Contractor Magazine

Home > Contractor > Magazine Issues > April 1, 2012

April 1, 2012

Contractor Mag | April 2012 Issue

Top Story

  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    A geothermal mirage

    RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. — In the heated griddle of Rancho Mirage, Calif., is Sunnylands, a modern estate with luscious greenery, architecture and works of art, contrasting uniquely with the surrounding desert landscape....More

Articles

  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Integrated Project Delivery streamlines complex projects

    ORLANDO, FLA. — Complicated projects such as hospitals can fall victim to delays, excessive changes and lawsuits. There is, however, a better way. Greg Fuller, president of North Mechanical Inc., Indianapolis, explained how his firm is using a collaborative method called Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) in its project for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    New pipe— PEX, PE-RT, bendable CPVC — debut at IBS

    ORLANDO, FLA. — More than 51,000 builders, remodelers and other members of the home building industry were in the aisles of the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show (IBS), which ran for four days at the Orange County Convention Center here....More
  • Apr. 2, 2012
    Article

    Aquatech offers products, seminars aimed at plumbing contractors

    LAS VEGAS — With an attendance increase over last year of 26%, the Water Quality Association’s Aquatech USA conference and show here in early March offered the industry a deep look into final barrier technology, the issue of salinity, a new WQA strategic plan, and much else....More
  • Mar. 27, 2012
    Article

    Murphy Company Expands to New Offices in Colorado Springs

    Murphy Company, a nationally ranked mechanical contractor, has expanded its presence in Colorado Springs, opening new offices at 1539 Paonia St....More
  • Mar. 29, 2012
    blog

    Live burn demonstration is eye-opening

    This month I had the opportunity to see, in person, a burn demonstration at Xylem’s Little Red School House. It was a very eye-opening experience to see how fast a fire spreads and how fast a sprinkler system can put a fire out. In theory I have always thought that fire sprinklers make sense when it comes to protecting lives and property, and seeing the burn demonstration verified my thoughts on this....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    John Parizek wins Plumbing Instructor of the Year Award

    COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — John Parizek, head instructor for the Minneapolis Plumber’s Joint Journeyman and Apprenticeship Training Committee won the Plumbing Instructor of the Year Award at the HVACR & Mechanical Instructor’s Workshop held here in March....More
  • Apr. 2, 2012
    Article

    Defuse payback with ECV, Yates tells QSC

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When contractors try to sell energy-saving and water-saving equipment, so often customers can’t get past the sticker shock or they’re only looking for a quick payback. The way to sell equipment that goes way beyond the code minimum is to use Energy Conservation Value, Dave Yates told attendees at the Quality Service Contractors Power Meeting XXXVI here in March....More
  • Apr. 2, 2012
    Article

    HVAC Excellence bridges the gap

    LAS VEGAS — More than 500 HVAC educators attended HVAC Excellence, the National HVACR Educators and Trainers Conference, here at the South Point Hotel, March 18-21.  Attendees went to a variety of sessions — all together there were nearly 40 sessions — such as Smart System Technologies, Sustainable Technologies in the Classroom, Soft Skills Training in the Classroom and Teaching Customer Relations....More
  • Mar. 28, 2012
    Article

    ICC Announces Availability of New Green Code

    A new model code for constructing and remodeling buildings is expected to make buildings more efficient, reduce waste, and have a positive impact on health, safety and community welfare....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Training, sustainability is essential to Doc Savage Supply

    Since 1965, Doc Savage Supply, a locally owned and operated wholesale plumbing and HVAC showroom, has been providing plumbing, heating and air conditioning products for the residential and commercial markets in New Mexico. Recently, the company, located in Albuquerque, N.M., moved into a brand new 7,000-sq.ft. bath and kitchen showroom, displaying a variety of kitchen and bath fixtures, where contractors, designers, architects and homeowners can visit and see products up-close and personal....More

Columns

  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Protecting your business from fraud 1

    You can take some fairly simple precautions to protect yourself and your business from dumpster divers, hacksters and almighty cons....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Dealing with third-party bankruptcy?

    So let's review some of the more important things to keep in mind if a company you are dealing with files for bankruptcy....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    The biggest project management nightmare

    Hello, it’s me — your trusty project management columnist Kent H. Craig. But for this column I become Gordon Ramsay, world-famous chef, author, restaurateur, entrepreneur and raconteur, and write about project management through his eyes....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    The Jetson House goes green – Pt. 3

    This is the final part of my series on the greening of the Jetson House, the iconic home that has been around since the early 1960s and has been seen by pretty much anyone who has driven the corridor of Interstate 70 between Denver and the western side of the Continental Divide....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    What about science and engineering?

    We’re selling real products that solve real problems, products that save energy, water and money....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Accessing data online saves time, effort 1

    There are a variety of ways contractors can save time and effort in finding work and building proposals and submittals by accessing data online....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Mercury-bulb thermostat myths

    The world of thermostats for hydronics is full of myths and misunderstandings. Some of these are misinformation about thermostats in general. Some are specific to mercury-bulb thermostats. And some thermostat myths apply just to hydronics....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Why George Brazil is important to all of us

    As Frank Blau and others chimed in with some really nice sentiments about what we historically owe to people like George, I finally decided to tell my story because it is such a prime example of why these guys have been so important to all of us....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    The Oldest Water Heater Contest

    Are you looking for a great promotion to run in conjunction with a home show, company anniversary or other event? The oldest water heater contest may be the best lead generator you will try....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    Education: reaching critical mass 8

    Over the past few years I’ve written columns about the state of labor in the trades and the increasing lack of qualified and quality trainees coming into the field. At a recent breakfast meeting with a manufacturer’s representative, (a friend of some 30 years) who is in a position to see and hear what is happening in our market, the subject was drawn into sharp focus. The topic was labor and news wasn’t good....More
  • Apr. 3, 2012
    Article

    The horns of a dilemma 7

    I thought readers might enjoy exploring the issues raised in a recent e-mail. At first glance, it seems like a fairly simple straight-forward exercise, until you realize the variables and pitfalls are numerous and that the math doesn’t support the running-out-of-hot-water issue....More

Products

Contractor Past Issues
May 2013
view all issues
ContractorMag.com
Mechanical Systems Sites
Copyright © 2013 Penton Media, Inc