Houston Concrete Contractors provides professional concrete construction and design services for businesses, homeowners, and the industrial sector in and around Houston, Texas. Our Team, built of experienced concrete contractors, strives to provide the best quality concrete product every time. We know that we are only as good as our reputation, this keeps us honest and looking to supersede expectations. 

 

Tips for controlling metal building costs

Does building a metal building interest you? If you are planning on starting a metal building project, we have provided some tips that can help you save time, money, and headaches.

The good news is that you are already on your way to eliminating many budget breaking problems associated with regular stick construction. The purchase of a metal building kit will set you up for success right from the start.

Because steel buildings are engineered by professional engineers, metal buildings are designed to provide strength and integrity while keeping the cost of materials at a minimum. In addition, each piece of a metal building kit is designed to perfectly assemble, which decreases labor hours and puts you that much closer to a finished project. The best part is that you don’t have to sift through racks and racks of crooked lumbar at Lowes or Home Depot.  

When efficiency, longevity, and affordability are important, metal buildings kits are the way to go.

BE REALISTIC

The very first thing you should do is define a budget.

What you should not do is start out by asking how much a metal building kit will cost. The real question is how much are you prepared to spend on the entire project. After-all, the metal building kit is on 35-50% of the overall cost.

You have to budget for everything from the ground up. Some of the costs include:

These are just a few and may not include all costs to consider.

BE DETERMINED

The trick is to take it one step at a time. Expect delays and budget accordingly; however, stay focused. It will be completed before you know it.

BE THOROUGH

The best way to stay on budget is to stay on top of the details. It is highly recommended that you create a work base structure (WBS) and/or timeline. After-all, you are the project manager.

Certainly do not keep all of your details in your head. Write them down and plan them out. There are several free project management software programs available on the internet.

If you can’t seem to find a PM software of your liking, at minimum you should create a punch list. Keeping the punch list up to date will allow you to always know where the project is and what comes next. In addition, keep track of all problems and hiccups, and correct them as soon as possible.

BE FLEXIBLE

You may have the general picture of your final project in your head; however, if you discuss money saving options with your metal building supplier, you may be surprised on what can be done. Many times, a simple design change can save big bucks on the entire project.

Do you have building experience?

You can save quite a bit by erecting your own steel building kit.

BE ACCESSIBLE

Communication is essential to a successful build. You expect to always be able to contact your contractors; well the same is expected of you. Not being accessible can slow your project way down. Remember, you most likely are not the only project your contractors are constructing. They will leave if you are not able to answer a question or supply the specific details.

BE FOCUSED

Staying focus on your initial design is essential to staying on budget. Many times you may want to add an accessory or enhancement, just make sure to keep track of the cost offset. Ignored budgets can leave you in the poor house and easily 18-25% over budget.

Some budget smashers that often arise for new builders include:

Scope Creep:  It is easy to start developing improvement ideas as you see you building being constructed; however, these can add up very quickly. This is why sticking to the plans is so important.

Change Orders:  A very crucial mistake that is often made by beginners. Make sure, without a doubt in your mind that the building is exactly what you want before you order it from the manufacturer. Once it is released for production, it can become extremely pricey to make any changes.

Building Arrival: Once your building arrives, make sure to check through the item check list as well as through inspect each item. This is really your one chance to make sure nothing is damaged or missing before you begin construction.

Steel Erectors: Make sure to hire a reputable erector. There is not a certification that is mandatory for any crew to call themselves professional erectors.   

Equipment: You may be able to save money is you rent the requires machinery to erect your building. This would include: Scissor lift and off-road forklift.   

Safety: Make sure all contractors are wearing Osha approved safety equipment before you let them work on your property.

Security: Protect your job site from thieves and vandalism! It happens more than you think. Hiring a security service is recommended.

BE PATIENT

Expect delays!

As we all know, the weather is indeterminable, especially, 6-8 weeks away from the building delivery date.

Things happen with contractors as well. People get sick, family members pass away, and accidents happen. Be prepared to adapt to the situation and handle it professionally.

No matter how hard you try to stay on budget, situations occur that end up increasing the cost. It is wise to set a 10-15% margin for these unforeseen costs.

CONCLUSION

With careful planning and attention to details, you can keep your steel building project on time and on budget.

 

ROOFING 101

Your roof. It’s up there, doing its job, minding its own business and you never even give it a thought…until something goes wrong.

At Elite Roofing, we’re proud to be called the Houston's roofing experts, with years of experience and doing the job right, every time.

We’re glad to pass along some of the basics when it comes to the roof over your head, which helps you, as a homeowner, make a smarter choice when it comes time for roof repair or replacement.

The Basics

All steep-slope roof systems (roofs with slopes of 25% or more) have five basic components:

When to Service Your Roof

It’s Texas, it’s hot. While your beautiful, air-conditioned home is cool on the inside, the Valley sun can really put wear on any kind of roof. Elite knows the ins and outs to all the different types of roofs in the Houston region, whether it is a business or where you sleep. With all of our expert roofing knowledge, we still need you to be the one to make the service call before we can help!

Our FAQ page goes into depth about what key factors a building-owner can look for to know if their roof needs service or not. Whether your residence or office receives a lot or a little sunlight, it can slowly deteriorate. This is especially prevalent on roof sides facing West or South.

Even if you decide to look elsewhere before choosing Roofing Contractors in Houston, we want to make sure you are well informed about the business that is going to service your roof. Read our section on choosing a contractor and be sure to follow our guide to make sure you get the best roofers in the area!

As always, if you have any questions on roof servicing or installation that you don’t see answered on our site, we are more than happy to answer them for you! Please head over to our contact page to either leave a message or give us a call!

 


Don't let your Tomball AC Haunt You.

The wonderful weather that we enjoy in Tomball, Texas gives us the benefit of enjoying a lot of outdoor activities. But when you aren’t playing in a pool or going for a stroll, you likely want to be able to relax inside an evenly cooled home. If your home air conditioning system is on the fritz, this desire can seem more like a curse because the cool air you want has disappeared or it is taunting you in brief spurts like a mischievous spirit.

Don’t let your air conditioner’s repair needs haunt you! Your system has likely had a long and hard summer and, while it isn’t dead, it may feel like a ghost of its former self. If this is the case, it is time to call for tomball ac to get your system back to normal.

If you aren’t sure what the signs are that you have some late season air conditioning repair needs, don’t worry. We have the information you need to decipher what your AC is trying to tell you, no Ouija board necessary.

A FEW SIGNS THAT YOU NEED AC REPAIR

So, you are wondering what the signs are that you need to schedule repair services for your air conditioner.

NO COLD AIR

You turn on your cooler and wait for hours but to no avail; there is no cool air to speak of coming through the vents. Rather than walking through cold spots in your home you are being haunted by an overly warm house. If this sounds like you, it can indicate you have a refrigerant leak, problems with your condenser or issues with your system’s fans.

STRANGE NOISES

Whether it is screeching, banging, rattling or hissing, we promise that these noises can all be explained and, if addressed in time, they can also be fixed. Some noises, such as banging, can indicate an improperly sized unit, while others, like the sound of rattling, can be a sign of loose parts or debris in the system. If you hear anything other than the soft whoosh of air coming from your cooler, it is time to call a professional.

SHORT-CYCLING

Does it seem like your air conditioner has developed a mind of its own and decided it doesn’t want to run as long as it used to? Don’t worry, you system hasn’t become sentient, but it is short-cycling. This means that there is something hindering its ability to complete a full cooling cycle. If left unattended, this problem can harm your system and cost you a lot of cash.

HIGH ENERGY BILLS

If your latest utility bill made your blood run cold, you need to call in a trained technician. Why? Because a high energy bill that has seemingly no cause is actually a sign that something is wrong with your air conditioner. It could be as simple as a dirty filter or as serious as a refrigerant leak. Either way, the sooner you make the call, the better.

REPAIR SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT

We can promise that if you notice any of the symptoms listed above, it is never too late in the year to get them taken care of. Late season repairs are always better than none because ignoring the issue can lead to you needing a replacement. The team at Seasons Air Conditioning and Heating is here to help with your AC repair needs. We even provide emergency repair services for when your air conditioner is keeping you up at night like a spooky movie.

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