Contractor articles from March 2005

Contractor archives from March 2005

AHR Expo sets exhibitor record.(Air-Conditioning Heating Refrigeration )
March 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- For the first time in its 75-year history, the AHR Expo came here, attracting a large number of industry professionals from around the globe. According to show management, the 2005 AHR Expo set a new record for number of...

Copper prices to ease in '06.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... COPPER PRICES should begin to decline in 2006, but don't get too excited. The days of 73 cents per lb. copper are long gone and a price of $1.20 per lb. by the end of 2006 could be a major victory. At press time, the metal was trading about...

FMI survey: 'differentiators ' make bigger profits.
March 1, 2005... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR RALEIGH, N.C. -- Only 55% of contractors have formal business development plans, according to FMI Management Consultants' 2004-2005 Business Development and Marketing Survey. Yet those contractors that really work to...

Cities, water agencies plead with Congress for sewer money.
March 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Municipalities and water authorities are lobbying Congress for billions of dollars that they need to fix their sewer systems and that the Bush administration has proposed cutting from the federal budget. American Public Works...

Train foremen to be field managers.
March 1, 2005... LANSDOWNE, VA. -- Two quick and effective--although possibly unpopular--ways to improve productivity are to eliminate cellular phones and cigarettes on jobsites, said Kirk Alter, a professor in Purdue University's building construction...

High-end lake retreat receives Expert attention.
March 1, 2005... LAKE GENEVA, WIS. -- A newly renovated home here features a piece of equipment not normally found in a mechanical room--a telephone. "The owner of the home told us that he wants to be able to call us while he is looking at his heating...

Survey: Contractor tool purchases at retail rising.
March 1, 2005... DES PLAINES, ILL. -- CONTRACTOR readers spend, on average, $18,805 a year on power tools, according to a survey conducted among the magazines readers in February. Most of those purchases are made through the traditional supply chain: 42.6%...

1 contractor in 5 closes annually: report.(Industry News)
March 1, 2005... DALLAS -- An analysis of government data reveals an annual business failure rate of 20% among plumbing, heating and air conditioning companies, according to a white paper recently released by the Service Roundtable. "According to...

Due to the success of last year's combined New Jersey Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors and Pennsylvania PHCC trade show, both state associations will again hold their combined event April 29 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Due to the success of last year's combined New Jersey Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors and Pennsylvania PHCC trade show, both state associations will again hold their combined event April 29 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J. The...

Pennsylvania PHCC.(Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Legislation that will further protect and streamline the process by which homeowners could abrogate from a legal contract in an emergency situation was unanimously passed by the Pennsylvania State House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Ed...

New England Mechanical Services Inc. has received three awards from the Connecticut chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.
March 1, 2005... New England Mechanical Services Inc. has received three awards from the Connecticut chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors: an Excellence in Construction Award, the Platinum Level STEP Award for the National ABC's safety and training...

Home Improvement Research Institute.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Last year's hurricane season helped drive spending on home-improvement products to a record high estimate of $271.4 billion in 2004, according to the not-for-profit Home Improvement Research Institute. The estimated total for 2004 represents a...

The Service Roundtable.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Service Roundtable, an Internet-based group serving plumbing and HVAC contractors, recorded more than 2 million page loads on Feb. 11, less than 11 months after the site reached the 1 million mark. The company said it adds new business...

Wirsbo sets Mini-Camps.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... APPLE VALLEY, MINN. -- Uponor Wirsbo has released its 2005 HCT Mini-Camp schedule. Wirsbo's Mini-Camp has trained more than 6,500 contractors over the past 10 years. The Mini-Camp I curriculum includes radiant system design and...

Quit the school of hard knocks.
March 1, 2005... WHERE DID YOU learn what you know about this business? Ask a group of contractors that question at the next industry event you attend. Successful contractors might mention a mentor who they had, networking they did at industry meetings or...

Going 'green' to require LEED certifications.(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
March 1, 2005... AS CONTRACTORS, we should be aware just how inefficient commercial buildings can be. Studies show that in the United States, buildings consume 65% of all electrical use, 36% of total energy use and create 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. It's...

Joe Schmitt was a true industry champion.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... AUBURN TOWNSHIP, OHIO -- When I received my January issue of CONTRACTOR magazine, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Joseph Schmitt ("Management columnist Joe Schmitt dies," pg. 3). I have been a steady reader of CONTRACTOR...

'Scald' DVD instructs pros.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... MALVERN, PA. -- Just wanted to give Dave Yates a compliment on the nice job he did on the Watts "Danger-Scalding Lurks!" DVD (December 2004, pg. 24). I looked at it over the weekend and then played it for our techs at today's Monday morning...

UA trustees to repay fund?(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... VIA E-MAIL -- I have been a reader of CONTRACTOR magazine for several years and really like the different topics that are covered. They are usually short and to the point and as a businessman I don't always have a lot of time to get involved....

Transitional style: plumbing styles at Builders' Show bridge contemporary and traditional designs.
March 1, 2005... Plumbing manufacturers say they will unveil a greater number of products with more design flare in May at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. Yet the huge International Builders' Show--which took over Orlando, Fla., in mid-January--has...

MSI occupies training center.(Mechanical Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- General contractor McCree Inc. handled interior renovations for Orlando-based Mechanical Services Inc.'s newly occupied manufacturing and training center, a state-of-the-art, 50,000-sq.-ft. facility. The new facility has...

'Thistled House' sees new fuel efficiency.(Column)
March 1, 2005... IN MY DECEMBER 2001 column, I discussed the heating system that I'd installed in my own "live-in laboratory" ("Lessons I've learned from 'Thistled House,'" pg. 24). I said near the end of the column that the system was slated for an update in...

A second look at cycle-rate controls.
March 1, 2005... THE PHONE CALL: A regular customer of our supply house was on the line. I talk to him or one of his two brothers at least once a day, as they put in many commercial boilers every year. Recently, he added a cycle-rate control to a steam...

Design radiant loops; manage service calls.
March 1, 2005... CONTRACTORS WHO install radiant heating systems will be interested in Avenir Software's LoopCAD Version 1.5 (www.LoopCAD.com, 888/568-0031, $395, trial version available free at Website). The program is standalone CAD software that generates...

Make testing lab decisions before job starts.
March 1, 2005... WE RECENTLY HAD a situation in a concrete case that brought up an issue that I have been thinking about for some time. On a multi-prime, construction manager job, this contractor had poured concrete for a playground water feature. The...

Payroll taxes go up, up and away.(Blackman On Taxes)(Federal Insurance Contributions Act)
March 1, 2005... THE NEWS FOR 2005 is the same and sorry old story: Social Security taxes are in the stratosphere. Your take-home pay will be lower in 2005. First the basic rules. Social Security taxes are imposed not only on employees and employers but on...

Sorting out a job's assets and liabilities.
March 1, 2005... AS IN LIFE, everything associated with project management is either an asset or a liability. Every human, material or financial resource that can or will be used in the project management process is either going to hurt or help you. There are...

EMCOR wins $44 million job.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... NORWALK, CONN. -- EMCOR Group announced in late February that its wholly owned subsidiary Shambaugh & Son was awarded a $44 million project to serve as prime contractor for the design and construction of a new food production facility for the...

Guide reflects 'green' advances.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BRATTLEBORO, VT. -- The fifth edition of the GreenSpec Directory of environmentally preferable building products and materials has been updated to reflect changes in the green building movement. The 464-page book includes more than 1,850...

Linc adds real estate services.(Forum/Letters)(Linc Facility Services)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- National mechanical and facility management company Linc Facility Services has signed an alliance agreement with CRESA Partners, an international corporate real estate advisory firm. Through this agreement, the two firms can provide...

Avoid difficult words in articles.(Forum/Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. -- My husband and I just received a copy of CONTRACTOR The Newsmagazine of Mechanical Contractors. We have a small plumbing and electrical business. When my husband was reading an article about software for the small...

FirstEnergy sells contractor.(Columnists)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... AKRON, OHIO -- Utility FirstEnergy Corp. has sold Spectrum Control Systems, a specialty mechanical contractor based in Cincinnati, to Energy Conservation Services in Shelby, Ohio. FirstEnergy's mechanical contracting subsidiary, FirstEnergy...

The new V28 lithium ion battery.(editor's choice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE NEW V28 LITHIUM ION BATTERY is the result of nine years research and development. The 28 v. battery delivers increased power and up to twice the run time of traditional 18 v. models, yet weighs slightly less. The V28 line of tools includes...

The roto-kut ultra hole cutter.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE ROTO-KUT ULTRA HOLE CUTTER is a heavy-duty hole-maker that can cut virtually any material up to 1" thick, including sheet metal, metal plate, pipe, iron and plastics. Easy to use, it produces clean, burr-free, perfectly round holes without...

These nut drivers.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THESE NUT DRIVERS in metric sizes feature cushion-grips and hollow shafts. They range in size from 4mm to 11 mm, had a 3" shank and can be purchased individually or as a seven-piece set. Klein Tools CIRCLE 103 ON INQUIRY CARD ...

Seven new hole saw kits.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SEVEN NEW HOLE SAW KITS have been introduced to the Master Cobalt line of hole saws. The kits offer contractors the most popular hole diameters and corresponding arbors. The kits are packaged in custom cases that protect and organize their...

The new T-Drill pipe cutting system.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE NEW T-DRILL PIPE CUTTING SYSTEM provides a square cut with no interior burr on pipe or tube from 1" to 8". Cuts can be made on mild steel, stainless steel, copper, cast iron soil pipe and all plastic pipe. Intended for pipe trades as well...

The safe & sound RFID tool tracking system.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE SAFE & SOUND RFID TOOL TRACKING SYSTEM uses technology similar to bar coding. Information is stored on a radio frequency identification chip, and when needed transferred through an antenna to a reader device. Used with accompanying...

The BSZ 12 V. cordless drill/driver.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE BSZ 12 V. CORDLESS DRILL/DRIVER has a new motor that delivers up to 460 in./lb, of torque. Variospeed electronics allow infinite no-load speeds up to 1,350 rpm. It features a quick-change 1.4 amp/hr, battery. Metabo CIRCLE 107 ON...

The patriot patcut battery actuated hydraulic cutter.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE PATRIOT PATCUT BATTERY ACTUATED HYDRAULIC CUTTER is capable of cutting 1.29" of copper or aluminum cable, 5/8" soft steel bold, 1/2" standard guy strand or 3/8" EHS guy strand. Ergonomic design allows for easy-one-hand operation. A...

A new line of hand and swivel torches.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A NEW LINE OF HAND AND SWIVEL TORCHES are now available that provide maximum targeted heat output through swirl, adjustable ultra swirl, and large diameter flames. The torches accommodate both MAPP and propane fuel and are ideal concentrated...

The hole master system.(Hand And Power Tools)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE HOLE MASTER SYSTEM provides a means for simultaneously clamping and drilling holes in pipe. It has a pipe diameter mounting range from 1 1/2" to 10" and fits a hole saw up to 4 1/2". It is for use in depressurized piping systems only. ...

The model R82320 14.4 V. cordless impact driver.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE MODEL R82320 14.4 V. CORDLESS IMPACT DRIVER is compact to maneuver in tight spaces. It delivers up to 1,400 in./lb, of torque to complete challenging tasks. It features a variable speed switch for delicate stops and starts, a 1/4" quick...

The Olympus single-bowl kitchen sink.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE OLYMPUS SINGLE-BOWL KITCHEN SINK is made of a stone composite and offered in a wide array of colors to coordinate with popular granite counters, backsplashes and floors. Astracast CIRCLE 112 ON INQUIRY CARD [ILLUSTRATION...

These shut-off valves.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THESE SHUT-OFF VALVES are for high-backpressure and vacuum applications. The 1/2"-sized valves are air-operated with no wetted metals or external fasteners for high-purity or corrosive environments. Rated up to 150 psi, the valves are balanced,...

The flood guard drain attachment.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE FLOOD GUARD DRAIN ATTACHMENT is available for 2", 3" and 4" floor drains. It operates like a check valve to seal off water back-up caused by overloaded sewers. When water begins to back up, a float rises to seal off the drain opening. It...

Heatplates heavy duty underfloor plates.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... HEATPLATES HEAVY DUTY UNDERFLOOR PLATES are designed for use with 3/8" or 1/2" radiant PEX tubing and are available in 4' or 8' lengths. Simply install the plates and snap in the tubing; no glues or sealants are required. They eliminate...

The superbrute wet rotor circulator.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE SUPERBRUTE WET ROTOR CIRCULATOR allows installers to choose a speed with the turn of a switch, allowing it to replace several single-speed models. It includes an integrated, removable check valve designed for low friction loss, making it...

Bryan steam boiler accessory products.(Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BRYAN STEAM BOILER ACCESSORY PRODUCTS. New brochure describes Bryan's complete line of boiler accessories for improved performance and longevity of commercial and industrial boilers. Deaerators (Spray Type and Tray Type), Boiler Feed Systems,...

New pipe hanger catalog release first since company name change.(Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... NEW PIPE HANGER CATALOG RELEASE FIRST SINCE COMPANY NAME CHANGE. The most comprehensive catalog of pipe hangers and supports available to the industry has been published by Anvil. Anvil, formerly known as Grinnell, is the recognized world...

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry's full line of pipe and fittings.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... CHARLOTTE PIPE AND FOUNDRY'S FULL LINE OF PIPE AND FITTINGS for the industrial market is featured in this informative brochure. Engineered to work together as a system for easy installation and optimum performance, Charlotte Pipe's industrial...

General's award-winning AutoCut[TM].(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... GENERAL'S AWARD-WINNING AUTOCUT[TM] is now available in a new 1" size. It slices tubing in tight spots--even with less than 1" of clearance from the wall when doing stub-out work. It also sports a cast aluminum casing for enhanced durability....

Electronic FlowHood.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... ELECTRONIC FLOWHOOD The new electronic digital readout FlowHood offers increased accuracy and speed in the measurement of air flows from 30-2,500 cfm. Software automatically corrects for back pressure and density changes due to altitude. Direct...

This brochure.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THIS BROCHURE gives the top 10 reasons to do business with T&S Brass, including their exclusive 24-hour Quick Ship program, custom engineering and modifications, quality and innovation and extensive plumbing product lines. To order a copy of...

A new brochure.(Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A NEW BROCHURE is now available that details Elkay's new institutional sinks. The Scrub-up Sink provides an easily accessible and sanitary wash-up system by using a convenient "hands-free" sensor-operated faucet. It is constructed of type 304,...

Affordable underground boring with the BorZit system.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... AFFORDABLE UNDERGROUND BORING WITH THE BORZIT SYSTEM. BorZit lays pipe under sidewalks, driveways or streets faster with less effort for under $250! Bores a 2", 3" or 5" hole at 1 foot per minute with amazing accuracy. Can bore up to 60 feet...

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry's FlowGuard Gold technical manual.(Literature Showcase)
March 1, 2005... CHARLOTTE PIPE AND FOUNDRY'S FLOWGUARD GOLD TECHNICAL MANUAL describes the company's FlowGuard[R] product offering, technical specifications and installation requirements. As the leading full-line manufacturer of PVC, CPVC, ABS and FlowGuard...

The new Gen-Eye3 video pipe inspection/location system.(Literature Showcase)
March 1, 2005... THE NEW GEN-EYE3 VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION/LOCATION SYSTEM offers a wide range of enhancements to make video pipe inspection and location easier. Like three times greater transmitter wattage for easier location, dual frequency transmitter to reduce...

Danze showcases "cool" line in 2004 product catalog.(Literature Showcase)
March 1, 2005... DANZE SHOWCASES "COOL" LINE IN 2004 PRODUCT CATALOG. Danze has introduced its new product catalog. Throughout this 40 + page book, Danze highlights its line of decorative kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads and bath accessories. To receive a...

The Metraflex Fireloop expansion joint.(Literature Showcase)
March 1, 2005... THE METRAFLEX FIRELOOP EXPANSION JOINT protects fire sprinkler systems across seismic separations and building joints, simplifying designing movement into a sprinkler system. A proven technology with thousands of seismic installations in...

Why business development plans make sense.(Editorial)(Mechanical Contractors Association of America )(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... HERE'S A QUOTE from 1956 that I jotted down during a marketing seminar earlier this month at the MCAA annual convention in Scottsdale, Ariz.: "Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are...