Do You Know What Construction Specifications Are?

In the construction industry, and most industry, specifics are crucial to a job and if they aren’t followed through properly can have negative impacts. Construction specifications are known as specs – these specs detail work and workmanship needed to complete a project. Specs are part of the construction process. They detail the scope of the work, materials to be used, installation methods.

Specs are put together before construction begins, usually in the design phase with other contract documents. A designer or architect will prepare the specs and an architect usually delegates the specs. Some big projects actually have spec writers. Specs usually go along with design drawings.

Specs are important because its crucial to have details, the more details the better a project will turn on and less risk there will be.

Every project is different so specs will be different.

Types of specs:

Prescriptive: These specs give details on materials and installations needed, as well as how to measure installations.

Performance: These specs describe operational requirements.

Proprietary: These specs are used if only one specific product can be used for an installation.

You need to dedicate time to specs to get them right – its essential to set up specs for a project to be successful. With new technology and more competition, writing up specs early on has become more important. Writing up specifications can be time consuming, but they are necessary if you want a successful project. A contractor needs these specs to make sure a project is on time and within budget.

It’s better to write too much details and specifics than not enough!

Looking for a job in the construction industry? You need to get a contractor license to practice legally. As a contractor licensing company, we have helped thousands of contractors in Florida and across the United States get their contractor license. We will ask you for important information and documents. We will gather it all together, fill out forms, and submit to the Construction Licensing Board. We know how to get licensed applications approved.

To get your contractor license and to get started on a license application, click our contractor license in Florida page or call 239-777-1028.

 

How Going Green Saves Money in Construction

The construction industry has a reputation of not being good to Mother Earth with the use of natural resources, toxic chemicals and the production of waste, but there’s been a turning point and more businesses are turning to sustainable construction practices. In 2013, $260 million was spent in sustainable construction, so it is moving in the right direction. In 2018, it was predicted green construction would be one-third of the construction market across the globe.

The goal of green construction is to lower the number of natural resources used and waste created. Green construction also saves companies and owners money. How?

  • Improved productivity and return on investment (ROI) – employee productivity increases by 16 percent in companies that are eco-friendly. Such practices include using LED lighting, non-toxic paint, and being LEED-compliant. Owners who choose green on average see an increased ROI of 9.2 percent. Operating costs for new construction decreased 13.6% when going green.
  • Government incentives – companies and owners can get tax credits for meeting certain sustainability goals. This is usually given by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some states also offer feed reductions or waivers for green construction.
  • Increased business – In 2018, green construction was predicted to generate more than 2.1 million jobs.

Being green and sustainable isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for business. Green construction isn’t the future, it’s here and it’s becoming the norm.

Want to jump into the green-friendly constriction world? Get licensed? How do you get your contractor’s license? Well, you need to apply, and we can help you with that.

As a contractor licensing company, we have helped thousands of contractors in Florida and across the United States get their contractor license. We will let you know everything you need to provide us. We know how to put together an application so the Construction Licensing Board will approve it.

To get your contractor license and to get started on a license application, click our contractor license in Florida page to get started with us or call 239-777-1028.

 

New Materials in Construction

Just like other fields, construction must be innovative too in order to survive. New construction materials are stuff people only used to dream of like shapeshifting and self-healing materials.

Construction materials are evolving. Materials are becoming lighter, stronger, less toxic.

Roman concrete goes back 2,000 years and the construction industry is looing at Roman concrete now. Roman concrete is different than modern concrete. When seawater touches modern concrete, it weakens it, but Roman concrete gets stronger when touched by seawater. Roman concrete could extend the life of buildings. It is currently not being used yet, but hopefully will be soon in job sites.

Ferrock is less expensive, stronger, more flexible and doesn’t emit carbon dioxide like concrete does. This product can be produced by 95% recycled materials. It works like a sponge absorbing C02 from the air. It isn’t on the market yet.

Bioconcrete is self-healing and more durable than regular concrete because it has biomaterial/bacteria within it. It is not used for commercial construction yet but could be by 2020.

Pollutant absorbing bricks, cheaper than regular bricks, pull pollutants out of the air. They are being tested currently.

Laminated timber, or glulam, is more water resistant and durable than regular wood. It’s cost effective and it reduces wood usage.

In the next 10 to 20 years, you will see projects use more of these materials with the hope that costs will go down and the environment will be healthier.

Want to be part of an innovative industry? You can learn new skills and technologies. Become a contractor!

To be a contractor, you must be licensed. We can help you get your Florida contractor license. We are a contractor licensing company, who has helped thousands of contractors get their contractor license. We can also help you get your license if you live in another state.

We will complete the license application for you, and will mail it off to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf to get you approved.

To get your contractor license, click our contractor license in FL page to get started with us or call 239-777-1028.

 

Quality Assurance Vs. Quality Control in Construction

Although it can be subjective, quality is a measurement tool in the construction world for projects. To measure the quality of a project, quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) are critical. Both QA and QC help keep projects on and above expectations. QA and QC are different processes.

Quality in construction is when components of a project were completed in compliance. QA is the planned activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a project will be fulfilled. QA services are used by owners and developers to evaluate how a contractor is achieving specific standards. It is measured before a project begins or during construction.

QA is process focused and QC is product focused. QC looks at the final product to determine if it was done correctly and complies with requirements. It is a final quality check after work is done.

These processes are important to ensure a project is completed and completed well. QA and QC enforce safety standards, as well.

To improve the quality of any construction project, you need a QA and QC plan in place.

Work in an industry that cares about quality, technology, sustainability, knowledge, growth, opportunities and more. Be a contractor!

To be a contractor, you must be licensed to practice legally. We can help you get your contractor license. We are a contractor licensing company, who has helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license

We will ask you for some basic information on your skills, background, testing, education, etc. We will fill out all the paperwork and submit it finished and completed. We will mail it off to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf to get you approved.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to get started with us or call 239-777-1028.

 

Why Start a Career in Construction?

Whether you’re fresh out of high school or in your 20s or 30s looking for a career change, you should think about a career in construction. In construction, you can easily land an entry-level position and immediately get paid and get experience. No unpaid/underpaid internships. No endless job applications. No hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. No part-time work. A real job with a promising career path.

Right now, there are a lot of job openings and opportunities in the construction industry. In 2018, there were about 225,000 construction jobs needing to be filled each month, according to U.S. News.

Construction is a huge industry, as well, with so many specialties, which means you can do anything from roofing to plumbing to electrical work to masonry to putting up drywall, and more!

A career as a contractor gives a person a lot of skills. When you work as a contractor, you will gain a lot of people skills. You will interact with other contractors, vendors, tenants, homeowners, landlords, clients, and more. You will learn valuable communication skills that can easily translate to other careers like marketing, journalism, sales, or owning your own business.

A contractor career can also help a person develop leadership skills, discipline and critical thinking. As a contractor, you will learn how to get your job done, on time, by the book. You will learn how to resolve problems.

A contractor will learn a lot of technical skills, as well as learn a lot about the latest technologies, which can easily translate to other industries.

Math is another skill involved with any construction work, which is a great skill to have that is valued in many fields.

Other reasons to go into contracting:

  • You could travel all over a city or state for your job.
  • You will meet a lot of different people.
  • Every project will give you new challenges and opportunities.
  • Construction jobs pay well. The hourly wage for construction workers is up more than 25% since 2006.
  • You can be creative.

If you’re interested in a career in contracting, talk to people in the industry, start working under contractors, take courses. However, if you want to practice legally, many states require you to have a contractor’s license.

As a Florida contractor licensing company, we have helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license. We will get critical information from you and let you know what is needed to be licensed. We will fill out and send in the form to the Board for you.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028 to get started with us.

 

How to Go Green in Construction

Have you gone green yet? Trying to go green? It’s not just the future of construction, it’s the present. Contractors need to implement sustainable practices, or they will fall behind. It can take time to go green; however, taking a few steps here or there is a big deal.

Green construction is creating spaces that address the environmental impacts of the construction process. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the primary certification used to measure/designate green buildings.

Green construction isn’t just a term you can toss on a contract or a marketing brochure, either–a few bodies carefully regulate it. Primarily, points out BOMA, “the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the primary certification used to measure and designate green buildings.

LEED certified buildings operate more efficiently and are worth more. Green construction lowers costs during the building phase, improves productivity, increases ROI, generates more business, is better for workers’ health, and gains government incentives.

Here are some steps and ways you can go green:

  • Go paperless. Paper uses raw wood, chemicals and water. It is also expensive. You can save so much money and natural resources by going digital.
  • Adopt lean construction principles, which means you think about maximizing efficiency, optimize, and reduce waste in every step you take. Through this method, you will have smoother operations and better-quality work and production.
  • Be LEED certified.
  • Use eco-friendly materials and processes.

Changing to green can be hard and overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to happen overnight – good things take time.

Thinking about a job in the construction industry? It’s an exciting field that is at the forefront of new technology and building all the time.

If you want to be a contractor, you will need a contractor’s license. As a contractor licensing company, we can help!  We will complete the forms for you. We have helped thousands of contractors get their contractor license in Florida and in other states. To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

How GPS is Improving, Helping Construction

GPS isn’t just for cars, it is helping improve and better the construction industry. GPS technology can go far beyond giving directions in a car. More than 30 percent of employees have a GPS in their job in the construction industry and this number is growing. GPS helps people track things and help workers perform better.

How GPS technology helps:

  • Workers can self-track where they are throughout the day through GPS, which helps people accurately get paid.
  • Fleet and equipment-tracking benefits.
  • More accurate and faster site surveying.
  • Streamlines safety through tracking odometer ratings, alerting for maintenance, alerting for fasting driving, hard breaking or speeding, alerting for hazards, alerts for any problem and being used as an emergency button.
  • It can show progress on a project through geotagged photos.
  • It can increase productivity

When you become a contractor, you will have access and training to all the latest technologies. The construction industry is using more technology from GPS to drones to improve workflow, safety, progress, and more.

It is an exciting time to enter into this industry – the industry is also looking for workers. Ready to be a contractor? If so, you’ll need to be licensed.

We are a contractor licensing company. We have helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license. We are based in Florida but help people in all states get licensed.

When you contact us, we will ask you to provide us with some basic information on your skills, background, testing, education, etc. We will fill out all the paperwork and let you know if you are missing anything before submitting it. Once we have put together a completed application, we will mail it off to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf to get you approved. We can get you approved the first time

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to get started with us or call 239-777-1028.