How does the climate affect residential construction

July 19 / Stacey / Comments (0)

There is a lot of talk about climate control in our country today.  How does that affect residential building and construction overall?  Prolonged rising temperatures in the warmer months and colder temperatures in the winter months directly affect residential building contractors.  In the summer, building contractors face incredible challenges to push forward on a daily basis.  Most people do not consider the fact that it is a monumental task to carry plywood sheathing up ladders to the roofs of new construction projects.  Similarly, many don't think about the fact that in the colder months, building tools, such as saws and drills are difficult to hold onto because these hardworking men continue to push forward on their building commitments.  Most people work indoors, not outdoors.  These men and women deserve respect and are the backbone to construction.

The fact that unusual weather conditions have evolved is not new.  Some revel at the opportunity to build more homes, accessory structures and commercial construction projects.  Some see unusual weather patterns as a burden.  H.W. ENTERPRISES, INC. allows each tradesmen the opportunity to take more breaks, to choose their work hours, keeping their health in mind.  

The next time you want to hire a building contractor, take a moment to reflect on the sometimes dangerous conditions they work under.  H.W. ENTERPRISES, INC., the largest and oldest residential building contractor of it's kind, weighs the sacrifices made during it's garage, addition and shell home projects by it's tradesmen's challenges.  There is a myth that building construction is an unskilled labor industry.  And somehow, that has become a bargaining tool used by the buyer.  Homeowners should consider the sacrifices made by support, not indemnification to demand reduced costs.  You took your position based on pay.  Would you work for less and work harder?

 

Residential Building With The Environment in Mind

June 25 / Stacey / Comments (0)

There is a new company that takes demolition rubble and turns it into bricks.  What a wonderful thing.  Residential construction creates so much waste and accounts for up to 3% of all trash.  Think of how many times that builders have to have their dumpsters pulled during a construction project?  Every time HW ENTERPRISES, INC. builds a garage, there is waste.  Albeit very little.  HW ENTERPRISES, INC. prides itself on lean project costs.  If a garage building contractor does their homework, waste is reduced by 85%.  Every garage, addition, shell home and accessory building site has waste.  There are packagings and strapping, missed nails and less than 15 cuts that were not used in erecting the building.  There is an average of less than 3% of shingles as waste.  Why does this matter?  

HW ENTERPRISES, INC. prides itself on efficient and cost-effective building.  When you hire an experienced contractor, you will see proof of that by the waste that is removed from the site.  Yes, it is prudent to order a bit extra of everything to ensure a smooth field operation without starts and stops.  That being said, it will be obvious that those materials will remain after clean up are complete and untouched.  Those materials are returned to the suppliers.  Call HW ENTERPRISES, INC. when you are ready to build a garage, accessory structure, addition or shell home.  We don't waste your money or materials.  Call 757-595-4562 or 757-696-1927.

"Self-sealing Concrete" and Garage Construction

May 21 / Stacey / Comments (0)

One of the hardest things to tackle in garage construction is the cracking that plagues the very nature of concrete.  Building contractors cannot pour concrete with any type of warranty for 2 reasons: builders cannot control the mix and cannot control ground movement.  No residential builder has a fool-proof mechanical adjustment for the natural force of the ground we live on.  An article in CNN regarding "Self-healing" concrete was very informative and offers a futuristic glimpse into concrete construction.  I have to address this issue with every customer I have.  No one likes seeing that building contractors don't warrant concrete cracks, for the above reasons.  

An expert in the Netherlands recently seems to have tackled this issue in an incredible way.  Obviously, if concrete cracks, water and earth and bugs can enter.  There are a myriad of caulks and glues that are on the market today to deal with cracking concrete's issues.  It isn't the strength of the concrete that is the issue, it is the fact that there is "no turning back" when concrete cracks.  Almost every single home I visit has a garage and the slab is cracked, broken and uneven.  And the reaction to that, unfortunately, is quiet acceptance. What if it never had to crack?

This scientist has figured out, that by adding a bacteria to the concrete mix, cracking would be eliminated.  The infiltration of water becomes the turning point for cracking concrete. The more it cracks the more it takes in water, the more it causes erosion and then it cracks more.  Adding the bacteria bacillus, encapsulated with calcium lactate, to concrete would appear to address the problem nicely.  The combination of the bacteria and the calcium lactate produces limestone, which repairs the compromised concrete from the inside out. Science is so cool!  

Every garage, accessory building and addition requires a concrete foundation and footing.  H.W. ENTERPRISES, INC. will continue to explore the best possible resources to continue to provide the best quality garage, accessory building, addition or shell home that can be found.  Call us and talk to us about your concerns and we will provide you the best possible solutions.  Call 757-595-4562