It is an axiom of lists, such as the Metal Construction News Top Metal Builders, that they are strong in good times but weak in bad times. Business owners are less likely to raise their hands to talk about how they’re doing in bad times, while in good times the entries flow in. After all, who wants to have his or her difficulties captured by the press?
If the response to 2011 Top Metal Builders list is any indicator, we are moving into good times.
Part of that increase is due to increased willingness of contractors to report numbers, but a significant portion of it can be attributed to the growing strength in commercial construction. The number of entries submitted was the highest we’ve received in a number of years.
Also evidence of a growing commercial construction market is the increase in activity among the top 100. Consider that the increase in average tonnage from 2010 to 2011 was 19.8 percent. The square footage increase far outstripped that with an astounding 32 percent increase.
This year, we are reporting two lists of Top Metal Builders. You’ll see the top 100 ranked by tonnage and another 100 ranked by square footage of the buildings they constructed. The list of companies at the end of the feature will indicate those companies that appear on both lists or just on one list.
We also found it interesting to identify the location of the companies and were pleased to see a broad geographic representation of contractors. Check out the map. For more bits of interesting information, check out the “Fun Facts” sidebar.
