Keeping up with innovative construction products helps builders deliver better results while saving time and money. From foundation work to finishing touches, new materials continue to reshape residential and light commercial construction. Six products from the Journal of Light Construction address common jobsite pain points. For more on material fundamentals, see Glazing Clay Products Ceramics […]
For decades, wood has been the dominant framing material in residential construction across North America. But shifting market dynamics, volatile lumber prices, and evolving building codes have prompted many builders to take a closer look at alternatives. Among these, steel framing has emerged as a notable contender, particularly among larger production builders. The National Association
In the construction industry, word-of-mouth advertising has always been the gold standard for business development. Yet as JLC columnist Leland Stone noted in his the Construction Scheduling Notebook Essential Planning Tools for column, contractors face a persistent Catch-22: you cannot get word-of-mouth referrals unless you already have them, and you cannot build momentum without that
In the late 1990s, developer Richard Berman faced a dilemma familiar to many builders working in New England: build another formulaic shopping center anchored by a big-box retailer, or push for something more meaningful. Berman chose the harder path, spending two years trying to create a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented community on 100 acres near Portland, Maine.
The late 1990s marked a turning point in residential and light commercial construction, as manufacturers introduced products that addressed long-standing inefficiencies in framing, drywall finishing, anchoring, plumbing, and exterior cladding. A 1997 roundup by Leland Stone in the Journal of Light Construction cataloged several of these innovations, many of which laid the groundwork for techniques
New England’s home building industry has long been shaped by its distinctive regional character, from the history of construction in New England stone walls that dot the landscape to the modern-day challenges of workforce development and housing affordability. Across Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and beyond, home builders associations are stepping up with innovative programs, rapid-build demonstrations,
Every summer, as temperatures and humidity climb, builders and plumbers receive the same phone call. A homeowner reports a puddle of water around the base of the toilet, certain the fixture is leaking. More often than not, the toilet is not leaking at all. It is sweating. Condensation forms on the outside of the toilet
Understanding tax law is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of running a successful construction business. For builders and contractors, tax policies directly affect profitability, cash flow, and long-term growth. Among the most significant pieces of legislation in recent decades was the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which introduced sweeping changes that continue to influence
The construction industry relies heavily on independent contractors, yet the legal landscape surrounding worker classification grows more complex each year. Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor can lead to significant penalties, back taxes, and litigation. For builders and construction professionals navigating these waters, understanding the rules is not optional, it is essential. Two books
Every contractor knows the feeling. You are deep into a project, the crew is working, and the client is happy. But when you sit down to figure out whether you are actually making money on this job, the numbers do not add up. The culprit is almost always poor material cost tracking. In the construction
