Many small construction business owners want to increase their customer base, boost sales, and grow their business. However, business growth can be difficult. Having access to a constant flow of construction leads is one of the main components of growing a construction company and increasing sales. A lead is a business or a person that has an interest in the products or services you are offering. Here are some of the best ways to generate construction leads and increase sales in your company:
One of the first things you need to do is to think about general demographics – gender, age, income, location, etc. It is also a good idea to do some research into the local area and what people living in this area look for when searching for a construction company. Understanding your customers’ wants and needs can help you to improve your sales and marketing efforts.
If you do not have enough sales leads in your database, then it might be an idea to find a lead generation company to help you. These companies can help you to find leads that you previously would not have known about. Barbour ABI is a market-leading supplier of construction project leads in the UK. They help businesses to sustain and grow by providing them with up-to-date, accurate information on construction projects. Not only that, but they also provide construction companies with 10 construction leads for free to get them started on their construction journey. Visit this page to find out more: https://www.barbour-abi.com/construction-leads/10-free-leads/.
If you want to generate construction leads and increase sales, you will need to create a website that looks professional and polished. Your website will need to be user-friendly, up-to-date, informative, and aesthetically pleasing.
If you want your business to rank higher in search engines, then starting a blog is a great option for you. Blogs can help to lead potential buyers to your website. Creating a blog is easy, but if you do not have the time, then you could always outsource this role to a blog-writing company. Whatever you choose to do, make sure your content is relevant to your target audience and it includes the correct keywords.
Social media is one of the best marketing tools businesses have. It provides several opportunities for small businesses to generate new leads and start conversations with prospective customers. If you want to generate more construction leads, then consider creating a Twitter profile, a Facebook page, a Pinterest account, and a YouTube channel to attract and engage your customers.
Construction companies can also use social media to talk to and find out more about their customers. The more you cultivate your relationship with your customers, the more likely they will be to purchase from you in the future.
Generating business leads is extremely important for construction companies who want to be successful. Lead generation should be viewed as a long-term process. If you get a good and effective system in place, you can streamline the lead generation process and increase opportunities for business progression. Having a marketing plan does not have to cost huge amounts of money, but it does take a little bit of time and work. If you want to generate more construction leads and increase sales in your business, then try out some of the ideas above.
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Converting your loft can create more liveable space and add significant value to your home. To accomplish this, you’ll need to find the right builder. It’s a big project, so you want to make sure to find someone who’s experienced, dependable, and understands your vision.
From price to qualifications to experience, there is a lot to consider. In this article, we’ll cover what you need to know to choose the right builder for your loft conversion.
Most loft spaces are not immediately suitable for conversion as they are. This means you will need to take some initiative to plan the loft conversion style. Before hiring a builder, you will need to contact an architect and possibly a structural engineer to assist in the planned conversion drawings. Your ability to add a loft will largely depend on your style of home, what planning permissions are allowed, and your budget. London building experts KPD Construction recommend doing this well in advance of the intended start date of your project to ensure everything goes smoothly and you avoid any unnecessary delays.
The three most common loft conversions are:
All this should be done before meeting with a builder, as then you own the plans and you can take them to different builders to get multiple quotes.
Ideally, the builder you choose would have performed similar builds to what you have in mind. There’s no one-size-fits-all for loft conversions, so you should ask to see their portfolio.
If they are willing to give you references, that’s a good sign. That means they are confident in their work and have kept a good working relationship with their past clients. If you get to see the builder’s past work, you can then decide if you like the style and quality.
You should also ask if you can see a current build, as you can then see what the behind-the-scenes will look like. This should also reassure you they are an active company with work experience.
Letting builders come into your home is very personal, and loft conversions can take a long time. You must be comfortable with who you hire. When you’re talking to the tradesmen, do they seem polite? Are they happy to answer your questions? Are they on time for your appointments? Do they seem genuinely interested in your project?
A loft conversion is a long project that requires a lot of communication. If you feel like you’re not going to enjoy working with a builder, it may be best to find someone else.
Be upfront with potential builders and ask them about experience and accreditations. Qualified builders can tell you their qualifications, experience in the field, and how they’d approach your project. You can also ask to see pictures of jobs they’ve done. Feel free to check for builder reviews on sites such as MyBuilder. Some builders who work on lofts also belong to organisations, such as:
Get quotes from at least three different builders. To accurately compare prices, you’ll need to see prices on all the same things, or like-for-like. These should include materials, labor, and possible subcontracting. Be aware that many tradesmen won’t necessarily add everything you want to the quote, so you need to make sure everything is included to get the true price. This could include plastering, skirting boards, etc. They can charge a lot for these things at the end, so make sure you budget everything in.
Planning permissions and building controls are two sets of requirements you’ll have to fulfil to build your loft conversion. Planning permission deals primarily with larger-scale building development and the impact on the community. Building control works to ensure the health and safety of all who enter the building.
You may not necessarily need planning permission, but you’ll need building control to sign off on your building plans. This is where it helps to have a builder who’s familiar with local building requirements, as they’ll be able to ensure your conversion passes inspection.
There are many builders out there, and it may take some time to find the right one. Take your time while interviewing tradesmen. Remember, the right builder will be transparent and have sufficient experience for the loft conversion you’re looking for.
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It is essential business owners prioritise the health and safety of their workforce. Whatever the industry, employers have a duty of care to their employees. This is especially the case in work environments like warehouses which pose a greater risk to the health of the employees. Here, there are risks workers need be aware of and protective measures should be in place to ensure the safety of your team.
Our guide covers key areas to focus on and points to cover.
The common workplace injuries
Even if you have strict health and safety measures in place, injuries do happen. Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive reveal that annually between 2017/18 and 2019/20, 610,000 workers on average were injured in workplace accidents. An additional 559,000 workers suffered a new case of ill health that they believed was caused or made worse by their work.
Slips, trips, or falls accounted for 29% of non-fatal injuries in the 2019/20 period, while almost a fifth (19%) of injuries were caused by handling, lifting or carrying, and 11% were struck be a moving object.
While many of these injuries can happen in almost industry, there is a greater risk in hands-on settings such as warehouses.
How to protect your staff
One area to focus on when assessing how to protect your warehouse staff is the PPE levels. Protective equipment shields workers, acting as an added layer between them and potential hazards. Hard hats, ear plugs for any loud machinery, and protective gloves are just a few examples of PPE you could provide to your staff. Another main one to consider is footwear. Ensuring staff have good quality steel toe boots and other protective clothing can help to keep them safe around warehouse machinery.
Manual handling guide
Lifting is required in warehouses, so you’ll need to make sure your team have a good understanding of how to tackle manual handling.
To do this, set aside lifting duties to the people you think are capable and if there are larger loads, get employees to share the weight. Also, prioritise manual handling training so that employees are aware of the correct lifting methods to avoid injury.
Is there enough equipment in place in your warehouse to help with lifting? Trolleys, pulley systems, and forklift trucks are all necessary. Again, staff will need to be fully trained up to operate this machinery.
Other risks
As well as warehouse-specific risks, it’s important to be aware of other hazards. Fire safety is paramount here. Warehouses need access to fire doors and staff should know what to do in the event of a fire.
Appoint a fire marshal and create a fire exit strategy. Carry out fire drills so that all warehouse staff – old and new -know where to assemble. It’s also important to have First Aid trained personnel in the warehouse and provide staff with clear information on who to approach in the event of an accident.
Take the time to regularly update your safety guide for your workplace, especially if you work with contract employees who need to be shown the ropes. Be open with your employees about the safety procedures in place and remind them that these are there to protect them.
Continue ReadingOnly a few years ago we had to use professional cameras to take a simple picture or ask a professional to edit a one-minute video. But now everything has changed. Today everyone can develop an app, such as m.22bet.ug/mobile/, or even construct a house. To become an architect, choose one of these user-friendly programs.
The Home Designer is ideal for those who need to quickly and efficiently design a room layout.
The online platform is free: you only need to create an account to work. But the web version offers a limited set of tools. To expand the functionality, you can download the software on your PC. It will allow you to export the result and modify the drawing of the house.
Sweet Home 3D has the following benefits:
This program was created in 2000 to make learning 3D modeling fun. It is easy to learn, has a simple interface, and offers a free trial to help you learn the basics of designing furniture, houses, and apartments.
SketchUp offers:
The web application has three paid subscriptions with different features. SketchUp Pro is best suited for interior designers and allows everyone to plan and develop accurate 3D models using an extensive library of objects with materials, unusual surfaces and textures.
Multilingual, free software for designing a log, batten and other finishing materials for a home. Planner 5D is an easy-to-use architectural software that requires no special professional skills. It can be opened online or downloaded to iOS and Android devices. The program also allows you to create your artwork on your laptop or tablet.
In Planner 5D, you can:
ArchiCAD is a professional software for 3D modeling and building design. The structures are created with high accuracy, you can use preset templates or simulate in free mode. Available to create drawings and specifications.
The program will be an excellent solution for the design of construction projects of any complexity. There is also a function of viewing the landscape design and internal layout of the house in 3D. All changes are automatically saved at any stage.
Yet, this program has some disadvantages. After the 30-day trial period, you need to buy a license, and you don’t have access to full reference literature within the program. So you need to find third-party platforms for education.
Continue ReadingCentrum Pæle A/S is doing all it can to be greener, achieving optimum recycling targets and taking great steps to reduce their carbon footprint. Through research projects and close collaboration with academic institutions, Centrum Pæle make sure its techniques are at the forefront of innovation, so that it can offer the most effective, smart, and sustainable all-round solutions for their customer’s challenges.
The Danish company, Centrum Pæle A/S, is a manufacturer of precast concrete foundation piles. Indeed, their extensive research into ‘Energy Piles’ is a testament to their ethos as a market leader; inciting innovation as a key factor for reaching cost-effective development and competitiveness, and product development.
Most recently, Centrum Pæle A/S has published Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for their entire product range, including:
The EPD’s are officially verified by a 3rd party consultant and are as such publicly available through the official industry organisation EPD Danmark, on www.epddanmark.dk.
The EPD’s are based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report, which goes into detail regarding the manufacturing processes and materials used. EPD’s highlight how much Co2 is emitted in the production of a specific product, including anything from materials to energy used (electricity, heating, etc.).
Centrum Pæle’s director Lars Gøttrup Christensen said: “Having EPD’s are an important milestone for Centrum Pæle, since they enable us to stay ahead of the curve and consolidate our position as the leading precast pile system manufacturer on the Northern European market. At Centrum Pæle, we want our piles to form the basis for even more sustainable construction projects – and it is only our imagination that limits how we can contribute to a fundamentally greener construction in the future.”
The Centrum Pile Group are Northern Europe’s leading and most advanced manufacturer of continuously reinforced, precast concrete piles. The Danish production plant is one of five in Europe; with the others located in Germany, Sweden, Poland, and the UK, with the capability of producing in the region of 3.2 million linear metres of reinforced precast concrete piles per annum.
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Commercial buildings require regular roof maintenance which can be complicated. This is because they are not the same as residential buildings. Hence, the challenges that owners of those buildings face are quite different from those of residential owners.
It is an industry term that covers management, installation, construction, and designing of commercial systems. You can also call it institutional or corporate roofing. People who offer this service include designers of the systems, commercial roofers, and manufacturers of roofing materials.
Roofers use various materials for business buildings. They include SPF (sprayed polyurethane foam), asphalt, gravel and tar, metal, and concrete. They can also use ply materials such as EPDM, PVC, or TVP, built-up roof, bitumen roof, and so on.
These materials are designed to showcase sturdiness and durability instead of aesthetics. However, this depends on the building type, its purpose, and its location.
The roof of business properties may damage, leak severely, or completely or partially tear off because of bad weather events such as hurricanes or tornados. When this happens, you need to contact a commercial roof repair contractor to work on it. They may either repair or replace it.
Commercial roofers work with insurance companies to ensure house owners choose the right roofing system for their properties. They also help to properly maintain the system all through its lifespan. Therefore, before you start researching your options and deciding on the system to buy for your building, you must understand that it is a major investment.
It is literally going to stay over your head and that of your employees. This means you need to know the different types of systems so you can know which one is suitable for your building. But you must work with a certified commercial roofer or contractor who can install, repair, and maintain the quality of the roof.
Moreover, the roof is likely the largest expenditure you will make on a business property. You may also replace it once or twice during the building’s lifespan. But this depends on the duration of your ownership and the roof’s current condition and age.
A commercial system is more expensive and intricate to install compared to a residential system. So before you make your decisions, put aside your knowledge of warranties and residential roofs.
Commercial roofing contractors are either roofing companies or independent contractors with experience in installing, replacing, and repairing different types of commercial roofing systems. It is important to check that the contractor understands your building’s unique requirements. This will help them get the materials that will meet your needs.
Most times, contractors offer various services and carry out their jobs with various materials. Some of their services include inspection programs, maintenance, restoration, repair of a flat roof, overlays, and replacement.
Commercial roofing companies can help you to understand the different types of roofing materials for your business property and the available roofing systems. They also educate you on the meaning of total replacement, overlay, and restoration, including what you should know about the components and structure of your new roof or upgraded one.
Whether you want a roof for your office building, manufacturing facility, factory, or warehouse, commercial roofing is a category or subsection of general roofing. Hence, the company you choose should be one that specifically handles commercial properties.
Naturally, house owners want to hire companies with comprehensive expertise in roofing and maintenance. They can help to protect the roof from visible dangers and hidden issues that may negatively affect the overall performance and integrity of the roof.
Additionally, contractors can work in various things like repairs, replacements, restorations, overlays, and complete tearing-offs. They save you money, time, trouble, and stress.
When you want to remove your previous roof so you can install another one, you can either tear it off or overlay it. Irrespective of the type of commercial building, your decision to tear off completely and replace or do an overlay is dependent on your old system and the new one you want to install.
For example, if you plan to add or restore a new coating or layer to your current roof with the same materials, you may just request an overlay. The advantage is that your business can keep running as the roofing work is ongoing.
However, if you decide to use different materials from the already existing ones, or if your roof was damaged severely, you may have to replace the whole system. But you must know that this will involve pausing or halting your business for a while or moving your activities elsewhere.
A total roof replacement takes thirty days or more depending on certain factors. They include the weather condition during the replacement process, the building’s condition, the materials, and the size of the building. Whether you want to replace or restore, a contractor can help you make the right decision.
There are various materials for roofing commercial buildings. They are:
They are commonly utilized in residential buildings, but you can also find them on certain commercial properties. This is because they are available in different styles and colors, relatively inexpensive, and quite waterproof.
This is also known as a metal retrofit. It helps to build resistance to snow, wind, and water. It also covers or hides mechanical structures like the HVAC and any other equipment that stays on the roof.
It starts as a liquid and changes into foam. The contractor sprays it across and onto a membrane so it can form solid layers. It is usually done on an existing roof when making a coating or overlay.
This is usually used on roofs with low slopes. It has alternate layers of asphalt or bitumen that are reinforced by fabric layers and topped with a single layer of gravel or aggregate stone.
This is an extremely resilient option, and it is effective for conserving energy. It can be designed to mimic other types of materials like shakes or shingles. You may want to visit https://neconnected.co.uk/5-roofing-types-which-are-suitable-for-commercial-buildings/ to know more about other roofing materials for business buildings.
Your business property deserves a sturdy roof over it. Therefore, when looking for a roofer to handle the roofing project, ensure they have comprehensive knowledge and vast experience in handling commercial roofs.
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