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OCTOBER 2009 |
The 2009 Drop in Construction Materials Prices is Over
Construction materials prices fell 7.5% from September 2008 to August 2009. The decline is now over with the price index approximately steady for the last three months. Little change is expected in the next six months although a slight upward trend is likely. Both the overall economy and the construction market are operating well below potential. The unused manufacturing resources will exert a significant downward pressure on materials prices. Also, material inventory is still very high although it has declined substantially since earlier in 2009.
Nonetheless, a slight upward trend in prices is expected through the winter because of expected international economic developments. Asian economies are recovering faster than in the US. Chinese economic growth has already returned to about an 8% annual rate. This rising demand for construction commodities and manufactured materials will pressure US construction materials prices up in spite of the slack US economy. The expected continuing depreciation of the US dollar also contributes to.... Read More>>>
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Windows & Glass: Security Measures
Reinforcing or “beefing up” a building might be referred to as the “fortress solution.” A collateral approach might be to protect a building’s structural system as well as its vital vertical systems for fatal damage, while at the same time permitting violent impacts or explosions to expend themselves on more absorbent flexible materials.
A building that has a considerable amount of glazing at the sidewalk level might (depending on the security goals) be a candidate for replacement of the existing glazing (probably a heavyweight, tempered plate glass) with laminated safety glass. This type of glass is being specified in some building codes in areas where hurricanes are prevalent. (Laminated safety glass is similar to the glass in windshields of automobiles, while tempered glass is the same sort as in storm doors or shower doors).... Read More>>>
This article was excerpted with permission from Building Security: Strategies & Costs, by David Owen, published by RSMeans. RSMeans publishes over 60 books covering all aspects of new construction, renovation, and maintenance in commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential buildings.
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RSMeans Estimating Handbook Labor Rates for the Construction Industry 2010 Book |
Economic Recovery in mid 2009 Leads to Construction Recovery
Early in 2010
The turnabout to growth in the overall economy last summer started changes in the economic environment that will lead to resumed growth in construction activity during the winter quarter. Single family housing led the recovery, as it often does, with an initial burst of growth late in the spring that was a major contributor to the growth in GDP last summer.
The balance of construction will begin to recover, market by market, a few months ahead. Retail construction will be one of the first markets to recover because it was one of the first markets to collapse. But recovery will be much delayed for manufacturing and power construction where energy driven projects keep construction spending growing well in 2009.
The enabling changes in the construction economic environment underway in the last half of 2009 include gains in.... Read More>>>
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Far from a Perfect ’10”
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