Groundbreak Carolinas

GroundBreak Carolinas

Your source for construction industry news in the Carolinas

Construction

The Construction Field vs. Office Chasm Is Real and Getting Bigger, According to New Study by FireStarter Speaking and Consulting

by FireStarter Speaking and Consulting on

Construction leaders across North America voice strong disagreement on the state of the industry, according to new research. The 2019 People In Construction Report is available from FireStarter Speaking and Consulting, a Raleigh, NC based construction leadership consultancy. Nearly five-hundred non-residential construction professionals responded between December 2018 and January 2019 to questions assessing the quality of leadership and culture in the construction industry….

Construction Material Prices Rebound in September, Says ABC

by GroundBreak Staff on

Prices for inputs to construction rose 0.3 percent in September and are 7.4 percent higher than a year ago, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today. Overall prices for nonresidential construction inputs rose 0.4 percent, reversing last month’s downward trend. Among individual subcategories, softwood lumber…

Public Nonresidential Construction Up in July, says ABC

by ABC on

National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.3 percent in July, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today. Total nonresidential spending stood at $748.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate in July, an increase of 5.3 percent from the same time last year. Private nonresidential spending fell 1…

Overcoming the Winner’s Curse

by Ben Wilhelm, President, Carolinas Region, Shiel Sexton Company on

Winner’s curse is defined as bidding low enough to win, but regretting the results. Winner’s curse assumes the bidder (general contractors in this case) makes below normal or negative profits upon award of the work. This dilemma has plagued the construction industry for generations. I write this article to offer some contributing factors to why…

Drone Technology in Asset Management and Field Surveillance Growth in Robotics

by John Gaitan on

To meet rising demands in utilities and limit expenditure in resource management, utility companies are adopting advanced technological solutions such as drones and robots. Rising adoption of such automated solutions has contributed amply towards the growth of robotics in utilities industry. To gauge the impact of ongoing developments. Need for Error-Free Workflow in Power Sector…

How to Perform a Construction Cost Estimate

by Rachel Novotny, eSub on

An accurate construction cost estimate is crucial to a successful construction project. An accurate construction cost estimate can tell how long a project will take and how much it would cost. However, getting an accurate construction cost estimate can be hard. And the consequences of an overestimate or underestimate can detrimentally harm projects. The amount…

How Robots are Changing Construction

by Tyler Riddell, JW Surety Bonds on

How Robots are Changing Construction (Robotics Break New Ground in the Industry) Earlier this year, a San Francisco-based technology firm, Built Robotics, made headlines by sharing its progress toward self-operating construction machinery. The company led by a former Google engineer has received several million in venture capital to continue its development of the automation technology…

Recent Tragedies Remind Us of the Importance of a Crisis Communications Plan

by Kimberly Kayler, CPSM, President, AOE on

The tragedy on Florida International University’s campus recently that resulted in six deaths and multiple injuries is a reminder to us the necessity of having a crisis communications plan. When tragedy occurs and the news spreads quickly, having a plan in place that can be easily implemented is key. No matter your organizational structure or…

How to Set Operational Efficiency Goals for Your Construction Projects

by Jenny Clavero, eSub Construction Management Software on

Construction companies that work towards operational efficiency find ways to deliver goods and services in a cost effective manner without sacrificing quality. Obviously, an operational efficiency goal for all construction projects is to deliver the project on time and within budget. Because the scope of construction projects is so large, there are many ways to…

Costly Mistakes to Avoid in the Subcontractor Bidding Process

by Rachel Novotny, eSub on

With more online bidding platforms and bid building tools available, the subcontractor bidding process has never been easier in 2018. However, there are still avoidable and costly mistakes that can frustrate subcontractors. Here are some common and costly mistakes to avoid in the subcontractor bidding process and ways to reduce risks. 1. Inaccurate Measurements, Takeoffs,…