The first two months of 2019 proved kind to the construction industry, where input prices increased monthly and annually. However, if the predictions of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chief Economist Anirban Basu are true, the sector will experience different results in the coming months. Construction input prices have dwindled over the ...

Owners of construction projects are often surprised to learn that they are required to withhold 10% retainage on private construction projects in Texas. Failure to withhold 10% can result in liability up to that amount. [1] Similarly, owners often continue to pay the general contractor after receiving a lien notice with fund-trapping language which...

A pair of Colorado construction projects hundreds of miles apart are coming under fire as is the case with many construction projects no matter the location. One is facing thousands of dollars in unpaid bills and is set for the courtroom, while the other recently had its noteholder withdraw foreclosure. According to the Longmont Times-Call , there ...

A solid business relationship in the construction industry begins with a subcontract that establishes clear parameters between all involved parties. Before any general contractor (GC) or subcontractor (sub) moves forward with a collaborative project, each party must define their objectives and duties throughout the course of the project in addition...

According to the Commerce Department, construction spending rose by 1.3%, the largest increase since last April. Following December 2018's 0.8% drop, most of the spending comes from companies investing in public projects. Looking at spending on a year-over-year basis, there was a 0.3% increase. With much of the spending in public projects, investme...

Housing starts rebounded significantly in January by nearly 19%—welcome news to builders following the 12% decline at the end of 2018. According to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department, builders would begin more than 1.2 million housing units in the next year if they maintained this soaring percentage. Single-family housin...

A mechanic's lien is an extremely effective tool for getting paid on privately owned construction projects. However, not everyone who provides services in connection with such projects is entitled to file a lien. Connecticut courts are routinely asked to decide whether certain types of services are lienable, including landscaping work, snow and deb...

Construction projects, large and small, feature a chain of command: general contractors (GCs) at the top, followed by subcontractors (subs) and then sub-subcontractors. As delegations trickle down from the top tiers, each party may be responsible for the actions of those below them, so any problem at the lower level could potentially trickle upward...

Mechanic's lien law across the U.S. is a creature of statute, meaning there are specified items within each states' law (a to-do list) that must be done in order to have any chance of becoming a secured creditor on a private or public, but not federal, construction project. There are some states where a party with lien rights does everything asked ...

Construction spending in December 2018 saw a nearly 1% dip compared to the previous month, according to a recent release from Wells Fargo. With this drop, spending in construction for all of 2018 saw its slowest growth since 2011, growing by just over 4%. The release said this slowdown comes from "sluggish new homebuilding activity," which impacted...