Month: July 2019

What is a Contractor’s Lien?
Construction Tips

What is a Contractor’s Lien?

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A contractor’s lien is also called a construction lien or a mechanic’s lien. It’s a claim that a contractor or subcontractor that has worked on a property and not been paid yet makes. Suppliers of the materials used on a construction project can also file a contractor’s lien. There are places where professionals like engineers, architects, and surveyors also have the right to file liens for the services they deliver on construction projects.

Contractor’s Lien Priority and Waivers

Lien’s priority on a building project is not dependent on the time a particular job is completed. Instead, it depends on everything that relates to the visible start of the work. This implies that the final work like painting has the same priority with the initial work like laying the foundation.

As such, the owner has to get lien waivers or releases from the material suppliers and subcontractors throughout the entire construction project. Without releases or waivers, the entire project can be subjected to liens by all subcontractors. This can happen even when the general contractor has been paid the agreed amount in full but did not pay subcontractors.

Contractor’s Lien Notification

There are states where subcontractors and contractors are required by the law to notify property owners before they file a lien. However, subcontractors and contractors are allowed to file a lien without notifying the owner in some states. Subcontractors and contractors are basically the lien claimants and this legal doctrine protects them. That’s because all their labor and materials are buried in a real estate project once they play a role in it. Contractor’s lien is different from a mortgage lien since these claimants’ liens can’t force a foreclosure.

Laws on contractor’s liens tend to confuse some people. It’s therefore important to conduct some research on contractor’s lien before you involve yourself in a construction project.…

What is a Construction Defect?
Construction Tips

What is a Construction Defect?

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A construction defect can be defined as a physical condition that lowers the value of a construction or structure or endangers the safety or health of the occupants. A construction defect can be caused by a design, materials, or workmanship flaw. Essentially, the defect is not caused by normal tear, wear, or aging.

Examples of construction defects include water intrusion on new constructions, faulty drains, foundation with cracks, and settlement problems that result from inadequate drainage and grading. Typically, a construction project involves different contractors. These may include excavators, carpenters, architects, plumbers, and electricians. Materials from different manufacturers are also used in a construction project. As such, defects are generally not unusual.

Initial Concerns

Identification of construction defects, its cause and source is not easy. In most cases, it requires a skilled and experienced construction professional. Nevertheless, time is very important when it comes to identifying and fixing construction defects. Remember that if a contractor gave you a warranty, its duration is limited. The statute of limitation and response can impose deadlines when you decide to file a suit.

In some cases, contractors give clients written warranties. If you don’t have a written warranty from your contractor, the state law may create it. For instance, implied habitability warranty is recognized by most state courts. This entitles a property owner to a major defect’s remedy if they make the structure unusable. Thus, you may be entitled to this warranty even without a written warranty.

In some states however, there are laws that govern construction warranties. In some cases, warranties are bought from insurers and they remain effective if a contractor runs out of business. Note that there are defects that the builder’s warranty might not cover. These can include defective appliances. Nevertheless, a product that is not covered by the builder’s warranty may be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.…

What is a Construction Crusher?
Construction Tips

What is a Construction Crusher?

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A construction crusher refers to the equipment that is used to reduce large gravel or rock size for purposes of construction. A crusher can be used to change waste matter shape to simplify disposal or for recycling purposes. It can also be used to reduce the mix size of raw materials for segregation or differentiation.

Crushing refers to transmission of the force that is increased significantly by the use of other materials whose bonding strength is greater. The strength of the added materials enables them to resist deformation. As such, the substances required are crushed with ease.

The mechanism of a crusher entails holding the material that needs crushing between the solid surfaces. This is followed by application of a force that brings these solid surfaces closer. Energy is produced in the materials being crushed causing molecules separation. In the past, crushers were handheld stones. Human energy was enhanced by the weight of the stones.

How Crushers Function

Trucks bring raw materials of varying sizes to the hopper. Other transportation means may also be used. Entrance of materials into the crusher is regulated by a feeder mechanism. Smaller parts are prevented from entering the crusher by a screening mechanism.

The main crushing reduces the larger pieces sizes for ease management by a crusher. In some cases, a crusher can manage asphalt, rocks, and concrete into the dimensions and shape desired by compressing or breaking the materials.

Normally, crushers are categorized by the limit of the size of the materials they can process. Nevertheless, a crusher can reduce particle sizes further using grinders. Crushers have not had significant advancement in terms of their technology. Nevertheless, they have had minor improvements.

For instance, some crushers have a protection mechanism that prevents their damage when harder objects enter them. There has also been an increase in their rotating speed thereby enhancing their crushing speed. For more details on what a crusher is, check out this site for details on its meaning.…