Breaks and Takes

Chandler McCormack asked:


2009 will be a highly competitive year for the construction industry as companies compete for a reduced number of projects. The struggling economy has resulted in tighter budgets and delayed spending on many projects, which is leading to increased competition during the construction bid process. For owners who want a higher level of transparency and efficiency, and for contractors who want to differentiate themselves from the competition, the implementation of wireless construction cameras creates an immediate and effective means to meet these needs.

Construction owners utilize construction cameras to provide documentation of project progression. A great tool to give stakeholders peace of mind as well as to better communicate the project status with the entire project team. Below are some general benefits to owners:

- Document the construction project’s progression

- Impressive relationship tool for investors, banks and other funding sources

- Increase efficiencies (improved documentation, communication with project team, reduction of travel time, enforce accountability, obtain image assets for marketing collateral)

The benefits of a construction camera are not limited exclusively to owners of construction projects. General contractors responsible for the day to day operations and progress of the jobsite can also benefit from installing construction cameras. Below are some benefits for contractors:

- Improve scheduling of construction jobsite visits

- Reduction in site visits

- Accountability (Who’s working? How many? What time did they arrive - leave? Is the jobsite clean?)

- Project management improvements translates into more margin per project and protect the margin by avoiding costly delays

Construction Cameras are not equal:

It is important to remember that not all construction cameras are equal. There are a wide variety of variables you need to consider when selecting a construction camera . When selecting construction camera options make sure you are being conscious of the following:

1. Ease of camera setup

2. Reliability

3. Quality of the image

4. Method of data transfer

5. Analysis and Reporting

Ease of Camera Setup:

Too often overlooked is the ease that the camera can be setup. Ask yourself, who will be setting up this camera? Complications in the camera systems can vary greatly from company to company. When possible, look for a company that has a turnkey solution.

Reliability:

The overall package depends on the reliability of the service. There are many factors that can make a camera reliable, which means it is important you try to determine if there is a weak link in the camera company’s solution. Will the photos be captured and archived consistently? Do you have to perform regular maintenance to the camera? Is there a lifetime warranty, so you can invest once and then reuse on other projects. If the weather is not cooperating, will the image quality be sufficient?

Quality of the Image:

A construction webcam , for many is vastly different to what the average consumer thinks of when he hears the word “webcam.” Some of today’s construction webcams are capable of high resolution images. The better the quality image, the more decision making information you will be able to obtain.

Method of Data Transfer:

Jobsites can be scattered in unusual places. Accessibility to transferring the images can create challenges at times. Advances in cellular technology have allowed high resolution images to be transferred through mobile signals. You’ll want to make sure your webcam is reliable and able to transfer images without service interruption.

Analysis and Reporting:

Having a dashboard to manage and monitor the progress of the jobsite is essential. Look for reporting tools such as time elapsed comparisons and communication methods that can inform the project team of progress. For larger projects with multiple cameras you’ll want to ensure your dashboard can facilitate monitoring of additional cameras.

Next Steps: Finding a Wireless Construction Camera Vendor:

Each construction project has its own set of specifications and jobsite requirements that need to be adhered to. Whether you are a construction owner, or contractor, utilizing a wireless construction camera is a sound investment for the construction project. After several years of widespread implementations on jobsites, numerous owners and contractors across the country have obtained first hand experience on the benefits of having a construction camera program for project management. What used to be considered a luxury for some is quickly becoming a requirement to effectively compete just like Smart Phones a few years ago. Can you imagine a project owner or general contractor trying to efficiently and effectively communicate to the entire project stakeholders to ensure success? Incorporating construction cameras into the jobsite is a great way to create an environment of proactive project management and accountability. Contractors looking for an added edge in 2009 have another tool at their disposal to help differentiate them from the pack.

New York Personal Injury Law Firm asked:


Most of the construction workers are qualified and experienced. A well qualified and experienced construction worker ensures successful completion of any construction project. However, there are certain things which can go wrong at a construction site. Issues related to weather can impede the progress of a project, and thus causing delays and cancellations. New York construction accident lawyers are accustomed to these types of happening, as they usually involve some casualties. A construction worker is always at a risk of getting injured on a job. In certain cases it is observed that Construction Company or the supervisors did not provide proper safety, training, and equipments which resulted in the accident. There are several reported acts of negligence which resulted in serious injuries at the construction site. If you or someone closed to you has been a victim of any such construction accident then you must seek immediate medical help. You should also get in touch with a New York Construction accident lawyer who will help you receive justice and compensation.

Each and every year, several construction workers become victims of fatal accidents at construction accidents. However, most of these accidents could have been avoided if the construction company took adequate health measures to avoid any injuries at construction sites. There are also instances where a fellow construction worker acted in a negligent manner which resulted in an injury for the victim. If you or anyone close to you has been a victim of construction accident, then it is imperative that all records and documents from the construction site are made accessible to the Construction accident attorney so that a proper analysis can be done. You must also include documents pertaining to equipment, training, and safety standards which will help to determine if there was negligence on the part of Construction Company. Other issues such as medication, mental alertness, and substance abuse should be looked into to make sure that none of these factors contributed to the accident. In case Construction Management Company failed to comply with safety and other regulatory standards, then a thorough investigation must be conducted. This would include research on various past projects which were undertaken by the Construction Company including equipment checks. This would help New York Construction accident lawyers to prove negligence on the defendant’s behalf.

If should contact New York (NY) Construction accident lawyer if you received injuries at a construction site. You need to file a lawsuit without any delays which could hamper your case. It can also affect you from gaining proper compensation to cover your medical bills and other expenses. A settlement from a construction accident will help you cover your medical expenses, loss of wages and it will also include pain and suffering incurred by the victim.

Pat Fay asked:


The Terrors of the Time and Material Contract in Home Construction

There is a form of contracting prevalent in the home construction world that is very dangerous to the American homeowner. It is called the time and material contract. In construction slang it is known as “T & M.” This contract is the cause of run away costs on seemingly inexpensive home construction projects. The wise homeowner will be very, very wary of signing a time and material contract with any home construction contractor.

The basics of the time and material contract are quite simple. The contractor charges the homeowner for the actual time that all workers spend on the homeowner’s project plus all the costs of materials. The contractor’s profit is built into the hourly rate charged to the homeowner by the contractor for all of his workers. Sometimes a wily contractor will have the audacity to add a percentage as their fee or extra profit to the contract.

The T & M contract is almost always suggested by a contractor to an inexperienced homeowner. They will say that the homeowner’s job is just too complicated for a fixed price bid and the best way to do this project is by time and material. It always sounds so reasonable that the homeowner has no reason to believe that things will not go well on their project.

The time and material contract has been around for decades. It became very popular in the late 1970’s and 1980’s on industrial construction projects around the globe. The time and material contract was used on large scale industrial projects where it was thought that the teaming of the owners and the owner’s contractor would result in a win-win situation for both the contractor and the owner. The contractor would have limited risk and the owner would have a project built for about the estimated price.

The time and material contract on these industrial projects took the form of the cost plus fixed fee contract. The contractor was paid for all the hours of all their workers plus the cost of all the materials. The two were added up to give the total construction cost. Then the fixed fee percentage was multiplied times the total construction cost and then added to the whole. The typical fixed fee was in the 2% to 10% range.

Sounds reasonable doesn’t it? It wasn’t though. The catch was whether or not the owner had hired a contractor willing to take a reasonable profit on a project rather than a huge profit at the owner’s expense. It turned out that there were not too many industrial contractors that could resist the lure of easy money at the expense of the owner.

What actually happened is that the contractors used every means at their disposal to drive the hours of labor and material up as high as they possibly could so that the fee would also be higher. As it turned out the construction costs grew much higher. So high that owner’s around the world were almost bankrupted by this form of the T & M contract.

The time and material contract destroyed the work ethic in hard working construction workers by rewarding slowness and laziness. This behavior was condoned and even encouraged by the managers of the construction companies. The reason for this was because the contractor made more money the longer the project took to complete.

The T & M contract also encouraged the use of unnecessarily expensive materials in an effort to drive up the cost. When two equally qualified materials could be used for the construction the most expensive alternative would always be selected because it drove up the construction cost and thereby increased the contractor’s fee (profit).

The time and material contract has largely disappeared from the Industrial Construction world because of its terribly abusive practices and its inherent ability to destroy any construction budget. However, I am unhappy to report that it is alive and well in the home remodel and new home construction world in America today!

The American homeowner needs to stay far away from the T & M contract even if a contractor says it is the best way to work their project. In actuality it is only rarely beneficial to the homeowner but almost always extremely financially rewarding to the contractor. The time and material contract is a recipe for disaster for the typical homeowner inexperienced in home construction management.

How does this relate to the homeowner’s small remodel or new construction project? It relates very well because many contractors convince the inexperienced homeowner (in regards to construction) that it would be really difficult or near impossible to give them a fixed price for their project. They market the following kind of statement, “Your project is too complicated to give you a fixed price. However, I can promise you that if we do your project on a time and material basis your costs will be much lower.” It sounds good but the truth is actually the opposite.

This is because the underlying negative aspects of the T & M contract remain the same for the homeowner as they were on the industrial construction projects. They drive labor and material costs up as high as possible. An unfortunate student of mine found this out the hard way.

I received a phone call in early 2007 from one of my former students (from my class on how to be your own general contractor) whose project was in trouble. He had taken my class earlier when the Pat Fay Method book was not yet completed. Unfortunately his project was in trouble and he needed some help.

He wouldn’t give me any details over the phone but asked if I would come visit him at his house that was presently being remodeled. I arrived at 10 o’clock in the morning and the first thing I saw upon arriving was two framing carpenters taking a smoke break up on the scaffolding.

They were having a great time catching up with each other, laughing and carrying on. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself because it was obvious that these men were working on a time and material contract. The reason I knew this is because carpenters on a fixed price contract would have been working with a cigarette stuck in their teeth pounding away with their hammers or nail guns.

After we sat down in the owner’s kitchen I asked why he had signed a T&M contract when I had stressed in the class that it is the worst form of home construction contracting. At first he didn’t answer this question but immediately complained to me about how often they took breaks to smoke, to eat, to talk on their cell phones, and to discuss what they were doing. Some days there would be two workers and other days there would be three to four. He stated that the workers hardly spent any time working at all and that the project just barely progressed. He was so frustrated he was ready to explode.

I let him vent for awhile and when he had gotten it off his chest I repeated the question: why did you sign a T&M contract? His answer was classic. “I signed a T&M contract because the contractor told me my job was too complicated for a fixed price contract. He said that it was the best way to proceed on my project.”

It really was sad for two reasons. One, his project was a simple 960 SF addition to his two story house. One side was being pushed out 8’x 30’ and the front by 12’ x 20’. The scope of work was to add a new foundation, frame the walls, demo the existing, extend the floors, change the roof and add gutters. It also included new windows, new interior doors & walls with the standard electrical, lighting and flooring in the 960 SF remodel. That was it! There wasn’t even any plumbing as no bathroom was added and the kitchen was on the end of the house that was not being remodeled.

The second reason it was sad was because the contractor had two to four men working on the foundation and framing for SEVEN MONTHS! The foundation and framing should have taken no more than 6 weeks. To add insult to injury the framing wasn’t even complete! The contractor was completely milking the project at the homeowner’s expense.

After I read the owner’s drawings of his project, did some calculations, I estimated that this project should cost about $80 per square foot. This is less than the $100/SF that I normally tell homeowners because on this project there was no plumbing work. $80/SF x 960 SF is equal to $76,800. Add a few thousand for contingency and the project budget is $80,000.

This homeowner had already paid the contractor $135,000. He also had given the contractor a $40,000 down payment at the time the contract was signed that was not part of the $135,000. The total amount of money spent by this homeowner was $175,000! Besides the incomplete framing, the homeowner still had to pay for the installation of the roofing, windows, and all interior work. This unfortunate homeowner had already paid out twice what the project should have cost and the framing phase wasn’t even complete. The way it was going he was going to be lucky to finish up for a total cost of $230,000. That would be $150,000 more than the entire project should have cost.

Also, the amount of stress this poor homeowner was experiencing was terrible. He told me he would lay awake all night, he couldn’t eat, and he was irritable to his wife. All because he believed the following what the contractor said was the correct thing to do. In the Pat Fay Method we call that unwise. Unfortunately this scenario plays itself out all across America in every state in the country. This doesn’t just happen to a few people; this happens to hundreds of thousands of people every year throughout America!

I offered to walk outside with the homeowner and fire the contractor right then and there. I promised to stay with him until the workers had cleared their tools and themselves from the site. The homeowner declined my offer because “I can’t fire them because they still have my $40,000 down payment”.

I had taught this homeowner in my class not to pay a large down payment at the time the contract is signed. I had also stressed that no matter what to never sign a T & M contract. (The only exception to this rule is for limited demolition work but the homeowner protects themselves by building in a not to exceed maximum cost to the contract.)

Why had this homeowner gone against what he had learned in the Pat Fay Method class? This homeowner was inexperienced and unsophisticated when it came to home construction. I have learned from working with homeowner’s on their home construction projects that they have a need to have a contractor hold their hand and take care of them.

The big problem with this though is that there are not many contractors in America that want to hold the hand of the homeowner. Like all businessmen, what they want is to make as much profit as they possibly can. Chapter 16 (Lessons Learned from Homeowners) in the Pat Fay Method book discusses this subject in greater detail.

The best contract form the American homeowner can use is the fixed price contract. This is where the homeowner agrees to pay a fixed price for the contractor performing a fixed scope of work completed in a certain period of time. The Pat Fay Method book has an entire chapter (Chapter 9) dedicated to contract documents. Most homeowners don’t realize that they have a right to modify the contract to be sure their requirements are included. After all, the contract is a document for two parties. The contractor brings expertise in some construction skill and the homeowner provides money.

The Pat Fay Method is a professional construction management book written for the homeowner. If you are a homeowner that does not want the above scenario to befall you then invest $40 and read the Pat Fay Method. After all the homeowner is either going to follow the Pat Fay Method or the contractor method. Available at www.patfay.com or email patfayinc@aol.com.

Chris Montgomery asked:


To fill any one of the many Construction Management jobs around, you need to have the right background for it. This means having the right academic credentials for those types of Construction Management jobs, enough years of practical hands-on experience in at least specialty among Construction Management jobs, and even a record for pursuing continual learning opportunities when possible (maybe for an additional special area in Construction Management jobs.) Let us focus first on Construction Managers for our analysis of training for Construction Management jobs.

Construction Management jobs like that of a Construction Manager are two-fold in scope: you must possess the technical knowledge and skills for the job; and you must know how to manage people too. That is where the difficulty in Construction Management jobs comes in –people are flawed and lacking in some departments while exhibiting strength in others. This means the best candidate for the job may be one of the nastiest overseers you have ever met, but man, does he know construction! On the other hand, you might wind up with a candidate who is an all-around good guy (the type of colleague you would readily invite over to your house to meet your family) but who is completely inept and incompetent in technical issues. In a case like this, the better person for the job would be the nasty candidate (though you can always keep in touch with the nicer candidate for leisure pursuits, like joining a weekend bowling club together maybe.)

The technical training you need to be a competent Construction Manager would involve being a college or university graduate of either civil engineering, construction management, or construction science. Here is where some problems at work also start – there are some employees who literally worked their way up from the grungiest lowliest Construction Management jobs in the construction firm and toiled for years just to get to that post. Then, all of a sudden, the top brass go and hire some young yet very smart college graduate and put that new hiree in a higher position than that held by the older employees. Don’t laugh –this is an all-too-common situation in many companies. The older employees who started at rock bottom in the company may resent their new Construction Manager for being a) young, b) smart, c) very competent, and d) now has become their new boss. Filing in vacancies for Construction Management Jobs with employees who are younger than their subordinates has been proven to be a reason to expect problems in the future. It is more of a psychological and social problem though than a technical construction problem.

To resolve this problem, there are employers offering Construction Management jobs who specify a range of the desired age of any candidates, as well as minimum number of years of experience in the same line of work. This helps give the new hiree a leg up when it comes to integrity and perceived competence for the position. (And it also passes the buck for training a new college graduate to a different firm which is wiling to absorb the risks that come with hiring inexperienced college graduates for Construction Management Jobs.)

Is experience the best teacher for Construction Management Jobs then? Not necessarily – there are things about Construction Management Jobs you can learn by theory that you will never learn through experience. The best learning process though is one that can harness both formal education and experience together to give the organization the best possible Construction Manager they can get at that time.

Kris Koonar asked:


A construction project manager is a qualified individual with a degree in construction management, civil engineering or construction science. Being in charge of construction projects, he has to ensure that the entire project is completed on time, without exceeding budgetary limits. It is a high pressure job. The manager has complete control and is responsible for everything related to the construction project.

The label Construction Project Manager is loosely used to define any supervisory level managers who direct supervisors in construction projects. He may also be called by other titles such as construction superintendent, general construction manager, executive construction manager, constructor or even contractor or sub-contractor. He could be a salaried employee of a construction company or engaged to manage a particular construction project.

The construction project manager has to be involved in the project from the beginning through to its completion. By employing his knowledge and expertise in terms of the efficient use of required resources, he has to ensure the achievement of predetermined objectives of cost, time, and quality. To make sure of these objectives, he has to decide which construction methods are appropriate for cost effective scheduling. He has to discuss architectural and engineering drawings with design engineers to effectively plan and harmonize every facet of the project. This may include preparation and use of complicated flow charts and bar charts, and various graphs for data representation. Nowadays, project managers use computers to analyze, conceptualize and implement plans and designs.

The construction project manager has to plan a logical, phase wise implementation of the project, assigning predetermined timeframes for the completion of each phase. He has to take all measures to see that the time frame is adhered to.

These days, there is a great demand for people with a good academic foundation in the field of construction management. Employers generally prefer a degree in construction science, with special focus on the management aspect. It is a four-year degree course offered by over 120 colleges in the country.

Coursework for a degree in construction science is very comprehensive. Some of the subjects covered would be engineering and architectural sciences, mathematics, statistics, computer science, project control and development, site planning, building design, construction methods, construction materials, value analysis, cost estimating, contract administration, building codes and standards and inspection procedures.

The American Institute of Constructors (AIC) and the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) also give certification after written examinations and verification of education. The AIC awards the Associate Constructor (AC) and Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) designations and the CMAA awards the Certified Construction Manager (CMM) designation.

There are better job prospects for candidates with work experience. The preference in the job market is for academically qualified people who have undergone internships and worked in the construction industry. They should be well versed in building technology.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers conducted a salary survey in July 2005 and found that candidates with a degree in construction management got an average annual salary figure of $42,923.

There are bright career prospects for a professionally qualified construction project manager. Practical work experience is of vital importance before a position of independent functioning will be offered. A few years experience at a junior-grade position on construction projects is a prerequisite required by most employers. The position would fetch a handsome salary package and commands a respectable position in society.

Kristina Keffer asked:


Construction is a never ending process. Each day, thousands of commercial and residential buildings are constructed worldwide. As long as construction exits, the demand for the Carpentry & Construction professionals will be on the rise. Getting trained in Carpentry & Construction is the easiest way to get into the careers in residential/ commercial construction.

The Associate Degree in Carpentry and Construction Technology

People often have a misconception that carpentry cannot be considered as a professional qualification. The true fact is that, by joining the carpentry and construction technology programs, one can earn an associate degree. Carpentry is a complicated process and needs proper training. It is the carpenter who shapes the lumbar into homes and businesses. People often refer the carpenter as a craftsman. These craftsman skills can be gathered by joining the associate degree in Carpentry and Construction Technology.

What is taught in Associate Degree in Carpentry and Construction Technology?

The students of this associate degree program can learn the much needed skills to get into entry level careers in carpentry and construction technology. Tools and Safety, Blueprint Reading, Construction Site work, Floor Framing, Wall Framing, Roof Framing, Drywall Installation and Finish, Interior Millwork, Cost Estimating, Construction Contracts, Construction Remodeling, Cabinet Making, Related Trades, Stair Construction, Exterior Finishes, and Roofing Techniques are the areas covered in this associate degree program.

The Career Opportunities

As already mentioned, the demand for skilled carpentry and construction professionals is really high today. The careers in carpentry are of two types such as commercial and residential. Your career depends upon the degree program that you choose. Residential carpentry and construction technology sometimes requires fewer skills when compared to the commercial one. Hence if you wish to get into a career in construction technology quickly, a degree in residential construction and carpentry technology will be the best option. There are some training schools where the students will be taught with both residential and commercial construction technologies.

The Best Carpentry Trade Schools

Though the Carpentry Trade Schools are available everywhere today, the Pennsylvania Carpentry Trade Schools are considered to be some the best ones. These Construction schools are familiar with various contractors and carpentry associations and they are able to offer great placement assistance to the students who have successfully completed the degree program. The success rate of the students graduated in the Pennsylvania Carpentry Trade Schools is really very high.

Bottom line

The associate degree will help you to get in to entry level careers easily. Associate degree holders in Carpentry & Construction Technology have great opportunities to advance in their career. They can easily pursue higher education to move on in their career in construction technology.

 

Joann Cheong asked:


This is a Summary, Construction Management refers to the practice of managing a construction and serving as the project consultant to its design and other aspects of the project

At one time, construction model involves two relationships of three parties. The parties involved were the project owners; the designers (usually compose of engineers and architects); and lastly the contractors and the builders. At first the project owner creates an idea then forwards it to the architects and engineers which in turn design the idea. Now as the design is completed, it goes back to the project owner to be reviewed. This relationship known as the owner-designer relationship involves a bit of planning mostly on design features and to some extent, aspects of constructions. After that, the owner now forwards the design to the contractor or builder who in turn reviews it and appraises forecasted expenditure. If the deal is agreed an owner-contractor agreement now exists between these two. Even though there could be some association between the contractor and designer, significant relationship for most part only exists between the contractor and the project owner.

This is the construction tradition. Lately however, a radical business model now emerges from the construction hubbub. And this business model relies heavily on Construction Management.

So what is Construction Management? Construction Management refers to the practice of managing a construction in place of the owner while also serving as the construction consultant to its design and other aspects within the project. Typically an overseer, construction managers direct, coordinate and brainstorm a wide variety of the construction projects, even the selection and hiring of contractors and finances. Although there are construction managers that do not directly control the actual structure construction, some others do extensive construction management that oversees the entire project.

Construction Management also refers to the study of construction in terms of its managerial and technological aspects. That includes but not limited to construction science, construction management, and construction risk. The study of construction management can be taken by several formats. The most common and better recognized is the scholastic degree which is available on courses associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree. Other types of formats are the apprenticeship, on the job trainings and higher education. Because construction management degrees encompass an extensive range of subject topics that construction management course should be taken by majors as proposed by the American Council for Construction Education.

So what are the benefits of Construction Management? Construction managers do a lot in thinking and planning, making every project component organized. By outlining a project schedule, efficiency of time is regulated, making every event of delays, changes and disputes nil. Because construction managers do study existing situation, optimum use of worker skills are achieved, affecting a construction quality.