Metal Construction News Blog

I have been doing the initial start-up work on a forthcoming Metal Construction News article on the ordering of bent metal panels, and why the successful communication between buyer and seller is so important. I've been doing a lot of communicating with companies on this topic to learn more about the communication process that's involved here.

By Paul Deffenbaugh

The Top Metal Builders deadline is approaching fast. Complete and submit your form by March 29, 2013.

By Paul Deffenbaugh

In my son's grade school when he was young, there was an inspirational sign posted in the cafeteria that read, "Character is what you are when no one is watching." I think the same is true of marketing. What kind of company are you when no one is watching? When they're not looking at your ad? When they're not on your Facebook page? When they're not reading your blog?

By Paul Deffenbaugh

In the February issues of Metal Construction News and Metal Architecture, we publish our annual State of the Industry report in which we ask industry leaders to offer their insight on what's going on in the metal construction industry. (Click here to read the article.) Summarized, their views simply state that the future looks better but we still face challenges. Some of the experts, of course, are more optimistic than others, and some see different challenges than others. (Go to page 13 to read what they say.)

By Paul Deffenbaugh

Twenty years ago, my brother spent a summer with the National Guard on the Mississippi sandbagging to prevent the floodwaters from swamping riverside towns. It was hard work, and when I asked him about it, he said the biggest thing was to move fast and not try to be perfect. I was surprised by that and asked him why they weren't doing their best. His response? 

By Paul Deffenbaugh

Good news in the housing industry. Existing home sales have increased. New home sales have increased. And new home starts have hit a four-year high. One of the biggest drags on our economic recovery has been the slowness of the housing recovery. Of course, the industry had a deep hole to dig out of. The 2008-2011 housing recession was the worst housing recession in history-worse than during the Great Depression.

By Marcy Marro

More and more companies are joining social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn all of the time. Being involved with social media myself, and writign about the construction and metal building industry, I'm always interested to see how construction companies and architects are using social media.

By Paul Deffenbaugh

Mark Twain famously said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." Coming off another virulent election season during which both sides cherry-picked statistics to suit their own arguments, I find myself even more cynical about how numbers are presented to bolster an argument.

By Paul Deffenbaugh

At METALCON this month, we introduce the new Metal Construction Hall of Fame. Our intent with this award program is to recognize individuals who have made huge impacts on the metal construction industry and, by association, all of our lives.

By Paul Deffenbaugh

Have you ever tried to map out the building product supply chain for the metal construction industry? It's not a map; it's a web of crisscrossed distribution channels. Contractors may receive products direct from a manufacturer (one-step distribution) or through a distributor (two-step) or through a distributor and a trade contractor (two-and-a-half step) or through a distributor and a local pro supply retailer (three-step). 

By Paul Deffenbaugh

The U.S. housing market has been through the worst recession in the history of housing. In fact, 2011 will probably be marked up as the worst year during that period. While the previous years' demonstrated the meaning of "bubble," it was last year's anemic performance that took the prize for futility.

By Paul Deffenbaugh

On October 9, the metal construction industry will gather at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., for METALCON International 2012. For architects, contractors, building owners and suppliers interested in the metal construction industry, this is the most important gathering of the year.