Is it better to be a master of none or a master of one? This is a question that skilled tradespeople have been trying to answer since the Middle Ages. In truth, it’s not possible for most contracting businesses to be so general they literally do any job. Most contractors will specialize to some degree, … Read more
If you’re a member of Generation X, a millennial or Gen Z, you’ve probably had the importance of getting a good college education lectured at you since you were learning to walk. When getting a bachelor’s degree is no longer a guarantee of securing any job, much less a great career, it may be time … Read more
Black Lung Disease feels like a reminder of a completely different time. And yet, lung disease caused by the repeated inhalation of a toxic substance is making a comeback in California and other states. The push for engineered stone countertops in residential and commercial construction is creating a problem that many people thought had largely … Read more
It seems like every time you start a project, something else breaks. Equipment is expensive, and whether you rent or buy, you still need to ensure that everything you have is ready for use. Equipment maintenance takes time and doesn’t bring in the big bucks, but there are plenty of good reasons to make it … Read more
When you put in a bid for a project, you generally expect to prove that you can actually do the work. But since you have so much riding on every project you do, you should probably be doing the same thing for your clients. Every contractor has a horror story about a client that seemed … Read more
Starting a career in new home construction can be easy or difficult, depending on the timing. But even if you stay out of this part of the industry, the sale of homes (and property in general) can affect the kind of business you get and how much people are willing to pay. This guide identifies … Read more
Traffic in California is a problem. Even people who live out in the middle of nowhere understand this. A large population with limited housing options that are generally too expensive creates a level of sprawl with huge commutes and a heavy dependence on personal vehicles. Yet, this situation isn’t intractable. Construction business owners do have … Read more
Budget overrun is a frequent problem for contractors. You bid on a project, your bid is accepted, and then it’s a race to try to keep your costs down. There are several things that can make you spend more than you expected, and some of them are easier to account for than others. By planning … Read more
There’s nothing like a little competition to get businesses working harder to build bigger and better. And the competition between hotels and short-term private rental companies like Airbnb is anything but little. Airbnb, which began as a way for owners of existing properties to rent them out for money, is now delving into construction. Hotels … Read more
You read a lot about construction’s labor shortage and ways that the industry is trying to get around it. Although new approaches like automation and modular construction can decrease the numbers needed for a particular project, eliminating jobs isn’t sufficient. In order to survive the thousands of professionals who retire from construction each year, the … Read more