Even though “big box” stores Home Depot and Lowe’s primarily are the domain of the non-professional do-it-yourself construction consumers, the retailers’ influence on the construction materials market may be more industry-wide than their target audience would imply. The huge amounts of materials that rapidly move through the thousands of stores, and the just-in-time supply chains that feed them, are a recipe for price volatility and materials shortages, some industry sources say. “The whole industry has shifted to just-in-time production and delivery,” says Carl Cullotta, head of the construction practice group at Chicago-based Frank Lynn Marketing and Consulting. “Home Depot and
Price volatility in the copper market is forcing electrical and plumbing contractors to rethink their bidding procedures for construction projects. “I think contractors are just feeling the pressure. Prices are at an all-time high,” says John Mothersole, senior economist for Global Insight in Washington D.C. Average copper prices are at about $2.25 to $2.30 per lb. Mothersole says that compares to an average price for all of 2005 of $1.68 per lb. In 2004, the average price was $1.29 and in 2003 it was as low as 81¢ per lb, he adds. The Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price index
Materials price escalation switched gears in 2005 as petroleum-based products took the lead from steel prices, which fueled inflation in 2004. The latest round of double-digit price increases for copper, plastic, gypsum and asphalt products are not driving inflation as hard as steel prices did in 2004. The annual inflation rate for 11 general building and valuation cost indexes fell from 8.5% a year ago to 5.5% this quarter. But this is still well above the average annual increases posted before 2004 (see chart). One of the largest annual increases for this group of indexes was 7.8% recorded by a
Despite record levels of employment, wage settlements for union construction workers in 2005 continued close to the pace set during the previous two years. In March, ENR’s 20-city average skilled labor index for bricklayers, carpenters and ironworkers posted a 4.1% annual increase for union wages plus fringe benefits (see table). This was up from 3.8% and 3.9% annual increases for March 2005 and 2004. Union wages for 2005 tracked by the Construction Research Labor Council, Washington, D.C., recorded an average annual increase of 3.9% for 589 collective bargaining contracts covering 554,512 workers. The average wage-plus-fringe hourly rate for all construction
New Stresses. FHWA program encourages more use of prestressed, post-tensioned concrete paving. (Photo courtesy of FHWA) Back in the 1990s, recalls Heath Carr, president of Fibrwrap Construction Inc., “everyone would look at you like you were crazy” for proposing to repair a bridge with composite fiber components. But 5,000 retrofits later, the looks are gone. Although fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) still are not in the mainstream of transportation construction, they are far from esoteric. Carr notes that “the costs of traditional steel and concrete costs have inflated, whereas FRP costs have stayed the same.” But many bridge and highway engineers
As the U.S. Interstate Highway System was taking shape, state highway agencies charged with building it faced an immense challenge. If the system was to last longer than previous American highways, transportation officials found they needed solid facts and figures on performance and behavior of pavement structures to guide them in designing and building the largest public works project in U.S. history. In 1951, the American Association of State Highway Officials began planning a road test, choosing a site in Ottawa, Ill., along a right-of-way that would become Interstate 80. There, environmental and subgrade conditions were representative of a good
Extradosed. New I-95 crossing in New Haven will sport hybrid design technique adopted from Japan. (Rendering courtesy of URS) When URS Corp. area bridge manager Dave Stahnke visited Japan in 2001 to learn more about the technique of “extradosing,” the irony did not strike him until later. “Here we were in Japan gathering information for the Pearl Harbor Memorial bridge” in New Haven, he recalls. As the Interstate highway system marks its 50th year, former enemies at its infancy now are sharing bridge technology. More than good karma, the extradosed design—a combination of segmental girder and cable-stayed elements— for the
Options. Tilt-up was used to save space, time and money. (Photo courtesy of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) A Florida contractor has staked claim to a tilt-up concrete world record by forming and placing a 96.6-ft tall wall panel at a new parking garage. The panel is part of a 2,300-space, seven-story parking structure being built for a tribal hotel and casino. “It’s official, this is a world record holder,” says James R. Baty II, technical director for the Tilt-Up Concrete Association, Mount Vernon, Iowa. “The previous two record holders achieved their height by extending only a portion of
Plastic speeds oil change. A revolution is taking place inside today’s diesel engines, and it is forcing engineers to rethink critical components on the outside, including the humble oil filter. Suppliers for decades have built filters out of a steel can that surrounds an element. They are simple, but the threads have a tendency to strip out, potentially damaging the engine. They also are heavy, clumsy, and slippery, making them difficult to remove. The casings dent easily and are susceptible to corrosion. Researchers working for Fleetguard Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., held focus groups with mechanics over the past two years
+ Enlarge this image Shifting Gears. Cat’s patent problems have not stopped product development, such as a new transmission venture. By the time the year is through, the clean diesel movement will have made significant strides. Since 1996, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began regulating off-road diesel tailpipe emissions, pollutants from many of the engines powering heavy construction machines have been cut by more than 80%. By this time next year, over-the-road trucks will be more than 90% cleaner as well. Diesel fuel with an “ultra low sulfur” rating will be required on highway vehicles later this year, and
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