Chris Ball

Unfortunately a large amount of the concrete that fails is actually the result of bad testing - not bad concrete.  For any construction professional who works in this area, please look at this.  It will save you a lot of headaches and heartaches (and a lot of money too) #builtwithconcrete #shapedbyconcrete #countonconcrete 

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Which two do you choose? I listened to a GC superintendent brag earlier this year about how they had awarded a project to a "trade partner" solely because their bid came in $800K under the other bids. It was never discussed with the sub and the contract was expedited to ensure that they didn't become aware that they had missed something before signing. Between his f*** thems, and laughing, I couldn't help but shake my head. Is the bigger picture that difficult to see? I know of a manufacturer that awarded their installation to a company that underbid their own install estimate by around 40%. Despite hearing numerous complaints from the manufacturer about this installer, the project was awarded based on hopes of a large bonus. Like watching a train wreck in slow motion, I can only shake my head. Is the bigger picture that difficult to see? When your sub-tiers fail. YOU FAIL! You will NOT be clear of the blowback because the choice of sub-tiers was yours. What are your motives? If a "stick it to 'em" ego rush or the potential for an easy bonus is your motivation. You are making long-term success extremely difficult. If your intent is long-term success both for yourself, your company, and your clients. Make your first consideration putting everyone around you in a place to succeed. The more successful you can make those around you the more successful you will be. In my experience, in construction, the crap rolls uphill. Stay clean my friends! #construction #skilledtrades #trades #PM #superintendent #bluecollar #lead #leader

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Owner's - Recent changes in Builder's Risk Policy requirements are here. 🔹 Builder's Risk Policy Pricing: Owners are now advised to initiate discussions on policy pricing early on to understand site requirements, increased premiums, price in elevated site security, and possibly adjust budgets accordingly. 🔹 New Requirements for Wood Framed Projects over $25MM: - Policy Initiation: Ensure the policy is in place at the project's commencement, not just during vertical construction. - Site Lighting: This could be required throughout the duration of the project. - Surveillance/Cameras: It may now be a prerequisite when framing begins and check if the policy has prequalified vendors must be used. - Hot Work Permit Process: Enhanced documentation could affect your site supervision to accommodate. Stay ahead of the curve by incorporating these changes into your project planning and budgeting. Collaborate closely with your General Contractor to navigate these updates seamlessly. #ConstructionIndustry #Avenue #AvenueConstruction #AvenueDevelopment #SeniorLiving #ActiveAdult #MultifamilyConstruction

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Data integrity key in golden thread and building safety With the building safety regime now requiring a golden thread of information on each property, one construction product manufacturer has implemented robust processes to ensure data integrity

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One of the admirations I have for the US Construction Industry is the practice of investigating accidents and practicing "lessons learned." This example from Engineering News-Record: https://lnkd.in/gbKcwHfF #constructionindustry #constructionaccidents #fatalities #cranes #engineeringnewsrecord #epcrecruiters #risk #safety

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If you’re in construction, this question, Needs to be one you ask other contractors. “What are you seeing in the market at your level?” Whether it’s, -General Contractors -Subcontractors -Architects -Vendors -Owners Their thoughts on, -Pipeline -Projects being pursuing -Lead times, prices, interest rates Can affect your, -Recruiting tactics -Business Development -Overall connection with that person So add the micro and macro dialogue into your conversations. 🚨P.S.🚨 In the comments, I added three other related questions that should also be in your tool belt! 📌   - - - - - If you enjoyed the write-up, show some love 👍/♻️ and hit the bell 🔔 on Chris Guerra, M.A.T. to not miss my daily content.

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Subcontractors and suppliers routinely sign lengthy contracts and master agreements without closely reading the terms and conditions to get deals done quickly. In this article, which was published in Build Houston magazine, my construction colleagues Julia Bobbitt and Patrick Kelly discuss five key clauses every subcontractor and supplier should be aware of.

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Great Contractors never avoid conflict. Because when you avoid conflict, people start getting weird: 1. The crews start gossiping 2. Subs stop sharing information 3. No one says what they really need to say at progress meetings Then, schedules start delaying, back charges start being promised, and nasty emails are getting sent every day. Conflict only grows when it isn’t addressed. So, don’t be a jerk, but learn how to address conflict on your jobs quickly: - Talk about money - Ask hard questions - Hold your subs accountable - Be willing to be held accountable - Demonstrate that you’re open to negotiating Being a great Contractor is really just being a example. And if you want to know how to be great at addressing conflict? We are running a free webinar where you’ll learn exactly how to do it. All with the goal of helping you have a better reputation and make more money. Join us for free here: https://lnkd.in/eCTgk8UC

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Initiative - Bechtel Corporation are confronting Suicide in the Construction Community There was a time – not so long ago – when death and injury in heavy construction were accepted as normal. Building plans would include a specific estimate for the likely number of fatalities. Tragic of course, we used to think, but also inevitable when human bodies mix with powerful machines to move massive amounts of earth, concrete, and steel. The construction industry worked for decades to dismantle that mindset. We adopted new practices, equipment, and technologies designed to prevent jobsite accidents. Today, at Bechtel, virtually every metric shows that the teams on our projects have never been safer. Yet there was something big that we missed. A different problem we struggled to see. Despite all our success in protecting construction workers while they are on the job, a devastatingly high number return to their home, their hotel room, or their residence camp, and end their own life. Our industry now loses five times as many colleagues to suicide as we do to work-place accidents. The painful truth is that among job occupations in the United States, construction has one of the highest rates of suicide. A person working in our field is more than twice as likely to die from suicide when compared with the general population. According to the Centers for Disease Control, statistics show 56 out of every hundred thousand workers will lose their lives this way each year. In an industry that employs 10 million people, that’s roughly 5,500 annually – or more than 100 per week. Construction workers contend with what some have called a perfect storm of #mentalhealth risk factors, including a predominantly male workforce, physically strenuous and stressful work, long hours, jobs often located away from home and family, intermittency of work, and for many, chronic pain. These risks are compounded by a culture that prides itself on pushing past challenges and getting the job done. The time has come for us to treat mental health – and #suicideprevention specifically – with the same determined focus that we have successfully brought to physical health, and as a natural extension of our historic commitment to safety. That’s why Bechtel Corporation and the American Foundation for #Suicide Prevention (AFSP) are partnering to begin addressing this problem with direct, practical solutions. Through our company’s foundation, Bechtel is funding a $7 million dollar grant, the largest AFSP has ever received. To their credit, other countries, including the #UK and #Australia, are well ahead of the #USA in their prevention response. Brendan Bechtel is #chairman and #CEO of Bechtel, a #global #engineering, procurement, #construction, and project management company. #mentalhealthawareness #innovative #initiative

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💡Top Construction Management Voice 💡 Oh HeY, it’s me. I got one of them LinkedIn badges. _________ Hinging on these Key Platforms: —> Field Electricians - on my own tools 😉 —> Exercise in Construction - lead by example —> Women in Construction - #NotSorry —> Stories about my dad + me - OG —> The Climb - that which I endured or blundered Climb sample: I didn’t build this platform by re-posting inspirational quotes or having a deep decade of industry presence on a public forum. I started this year with 147 connections. I counted. I count —> count that 🧮 _________ There’s lots of ways to matter - to have a voice. Ask me how I did- you have to know it was hard. I endured to occupy some space between field/office/academia/guru/alien circus of a scope. I’m learning. Before you lurkers roll your eyes, did you have the caj@ne$ to show your true self 👀 Just sayin’.. Some types are more popular or less marginalized than others. Rednecks ain’t on this thread much. Traditional executive leadership finds me to be groveling or cringe by posting. New kids find my wordiness so low tech. Technical academia finds my writing style clownish 🤡 I work hard to blend me + industry. 🎪 Step into my BigTop, y’all. _________ I clung to my key struggle mission: To make myself known for my own voice and to give two actual s*#%s about my fellow man/woman/milkshake. I had the strategy, strength and vulnerability to build me again. This time not as field worker, student, athlete, estimator, PM or some other showpiece but as a ‘Top Construction Management Voice,’ and I can guide you too. #BlueCollarHoller at me. __________ ✨Thank you to my crew for sticking around. As the saying is goes, if I was smarter or had more time, these write ups, you know, would be shorter, more punchy and precise. Brb on that ✌🏻

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When does a general contractor include a contingency in the proposal and when is the contingency removed? Answer by ChatGPT: A general contractor typically includes a contingency in the proposal to account for unforeseen circumstances or changes during the construction project. Contingencies are usually expressed as a percentage of the total project cost and serve as a buffer to cover unexpected expenses such as material price increases, design changes, or unforeseen site conditions. Contingencies are often removed or adjusted under specific conditions: 1. Approval of Final Plans: Once the final construction plans are approved and all necessary permits are obtained, the contractor may revise or remove the contingency, as the project scope becomes clearer. 2. Completion of Pre-Construction Phase: Contingencies may be adjusted or removed after the pre-construction phase is completed, during which detailed assessments of the site and project requirements are conducted. 3. Identification of Known Risks: If specific risks that were initially considered contingent events are resolved or mitigated, the corresponding contingency amounts may be adjusted or eliminated. 4. Milestone Achievements: As the project progresses and certain milestones are reached without the occurrence of unforeseen events, the need for the contingency may diminish, leading to its removal or reduction. 5. Change Order Management: Any changes to the project scope or specifications that result in additional costs may be addressed through change orders rather than the contingency fund. As such, the contingency may be adjusted accordingly. 6. Project Closeout: Once the project is nearing completion and all known risks have been addressed, any remaining contingency funds may be used to address final project needs or returned to the client, depending on the contract terms. Ultimately, the decision to adjust or remove the contingency rests on the agreement between the contractor and the client, as outlined in the contract documents. Regular communication and collaboration between all parties throughout the project lifecycle are essential to effectively manage contingencies and ensure the project's success.

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Do construction technology companies need help with writing case studies and white papers to educate their prospective clients?

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We review a significant number of pay applications on a monthly basis. Occasionally, we have conversations with owners who chose a particular general contractor (GC) because of a lower price. Almost every time, we see a substantial increase in change orders throughout the construction process. At the end of the project, you are likely to end up paying the same price as the higher bids; it just shows up later in the game rather than when you sign the contract. If you like a GC but their price seems high, trust your gut—that's probably what the actual costs are.

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Free On-Demand AIA Continuing Education Webcast on Helical Piles! Are you interested in expanding your knowledge of helical piles and their capacities and applications? Ram Jack is proud to offer a free on-demand webcast that explores the advantages of helical pile systems under certain soil/site conditions. In this accredited course, you'll learn: ✔️ How to estimate helical pile load capacities  ✔️ Key factors that impact pile capacities ✔️ Advantages of helical piles ✔️ How to properly load test installed helical piles Whether you're working on residential projects or heavy commercial/industrial structures, helical piles can provide an excellent underpinning solution. Click the link to register for this free on-demand course today! https://lnkd.in/emUWB4bQ #HelicalPiles #AIA #ContinuingEducation #Construction #CivilEngineering #FoundationRepair #Underpinning #GeotechnicalEngineering #StructuralEngineering

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Some thoughts on material pricing risk in the latest issue of DFI magazine. Lots of different models to address the issue, but nothing beats clear parameters, and appropriate review and decision timelines to be fair to purchasers, suppliers and contractors. Page 119. https://lnkd.in/ddjKqfmA

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🚧 Day 3 of Construction Safety Week: National Safety Stand-Down 🚧 Today, Foresight demonstrated our commitment to safety by participating in the National Safety Stand-Down, the largest industry-wide construction stand-down ever held, developed by Construction Safety Week and U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA). Our Safety Director, Jeff C., provided our team with vital resources to raise awareness about fall hazards in construction, aligning with our Core Value of Responsiveness.    As a company, we believe in being positive, engaged, and available to meet the needs of others. By actively participating in initiatives like the Safety Stand-Down, we're responsive to the safety needs of our employees and subcontractors.  Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in our industry, but together, we can make a difference. By continuing to bring awareness to fall hazards and prioritizing safety, we can build a stronger, safer industry.  #SuccessStartsHere #ConstructionSafetyWeek #NationalSafetyStandDown #FallPrevention #Responsiveness #SafetyFirst 

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A decommissioning and demolition strategy for obsolete facilities requires a plan addressing demolition, environmental remediation and project management priorities. https://hubs.li/Q02tZn0R0 #Environmental #Remediation #ProjectManagement

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Mental health is part of construction safety too! #construction #engineering #constructionmanagement #constructioncontractor #contractor #governmentcontracts #preconstruction #qualitycontrol #sitesafety #superintendents #veteranownedbusiness #engineers #dredging #ssho #projectmanager #constructionmanagern #qcmanager #mentalhealth #constructionsafety

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