Does your insurance cover roof repair cost – by Tanya Wiseman

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As homeowners, we are not always protected from the weather conditions that may be prone to the area we live in. Anything from rains, snow, frost, humidity and storms, we have to be ready to protect our home. Your roofing insurance coverage may be able to provide the coverage for several roof damages. When you obtain the insurance, it is always wise to check with your insurance agent about your policy’s coverage as it relates to roofing insurance claims, and what is covered in the case of loss.
Homeowner’s policies do not contain coverage for "match" issues. Your policy says the company will pay "to repair or replace the damaged property with material of like kind and quality" (language varies by state). That means, they owe to replace the individual shingles or tiles that were damaged by a covered peril (wind, hail, etc) unless your shingles are old, brittle, and cannot be repaired. In that case, the company must pay to replace the affected slope(s). Over the years, lawsuits established precedents, claims settlement statutes in each state. These guidelines address match as well as other issues. In some states it is customary to replace only the individual shingles, unless there is a reparability issue or mechanical mismatch which makes it impossible. In some states, it is customary to replace only the slopes containing damage. In other states, line-of-sight guidelines prevail, this allows replacement of roof covering on one or more elevations. Please check with your agent for more details.
If the shingles that are currently on your roof are no longer manufactured, the company is responsible for replacing your entire roof. But if your shingles are manufactured and do not match the existing shingles due to weathering, the company is only responsible for replacing the damaged shingles, not the whole roof.
Some homeowners insurance make adverse underwriting decisions based on the make up or condition of the roof of a home. The type of roofing materials include, but are not limited to: wood roofs, multi-layered roofs (composition shingles over wood or several layers of composition shingles), asbestos shingles, and sheet tin or aluminum roofs.

Here are some tips to reduce potential damages and home insurance premiums, when it comes to roofing:
Hailstorms do not usually result in the catastrophic damage associated with windstorms or fire. However, hail does result in significant damage to homes. The main area of a home susceptible to hail damage is the roof. The following are ways that can help mitigate damage in the event of hail:
1. Roof Covering – The condition and materials of the roof covering can improve the impact resistance. Worn asphalt shingles are especially vulnerable to hail damage. Impact-resistant roof coverings designed and tested to improve roof performance during hailstorms are available.
2. Roof Decking – The roof decking provides the structural support for the roof covering. Solid roof decking improves the impact resistance of the roof. Material and construction techniques can improve the stiffness of the roof decking and help reduce hail damage.
3. Roof Slope – Angling the roof reduces the force of impact from hail. Hail hitting the roof at a 90-degree angle causes more damage than hail hitting the roof at an angle that deflects the force of the hail.
Hurricane/ Tornado
The main areas of a home that could be improved to help mitigate damages and losses in the event of a hurricane are the roof, the windows, the doors, and garage doors (if present). Hurricane loss mitigation efforts should typically attempt to prevent a structure from being penetrated by the wind. Keeping the roof intact, and keeping the doors and windows sealed shut are of utmost importance.
Roof – The type and condition of roof can be a significant factor in the amount of damage sustained by a structure in a hurricane or tornado. For instance, gable roofs are more likely to suffer damage from the high wind generated by hurricanes/tornados. Also, the quality of the construction can affect the performance of the roof in high winds. When the roof decking is not properly attached to the roof frame, the roof may not survive high winds.
Loose shingles or tiles increase the susceptibility of the roof to high winds. Once the roof structure is compromised, the integrity of the roofing is weakened and the interior of the house and its contents become susceptible to water damage or even the collapse of the roof itself. Loose tiles and shingles also become dangerous projectiles in the high winds. <p>
Wildfire
The two main areas of a home that could be improved to help mitigate damages and losses in the event of a wildfire are the roof covering, and landscaping. Fire loss mitigation efforts should typically attempt to prevent a structure from catching fire. Proper landscaping can keep the fire from getting close enough to the structure to ignite it, while proper roof covering can help prevent ignition from floating embers.
Roof Covering – The type of roof covering will depend on the other perils a home faces. Concrete or tile roofs are very fire resistant, but can be prone to hail damage. An asphalt shingle with good fire rating is often the most cost-effective choice a homeowner has. Wood shakes or shingles are to be avoided for homes exposed to wildfire, as these roofs are the most fire prone.
Winter Freeze
The easiest and most effective way to reduce potential loss from winter freeze is to conduct regular maintenance on your home and property. You should be aware of the potential hazards of seasonal temperature changes, and protect your home accordingly. The major areas of concern should be gutters, outdoor faucets, the maintenance of appropriate indoor and attic temperatures, as well as that landscape, whose proximity to your home might pose a winter freeze-related danger.
Gutters – To prevent or lessen the possible impact of a winter freeze, gutters should be cleared of debris and flushed out with a garden hose. This will help prevent ice dams from forming at the base of the roof, and in the gutter area.
We don’t always know when Mother Nature will send forth her fury, but we can be prepared for unexpected disasters. Review your homeowners’ coverage every year and talk to your insurance agent if you have questions. Don’t compound the disaster of losing your home by not having adequate insurance coverage to replace it.

Tanya is the the author for

Flat Roof Repair

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Aerial Infrared Roof Moisture Surveys – by Gregory R. Stockton

Aerial Infrared Roof Moisture Surveys

INTRODUCTION

IR P/PM (infrared predictive/preventive maintenance) is not limited to annual infrared surveys of electrical switchgear. For instance, infrared thermography can be a very effective tool for roof asset management. IR roof moisture surveys are performed on roofs to quantify the extent of roof moisture (water) that is inside the roof system. Infrared thermography is not leak management. No matter how the water got into the substrate, the purpose of this type of survey is simply to find and document where the water is located. Extending the life of a roof will save the owner the expense and aggravation of re-roofing or re-covering. Re-roofing means that the roof is taken down to the decking and replaced completely. Re-covering means that the waterproofing layer(s) are removed, the wet insulation is removed and replaced and a new waterproofing layer is put down. The cost of an infrared roof moisture survey is three to five CENTS per square foot. It cost between three and five DOLLARS per square foot to repair/replace roofs, so knowing the exact location of the subsurface water is extremely useful information, since only those areas that are damaged need to be repaired. This information is used to plan budgets and when needed, as a bid document for contracting repairs and/or replacement of the roof.

Keywords: Infrared, Thermography, Roof, Roof Asset Management, Infrared Roof Moisture Survey.

ROOF MAINTENANCE IN GENERAL

The ravages of sun, wind, rain, snow, chemicals, leakage, rapid changes in temperature and time – will eventually cause every roof to fail. Some roofs last 40-50 years…when they are well maintained. Owners may believe that a roof warranty will somehow protect them from having to do maintenance. Not so, as roof warranties are written by roofing manufacturers for the purpose of protecting themselves from liability. For example, often a warranty is written so that if improperly installed or defective roofing materials are used on a roof and water leaks into the electrical switchgear room causing an explosion, the roofing manufacturer will replace the materials, the roofer will reinstall the materials, but the building owner has to pay for the replacement of the switchgear and any downtime that resulted from the failure. Also, the roofer’s and roofing manufacturer’s liability, in the case of roof failures are also reduced by vaguely written roof warranties, which do not define words like “regular” or “routine” maintenance. Not accepting the roof warranty is not the answer, since the roof will not be installed unless the owner agrees to the warranty. To eliminate these problems, the building owner should have an agreement with a qualified roofer or roof consultant to inspect and maintain the roof (in accordance with the terms of the warranty) at least once a year.

Waterproofing problems manifest themselves in two ways: Leakage and entrained moisture contamination. Leakage is pretty simple, although the leak inside the building rarely directly relates to the exact spot on the roof, since the water flows down the slope of the roof to a spot that is not sealed and into the building at that point. Most leaks occur where the waterproofing is sealed or where there is a penetration of the roof. Since most types of roof systems absorb some amount of water, it is harder to find the exact spot of water contamination in the insulation because it may not leak into the building until it has absorbed all the water it can hold. There are three types of surveys that are used to find water in a roof. Nuclear gauges-which count neutrons, capacitance meters-which measure resistance, and infrared-which measures heat. Both nuclear gauges and capacitance meters are used to take spot readings on a 10′ X 10′ or 20′ X 20′ grid on the roof. These measurements are used to extrapolate where the water is from the readings obtained from the gauge. They are good for types of roofs that do not gain or lose much solar energy and therefore, do not lend themselves to infrared.

BASICS OF INFRARED ROOF MOISTURE SURVEYS

During the day, the sun radiates energy onto the roof and into the roof substrate, and then at night, the roof radiates the heat back into outer space (See Figure 1). This is called radiational cooling. Areas of the roof that are of a higher mass (wet) retain this heat longer than that of the lower mass (dry) areas. Infrared imagers can detect this heat and “see” the warmer, higher mass areas, during the “window” of uneven heat dissipation.

Figure 1) Areas of the roof that are wet retain heat longer than dry areas.

Some roofs and insulation types or combinations do not absorb any water. These roofs leak straight into the building. Even roofs, which have insulation types that do absorb water, some do not exhibit a good infrared signal, primarily for two reasons. 1) The surface is too reflective, and/or 2) the roof’s ballast is so thick (or dense), that daylight radiation is not absorbed into the substrate (insulation), therefore it cannot be emitted back into the atmosphere at night. Even with a strong infrared signal, factors on the roof can affect the analysis and interpretation of the data. Some of these factors: water between multiple layers, old patches, heavy flood coats, reflective coatings, heat-producing equipment under the roof -or heat blowing down onto the roof, stains, ponding water on the roof, heavy build-up of ballast at parapet walls and along edges, etc. These roofs should be inspected by other methods as described above.

WALK-ON INFRARED ROOF SURVEYING

To perform a walk-on or on-roof survey properly, a crew of three to four people is needed: an experienced infrared thermographer and helper, an experienced roof consultant or roofer and the building owners’ representative for access and security. The crew walks around the roof(s) and when an area of suspect moisture is found, the roof consultant verifies it is wet and then the helper marks the edges of the area directly on the roof with marking paint as instructed by the thermographer. The crew needs authorization and access to all areas and levels of the roof(s) from either ladders or roof hatches and plenty of time to collect data. The infrared images are stored on videotape or digital media and printed (See Figure 2).

Figure 2) On-roof IR image.

The next day, the thermographer goes back on the roof(s) to take matching visual photographs of the marked areas that contain subsurface moisture. The problem with on-roof infrared is that when one is standing on the roof, eye-level is at best six feet over the surface. Even with the best hand-held infrared camera available, there is virtually no way to get large areas (800 sq. ft. blobs or 100′ long striations) of moisture contamination on the screen in one infrared shot. Taking multiple shots is labor-intensive and makes the report confusing. When performing on-roof surveys, many times “you can’t see the forest for the trees.” Marking the roof is fairly easy, but it is very difficult/time-consuming to produce accurate drawings of the wet areas from painted lines on a roof. Often the drawing supplied by the owner is outdated, incorrect or even non-existent.

AERIAL INFRARED ROOF SURVEYING

There is never a time when on-roof imagery is better than aerial imagery. While the best IR imagery of a roof is taken from the air, the same laws of physics apply to both aerial IR and on-roof IR…like a dry roof, low winds and no rain on the night of the survey. Also, the “window” when the roof is radiating heat differently from wet and dry areas is longer with aerial infrared because slight nuances of temperatures over large areas are distinguishable. The high angle of view allows the aerial thermographer to produce more usable imagery and therefore accurate CAD drawings. The cameras that are used for on-roof surveys are not of sufficient spatial resolution to obtain good imagery from flight altitudes of 1,200 – 1,500 feet above the roof, so high-resolution, large format IR cameras (See Figure 3) are required.

Figure 3) Large format infrared imager, fixed-mounted in a light aircraft.

Once the aircraft is over a building, very little time (five minutes per 200,000 square feet, about 25 minutes for two million square feet) is required to fly over making multiple passes. The imagery is recorded on digital videotape. Visual photographs are taken earlier in the day or the next day. After returning to the office, the photos are printed and the thermographs are saved on the computer. The raw video imagery, thermographs and photographs are used to make an edited videotape copy of the passes over the building. Both visual and infrared images are used to do the analysis by overlaying the CAD drawing of the roof ‘over’ the digitized photographs and thermographs. The drawings always need to be corrected, because rooftop equipment has been removed, moved or added since the last update of the drawings. Then, areas of suspected moisture contamination are drawn on the CAD file. The result is a report where visual, infrared and CAD components (printed and video) are well matched and lined-up. The report is given to a roof consultant who verifies the wet insulation during the day, while making other condition notes on the roof.

Fixed-wing aerial infrared imaging provides many advantages over on-roof infrared imaging:

·Access to multiple levels of the roof is not a problem.
·High-angle, straight down infrared images lessen reflection problems.
·High-resolution images capture large areas at once, making report writing easier and less expensive to produce.
·Plan-view imaging allows for infrared images, visual images and AutoCAD drawings to be reconciled closely. As a result, the report is clear, concise and easy to understand (See Figure 4a, 4b, 4c).
·Plan view imaging allows accurate marking of areas of suspect roof moisture contamination.
·The printed CAD drawings can be used on the roof to paint areas of moisture contamination directly on the roof (after verification), if desired.

Figure 4a) Photograph of a roof.

Figure 4b) Thermograph of a roof.

Figure 4c) Scaled CAD drawing of a roof.

·The aerial infrared thermographer can wait for a good night for imaging, surveying many roofs under good conditions.
·The trending of roof moisture becomes possible.
·An aircrew of two can easily survey many millions of square feet in a single night.
·Processing the data is done in the office, not on the roof.
·Report components can be purchased as needed. Aerial IR allows the building owner to buy only the report he needs at that time.

The biggest advantage of aerial infrared is on roofs that are the most difficult to image from any distance or angle. Roofs that, for instance, have a lot of ballast, are covered with reflective coatings or for whatever reason are impossible to image while standing on the roof. With high-resolution, plan view aerial imagery, slight nuances of temperature can be seen from far enough away to actually see the pattern of heat and make a determination of where the problems are.

CONCLUSIONS

Every day millions of square feet of perfectly good roofing materials are disposed of in our landfills. Why? Because roofs are often replaced because know one knows where exactly the roof is damaged until it is too late. If you want your roof to last, it must be regularly maintained by professionals. Infrared roof moisture surveying is the best method of non-destructive testing on roofs, and aerial infrared is the best platform for performing infrared roof moisture surveys. Improvements in IR cameras and flight methodology, aerial infrared thermography and aerial infrared reports are getting better and more useable everyday.

Author Biography
Gregory R. Stockton is President of Stockton Infrared Thermographic Services, Inc.. (http://www.stocktoninfrared.com). Greg has twenty-five years experience in the construction industry, specializing in facilities construction, maintenance and energy-related technologies. He has performed infrared thermography since 1989 and has published fourteen white papers and numerous articles on infrared thermography.

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Hiring Scaffolding – by Phil ray

Hiring scaffolding

When you need scaffolding to do a job don’t think of it as a DIY job. If you need scaffolding you’ll need to contact a scaffolding hire company. If you do it yourself, you may find that you will become liable for any problems or issues that arise.
A good place to start looking for a hire company is your Local Council or authority. They may have a list of approved hire companies and you will need to contact them to find out. Remember – your Local Authority will not be able to recommend a particular company as such, but you should be able to make sure that it is am approved company.

In this way you can help to make sure that you employ a qualified builder or scaffolding company to carry out the erection of scaffolding. Again, as working off scaffolding can be a hazardous occupation, leave any building work to the professionals and a qualified builder to do any related building work.

Scaffolding licences

Your scaffolding may need a license. It is the responsibility of the builder or scaffolding Hire Company to get a licence for any scaffolding that is put up on the highway (this includes the pavement). However, you need to be clear that it is your responsibility to check they have this and that it does not run out before the building work is finished.

You can always contact your local authority to apply for more information as to if you need a license and what to do about this.

Safety

Safety is of prime importance when erecting or using scaffolding. Employing qualified people to erect your scaffolding and carry out building work should help to make sure your building site is a safe place. However you should discuss safety issues with the person or company you employ. In particular, you will need to be aware of the following points:

- Scaffolding should always be erected on a firm, level foundation.

- If there is any risk to the public, schedule scaffolding work for quiet times or get a highway closure your local council.

- It is dangerous to erect scaffolding too near power lines. Your local power company can temporally move or protect cables but you will need to organise this well in advance.

- All scaffold boards used should be British Standard BS2482.

- There must be suitably strong barriers in place if someone could fall more than two metres.

- in order to avoid building waste falling on passers-by, keep scaffold boards clear and provide protective catch netting if necessary.

- Ladders should be strong, secure and in good condition, domestic ladders are generally not suitable. Make sure that they are long enough and securely fixed for safety’s sake!

Heavy or bulky loads shouldn’t be carried up and down ladders. Make sure a hoist is available for heavy or large awkward loads.

Make sure that scaffolding structures are checked weekly, and inspected after alterations, damage and extreme weather conditions. Make sure that it is recorded that you have an appointed person responsible for doing this – even if it is you.

Components should never be removed out of position for any reason whatsoever. Even on a temporary basis.

Building Regulations

it is always wise to contact your local council for details of any building regulations you may need to consider, like the ‘materials and workmanship’ regulation or the ‘access to and use of building’ regulation. Copies of the current building regulations are available from Building Regulations Publications HMSO.

You also need to make sure you have any necessary planning permission for the building project your scaffolding relates to. Again your local council will be able to advise you on this.

Remember – when it comes to scaffolding – safety first, last and always!

Article by Philip Ray
©

Whilst this article endeavours to contain up to date and accurate information, the article can only be considered as a guide. The author would always recommend that you take local independent professional advice.

After many years working in the construction industry, Phil now teaches in the UK. He has written many articles for web sites like Householders Guide, ukhomeonline.co.uk and yourhomeonlineuk.co.uk. His wide knowledge of the Construction Industry and Housing Markets makes him a popular author on Buying Real Estate.©

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Construction Accidents – An Unfortunate Product of the Building Boom – by Tim Penn

The early part of the 20th Century saw the United States enjoy an unprecedented building boom, both for residential and commercial properties. This was obviously a benefit to the overall economy, as more people own homes and commercial property now than ever before. Owning property is one of the safest and most reliable investments available for many reasons, but there was also an upswing in one unfortunate variable in regards to this boom – a distinct rise in construction accidents.

Below is a look at some of the construction accidents that have occurred with alarming frequency in recent years, but you also need to understand that if you’ve been injured in a construction accident, you need to contact a construction injury lawyer as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation.

Construction Falls
Statistics compiled by the government show that on average, more than 1,200 construction workers are killed every year in the United States, and this industry also leads the way in terms of workplace injuries. The same statistical compilation that was formulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the most common type of construction worker injury is the fall, and that makes sense.

Construction workers are required to climb upon structures that are not stable in order to complete certain aspects of a building job, and certain situations and occurrences lead to a construction worker falling from extremely dangerous heights. This also falls in line with the fact that the most common construction worker injury is to the back, as the back is what normally takes the brunt of a fall.

Scaffolding Worker Injury
Another extremely common construction worker injury is the scaffolding worker injury, and this, too, was one of the leading causes of missed work time and serious injuries within the construction industry. Scaffolding is often built with only a temporary means of access in mind, and as a result these structures are often unstable in nature. Therefore, the types of construction accidents that can occur include falling from the scaffolding, head injuries from falling debris from the top of the scaffolding and a plethora of “other” injuries that result from the collapse of the scaffolding.

Welding Injury
Every year, more than 10,000 people are injured as a result of a welding accident. Welding is an inherently hazardous duty to perform, and as you may guess, the leading type of construction injuries that occur as a result of welding is an injury to the eye or eyes. Welding guns produce heat that tops 1,000 degrees, which means that this flame or heat causes serious injuries when making contact with the eyes.
Of course, there are many other causes and types of construction worker injuries. If you have been injured on the job, you may have the right to file a construction accident lawsuit. Contact a construction injury lawyer today to get the process of protecting and enforcing your rights started.

Learn more about construction construction accident
then visit www.resource4constructionsiteaccidents.com
T

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What’s Contained In A Construction Business Plan – by Shaunta Pleasant

It is no secret that the construction business has been an extremely profitable place to see for quite a number of years.

Home construction and business construction have both been growing at incredible rates, and that means that there is significant opportunity in all aspects of building and repairing homes and businesses.

==Start Up Capital For Your Business==

Of course in order to be successful in the construction world, you will need a solid construction business plan behind you.

Without such a business plan for your proposed business, you will be unable to raise the startup capital you need, or to attract the funds you may need to finance growth or ongoing operations.

==Structuring Your Business Properly==

In addition, the information you gather while creating your construction business plan can help you to structure your business properly, and it can even help you easily see the challenges and the opportunities of you new business venture.

==Running Your Construction Business==

Your construction business plan should also include information on how you plan to run your business, and how you plan to attract and retain qualified employees.

Finding skilled help at an affordable hourly rate is one of the most serious challenges facing the construction industry, and it is important for your construction business plan to address this important issue.

==The Information To Bring With You When You Are Getting financed==

When you do start searching for startup funds for your new construction business, it is important to be as prepared as possible for your meeting with the business lender.

You will of course need to bring your construction business plan with you, and you will want to make sure that it is accurate and complete prior to arriving at the meeting.

Chances are the business lender will also want to see other financial information, such as your bank account statements and tax returns, so be sure that you have all the information needed at your fingertips.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional web writer and editor on business plan topics. Visit my site to learn more about writing a business plan at http://www.business-plan-made-easy.com/construction-business-plan.html

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Portable Construction Buildings are a Cornerstone of the Construction Business – by Francisco Segura

Portable construction buildings have been a valuable tool that has been used in the construction field for many years now. The need to portability and transportability is needed in a business that is constantly on the move from jobsite to jobsite and portable buildings provide those two important factors. Since the construction industry is one of constant growth and change, portable construction buildings offer one of the only reasonable ways for conducting business in a productive and efficient way. They provide a source for office and management staff members to work without having to be outside where all the noise of the actual construction project is happening. Temporary construction buildings can also be used to create break rooms where workers can enjoy their lunch away from the weather that they must endure throughout the day.

Mobile construction buildings come in many different sizes and shapes to accommodate every need you have. They can be equipped with bathrooms so you can eliminate a lot of the need for porta-potties that can often be unsanitary, which can have a huge impact on the odds that an employee will become sick through the spreading of germs.

Also, if your construction company is part of a large housing project, portable construction buildings can double as an office for salespeople to conduct customer sales on the land plots that you are building homes on. This can vastly help lower the costs by reducing the amount of offices that a company needs to conduct regular business. Also, portable construction buildings are the least costly office solution that you are likely to find. You can buy, lease, or rent mobile construction buildings depending on what your money situation is, load it up on a truck, and take it wherever you need it. They can be hooked-up to have power, running water, and natural gas, just like any regular office, making temporary construction buildings an even more attractive option.

Portable construction buildings are not just limited to the small offices that you can bring to any jobsite. They can also be built to accommodate larger endeavors like manufacturing warehouses. Temporary construction buildings can be made to any size so they can fit whatever projects you need. Larger construction companies can have portable construction buildings built to be their corporate headquarters and house their entire administrative staff.

Finally, mobile construction buildings are sold, leased, and rented by a lot of different companies and not all are the same or offer good prices. When looking for a mobile construction building you will need to think about what you need and if a particular company can meet that need. Also, you would do well to consider used portable construction buildings. You can usually find manufactures that have bought back their portable buildings from customers, refurbished them, and are now reselling them at huge discounted prices. This would be an advisable alternative to buying one from an independent party who may be trying to unload a portable building that is in bad condition or unusable.

Francisco Segura owns and operates http://www.portablebuildingscenter.com Portable Buildings

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Polymers in Construction – a New Handbook from Rapra – by Sarah Ward

Rapra’s new Handbook of Polymers in Construction provides a wealth of information on the use of plastics, rubbers and composites in building and construction applications. (PRWEB) January 19, 2005 — As well as providing the materials for innovative design, polymers make a significant contribution to other long-life applications such as pipes, insulation, windows, cables and floor coverings. Consumption of plastics by the building and construction sector in Western Europe is predicted to rise by more than 60% to almost 8 million tonnes in 2010. This increase reflects a trend over the last 25 years, which has seen the building industry increasingly use plastics. Polymers are used very effectively for various structural and non-structural applications in construction, because they provide long-lasting and easy solutions. In the future, there will be few construction needs that plastics and advanced resins will not meet. Rapra’s new Handbook of Polymers in Construction provides a wealth of information on the use of polymers in construction, giving insight to newcomers to the industry and to personnel already working in the construction sector. Acknowledged experts in this field have provided chapters on condensation control, civil engineering applications, material properties, sustainable construction, processing for construction applications, use of plastics composites, rubber concrete, and possible health & safety issues. Handbook of Polymers in Construction, edited by Güneri Akovali, retails at £95 (plus postage and packaging) and is available from www.polymer-books.com or from Publications Sales, Rapra Technology, Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 4NR, United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0) 1939 250383, Fax: +44 (0) 1939 251118, Email: e-mail protected from spam bots

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New Or Used Construction Equipment – The Return On Investment Decision – by Chris Warren

It has always been a debate whether to buy new or used construction equipment. Smaller fleets prefer to buy used construction equipment as they attract less capital investments. Another reason for people to opt for used construction equipment is that they are sometimes as good as new and come at a very heavy discounted price as compared to that offered at the showrooms.

Moreover, Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) and TradeYard, Inc, have jointly announced an alliance that shall provide certified inspection of used construction equipment that can also be sold online. This has been done to boost the business-to-business sales via online medium. It gives better promotion to the sale of used construction equipment and buyers to be confident about their purchase. Usually buyers buy the used construction equipment only upon the preliminary inspection done by the technical agent from either the buyer or the seller side. Since a neutral and unbiased inspection report shall be available it would lead to increased sales and more profitable bargains to small investors. Small fleet owners usually opt for used construction equipment sold from earlier projects. Large construction companies that carry huge fleet of construction equipment can also strike a good bargain at onsite purchase of such certified used construction equipment.

There had always been a skeptical attitude towards the economies in the Indian sub-continent, Russia or Latin America. But over the past years these economies have shown a constant and steady growth. The demand to construct new projects or to renew the old ones has been always in demand. Since these countries are not as cash rich and affluent, they usually have constructors who have smaller fleet. Moreover, they also do not have enough capital to be invested in developing a large fleet. They are always on a look out for used construction equipments. Along with this these constructors take on projects in the neighboring countries and shifting heavy and used construction equipment is also not feasible. Thus sales of such equipments is constantly in demand

Apart from the projects in these countries, bigger companies take up their projects in the continent of Africa and also the Gulf countries. Thus they opt to buy used construction equipments available locally from the companies or constructors who wish dispose off their fleet. The used construction equipments are also on the sale due to the feasibility reasons that lie on the seller’s side as well. The construction companies who have finished off their projects in foreign lands and take up projects in other countries, for such large companies it is more feasible to dispose off their used construction equipment and assemble a new fleet at the onsite location rather than carry them to the new land. This is due to the reason that various countries have different rules for export and import of heavy equipment required for infrastructure development.

Some countries impose heavy taxes and import duties to restrict import of used construction equipment. This is done to prevent the domestic markets and small construction companies with limited resources. Further, export of such used construction equipment requires various documentation procedure, inspections and other legal formalities. All such activities are not only tedious but also time consuming. These formalities also require lot of duty fulfillment at both the ends. Moreover clearance at the ports and damage caused in handling and shifiting these equipments is also very tedious job.

Thus construction companies prefer to buy new or used construction equipment locally. Only Large construction companies or companies who have strategic partnerships in the local market for a company prefer to import a part of their used construction equipment for their ongoing projects.

Chris Warren, Construction Equipment engineer – focusing on Heavy Equipment Auctions and Heavy Equipment

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MSc Construction Management – by Joann Cheong

The Master of Science or MSc Construction Management is a course or program that aims to produce postgraduates at the forefront of management of construction projects who recognized the complexity and systems nature of the construction industry. There are several universities offering this specific masters program like University of Plymouth, University of Bath, and many others.

The MSc Construction Management that you plan of taking must be accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or RICS and the Chartered Institute of Building or CIOB. To be able to give full contribution, the construction professionals needs to recognize the potential offered by effective design coordination and modern sustainable materials. Through the knowledge and understanding of these issues, it is anticipated that a qualification would significantly improve the career prospects of ambitious, or shall I say goal-oriented, construction professionals. Additionally, it can also be perceived as a stepping stone for those considering PhD research.

A successful construction manager is someone who can determine, analyze, device, and organize resources required for a construction management. You should also know that management within the construction industry is a demanding, yet fulfilling job, operating within a rapidly changing environment, meeting the new challenges set by the use of original materials and advanced building designs. In relation to this, construction professionals have to continuously update their knowledge to keep the pace and this is where MSc Construction Management steps in.

Many successful organizations are eager to employ individuals who have put up on their undergraduate experience not only to intensify, but also to broaden their understanding of their subject. This is the reason why MSc Construction Management course exist. The MSc/MRes Construction Management masters degree is run over one year for full-time participants and MSc/ MRes Construction Management masters degree taken over two years, one day a week, for part-timers.

For part-timers case, it is likely that the reason they cannot commit to this program full-time is, probably, they are working full-time. Another option to study this program without affecting their current job is taking online courses that are also offered by selected universities. Yes, it is also offered online! You can work in your own pace. The idea of giving these options is great for working individuals who are still up to their ambitions whatever the situation is.

If you are interested in taking MSc Construction Management and looking for school to enroll to, University of Plymouth and University of Bath are just some of the universities that can help you with your goal for career advancement. When researching for this kind of program with other universities, make sure to check out for the availability of schedules and, most importantly, the course outline itself. For any inquiries about the school or program, just go to each of the universities website.

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Great Southwestern Construction, Inc. signs with Harper Design – by Ryan Dickinson

Great Southwestern Construction, an electric power industry heavy construction contractor, has signed an online marketing services agreement with Harper Design. Harper Design, Denver’s Marketing Firm is pleased to announce the signing of Great Southwestern Construction to an online marketing agreement. Great Southwestern Construction is a very highly respected provider of substation and high-voltage transmission construction services to the electric power industry. Great Southwestern originally sought Harper Design’s services for an important trade publication ad campaign in mid 2002. Based on that performance, they chose Harper Design to develop their website and a trade show brochure earlier this week. “It is wonderful to know that our clients experience great results – and that it drives them to continue working with us” said Ryan Dickinson, a partner in Harper Design. “We have performed well, and Great Southwestern recognizes that. It is a testament to our customer service philosophy and our effective marketing methods” said Dickinson. For more information on Harper Design, visit www.harperdesign.com.

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