Category: Interesting Information

Latest trends in the Colorado construction industry

Posted on January 17, 2018 by canamsteel

The Colorado construction field in 2018 will look promising, according to specialists, and here are the trends that are expected to continue:

• Technology advancements

The construction industry has witness the apparition of significantly improved technologies, during the last decade. It is now possible to visualize a project in details before it is even built, as well as to visit and monitor a construction site without going there in person. These technologies including drones, self-driving vehicles and multi-dimensional printing will spread, become more and more efficient and popular.

• Construction demands will grow up for residential and non-residential building; the challenge will be attracting qualified workers in the construction industry.
• We will see more of that modular construction in the future, which will also become more and more energy-efficient. Modular construction like that of CanAm steel buildings supplier is cheaper, which is definitely an advantage, considering the price increases for supplies and workforce.
• Besides modular construction, companies will look for other cost-saving measures, in order to stay competitive: bringing a cooperative public-private effort to construction, thorough project monitoring and more internships.
• Constructions is one of the industries with the most on-site injuries, therefore we will witness increased safety measures in the future, translated in to safety mobile apps and analytics, providing better on-site communication.

 

 

Trends in Construction in Colorado

Posted on December 26, 2017 by canamsteel

Colorado construction trends are determined by many different factors, including style-related aspects and the requirement to accelerate execution – here are a few of the hottest trends that govern the construction industry in Colorado.

Offsite Construction

Also known as prefabricated or modular buildings, offsite construction is increasingly popular these days. Modular buildings come with numerous benefits for construction companies and prospective owners as well: constructors are relieved from the stress of having to staff construction sites and property owners can get their buildings completed cheaper and faster.

Green Buildings

In the past, green adoption used to be more prevalent in the commercial sector, but nowadays more and more residential owners are interested in environment-friendly construction. The trend is becoming increasingly popular not only when it comes to new construction, but also in remodeling – more and more owners decide to transform their existing homes into energy-efficient passive buildings.

Single-family Construction

While multifamily construction used to be the driving force in the Colorado construction market in the past, the dominant trend nowadays is the increased interest for single-family buildings.

Remodeling, Rather than New Construction

The demand for new construction is on the rise in Colorado, but buildings that can be remodeled are even more sought after, especially in the luxury sector.  The steel building prices for new construction are very reasonable and should be taken into consideration as well.

 

Construction Ideas for Worship Buildings

Posted on December 19, 2017 by canamsteel

Worship buildings serve special purposes, therefore they need a special approach when it comes to the construction design and the building process as well – here are a few aspects to consider:

• Size – the size of the community that will use the building will determine the size of the church as well, so the first thing to take into consideration is the number of the people that will come to the church. CanAm Steel corporation has metal buildings for sale that provide a sturdy and inexpensive construction.
• Style – worship buildings are representations of the denomination, therefore the design of the building needs to meet all special requirements such the requirements regarding layout and building orientation.
• Acoustics and lighting – worship buildings need to have perfect acoustics and illumination, everyone needs to hear the voice of the religious leader perfectly, the music played in the building also needs to be crisp and clear, like in a concert hall and the illumination needs to be designed to provide the fullest immersion.
• Additional features – many worship buildings nowadays incorporate not only spaces for congregation, but also spaces designed for children, so include a playground into the design to make the layout more attractive, but pay attention to the adult-child ratio in the community to avoid oversizing or undersizing.

 

Modern Construction Design Trends

Posted on December 12, 2017 by canamsteel

Construction trends are determined not only by aesthetic considerations and beauty ideals that are prevailing in the period, but by economic aspects as well. Considerations such as cost efficiency and reduced ownership costs are today paired with a preference for clean and minimalist appearance – here are a few aspects that determine what modern buildings look like:

• Energy-efficiency – whether the construction is located in a region that gets warm weather the year around or in an area where winters are harsh, energy efficiency is always an important requirement. Many modern constructions now use photovoltaic cells, solar panels or other sources of green energy to reduce energy bills without compromising thermal comfort inside the building.
• Sustainable design – passive houses (buildings that take energy efficiency one step further and use advanced technical solutions such as body heat recycling, special building materials and ventilation to reduce their environmental footprint) are more and more in demand, despite the relatively high construction costs.
• Prefabricated buildings – reduced construction time and costs is also an aspect that determines modern construction trends, like that of modern design CanAm buildings that speak durability. More and more people choose modular solutions that use panels manufactured in factories and assembled on the building site, thus reducing building costs and the time necessary for completion to a couple of months.

 

Best Practices and Recommendations for Construction Management

Posted on December 6, 2017 by canamsteel

Construction management is the complex process of coordinating the work of all the parties involved in the building project from the minute of the conception until the completion. Successful project managers in the field need to possess not only technical skills, but soft skills such as planning, communication and problem solving and they need to be open to learning about the best practices and recommendations that can make their work easier. Here are just a few of the recommendations made by accomplished project managers in the building industry:

• Work only with materials of the highest quality and with contractors who share your preference for quality, otherwise you will not be able to stick to the construction schedule and to deliver quality. Take a look at metal building prices as a way to save on construction cost without sparing quality.
• Plan every step of the process and anticipate difficulties.
• Work with experienced craftsmen that have already proven their worth.
• Stick to schedules, but be reasonable and flexible.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help – even the most experienced PM’s can encounter situations that they don’t know how to solve and there is no shame in asking for help.
• Be firm, but fair with team members and with contractor as well.
• Visit the construction site as frequently as you can – monitor progress, pay attention to details and communicate with everyone there.

Women in the Construction Industry

Posted on November 27, 2017 by canamsteel

Statistics show that about 9% of the construction workforce are women; this percentage translates into about 950,000 women, working in various sectors of the construction industry. The gender pay gap in construction is less visible than in other domains (women earn about 96% of what men make).

Although still male-dominated, the construction industry offers significant employment opportunities and women can take more and more advantage of them, dispelling the myths, becoming not just the new worker faces beneath the hardhats, but also the future employees in construction administration, engineering and management.

Construction labor is becoming more attractive for women also due to the increased educational opportunities in this field, leading to the possibility to obtain a good job, with good perspective in the future, regarding employment and the possibility to become entrepreneurs. Recent statistics revealed that there is a high growth rate (about 20%), in recent years, among construction firms owned by women.  Women in construction at places like CanAm steel construction company are qualified and highly motivated.

Women have the right qualities for working in the construction industry just like in any other domain, there is no question about that, so they will surely keep raising the bar and transforming the game that will include their presence, more and more, in the future.

 

 

 

What Makes A Productive Project Manager

Posted on November 20, 2017 by canamsteel

 

Productivity is not an abstract concept that just happens out of the blue; it is a combination of planning, commitment and focused effort. A productive manager is someone who has a solid education and training, able to go through many situations, surpass targets, keep the team motivated, satisfy customers and make profit. These skills are built by experience and becoming a good project manager is something to work on, in the long run.

Let’s highlight some important qualities that make a productive project manager:

• Being proactive and developing efficient management plans
• Having the presence and intelligence to deal with problems that might arise without being necessarily connected to a project manager`s job description
• Keeping up with the workload (sometimes extra-workload!) and prioritizing tasks, dealing with deadlines etc.
• Controlling stress-levels

Stress is something that causes energy loss and many errors, so it is definitely detrimental to the success of a project. Keeping stress-levels low and knowing when to take a break is something that makes a big difference in productivity

• Finding the right balance between work and private life
• Building a good team, selecting the right people for specific task completion and creating a collaborative environment. Take for example when bringing quality constructed metal buildings for sale to the market, there is a lot of planning that needs to take place to provide a salesman with the proper tools to complete the sale.  They need to be informed about the product to enhance their ability to sell the product.
• Efficiently delegating responsibilities

 

 

 

New Trends in Commercial Buildings

Posted on November 13, 2017 by canamsteel

There are some visible trends that will likely shape the commercial buildings in the years to come, reflecting society`s underlying values, drivers and technological changes.  Keeping up with the newest trends are some of the quality engineered CanAm buildings, and should be considered.

• Working, shopping and socializing in facilities designed for mixed use

Current generation clearly manifests the desire to have leisure facilities in the proximity of their work and residential quarters, therefore strategies will be focused on designing estates able to combine various use types (residential and office quarters, offices and shopping centers etc.) and keep the millennials productive and entertained.

• Retail sector and distribution – hand in hand

In the next years, it is expected a fusion between the retail sector and the distribution market, due to the growth of the e-commerce and the new delivery requirements.

• Creating space for data storage

Data creation keeps growing by the day, and IT services will require more storage capacity, translated into places designed inside commercial buildings, where information can be kept safe and private.

• Using methods to improve health and well-being of the buildings` occupants

Health and well-being are more and more taken into account when it comes to productivity, so this aspect is also expected to reflect in the way that commercial buildings will be designed in the future. There will be innovations that will allow the use of more natural light, improve air quality etc.

 

The Procedures for Construction Projects in Colorado

Posted on November 6, 2017 by canamsteel

It is common knowledge that any construction project requires building permits; any violation can be reported and will be legally addressed. Building permits cover various aspects:

• Construction noise (on weekdays, it is allowed between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., while on weekends the interval is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Notification of adjacent properties every time a project involves excavation or demolition
• Protection for adjacent properties (including landscaping!), for the duration of the construction project
• Safe storage of materials and equipment
• Safe disposal of construction debris
• Procedures to control erosion and water runoff
• A sanitary facility
• Prevention of unauthorized access and accidents

Building permits are required to be displayed together with the zoning permit and the time limits. If a construction project will block alleys or streets, additional permits are required, from Colorado Public Works Services.   There is no exception even when you purchase a pre-engineered steel building from CanAm Steel Building Corporation, building permits are still required.

The necessary forms and documents can be easily found by accessing the official website of the state of Colorado, together with information about submitting an application for a new construction project, verifying the status of a project as well as building codes. You can also download residential and commercial plan guidelines and learn more about temporary use permits.

 

 

How to Find Good Construction Employees in Colorado

Posted on October 31, 2017 by canamsteel

Are you trying to set up a working construction company in the Colorado area? The task of finding dependable employees is not going to be easy. However, as long as you do your homework and find the best criteria by which to select your new employees, you’ll find the process to be much easier and even somewhat fulfilling as has widely known CanAm Steel Building Corporation has done.

The first thing you have to do is create an appropriate job posting. This means listing precisely the skills you’re looking for and nothing more or less. Do you need someone with experience in shingle replacement? Maybe you’re looking for a manager with extensive knowledge of local construction trends and impressive people skills. Write everything down in detail.

 

Once people start applying, and you make your selection for the interviewing process, make sure to ask your candidates for a list of references from their past employers. Good references are the best guarantees that you’re dealing with a committed and reliable construction worker who can become an integral part of your company’s future success story.

 

Finally, make sure your company is the kind of company that some of the top construction workers in the area would love to work for. In order to achieve this goal, examine the most popular construction firms in the Colorado area, and find out what makes them special. In most cases, just improving your reputation and making a few small adjustments to your company’s policy will help you a great deal.