Sweets Green Building Square Foot Costbook for 2010

   Well, Sweets has done it again. Once more BNi Building News, publisher of the well known Sweets Cost Guides and Cost Books, is ahead of the curve.
   Meeting Leed® Building standards can be a challenge particularly, if your dealing with Government, Industrial or Commercial buildings. Estimating these projects can be a make or break deal. And knowing how to estimate these projects is a must.
   In the new Sweets Green Building Square Foot Costbook for 2010 there are 50 diiferent types of Green buildings with actual square foot costs, broken down by CSI divisions. There are articles on the cost of LEED® certification and green roof design.
   The projects discussed explore a wide variety of green materials and technologies. Some of these include engineered floors, high efficiency HVAC systems, geothermal wells, green roofs and in-floor radiant heat.
   This book and many like it can be found here: Contactor Resource Center.

Gotta Know How to Work with Metal/Steel Studs

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reported that the cost of lumber has increased from approximately $200.00 per board foot to over $ 270.00 per board foot since the first of the year. That's a 32% increase. This is due to a shortage of ready inventory floored by lumber manufacturers. This increase in cost, coupled with the shortage, as well as an industry move to more "Green" building standards (Leed® Certification) is taking us deeper and deeper into the world of Steel / Metal Studs.

In California, Contractors Need the Right Credentials

 The way the economy is today. People who can afford to remodel their homes or commercial buildings, have a large pool to choose from when hiring contractors.

  Particularly in California, where the pool is one of the largest. If someone wants to be among the chosen few to be hired to do these remodels. He must have the proper credentials and professionalism. The first credential is to possess a state contractors license. Contractor Resource Center has available the Contractor's State License Guide for the Law & Business Exam. This guide, accompanied with a CD-ROM, covers all the areas required to know in order to pass the Law & Business Exam in California.
  This book contains all the information the State of California requires for the Law & Business Exam. Give it a try.

California Building Standards Commission Approves" Calgreen"

  BuildingGreen.com has reported that the California Building Standards Commission has approved what is known as "Calgreen" Calgreen is a Green Standards Building Code. It is the first mandatory statewide green construction code to be adopted in the U.S. Calgreen will take effect in January 2011.
  Remember, you can keep up with the new changes see the National Green Building Standard Book from Contractor Resource Center.

Separate Yourself by Reading Blueprints

   In most construction projects architects provide a road map to completion of the project. This road map is displayed by blueprint drawings. Reading blueprints properly is a must in order to correctly and safely complete a construction project.

  Many times the site supervisor is the only one that knows how to read blueprints. But if you want to stand out among the crew, learning to read these road maps will make you a valuable member of the team. The initiative to learn leads to the initiative to lead. In order to be a leader you must separate yourself from the rest. Sometimes this separation comes from knowing how to read blueprints. Learn everything you can about your profession.

Remodels at a Profit. Again?

Yes, once again it's time to impress upon remodelers that there is a market out there for your talents. And profitablilty is key. At Contractor Resource Center, we now offer a new remodelers cost guide book. It's called The Residential Remodeling Cost Estimator 2010. This costbook shows material costs and labor costs specifically for residential remodeling. Heck, the best thing to do is to follow the link above. Then you can read the full description and see the Intro Chapter. It's on sale now for $ 48.45.

Find Your Remodeling Niche, Profitably

Of course, you've heard this before. But right now is the time to gear your construction business to consumers that are remodeling. There are many opportunities out there. People who have lived in their home for many years, their home may have devalued so they're staying put. Young first time or old first time home buyers, taking advantage of tax credits combined with cheaply priced foreclosures or HUD homes. Not to mention investors, who are picking up on some good deals.
  All of these home buyers are propspective clients. But just getting and completing the job isn't enough. If the job is not profitable thens there's no point in doing it. Be competitive but be profitabe using the 2010 National Repair & Remodeling Estimator from Contractor Resource Center. This combination book & Software estimating will help you to estimate material and and labor hours properly and profitably for your specific geographical area. This estimating softwares updated monthly at no cost.



Remember, Be competitive, be profitable !

Lumber Prices are Going Up, Up and Up. Still !!!!!

Last month I wrote on my other blog ContractorGuides Blog that lumber prices have increase 32% since the first of the year. And once again the problem is that lumber manufacturers do not keep any back up inventory. Everything is milled as needed. A.K.A Just in time inventory. See this article published on March 3, 2010 from Purchasing.com. To all you framers and carpenters your going to have to learn to work with Metal & Steel Studs. The shortage in lumber coupled with new Green Laws and stricter fire building codes will require knowledge and skills in working with these newer materials.