Monthly Archives: June 2011

THE WHAT, WHO AND HOW OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

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Building construction is the process of adding structure to real property. The vast majority of building construction projects includes some elements in common – design, financial, and legal considerations. Some projects of varying sizes, can reach undesirable end results, such as structural problems and cost overruns. Those with experience in the field make detailed plans and maintain careful control during the project, to ensure a positive outcome.

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The numbers involved

In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, building construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale building construction is an achievement of human multitasking. Normally, the job is managed by a project manager, and supervised by a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect.

For the successful execution of a project, effective planning is essential. Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure, must consider the environmental impact of the project.  They must also take into account the budgeting, construction site safety, availability of building materials and inconvenience caused to the public by construction delays and tendering.

Contracts tying up legal ends

.A building construction project is a complex net of contracts and other legal obligations, each of which must be carefully considered. A contract is the exchange of a set of obligations between two or more parties. It is not just a simple process of trying to get the other side to agree to as much as possible, in exchange for as little as possible. The time element in building construction projects means, that a delay costs money and in cases of bottlenecks, the delay can be extremely expensive. Thus, the contracts must be designed to ensure that each side is capable of performing the obligations set out.

Contracts that set out clear expectations and obvious routes, to accomplishing those expectations, are far more likely to result in the project flowing smoothly. Whereas producing poorly drafted contracts lead to chaos and failure.

Legal advisors, at the start of a building construction project, seek to prevent problems and identify ambiguities and potential sources of trouble, in the contract structure. Throughout the process of the project, they work to avoid and resolve conflicts that arise. In each case, the lawyer facilitates an exchange of obligations that matches the reality of the project.

Keeping it together

The modern trend in design is toward integration of previously separated specialties, especially among large firms. In the past, architects, interior designers, engineers, developers, construction managers, and general contractors were more likely to be entirely separate companies,

Today, a firm that is nominally architecture or construction management may have experts from all related fields as employees. Thus, each such firm may offer itself as one-stop shopping for a building construction project, from beginning to end. This is termed a “design build” contract, where the contractor is given a performance specification and must undertake the project from design to construction, while keeping to the performance specifications.

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THE TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION TOOLS

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The success to running a champion building construction company immensely relies on using the top building tools. Therefore, the world’s finest building construction companies possess most exceptional construction tools.

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This equipment provides the very best help when working against tight deadline schedules. There is several building construction machinery essential to get the job done.  Some of thee tools include the loader, forklift, crawler, excavator and crane.

Loaded up

A loader is an alternative form of construction vehicle which is also called a scoop loader, front loader, front-end loader, or bucket loader. Loaders are often found used for road construction in addition to other building construction work.

Loaders transport sand, rock, gravel, wood chips, dirt and recycled materials. Loaders are habitually used to move materials to another type of machinery, such as a dump truck, rail car, conveyor or open trench excavation.

Lift and crawl

A forklift is a high-powered automobile useful to lift and hauling heavy items and supplies. Forklifts occur in many varieties of sizing and load capacities. The bulk of forklifts aren’t used in building projects, but preferably in manufacturing amenities or warehouses that need frequent transporting and lifting of heavy materials.

The crawler is an alternative version of construction vehicle and is also known as a bulldozer. A crawler is essentially a tractor that features a dozer blade attached to it, they are impressive vehicles regularly used for many bigger construction projects.

Excavator

The excavator is really a broad building construction and manufacturing vehicle that has an articulated arm as well as a bucket, along with a cab that is installed over a pivot.

Excavators comprise many different uses for both farmstead and construction occupation. Excavators can assist in digging trenches, holes, and foundations, handing materials, performing forestry work, landscaping, heavy lifting, mining and driving piles.

Excavators are also thought of as bobcats and backhoes of building construction gear.
Building contractors usually possess a variety for the variation in jobs and terrain.
Bobcats often work out good if you have a little piece of work, where as backhoes are fantastic for digging larger holes

Moving crane experience

The crane is another widespread piece of building construction equipment that is especially used for moving material. Cranes are operated by a series of cables that lift and lower supplies and are mostly utilized on jobs dealing with temporary structures.

There are various different cranes from the all terrain hydraulic crane, to the boom truck. A boom truck is a type of construction apparatus that includes a flat layer which includes a crane resting on it and not just a smaller cab, for the crane with tracks .This crane structure can be used to tow the material and also move the crane. While hydraulic cranes require a trailer to be able to roll off and be placed on the ground.

Building construction apparatus is imperative no matter whether you’re employed on housing sites or road construction. The tools you choose will rely upon the various types of work and will also be determined by the land area worked on.

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PREPARATION OF A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITE

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Site preparation is a primary and challenging activity in the organization and execution of building construction. It is a step-by-step process that includes soil testing, site-plan designs, zoning restrictions, environmental concerns, how utilities will run within the project, and clearing and excavation. Each step will be carefully investigated and eventually will go through a process of approval, and finally put into action. The result will be utilities, water, and sewer properly placed and a suitable foundation.

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Soil testing and excavation

Soil testing is an important tool in assessing suitable soil for a construction site. A soil test provides basic information on the composition of the soil and its ability to support a structure; as well as the absorption and drainage rate of the soil. The absorption rate will give a building construction company an idea on how well the soil will accommodate water.  For this reason, soil tests are usually performed before a site is purchased.

A “site-plan design” is the step that indicates the anticipated placement of the building, and any other fixtures. The site-plan design will also portray current vegetation that will be removed, protected areas, access roads for construction vehicles, and anticipated location of any paved driveway and road. All site-plan designs must adhere to local or municipal regulations and be brought before zoning-approval boards to be used in the permitting process. This step takes places shortly after soil testing.

Additional steps in site preparation include clearing and excavation. Certain sites will require the removal of trees and stumps from the building site in order to make room for water systems and utilities. The process of clearing and excavation is very expensive and for this reason, it is suggested that the necessary areas be cleared. Too much clearing can be very expensive and affect erosion.

Safety for public and equipment

The travelling public traffic in the area must be managed by employing workers with flags and cones.  The whole project should be fenced off so that onlookers will not slow traffic and cause accidents on the main street and the fence will hold dust in, keeping the road visibility high.  All of these factors combined create a very safe travel environment in and out the site and all around the construction zone.

The building construction site being well fenced off, will keep pedestrians off the site, as the safety of pedestrians and building equipment is a priority.  During the day, workers and site managers make sure pedestrians stay away from hazards on the site.  At night security guards and security cameras should be used to watch over the site and make sure people do not enter the area.

Control of construction traffic

The traffic entering and exiting a site should all go through a main gate from the start.  As building progresses other gates should be used for specific purposes.

Workers should go through the main gate, but all the delivery and pick up of materials must be routed through temporary gates. All these procedures will make for a well oiled building construction site.

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HIRING BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES

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There are a number of most essential details to enquire about when appointing building construction companies or building contractors. Construction is a very specialized subject so you should be sure that you employ skilled and authorized contractors for your project.

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Checking credibility costs less in the end

One of the crucial factors is checking the credibility of any building construction company before even contemplating hiring them…. Firstly, verify that they are approved and adequately insured within your area and municipality. Moreover request positive proof, such as an insurance certificate or such documentation, to clarify their cover.

This will require you to make several calls, but it will definitely save costs and prevent many head-aches down the road. After all, prevention is always better than cure.

Use the internet

Ensure that the contracted building construction company has a website; this demonstrates that this company is professional and serious about what they do. A website may also enable you to acquire additional information, regarding what they can do, how they perform and the projects they have completed in the past.

You will also be able to examine the credentials of the management of this company, which credibility and proves that you will be dealing with professionals.

Sub-contractors preconditions

Prior to signing a contract, enquire as to how and where they hire their sub-contractors.    Perhaps, the project is put out to tender, if so, you will need to know that the sub-contractors are insured and licensed, and under what proviso they will receive payment.

One thing you need to request from your contractor is, release of right of retention, from all of the sub-contractors that will be on the work site. This will exclude you from a potential debacle later, as we are aware that sometimes building contractors receive payment from your financial organization and then fail to pay their subcontractors. Subsequently what transpires would be the subcontractors liens your building for the amount they may be owed and you could possibly finish up, paying twice for services.

Assess and inspect previous projects

Construction companies could also be checked by contacting the Business Bureau in the area to enquire if there have been any complaints or official measures taken against the builder in the past. Also make enquiries regarding the financial records and ascertain whether there is evidence of bad debt, or any bankruptcy proceedings in progress.

Become acquainted with the latest building constructions, which the contractor has completed or projects in development and endeavour to visit that specific construction site. On the other hand, contractors may voluntarily provide you with the details of their best satisfied clients as recommendations, but furthermore ask about the completed work/constructions from earlier years.

Read the fine print

Prior to signing the agreement, read it cautiously, making absolutely certain that the whole set of conditions is comprehensible to you.

The building plans have to include all that you actually expect and be authenticated in the proposal. This will ensure a suitably written agreement and will include definite details of the expectations.

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CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGEMENT

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Building construction sites have many materials at any one point. Most of these are usually in their raw state, meaning that they will undergo some process before they can be input into the building to form a part of the building. They come in different forms and can be easily categorized.

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Storage for factory goods

Factory goods are mostly off the shelf items, they are unique in the fact that they can easily be resold and are therefore easy targets for pilferage. They are also delicate and have unique storage requirements.

The most important attribute to consider in the storage of cement is the fact that it reacts chemically when in contact with moisture. For this reason, it should be kept under shade and on a platform or pallet, away from excessive moisture.

Ceramics, include wash basins, toilets, tiles and glass accessories, are extremely delicate and easily breakable. They should therefore be properly packaged in padded cartons and away from areas of much activity, usually under lock and key.

Ironmongery includes locks, hinges, handles and keys. Owing to their small sizes, they are prone to pilfering. These should also be kept well secured and only issued under strict accountability.

Raw materials and workshop finished items

This category belongs to the main items, for example bricks, stone, ballast and sand. These are not prone to problems such as weather and pilferage; however, they have one aspect, which is being bulky. They consume a lot of space on site and require a generous allocation of storage space and are best stored in bays and contained.

Workshop finished items include fixtures, timber, roofing materials and semi-finished items.   For example in the case of timber, items are usually ready for installing and are mostly purpose made. Some may have been imported from overseas and made to exact measurements. This means that damage or loss of such will lead to a very expensive process of replacement.

Material storage is a very important part of site management. How materials are delivered and dispatched determines how easily things flow.  Strict accurate records should be kept of all movement of materials and any deficits.

Potential storage hazards

Stored materials must not create a hazard and storage areas must be kept free from accumulated materials that may cause problems.  For example tripping, fires, explosions, or that may contribute to the harbouring of rats and other pests. It is imperative when stacking and piling materials, to be aware of such factors as the materials’ height and weight.   It is vital that stored materials are accessible to the user, and also the location of the containers where the materials are being stored.

All bound material should be stacked, placed on racks, blocked, interlocked, or otherwise secured to prevent it from sliding, falling, or collapsing. A weight which is greater than that approved by a building official may not be placed on any floor of a building or other structure. Where applicable, load limits approved by the building inspector should be conspicuously displayed in all storage areas of a building construction site.

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BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OF AN AMUSING IDEA

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Later in life, Walt Disney told inquirers that he first had the idea for a new kind of amusement park when he took his two young daughters out for fun on weekends.  He found that existing kids’ parks and fairs were often dirty, sleazy, money-grubbing places.  In spite of the fact he had never developed real estate or managed a large-scale building construction project, Disney nourished his notions of a new kind of amusement park throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Walt found little enthusiasm for the project; most bankers and investors felt that Disney’s lack of real estate development and commercial building construction experience was too large a hurdle to overcome. Walt began to gather funds by borrowing on his life insurance and selling vacation property.  He assembled a staff of designers, planners and artists and formed WED Enterprises, as a personal corporation to house them.

Starting from ground zero

Operating out of a small building on the Disney Burbank lot, the WED group began a long process of creative brainstorming. They visited other amusement attractions around the country to gather data, impressions and development plans, and with the help of commercial contractors created a rough building construction timetable.

The Stanford group closely examined a host of factors, demographic urban growth trends, population concentrations, freeway construction, availability of experienced commercial contractors and weather conditions.  Eventually they recommended a site in Anaheim, a rapidly growing town just southeast of Los Angeles. A 160-acre orange grove alongside the new Santa Ana freeway was purchased. Its proximity to a major freeway meant the park was a short 27-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles.

Dreamland construction commences

Commercial contractors and building construction companies fell under the overall leadership of Joe Fowler, an engineer, who became construction supervisor, and later park manager for ten years.

Construction for Disneyland began on July 21, 1954, just 12 months before the park was scheduled to open. Construction crews worked frantically to meet the tight schedule and completed the project on time. Disneyland was formally opened a year later, on July 18, 1955, to glowing reviews.

In its first six months, one million people visited the Disneyland; in its first full year, three million people passed through its gates. The park quickly generated capital to finance a vast expansion, each time the park expanded its capacity, revenues increased more than proportionately to the added capital. In spite of his lack of real estate development experience, Disney had created park plans that allowed for expansion and resulting construction that would not interfere with ongoing park operations.

His dreamland completed

From Walt Disney’s unpleasant experience as a father taking his daughters to an amusement park, has emerged the multi-billion dollar industry of modern theme parks.

By developing Disneyland and expanding that dream to Disney World, Walt Disney not only changed his company fortunes; he also revived the dying American amusement park business. Disney is celebrated for creating characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, but his effect on real estate development and theme park building construction is no less significant.

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Tips to Get Onto the Property Ladder

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Getting onto the property ladder has become more challenging due to the hard economic times we have been and still are to an extent going through. However, getting yourself onto the property ladder still has its advantages over renting. Being on the property ladder means you have equity; your money is going towards an investment rather then being paid to someone else where it goes nowhere, except in their own pocket. Rent money is essentially dead, whereas buying a property means you are working towards owning it yourself and potentially have no mortgage or rent payments down the line. Depending on the property and the state of the property market, you can also make a good return on your investment should you sell. While there still are numerous advantages to owning your own property, there are certainly challenges getting yourself onto the property ladder. We’ve listed some tips to keep in mind to help you buy your first property;

Getting on the property ladder #1 – Save, save and save!

Saving is the first and foremost. The more money you can save, the better your chances are of securing a loan from the bank. Most banks these days to require a deposit of some sort and with the times we are in, this has become stricter. The more money you can lay down for a deposit the more willing a bank will be to lend you the money. Also, the less your monthly repayments will be as well. You also need to consider all the additional fees that go with buying a house as well.

Getting on the property ladder tip #2 – joint mortgage

It is become more and more common these days for young people to pool their money and buy a property collectively. This is usually the case for those people whose own salary is insufficient but together with someone else’s creates the opportunity to get onto the property ladder. However, should you be considering this option you need to think about all the pro’s and con’s. drawbacks of this options is that you will effectively only own 50% of the property and should anything happen between you and the other person, owning a property together can make it very awkward and financially restricting.

Getting on the property ladder tip #3 – move to a different, cheaper area

If you are willing to be flexible in what area you want to live in, you might benefit from searching around. The quality of the area is not necessarily in direct proportion to the house prices. Some areas might be expensive purely because they are close to town, near a school or by the beach. Also, some areas with cheaper housing may also have the potential for development projects and may end up more valuable in time to come.

Getting on the property ladder tip #4 – 50-year mortgage

You can also adjust the period over which you re-pay your mortgage loan. On average this is usually over a 20 or 25 year period. However, you can choose to pay it over a loner time such as 50 years. While you will be paying more interest this, it may still be preferable to renting as you will at least still be putting your money towards an investment. Also, should your income increase you can also choose to pay off more down the line.

These are some tips to consider that might help you get onto the property ladder. While it can be a challenge it is worth working towards owning your own home. Speak to a financial adviser for ways to manage your money more effectively, what the best way to save your money might and so on. Work hard, be diligent and sensible with your money and you will find yourself reach towards that property ladder with the possibility of owning your very own home. We wish you the best of luck!

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COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COSTS

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When designing, planning as well as constructing a commercial property the costs involved are of paramount importance. So a good deal of homework needs to be done in the building construction industry, before commencing with a building project. Unfortunately this is even more so today, than it was 10 years ago for the simple reason costs of materials are continually increasing.

The importance of planning

The best means of ensuring that the costs are kept to a minimum during any project is by utilizing a commercial construction costs management service. This is an establishment which is able to realistically look at the capital costs for any commercial building construction project. They not only look closely at the planning costs but also cost control services. Plus this service will ensure that the proposals provided on the construction project are documented as well as being completed within the pre-arranged costs and time framework. They will also establish the most economical means of ensuring that the project does not run over budget.

Professional eye on site

Each construction project should employ an independent and professional cost manager or quantity surveyor who can police as well as have a clear overview of everything that is going on. This is to protect the financial interests of the individual who is having the construction project done. These people use their engineering skills and experience which they then apply to scientific principles and techniques.  This allows them to analyze and develop the best action that should be taken in order to provide a good estimation of the costs involved. This will also enable them to control the commercial building construction costs once the project starts on site.

By using a good set of cost management principles the cost manager or quantity surveyor will ensure that the construction project stays within the budget limits and still meets performance and quality targets. When a commercial construction project is being prepared the cost manager or quantity surveyor is an integral part of the team and can bring added value to any construction and design team. However if there are  problems relating to commercial building construction costs exceeding the budget, then this may well cause problems for the person who was asked to control the costs initially.

Team effort produces great end results

Engaging a general contractor or construction manager earlier in the process is a good way to control time in the initial planning phases. These experts understand all legal requirements and can ensure all documentation is filed methodically and in a timely manner, reducing schedule delays early on.

Some building owners are taking a more active role in the overall process and are functioning as a team member to streamline communications and drive faster completion of projects as well. Developers and business owners should encourage these approaches and work with general contractors, who have good relationships with established suppliers.  This enables them to increase their aptitude to project and budget construction costs accurately through to the end of the building construction process.

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USING MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT

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To reduce potential accidents associated with building construction equipment, employees need to be trained in the proper use and limitations of the equipment. This includes knowing how to effectively use equipment such as conveyors, cranes, and slings.

Conveyor safety

Conveyors, workers’ hands and clothing could become caught at points where the conveyor runs over support rollers.  Workers can be struck by material falling off the conveyor. To reduce the severity of an injury, an emergency button or pull cord designed to stop the conveyor must be installed at the employee’s work station.

Conveyor belts should have an emergency stop cable that extends the entire length of the conveyor belt, so accessibility is available from any location along the belt. Before restarting a conveyor, which has stopped due to an overload, appropriate personnel must inspect the conveyor and clear the stoppage. The emergency stop switch should be designed to reset the conveyor before restarting.

Employees must never ride on a materials handling conveyor. Security personal should be placed at points where a conveyor passes over work areas or aisles.  If the crossover is low enough for workers to run into, it must be marked with a warning sign or brightly painted…

Operating cranes

Only thoroughly trained and competent persons are permitted to operate cranes. Operators should know what they are lifting and the weight, as the rated capacity of mobile cranes varies with the length and radius of the boom. When a crane has a telescoping boom, a load may be safe to lift at a short boom length and a short radius, but may overload the crane once the boom is extended and radius increases.

Most movable cranes are equipped with a boom angle indicator; those cranes with telescoping booms must be equipped with some means to determine the boom length. Load rating charts must be visible in the cab of cab-operated cranes.

The crane’s load chart should be checked to prevent overloading and lifts should be planned, before starting, to certify they are safe. Take additional precautions and exercise extra care when operating around power lines. All cranes must be inspected frequently, by certified persons, to prevent any problems with the crane and to safeguard all workers.  Critical components, such as operating mechanisms, hooks, hydraulic systems, should be inspected daily.

Use of Slings

When working with slings, employers must ensure they are visually inspected before use and during operation, especially if used under heavy stress. Riggers or other knowledgeable employees should assist in the inspection as they are familiar with the operation of the sling.  A damaged or defective sling must be removed from service.

Never shorten a sling with knots or bolts or other makeshift devices and ensure that sling legs with kinks, are not be used. Do not load slings beyond their rated capacity, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Operators should keep suspended loads clear of all obstructions, and avoid sudden starts and stops when moving suspended loads. Employees must remain clear of loads about to be lifted and suspended.

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