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Where any business is concerned, first impressions are vital to a successful operation. The front door to your business is always the first object any potential customer sees. How does your door compare to your neighbors? The company down the block? Are you pulling in enough customers?
Whether you’ve been struggling to bring in clients or wanting to improve your walk-in numbers, here are four ways having a custom door can improve your stats.
Bright flashing colors or solid modern designs are what makes your brand stand out from the rest. What better way to show the public who’s building is who’s than to craft your brand into your front door? With custom models built to your designs you can engrave, carve, or splash your logo right onto your front door.
The reality of online marketing is that your brand recognition can give you a competitive advantage over "no-name" competitors. The more recognized your brand name, and the more closely associated it is with your product the more visitors will arrive on your site through a Google search ready to purchase.
Carrying a stack of documents across a busy floor is a roll of the dice in most buildings, but with some clever door designs you can prevent paperwork accidents and improve productivity. Automated doors are handy for fast-paced environments but hands-free doors also make for sanitary workplaces. A simple door pedal or foot operated mechanism can keep your doors swinging while keeping your hands free to hold all those important files.
Who hasn’t experienced that important job/venture meeting gone wrong when a work appliance doesn’t operate at a critical moment? Keeping your doors in top shape can help you keep your potential partners interested in a well-run business. Not to mention impressing them with sleek styles and fluid motions. Make sure your next hire-on is impressed and confident in their choice of work with a well put-together office space.
No matter what kind of building you have, from a home office to a company high-rise, your doors are a key safety and security feature. If a sudden earthquake or tornado threatens to impede your day how is your workplace going to hold up? Doors especially offer a one of a kind safety net for earthquakes by providing cover under their frames. Well-maintained doors can also make sure that everyone can reach safety should evacuation be needed.
A tightly locked door can also play an important role in keeping your important files and documents out of reach from public access (or nosy children).
Watch as your business flourishes with these simple additions. From public marketing strategy to safety and security, your doors pull more weight than you think. Give them the credit your company deserves and start drafting some of your own door designs.
February 14, 2018
Wayne Foreman
When your customers visit your business, you want them to have an excellent first impression, right? With our commercial grade glass doors, you'll be able to do just that. Regardless of your business you'll see the tangible benefits from installing a commercial glass door from CDF distributors.
We have the experience, expertise, and excellence to have you stand out amongst the competition and leave a lasting, first impression. Read on to learn more about our offerings and how we can help your business sparkle and shine.
When you have a secure and sturdy glass door, it can be a great reflection of how your business operates. There are many benefits of having such a door, yet one of the most tangible benefits is in the intangible, psychological aspect of the door itself. Similar to how a luxury car door shuts securely and has a strong weight to it, our doors embody the same classic feeling.
We design our doors to withstand the elements of Mother Nature and we also focus on providing owners and customers of businesses with some of the highest quality materials you'd expect from a group such as CDF Distributors. All of these aspects combined yields an intangible psychological impression which further extends beyond the physical appearance of the door.
Your customers will subconsciously be attracted to the fine quality of our commercial grade glass doors and be enamored with the overall feeling they have when entering your business.
Commercial glass doors represent a stronger security standpoint as mentioned above and with this comes the reduction of theft from possible robbers. Robberies often occur with a business which appears to be vulnerable, so let us further protect your vulnerabilities with our high-quality, commercial glass doors.
Our durable product may deter potential robbers from breaking into your business. The security our doors provide outweighs their value, as no one desires a traumatic event like a robbery.
So do yourself a favor and consider CDF distributors for your commercial grade doors, today!
January 25, 2018
Wayne Foreman
By definition, fire-rated doors are an entryway or door manufactured with the purpose to resist spreading fire if any part of your commercial structure catches fire. Fire rated doors in a kitchen slow down the spread of fire to other areas when closed.
CDF distributors proudly carries the largest variety of commercial fire rated doors in the industry. The most popular door sizes of hollow metal doors, wood doors, glass doors and louver options are always in stock - available, ready for super rush shipping to your job site.
All commercial properties in the United States must be inspected annually by the National Fire Protection Association. Additionally, the underwriters laboratory agency determines whether a specific door model meets acceptable fire resistance ratings within the country.
CDF's metal doors (both single and double doors) ratings consist of 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 90 minutes or a 3-hour rating. CDF distributor's fire rated wood doors come with three options: 20, 45 and 90 minute ratings.
These time-based tests are based on the timed exposure of flames the door and assembly can handle; examining the hardware, wall and door assembly as written in the building code standards. The doors are put into a large furnace to properly test the door against its specific rating.
When you choose a door model, "UL 20" indicates that it has undergone testing for 20 minutes of fire resistance.
Our hollow metal doors and frames meet specific UL safety ratings for fire protection standards.
Example materials used to make our doors include galvanized, galvannealed, cold rolled, and hot rolled steel materials. Each of our doors undergoes rigorous testing for fire resistance, including closing devices and other components.
All fire rated doors within the United States must be labeled with a permanent label which must remain legible. In addition to fire rated doors, fire rated door frames must also include a permanent readable label.
While each door manufacturer must meet the UL criteria and are often part of a standards organization like the Steel Door Institute, hollow metal door ratings and tests are conducted by independent, internationally known labs.
When designing your building's experience, consider details and materials for both function and aesthetics. To meet most fire requirements, you do not have to sacrifice aesthetics for safety.
CDF distributors always keep commercial fire rated wood in stock, however, if these typical-fire-safe-doors do not fit the design of your building's corridors, we also offer wired glass and clear high-temperature fire rated glass options.
CDF distributors offer fusible link louvers for added ventilation in closed-off rooms or mechanical closets during fires.
We provide everything to make sure your building's hallways, stairwells, and other corridors are matching to fire code requirements.
Building codes specify fire resistance ratings for walls and fire door assemblies based on location and type.
Door type requirements depend on building use and occupancy levels. Always ask your building professional for more information. Be sure to always check with your local building code authority to confirm fire door requirements in your location before the unthinkable happens.
We understand the importance of fire safety in commercial properties and the importance of getting your life and revenue saving products delivered quickly. If you're in a church, school, office space, retail shop, or any other commercial building CDF distributors will deliver your doors locally in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, New York, Nashville or Chicago. For those anywhere else in the United States, we offer affordable shipping rates and efficient delivery through FEDEX freight delivery.
December 19, 2017
Wayne Foreman
When it comes to taking care of commercial properties, way too many property owners and managers are overly focused on only maintaining the buildings they’re in charge of. Building maintenance is essential, but make sure you don’t overlook the grounds of your property or else you could be making a negative impression on visitors, customers, tenants, and potential buyers.
When visitors come to your property, if all they see is dead grass and a few trees, they’ll start making assumptions about your business based on that first impression. If your landscaping is neglected, they’ll assume that the buildings and businesses are also. When visitors are presented with attractive landscaping upon entering the grounds, they can sense the care and attention that you put into your commercial property.
Enhancing the landscaping of your commercial property not only creates a better impression on people, it also increases property value. In fact, well designed and maintained landscaping has one of the highest returns on investment when compared to other property improvement projects.
With benefits like these, there’s no good reason to continue putting your landscaping off. If you’re not sure what landscaping improvements will have the most impact or how to start the process, here’s a quick guide to help you out.
Making improvements to the landscaping of your commercial property doesn’t have to be complicated. The number one way to improve your business’s curb appeal and raise your property value is to keep the grass looking its best.
That doesn’t mean your maintenance crew has to spend every waking hour waiting for weeds to pop up to catch them before they spread. Producing a yard that your customers, tenants, and visitors will admire just requires:
Having your maintenance team care for the grass isn’t expensive, but it does require an investment of their time. If you prefer to have your maintenance crew attend to other matters, there are more options available; you could hire a reputable lawn-care professional to keep your landscaping looking its best.
Consider sod for a quick fix if your commercial property's grounds are in rough shape. It's ideal for attracting tenants or buyers quickly due to its low cost and rapid results.
If your commercial property has grass and nothing more, it may be easier to maintain but it will leave your grounds looking plain and unappealing. Add a little more life and color to your landscaping by planting trees, flowers, and shrubs; that will make your commercial property look lively and inviting.
Adding a few trees to your grounds will make a huge difference when it comes to beautifying your commercial property. Most people prefer to visit areas with mature trees that provide shade while removing carbon dioxide and pollution. Trees are a unique asset because, unlike other additions to your property, they actually increase in value over time.
If the grounds of your property already contain mature trees, make sure that your maintenance crew takes proper care of them so they remain healthy. Trees need plenty of water in order to thrive so keep them watered and place mulch at the base to retain moisture.
Mature trees also need to be pruned to remove dead limbs and encourage growth, but be careful not to cut them back too much. Over-pruning can negatively affect a tree’s health, structural integrity, and appearance. If you have any doubts about your maintenance team’s ability to properly prune trees, contact a reputable local tree trimmer.
When it comes to selecting flowers and shrubs for your commercial property, make sure that you have a thorough plant strategy in place. It’s best if you choose plants that are not just visually appealing, but hardy, low-maintenance, and seasonally balanced as well.
You’ll want your landscaping to look good year-round. Choose plants that thrive year-round, not just in spring and summer. Consult local experts for climate-specific advice.
To make your flower beds even more visually appealing, have your maintenance crew spread mulch between the plants. Not only does the mulch create a more uniform and professional look, it also helps the plants hold onto moisture. Mulch is an inexpensive addition to your landscaping that will work to increase your property value.
For your business exterior, customers and others seek more than just healthy grass. They want an attractive outdoor area that’s ideal for taking a break, enjoying the scenery, and socializing.
If your commercial property does not currently have an outdoor seating area, you might want to consider adding one. Patios, gazebos, and other seating areas are a good investment because they recoup more than the amount it costs to have them installed.
Outdoor areas with added functional or ornamental features recover even more of their initial investments. A pergola, dining area, or water feature is certain to increase the value of your property and impress visitors and tenants alike.
The ideal is to create a space that serves as an outdoor oasis. If you’re limited on how much you can invest and want to keep your upgrades simple, stick with adding some benches or a gazebo. Even with that straightforward upgrade, your commercial property value will increase.
Don't let your beautiful landscaping vanish at sunset after improving your commercial property's aesthetic value. Add outdoor lighting to your landscape will make a lasting impression any time, day or night.
Lighting can be used to highlight the most attractive features of your property. For example, you can place focus on your gazebo by hanging lights from it or have a light directed at a prominent tree on your grounds.
Good lighting serves multiple purposes. It helps people find your business easily, deters intruders, and makes visitors feel safe on your property.
Don't let landscaping deter tenants, customers, or property sale at a good price. Your grounds have loads of untapped potential. Invest a bit of time, attention, and money into your landscaping, and you’ll soon be reaping the rewards.
November 29, 2017
Wayne Foreman
Renovating and building to suit a commercial space is just as formidable if not more so than a residential space. There’s several things you need to know before beginning the renovation that you should be aware of in 2017.
You need to know who’s doing the work. In renovating a home you can sometimes get by doing some of the contracting yourself. If you get it wrong then you have to live with it and pay. However, on a commercial building you really want a point person to run everything (and you hold that person accountable).
A good commercial contractor will know what and how things need to be done and have everything from the electricians to knowing what kind of commercial doors need to go on the building. As well as someone who will itemize their bid for your job with a line item for:
Identifying architectural styles is traditionally accomplished by looking back in time to see what style movements have emerged over the years.
Since the Modern style is ever evolving to reflect modern thought and sensibilities, there isn’t always a consensus as to what constitutes this movement. This is also true for other styles as well. It’s important for the contractor and architect to be on the same page about styling.
You also need to potentially adhere to style limitations applied by the city! If you're a business in Santa Barbara, CA for example you're going to be using a LOT of stucco and red tile to match the Mediterranean style.
More importantly, the building codes need to be followed and in most cases updated. This usually is very significant. A commercial building in your area might it might require different elements than Detroit real estate would. Fire ratings, building occupancy review, plumbing, new electrical and even “green” elements are all part of commercial now so you need to have the contact number of your local permit office and even better your cities planning commissioner's direct contact information.
Business security is a critical concern for many business owners as well as for managers responsbile for their premises. Showing up to find missing inventory is a worst case scenario that can be easily prevented by being proactive about reviewing your building security, so let's get started!
“The best planned security systems and security procedures lose their effectiveness if they are not continually monitored”
Once you've reviewed the perimeter then start with controlling all of your entry points. This means you need to have the right commercial doors and locks. Locks that have been designed for commercial businesses are very different from those that have been designed for residential use. It may seem intuitive but business owners should only buy locks that are meant specifically for commercial businesses, and not cut corners.
You're going to need to review your options when it comes to locks for commercial businesses to guarantee security for all of your entry points. This is going to vary greatly depending on your type of business and level of security you're planning to provide.
This type of locks are in many ways ideal for areas that require a high level of security. This is because you can distribute access to specific individuals and monitor their entry and egress. You can utilize a number of different basic mechanisms like key cards, biometrics, entry codes and FOBs to grant entry.
The downside to this is an additional layer of management for ensuring that only the right people have the specific codes, and have in place steps to handle system errors that might keep out someone incorrectly.
Locks are nice. But really when it comes to security, it's much more about who has access, because people are the biggest security liability. Here's a checklist to make sure you have all your ducks in a row when it comes to considering human liability when it comes to security issues.
There are several more steps you can take to secure your property, if it's that high of a business priority then consider hiring a security service or engaging a business security firm to do a thorough security audit so you can rest assured and get on with your day to day business.
May 24, 2017
Wayne Foreman
There’s an object that you’ve probably seen a million times on trains and barge boats but never thought twice about: steel shipping containers. The containers have just recently been generating attention as the ideal, inherently eco-friendly construction material.
Repurposing these containers has become a growing trend as well as a social movement within the realms of modular construction, tiny houses and especially sustainable construction.
Global urbanization houses over half of the population. That’s over 4 billion people living in cities. According to the World Bank’s 2017 urban development research, that number is expected to hit 6 billion for a 1.5 times increase within the next 30 years. With such an increasingly fast-paced and developing world, it’s our job to lay a sustainable foundation for future generations.
These busy city-dwellers are generating also over 80% of global GDP. Along with the expanding cycle of productivity, they’re consuming 2/3 of the world’s energy and accounting for 70% of greenhouse emissions. With more people comes more buildings. With more buildings comes a greater need to design efficiently.
Designing cities for enhanced sustainability is key. At its core, this buzz word simply means embracing the preservation of our physical environment. With the growing need to expand and expand fast, we must look forward and plan ahead. City leaders must wisely guide the development of basic services, infrastructures and affordable housing with our grandchildren in mind.
When it comes to preserving our environment, keeping the air fresh plays a huge role. While CO2 automobile emissions greatly add to the air’s toxicity, the built environments consume an excessive amount of energy as well.
Buildings account for a surprisingly high percentage of carbon emissions. It’s not just the vehicles that are toxifying our air. In developed countries the built environments account for over 40% of the energy consumption.
Using the United Kingdom as a reference point, the Innovate UK’s Technology Strategy Board conducted an environmental assessment in 2017. The building up and tearing down as well as the operational running of these buildings taxes our environment. Built environments account for:
That’s a huge portion of emissions that’s worth looking into. As developers are further understanding the repercussions of hasty actions, we’re beginning to move forward more carefully. The concept of “building green” is still quite fresh. In 2005 only 2% of non-residential buildings were green[1]. That number has jumped to 41% just seven years later and up to 48% in 2015.
When you’re building green, energy efficiency becomes the focal point. Designers have to strategically cut back on those toxifying emissions. To build a sustainable future, we’ll need to build sustainable buildings that can meet our present needs for housing and working environments as well as our future needs. That list of built environment energy consumption should encourage us to look for better processes and materials.
If you’re a construction firm owner, an environmentally-conscious city planner, a tiny home dweller or a concerned citizen, you’ll want to know more about steel shipping containers.
Designed to ship loads of heavy material across the world, the steel shipping container became a globally-standardized transportation module in 1956[2]. They’re meant to withstand weather, weighty stacking and ocean travel.
Modular construction builders enjoy the easy stacking and prefabrication of the shipping containers. Tiny home people love these because at 150 square feet, they’re inherently tiny. Sustainability enthusiasts enjoy repurposing the box of steel as naturally recycled construction material.
Those who receive these massive shipments often give the containers to local building sites to avoid the cost of shipping it back. Now there’s about 30 million unused shipping containers all around the world. Using them in construction is a perfect way to recycle these outcasts.
The use of steel shipping containers is a growing trend that fits so many of society’s growing needs. These durable steel containers have become the latest trend for reuse construction material, especially in the tiny home movement. At 150 square feet of space, a single container easily doubles as your next simplistic home, retreat or office space.
This construction material is naturally a great addition to the green building movement. It’s recycled and repurposed. While repurposing these containers has only recently become popular, their building reuse goes back to the 1980s. The military would often utilize the structures as temporary offices, bunk houses or even showers when needed. Now the container architecture movement is evolving.
The versatility of steel shipping containers has sparked a global wave of creativity and imagination among designers. Stacking and designing these containers is like playing with heavy Legos. Anything from a high rise to a rustic cabin or spa retreat can be created. Within the construction realm, this growing movement is often referred to as cargo architecture or “cargotecture.”
With the global standardization, you’ll always know what you’re getting into with these containers. The most common container sizing will be 8 feet wide, 8 feet and 6 inches high, and either 20 or 40 feet long. This makes it really simple to find containers that stack together. If you want an especially high ceiling for your design, there’s also these “high cube” containers. The high cubes are 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, and then 9 feet and 6 inches high[3]. They’re rare, but they exist and lend some additional variation with cargo architecture.
In addition to the convenience and eco-friendly features, steel shipping containers are cheap building materials. A decent steel shipping container can easily be bought for $1,500 to $2,000.
The containers also extremely durable. They’re built to last through hard labor for at least 30 years. With that, most of them are left by the wayside at 10 years.[4]
They’re also inherently fireproof and make great post-disaster housing. Think hurricanes, tornado's, or earthquakes. To say they can withstand a great deal of wear and tear is an understatement.
II. SHIPPING CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION
Over the last 10 years, steel use in housing and non-residential construction has significantly grown. It’s one of the most sustainable building materials in the world. The American Institute of Steel Construction found that U.S.-produced structural steel contains 93.3% recycled steel scrap.
There’s several other qualities that steel one of the most ideal construction materials:
Steel is already a recycled and eco-friendly material. That makes steel shipping container repurposing an exponential win for the eco-friendly cause. Not only can you save money using these, but you can make a difference and progress an environmental movement.
In addition to helping the environment, these steel containers can help people take control of their financial crises. Approximately 76% of Americans[5] are living paycheck to paycheck and spending between 1/3 and 1/2 of their income just to put a roof over their heads. That adds up to about 15 years of someone’s lifetime spent working just to pay for that huge house.
Why should shipping containers be considered as an alternative building material? We asked Ted Elsasser of Southwest Sustainable Builders for his expert opinion, here's what he said:
Shipping containers used for residential construction make sense for a building material because,a. Their is an abundance of them on the planet.b. Steel is very recyclable and easily adapted.c. Because the container is a rectangular unit, the design process is very fun for everyone. An endless variety of configurations.d. Can be a fast process.
Sleek and compact, steel shipping containers fit the bill. Instead of leaving these containers to rot all around the world wherever they’re distributed, we can successfully repurpose them. For many people, this convenient construction material has become a modern office space, getaway retreat or home.
We’ve been building buildings for a long time. Within cities especially, it’s important to maintain the quality as well as the sustainability. They need to be designed in a way that will last through generations and minimize environmental damage.
What's the most striking fact you learned when getting into sustainable building?
"The most striking fact about sustainable building is that not much is new. Most techniques and materials have been used for centuries with great success. What we can alternative today was most likely standard 100 years ago. - Ted Elsasser"
Aside from helping the planet, purposely designing energy-efficient buildings will help cut costs. Think about that energy bill that comes in every month. Aside from being conscious of switching off the lights when you leave, there are some bigger ways to make your residential energy more efficient.
Building green means designing your home with a clear intention to be energy efficient. The idea of “building green” is still very new. Development researchers are surprised at how quickly the trend has grown.
When contractors or firm managers have experience in the growing market of sustainability design, they can join a market of opportunities. The green construction market hit $145 billion for a single year in 2015.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) conducted a study predicting that the green construction will generate $190.3 billion in labor earning by 2018. That will contribute $303.5 billion contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product[6]. That’s great for everyone.
Not only are these sustainable buildings making money and improving the economy, but they’re also providing jobs. In 2015 the growing market provided 2.3 million jobs. According to the USGBC, green construction will account for over 3.3 million jobs in the U.S. alone by 2018. That’s over one third of the whole construction industry. That’s a long way from that measly 2% back in 2005.
Moreover, more construction firms are catching on and redefining their mission statements. According to the 2015 World Green Building Trends report, 51% of firms have committed to adding more sustainability elements to over 60% of their work.
Is it really possible to get people to embrace alternative housing materials?
"Yes. 1st way is to show how much less $$ the operating costs will be over a simple five year period. 2nd reason is to give them what they want, just make it look like what their ideological vision is of a house/building. Appeal to their tastes, (or lack of it). - Ted Elsasser"
When it comes to sustainable construction materials, biodegradable, recycled and sustainable materials are key. Now designers are getting creative. There’s a number of trending green construction technologies and strategies[7] that have been gaining grounds in recent years.
Aside from following a clear conscience, there are several practical reasons why a construction company would want to incorporate sustainability.
Building green has tons of advantages that are appealing to both businesses and environmentally-friendly citizens. Even if some of the construction technologies cost more upfront, companies will still reap long-term benefits. As these sustainable construction technologies are developed further on a wide-scale, they allow for more affordable distribution.
The same World Green Building survey revealed that firms move forward for some high-ranking social reasons such as greater health and productivity. When it comes to environment reasons, energy savings tops the list. Again, think about that energy bill and all of those built environment emissions.
With fun trends like the steel shipping containers, sustainability is becoming popularized and even “hip” in several regions. If you’re looking for a “something bigger” to be a part of, jump on board and help solve the puzzle of sustainability.
It is imperative for professionals in building, construction and related industries to be up to date on the latest construction technology trends in order to maximize efficiency and maintain their competitive edge. This article gives a concise overview of the most exciting trends that have been surfacing over recent years and highlights some of the influences they are having in related industries.
While prefabrication has been around all these years in the construction industry, newer technologies and building practices have made prefabrication more common. Building information modeling is changing the way teams work on projects and improving workflows. The growth of green building has also enhanced the use of prefabs in construction. Between improved modeling technology and prefabricated materials, project teams can construct buildings that are even more environment-friendly.
Prefabrication doesn’t always have to be high tech, though. A lot of contractors are opting for CDF’s pre-installed hardware and pre-finished wood doors, which are a popular choice that helps contractors cut down on labor costs and jobsite complication.
Smart buildings employ information technology to stay connected to people, building systems, and the global environment. These smart buildings use automated processes to control and regulate building operations such as heating, air conditioning, lighting, ventilation and other home systems. They use sensors, microchips, and other smart devices to collect data and manage it based on the building’s functionality. It is not uncommon to see homeowners integrating smart building technology in their homes, but it is more prevalent in commercial buildings.
Building Information Modeling (BIM), a platform based on 3D modeling, creates and manages project information. Construction firms use 3D BIM modeling throughout the construction phases to improve planning and achieve efficient results.
One exciting new example for BIM tech is the Kaarta Contour. The "Kaarta Contour" is a handheld LiDAR scanner, not a back pillow, used for precise indoor mapping. LiDAR is typically used on aerial or UAVs but is now effective indoors.
Taking sophisticated scanning and mapping technologies beyond surveying applications and into interior mapping and BIMs referenced throughout the course of construction could result in highly streamlined workflows, less waste and plenty of other future developments.
As stated by the U.S Department of Energy, about 20 percent of U.S energy is expended to power commercial buildings. Energy-saving building construction is an excellent way to help businesses save power and energy. It is an effective means of cutting cost while also reducing their impact on the environment.
Holistic design of energy-saving buildings integrates all elements for enhanced efficiency, achieving a 70% greater efficiency compared to traditional buildings when combined with other technologies.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, whether automated using predetermined flight paths or controlled manually with a remote, assist construction firms in tracking project progress in real time by generating aerial maps, photos, and 3D images. They can also be used for site surveys on new projects. This technology is also useful in improving productivity and ensuring worksite safety.
If you work in construction, be sure to keep an eye on these developing trends to stay on top of future developments in the industry. You might just be surprised where you see them crop up.
March 22, 2017
Wayne Foreman
When planning out an entire construction projects, things can get really overwhelming. There are often many details to consider, and many expectations to be met. Keeping track of each moving piece can be difficult, and it’s rarely a foolproof process.
When things go awry and money is involved, thorough claims are necessary. In order to justify claims for more time or money, keep comprehensive records. Below are five key elements to track in your daily construction reports.
Don’t play a game of “he said, she said.” Instead, keep thorough files of written correspondence. Think emails, texts and paperwork. Be sure to keep additional copies and organized files accessible. All memoranda to and from DOT or subcontractors are especially important.
Consider utilizing collaboration technologies such as Slack Software or the popular construction app Raken. This will save you from sorting through messy piles of handwritten documentation.
Clear details are the name of the game in construction. That’s why blueprints are so important. All amendments, details, clarifications, and owner options are needed here. Please also provide all relevant charts and graphs.
There are often multiple phases, especially for larger projects. Note details of the timeline. Know who and what is needed at each stage. Include all the updates, agreements and paperwork here.
When you’re in court or heated discussion, evidence is key. The more fuel you bring to the battle, the more likely you can prove your case.
All additional evidence you can gather is more fuel to your fire. A picture is worth a thousand words, and video evidence is even better. For this reason, it’s a great idea to install a construction camera. With many high-pixel options available, it would be a worthwhile and affordable addition to your project site.
As each project unfolds, be picky about who’s on your team. Consider how you feel about each new team member. Noticing these initial instincts is important to building trustworthy relationships.
Regardless of who you’re working with, respect is key. Set the example with great communication. Make all paperwork processes as easy as possible. Always be dependable to pay full amounts on time. This will help to establish rapport.
Ideally, a mutually beneficial relationship unfolds between all parties. The idea is to make everyone happy and satisfied. However, when problems inevitably arise, thorough reporting will help you to avoid costly confusion and discontent.
March 15, 2017
Wayne Foreman
