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Recycling as much debris as possible has become part of the process of demolishing structures in this day and age. Some items taken from buildings, such as steel, wood and concrete, are in high demand and command fairly nice prices. Then there are items left behind that the demolition contractor can salvage and sell. Pat Clauss, owner of Clauss Construction in Lakeside, removed a pair of wood and glass doors that once served as the entrance to Steve Wynns art collection at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. The doors, including frames with inlaid gold, and magnificent beveled glass designs, were installed at his new Lakeside office, along with glass sconces retrieved from the same project. At several sites he has found workable heavy equipment and other machinery easily sold, or re-used by the company.
THE dearth of funds has been variously fingered as the major problem besetting the construction industry. The plethora of uncompleted and abandoned projects that dot the nation's landscape has often been traced to this factor. Indigenous construction companies have been worst hit, hence, many of them have folded up, giving way to multinational construction companies who are often backed financially by their home governments. Both the Federal and state governments have often hinged their preference for expatriate construction companies on the fact that their indigenous counterparts lack the equipment to execute complex jobs. But how can they effectively compete with these offshore funded companies when borrowing from commercial banks is usually at cut-throat interest rates. Built environment professionals who have been badly affected by this scenario have not rested on their oars in a bid to float a specialized bank that would be sympathetic to the cause of construction industry operators.
Homebuilders face many challenges to turn a profit in the current housing market: higher labor costs, potentially rising interest rates, reduced land supply and softening buyer demand. While many costs are outside the control of builders, one way they can control expenses is through improved construction efficiency, especially in structural framing. A home's structural frame accounts for one of the largest parts of construction costs, and more builders are looking for dealers with design tools, equipment and expertise to help them get the most for their framing dollar. iLevel by Weyerhaeuser introduces iLevel NextPhase site solutions, a range of products, proprietary software, and services that allow builders to walk into dealer locations with architectural plans and walk out with an integrated framing solution.
Wayne's main strip is newly-paved, with wider streets and re-layed sidewalks thanks to the hard work of construction crews. But, it's the businesses along those streets that kept the downtown alive during a bumpy construction season. Construction equipment stills decorates the streets in this Northeast Nebraska town. Reminders of a project that shut down the part of Highway 15 that runs through the heart of Wayne, Nebraska. But, while the road was closed, the real heart of the downtown kept its welcome sign on the door. Randy Pedersen, Wayne Business Owner says, "I think if all of us have made it through that, I think we'll continue to thrive and business will definitely improve with the new street, I think." Dozens of businesses endured months of heavy construction right outside their doors.
Plans to build 25 single-family homes in Fountain Heights are delayed, but officials with the Birmingham Housing Authority said they hope to start construction next year. The contractor, Curtis White and Company, informed the housing authority last week they wouldn't be able to handle the project, said housing authority executive director Ralph Ruggs. The housing authority had a $3.4 million contract with Curtis White and Co. to build the homes. They will be sold to qualified low- and moderate-income buyers. As recently as last month, the housing authority approved an additional $351,000 to the company to cover the cost of materials, which have risen since the contract was awarded in February. The Fountain Heights project will be advertised again and a new contract should be awarded within the next two to three months, Ruggs said.
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