About five years ago, Ed Castle began managing all his projects using Microsoft Excel. "It's such a powerful program that nearly everyone with a PC already has at their fingertips," says Castle, of E.M. Castle Construction, in Kensington, Md. Castle creates a separate Excel file for each project...
Michael Howes of MCB Construction, Woodside, Calif., says the schedule is the most emotional part of the job.
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What do you do to ensure that subs show up on time and communicate with on-site supervisors?
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Andy Poticha would rather work with his trade contractors and suppliers than against them.
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Increasing field efficiency means improved margins, but some tactics are better than others. Purchasing inferior materials is shortsighted because you will have to spend warranty dollars down the line. Using less expensive subcontractors may also increase future warranty costs, but worse is the...
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Dave Myers of J. Francis Co. says that for this bathroom remodel his crew had to follow the strict guidelines of the condominium building on access and work hours. “It's a concrete building so noise transmission is horrific,” he says.
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Remodeling is a highly technical art. It requires a grasp of the principles and practice of electricity, plumbing, engineering, geometry, and architecture. It requires a high level of craftsmanship as well as an ability to manage homeowners' expectations during a very emotional process. All of this...
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Subcontractors are an integral part of the Mark IV team, and their buy-in is essential to our success.
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A lax policy toward starting time is one of the main causes of late-running meetings.
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As labor-strapped remodelers and builders get serious about attracting new blood to the field, “growing your own” is taking on new meaning.