Summer is finally here. Contractors are getting the spring stuff handled and moving into installation work. Had many conversations and heard a variety of issues guys are dealing with this year. Staff being one of the biggest.
Construction
An interesting article was posted the other day about the construction industry. The good news is revenues and jobs are definitely better this year than last for both residential and non-residential. Construction contractors of all types seem to be doing much better.
The unemployment rate among construction workers fell to 13.2%. While much higher than the national average for all employment, we’ve seen a big improvement from the depths of the recession in 2009. Construction employment is expected to improve the rest of 2013.
For the industry though there are a couple of hurdles. First, thousands have left the construction trades. Industry people are trying to decide how many people have left permanently. The concern is a lack of skilled labor to support continued growth in the sector.
Contractors are already complaining they can’t find skilled people to fill new jobs. Others are saying it’s hard to find a decent reliable unskilled person. Industry insiders say the labor force will be one of the major headaches contractors will face for several years.
Industry analyst say the shortage of skilled labor is not only due to the large number of people who left the industry, but also because our education system no longer trains people with trade skills and the government has placed limits on the number of skilled foreigners allowed in.
Irrigation
July is Smart Irrigation month. The Irrigation Association works hard at educating public agencies and the public about the technologies available to conserve water. The public in areas where water is in short supply have been receptive for several years. Around the Midwest they have not. We have lots of water.
But buying water is expensive. End users are now responding to messages how to conserve. It’s a pocket-book issue. Learn the lessons of Smart Irrigation month! Your customers want to hear them.
ET based controllers offer the easiest way to conserve. They don’t cost much more than traditional controllers so sticker shock is not the issue. Present them as an option.
Another easy option is pressure regulated sprinklers. They really do save water and nothing has to be learned to install them. Costs are rather minimal, not enough to shock anybody.
LED Retrofit Lamps
You’ve seen them for a few years now. We’ve been hesitant to recommend them. The early versions were designed for indoor use so we could not stand behind them when installed in an outdoor light fixture. Quality has improved. There are now a handful of brands we feel comfortable with.
We still believe the best alternative is an integrated LED light fixture. If you are going to use retrofit lamps consider the following;
- Buy quality, look for a high IP number (see article in Knowledge Library). Also look for good heat exchangers, high heat will shorten the life of and LED module.
- Make sure the fixture the retro lamp will be installed in is in good shape. Bad sockets can lead to premature failure.
Hardscape Water Features
Hardscapes are still a hot landscape addition. We are seeing more people incorporate water features into their patio installations. This can be done several ways. Falls can be built into walls. Statuary fountains can fit anywhere. Bubbling paver stones are the newest addition. Water makes a dramatic impact in an outdoor living environment.
Downspout Drainage
Visit any landscape and you can find more than one application for drainage. One of the biggest is for downspouts. Interesting how many nice homes have downspouts dumping water in the foundation planting beds. Leaking basements and mulch washout are the symptoms of a bad problem. Easily fixed while doing installation of any other landscape work. Look for opportunities and offer solutions to your customers.
