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CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 9, 2010

There Go I…Maybe
Filed under: Industry outlook — Tags: — nedpelger

Jim Babcock was a Construction Superintendent for a Tampa Bay, FL construction company. Three years ago, the firm fell onto challenging times and Jim went a stretch of 10 weeks working but not receiving a paycheck. The Tampa Bay Online article notes that Jim left that company and spiraled into homelessness.  At 55 years old, he lived for a few months in the Salvation Army shelter. He was eventually hired as staff by the Salvation Army (Construction Supers tend to be competent folks) and is pictured below helping a current shelter resident.

“I’ve seen clients as young as 18 and as old as 80,” Babcock said. “It (homelessness) can be very shocking. A lot of people aren’t prepared for that eventuality – that money has run out, jobs are dried up. That would be a shock for most people.”

Indeed it would. As you contemplate this Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas season, take some time to remember the tenuous nature of our lives and our jobs. The knowledge that everything can (and most things eventually will) be taken away helps to hold onto to them lightly. A certain detachment lets us truly live in the present. Worry about the past or the future only wastes our time. Prepare…but live with joy.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 6, 2010

Top 10 Requirements for a Great Construction Phone App
Filed under: Phone Apps for Construction — Tags: — nedpelger

Having written six apps and now reviewing lots more, I’m starting to get a sense of what quality looks like. My son Lex furthers that understanding by bringing the Net generation sensibility. By outlining the requirements for a great construction phone app, I’m hoping to help the entire industry get better. Here are our requirements:

  1. Clear, Descriptive Name. Since many of us will have dozens of construction related apps, we need to easily be reminded what we have and what it does.
  2. Solves a Reasonable Problem. Multiplying three numbers together and diving by 27 to obtain concrete  volume doesn’t need an app. It shouldn’t be a toy, it should be a productivity game changer.
  3. Clear Purpose. A useful app shouldn’t try to accomplish too many different tasks…unless they can be easily delineated and selected. Generally, an app should limit features of limited value and be focused.
  4. Help Screens that Lead a Novice Through the Steps. The help screens should both show the steps and show a worked example when possible. Terms must be defined, even basic terms.
  5. Clear Inputting. Too many apps have tiny input screens, difficult to manipulate and read on the jobsite.
  6. Professional Graphics. Screens should be easily readable. Color is a plus, but not a requirement.
  7. Simplicity. Remember the best training advice ever. Keep it Simple Stupid (KISS). Clear, simple and brief is the goal.
  8. Ability to Share Results. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth saving. Results must be able to be texted and emailed.
  9. Don’t Require Memorization. We all have enough things in our lives that we struggle to remember. Forcing the memorization of construction calculator steps shouldn’t be added to the mix.
  10. Have a Strong Website and a Great Response Time. Customer service matters. There must be the appearance of great customer service.

We’re excited about construction phone apps because they could greatly enhance jobsite productivity. As the construction phone apps get better, we all win.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 4, 2010

City of the Future
Filed under: Cool Projects — Tags: — nedpelger

Sometimes it’s nice just to dream. I came across this winner of a CGSociety digital art competition for architecture and thought you’d enjoy it as well.

As things change, as the future becomes the present, are you positioning yourself to be near the action? Hockey great Wayne Gretzky said, “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”

He also said, “The only way a kid is going to practice is if it’s total fun for him… and it was for me.” Figure a way to love what you do, to want to get better, to excel. That’s the best way to succeed in this crazy business.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 3, 2010

App Review for iPhone Project Quote Estimate
Filed under: Jobsite Management,Phone Apps for Construction — Tags: — nedpelger

There is definitely a need for a good field estimating app. Unfortunately, the Project Quote Estimate for iPhone probably won’t completely fill that need for most of us. While it has some very interesting features that I like, the strictly Residential nature of the app limits its value.

Being the only construction field estimator app available at this time, it may be worth purchasing just to see if it works for you. I like the 18 tool screens. Some will be useful: concrete, drywall, acoustic ceiling, stairs, sheathing and roofing. Others seem useless: paint, wall paper, tile, asphalt, seeding, etc. The lumber calculator wouldn’t work for me, but others may find it useful. They included a Scale calculator for plans that are reproduced to the wrong scale (a handy device) and several other useful estimating tools. The lack of equipment pricing would also be a problem for me.

As you can tell from my comments above, I’m a bit conflicted about this app. On the one hand it seems like a toy that won’t get used, yet it has some features that you may find helpful. As a final comment, the user interface works well, you will be able to just pick it up and use it without instructions. I’d like to hear feedback from anyone else that’s downloaded it.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 2, 2010

App Review for Roofing Estimator
Filed under: Phone Apps for Construction,Thermal & Moisture Protection — Tags: — nedpelger

Our Best of Construction Apps page, we list all the construction phone apps we’ve been able to find. We also give you info and reviews. I’m excited about this page. I think we can all learn about what tools are available and hopefully improve the market as we improve our own productivity. So I’ll be reviewing various apps and letting you know the skinny.

The Roofing Estimator by Lake Simcoe Concrete Forming for the iPhone performs area calculations. The program, though simple, lacks adequate descriptions of terms.

Basically, either a gable roof or a cottage roof can be analyzed. I’m assuming a cottage roof is what I’d call a hip roof, but the app doesn’t clarify. The inputs are done well with pitch, overhang, eave and house width and length all required.

The outputs are number of sheets of plywood and bundles of shingles. The outputs are given to two decimal places, so I assume (again, clarity would be a benefit here) that no waste factor is included. As for improvements, I’d like to have area in square feet included (useful for other things) and the ability to text or email the inputs and outputs to create a record.

Overall, it’s an ok app, but should really have the improvements listed above.

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