How to use fast setting plaster to skim coat over cinder block walls

This construction video will introduce step-by-step processes for making your plastering work efficient with any rapid set plaster. The video provides information on how to skim coat or render plaster over cinder block walls with the use of rapid set plaster.

Here the Portland cement is used for plastering work. Rapid set plaster is applied to achieve quicker set times, greater stability, higher strength, marginal shrinkage and reduced cracking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brief demo of Clay Block Walling System for building

This construction video highlights the new smart method for modern construction i.e. clay block walling system. This construction method is very popular all over Europe. Clay Block Walling is considered as a superior & strong substitute with regard to conventional building system and materials.

The clay block walling system provides the following benefits :-

• Construction process will be upto 5 times quicker as compared to conventional block work
• 95% less water required in construction
• Application of mortar is minimum with 1 mm bed
• Achieve Water-tightness with reduced time
• Contains superior thermal & acoustical power
• Lighweight with fewer continual strains
• Less Mortar Contact
• Unit compression strength 10 n/mm2
• Outstanding form stability with porotherm structure

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How To Build A Home In Just 8 Weeks With The Use Of Precast Concrete Panels

This construction video explains the construction processes which are applied to develop Precast Concrete Homes. The video demonstrates how precast concrete panels are used to make the building stronger as well as how a conventional 4 bedroom home can be developed in 8 weeks. This type of construction material is better than brick veneer as it can transform the process 16 weeks more rapidly. By applying this construction material, the owners can get possession of their home quickly and builders will be able to accomplish lots of projects in every year.

The concrete walls are most suitable as these offer superior thermal and acoustic insulation. Besides, they are also enormously durable. They can easily withstand cyclones, floods, earthquakes and ground movements. They are ideal for bushfire prone areas because they outdo the Australian Bushfire Standard (AS3959) for the highest “Flame Zone” category.

Precast concrete wall systems are built with different types of shapes, and wall types. Usually, precast concrete wall systems belong to three basic categories: solid, sandwich and thin-shell. These are panelized and founded in either a horizontal or vertical position and applied in all types of structures ranging from residential to commercial, institutional to industrial. Wall panels are designed as nonloadbearing or loadbearing, sustaining floor and roof loads along with lateral loads.

Advantages of Precast Concrete Wall Panels

A precast concrete panel provides a wide array of advantages. The sandwich construction method applied with the precast concrete walls enhances the strength and sound insulation, as well as superior safeguard against possible hazards like fires. Precast concrete panels also offer energy-saving advantages. As the concrete wall panels are segregated with a layer of thermal insulation, the precast concrete wall panel system leads to increase energy performance, which can in turn assist to reduce complete costs.

For designers, insulated wall panels offer incredible elasticity. The accessibility of various finishes, textures, shapes, and colors provide a plenty of innovative options to execute any design virtually.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time Lapse Construction Video On New Extension Of Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital

This is a time lapse construction video for the six storied 229,000-square-foot patient tower that is the part of recently modernized and extended Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital located in Texas. The whole construction progression is recorded through EarthCam's megapixel construction camera. The construction process was started on September 2014 and completed on March 2016.

EarthCam recently launched MegapixelCam Advanced (http://www.earthcam.net/products/megapixelcamadvanced.php), a highly powerful 16 Megapixel Construction Camera that can feature 16 megapixel HDR imagery and live streaming video in one simplified all-weather system. The construction professionals can use this newest camera to avail high quality remote documentation for small to large scale projects. This high-tech system is designed to automatically to obtain large 4,928 x 3,264 high definition images uninterruptedly 24/7. A wide-ranging screen live streaming video preview facilitates users to instantly capture on-demand snapshots of their project from any remote location at any time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sage Construction Project Center and Sage Bid Management – New cloud based solutions for construction professionals

Sage North America, a trusted name in providing solution with various business management software and services for small and medium businesses, just introduced Sage Construction Project Center and Sage Bid Management. Both are new cloud-based solutions to facilitate the construction companies for handling and collaborating any construction project in a superior manner.

If the collaboration process becomes superior, the project team members can save huge time and cost. Besides, the quality of project is also improved. But it becomes difficult for the constractors, to maintain perfect project collaboration amid various project stakeholders.

By applying these toolset, the project team members will be able to undertake action instantly. It will save huge time and provide support to the team member for being more organized, competent, well-informed and competitive.

Sage Construction Project Center is like a cloud-based center from where the project team members can smoothly collaborate as well as distribute information and ensure that each integrates with other and thus the project is accomplished as per the most updated plans. Here the process is automated for allocating document and tracking which make the communications better and allows quicker approvals to maintain projects on schedule. Audit trails decrease confusion and finger pointing for a more responsible project team. Once the project is completed, as-built project data will be handed over to the project owner to facilitate the persistent maintenance of the finished building.

Sage Bid Management facilitates the estimators and bid coordinators to deal with all phases of the bid process in an efficient manner together with maintaining a complete and up-to-date bidders list via a single cloud-based location. The information for Bid package and updates are to all subcontractors instantly. Subcontractors will be able to post their bids also, simplify the process for tracing all the bids coming in and the dates, time and diverse versions. Consequently, contractors will obtain a greater response from bidders and get adequate time to assess and pick the best bids. The system also tracks subcontractor certification and qualifications to minimize risk and ensure the most suitable sub or vendor is chosen.

Both solutions will operate individually and incorporated with Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate, so to avoid reprocessing of project information. This amalgamation facilitates assigned bids to be converted into subcontracts which can be exploded into numerous line items for project management and for job cost tracking and payment. Basic information allotted ranges from extras, cost codes and categories together with project information like estimates, commitments, costs and revenue.

Sage Construction Project Center and Sage Bid Management will be showcased at the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, February 2-5, 2016, at booth #C3337.

To get more updates, visit sagecre.com or call 800-628-6583.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Characteristics and Classification of Bricks

Various types of bricks are found in the market which can be used in building construction. The bricks are classified on the basis of manufacturing process that range from Unburnt or sun-dried bricks and Burnt bricks. Given below the detailed lists of various types of bricks :-

Unburnt bricks: Unburnt bricks or sun-dried bricks belong to the types which are dehydrated through heat generated by the sun once the process of moulding is completed. These types of bricks are utilized for building the temporary and low-priced structures. It is recommended that these types of bricks are unfit for the areas uncovered to deep rainfall.

Burnt Bricks: Burnt bricks are formed after blazing the brick-mould in the drying oven within the factory. These types of bricks are generally utilized for construction processes. Burnt Bricks are segregated into the following four categories:

First class bricks: These bricks belong to table-moulded and contain customary shape. The bricks are parched in drying oven. The facades and edges of the bricks are sharp, square, flat and straight. These bricks maintain superior quality. The bricks are crack free. The brick contains least crushing strength of 7 N/mm2. This is used for the construction of superior work i.e. heavy foundation and structures.

Second class brick: These bricks belong to ground-moulded and they are burnt in kilns. The facade of these bricks is uneven to some extent and shape is also somewhat unequal. These bricks may contain fine hair cracks and little distortion. The edgings of these bricks are sharp and homogeneous. These bricks are generally applied in the areas where brickwork is supported with a coat of plaster. The minimum crushing strength of second class brick should be 70 kg per sq cm

Third class bricks: These bricks belong to ground-moulded and are moulded in drying ovens. These bricks are not so hard and include rough surfaces with uneven and distorted edges. These bricks provide dull sound if set collectively. The bricks are useful for minor and temporary structures and at areas where rainfall is normal. The bricks are formed with light color and are comparatively soft.

Fourth class bricks: These types of bricks are also known as over-burnt bricks which contain uneven shape and dark black or grey color. These bricks are used as aggregate for concrete in foundations, floors, roads, etc. owing to the over-burnt bricks consist of a solid structure and so they are strong enough as compared to the first class bricks. These types of bricks are generally used in substandard construction and as gravel for flooring. The bricks contain bulging surfaces. The compressive strength of this brick is very low.

The categorization can also be made on the basis of shapes to fit them for specific type of construction. Go through the following links to know various types of bricks available in diverse shapes.

Source: http://www.civileblog.com/types-of-bricks/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A position is vacant for Assistant Quantity Surveyor in North West England

Balfour Beatty Major Projects is planning to employ some Assistant Quantity Surveyors for a nuclear project in Cumbria. The job responsibilities will be supporting the commercial/quantity surveying team concerning commercial & contractual control as well as the co-ordination of the endeavors of all parties associated with carrying out of a particular project or series of projects.

Job responsibilities:-

• Perform the tasks entrusted by the various members of the Commercial/quantity surveying team like measurement for valuations.
• Make sure that all duties are executed in keeping the standard company HSE processes and work instructions.
• Help in administering and preserving the contract cost reporting system as ordered by the line manager.
• Get cash flows ready for payments in and out.
• Help in creating the perfect prediction of project cost to completion and final value.
• Facilitating the sub-contract tender procedure by providing support for creating the sub-contract documentation.
• Produce payment certificates for sub-contract work.
• Help in creating interim applications for payment.
• Help in making the valuation of variations.
• Help in making valuations and claims and make sure that these are compliant with appropriate records.
• Help in creating the precise monthly reporting of cost and value on the project(s) following the Company's reporting system.
• Recognize possible risk and opportunities and elevate these as correct.
• Execute assigned tasks in order to abide by the BMS and Group Minimum Commercial Expectations

If necessary with the particular project, help in applying BIM to support the development observance process, offer commercial reporting and include information to promote change management, variations orders and support all sub-contractors/supply chain members for incorporating subcontractor’s work with BIM.

• Live the Balfour Beatty Values.
• Provide a persistent focus on Zero Harm.
• Support the delivery of the CSUK Sustainability 2020 roadmap.

Qualifications: Prior knowledge in quantity surveying is necessary. Membership of a related professional body and/or working towards a pertinent professional qualification is desired (RICS/CIOB/RIBA/ICE/CIBSE). A legitimate CSCS card is needed.

Individuals should have the following expertise:

• Well versed with the tendering process.
• Familiar with the several contract forms generally applied in the construction industry.
• Sound knowledge with commercial management of Construction projects and the construction process in general.
• Good knowledge with sub-contracting principles.
• Knowledge for providing and acquiring Insurance, Bonds and Warranties.
• Expertise with administration, writing, numeracy, IT and MS Office.
• Capability for working in tandem with team and independently.
• Hardworking ability to work efficiently under pressure and rigid deadlines.
• Excellent negotiation skills with both internal and external customers.

Apply online

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excel construction schedule templates for project management

The Construction Schedule Templates for Excel are actually reason built Excel templates designed to address scheduling in residential, commercial and generic construction projects. The Construction Schedule Templates for Excel are based on 5-day schedules but can be reused on an ongoing basis as required.

The Team www.business-spreadsheets.com has done this amazing templates. Construction Schedule Templates for Excel keep track of construction processes enabling homeowners, builders, designers and construction managers to plan and manage construction jobs in the most efficient and effect way possible to save money and satisfy client requirements in the least time possible.

These Construction Schedule Templates for Excel are ideal for quickly building construction schedules for any type of project and include Gantt charts that adjust automatically to task items and dates. The templates are preloaded with primary tasks and sub tasks to facilitate the entering of information and customization.

Key features of the Construction Schedule Templates for Excel include:

• Easy to use with professional style presentation and results.
• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
• Reuse the templates over and over again as required.
• Gantt bars automatically fill in the dates of performance.
• Color changing to automatically indicate percentage complete.
• Red bar to clearly show current date.
• Scroll bar inside sheet to see tasks and scroll within the bar chart.
• Integrated help inside the templates.
• Establish time lines that everyone can understand.
• Indicate owner provided items.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Increase the tenure of your building construction with ‘PURe'

Make your construction process smarter with 'PURe'. It is a strong & hard polyurethane based product having timberless body structure.

The product is water resistant and improves the longibility of the building structure to a great extent.

Watch the live demonstration.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How iPads and Android tablets are utilized to smooth the construction process

Now-a-days technology has brought a sea change in construction sectors. The third-generation iPad and improving Android tablets are playing a vital role for every construction industry.

The contractors can utilize iPads for gathering information form project blueprints and architect’s drawings to schedule and material inventory. The contractor can just open up his blueprints application, markup the issue and email it to the architect. With iPad the contractors can snap panoramic photographs during the construction phases tagged with the location wherever the image was located.

After the completion of the project iPad facilitate building owner to view what’s located behind the walls and present the view of the photographs previously snapped of the same location.   

iPad can generate a x-ray vision to the contractors and worker for viewing through wall,  3D walk-throughs of a blueprints and instant amendment of specifications all through theconstruction process.

The contractors can walk around the job site with reorganized documents in a electronic tablet.

iPads are connected with the other computer systems that conveys minute information from project blueprints, architect’s drawings, schedules and material inventory.

The contractors can get a clear view of the site and deliver it to the design and get design solution within a second.

By applying iPads, contractors can show up to the job site prepared prior to meet with other team members of the project and having different set of drawings. The construction professionals can also receive a constantly updated version of blueprints at their fingertips.

The contractors can take a sequence of photos with a wide-angle photographic lens before the drywall goes on and stitch them with iPano which provide a total pan of the room to maintain record. As for instance, if a leak is detected, the contractor can locate the area prior to splitting the wall apart by using the iPad to view accurately where the pipes in question are located.

~~~~~

For any kind construction cost estimating services, please visit us at www.quantity-takeoff.com