As a new year approaches, everyone begins to think about what they will do differently in the new year, how they can do better. It feels like a fresh start. In construction, this is a great time to take stock and make plans because your schedule is likely to be slower than in the warmer months. Here are some resolutions to consider for the health of your construction business in the new year.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The same can be said for homes. Where one person sees an outdated, rundown home, another may see unlimited potential. But, sometimes that old house isn’t worth trying to recover. It takes a keen eye and a working knowledge of construction to understand what a property will need to be remodeled successfully. Here are seven signs that a home may be more trouble than it’s worth.

There are few other timeless childhood treasures than a handcrafted toy box.  They don’t have to be complex or fancy for a child to get years of joy out of them, providing a lifetime’s worth of possible uses.  For instance, storage boxes can be constructed in fun whimsical colors and designs to match your wee-one's room decor, or be crafted in a more traditional style to ensure they have longer lasting utility, such as storing blankets and sweaters as you send them off to college. With Santa on the way though, it’s certain that having plenty of storage in your child’s room is a must, so here is an easy guide to get you started on building one!

Some of the world’s most prized pieces of real estate are found along coastlines. Known for beautiful views and sea breezes, owning property on the beach can be a dream come true for homeowners. But beware - although tropical homes are famous for their eye-catching architecture and landscapes, they’re also infamous for construction challenges.

While screws, nails, bolts, nuts, and combination fasteners are the work horses of construction, sometimes they need a little help. A simple, circular disk applied between your mounting surface and your fastener may be just the trick. Here are five ways you can use washers in  your work.

While the materials we’ve used for roofing have changed over the years, from hay to wood to ceramic to metal to asphalt, they’ve all had the same purpose – to keep what’s under them protected from the elements. But in our modern world nothing does just one job anymore. Multi-function is the name of the game. It’s only natural then that the materials we build our homes and businesses from do more than just keep us out the rain.

Today, we have a wide range of construction fastener options, from nails to screws, combination fasteners to staples, all in a variety of materials and finishes. They may be loose or collated and applied by hand or machine. If we lose a nail here or there it’s no big deal. However, it wasn’t always this way.

/ˈkraf(t)smənˌShip/ - to obtain a skill in a particular craft, the quality of design shown in something made by hand, artistry.

People have been building decks for hundreds of years. There is something to be said about not reinventing the wheel. While trends towards using composite decking and hidden fasteners have been growing, we wanted to take a minute to remind you what you’ll miss out on by omitting traditional deck construction methods.

In a perfect world, the only thing impacting the life of our construction work would be the quality of the workmanship. But in the real world we have to account for the wear and tear that Mother Nature will inflict upon our work, and the people inside it. Here are a few smart ways to prevent the forces of nature from destroying your hard work.