Build America Podcast

If you’ve been running the accounts receivable and accounts payable out of a brown paper bag and want to go “legit”, here are the first steps. http://sjcivil.net/news/going-legit-lose-the-brown-paper-bag/

Covenant

Jet grout has been, and continues to be, a successful means of ground improvement. It can serve many purposes – two of the most common are structural support and groundwater control. http://sjcivil.net/means-methods/jet-grout-in-five-minutes/

Entitlement

On February 20, 2021 a Boeing 777 airplane lost an engine during flight over Colorado. The engine failure was catastrophic and could have resulted in hundreds of deaths. The plane landed safely back in Denver. This failure highlights the greatness of engineers. http://sjcivil.net/news/engine-failure-makes-engineers-great-redundancy/

Force Account

A college degree sometimes seems overrated as it isn’t necessarily a measure of intelligence, nor a guarantee of success. A pigskin on the wall says more than “I know engineering” or “I know business”. It says, “I can finish things.” http://sjcivil.net/management/what-a-college-degree-says/

Invert Spring Line Crown

When an owner determines the method of award is that the low bid wins, they shouldn’t expect contingency in a contractor’s bid. Here’s what they should expect. http://sjcivil.net/news/contingency-doesnt-exist-when-low-bid-wins/

Spider Box & Bologna Cord

The categorization of costs incurred in a changed condition scenario is critical in dispute resolution. Account for costs by issue and sub-issue by creating buckets of costs. Do it early! http://sjcivil.net/news/bucketing-the-proper-claim-accounting-method/

Allowance

There’s power in simplicity. Harness the power to more efficiently communicate in-house and with your clients. http://sjcivil.net/cost-controls/k-i-s-s-keep-it-simple-stupid/

F.A.R. (Federal Acquisition Regulations)

The word “incidental” is common to the construction industry and it can be damning if you’re not careful. Understand what you’re committing to when you enter that unit price in the bid proposal when it requires “all incidental costs be included”. http://sjcivil.net/payment/whats-in-a-word-incidental/

Latent versus patent

Contractors experience all sorts of delays. This article covers what, arguably, may be the four most common types: inexcusable, excusable, compensable, and concurrent delays. http://sjcivil.net/news/delay-types-top-4-list/

Purchase order

Starting a construction business has its unique requirements. These plus the norms will get you up and running at your new construction business. http://sjcivil.net/business-development/five-minute-how-to-starting-a-construction-business/

Squares

Our nation’s infrastructure bears on many types of foundations. Generally speaking, they can be classified into two different types: shallow or deep foundations. http://sjcivil.net/news/shallow-versus-deep-foundations-whats-the-difference/

Post-tensioned concrete

Many challenges in a project can be flushed out in the pre-bid phase with clear and concise questioning to the Owner. Consider these questions as a part of your bidding procedure. http://sjcivil.net/news/pre-bid-questioning-to-the-owner-or-yourself/

Level vs plumb

When making regular payments throughout the lifespan of a construction project, there are two main ways a general contractor or owner can achieve a significant level of financial protection: the joint check and/or the lien release. http://sjcivil.net/cost-controls/general-contractor-owner-financial-protection-two-ways/