construction

When buying new construction materials or renovating an existing structure, there are many factors to consider before the first nail is struck. How will your home stand up to the weather? What type of insulation is right for you? Which roofing material is best? These questions can make the construction process seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With the correct information, you can pick the perfect materials for your home no matter where you live. There are plenty of considerations when choosing new building materials that extend beyond cost and availability. Your area’s climate affects which materials will perform best and last longest. For example, a home in a humid area won’t last as long if it’s built with cedar siding or redwood in its walls because those woods are known to expand and contract with humidity changes. Knowing what challenges different climates present with unique construction materials is essential before beginning any project.

Climate-Based Building Material Guide

When choosing building materials, it’s vital to consider the climate where the building will be located. For example, is your area prone to floods, hurricanes, wildfires, or tornadoes? Some materials are better suited to each of these types of climates. 

In these flood-prone areas, you’ll want to avoid any kind of wood for framing, flooring, and siding. Instead, go with concrete, stone, or brick. Whereas to survive storms, you’ll want to avoid low-lying areas that are prone to flooding. Instead, choose higher ground that avoids flooding or is built up enough to prevent flooding. For building materials, go with concrete and steel. You want to be careful with building materials that could create sparks in places prone to wildfires. Wood, fabrics, and types of vinyl can create sparks during wildfires and should be avoided. Instead, be sure to choose concrete, stone, or metal. Lastly, buildings that are prepared for tornadoes are built with reinforced concrete and steel, with tanks built underground to withstand high-velocity winds.

Wood Materials for Every Climate

Cedar is good for humid areas because it doesn’t expand or contract with humidity changes. However, it’s more expensive than other woods like redwood and pine. Cedar is also great for siding, decks, and fences. It’s very durable and can be treated with a sealant to protect against rot, insects, and water damage. Cedar is one of the best wood building materials for high humidity areas. It resists warping and rotting. It’s strong enough for outdoor use but isn’t as heavy as other hardwoods. It has a classic look and is easy to work with. It lasts for decades with minimal maintenance.

Redwood is suitable for outdoor use but isn’t great for high humidity areas because it expands and contracts with humidity changes. It’s softwood and isn’t as durable as other woods like cedar or pine. Redwood is best used for indoor projects like paneling, shelving, and cabinets. It’s great for painting, staining, and finishing. Redwood is one of the best wood building materials for temperate areas. It’s strong enough for outdoor use and lasts decades with minimal maintenance.

Concrete and Brick Materials for Every Climate

Concrete is a durable material that can be used for indoor or outdoor projects. It’s suitable for high humidity areas because it doesn’t warp, expand, or contract with humidity. Concrete is one of the best materials for foundations and basements because it’s mold-resistant, water-resistant, and durable. It’s also good for sidewalks, driveways, and walls. Concrete is one of the best materials for high-humidity areas. It’s strong and durable. It lasts decades with minimal maintenance. 

Brick is another good material for high-humidity areas. It’s strong and lasts decades with minimal maintenance. It’s not great for outdoor use unless it’s covered in concrete. Brick is good for indoor projects like fireplaces, walls, and walkways. It’s great for patios and outdoor walkways because it’s durable and looks great. Brick is one of the best materials for humid areas. It’s strong, durable, and lasts for decades with minimal maintenance.

Metal Materials for Every Climate

Steel is a strong building material that’s used for frames and roofs. It’s great for high-humidity areas because it doesn’t warp, expand, or contract with humidity. Steel is common for roofing because it’s strong but lightweight. It’s also suitable for building and framing. Steel is one of the best materials for high-humidity areas. It’s strong and lasts decades with minimal maintenance. Steel is one of the best materials for high-humidity areas. It’s strong and lasts decades with minimal repairs required. 

Aluminum is another good metal building material. It’s lightweight but strong and good for high-humidity areas. It doesn’t warp or expand or contract with humidity. Aluminum is great for siding and roofing. It’s strong, lightweight, and lasts decades with minimal maintenance. Aluminum is one of the best materials for high-humidity areas. It’s strong and lasts decades with minimal maintenance.

Roofing Options for Every Climate

Asphalt shingles are a popular choice for roofs. They resist wind, hail, and fire. However, they don’t last as long in high-humidity areas because they warp and expand with humidity changes. Asphalt shingles are a good option for low- to moderate-humidity sites. They’re durable and last 25-40 years with minimal maintenance. Asphalt shingles are one of the best materials for low-humidity areas. They’re solid and last decades with minimal upkeep needed. In addition, they’re affordable, easy to install and come in various colors. 

Concrete roofing is a high-end material that lasts a long time. It doesn’t warp or expand or contract with humidity. Concrete roofing is a good option for high-humidity areas. It lasts decades with minimal maintenance. Concrete roofing is one of the best materials for high-humidity areas. It’s strong and lasts decades with minimal maintenance. Metal Roofing: Metal roofing is durable and lasts a long time. It doesn’t warp or expand or contract with humidity. Metal roofing is a good option for high-humidity areas. It lasts decades with minimal maintenance. Metal roofing is one of the best materials for high-humidity areas. It’s strong and lasts decades with few repairs to upkeep.

Conclusion

The building supplies you choose will significantly impact the performance of your new home or renovation. They’ll be the first line of defense against the elements, so it’s essential to choose wisely. Choosing suitable materials is tricky since there are so many factors to consider. Hopefully, this guide has helped you find the best materials for your particular climate.

One of the most noteworthy impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the national labor shortage and the widespread media attention it has earned.

According to Newsweek, there were 10.4 million job openings in the United States in September, but fewer than 8 million unemployed workers. That gap has placed enormous stress on the overall economy, from manufacturing and distribution to the retail and service sectors, as suppliers struggle to meet consumer demand.

For those in the skilled trades industries, this story is familiar. They have faced a chronic version of the overall labor shortage for decades.

Demographic challenges and misconceptions

The average age of skilled workers is now 43, according to one estimate from Angi. With fewer young people entering the trades every year, the situation is expected to get worse. The approaching wave of baby boomer retirements will only add to the problem.

For manufacturing, construction, and field service companies, the skilled trades crisis poses major ongoing challenges. It’s hard to maintain productivity and customer service while you’re understaffed or experiencing frequent turnover. Projects are often delayed because workers aren’t available. Revenue is lost for multiple reasons: worker inexperience, inefficiency, long work hours, or jobs that have to be postponed or turned down.

Unfortunately, many high school students and recent graduates who might thrive in the trades never consider a career in those industries. The message that college is the only path to success has become ingrained in our culture in the last 30 years. Despite the rising cost of higher education and the increasing number of students who never earn a degree, the college journey has eclipsed all other options.

In addition to highlighting the labor crisis, recent circumstances have demonstrated that manufacturing, distribution, and residential and commercial service jobs are a critical part of the national economy. These industries played a key role in public health and safety during lockdowns and periods of social distancing and quarantines. Many products and services provided by the HVAC and PHCC industries proved to be essential during the pandemic and have remained critical economic drivers as communities have reopened.

This national spotlight on the essential nature of the trades offers an opportunity to reorient public perception and correct the misconceptions that have contributed to the skilled trades labor gap.

Closing the gap

In response to the growing labor gap, trade organizations have partnered in recent years with vocational schools, employers, manufacturers, and public agencies to promote the trades as a viable alternative to a four-year degree. Their combined efforts are focused on the many immediate advantages offered by a skilled trades career:

• High wages
• On the job or employer-funded training
• Lack of student debt
• Immediate available positions
• A wide variety of vocational options and career trajectories
• Entrepreneurial opportunities

Additionally, advocates and thought leaders are making the case for other long-term strategies that will create a more effective and reliable talent pipeline. Among those ideas is diversification. Many communities have traditionally been underrepresented in the trades; focusing recruitment, outreach, and marketing efforts in those communities can build trust and allow the trades industries to connect with vibrant new pools of talent.

Immediate solutions

Those efforts, however, will take time to pay off. In the meantime, employers are still faced with a labor crisis of historic proportions and the urgent need to operate efficiently in order to remain competitive in this challenging economic climate.

In order to maintain productivity throughout the remainder of the pandemic and during recovery, many employers are looking for immediate solutions. While there is no magic bullet that will compensate for a labor shortage, there are a number of new and emerging tools available that can help companies boost efficiency and productivity so they can continue to deliver results for their customers.

The pandemic has focused a spotlight on the importance of the technology revolution that was already underway among skilled service providers. Some of the major technology trends and developments that have been accelerated by the pandemic and its fallout are:

• Mobile and remote capabilities: As COVID-19 forced many employees across multiple industries to work cohesively without a physical office, technician mobile apps and other remote technologies have become invaluable to commercial contractors of all types. Today, various mobile applications give teams remote work capabilities that weren’t possible a decade ago.
• Modular construction: The modular construction market is seeing an increase in business, which is in response to combined cost-effective construction technology and labor shortages. Modular and offsite construction continues to grow and contribute to less expensive housing and commercial construction. In addition to their convenience, other benefits of modular projects include the ability to more effectively regulate worker safety within ventilated and climate-controlled workspaces. These advantages also further help workers comply with social distancing guidelines.
• Artificial Intelligence: Artificial intelligence (AI) is capable of lowering the cost of construction and service while helping teams successfully plan and schedule projects. AI is frequently used in software to conduct analyses and simulations in a variety of hypothetical situations and environments. In turn, AI is invaluable in developing new safety protocols and minimizing the risk of workplace injuries. Its role is expected to continue to rise in response to the workforce shortage exacerbated by COVID-19 shutdowns.
• Integrated software solutions: The number of contractors who still rely on pencil and paper or spreadsheets for record-keeping and accounting has steadily dwindled over the last decade, and sharply declined during 2020. Simply switching from manual job management to an enterprise solution can generate major gains for most businesses. A single all-in-one platform is critical for efficiency; requiring technicians to move back and forth between multiple apps not only takes up precious work time, it can serve as an obstacle to adoption.
• When actionable data from across departments is collected and accessible in real time, all parties involved in a project benefit. Up-to-the-minute insights and transparent communication empower purposeful, immediate decision-making and fast, accurate execution.

Resolving the labor shortage that has challenged the skilled trades will be a win not only for the industries involved. The long-term strategies currently being deployed will expand the choices available for young people and dismantle the preconceived notion that a college degree is required for success. By opening up opportunities for vocational training and apprenticeships in place of a university program, we can ensure young people are on the right track from the start. Presenting the trades as a viable option could also help reduce the national burden of student debt and alleviate college dropout rates.

In order to find and implement a comprehensive solution, it is imperative that we examine and assess our educational pipeline and deliver an authentic message about the advantages and opportunities of skilled trades careers. Innovation is the key to ensuring America’s workforce is prepared and supported.

For more information on this subject, visit www.buildops.com.

Plumbing is one of the most important features of any building. Carrying water around structures, enabling the use of things like taps and radiators, and making life far more convenient, modern plumbing methods have made this field far more robust than it used to be. Of course, though, it can be easy to ignore one of the most crucial aspects of something like this when you don’t have very much experience with it. The way that a building is built will always impact plumbing, but what does this mean for the work that you do as a professional in this field?

Keeping Water Out

Leaks, of just about any kind, are often blamed on plumbing work, even though this can often be a completely unrelated issue. This is usually more prevalent with larger buildings, as it can be incredibly difficult to keep water out of a space that has deep foundations. Companies like Blue Iron LLC, a leader in soldier beam and lagging, work extremely hard to solve problems like this before construction even begins. Of course, though, there are a lot of methods available that can ensure that a building is constructed properly to avoid groundwater leaks.

The Right Connection

Most buildings have their main water connection fitted before the construction is finished. This is because the large pipes that are required for this often need to be dug deep underground, but this is something that can cause a lot of issues when it isn’t done correctly. Not only can this cause problems like leaks, but it can also impact the water pressure within a building. Plumbers can’t do much about this without great expense, making it crucial that this job is done properly.

Quality Hardware

Plumbing work will always be done when a building is being constructed, with pipes being added as the walls and floors are put together. Some property developers and building companies will use cheap components for this, and this can leave the end-user dealing with issues when their valves and other plumbing parts aren’t fit for the job they’ve been used for. This can cause issues for plumbers when they have to deal with problems with properties like this.

Access

Finally, as the last area to consider, it’s time to think about access to the vital plumbing components that are found in a home. While certain standards are generally followed by construction companies to enable work to be done on properties, this isn’t always the case. This can make it hard to perform simple tasks without having to do a lot of work in a place, often costing the property owners a fortune.

Plumbing is an important element of any building, though many people undervalue this aspect of the place they call home or do business from. Construction ties heavily into this field, with the way that a property is build impacting the plumbers that work on it down the line.

If you have been thinking about becoming a tradesperson but still aren’t quite sure if it is the career for you, then there are a lot of things to consider. It is a great career field to be in and can suit most people – after all, you can process payments from every country and work anywhere in the world so it really is your oyster! The world can be an uncertain place and if you are a tradesperson you know that you will always be needed. It also ensures you will always be bringing in steady money. It is an enjoyable position and one that you can spend your life working and enjoying if you find it is the career path for you. Here are some reasons why a career as a tradesperson is always a great choice…

You will always be needed

Tradespeople work in a craft that will always be needed and something that you cannot replicate or just learn online in a day. There will always be the need for a plumber, a boiler repair person, a mechanic, and many other trades so that means you have great job security. With so many jobs being replaced by machines and people being made redundant, it is a good idea to be in a profession that you know is more secure than your average job.

No two days are the same

If you work in a job in an office for example, then you know pretty much what to expect day in day out. There is often no diversity and you just see the same view, same desk, and same people. If you work as a tradesperson then you will get the opportunity to meet and speak to a whole host of different people every day. Your days will always be different and you won’t quite know what it will throw at you. This means that it never gets boring and there is always something interesting to do! 

You will learn valuable life skills

When you are a tradesperson, you will learn a whole plethora of useful life skills. Whether this is electrics, mechanical, or plumbing, they are practical skills that you can use in other areas of your life. If you move house for example and your new home needs new plumbing, you can do this yourself and don’t need to pay an expert to do it for you. This can save you costs in the long run. You will also know if someone is trying to rip you off if you were to decide to call in an external professional. 

These are just a few reasons that a career as a tradesperson is a great idea. You will learn valuable skills, enjoy a diverse range of activities in your day-to-day work life and meet plenty of interesting people. Has this article made you think about wanting a career as a tradesperson? There are many roles that you can consider, from being a plumber to a builder!