By: Helen Callier When faced with repeated delays in obtaining city building permits, do you continue to go back and forth to meet with the Plan Reviewers in hopes that today will be the magical day? Do you scratch your head and wonder what the notice on the website means when it says 15-day plan…
By: Helen Callier Over the past few weeks, we attended the Build Expo in Austin, Texas. We had the opportunity to visit many of the exhibitors, go to workshops and meet with possible new vendors. While at the Expo, we also had the opportunity to speak with City of Austin folks. While speaking with them…
Talk about being blindsided! Your week was going great until you received notice that you have missed a court date, and now a default judgment has been filed against you. Maybe you never received the initial notice, or maybe you just plain forgot what day it was because of your hectic schedule. Doh! It’s okay….
Boom lifts have been a popular type of equipment on construction sites for years. The lift’s versatility makes it a perfect choice for tasks that need to be completed at a significant height. However, operators need specialized training to use this type of aerial lift. To keep a work site safe, boom lift operators must…
Construction jobsite theft costs the industry up to $1 billion each year and US businesses spend more than $170 billion dollars annually on work-related injuries. Adding cloud-managed construction cameras to remotely view and record jobsite activity could be the key to reducing theft and ensuring safety compliance. Onsite cameras are a two-birds-one-stone solution. In addition…
There is always constant change in this industry that makes it fun to work in. Challenges with labor, juggling ways to incorporate new technology and how to push through a permit with umpteen revisions. One concern we hear about often from Project Owners is that their contractor did not pull a permit before starting construction…
Great! You landed a contract for a new build and your team is ready to get to work. All that’s left is to sign your John Hancock to the dotted line to make sure you and your crew get paid for the work that’s done. But wait, what’s this? “Progress payments to Subcontractor shall be…
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a final rule today that clarifies certification requirements for crane operators, and maintains the employer’s duty to ensure that crane operators can safely operate the equipment. The final rule will maintain safety and health protections for workers while reducing compliance burdens. Under the final…
Regardless of the type of construction you perform, OSHA essentially requires that a safety program be developed and taught to any employee or crew member. Having a safety program written for and taught to employees should be standard practice for commercial contractors. Unfortunately, not having a safety program that is compliant with OSHA standards in…
On December 3, 2018, I attended the first annual Asian | Turkish | Indo-American Chambers of Commerce Real Estate and Construction Summit in Houston, Texas. There were three industry panels that provided a treasure trove of industry insights and data along with two powerful keynote speakers including State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Glenn…
The mechanic’s and materialmen’s lien, more commonly known as the M&M lien, protects contractors and subcontractors in the event of a dispute regarding labor or services performed. An M&M lien is a way to recoup loss of payment by attaching a lien to a property, making it more difficult to sell or forcing a foreclosure…
In 2015, women accounted for only 2.2% of production occupations in construction, which is one-sixth the level of “all other industries.” One of the challenges facing women in the construction industry is finding personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits properly. This is a serious issue because PPE that does not fit properly will not adequately protect…
At first glance, the concept of the “fatal four” may sound like a scare tactic implemented by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to keep construction workers on their toes. However, these four hazards accounted for nearly 64% of construction worker deaths in 2016. OSHA has even determined that eliminating the risks of the…
With hundreds of billions of dollars and many more construction opportunities on the horizon for contractors, some jurisdictions are scrambling to handle the work load for plan reviews to issue building permits. And with recent hurricane-impacted areas along the Florida Gulf Coast and in the Carolinas, jurisdictions will become even more stretched. For contractors with…
In an attempt to take action following Hurricane Harvey, the City of Houston has taken an aggressive, accelerated and largely emotional response by adopting onerous building and drainage regulation changes that went into effect on September 1. In April, city council passed revisions to Chapter 19, the City’s Floodplain Ordinance, which dramatically increase regulations on…
By: Helen Callier I’ve met a few people this year that have struggled in one way or another in obtaining the necessary permits on highway construction projects. From forgetting to fully assess site conditions for Rock Quarry to having modular trailers that lacked State seal of approval to getting started later than planned with environmental…
Looking to get started with your construction project on time? The building permitting tips and insights below from Helen Callier, Permit Us Now, Contributing Writer will assist you in positioning for success. Know the Jurisdiction Time is Key Stay Notified Bank on Changes Avoid Horror Story Suspense Hurts Start Early Procrastination Costs Use Smart Resources…
Subcontractors USA News Provider One year after thousands of homes in Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur and along the Gulf Coast were flooded and destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, the calls are still coming into our office for help with building permits. For instance: disabled veterans asking if they have special benefits to pay for building permits;…
We often hear contractors and architects bemoaning having to go to City Permitting to meet with Plan Reviewers. Many say that it is a waste of time talking with a Plan Reviewer that does not seem to listen to them during the meeting. Some even believe the Plan Reviewer is out to get them and…
