Category: Expert Columns
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How Smart Construction Technology Is Powering the Next Wave of Sustainable Building
The push for sustainable building is no longer optional. From government regulations to tenant demand, the construction industry is under mounting pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. Yet for many developers, “going green” raises a tough question: how do you meet ambitious sustainability targets without sacrificing efficiency, budgets or delivery timelines? The answer lies in…
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Building the Future Workforce: How the Construction Industry Can Attract Youth to the Trades
As the school year gets underway, high school juniors and seniors are weighing their next steps after graduation. Some may already have a clear direction, but many are staring down a future clouded by uncertainty. Universities are contending with budget cuts, student debt looms large and white-collar career paths are increasingly saturated and competitive. One…
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Cold-Weather Concreting: Technical Guidance for Preventing Winter Damage
As construction timelines stretch deeper into the colder months, concrete contractors are increasingly expected to deliver high-performance placements under challenging conditions. Cold weather can slow hydration, delay strength gain and significantly increase the risk of early-age concrete damage. Without proactive measures and technical know-how, cold-weather concreting can lead to compromised structural performance, costly repairs or…
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Understanding Construction Contract Insurance Requirements: How to Avoid Costly Gaps and Legal Risks
It is critical for contractors to understand the insurance requirements in construction contracts, as these projects carry very high levels of liability and risk. Construction involves moving variables, dangerous environments and hazardous conditions that can generate serious losses. Risks include fires, trench collapses, accidents and even loss of life. Insurance is essential to protect the…
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Four Challenges Facing Construction in 2025 — and How Equipment Leasing Helps Contractors Stay Competitive
The construction industry is being stressed from many sides, but it has strong fundamentals and performed well in 2024. What challenges and opportunities do the industry face, and how are construction firms dealing with them? Here, we break down some of the challenges and explain how equipment leasing and financing is helping construction companies better…
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How Better Communication Can Attract and Retain the Next Generation of Construction Workers
There is a generational shift in the construction workforce. For companies, this could be a crisis — or an opportunity. The construction industry needs 439,000 new workers this year, while 41% of the current workforce will retire within the next five years. This workforce shift creates a major opportunity for companies that can attract and…
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Copper Tariffs and Construction Site Theft: How Contractors Can Strengthen Security and Prevent Losses
Theft is a phenomenon that follows the news cycle. In a year marked by economic uncertainty and seismic changes in international trade, thieves have taken notice. Increasingly, they see opportunity on construction sites. With the August 1, 2025 rollout of 50% tariffs on semi-finished copper products entering the U.S., construction sites have suddenly become more…
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Construction Insurance Outlook 2026: How Contractors Can Manage Rising Costs, Labor Shortages and New Risks
Construction business leaders know how quickly market conditions can shift. Tariffs, labor shortages, and inflationary pressures are changing the cost of doing business, while technology and legal risks evolve just as rapidly. In this environment, a “set it and forget it” approach to renewing your insurance policy can leave gaps and create costly surprises. According…
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Construction’s Tech Revolution: Why the Industry Can’t Afford to Ignore Digital Tools
The construction industry isn’t known for embracing technology. In fact, it ranks as one of the least technologically advanced industries. But this perception doesn’t have to define its future. After 35 years working with contractors, I’ve seen how firms navigate shifting markets firsthand. What’s clear today is that technology is no longer optional. Cloud platforms,…
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6 Practical Ways Construction Companies Can Use AI to Save Time and Boost Profit
In the construction industry, discussions about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to help companies both work and build smarter have ranged from using AI for project planning and design to employing the technology for construction site management and energy optimization at maintenance facilities. All that buzz has produced more confusion than adoption, raising two…