Construction

Construction encompasses everything from building new structures to major home additions and renovations that transform your living space. Whether you're planning a kitchen expansion, adding a second story, or tackling foundation work, these projects require careful planning, permits, and skilled labor. From framing to finishing, we'll help you find the right pros and resources to bring your vision to life.
Construction Articles and Advice
Ready to learn how to calculate construction overhead and profit? Hitting profit goals takes keeping costs down and tracking overhead. That means looking at direct and indirect costs and adjusting them as you estimate jobs. Keep reading for more.
Looking for general contractor marketing ideas? These actionable tips for contractors will help you book more jobs and build your reputation. Keep reading to learn how to get new leads fast.
Worried about charging too much—or too little—as a general contractor? Learn what factors go into markup, how to calculate it, and how to communicate pricing to customers.
As a general contractor, knowing what to charge can be difficult. But there are a few pricing models you can use to figure out the best rate. Discover how to come up with a fair price to keep your business thriving year-round.
Looking to join the construction industry? Becoming a contractor is a challenging and rewarding career choice. Find out what skills and experience you’ll need to become a successful contractor and how much you can expect to make.
Need a little help learning how to bid on construction jobs? If you’re a general contractor who could use guidance on the bidding process or want some tips on how to win more residential, commercial, or government bids, we’ve got you covered.
Learning how to hire subcontractors can help your home renovation run smoothly, whether you’re a general contractor or a homeowner handling things directly.
General conditions in construction are costs that can quickly chip into a new home construction project’s profit margin. This guide will help you understand these costs, how to identify them, and how to keep them under control.
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Common Construction Questions

While completing an excavation project yourself is possible, we don’t recommend it. You’ll likely need to buy or rent the equipment necessary for the job. This equipment costs as $100 per hour or $2,200 weekly, increasing by as much as 50% for larger jobs. 

In addition, completing an excavating job yourself poses a safety risk. If proper marking hasn't occurred, you risk hitting buried cables and other critical piping, like gas and water lines. Additionally, if working with excavation equipment, you’ll need to steer clear of any overhead wires. Leaving this project to an excavating professional is best.

Costs depend on metal type, fabrication complexity, labor, finishing, and shipping or installation requirements.

A compensable delay is a delay that is considered legally excusable or not the fault of the contractor and is covered by the contract language for a project. This type of delay allows the contractor more time or compensation to finish their work. This is usually the case when a homeowner's actions interfere with a project's timeline.

Craftsman houses’ sustained popularity is likely due to their timelessly beautiful design and simplicity. To this day, they hold true to the power of hard work and refined craftsmanship and how that’s all you need to create a beautiful home.

Most contractors aim for about a 20% profit on a job, leaving themselves room for unexpected expenses or delays. After accounting for materials, labor, and insurance, the profit margin for most contractors is between 10% and 20%. Fluctuating costs of materials and labor affect the ultimate percentage.