Construction Trends

The Latest in Smart Home Technology From the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show

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New and innovative products introduced at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show demonstrate that consumers and manufacturers continue to have a keen interest in smart home technology. The Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas, is a prominent venue for designers, developers and manufacturers to showcase their latest products. The 2015 show makes it clear that […]

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December 2014 Saw Lower Construction Material Costs Across the U.S.

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Prices for 11 important residential construction materials dropped in December 2014, with indications that prices may drop even further in the early months of 2015. Construction material costs fell 1.4 percent in December 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Producer Price Index. The price reductions in December represented a nearly 1 percent decrease

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Sustainable Materials That May Make Their Way Into the Future Home Building Market

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Current research in sustainable building materials is producing several notable advances in the type of material that may eventually become commonplace in the home building market. New approaches to construction materials could result in products that dramatically improve residential sustainability and energy efficiency. Here are some of the sustainable building materials and practices that could

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Midsize Construction Firms Expecting More Growth and Business in Coming Year

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The outlook for midsize construction firms in 2015 is optimistic, with almost half believing that the construction sector will expand in the coming year. In a survey conducted by GE Capital, 47 percent of survey respondents reported that business will be brighter for midsize construction firms in 2015, with growth expected throughout the year. The

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Growth in Institutional Construction Detected for the First Time in 6 Years

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For the first time since 2008, the institutional construction sector is showing signs of growth. Institutional construction increased a modest 4 percent in 2014, in contrast to several years of either stagnation or declines, beginning in 2009. The uptick in the institutional sector was reported in the 2015 Dodge Construction Outlook, produced by Dodge Data

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Unemployment in Construction Lowest in Years, Though Qualified Labor Is Still Hard to Find

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After a lengthy period of limited opportunity and uncertainty, unemployment in construction is at its lowest point since 2006. Despite the positive upturn in construction employment, however, some industries and geographical areas are still experiencing unemployment in construction. Qualified construction workers are still in short supply in areas where oil drilling and petroleum production have been

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Denver Condo Construction May Increase if Challenge to Defects Law Passes

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A strict Colorado law has restricted construction of condominiums in Denver for the past several years, but recent challenges to that law could result in a more favorable environment for builders and an increase in Denver construction. The Colorado construction defects law of 2005 protects consumers from defects and shortcomings in construction projects. However, the

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Non-Residential Spending on the Rise Reflects Construction Recovery

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New statistics covering non-residential construction spending show signs of continuing recovery in the construction industry. This area of construction spending increased 1 percent in October 2014, resulting in a 4.3 percent increase for the year to date, according to a December 2, 2014 report by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Commerce Department report further

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How Apprenticeship Is Helping With Construction Labor Shortage

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To meet today’s resurgent demand for new housing as well as the construction labor to build it, apprenticeship programs are filling the gap where employees are scarce. During the housing crash, many experienced workers left the construction industry for jobs elsewhere. Even though available work is now steadily returning to the industry due to the

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