Category: Expert Columns
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6 Tips to Build a Culture of Safety in Construction
In construction, safety isn’t something you check off a list during orientation. It’s a constant, evolving part of the job — no matter how long you’ve been in the industry or what role you play. Whether someone’s just getting started or has been on sites for decades, there’s always more to learn and reinforce. From…
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What Rentals Should Look for in Trenchers & Stump Cutters
While homeowners and developers may be developing vastly different spaces, both groups seem to have a similar goal: to create a landscape that feels like an “outdoor living space” and extend their interior design from the living room to the backyard. Inspired by Pinterest and Instagram projects, homeowners and contractors alike want a plan to…
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A Perfect Storm of Challenges: State of the Concrete Industry
Concrete contractors in 2025 are facing a perfect storm of challenges that are reshaping how work gets done on-site, impacting project timelines, budgets, and workforce stability. From labor gaps and QC headaches to price spikes and unpredictable pipelines, contractors are under pressure from all sides in 2025. Success this year means staying flexible, adopting tech…
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Beat the Heat: OSHA-Backed Heat Safety Strategies Every Contractor Should Use
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related work fatalities in the United States, with construction workers accounting for more than a third of all heat-related deaths. As average daily temperatures continue to rise, it’s critical to protect workers from extreme heat and heat-related risks. Understanding Heat Stress and Heat-related Illnesses Outdoor workers, especially those…
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Why Construction Site Theft Is Rising in 2025 — and How Proactive Security Can Stop It
The first half of 2025 has been plagued by economic uncertainty – and that includes the construction industry. Construction spending has taken a dip of about 3.5% year-over-year. On top of that, tariffs on Canadian lumber, which comprises 85% of U.S. lumber imports, are at 14.5% and expected to increase to 34.5%. According to Oxford…
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Construction Firms Embracing Tech Gain Competitive Edge in Bids, Revenue, and Talent
Don’t underestimate what technology can do for a construction business. That’s the overriding message from a newly released benchmarking report covering the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries. Findings from the 2025 AEC Inspire Report from Unanet [of which I am co-author] show a clear performance divide between AEC firms that are mature in their…
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Construction Firms Embracing Tech Gain Competitive Edge in Bids, Revenue, and Talent
Don’t underestimate what technology can do for a construction business. That’s the overriding message from a newly released benchmarking report covering the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries. Findings from the 2025 AEC Inspire Report from Unanet [of which I am co-author] show a clear performance divide between AEC firms that are mature in their…
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How to Reduce Construction Turnover by Building a Culture of Loyalty and Engagement
Employee turnover is notoriously high in construction — outpacing other industries by an average of 2.5% in 2024. This churn carries a steep price. Research shows that hiring and training new construction staff can cost between 50 and 200% of each worker’s annual salary. High turnover also leads to knock-on effects, hindering your ability to…
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Repairing Concrete Joints – Prep and Installation
The spalled concrete joint repair preparation and installation process when using semi-rigid or sand-modified semi-rigid repair materials is not unlike the initial joint filling process. It’s important to create clean, vertical edges at the outside of the joint repair to allow the repair material to bond to the joint walls and to clean the joint to…
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How Construction Firms Can Build a Strong Financial Roadmap Amid Rising Costs and Growth
As your construction firm navigates today’s economic landscape, the $1.2 trillion public infrastructure bill, passed a few years ago, continues to carry both promise and uncertainty. Nevertheless, the domestic procurement preferences and materials sourcing requirements tied to this legislation still hold the potential to create meaningful growth opportunities. That said, it’s crucial to be prepared…