Build America Podcast

Whether bidding a job together in one shared document, or running comparison estimates, the setup in a joint venture effort is critical to success. Consider establishing the following before starting your estimating effort. And, be consistent. Be consistent. http://sjcivil.net/estimating/the-joint-venture-estimate-setup-is-key/

GL Account

Do you often need a professional engineer to facilitate the construction at your projects? Here’s how to pick your engineer and to guarantee the quickest turnaround of the product you need. http://sjcivil.net/engineering/optimizing-the-contractors-professional-engineer/

Collapsed as-built analysis

Maintaining employment is a factor of your performance, but for construction and engineering firms it is largely dependent on a firm’s ability to bring in project after project. Who’s responsible for bringing in these projects? The answer lies below. http://sjcivil.net/business-development/wanna-eat-help-me-kill/

$1 Million, $2 Million

You’re probably reading this from America or Canada. Ever wonder what the infrastructure and construction means and methods are like in a smaller less developed country like Laos? [For those who haven’t tapped into Google yet to find out where Laos is, it’s a landlocked country adjacent to Vietnam (to the west) in Southeast Asia.] http://sjcivil.net/news/laos-infrastructure-means-methods/

A cubic yard is not a cubic yard when it comes to earthwork estimating and field operations. Know the difference to best estimate productions and to negotiate pricing in the field. http://sjcivil.net/estimating/earthwork-whats-a-cubic-yard/

Takeoff is a primary function in the estimation of construction costs. A good takeoff includes more than is plainly seen on the drawings. Here is discussed the definition and purpose of takeoff along with what makes a takeoff good. http://sjcivil.net/news/takeoff-beyond-the-drawings/

In a best case scenario, a construction claim will make the contractor financially whole again on the matter. In a worst case scenario, the contractor goes out of business. Most claims conclude somewhere in between with all parties unhappy. http://sjcivil.net/news/avoid-claims-with-a-pre-bid-analysis/

Advice for life in general, and professional life, is often gleaned by the sharing of lessons and anecdotes. Here are some lessons to apply to both home and work. http://sjcivil.net/news/from-me-to-you-things-ive-learned-as-a-professional/

The reader is introduced to the process of contractor estimating from initial project evaluation through the call for bond, the takeoff, the actual estimating of a civil project, an even the turn in of the bid... http://sjcivil.net/news/introduction-to-contractor-estimating/

A constructability review can significantly and positively impact a project. But what is it and what are the third-party reviewers looking for in their review? Here we look just at the drawings/plan review (not the specification and contract review). http://sjcivil.net/pre-construction/designers-design-constructors-construct-drawings-constructability-review/

Contractors are often brought into a project in the design phase to minimize cost.  Here are some guidelines on infrastructure project cost cutting measures from a Contractor’s viewpoint – it’s advice to a design team. http://sjcivil.net/news/designing-with-cost-in-mind/

On a project with multiple subcontractors, and say you’re one of them, implement a winning strategy for claims success by joining other subcontractors. http://sjcivil.net/sjcc/subs-should-join-forces/

Once the project starts, it is the Contractor’s project management team’s responsibility to update the client on a regular, usually weekly, basis. This is done graphically using a lookahead schedule in bar chart format (also known as a Gantt Chart). Here we discuss the contents and reliability of the lookahead schedule. http://sjcivil.net/news/the-lookahead-schedule-and-90-60-30/

Cracks in construction provide information to a superintendent. We identify what you’re seeing and what it could mean in specific scenarios. http://sjcivil.net/sjcc/cracks-in-construction/

What are the “necessities” for software and apps for your construction business? Here’s a look at what’s out there – software and/or apps that are in use by successful firms to accomplish necessary functions in your business. What do I need? If you’re doing more than a million dollars in sales a year in heavy/civil construction, I’d say you need the following tools in your construction software to...

How many RFIs (requests for information) are too many on a construction project? Is it time, is it possible, to tie the number of RFIs on a job to the cost impact suffered by a contractor? http://sjcivil.net/sjcc/is-one-rfi-one-too-many/

Time for any business is critical, perhaps more so in construction than many other industries. The role of time and its effect on a contractor are discussed here. http://sjcivil.net/ceo-owner/if-cash-is-king-times-the-queen/

Discussed here, by a contractor, is arguably the #1 area of recommended improvement for infrastructure owners with fiduciary responsibility. The area in need of improvement: response time to construction issues.

In the construction industry, there are three main tools used for scheduling. Pros and cons of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, and Primavera P6 are all briefly discussed.  http://sjcivil.net/news/microsoft-excel-v-microsoft-project-v-primavera-p6/

Education of your staff or of your client can be effectively done using SJ Construction Consulting LLC’s (SJCC) Crew Cost Clicker. Don’t talk about the cost per hour of a crew, show it. Live.  http://sjcivil.net/news/live-crew-cost-clicker/

Landing the work has enough challenges in meeting the scope, schedule, and cost requirements of the client. You’re defeating yourself if you can’t be polite and practice simple business etiquette. If your client has been kind enough to consider doing business with you, don’t give him or her a reason to escort you out the door over something as simple as your behavior. Practice good business etique...

If you work for a public works construction contractor or you do construction management on public works jobs,  Administration of Government Contracts by John Cibinic, Jr. and Ralph C. Nash, Jr. is the bible for governmental law. A very brief background from a construction professional, not a lawyer, is provided here on this key publication which should be on your bookshelf. http://sjcivil.ne...