal buildings, with factory corrosion protection, baked-on paint, and properly sealed seams will last for years with no need for repainting or roof repair. Weather proof, wind resistant, and safe in lightening storms, metal buildings are designed for years of trouble-free use.
In conclusion, choosing a metal building is an option that increasing numbers of people …
Things You Need To Know About Lead Roofs
Lead is a soft, heavy metal and its resilient and malleable characteristics make it the perfect item in construction, especially in outdoor construction that is used to keep the rain water out. It has been used in the construction industry for a very long time and is one of the most durable metals.
Usage:
With different weights and thicknesses, you can use lead sheets for a number of purposes. If you intend to use them for a long time, heavier sheets of lead are recommended. However, if the use is temporary or short-term, lighter sheets may be used. These days lead is largely found in:
Access hatch Custom Built Homes Near Me covers
Apron Flashings
Bay windows
Chimney Flashings
Parapet wall World Landscape Architecture Month clapping
Rainwater down pipes
Rainwater outlets
Roof hips
Roof lights
Secret gutters
Weathering to Cornices
Dormer Flashings
Gable Flashings
Cover flashings
Technical Guidance
It is important to leave gaps for appropriate thermal movement. This can’t take place if you use oversized sheets for construction purposes, stresses can be setup which will cause the failure of lead. One can get technical guidance from the industry’s construction companies on using ideal lead sheets for construction purposes. Furthermore, care needs to be exercised to nail the lead sheets. To avoid contact of metal with other undesirable metals, it is better to use copper, otherwise stainless steel nails are generally recommended.
Sometimes, lead line gutters can be problematic to deal with. It is quite common that they are split open by the cutting edge of loose slate, or sometimes by the decaying of timber. This can cause severe water penetration in the building. Small repairs can be done quite easily by bituminous backed foil. A more appropriate way is welding small patches over the damaged area.
Defects and Remedial Work
Although, lead has excellent resistance properties, sometimes alkalis from new cement, acid from timbers and sometimes lichen, moss and algae surfaces damage the lead surface. It is better to give temporary protection so that biological growth is prevented. Proper inspection of roofs should be done after heavy storms and rains. Repairing lead roofs and other lead works require the technical knowledge of knowing the cause of damage and then repairing it. Factors like, for how long the lead has been in place, overall condition of the lead or were there any inherent faults in placing the lead are generally good starting points before starting the desired repair work.…
The Use of 3D Visualisation in Advertising
This is surely the age of technology based information, we are utterly surrounded by it, moreover, we are deeply and inextricably part of it; sharing information on the numerous blogs Home Remodeling Before And After and the cacophony of social media outlets. Advertising firms are well aware of society’s ever-growing need to access immediate information and they tap into it relentlessly.
We are engulfed by advertising every minute of everyday, some get lost in the bland fog of imagery pumped out by the advertising machine, but on occasion there are a few glimmering moments that shine through and succeed in their purpose; grabbing our attention.
In an attempt to stand out from the crowd, advertising agencies are increasingly employing the talents of creative design agencies and firms to help produce much more engaging means to communicate their message and products. One very common approach is the use of 3D Visualisation in advertising. For some, this is a bad case of using technology for technology’s sake, instead of taking the message and using the most viable and effective means to communicate it.
When used right, there are some very advantageous reasons for the use of 3D Visualisation in advertising. Logistics is the first that springs to mind. To overcome the burden, cost and planning of a photo-shoot on the far side of the globe, entire 3D scenes can be produced and through the use of compositing and green screen technology, actors or products can, in the right hands, be easily positioned within.
That idea can quite literally be taken much further and used to create 3D Visuals of new and exotic worlds Red Door Homes Financing and planets, for example the Carling ‘space nightclub’ advert, or the O2 ‘thinking of you campaign’.
The use of 3D Visualisation in advertising does not always have to be about the creation of new or exotic settings; We are seeing an increasing surge of advertising that uses 3D visuals of products, either because the product is has not been released for mass production, or to show animated inner workings in a way that real life never could. This ‘hyper real’ approach, I personally believe, a much more effective and astute reason for using 3D visuals in an advertising campaign. It is using the technology for a concrete reason, solving a real problem (for example: ‘how do I show the moving inner mechanics of a combustion engine using live recording methods?’).
Evolve this further and we begin to touch on the creative realm of advertising. Take Honda, Audi or Guinness’ advertising. All three employ the skills and creative flair of designers, 3D modellers and animators to create a dynamic mix of 3D visuals and live action, or exclusively 3D visualisation’s on their own to produce exciting, fresh approaches to showing their product, or the end-user experience.
Of course, most of what I have mentioned above is based on screen-based examples. The use of 3D visualisation in advertising is also prevalent in print campaigns. To me this …
Do We Really Need a Building Permit?
We are anticipating building some additional office space within our industrial building. Do we really need to get a building permit?
There are several reasons that you should always obtain a building permit for Subcontractor Vs General Contractor. To be clear, we are not talking about redecoration, so tasks such as painting, carpeting, wall repair, ceiling repair or replacing a door fall into this category. But permits should always be filed for the actual construction of new offices or the installation of a new bathroom, as an example.
One of the best reasons for filing permits is to avoid creating problems down the road when the property is eventually financed or sold. Your buyer or mortgagee will want to make sure that the property and its improvements all have the proper certificates of occupancy and necessary permits before title passes or funds are provided. Over the years, I have seen this scenario many times: A closing must be postponed (or even worse, a deal is lost) because of the time delay that is incurred in filing for permits, possibly re-doing work, and having inspections and receiving the necessary certificates from the proper municipal authority. In addition, any work that has not been done to code may often have to be ripped out and rebuilt to code, so now you have paid for your project twice!
Another reason to spend the time and money on properly permitting your project is potential liability that you may incur. If your construction was not built to fire code, as an example, and a fire destroys property or injures people, you could face severe legal liability issues and perhaps even criminal charges. Do you really want to incur this sort of liability to save a little time and money? Most of us like to sleep at night!
In most municipalities, if you are caught building without a permit, the job will be completely shut down. Now, not only have you really delayed your project, but you are in the middle of construction. The only way to resolve it, is to start the entire process necessary to obtain permits that should have been done in the first place! And of course, at this point, your municipal building inspectors are going to be especially vigilant and non-forgiving.
As a Home Remodeling Project Plan Template company, we cannot afford to build for a client who is not willing to obtain the proper permits for their project. We work with the municipalities over and over again and the last thing we need is a black eye in the industry. Follow our lead, and that of every other reputable contractor. Building without a permit may seem like a shortcut for both time and money. The truth is that building without permits usually result in more time and money being spent to rectify the problems that you created. Do yourself a favor and do it right the first time!…
Engineering Capacity Deficit and Skills Shortage in Sub-Saharan Africa
Generally, the delivery of infrastructure is largely determined by adequacy of local capacity to supply technical requirements for project implementation at all its stages from planning, design, Builder In My Area, and operation. In sub-saharan Africa, the local construction firms may be able to handle small project works while leaving large construction projects to the employ of international consulting and construction companies due to lack of local capability for large project works. Supply constraints in some African countries gives an indication of the engineering capacity deficit problems common to nearly all African countries [1]. In analysing the constraints, it becomes clear that the capacity deficits arise from two critical underlying problems of lack of training for engineers and technical personnel, and building materials. The gravity of the lack of high level engineering skills among African countries has been established to be of a very high scale. The population served by a single engineer in Africa is up to 13,000 persons compared to 100 to 300 persons in most developed and emerging economies. For the civil engineering profession alone, the number of engineers serving a given population is even much smaller. For example, one civil engineer in local government in South Africa serves a population of about 33,000. These numbers are again higher for other African countries [2,3].
Information regarding skills gaps for the various professions in African countries is quite difficult to find. This may be related to shortage of research culture and capacity in African countries, a general problem in the field of engineering and other disciplines as well. But it can be roughly estimated that the national engineering skills gap of 30 to 50% typically represent the scale of shortage of these essentials skills in the African continent.
The problem is compounded by technical brain drain of the limited engineering capacity from developing countries to developed nations as a result of enticing opportunities offered to attract technically qualified personnel to sustain developed international economies. In most developed countries, the engineering skills present are continuously assessed to ensure adequate availability of required professional skills while identifying presence of possible skills gaps to be filled either through domestic training or scouting of highly qualified foreign engineers to be offered immigration visas. This is related to the nature of modern economies, being primarily industrial driven. Attempts by African countries to attract investments are sometimes hampered by poor existing infrastructure and lack of capacity, these being among the key factors used by investors in deciding their investment destinations.
References
[1] G. Zawdie, D.A Langford, The state of construction and infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa and strategies for a sustainable way forward, Dept of Civil Engineering, Univ of Strathclyde, 107 Rottenrow, Glasgow G4 ONG, Scotland, UK, 13p.
[2] A. Lawless (2005), Numbers and needs: addressing imbalances Inspiring Gardens in the civil engineering profession, SAICE, Johannesburg, RSA
[3] A. Lawless (2007), Numbers and needs in local govt: civil engineering the critical profession for service delivery, SAICE, JHB, RSA…
Government Contracts – Healing Construction and Architectural Firms’ Bottom Lines
In one way or another everyone has felt an impact from our country’s recent economic woes. While some people have been affected much more than others, that holds true in many business sectors as well. Some industries have had to use cunning whilst venturing into new areas for revenue.
The allure of the stimulus package has proven tempting enough for public government contracts, or Requests For Proposals (RFPs), to become an integral and steady revenue stream for the construction industry in particular. Over the past two years many private construction projects have had to be either shelved completely or in a few cases put on hold for the time being. When that time for restarting these projects will be announced is anyone’s guess.
The lagging Subcontract Definition sector has a wide ranging impact on not only the prime contractors but also on the various sub-contractors as well. They comprise of a very large segment of construction companies that were least prepared for this downturn. It has also been quite taxing on peripheral construction industries such as architecture design firms, whose lifeblood is almost symbiotic with the highs and lows of the construction sector. It was not too long ago that many industry leading architectural firms were in high demand and even backlogged. The high demand that architectural firms had been feeling is now replaced with confusion bordering on despair as they, too, scramble to stay afloat and keep a steady project pipeline. In addition, the sales and leasing of tractors and construction equipment have experienced a drastic downturn in the private markets, as well as construction management and inspection.
Facing Draconian short term forecasts has coincided nicely with the growth for architectural and construction needs within the public sector. While most of these companies have done some public work in the past it was usually just another division in their internal infrastructure. When this spate of stimulus money finally hit the ground there appears to be many more public opportunities for these companies to chase and obtain. Now we are seeing them go after government contract work with gusto. These are RFPs that had previously been passed over due to the amount of steady work within the private sector.
The trickle down affect has been a massive boost for the bottom lines of both the Construction Business Owners companies and the architectural firms. In addition, products like tractors, cranes, and dredging equipment have seen support in various RFPs and bids released as part of the stimulus. In a twist of irony it could be argued that there are so many new public construction RFPs coming in daily that some feel the need exists for even more quality and seasoned companies to at least submit bids lest they are faced with an unfortunate quagmire.
The good news is that one of our nation’s bedrock industries has been given a new lease on life. With the need for renovations to certain areas of an aging infrastructure thrown into the mix it bodes …