Construction costs shape plans for development in Greater Houston area

Two significant challenges construction companies and builders in the Greater Houston area encountered in 2014 are expected to continue in 2015.

The rising cost of building materials has raised construction costs. Meanwhile, a shortage of skilled laborers has increased wages, which is also driving up costs, according to area builders and developers.

Rising construction costs have had notable effects on the development of major projects in the Greater Houston area, including those in Spring and Klein.

Officials with the Lone Star College System and Klein ISD both said construction costs are closely monitored and taken into account when new schools and buildings are being considered.

Local projects, developers.

Klein ISD officials said fewer subcontractors and material pressures have caused the district to extend construction periods, resulting in projects costing more than their budgeted amounts.

Robert Robertson, associate superintendent for facilities at Klein ISD, said projects that used to take 12 months to complete now have to be planned for 15–16 months. The district also has to begin design work earlier to secure approval from the board of trustees, and dates to sell bonds need to be adjusted.

Robertson said since additional construction time increases rates, projects anticipated at about $140 per square foot rose to about $165 per square feet. The total cost for French Elementary School—which will open in the fall—increased to $22 million from the initial projected cost of $19 million because of additional construction time.

In trying to establish the $498.1 million recommendations for the district's 2015 bond—which residents will vote on May 9, Robertson said the district had to determine what the cost would be if the schools were built today for projects that may be more than a year from breaking ground.

"It's like throwing darts at a dart board," Robertson said.

Residential and commercial developers are also under pressure from rising costs as they work rapidly to meet demand throughout Spring and Klein.

"There's no question that the cost has been crazy," said Brad Sondock, president of the Retail Properties Group, which owns and has developed 140,000 square feet of retail office space at Cypresswood Drive and Stuebner Airline Road. "Any project [where] you can find materials at Lowe's or Home Depot you will be fine. It's the more complex materials. That's where the problem is."

Sondock said many office buildings require specialized equipment and sophisticated construction. More complex materials such as steel and concrete drive costs significantly higher.

"To build a shopping center at [a] 30 percent higher cost today makes it tougher because it often takes longer," he said. "Sometimes you find that you can't find concrete for several months."

Homebuilders are also affected by the labor shortage and material cost increase.

"A major concern for builders at this point is the rising cost of labor due to the shortage of labor," said Kevin Frankel, president of the Greater Houston Builders Association, or GHBA. "This has been a focus for years. It's something we have sat down and had discussions about to try to come up with ways to alleviate it."

The increasing cost of construction for office projects can be linked in part to the growing depth of the tenant pool creating more demand. Several projects went online in 2014 to alleviate that demand, but the glut of projects only intensifies the labor shortage, according to officials with Kirksey Architecture, a Houston-based company that publishes an annual report analyzing construction costs.

"High demand, labor shortages, concrete shortages, long lead times for critical components and subcontractor fees and availability are among the drivers of the cost surges," the authors of Kirksey report concluded. "With so many projects under construction, contractors and subcontractors have become much more selective about the opportunities they are pursuing."

Cost of materials

Turner Construction Company, which has offices around Houston, developed its own cost index to track nonresidential building construction. The company's methodology—which considers labor rates and productivity, material prices and the competitive condition of the marketplace—shows steady increases every quarter since 2011. Overall, costs have risen about 11.7 percent since that time.

"Growth in nonresidential construction was steady in the fourth quarter in virtually all domestic markets," said Turner Vice President Attilio Rivetti. "Higher construction cost escalations in urban centers with increased construction activity as well as selective megaprojects, are driving the average domestic construction cost increases."

The rising cost of materials has wide-ranging effects. Officials who oversaw recent bond elections said rising costs and inflation mean the sooner projects can get underway, the better.

For the builders themselves, the rising cost of materials is worked into the overall price of the home once it hits the market, which often acts as a disincentive to buyers, Frankel said.

Fewer skilled hands

One persistent element of the rising construction costs is the shortage of skilled workers across various fields.

A 2014 survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders found that about 46 percent of Houston building companies are struggling with the skilled labor shortage. The labor shortage is also expected to intensify as millions of baby boomers prepare for retirement.

Skilled laborers in the construction field include industrial electricians, commercial plumbers, heavy equipment operators and concrete finishers.

The shortage has been so widespread in the Houston market that area colleges have developed programs to address it. GHBA has partnered with Houston Community College to support educating students on career opportunities, and LSCS has its own objectives.

"We have been working very closely with the business leaders in our community to learn about what the needs are and tailor our programs accordingly," LSCS Chancellor Steve Head said. "People in construction are all telling us how hard it is to find skilled workers they can depend on. That was a major part of our bond expansion plans, which focus on specialty workforce classes."

Houston added more construction jobs than any U.S. metro market, according to the American General Contractors of America, a fact that means the labor shortage will continue into 2015. The declining unemployment rate has made it more difficult to find qualified workers, officials noted.

Column: Five flooring ideas to better the bathroom

Tile is currently the most popular of all bathroom- flooring selections because it is easy to clean, fairly resistant to harboring germs and durable. 

For most people, the bathroom is where the day usually begins and ends. And one major element that plays a role in creating a comfortable, luxurious environment is the flooring. Flooring is such a key part of any design scheme because of the sheer amount of space it takes up. Additionally, choosing the right bathroom flooring material also requires an eye for practicality because of the amount of moisture, heat and wear that will inevitably occur.

Ceramic – Tile is currently the most popular of all bathroom-flooring selections for a number of reasons. It's easy to clean, fairly resistant to harboring germs and durable enough to uphold against heat or water contact. The most popular types of tiles are ceramic and porcelain or stone. Ceramic tiles are created from clay that is fired at high temperatures to create a hard, water resistant surface. These tiles are available in numerous designs, and are extremely durable (although they can possibly crack or break if they are not installed properly). Instead of being fired, porcelain tiles are made from pressed clay, which means they are more durable and water resistant. Porcelain tiles can be found in numerous styles and colors, and often at a very reasonable price range. If you are going for a classic or rustic look, stone tiles can add a natural beauty to the space. And of course, stone is so durable that it can be installed in outdoor areas as well. It's important to weigh the pros and cons of the different tile materials when selecting a flooring design. When creating a tile design, you can add visual interest by creating patterns, varying the sizes or incorporating various shapes together.

Glass accents – Glass tiles can be integrated along with other tile materials into countertops, backsplashes and bathroom floors. You can even use glass to create tile borders surrounding the shower, tub, sink or other areas that you want to stand out.

Heated floors – Tile flooring is easy to maintain, visually eye-catching and available in countless design options. But because of its physical properties, tile can often feel cold underneath your feet. That's why radiant (or heated) flooring can be an excellent addition to your bathroom-flooring plan. Flooring can either be heated using an electrical, or a water circulation system to warm the floor from underneath. Heated flooring is not a cheap option, but can add luxury to your bathroom (especially during these cold, winter months).

Kid-friendly options – Kids have a knack for making watery messes in the bathroom. So you'll probably want to select bathroom flooring that's equipped to handle spills. Sheet vinyl tiles are water resistant, but can be slick when wet. Look for a design that features an anti-slip texture if you are concerned about safety. You could also go with ceramic or laminate tiles, but be sure to choose a waterproof caulk to seal the flooring.

Green materials – For environmentally minded homeowners looking for a green bathroom flooring option, the top choices are definitely cork or bamboo. These two materials are made from renewable resources, which mean they naturally replenish their supplies in the wild. In addition, bamboo and cork have certain physical properties that make them suitable choices for bathroom flooring. Bamboo is made from a wood plant, so it will look similar to traditional wood floors. However, bamboo is naturally harder and more durable than wood, so it will stand up better to the moisture and heat contact. And cork naturally offers a soft, warm feel on bare feet. Both materials are resistant to mold, mildew and bacteria, and both naturally repel moisture, which are all especially beneficial properties for bathroom flooring to have.

Looking for additional flooring ideas? You can visit the HudsonChina`s website for new building materials for your kitchen, bathrooms and other living spaces.

Gray is a powerful neutral color

Q. We have decided to rip up our carpets and put down hardwood floors. It's a big investment, and we want them to last a long time.

There are so many choices of colors, and even the size of the planks.

Have you any suggestions? Thanks. – Dan and Allie

A. Over the last 15 years we have seen a big swing from wall-to-wall carpets to wood flooring. Engineered floors, floors that can be laid down without nails or glue, bamboo, cork, all the hard and soft woods, have all become familiar and accessible, and there are so many options that it is difficult to settle on one. Popular floor colors expanded as well; from basic wood tones to bleached-out shades of white and gray. I suggest you look at photographs of different floor styles on the Internet, in magazines and in books. When you have narrowed down your choices, most retailers are happy to allow you to bring home samples and live with them for a few days. See if the change complements the furniture and decor you already have, or if you want to make a more radical switch in paint colors as well.

You may notice while you are doing your research that one of the most predominant colors showing up in interior products right now is gray.

This shows up in soft furnishings, cabinetry, paint colors and fabrics. Shaw Floor's color of the year for 2015 is Lady in Gray.

This gray theme doesn't just hold for their wood floors, but also their porcelain tiles, their luxury vinyl and, yes, carpets too (www.shawfloors.com). I spoke with Emily Morrow, director of color, style and design at Shaw Floors, to see if she thought the popularity of this neutral shade was going to last. Morrow notes that gray is not a trendy color, rather it has eased its way in beginning in 2007 with high-end fashion and design. Its popularity continued to explode, building every year. This color has longevity, and Morrow predicts that it will last for five more years. Why so popular? It's practical. Grays are forgiving; they don't show every little footprint – perfect when you have kids and pets.

One of the color themes I chose for 2015 I call Industrial Neutrals.

Gray plays a big role in this style, as it complements utilitarian settings. Shaw's gray is a warm gray that co-exists with cool shades of blue, such as teal and aqua, and also hot shades like coral. The tranquil bedroom shown here from Shaw Floors combines medium and pale grays with dreamy blues in a gentle blend of hues that are soothing yet fresh. From their Castlewood Collection, the 7-inch-wide planks of the White Oak veneer floor show lots of graining, with a low sheen finish that provides an attractive, distressed look.

When planning for your new wood floors, take into consideration what other materials they will butt up against. For the kitchen, gray porcelain floor tiles work well. They look good with the popular commercial appliances in stainless steel as well as the more traditional white. Then add color and texture with the backsplash areas and the counters. Wallpaper is back and provides more opportunity to boost your decorating with the gray giving you all the balance you need. Is gray the new black? Gray tells a softer story, and we are all loving it today.

Sustainable buildings of the future will focus on material’s embodied emissions

A report published by Edge Environment sustainability consultancy firm proposes that the most sustainable buildings in the future will have a stronger focus on minimising the embodied emissions of materials used in construction.  

'Energy-efficient dwellings – Can embodied energy spoil the story?' used life cycle assessments (LCA) to document the energy and emissions performance of a typical Australian freestanding home compared with the 2013-built sustainable residential project home called "CSR House".

The LCA compared the energy and environmental performance of CSR House across 23 climate zones in Australia, and benchmarked it against the Housing Industry of Australia's (HIA) reference building of similar size.

Their conclusions were that lowering a residential building's operational energy, via energy efficient building products, remains key to lowering its overall emissions.

However, as operational emissions are falling rapidly, due to better thermal design, more efficient HVAC appliances and growing consumer awareness about energy and carbon, the source and emissions-intensity of building materials are becoming increasingly significant at the domestic level.

Key findings of the report, courtesy of EDGE Environment:

Investments to reduce operational energy, including sustainable design using emissions-intensive materials, remain well worth it.

Investing in an energy-efficient home pays off environmentally and financially. The energy drawn for the home's typical domestic use (operational energy) still dominates total lifecycle energy use. Each of the occupier's behavioural choices can dramatically reduce it, by smart and efficient appliances, and by sustainable design and choices of building materials. These savings comfortably outweigh additional emissions, if any, embodied in the materials used in sustainable design. As the cost premiums of non-'standard' materials continue to fall and energy prices continue to rise, sustainable design will also continue to be financially attractive.

However, more attention should be paid to embodied emissions, as they are already significant and are becoming more so.

Even so, embodied emissions cannot be ignored. While most lifecycle emissions are due to the building's use, the building's materials account for at least 10-20%. As the buildings become more energy-efficient, that proportion is rising and embodied energy is almost matching operational energy in the most efficient designs. Moreover, as designers can influence but not control occupant behaviour, their choice of building material may account for up to half of the lifecycle emissions that they can control.

These findings have clear implications for home users, for design and construction businesses, and for their material suppliers.

Designers and builders should continue to focus on the designs and materials that will reduce operational energy, including by influencing low-emission appliances and behaviour, but start to demand materials that minimise lifecycle emissions. Suppliers should continue to meet that demand with resource-efficient and low-emission production, both to reduce their operating costs and to maximise their market access and sales. Homeowners and users should seek out sustainably designed homes: with it, their own appliance and behavioural choices will save much in energy costs; without it, those choices will reward them less.

Trends in home remodeling fuel dreams of upscaling livability

January is the month when design and remodeling trend stories seem to show up everywhere. If you're planning on updating your home, you've probably read a bunch of them already. Chances are, you've seen write-ups about Marsala, Pantone's 2015 Color of the Year, or maybe reports on which looks are hot on Pinterest and Houzz. Forget about them!

From a remodeling perspective, the current color and fads do not matter. You're making an investment for the long term. The only trends that count are the ones that will enhance the value of your home and your life. Look for those that add comfort, safety, durability, ease, convenience, style cohesion, energy and water savings. Most important, choose those that truly fit how you live, your home's architecture and your neighborhood. Yes, style definitely does count when you're remodeling, but it should blend so well with your house that it looks like it was "born there."

Here, then, are some 2015 remodeling trends that are truly worth considering.

LIVABILITY

There are several trends to consider when making your home more livable. One is to plan for future needs with accessibility features. More homes are including ramps or elevators, on-grade entries and new bedroom suites for live-in caregivers or multigeneration living.

Fitness rooms are a fast-growing quality-of-life trend and point to an athlete-in-place — rather than aging-in-place — mindset for baby boomers and retirees. That is particularly relevant to San Diego, home to so many current and former military service members who prioritize fitness in their lives, even post-retirement.

Livability also comes from convenience. Add that to increasingly better style and solid warranties and you have engineered stone (e.g., Silestone, Zodiaq, Caesarstone), supplanting granite as the dominant countertop trend. Busy parents and those who love to entertain at home especially appreciate its hardness and stain resistance.

Better style and convenience are also playing a role in backsplash and shower design trends. Thin porcelain tile slabs are delivering low maintenance with reduced grout maintenance and no need for stone sealing.

Livability is playing a role in the popularity of contemporary cabinetry chock full of organizers, as well. Most San Diegans don't really want to be doing all of the extra dusting that elaborate traditional styles demand. You're too busy enjoying your fitness rooms and outdoor living spaces — another livability trend with great appeal for San Diego's enviable climate.

In the outdoor remodeling sphere, commercial-grade appliances are the hottest trend, with pizza ovens, Argentine-style grills, salamanders and keg tappers bringing outdoor entertaining to a new level.

Energy-efficient LEDs are powering all kinds of lighting. Lampsplus.com

SUSTAINABILITY

LEDs are continually improving and showing up in recessed ceiling lights, appliance interiors, interior and under-cabinet lighting and decorative lighting fixtures. They are not a new trend, but they are an important one with current California building codes mandating sharp cuts in energy usage. The good news for homeowners is increased dimming capability and selection and decreased prices.

Hands-free faucets are another sustainability trend with an increasing array of price points and choices. Hands-free models not only reduce the amount of water you'll use in the kitchen and bathroom, they also can reduce the spread of germs during cold and flu season.

Air-injected shower heads are a terrific water-reducing trend. When this performance-meets-conservation technology first started showing up a few years ago, the selection was minimal. Now, they're available from numerous brands.

Other growing sustainability trends include solar panels, tankless water heaters and electrical car docking stations.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology is impacting our homes, as well as our lives. Our smartphones are almost always in hand, and finding spaces to charge, use and cradle them while we do other tasks has become part of many remodeling plans.

They have also made home automation a more affordable and popular option. The welcome familiarity we experience in starting our favorite apps is expanding to include opening and closing window coverings, turning alarms, entertainment and climate control systems on and off, even getting dinner cooking with connected appliances.

You can also stream your favorite tunes while standing under a streaming shower head or standing at your vanity. Each year brings new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled remodeling products for our indoor and outdoor spaces.

FINAL TREND THOUGHTS

The trends shared in this article come from multiple sources, including practicing kitchen and bath design in San Diego for five years, visiting U.S. and international trade shows, and covering trends for print and online media.

Three very valuable association reports also contributed and reinforced direct observations. These came from the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Foshan Hudson Economics and Trade Co., Ltd

Tel: 86-757 8227 9676

Fax: 86-757-8227 9527

Mail:info@hudsonchina.com

Web: http://hudsonchina.com

Building material prices down 25percent in Saudi Arabia

The prices of building materials across Saudi Arabia have witnessed a 25 percent drop and are expected to decline further in the coming months, said a report.

Owing to this, the prices of housing units too are expected to come down, reported the Arab News, citing experts.

The steel prices fell globally to reach 20 percent at the end of 2014 and are likely to plunge further in the coming months, it added.

According to experts, the demand for building materials dropped by almost 50 per cent last year due to the low demand for housing units which caused a sharp disparity in supply and demand in the local market.

While citizens hope to see a further fall in the prices of housing units, many landlords will not respond to the new change in building material prices as they prefer to keep the prices at the current levels, they added.

How to design a classic country kitchen

 The country kitchen offers a warm and inviting style custom made for creating hearty meals for family and friends. You can design a classic country kitchen using these country basics in materials, style and decorative detail.

Rustic Wood

Typical country kitchens depend on wood with grain and knots for texture and a rustic feeling. Your cabinets can have a rough hewn look with a natural finish to allow the wood grain to shine through. However, there are also many rural looks that use interesting paint finishes such as white wash. Other classic country looks add painted cabinets or islands using lovely milk paint blue or washed out greens and yellows. Wide plank wood floors carry the same rustic look heavily grained and knotted. Natural wood bead board, thick slabbed butcher block countertops on islands and open wood shelves add to the look of your country kitchen.

Charming tile

The classic country kitchen features tile prominently with Italian and French inspired painted ceramic or porcelain tile. These tiles have decorative detail for rustic, charming backsplashes which can be used on their own, or as accent tiles combined with a more subtle tile. You can also consider the Greek inspired look with cobalt blue and white tile or a Spanish influence with large terra cotta tiles on floors and smaller tiles on the counter and backsplash. If you are not a fan of cultural influences go for classic solid coloured square tile in muted greens, creams, yellows or blues.

Rural fixtures

Your fixtures include faucets, door pulls and handles and lights. Look for rustic patina finishes such as copper, brass and black cast iron. You want simplistic looks such as cup style pulls on drawers and an antique look for faucets such as faux pumps in dark metals. Rustic lighting in cast iron, bronze and wood work wonderfully in the country kitchen. However, if you want a more elegant look you can look for apothecary and retro school house lighting. White porcelain knobs also add a touch of sophistication as do glass knobs on cupboards and cabinets.

Creating country kitchens focuses on natural and rustic finishes, chunky stylings and a touch of sparkle and elegance with porcelain and glass. Accessories with country charm such as crockery collections or interesting tile designs for back splashes make for a customized look.