 |
 |
||||
| July 1, 2009 | SmartBuilding Index | RSMeans | About RCD | ||
In This Issue...
Reed News • Construction News • Feature Article • Construction Project Leads
Complimentary Webcast Features Top Construction Economists
Don’t miss this complimentary webcast — “Turning Points in Construction” — hosted July 23, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Join chief economists Jim Haughey, Reed Construction Data; Ken Simonson, AGC of America; and Kermit Baker, American Institute of Architects as they analyze the key factors affecting the recovery of the construction industry.
Click here for more information and to sign up now
Share this article: 
on Twitter • 
on Facebook • 
on LinkedIn
U.S. Residential Construction Markets Take some New Twists and Turns
6/26/2009 - Among May’s set of housing statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau, perhaps the most telling is that the number of new home sold has stayed almost exactly flat since January 2009, at about 340,000 units. This is important because, with new home starts so low, the unsold inventory has continued to drop. The number of unsold single-family new homes in the U.S. is now well below levels much earlier in this decade, going as far back as the dot.com collapse. Given stable sales and falling stock, the number-of-months inventory, at 10.2 versus a high of 12.4 in January 2009, is adjusting downward into more favorable territory, although it still has a long way to go (i.e., 4.0 to 4.5 is “normal”).
There are a number of reasons for homeowners to go ahead with purchases at this time if they can line up financing. There is the $8,000 tax break for first-time home buyers. There are the record-setting low mortgage rates that can be locked in for extended periods. And there are low prices that are resulting from weak demand and building cost..... (read more)
Share this article: on Twitter • on Facebook • on LinkedIn
Latest Construction Cost Changes for 51 Major U.S. Cities as Calculated by RSMeans
6/26/2009 - The four graphs and single table below encapsulate some of the key results from RSMeans’ Construction Cost Index (CCI) calculations for the latest quarter ending in April, 2009. The overall CCI for the United States as a whole has slipped into decline. The quarter-to-quarter change was -2.0%, which translates to -7.9% on an annualized basis. The total index decline was all due to materials, as installation rates stayed high. Material prices were..... (read more)
Share this article: on Twitter • on Facebook • on LinkedIn
Canada’s Falling Capacity Utilization Rates And CanaData’s Industrial Construction Forecasts
6/30/2009 - Statistics Canada’s latest readings on capacity utilization rates in the country are dismal, to say the least. The total industry rate dropped to 69.3% in first-quarter 2009 and manufacturing languished even lower at 65.9%. Among six industry aggregates, only oil and gas extraction registered an increase in capacity usage. In nine durables manufacturing sub-categories, there were no gains in plant usage. The category with the lowest capacity..... (read more)
Share this article: on Twitter • on Facebook • on LinkedIn
Visit ReedConstructionData.com, Daily Commercial News & Journal of Commerce
for current news about the US & Canada
Focus on Sound Control Products
| Focus on Sound Control Products sponsored by MeansCostWorks.com |
|---|
Free Trial Subscription To MeansCostWorks.com Click here to receive a free 7-day trial to the new MeansCostWorks.com online construction cost estimator or to view our demo. Manage customized estimates for commerical, residential & heavy construction projects with the entire RSMeans database of unit, facility & assembly costs — all online. A must-have resource for contractors with costs from the benchmark RSMeans cost data and contractor pricing guide titles, delivered in a secure online environment 24/7. |
Acoustical Security Controlling sound transmission is a key aspect in the design of any new facility, and, in addition to visual privacy and security, is an important concern. The following are some basic guidelines. For conference-type rooms where sound control is necessary, specify walls constructed from the floor to the structural deck of the floor above, and include sound-absorbing insulation between the wall studs. Staggered stud, unbalanced design is recommended. However, even floor-to-deck staggered stud walls must have at least one large hole, perhaps two openings (one at each end) to provide for return airflow, and these become perfect conduits for transmission of conversation. This condition can be addressed by installing acoustical traps – short, ducted returns – on the conference room side of the openings required for return air. Often these traps can be constructed of a ridged acoustical board, about five feet long, with one right angle bend. A well-engineered and constructed acoustical trap should absorb most conversations, yet be large enough to permit sufficient return airflow. Supply air ducts are often insulated to prevent heat or cooling loss. The thermal insulation may also provide some added security benefit b absorbing sound and preventing conversations from being overheard in adjacent rooms. Depending on the assessed needs of occupants, consider locating spaces where sound control is critical in areas without windows or with limited windows to the outdoors. High-tech listening devices are capable of picking up conversations through windows from a distance of 1,500 feet away. Although such eavesdropping may be unlikely, some thought should be given in facility design to the nature of the occupants’ needs and the sensitivity of information and business housed within. If windows are indeed part of the design, consider providing protective drapes, which can help mask sound, and well as serve as visual privacy barriers when needed. White noise generators can also be connected to windows or directed at them to help maintain sound control.Excerpted from Building Security: Strategies & Costs by David D. Owen, published by RSMeans |
New documents this week on SmartBuilding Index include:
- ALPOLIC Aluminum Faced Composite Panel from Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America, Inc.
- Direct Colors Concrete Pigments from Direct Colors, Inc.
- Ametco Fences and Gates from Ametco Manufacturing Corporation
Reed Construction Data Reported Projects
| US (USD) | Canada (CAD) | ||||
| Commercial | Civil | Commercial | Civil | ||
| Pre-bid | $1,030,031,898,044 | $133,125,781,712 | Pre-bid | $477,472,938,397 | $162,418,509,243 |
| Bid | $19,983,165,511 | $14,939,530,816 | Tender | $6,177,126,582 | $645,668,400 |
| Post-bid | $1,562,297,883,181 | $673,037,067,916 | Post-bid | $35,670,077,257 | $38,869,839,119 |
Some New Projects Recently Updated:
- Cumberland County, New Jersey:
VINELAND MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT - Bernalillo County, New Mexico:
NORTH DOMINGO BACA GENERATIONAL CENTER - Westchester County, New York:
YONKERS WATERFRONT MIXED USE
To view more construction project leads, please click here, scroll down, and choose a state.
Download Product Sheets
Cost Calculator
Create Customized Estimates
Construction Equipment Quotes
Architect Search/
Industry Org Search
Building Code Search
Expert Business Source
Architectural Press
Magazine Stand
Construction Forecasts
Construction Starts
Costs & Materials
Economy & Finance
Housing
Major City Snapshots
Building Product Info
RSMeans Cost Data
Forecasting & Analytics
Reference Products
Payroll Services
Skid Steer Loaders
Construction Software
Office Trailers
Mini Excavators
© 2009 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
You are currently registered to receive the Construction eWire® at #EmailAddr#.
Terms & Conditions Updated Privacy Policy Subscribe #Content:unsub_ewire#