Author: angelica@builder.media

New Orleans contractors are not getting paid in a timely manner; Lousiana Legislative Auditor and WDSU investigate. According to WDSU News, the audit by the state was requested by Helena Moreno, the New Orleans City Council president. The city cannot accurately determine how long it takes to pay vendors, the audit found. The accounts payable department can delete unprocessed invoices, which limits the city’s ability to determine overall timeliness. The contracting and purchase order delays prevent vendors from submitting invoices, which leads to payment delays. The city also does not…

Rising costs have stagnated backlogs for contractors, especially firms with under $50 million in revenue. According to Construction Dive, Construction backlog stagnated at 8.4 months in July as smaller contractors felt the brunt of the pain and builders’ profit confidence hit nearly a two-year low, according to a Tuesday release from Associated Builders and Contractors. Firms with annual revenue under $50 million pushed the backlog level lower over the past month, according to an ABC member survey. Only the largest contractors, those with over $100 million in annual revenues, have a…

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) encourages the creation of apprenticeship programs to “attract and retain” veterans. According to Ogletree Deakins, OFCCP said protected veterans must be provided equal opportunity to participate in apprenticeship opportunities and that providing such opportunities can help contractors meet their obligations to recruit and hire protected veterans. The guidance comes after OFCCP set the national veteran hiring benchmark at 5.2 percent on March 31, 2024. The OFCCP updated its guidance regarding the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), which requires federal…

When planning your home renovations, don’t forget to consult an arborist. Trees need careful consideration before, during, and after construction to stay healthy and unharmed. Lee Rouse, Bayou Tree Service’s Baton Rouge branch manager, emphasizes the importance of protecting tree roots, which are often shallow and extend widely. Whether you’re adding a pool, irrigation system, or driveway, an arborist can advise on safeguarding these vital assets that contribute significantly to property value and enjoyment. According to In Register, trees offer unmatched aesthetic benefits — but they’re not easily replaced, especially…

Home renovation costs vary widely, spanning from $1,200 to $82,000, with an average expenditure of $41,600. It’s important to note that this average includes high-end projects involving demolition, new plumbing fixtures, and other costly additions. For those renovating small-to-medium-sized homes, expenses typically cap around $62,000, even for more complex projects. According to Forbes, after hiring an architect and a structural engineer to completely redesign a home’s floor plan, the next step is typically a gut renovation. This starts with a thorough demolition, leaving just the studs and foundation. After that,…

Lesley Mair’s aspiration for coastal living prompted her to purchase her initial seaside home in East Wittering, West Sussex, in 2015. Captivated by the location, she later set her sights on a beachfront property facing the sea. “Fortunately, one of my closest friends had acquired this property and rented it to me,” she explains. By 2020, she successfully persuaded them to sell it to her, embarking on an extensive renovation project thereafter. According to House Beautiful, inspiration for the renovation, both inside and out, was the property’s location on the…

During the early stages of the pandemic, prices skyrocketed for nearly all home-related items. Now, with people resuming normal activities, high interest rates, and improved supply chains, lumber prices have returned to more reasonable levels. According to Marketplace, people stuck at home started spending money on their homes, which drove up the price of construction materials, especially lumber. Plus, people moved to new places where they could work from home, so new home construction shot up, adding even more demand. However, all the other stuff that goes into homebuilding and…

Renovation spending reached its peak in 2023 and continues to surpass pre-Covid levels. Homeowners are reluctant to relinquish their low-rate mortgages, and fewer are renovating with the intention to sell their homes. According to Bloomberg, during the initial phase of the pandemic, historically low loan rates drove increased home sales and spending on renovations across the United States. With interest rates now on the rise, more homeowners are opting to stay in place, yet they continue to invest heavily in enhancements such as bathroom renovations and landscaping upgrades, maintaining near-record…