Television For The
Building Trades
Few things are more fascinating than how humans have changed the world around them. Mankind has constructed buildings and other structures since prehistory. The History of Construction is not limited to buildings but covers bridges, amphitheatres, dams, electricity pylons, road and canals to give just a few examples.
Today we take the incredible feats of engineering very much for granted but virtually all of the building materials we use today have a long history and some of the structures built thousands of years ago without the aid of modern technology still have the ability to amaze. The history of construction is related to, but not identical with, the history of structural engineering.
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Groundwerks
Lincoln Electric
Billy Boots - The World's Lightest and Safest Work Boot
Hypertherm
Gardner Denver - Pneumatic Conveying
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To understand why things were constructed the way they were, we also need to rely on archaeology to record the form of the parts that survive and the tools they used, economic history to inform us of how much they cost, social history to tell us about how the builders lived, and architectural history to tell us about the books and writings of the builders. It is a huge subject, but one that should interest anyone who wants to know more about how and why the built world around them is the way it is.
Building Green in a New Economy
Our current recession has had a major impact on construction with some investors even pulling out of some major projects. Fortunately for all of America, the industry is now on the way of revival. In result both the building construction equipments and construction materials industries are also looking up. Many large scale projects are being launched opening up vast opportunities for business in construction materials and equipments.
National trend in construction industry in United States registered a steady upward trend and projections for 2011 are even more favorable. Savy businesses will take advantage of the favorable situation to lead their enterprise on the path of success and the nation back to recovery. Understanding costs are critical to any construction project. Due to the new economy virtually any excess has been eliminated and we as contractors have become more efficient. Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating more efficient practices and greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:
Mack Trucks
To increase the efficiency of the building envelope, (the barrier between conditioned and unconditioned space), they may use high-efficiency windows and insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors. Another strategy, passive solar building design, is often implemented in low-energy homes. Designers orient windows and walls and place awnings, porches, and trees to shade windows and roofs during the summer while maximizing solar gain in the winter. In addition, effective window placement (daylighting) can provide more natural light and lessen the need for electric lighting during the day. Solar water heating further reduces energy loads.
Onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydro power, or biomass can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the building. Power generation is generally the most expensive feature to add to a building.
Nawkaw - Brick and Masonary Solutions
The History of Concrete
Concrete is the timeless material that holds our world together and the history of concrete is a captivating story. Look at the world around you and notice the substantial building materials used in our every day lives. Wood, brick and concrete make up the natural materials that construct our homes, our schools, public buildings and endless highways that take us places.
Concrete is a material used in building construction, consisting of a hard, chemically inert particulate substance, known as an aggregate (usually made from different types of sand and gravel), that is bonded together by cement and water.
The Assyrians and Babylonians used clay as the bonding substance or cement. The Egyptians used lime and gypsum cement. In 1756, British engineer, John Smeaton made the first modern concrete (hydraulic cement) by adding pebbles as a coarse aggregate and mixing powered brick into the cement. In 1824, English inventor, Joseph Aspdin invented Portland Cement, which has remained the dominant cement used in concrete production. Joseph Aspdin created the first true artificial cement by burning ground limestone and clay together. The burning process changed the chemical properties of the materials and Joseph Aspdin created a stronger cement than what using plain crushed limestone would produce.
StrucSure Home Warranty
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Stone is Green!
In many areas, indigenous stone is available from the local region, such as limestone, marble, granite, and sandstone. It mat be cut in quarries or removed from the surface of the ground (flag and fieldstone). Ideally, stone from the building site can be utilized. Depending on the stone type, it can be used for structural block, facing block, pavers, and crushed stone.
The use of locally available and indigenous earth materials has several advantages in terms of sustainability. They are:
- Reduction of energy costs related to transportation.
- Reduction of material costs due to reduced transportation costs, especially for well-established industries.
- Support of local businesses and resource bases.
Both brick and stone materials are aesthetically pleasing, durable, and low maintenance. Exterior walls weather well, eliminating the need for constant refinishing and sealing. Interior use of brick and stone can also provide excellent thermal mass, or be used to provide radiant heat. Some stone and brick makes an ideal flooring or exterior paving material, cool in summer and possessing good thermal properties for passive solar heating.
Stone Kitchen Countertops - Thinking Green
Whether you are a contractor, design professional, a builder, or a layman, it is important to understand how construction trends are changing. The 
construction industry is constantly changing, and contractors who want to succeed need to stay ahead of market trends. Economic concerns throughout the new year will, of course, continue to raise a number of new variables, but there are some notable trends that contractors should keep an eye on. More than just a trend is building green. Green has become a way-of-life with builders which means more than just converting portions of the building process to converting our entire process and methodology of building a home. Visionary builders seek green products and green building techniques. Reclaimable, sustainable and being environmentally responsible.
Natural stone kitchen countertops are a beautiful choice for any sexy kitchen and will add great value to your home. They are durable, long lasting and available in many styles to bring luxury and luscious appeal to your kitchen. There are several natural stones used in kitchen countertop construction and each one has unique characteristics.
Cleaning Stone Surfaces
Housing the Boomers
As the first wave of baby boomers hits 60, the real estate industry stands ready to cash in by building a multitude of “active-adult communities.”
These developments, geared toward older adults, typically feature large residences with premium features, such as stainless steel appliances, high ceilings and granite countertops. Also, as the name implies, many active-adult communities offer a wide variety of activities for residents — everything from Pilates and cooking classes to whitewater rafting and skydiving. How popular are these developments? Of boomers 
ages 51 to 60 recently surveyed by the National Association of Realtors, 47 percent said they “definitely or likely would consider moving to an active-adult community.”
If your construction company’s services are suited to one of these projects, start doing your market research now. That blockbuster job could literally be right around the corner.
Going Green
The environment matters. According to a recent study, almost half (48 percent) of public property owners (such as state agencies or commissions) in the United States have implemented construction projects with energy-efficient designs in the past year. And of those owners:
34 percent have gone green exclusively in new facilities,
24 percent have used green designs to renovate existing facilities, and
42 percent have implemented energy-saving designs in both new and existing facilities.
One interesting note: Owners in the education sector were more than twice as likely to go with green designs as those in other industries. Green building has also gained ground among private owners. More than a half billion square feet of U.S. commercial space has been certified as “green” by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
So no matter what types of projects you typically take on, expect environmentally sound building to be an increasingly important skill set.
Heating Green - Reclaimed Fuel and Clean Air
Solar Heating - Sticking with Residential
More than two-thirds of builders (contractors who work on above-ground projects) and one-third of nonbuilders (contractors who use equipment for
underground construction or site development) said that solar home and apartment construction will continue to be their best opportunity for the immediate future, according to the 2008 Construction Industry Forecast conducted by international project financiers CIT. In fact, according to the CIT forecast, the number of builders favoring residential construction over any other opportunity has grown from 53 percent to 68 percent in six years. Then again, for the first time since 2002, 20 percent or more of both builders and nonbuilders see commercial construction as their best bet – a positive indicator for this lagging sector.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Your construction company’s best opportunities will depend, of course, on a variety of local factors as well as national ones. In any case, by staying ahead of the curve in all respects, you can help ensure you’ll stay ahead of your competition. Constuction TV reports the latest each week in trends, products and forecasts for the industry.
Running Lean and Green on the Road
Mack Trucks - High Fuel Economy
Cougar Industries
AFTEC - Advanced Forming Technology
Work Truck Give-Away
Bott Work Truck Segment
Stertil-Koni Segment
Fiber Floor from Tarquet
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