I started out as an apprentice in Las Vegas, during the mid-80s. The various journeyman glaziers I worked with had different ideas about how much they wanted to contribute to my education, and it soon became obvious that some were happy to teach me about the craft, while others saw a new hire as a threat to their own livelihood.
Most of us in the glazing industry understand that to meet model energy codes’ increasingly stringent requirements and to achieve their intended energy savings, we need buildings with high-performance fenestration and façade systems. Focusing on the glass, we sometimes overlook the importance that wall cladding and connecting elements play in attaining high thermal performance.
Delay after delay after delay. We’re paying more for worse service and it feels like there’s not much to do about it. Simply stated, delays are an opportunity you can’t fill immediately. How do we handle a delay with increased costs when we’re fixed on price?
The next release of the Architectural Billings Index comes out Wednesday. There is a ton of anticipation for this one given how great the last report was. I’m going in with the attitude of hope for the best but expect the worst. I don’t think there’s any way the March results will beat February, but once again I’ll be thrilled to be wrong. No matter what, I’ll have it here next week to comment on.
When you’re at the jobsite and ready to install your aluminum framed entrance systems, you want everything to go smoothly and quickly for an exact fit, followed by many years of dependable use. To make sure your entry-door install goes well, here are five common mistakes glass industry professionals should avoid.
The challenge of finding labor is now the biggest it has ever been, and is not getting easier. As the economy starts to come back and companies of all types are returning to “normal” business, there is a shortage of willing people to work.
A while back I wrote a post about the building industry’s million-dollar question: “How do you get spec’d by an architect?” But it’s not the only question driving specs, and it’s not the only one worth evaluating. Two equally important questions to add to the specification conversation are: What do owners want? And what do building codes require?
We heard the news of the assets from Columbia Commercial Building Products being divvyed up between two companies, with the window system going to Arcadia and the architectural aluminum to FHC. Nice moves for both of those companies, especially with regards to expanding their products lines. Again, with how crazy our world is, diversifying what you do is not a bad play right now.
The part of project consultations that I enjoy most is meeting people. I also love the challenge of seeing the project through their eyes, and then helping them to develop it. There is an opportunity to make their idea a reality, and as an innovator, that appeals to me.
It’s hard to believe that we are here… March 2021. A full year into the pandemic that changed the world in one way or another for all of us. It has been a year of ups and downs. One of resilience and silver linings.