Future of Dubai Real Estate According to Fitch Rating

Fitch is an international rating agency which has recently predicted the future of Dubai real estate. According to it, real estate market in Dubai does not seem to be recovering until 2012 to 2013. The major reason daunting the recovery process, according to it, is oversupply of properties. On the other hand, banks are unable to increase demand by lowering their interest rates to the minimum due to significant refinancing risks faced by them. As a result sufficient amount of mortgage loans are unavailable and interest rates are increasing on them, keeping this sector under constant pressure.
Fitch predicted that the Dubai rental market will face a decline of 20% to 40% in the upcoming quarters of 2011. This decline is likely to continue in the next 12 to 18 months. This is because of the reason that many real estate developers continue lowering their rents to rent out their property on whatever price they get for it. They think to get little is better than to get nothing.
Fitch added that unavailability of mortgage loans and their high cost is forcing developers to sell their assets to complete their upcoming and halted projects and pay off credit liabilities. But this cannot continue in the long run. With out the interference of government and central bank of Dubai, developers cannot repay their liabilities for which maturities are falling near. That is why, they are currently relying more on short term maturity loans. The developers need support in the shape of lowering cost on mortgage loans and further relaxing of lending criteria.
Also, Fitch highlighted the current Dubai real estate market situation. According to the latest report, sales prices of the Dubai properties showed stagnant growth in first and second quarter of 2011. Apartments and commercial properties in Palm Jumeirah and DIFC still fall under high price brackets. When it comes to the condition of villas, their rental prices also showed stagnant growth except in the two places: "Meadows" and "The Springs" where 5% to 6% decline has been observed due to oversupply of units.
Also, the prices vary according to the level of facilities and amenities contained in the houses or apartments. Report also added that Palm Jumeirah remained the most expensive place to live in, in the first and second quarters of 2011. Fitch concluded Dubai real estate market is showing stagnant signs of stabilization so it will take some time till it recovers completely. This time seems to come in 2012 to 2013.

Steel Building Design

There are essentially no limits to the design capabilities of steel. The lightweight strength of steel has been utilized for decades in everything from backyard sheds to stadiums and skyscrapers. Chances are if you are looking into the design process you already have a general idea of the type of building you want, or at least what the function of the building will be.
First things first, you don't need to hire an architect or design specialist to design your pre-engineered steel building. The elite steel building providers are staffed with experienced workers with the design experience to help you turn your vision of a building into a set of plans to be sent off to manufacturing. If you know exactly what it is you are looking for many websites even have online design tools where you enter the building and frame type, the dimensions of the building, the pitch of the roof, the base conditions and Ta-Da, you've got yourself a building.

It's undeniable that these online tools are fun to play around with; but it's definitely worth the time to call a professional steel building company and speak to a specialist about the design. Professionals at leading companies can provide insight on design that can save you time and money. For instance, an experienced building designer from a trusted company can tell you what is necessary to create an energy efficient building that can best withstand your local weather conditions. This way your money is spent on a building that can carry on awarding you the highest returns on your investment, even when faced with heavy rains, scorching summer heat, heavy snow loads, or 120+ mph winds from hurricanes or tornadoes.
Fortunately today (probably thanks to the complaints about boring metal garage-esque steel buildings the past) there is so much more involved in the design of a steel building beyond the framing and dimensions. There are endless combinations of different options for doors, windows, framed openings, skylights, panel colors, siding options, and so much more that you could even disguise your garage to look like a wood cabin in the forest if you wanted to. If you want to test out the look of a design try soliciting the help of your building provider, often they will have an in-house design specialist who can create a digital mockup of your building to help you finalize your design decisions.
Designing your steel building should be the fun part. To make the process go as smooth as possible it's a good idea to brush up on the terms of the design dimensions and accessories that a building designer will be discussing with you. The online design tools are a good way to get a basic understanding of what is involved in the design process, but beyond that, be sure you ask questions. Truthfully, the design process stands as a pretty good test of the type of building company you will be purchasing from. The sales representatives should be well versed in all aspects of design and willing to help you understand and create the best building possible.

Ideas to Convert an Old Outbuilding

As most lovers of all things French know, one of the main advantages of French country houses is that they often come with an outbuilding or two. They could be anything from a shed, a barn, a garage, a workshop, a cowshed, a henhouse or a stable. Converting existing outbuildings into living space is something you may want to look into, whether to increase your living space or create a gite or guest accommodation. It is often a good step to take to secure an outbuilding anyway, as the older they are, the more likely to fall apart which can of course be dangerous: rotten beams, plenty of holes in the framework, bats and nests of wasps or hornets...
Problems with this type of conversion:
The major problem with this sort of conversion is that outbuildings were rarely designed for living in. Therefore they were not designed to stay particularly warm and dry. It's worth renovating an old building rather than building a new one, though VAT is not reclaimable against a renovation and restoration project, and it is for new builds.
Then, by insulating the walls, you can make sure the building is easier to heat and will thus retain the heat for longer. One efficient method is to put wooden battens around the wall then fix plasterboard to them, laying insulation material against the wall. This method would only work if you use your outbuilding for summer. It is all the more ideal if your outbuilding is well ventilated.
Original ideas for conversion:
I-Another habitable surface
-> Should your house be too small to host a summer party, an outbuilding is a pleasant area to do so. Sheltered from any bad weather, it also avoids you having to worry about tidying your home after the party. Use planks to set up trestle tables for the meal.
-> If you have young children, a games room could be ideal instead of spending their time in front of video games or the TV.
-> If you often host family and friends, why not convert your outbuilding into a studio or a guest house?
-> Finally, you can even convert your barn into a gite or a B&B. Two advantages could be highlighted:
- On the one hand, it can be a great source of additional income
- On the other hand, this activity enables you to meet all sorts of interesting people...
However, make sure you investigate local laws and consult with your regional government. Consider hiring a lawyer specializing in real estate to make the process easier. When dealing with local government officials, make sure you get everything in writing.
II-Farm activity
-> If you've always dreamt about developing a farm activity why not transform your outbuilding into a henhouse? It is a less expensive livestock to rear as you can easily find chickens, hens, turkeys or guinea fowls at your local market. Furthermore, your chickens would be well protected from any fox attacks as opposed to if they were only surrounded by a wire fence.
-> If you have good sized budget, you can transform your outbuilding into a stable for one or two horses, or a sheepfold. Obviously you'll also need plenty of land as these animals need grazing patches and spaces to roam.
Be careful: for an outbuilding, avoid ducks and geese who aren't used to living under a roof but near water, unless you have a pond or a river crossing your land or close enough to your outbuilding.
As you can see through these examples, possibilities to transform your old barn are endless...

Construction Site Management - Waste Management

The construction site is usually ridden with numerous forms of waste, all of which needs to be disposed of properly. Examples here include:
· Human waste: This is a universal concern and a requirement for sanitation. Depending on the scope of the project, and thus the number of workers available, this could range from a simple pit latrine to a whole lavatory block. Remote projects like road construction pose a unique challenge in that they cannot permit permanent washrooms. This will therefore call for provision of mobile toilets. To minimize costs and prevent duplication, a permanent septic tank for the project could be done initially and then be utilized by the workers as the project progresses.
· Excess excavated material: Dumping excessive or inappropriate excavated material is another headache in a construction site. Long haul routes will mean more costs, while unauthorized dumping will lead to prosecutions. Reusable material like red soil or murram should be sold off or given out to brokers of the same, which will lead to a saving in cost.
· Material and equipment wrappings: Wrappings range from biodegradable items to non-biodegradable ones, some are bulky and some are not. Some, like crates, are reusable and the same should be done, while others are worthless and should be burnt. Such burning should be such that it leads to minimum pollution.
· Used materials: Some materials like timber formwork and scaffolding can be easily reused for other works, including as firewood. Crushed stone for example during dressing, should be reused for road maintenance or as subbase material for parkings and pavings.
· Used vehicle and plant parts: depending on the material type, they should be reused or disposed of appropriately. For example, used tyres and oil filters are best incinerated in controlled environments to minimize pollution.
· Used water: Depending on the use it was put to, this can be directly recycled, allowed to run off or contained for further purification.
· Petroleum arisings: These are mostly found in parkings and garages and are laden with petroleum waste. Proper petrol disposal procedures should be followed.
It is important to note that at the point of construction project approval, waste management is one of the requirements to be planned for. There are statutory bodies charged with the responsibility of ensuring that proper waste management procedures are put in place and followed. This will minimize environmental disturbance as well as curb pollution. Workers welfare as well as that of the surrounding communities should be considered. Taking for example of effluent disposed in rivers, it will lead to the death of aquatic life.

Construction Site Management - Accessibility

Construction sites offer different challenges as far as accessibility is concerned. This follows the fact that there is a mass movement of men (labour) as well as material haulers. These range from pick up trucks to trailers. Depending on the items being moved, the weight is different and as such the capability of the route to and from site should match these requirements. There will also be visitors in light personal vehicles, especially consultants and prospective property buyers in case of commercial projects or prospective tenants in case of residential or other rental spaces. The available or provided access should well cater for these requirements as far as is possible. The different site conditions include;
· Virgin sites: This refers to a new site where no other construction activity has been done before. This means that there is no access to the specific point of construction. Where such route may be available, it may not be sufficient and might need improvement. This may include works like cutting down trees, cutting high sections and filling low ones, dumping murram or other appropriate material. It will also include compaction, wetting and curing of the dumped material. Being a new and sometimes temporary route, it will need maintenance. Where such access is to pass through other people's property, appropriate permissions should be sought. The local authorities must also be notified and provided with plans like ways of averting problems like ecological disturbance. It is usually wise to have the access route for construction being also the permanent access to the permanent route for accessing the completed facility.
· Existing sites: These are sites that have already been built upon previously. They may have existing access. The only hurdle would be where such access is still in use by others, as it will create an inconvenience and delivery use might be regulated to low peak periods only. There could also arise the need to provide alternative routes for the existing users. A good example here is road maintenance or improvement works, whereby diversions are created and maintained in good order during the construction period. Appropriate arrangements should be made to minimize inconvenience as well as prevent accidents.
· Tight Sites: These are unique sites in the fact that they have minimal space for maneuverability. Examples here are found in town centers or institutions. Regulation here is very strict and as such stringent measures should be put in place to follow such regulations. These sites are very difficult to manage as far as accessibility is concerned. An example is where concrete is to be delivered on site already mixed (In premix trucks). This presents the headache of timing as well as preventing inconvenience to other users.
The provision of access to sites should be a well thought out activity. Maintenance should be in top priority. The design of such access roads should also cater for the traffic envisaged for the said project. Road signage and other such furniture should be also be provided and well maintained.

Financing for Workforce Rental Housing

In the world of affordable housing, workforce housing may be overlooked by some but it is needed by many. People who hold service-sector jobs, which are necessary but often low-paying, need access to housing they can afford. Teachers, police officers and firefighters often need it as well. Finding money for these types of projects can be difficult, but it's not impossible.
Though developers may not consider them an option, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) can be used to fund projects that include workforce-priced units, if the conditions are right. Typically, "workforce housing" is generally defined as being rent restricted so that it is accessible for people making between 80 and 120 percent of the area's Annual Median Income (AMI). In some communities, this is not a difficult target to hit, because average residential housing costs are already low. Or they're low enough that building a few lower-priced, rent-restricted units won't prevent a project from being financially viable.
But in more expensive housing markets, a larger disparity between service-sector incomes and the average price of a home can make LIHTCs a viable option. Ten Fifty B, a San Diego project, is one such example. In this case, tax credits were used to build a mixed-use development with apartments priced for people earning below 80 percent of the AMI. Many workforce housing projects in California are priced this way because there's such a significant gap between service-sector incomes and housing prices.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) are another option for developers interested in workforce housing projects. Controlled at the state and local levels, CDBG are more flexible, and allow for the development of a wider range of low-income housing products. Similarly, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program also has more flexibility. Though it, like CDBG, has maximum income requirements, workforce housing in more expensive markets could qualify.
Local governments can offer some creative options as well. For example, the space above a library was made available to a developer in Oregon who turned it into 47 workforce housing units. Local and county governments that are committed to offering a variety of housing options are often willing to work with developers to find unique solutions. Some are even willing, or can be convinced, to sell land for deeply discounted prices.
Developers interested in workforce housing projects should refer to HUD's information regarding LIHTC, CDBG and the HOME Investment Partnership Program. Consider contacting local government offices in cities of interest as well.

Professions In Construction - Engineering

There three main branches of engineering common in construction. These are:
· Structural Engineering: this is concerned with the design of the structure of the building, its resolution, provision of working drawings and site follow-up up until the whole structural frame is completed. The structure of the building is largely informed by the loads envisaged for the construction product at hand. These loads are either:
· Dead loads: Stationary weights like those of the building itself, furniture, services, loft water tanks, et cetera.
· Live loads: motion weights like those of persons, wind, snow et cetera.
It is common to allow an extra carrying capacity for unseen weights and movement as may be experienced. This is especially so in earthquake prone areas.
Structural drawings act as a guide on the shapes, sizes and compositions of the various structural members like beams and columns.
Site follow-up includes inspection of materials and procedures. It also involves tests on various samples taken during the actual construction, thereby representing the capability and compliance of the works themselves. A good example here is the structural concrete test known as cube crushing test.
At the end of the project, the structural engineer submits structural records for the building including as-built drawings, test carried out and their results and the building's capability.
· Mechanical Engineering: this involves mechanical services for the building. These include;
· Plumbing and Drainage: This is concerned with the provision of water into the building as well as removal of used water from the building and its safe disposal. The engineer is concerned with establishing;
· How much water is required for the activities of the building and in what condition (wholesome, sterile etcetera).
· Where and how the water will be sourced.
· How the water will be distributed around the building, industry et cetera.
· How the water will be stored for use.
· How used water will be collected for disposal or reuse.
· How water for disposal will be safely done away with.
· Air conditioning: This is concerned with the modification or alteration of the conditions of air, mainly heat, humidity and movement.
· Ventilation: It is concerned with the exchange of used air with fresh air. It is usually done by forcing used air out, either by supplying new air, by drawing out the used air or both.
· Lifts and Elevators: These are machines provided for vertical motion.
· Fire fighting solutions: Depending on the fire risks envisaged, mainly owing to the usage of the space.
· Electrical Engineering: This is principally concerned with electrical installations, although others like structural cabling for data, voice and security are usually put on board, possibly because of the convenience of using the same facilities like cable trays and trucking.
For all these specialties, the following will be done:
· Proposal including implications, especially financial
· Design of the most appropriate systems
· Follow-up during construction
· Reporting on completion
· Running, maintenance and repairs

Professions In Construction - Management

Management is an important task in every endeavor. The same applies to construction. The following are the main forms of management professions in construction:
· Construction Management: This is the ultimate management profession for the construction industry. It is concerned with the overseeing of the three main pillars of the construction project. These are:
· Money: construction costs a lot of money. As such, there is need to account for every penny that gets into the project. Furthermore, it is important to budget and establish when a certain amount of money will be required for the project. This is especially so with projects funded by financial organizations. This is the responsibility of the construction manager, obviously with the assistance of other players, especially the client and architect.
· Men: This refers to the human resource input into the project. Although there are many persons involved, the construction manager is mostly involved with main professionals, contractors and specialists. Here he will advise on the requisite resources, their roles and assist in negotiating their fees.
Of importance is the selection of the contractor to undertake the work, usually through a tendering process.
· Machines: This category includes both materials and plant. The role here is basically adisorial, especially in consultation with the architect and the engineers.
The following are also responsibilities of the construction manager:
· Time: Apart from controlling the construction finances, the construction manager is charged with the responsibility of controlling project time. The overall project time is very crucial and this needs to be keenly controlled. Loss of construction completion time means loss of revenue from the finished product.
· Quality: Owing to the fact that many materials are put together by many hands to achieve the desired product. There are therefore many chances of compromising on the quality of the finished product, and by extension, loss of value for money input into the works as well as high costs of repair and maintenance. The construction manager, through the assistance of the necessary technical engineers.
· Site management: This can be seen as a subsidiary of construction project management but on a lower level. The site manager is concerned with overseeing the daily goings-on on the site of construction. They take direction from the construction manager or architect if they are on the client side or from the contractor. The site manager is charged with the following main responsibilities:
· Site organization
· Document storage
· Material storage
· Visitor hosting and direction

Preassembled Parking Buildings

The portable steel buildings was the "Big Idea" back in the 1950's. At that time, most parking lot huts were of wood or brick construction and the early parking operators were not able to move them when their property leases were over. Abandoning their site built parking offices was a real expense. Even though quite heavy, a welded steel booth could be moved simply with the proper equipment. In the beginning, most parking operations were attendant style parking where a customer would pull their car into the lot and the parking lot operator's employee would park the customer's car for them. This type of attended parking required a booth to shelter the parking attendant and the time clock used to track the amount of time the cars were on the lot.

Like those early parking lots, today's Visitor Parking Lots often require a booth and an attendant or guard to welcome people to a facility or campus and to provide information and a secure short-term parking spot. A portable steel Building is a perfect choice for this application as the company can provide a well-built and functional Visitor Information Booth with or without architectural embellishments. customers can add their own unique design elements for a perfect parking booth appearance. Once the visual aspects of the booth for the Visitor Lot are addressed; comfort, functional and security features are taken into account. All standard portable steel Buildings are insulated for Climate Control and all windows and doors are made factory tight for weather resistance with professionally installed caulking, brush, and weather stripping. Electrical fan forced heaters are standard. Air conditioning is provided with either simple roof top RV type or through wall units. Some locations will even utilize the "Split Pack" type air conditioning system.

For additional comfort and energy savings, insulated Dual Pane Glass can be installed. Low-E Glass is available too.

Flooring options can be added to improve the interior appearance and reduce fatigue for the attendant. A plywood and tile floor also adds a thermal break. Extra roof and wall insulation can be added but should be considered only after glass is upgraded to insulated.

Parking Booths and Shelters will include transaction windows in the optimum ergonomic locations. Same goes for door locations and type of door (i.e., sliding vs. swing). After a sales engineer works with the parking operator, the features are translated to project specific customer approval drawings. This sharing of schematic designs assures the best plans be made and followed in the production of the portable steel Building.

While the approval drawings are being reviewed by the parking operation, paint color, tinted glass selection, and any other last minute decisions are made. Perhaps the building will be a 24/7 location and thus a restroom with sanitary facilities is required. Or maybe that same 24/7 situation calls for bullet resistant construction to protect personal during off hours or because of cash handling. Floor safes and locking cash drawers are also available. Lane control lights can be added to the buildings as well.

For larger parking lots and structures, there are needs for Customer Waiting Shelters are Pay Machine covers. These units can range from fairly basic three sided affairs with a flat root all the way up to the heated variety with architectural rooflines such as barrel, gable or hip. Customer Waiting Shelters can also include benches, doors, and even exhaust fans. Lighting can be solar or hard-wired and is usually switched with a photocell control in vandal prone areas unbreakable or break resistant plastic window glazing can be substituted for standard tempered safety glass. If a blank wall panel is required for mounting site equipment that is not a problem, just mark the approval drawing accordingly.

If your location includes valet service, can supply a valet booth with or without a customer waiting area, restroom or infra-red heaters for customers. Customized shelters can include windscreens and overhangs to further protect your number one resource; the customer!

Some parking locations need extra security and a full time guard booth is a very visible way to promote security to customers and your employees. Exterior flood- lights and dimmable interior lighting will help the security officer with night-vision. Also, the parking booth can be factory prepped for installation of security cameras, computer lines and phones.

Whether your location requires a basic security booth, a highly customized cashier station or an architecturally enhanced entrance booth, with owner input and factory assistance, a parking booth manufacturer can provide your facility with a thoughtful solution that will perform well for years to come.

Making Communities Safe for New Residents

One of the surest ways to draw new residents to a community is for that community to boast a low crime rate. Low instances of crime are especially appealing to families with young children. City officials know this, and are continually working to improve their cities' safety and reduce crime. In Dubuque, Iowa, however, some residents are concerned about the policies being used to address issues of crime.
Crime rates spiked in Dubuque in the early 2000s, and it was at or above the national average for a couple of years. Theft and assault were the most common types of crime, and both increased significantly. All types of crime have begun to diminish again, and while few of Dubuque's citizens would argue against lower crime, nearly all would agree that crime-prevention policies need to be carefully considered.
As part of the city's multi-pronged approach to reducing crime, stricter housing regulations have been enacted, requiring landlords to run background checks on every person who submits a rental application for Section 8 housing. The city council also wants to create a database where landlords can enter the information of tenants who damage property or don't pay their rent.
The tighter regulations would enable landlords and property managers to more carefully select from an often-large pool of rental applicants. This could, in theory, help reduce the risk for both vandalism against the property itself, and crimes against the city's residents. There is, however, the potential for increased rejection of Section 8 applicants, many of whom have few other housing options.
In addition to the stricter ordinances, which are likely to increase the number of denied applications, Dubuque's affordable housing stock is also declining. Waiting lists have gotten longer, and more people are being forced to live on the streets. Homeless outreach coordinator Jim Munson works with the homeless population, helping them find work, and places to live. A large percentage, he says, have criminal convictions. Under the new regulations, few of them will be able to find a home in Dubuque and will be forced to move elsewhere. For those who have finally secured gainful employment, moving could mean losing the first real job some of them have had in a long time.
Affordable housing advocates say one solution to the crime and homeless challenges is to build more affordable housing. If housing stock increased, more people could get into homes and off the streets. Munson agrees that jobs are sometimes easier to find than affordable homes. A homeless person who's able to hold down a job can easily get discouraged at the lack of options. Some continue living on the streets indefinitely.

Concepts In Construction - System Building

This can also be termed as modular building. This refers to a form of building whereby a similar form of construction is adopted, usually by creating standard sizes of elements, thus remaining with the task of just creating multiples of the said modular element. The following are common elements adopted for this form of construction.
· Formwork: this refers to the mould into which concrete is poured and cured to provide the desired size and shape. Formwork can either be made of wood, steel, aluminium or PVC among other such items. In system building, a standard size of formwork is adopted, thus requiring similar sizes and forms of concrete elements in construction. This is especially easily achieve for elements like soffit formwork and beam and column formwork. Formwork props are also easily standardized to some extent where floor heights are more or less similar.
· Doors and windows: standard openings will call for standard windows, thus making it easy as well as consistent the process of their construction.
· Wall panels: For prefabricated buildings, it is usually easier to have a similar design for many units.
System building ensures similarity or near similarity of construction work, whether in small projects or big ones. This similarity leads to repetitive work, which gives the following benefits;
· Economies of scale: Due to the repetitive nature of the work at hand, there arises economies of large scale production.
· Economies in operation: due to the benefit of doing the same thing over and over again, it becomes easier to follow and even make more per unit time.
· Enhancing Quality: When something is done for a long time, people will understand it better and as such will be easier for them to achieve the desired quality of work.
System building can only be achieved in a well coordinated development scenario and where designers (architects and engineers) work hand in hand to see to this goal. Architectural associations have been working hard to absorb such technologies in their practice. It is important to seek the available opportunities and to pursue all the possible avenues in a bid to hit these goals. It is also important to ensure that all the stakeholders are well informed about system building together with all the benefits that are possible with it. Like for the case of formwork, it is important to go for durable material to ensure that the benefits of this technology due to repetitive work.

Commercial Foundation Services

Commercial building foundations are more suspect to failure and wear and tear than residential foundations because of the enormous amount of pressure that is exerted on them at all times. One way to counteract this type of pressure is by using anchor systems that help distribute and hold up the weight. Even if the commercial building is relatively new, that does not mean the foundation is in the best condition, or it doesn't mean in the future you won't run into problems. It is better to stop a problem before it ever happens than to wait for the foundation to fail.
With new construction, this presents the best time possible to support the foundation being made for the commercial building. This is also the easiest time to install anchor support systems onto a foundation because the slab itself is completely exposed. This will save contractors money from having to do it in the future, and will show that the contractor knows exactly what they are doing when building large scale commercial construction.
If you have a preexisting building that you believe is suspect to a foundation failure, or your believe that the building itself is not level, you can call your commercial foundation service company in to inspect the foundation. They will be able to tell you what condition the slab is in, and can give you different options in supporting it so that the building will be safe for decades to come. The installation process is fast, and it will not cause a lot of construction mess because of the method of installing helical anchors below the foundation itself. Jacking up specific floors in buildings can also be done in a budget friendly manner and this process will not create any type of mess in the interior of the building.
Old commercial structures are the most common application for foundation services. They usually need to have repair work done to the foundation, and usually need some sort of support system installed so that they can continue to function in a safe way. All of these processes are intricate, but still can be done, no matter what shape the building currently sits.
Commercial buildings are massive pieces of construction that sit on only one foundation. This foundation, no matter what kind, should be properly reinforced during construction, and anchored off so that it will stay level through its entire life. If you have a building being constructed, or a old building that needs help, call your foundation specialist right away for an evaluation.

Stimulating Growth In UK Construction

The government's Plan for Growth aims to create a competitive tax system, make the UK a good place to do business, encourage investment and exports to rebalance the economy and create an educated workforce. To achieve these aims, there are tax changes, proposals to reduce red tape and plans to provide additional apprenticeships and work placements plus expansion of the University Technical Colleges programme. There are also changes to capital allowances and the creation of eleven Enterprise Zones across England.
These may all provide benefits for the construction industry, including the simplified planning rules in the Enterprise Zones. However, there are also various measures that are aimed specifically at construction. These include:

• Publication of the National Infrastructure Plan 2011 that sets out the UK's long-term view of future projects. This will be backed up by the quarterly publication of a rolling two-year forward programme of infrastructure and construction projects that have had public funding agreed.
• Reform of the planning system so that consent will be given for sustainable development unless there are strong reasons to refuse permission. There will be a twelve-month guarantee to process all applications and appeals plus a fast track system for major infrastructure projects.
• Removal of nationally imposed targets with the aim of opening up more land for development while at the same time safeguarding the greenbelt.
• Accelerating the release of public sector land in order to encourage new homes and jobs. This includes the piloting of land auctions that will start with public sector land.
• Strengthening residential property demand by reforming the stamp duty land tax rules for bulk purchase. There will also be the creation of a £250 million scheme, partly funded by house builders, which will offer over 10,000 first time buyers an equity investment of 20%towards the deposit on new build homes.
• Encouraging builders to put forward innovative solutions rather than having to take part in wasteful and bureaucratic procurement processes.
• Easing the 2016 zero carbon tax targets so that new home building is more practical. This will be combined with an additional £3 billion funding for the Green Investment Bank.
• Proposals to make it easier to convert commercial premises for residential use.

The 2011 Budget was not, however, all about growth, with a 20% reduction in costs planned through reforming the procurement methods for public sector construction and infrastructure projects. The emphasis will be on standardisation rather than on bespoke designs and a review of construction standards will aim to remove redundancy and duplication. This builds on the proposals of the 'Infrastructure Cost Review, published in December 2010, which identified savings of 15% on projects that could amount to £2-3 billion a year.

Metal Buildings Are Changing The Way The World Builds

Prefabricated metal buildings are creeping in neighborhoods, developments, and cities across the United States. What is more, the developing nations across the world are catching onto the long term benefits of spending a little bit more today for the extended longevity of a building 40+ years from now. It's a little not so secretive secret of anyone in the sales industry that giving away products-samples or otherwise-is an excellent way of promoting a product. The construction industry is no different. The growth of the metal building industry is largely a reflection of increased awareness of the multitude of benefits that steel framed buildings can provide at a level above concrete or wood framed buildings.
Pre-engineered building suppliers have expanded their markets in and beyond agricultural, manufacturing, and storage building production by incentivizing potential customers and raising awareness through building donations and community service. For instance, it's not uncommon for a building supplier to donate buildings to impoverished areas or places like Haiti that have been devastated by a natural disaster. While some people are going to read this and shame companies for trying to take advantage of other misfortune, others will recognize that this truly is a wonderful act that significantly helps those in need and raises awareness of the exceptional capabilities and benefits of metal buildings.
For instance, the steel framing of a building is strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds, heavy snow loads of a blizzard, ground trembling earthquakes, and an onslaught of other curveballs Mother Nature throws at us. Pre-engineered metal buildings are completely customizable by engineers to stand strong by incorporating specific framing and reinforcement specifications. Sure, other building may be able to do this too; but the benefit of using steel is that the strength of steel requires less additional material costs and typically incurs fewer damages that require repair or replacement. The building is easier to maintain and less costly to its owners.
Also, the added benefit of a metal building as a replacement for a previously demolished building is its quick construction time. Quick construction is an incredibly important factor for people who have just lost their homes or places of business. Metal buildings shipped and constructed in Haiti provided fast relief for some of the homeless and were also used as medical facilities.
Today, underdeveloped nations, such as Nigeria, have recognized the effectiveness of pre-fabricated metal buildings as a means of providing fast efficient housing. Foundations to collect donations to provide housing for the less fortunate are set up around the world. Metal building companies who prompted the promotion of their buildings by donating to the needy have increased awareness of the benefits of steel framed pre-engineered buildings in the United States, and promoted the need for housing and funding for housing around the world. The less fortunate are receiving housing support through building suppliers, building suppliers are increasing awareness of the benefits of metal buildings, and in turn more buildings are being sold locally and abroad. And as an added bonus some of the metal building companies are even turning around and donating a portion of profits to those in need of housing. I'd have to say it's a win-win-win.

Making Sure Drywall Is Safe

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) goes to great lengths to ensure that this nation's housing is not just accessible, but that it is also safe. It sets policy related to lead-based paint and other hazards, and partners with other departments and organizations to address safety-related concerns. Over the last several years, HUD has worked with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to conduct testing on drywall that has been deemed unsafe.

Beginning in the early 2000s, CPSC began receiving complaints about health issues that appeared to be connected to a certain type of drywall. To date, CPSC has received over 3,500 reports from people who believe problem drywall is responsible for either health or home maintenance problems. Complaints include various health issues that only occur when in the home (itchy and irritated eyes, persistent coughing, and difficulty breathing), a "rotten egg" smell in the house, and the corrosion of certain types of metal objects (pipes and wiring, in particular). Most of the homes in question were built between 2006 and 2007, though problem drywall has been found in homes built as late as 2009.

HUD and CPSC worked together to test the suspected problem drywall, simulating 40 years of the conditions expected to occur in homes with problem drywall. Though there was some corroding of metal (especially exposed electrical components), no significant safety hazards resulted. Consequently, HUD and CPSC concluded that long-term exposure of electrical components to hydrogen sulfide gases (found in problem drywall) doesn't pose a threat to the overall electrical system.

As a result of the testing, CPSC and HUD made several recommendations aimed at ensuring residential safety. In addition, an Identification and Remediation Guide was made available to help residents determine whether their homes contained problem drywall and know how best to respond. HUD has recommended that problem drywall be replaced, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors be replaced as well. For added precaution, electrical switches and gas and water pipes can also be replaced.

Solar Powered Affordable Housing

Affordable housing projects can be a tough sell in some communities. Despite the continued efforts of developers and other advocates, communities often push back when a low-income project is suggested. There is still an assumed association between affordable housing, increased crime and decreased property values. Offering value-added components to a project can make the difference between having to endure a long, drawn-out debate with community and city council members, and getting quick approval for projects that include low-income housing.

Grid Alternatives is a unique solar panel company that works exclusively with affordable housing. It was founded in California in 2001 and installed its first panels in 2004. Since then, the company has installed over 750 solar electric systems either in partnership with new low-income housing developments or on existing affordable housing. In the wake of its success, several other companies have begun offering the same, or similar, services.

Solar panels can reduce a family's electric bills by about 75%, which is a significant savings for any family, but especially those in lower income brackets. In addition to being money savers, solar panels are environmental savers, as well. It is estimated that over 72,000 tons of greenhouses gases will be prevented from entering the atmosphere over the next 30 years, as the result of Grid Alternatives installations alone. That's just one company working in one state. As solar power installations become accessible through other companies and in other states, that figure could easily triple or quadruple.

Solar power is just one example of the ways developers can make affordable housing projects more attractive to communities that might normally protest. It may be a harder sell in places where winter is longer, colder and cloudier; but there are other options. Even low-income units built to be exceptionally energy efficient are more attractive to local communities, as are units that are built with recycled material. The city of New Orleans has seen a sharp increase in environmentally friendly affordable housing. A couple of non-profit organizations have partnered with developers specifically to build this type of housing in New Orleans. And both residents and community leaders are excited about the potential results - whole neighborhoods with drastically reduced carbon footprints and decreased utility expenses.