Sustainable Materials That Every Modern Construction Business Should Use

September 17, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

When you are starting a construction business, there are so many things you need to consider. The chances are, you haven’t thought about sustainability but it’s important that you do. The construction world is changing and there is an increased demand for environmentally friendly buildings. That means thinking about your processes but also your materials. It’s vital that you make some changes and start using materials that are degradable and easily recyclable. You also need to avoid any harsh chemicals that could cause damage to the environment. These are some of the best sustainable materials that your construction business should be using.

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Steel

Steel is the most recycled product in the world and there are plenty of benefits to using it in your construction business. Not only is it easily recyclable but it will also last a lifetime and is extremely strong and durable. It’s very cost effective too, especially when compared to materials like plastic and glass, which is why more and more people are turning to steel for all their needs. It’s also a very versatile material because you have lots of steel wire products as well as standard steel beams for structural integrity. It’s likely that you are already using steel for some applications but you should explore different options and use it as much as possible.

Sheep Wool Insulation

Insulation is a wonderful way to make buildings more sustainable. It’s an easy way of keeping energy costs down and, with the correct materials installed, proper insulation can be very effective. Sheep wool insulation has been around for decades but you might not have considered it before. It’s naturally non-toxic and this makes it very safe for the environment. It’s also very cost effective, especially when you compare it to other types of insulation like rock wool or glass wool.

Wood

Another way of making your construction business more eco-friendly is to use wood in your designs. Wood is a sustainable product that can be grown quickly and easily. More and more people are turning towards wooden structures because they provide a natural feel for the building. They also look beautiful and lend a handcrafted touch to any project you’re working on. It’s completely biodegradable, making it the ideal sustainable material.

Cork

Cork is incredibly versatile because it can be used in insulation, flooring and even your roof. It’s biodegradable so it will decompose naturally over time which means you won’t have to worry about removal at the end of a project. Not only that but cork is also fireproof so it’s perfect for any area where you need warmth and safety. It also provides natural acoustics, which makes it the perfect material for flooring.
Using sustainable materials is a great way to grow your construction business in the 21st century. There are mountains of benefits to using these products, not least because they are environmentally friendly. Not only that but they can be used in lots of different ways and they can be incredibly cost effective.

Construction Companies: Outshine Your Competitors

December 6, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

As the owner of a construction company, you know very well that the competition can be rather tough. Arguably, it’s even more so than in many other industries as you tend to be up against the ones that are in your area exclusively – and you will all be competing for the same customers in the surrounding area.

Construction companies how to outshine your competitors

Luckily, there are a few ways to make sure that you put them far behind you even if you are a new construction business. Here is a handful of ways to get a head start and ensure that those customers are coming to you for their project needs rather than the other companies. It just makes it a bit easier to grow and thrive as a business should.

First: Spy on them with social media

You’re not going to be able to get that head start unless you know exactly what you’re up against. While pretending to be one of their customers is a tried-and-tested method of spying, it’s rather old-fashioned these days; head online instead and save yourself the expenses.

With social media, you’ll be able to gain an insight to a lot more reviews as well and will get a much more comprehensive overview of their business than by just pretending to be in need of their services. Use it to understand how many customers they have, the kind of work that their network is happy with – and the kind of work they’re unhappy with.

That way, your business will be able to pinpoint all of its strengths and weaknesses in order to outshine them and make sure that you’re delivering up to their standard and far beyond it.

Next: Focus on quality

One of your best ways of marketing your business is going to be through happy customers and word-of-mouth. Undeniably, this is the kind of marketing you’re much less in control of as you won’t always be able to know exactly what they’re saying about your business.

You can make sure that every project is delivered to the highest standard, though, and focus on quality above everything else. This means that you should spend some time on going over your equipment, find an even better supplier for grout packers and all of your other construction needs – as well as seeing to that your employees have sufficient training.

Remember your employees

The last part is particularly important as your company is only as good as its employees. With construction work and its high focus on delivering quality, your employees should work on not just perfecting their work skills but also their people skills.

The friendlier your team is, the likelier it is that the customer will enjoy having them around and associate your company with their friendly service. Talk about this with your employees and show them that you care about them too – that way, they will be much more willing to go that extra mile for your company.

Keep Your Building Business Warm Through Its First Winter

October 4, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Surviving your first year in business is a challenge no matter which field you’re in. During that short twelve-month stint, most entrepreneurs come across all manner of challenges. The fact is that going wrong this early in the game can undo your efforts irrelevant of what you’re trying to do.

In some fields, though, that first-year hurdle is even harder to get right. Consider, for instance, a business which is based outside. What happens when winter rolls around? Too often, failure to consider this can freeze the success you found during those summer months. This applies to anything from gardening to window cleaning. Here, though, we’re going to look how you can get through your first winter with a construction company.

Say that you started up in the new year, and received your first commissions during March and April. By then, the weather was changing, and the frosts had thawed. Now, though, you’re looking down the barrel of at least five months of cold weather. That’s frightening, and you could find yourself snowed under by next spring. The good news is, there are steps you can take to make sure it doesn’t happen, and we’re going to look at them here.

Get picky about the jobs you take

Running your business during the Winter months

At this stage, being picky with jobs may seem like the last thing you want to do. But, it could be the thing which saves you. You don’t have to turn work down outright. But, if a client wants you to build something up high in the middle of December, it may be worth postponing the work. Things only get colder the higher up your team go. As such, agreeing to jobs like these in the coldest months of the year is never a good idea. Instead, schedule indoor jobs, or at least work which allows your team to stay down on the ground.

Reinforce health and safety

It also pays to rethink your health and safety going into winter. This is something you should already be on top of to some extent. Every building site needs safety procedures and personal fall protection equipment at all times. But, these things become more pressing than ever in icy and cold conditions. Falls on building sites are far more likely during icy weather. Account for that by investing in even more safety equipment. Think, too, about increasing the number of breaks you offer. These will help you to avoid cold-related health problems.

Construction Worker Health and Safety during Winter Months

Consider reducing work hours

It may also be worth shifting your work hours during the cold season. Working first thing in the morning and late into the night should be a no-go at this time of year. Instead, you may need to quote clients for work which starts mid-morning and ends before the sun sets. These reduced days aren’t ideal, but your team would be unable to work either side of this slot anyway. By explaining this to clients and allowing longer periods for jobs, your business shouldn’t suffer as a result.

4 Non-negotiable Construction Site Essentials You Need Right Now!

May 30, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Running a construction company is pretty intensive, and you need to make sure you aren’t overlooking important areas. When you are working in construction, you need to be aware of the fact that health and safety is paramount because things can get dangerous if you aren’t careful. This is why you have to make sure your site takes care of what matters.

There are certain things you have to ensure you have as a construction firm. Certain essentials for any site that you need to make sure you have in order to be a success. If you can nail the basics, and keep your site running effectively, success will follow quickly behind. These are 4 of the non-negotiable you need to make sure are playing a huge role in your construction site day to day.

#1. Have an Office

Even as a construction firm you still need to try to be as professional as possible and have offices to work out of. There need to be areas where you can meet with the team, speak with clients, and look over plans, and an office is the perfect place to do this. US Construction Trailers offer purpose-built mobile construction offices that would be ideal for your site. Always have an office where you can conduct business – your site will benefit from it.

#2. Hire Experts

Running a construction business involves a lot of hard work, and there is very little margin for error. You have to make sure you do as much as you can to hire the best people for the job. Securing experts for your site who are skilled and have experience in construction is so important. You are going to be trusting your workers with expensive projects, sometimes in the millions of dollars, and you don’t want mistakes.

Furthemore, it’s important that you do not overestimate your employees by presuming that they are aware of all health and safety protocols on the first day of their job. While they may already have decades of industry experience under the belt, regulations and government guidelines are constantly changing – and the introduction of new machinery can further complicate matters. As a result, you should ensure that all employees – from the experts to the apprentices – receive thorough health and safety training before they start work. The importance of health and safety measures in the construction industry cannot be overstated. Construction is well-known as one of the most dangerous industries to work in, so doing all you can to protect everyone on-site is vital. You may find it helpful to purchase your own copy of the industry standards at store.standards.org.au to ensure your business is fully compliant.

You may also want to ensure that those in supervisory positions undergo additional training – such as OSHA Training courses. These classes, which take just 30 hours in total, ensure that all students will obtain a greater understanding of occupational safety and health standards. This means they can help keep your construction sites safe and secure for everyone involved.

#3. Have the Best Equipment

Having the best equipment is also hugely important because you mustn’t cut corners. You have to make sure you are using the very best tools and machinery to get the best possible result for your projects. This means working out what you’re going to need to complete a project and making sure you have it on site. It is also important to ensure that there you are using quality equipment to guard against accident or injury.

#4. Security

Security is a major concern for a lot of construction sites, and yours will be no different. You need to make sure you are doing what you can to ensure the best possible environment for your workers. This means carrying out health and safety procedures, testing equipment and machines, and making sure everyone is wearing a hard hat. You also need to make sure you are storing gear away securely after use, and that the site is secure and safe when you go home for the night.

Running a safe and successful construction site is hugely important in developing a strong reputation. Even if you are a small construction owner, you still need this advice to help you make your site the best it can possibly be. This is the best way forward, and you need to make certain you’re doing what you can to prepare your construction site in the best way you possibly can.