Undoubtedly, making the extra effort to find new materials that make your commercial project as sustainable as possible is cost-effective. You’ll save money on your utilities, building maintenance and repairs, and the value of your … Read More
Construction Jobsite Safety: What Site Owners and Stakeholders Need to Know
You can’t overemphasize the importance of jobsite safety. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,190 workplace fatalities in 2021. This number is undeniable evidence that jobsite safety should always be front … Read More
5 Ways the Sustainability of Steel is Infinite
Steel is the most sustainable building material available. Period. Steel comes from ore, which is a natural resource. Yet, it’s also one of the most abundantly available raw materials on earth, making up one-third of … Read More
11 Ways to Achieve Concrete Sustainability
Concrete is one of the most popular construction materials due to benefits like being readily available, economical, and versatile. Key takeaways: Concrete can be a sustainable, more environmentally friendly building material when applying the right … Read More
What You Need to Know About Curbs & Gutters
Concrete curbs and gutters are like peas and carrots — together, they make a great pair. Key Takeaways: Did you know there are various types of curbs & gutters? There are also ones that go … Read More
Commercial Concrete Sealing: Full Guide
With the time and effort put into concrete structures, protecting them with sealant is a must. Key Takeaways: Concrete sealing is applied to the surface of commercial concrete. This liquid is expensive, but used to … Read More
Commercial Concrete Flooring From Types To Strength And Applications
Concrete is one of the most popular choices for flooring solutions in commercial buildings — and for good reason. Concrete floors offer many benefits to commercial spaces that are valuable to every business owner. They … Read More
What Is Involved in Sitework Construction?
Preparation is important for everything you want to do right, especially in construction. A crucial part of the preparation for a construction project is sitework. Sitework lays the groundwork for a successful construction process and … Read More
Post Tension Concrete: How it Works + Pros and Cons
Post-tension concrete may be a mythical method for some contractors. However, some projects can greatly benefit from this prestressing method. Additionally, concrete contractors should implement post-tensioning in a variety of situations. This article will cover … Read More
What You Should Know About Structural Concrete Repairs
Concrete is a great building material. However, it also has its weaknesses. For example, it has a low tensile strength compared to other building materials. When concrete needs repair, how can you ensure that your … Read More
The Full Guide to Concrete Forming: 7 Questions Answered
Concrete is a durable, versatile, and liquid building material that is a viable choice for many construction projects. Without proper forming, however, concrete is useless for most construction projects. This article will cover what concrete … Read More
Do You Need Commercial Construction Management?
Commercial construction can be a large-scale project with many moving parts and problems that need solving. It can be challenging for project owners to keep up with every aspect of the project while staying on … Read More
The Project Owner’s Guide to the Construction Bidding Process
The bidding process is competitive, and the contractors must understand the ins and outs to “win” the project. But what about the project owners? How do they know what to expect during this complex process? … Read More
Structural Concretes + How it Works and Comparisons
Concrete is popular for many reasons (i.e., on roads, driveways, planters, sidewalks, and paving blocks). Yet, the process is much more elaborate when used in construction. Should concrete be your material of choice for your … Read More
How Thin-Shell Concrete Construction Work
Due to the nature of the building process, most concrete structures are a series of square or rectangular shapes stacked together. Shell construction allows builders to use concrete with a more artistic flair. Shell concrete … Read More
Concrete Forms and When to Remove Them
Concrete needs stability to cure properly, and proper curing will give it the strength it needs to withstand the pressures it will face. Engineers have designed a variety of forms as the solution to create … Read More
The Processes of Data Center Construction
With the increase in data compiled and processed by businesses big and small, data centers have become a critical inclusion in many business plans. Some companies have turned to colocation, but its hidden costs can … Read More
How Precast and Custom Concrete Buildings Are Made
Take a look at any industrial, commercial, or even residential area, and you’ll see concrete everywhere. It’s one of the most popular building materials in the construction world because it’s high strength, low maintenance, and … Read More
How Concrete Connects: Types of Concrete Anchors Used in Large Building Construction
If you’ve ever seen a crane lift warehouse walls into place or a truck tow a 20-foot precast panel through town, you’ve witnessed first-hand the modern marvel that is concrete construction. But you rarely see … Read More
Commercial Construction: Cement vs. Concrete
Cement and concrete are two terms that people innocently use interchangeably in conversation. While they look, feel, and act similarly, cement and concrete are two very different building materials. Cement is actually an ingredient in … Read More
What You Need to Know About Colorado Commercial Construction Loans
Deciding to build your first official company building (or add another one) is the exciting part. Now, it’s time to dive into the numbers and figure out how you will budget for this multi-million dollar … Read More
Commercial Construction: Concrete Walls
Concrete is one of the most in-demand construction materials on earth, with billions of pounds produced each year. The aggregate mix is so durable and reliable that it’s now a staple in commercial construction projects … Read More
9 Common Steel Building Sales Traps [And How To Avoid Them]
The metal building industry is full of slick sales pitches, deceptive gimmicks, and straight-up scams: The deal of a lifetime is finally within your grasp, but you have to pull the trigger now. That rate … Read More
Is Steel Stronger Than Concrete? Which Is Best?
Steel and concrete go head to head as two of the most popular building materials for commercial structures. Whether you’re building a standalone shop, a 250,000 sq. ft. warehouse, or a neighborhood rec center, concrete … Read More
Snow Load and Large Roofs in Commercial Construction
We depend on roofs to keep everything inside of our buildings as dry, warm, and damage-free as possible. But in regions that get a lot of snow, the choice in roof design and style becomes … Read More
Building Fronts: Double-Skin Facade vs. Storefront vs. Curtain Wall
Double-skin facades, storefronts, and curtain walls create the illusion that an entire structure is made of glass. But building fronts aren’t only aesthetic. They’re also practical. These three popular facade configurations play a role in … Read More
Concrete Piers vs Steel Piers
Piers and footings are among the most important parts of a building’s foundation. Drilled deep into the ground below the foundation, piers support the weight of the building for decades, withstanding normal use and often … Read More
Metal Building Insulation Guide For Commercial Projects
Surprisingly, the most essential part of a building’s structure isn’t visible to the naked eye. In wooden structures, it’s tucked behind a layer of drywall. In metal structures, it’s behind steel panels. We’re talking about … Read More
Tilt-Up Concrete Pros and Cons
Tilt-up concrete is a simple commercial construction process, often used to erect large concrete warehouses. You’ve likely witnessed this construction process firsthand without realizing it. But if your company’s in the market for a new … Read More
Can Your Pre-Fabricated Metal Building Be Custom Designed? Absolutely!
We recently received this message from a customer: “I like that you mention the durability of metal buildings. I’ve been wanting to get an external building and I think metal could be a good cost-effective … Read More
7 Benefits of Choosing Steel for Warehouse Construction
Between 2010 and 2020, the number of warehouses in the U.S. climbed 26.6%. And, in the effort to keep spending low and ROI high, many business owners are opting for more cost-effective business materials. Today, many … Read More
Flatwork Explained: Your Guide to Concrete Flatwork, Applications, and What to Expect
Concrete is one of the most popular man-made construction materials on the planet, with about ten billion tons poured each year. But while it’s the base material for structures like bridges, dams, parking garages, and traditional warehouses, … Read More
How to Understand a Construction Schedule of Values
Commercial construction projects are multi-million dollar investments that, understandably, send mounds of paperwork to your company’s financial department. Bidding documents. Blueprints and architectural drawings. Work orders and construction contracts. But to construction industry outsiders, one … Read More
FMP’s Commercial Construction Glossary
As your commercial construction project transitions from an empty dirt lot to a fully functional building, one thing will become quite clear: There’s a lot of confusing jargon! Those weekly chats with your project management … Read More
Steel Versus Red Iron Buildings: Which Material is Best for Your Project?
The metal building craze is taking the commercial world by storm. Steel buildings, in particular, are slowly becoming the number-one alternative to traditional wooden structures. Their weather-resilient, eco-friendly, and sustainable traits make steel buildings incredible … Read More
Custom vs. Standard Metal Structures
Metal structures are far from a “new” construction trend. In fact, the first-ever metal building dates back to 1796, a last-ditch effort for a British cotton industry desperate to prevent mill fires. But today, major … Read More
What to Look for in Commercial Construction
Do you know what to look for in commercial construction? What does quality construction look like? Where are the best places to find skilled contractors? If you want to know the answers, you’re in the … Read More
9 Things to Know About Metal Buildings
Custom metal buildings are among the hottest trends in the construction industry, with revenue expected to increase a startling 33% from 2012 by 2022. But what is it about these steel-framed, industrial-looking buildings that’s captivating the attention … Read More
Using a Steel Building as a Brewery, Winery or Distillery.
Many people have the misconception that a pre-engineered steel building is nothing more than a box for storage of RVs, cars and other heavy equipment. Pre-engineered steel is becoming a much more popular option for … Read More
Building Color Guide
Coatings Metal building coatings are specialized mixtures of different ingredients that provide superior resistance to chalking, fading, chipping and cracking during the lifetime of the structure. When choosing the right type of finish for your … Read More