5 Things To Consider When Permitting a Building With a Change of Use

5 Things To Consider When Permitting a Building With a Change of Use

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer There are too many times to count where our PermitUsNow team members have answered the company’s 1.844.PERMIT.4 line, and the voice on the other side says, “I am having problems getting a permit.”  We ask the caller basic questions like the scope of work, location, type of use, and their…

Construction Employment Trails Pre-Pandemic Level in 39 States as Supply Chain Challenges, Rising Materials Prices Undermine Demand

Construction Employment Trails Pre-Pandemic Level in 39 States as Supply Chain Challenges, Rising Materials Prices Undermine Demand

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Construction employment in June remained below the levels reached before the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020 in 39 states, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials noted that many construction firms are struggling to cope with supply chain…

Construction Employment Declines by 7,000 in June as Nonresidential Firms Struggle To Find Workers and Materials To Complete Projects

Construction Employment Declines by 7,000 in June as Nonresidential Firms Struggle To Find Workers and Materials To Complete Projects

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Construction employment declined by 7,000 between May and June as the industry still employs 238,000 fewer people than before the pandemic, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said that job losses in the nonresidential construction sector offset modest…

Producer Prices for Construction Materials and Services Soar 26 Percent Over 12 Months as Contractors Cope With Supply Hitches, Weak Demand

Producer Prices for Construction Materials and Services Soar 26 Percent Over 12 Months as Contractors Cope With Supply Hitches, Weak Demand

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Unprecedented price increases for a wide range of goods and services used in construction pushed up contractors’ costs by a devastating 26.3 percent from June 2020 to June 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released recently. Association officials cautioned that rising…

5 Permitting Tips to Employ When Slapped with Pages of Rejection Comments

5 Permitting Tips to Employ When Slapped with Pages of Rejection Comments

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer Picture this: you sip your favorite cup of coffee, log into a jurisdiction permitting e-portal to check the status of your plan reviews, then you take a double-look at the screen and shake your head wondering why you have received multiple pages of rejection comments from plan reviewers.  What the…

Construction Employment Declines In 40 States Between April And May As Soaring Material Costs, Supply-chain Disruptions Impede Recovery

Construction Employment Declines In 40 States Between April And May As Soaring Material Costs, Supply-chain Disruptions Impede Recovery

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Construction employment in May remained below the April level in 40 states and the District of Columbia, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials said skyrocketing materials prices and excessive delays in receiving key construction supplies were holding…

What Do High Lumber Prices Have To Do With Pulling Building Permits?

What Do High Lumber Prices Have To Do With Pulling Building Permits?

Helen Callier, Contributing Writer  Time is money, so let me get right to the point on the connection between high lumber prices and building permits.    It is no secret that since early 2020, lumber prices have increased to its highest point in history.  High lumber prices combined with some jurisdictions taking much longer than usual…

Greater Houston Builders Association News: Will the Housing Boom Go Bust?

Greater Houston Builders Association News: Will the Housing Boom Go Bust?

By Lawrence Dean, Regional Director, Zonda Intelligence Back in 2005 and 2006, I was a land acquisition manager for the Houston division of one of the finest privately held home builders that is unfortunately no longer with us. That was before my career pivot to, as my eight-year-old son says, “counting all of the houses…

Shining the Spotlight on the Texas Hispanic Construction Association

Shining the Spotlight on the Texas Hispanic Construction Association

By Subcontractors USA News Provider The Texas Hispanic Construction Association is a non-profit organization that represents the Hispanic community of the state of Texas associated with construction as a fundamental part of the value chain; leading its development, professionalization and progress in a timely manner in all its areas, through technology, education, quality and best…

5 Reasons To Avoid Complaining About Your City’s Permitting Center

5 Reasons To Avoid Complaining About Your City’s Permitting Center

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer Have you ever submitted a perfect construction permit set to a jurisdiction and it goes through several departmental reviews, racking up every imaginable rejection comment?  You then scratch your head, begin to fume and next, release a mouthful of complaints to the city plan reviewers, worrying how much delays in…

Industrial Welding Academy: Welding Curriculum in Higher Education Elevates Students for a Second Chance and Success

Industrial Welding Academy: Welding Curriculum in Higher Education Elevates Students for a Second Chance and Success

A Family-Owned Enterprise Preparing the Next Generation of Industry Leaders The nation’s aging infrastructure requires the expertise of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers to help rebuild bridges, highways, and structures.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to grow 3% from 2019 to 2029, about…

Five Benefits of Starting During the Early Phases With Permitting

Five Benefits of Starting During the Early Phases With Permitting

By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer  Raise your hand if you have read my articles before.  Okay, I see your hands.  Now, keep your hands up if you know one of my tenets for building permitting is “Get started early.”  Great!   Thank you for your participation, and read below.  Building permitting can be one of…

Turner Construction School of Management Develops Strategic Business Relationships With Minority and Women-Owned Firms

Turner Construction School of Management Develops Strategic Business Relationships With Minority and Women-Owned Firms

By Subcontractors USA News Provider The Turner School of Construction Management is the oldest community outreach program in Turner’s history. It was initiated in 1969, one year after their Affirmative Action Department was created, and soon became an opportunity to develop strategic business relationships with minority and women-owned firms. Since then, Turner has provided a…

Texas Construction Employment News

Texas Construction Employment News

By Subcontractors USA News Provider Construction employment in March remained below March 2020 levels in 35 states despite a sizzling homebuilding market and a strong recovery from severe winter weather, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials cautioned, however, that a host of…