The Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guide 2020

Another year is about ready to wrap up as the holiday season is upon us. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be stressful for those in your life that are hard to buy for, especially those in the construction trades. Our goal is to make that process easier for you or your loved one with our top picks for gifts every year!

For more gift ideas, be sure to check out our Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guides from 2017, 2018, and 2019 or our past Father's Day Gift Guides from 2018, 2019, and 2020.

I’ve been lucky enough to be able to use many of the tools on this list throughout the year and there are others on the list that I’d love to try because they have been highly regarded in reviews.  It should be assumed that the tool manufacturers have given us these tools for free to test out, but none of them have paid to be a part of this gift guide. All tools on this list have been chosen by me, because I think they would be great gifts.

This post contains affiliate links, which earn us a small commission for the things that you buy.  The prices in the links are exactly the same as they would be normally!

Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guide 2020

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Under $50

Zenith Industries ZN700001 Trim Puller Buy on Amazon

Trim Puller Multi-Tool

If you’ve ever had to pull baseboard, crown molding, or other trim work, you know it’s pretty easy to either damage the trim or the wall behind it in the process. I picked up a Trim Puller recently and it makes saving trim extremely easy and greatly reduces damage to the wall.  Just line it up with the joint of the trim against the wall, hit the back of it with a hammer and the trim pops loose.

Vaughan & Bushnell 4300 Dalluge Da Bar By Dalluge Nail Puller, 12" Buy on Amazon

Vaughan & Bushnell 4300 Dalluge Da Bar Nail Puller

Whether your building new or demolishing existing, chances are you’ll need to pull a nail somewhere. The DA Bar was another one of my recent purchases and its beauty is the ability to dig its claws into wood to expose sunken nails and the leverage it provides to pull it out. The nail puller comes in 8”, 10”, 11”, and 12” sizes.

Spring Tools PM407 Nail Set and Hinge Pin Tool Buy on Amazon

Spring Tools PM407 Nail Set and Hinge Pin Tool

Removing hinge pins on doors are annoying and using a screw driver can cause damage to the finish on the hinge. Spring Tools not only has a spring loaded hinge pin remover, but also a nail set for those pesky nails that refuse to be driven flush to the surface. Both of these have come in extremely handy for me recently and it’s also another tool that I’ve purchased.

Starrett ProSite Miter Saw Protractor Buy on Amazon

Starrett ProSite Miter Saw Protractor

As every contractor knows, wall corners are rarely ever 90 degrees. The Starrett Miter Saw Protractor, another one of my recent purchases, is a low tech way of finding the exact angle of the cut that you need, whether it’s joining 2 pieces together or making a single cut. This simple tool takes a lot of frustration out of the finishing process.

Malco MSHXLC 6-inch Reversible and Cleanable 1/4-inch and 5/16-inch Magnetic Hex Driver (1-pack) Buy on Amazon

Malco MSHXLC 6-inch Reversible and Cleanable 1/4-inch and 5/16-inch Magnetic Hex Driver

¼” and 5/16” hex head fasteners are extremely common on jobsites and this magnetic driver bit combines those two sizes into one. This bit is a favorite of technicians in the HVAC-R trades, but most will find it to be pretty handy to have for a variety of tasks.

Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder with GFCI Outlet Tester ET310 Klein Tools

Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder

If your house is like mine, the labeling system inside your circuit breaker box is an absolute mess, which makes it extremely difficult to find the correct breaker to turn off when needed.  The Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker finder is a 2-in-1 tool that not only can confirm that your outlets have been properly wired, but it can also help you easily locate the correct breaker an outlet is wired to. Simply plug the outlet tester into an outlet, bring the receiver wand to your breaker panel, and run the receiver down each breaker until the light indicates that the correct breaker has been found. Of course, you should ALWAYS double check that power has been turned off to whatever electrical system you need to work on before beginning.

Over $50

Milwaukee Top-Off 175W Power Supply

Preorder on Ohio Power Tool

Milwaukee Top-Off Power Supply

For those in the industry that need to change their electronic devices, like laptops or tablets, this is a fantastic mobile option.  It provides 175W of power off of a Milwaukee M18 battery pack and, other than charging electronics, it can also power box fans and TVs, making it an option for tailgating purposes. The Top-Off features (3) different charging ports: (1) AC 120V outlet, (1) USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port, and (1) USB-A port, and all 3 can be used at the same time.

The Top-Off was just recently announced at Milwaukee’s online product showcase, PIPELINE, and is currently available for pre-order with the hope they’ll be shipped before Christmas. 

ISOtunes LINK Bluetooth Hearing Protection: OSHA Compliant Noise Isolation Earmuff Headphones, 14+ Hour Battery Life, Included Rechargeable Lithium Ion or AAA batteries, 23dB NRR, 85dB Safe Max Volume Buy on Amazon

Isotunes Link Earmuff Headphones

I’ve included some version of Isotunes on nearly every one of my gift guides, because they offer a rugged product with sound dampening technology. Last year, the brand released a rechargeable, cord free version of their ear buds, but this year, they have released their first set of earmuffs, by popular request of their customers. The Isotunes Link headphones reduce noise by 24 decibels, have an IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance, provide 14+ hours of runtime on the included lithium-ion rechargeable battery, or 28+ hours with 3- AAA batteries.

BOSCH GLM400CL Blaze Outdoor 400 ft Bluetooth Connected Laser Measure with Camera & Lithium-Ion Battery C & J Direct GmbH & Co. KG

Bosch GLM400CL Outdoor Laser Measure

The Bosch GLM400CL is the coolest laser I’ve ever used, because it solves a laser measure’s biggest problem: sunlight.  With the use of a built-in camera and on-screen crosshairs, this measure lets users measure up to 400 feet away without the need to see where the laser is pointing. This laser will set you back around $300, so if you don’t want to spend that kind of cash, Bosch makes plenty of other great laser measures that won’t break the bank.  Their GLM30 model has a 100’ range and can be found for around $70 currently.

TRUEWERK Men's Work Pants - T2 WerkPant Technical Workwear, 32W X 32L Wolf Grey Buy on Amazon

Truewerk Work Pants

Truewerk makes some seriously comfortable work pants.  You may like your jeans, but your jeans aren’t water repellent, stain and wind resistant while also being breathable and stretchable for increased mobility.

The T3 Werkpants are made for the colder months, as they are fleece lined for additional insulation.  I’ve been wearing mine for a couple weeks and they truly do make a difference.

For warmer climates, the T2 Werkpants are not lined, but have all of the same features as the T3. For even warmer climates, the T1 Werkpants are even thinner and more breathable than the T2.  I have all 3 versions, most of which I have purchased myself and they’re quickly becoming my favorite pants for not only working, but for a casual look when I leave the house.

Milwaukee 2951-20 M12 Lithium-Ion Cordless Jobsite Radio/Bluetooth Speaker with Built-In Charger (Tool Only) Buy on Amazon

Milwaukee M12 Cordless Bluetooth/AM/FM Jobsite Radio with Charger

If you’re on a jobsite that allows music, this compact 12V battery-powered radio from Milwaukee is an easy-to-transport and easy to use radio and Bluetooth speaker. You’re not going to be blown away by the volume it puts out, but that’s probably for the best, as contractors need to be aware of their surroundings on a jobsite. It connects very easily on the Bluetooth setting and I’ve been pleased with the sound quality and runtime from a 2.0ah battery. It can also be plugged in for infinite runtime and for battery charging.

Dewalt DWST08400 ToughSystem 2.0 Extra Large Toolbox Buy on Amazon

DeWalt Toughsystem 2.0

Modular tool storage can make anyone in construction more efficient, as it helps them stay organized, while also making it much easier to get all of the tools they need on and off the jobsite. DeWalt has recently updated their popular rugged storage solution, Toughsystem, with an updated version called Toughsystem 2.0. It features and easier to use, one-handed latching system, upgraded latches and wheels, the ability to connect new half-width cases, and add interior trays for the deeper boxes.

The Toughsystem 2.0 is also reverse compatible with the original version, other than a few exceptions, but the updates make this storage system much easier to use and more versatile.

Werner Leansafe X3

Buy at Home Depot

LEANSAFE X3 6 ft. Fiberglass Professional 3-in-1 Multi-Purpose Ladder

Ladders are one of the most dangerous tools on any jobsite and much of that can be attributed to using the wrong type of ladder for the task. The good news is that Werner has solved that problem for many different situations with the Leansafe X3. Not only can this ladder be safely used as a step/a-frame ladder, it’s also designed to be leaned against a wall (something that most tradesmen do with other stepladders, but aren’t supposed to), and the back of the ladder can be extended vertically to transform the ladder into a straight ladder, giving the user several additional feet of climbing height.

This Type 1AA ladder has a load capacity of 375 pounds, making it super sturdy to go along with its versatility.

MILWAUKEE HYDROBREAK RAINSHELL JACKET Buy on Amazon

Milwaukee HYDROBREAK Layer Rain Shell Jacket

Fall, winter and spring can come with some pretty cold and rainy days, so it’s important to keep yourself or the contractor in your life dry and warm on those days. I’ve been wearing this Milwaukee Hydrobreak jacket for over a year and it’s my go-to for days I have to be in a wet environment. It’s thin enough to not make you uncomfortable on warmer days, but also provides wind resistance to match the water resistance if you want to wear a thermal layer underneath on colder days. Combine it with a base layer of a Milwaukee M12 heated jacket for maximum warmth.

Helly Hansen Women’s Luna Winter Jacket

buy at helly hansen

Helly Hansen Luna Women’s Winter Jacket

For the female contractors working in cold climates, this new Helly Hansen Luna Winter Jacket is a high-quality, lightweight, waterproof, and windproof jacket perfect for the jobsite.  Like many brands have discovered recently, you can’t just shrink down a men’s version of workwear and call it a women’s size, it has to be completely redesigned to meet the needs of the women wearing them, which is exactly what Helly Hansen has done with the Luna collection.

DEWALT 20V Max XR Cordless Router, Brushless, Tool Only (DCW600B), Black-v186, Mini-v186 Buy on Amazon

DeWalt 20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Router

A few different cordless trim routers have hit the market in recent months and I picked up the DeWalt version a few weeks ago and have been extremely pleased with it. It’s powerful, quiet, and smooth, making it easy to control while adding those finishing touches to your trimwork.  It also has plenty of power to cut out windows and doors in plywood for framers.

Keen Utility Men's Chicago 6” Composite Toe Waterproof Metatarsal Guard Work Boot Construction, Tobacco/Black, 11 Buy on Amazon

Keen Utility Chicago Work Boot

Heading into the cold and wet months of the year, it’s extremely important to find a work boot that is not only comfortable to work in, but also waterproof. Keen Utility recently released a new boot called the Chicago, which features their KEEN.dry waterproofing membrane and a cushioned midsole for added comfort. The 6” boot comes in a variety of different versions, including a soft-toe, carbon fiber toe, a metatarsal guard, a women’s version, an Electro static dissipative (ESD) version, and even a low-top oxford version.

Milwaukee Gen 2 Rocket Tower Light/Charger

Buy at Home Depot

Milwaukee M18 Cordless ROCKET LED Stand Light/Charger

Days are much shorter in the later months of the year, making it extremely important to have a good lighting solution on the jobsite.  No one matches the collection of lighting solutions that Milwaukee has and one of their latest releases is the upgraded LED Rocket Light/Charger.

With an output of 6,000 lumens on high, this light can be set up and extended to 7’ high in a matter of seconds. The max height helps reduce shadows and its 3 heads can all be angled separately to provide both ambient and task lighting.  The onboard changer can also charge M18 batteries while plugged into an extension cord. I’ve had this Rocket light for a few weeks and, if you only need one light that can pretty much do it all, this is a great place to start, but you’ll have to pay for all of those features.

Amazon Block Search for an Amazon product to display. Learn more

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/29/the-ultimate-construction-holiday-gift-guide-2020

Milwaukee Pipeline Ep 3 and 4 Recap: Lighting, PPE, and Cutting

new Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall (courtesy of Milwaukee Tool)

Milwaukee Pipeline, the red tool brand’s virtual product release event, is officially over for 2020.  Airing 4 total episodes, Pipeline highlighted many new tool offerings that the company will release over the next several months.  Episode 1 saw the release several new M12 and M18 tools (like the M12 23GA pin nailer, updated oscillating multi-tools, several new impact wrenches, and vacuums) and episode 2 featured the expansion of the extremely popular modular storage solution, PACKOUT, and Milwaukee’s first cordless laser lines.

Episodes 3 and 4 focused on new lighting solutions, an expansion of their PPE offerings, and several cutting and drilling solutions and accessories. Let’s get into the highlights:

Updated M18 Fuel Sawzall Reciprocating Saw and Blades

Milwaukee’s Sawzall is one of the pillars of the company’s tool arsenal since they invented the concept decades ago, so I imagine they don’t like the idea of other brands matching their performance. To ensure their reciprocating saw stays on top, they’ve recently released 2 updated saws (available now), one with ONE-KEY and one without.

The new saw will feature several upgrades to improve overall durability and function, including a wear-resistant blade change, anti-corrosion blade clamp, and metal reinforced battery rails. It also delivers 3,000 strokes per minute and a 1-1/4” stroke length.

The release of the new Sawzall also comes with the release of two new blades: The Wrecker with Carbide Teeth and the Torch with Nitrus Carbide. The Wrecker is an all-purpose blade and, paired with carbide, promises much longer life. The Torch with Nitrus Carbide is meant for thick and difficult metals, like black pipe, cast iron, and stainless steel. The wrecker is available now and the Torch with Nitrus Carbide will be released in March 2020.

M18 Top-Off 175W Power Supply

Milwaukee has always had a variety of different power supply adapters for it’s M12 and M18 batteries, but the Top-Off takes that concept to the next level. It features an AC 120V outlet, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port, allowing users to charge up to 3 devices at once.

The M18 Top-Off is available now for $99.

M18 Fuel 14” Abrasive Chop Saw

Estimated Release: 2021

Framing contractors working with steel studs may be excited about the future release of this M18 Fuel 14” Abrasive Chop Saw.  Boasting the same power as a 15A corded model, the saw provides up to 200 cuts in 3-5/8” 20-gauge steel studs on a single 12.0ah battery. 

The saw also features a sub-3 second blade brake, tool free blade change, and tool free blade adjustment.

The 14” Abrasive Chop Saw will be available in 2021 with a price tag of $399.

Lighting Solutions

Milwaukee is, objectively, the undisputed king of cordless jobsite lighting. They offer so many different lighting options for any application, that I’m surprised every time they release another new light. On episode 2, Milwaukee announced the release of a new PACKOUT compatible light/charger, which is available now, but in episode 4, they announced even more new lighting solutions.

M18 Rocket Tower Light/Charger

Release: Available now

Milwaukee released the original version of this versatile light a couple years ago, but the 2nd generation version boasts some impressive updates. Many of the useful features remain the same, including the 3 multi-directional, pivoting heads and the ability to set it up in a few seconds, but the new light also doubles the lumen output versus the original to 6,000.

I’ve had the opportunity to use the new rocket light for the past couple of weeks and it’s been extremely useful.  As it can expand up to 7 feet, it reduces shadows, and its multi-directional heads allow for simultaneous ambient light and task lighting, depending on your needs.

The M18 Rocket Tower Light is available now for $399 bare tool or $599 kitted with an 8.0ah battery.

M18 Rover Dual Power Flood Light (2366-20)

Estimated release: early 2021

For a more portable task lighting option, Milwaukee also announced the M18 Rover Dual Power Floor Light. Delivering 4,000 lumens of output, a pivoting head, 3 floodlight modes, and IP54 rating, and 12 hours of runtime on a XC5.0 battery. The light can also be plugged into a 120V extension cord for unlimited runtime.

The new M18 Rover will retail for $149

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

At Milwaukee’s 2019 New Product Symposium, the company announced their new line of PPE products, including hard hats, safety vests, safety glasses, hearing protection, and a large expansion of their line of work gloves. At this year’s Pipeline, Milwaukee announced even more safety products.

Hard Hats and Accessories

A key differentiator to Milwaukee’s hard hats is their BOLT accessory ports, allowing users to quickly mount things like lights and shields securely to the head protection. The expansion of hard hats maintains those 6 accessory slots, but the company now offers the hard hats in 6t ratcheting versus their previous 4pt ratcheting model, which provides additional impact resistance. Available in both Class C and Class E, the hard hats will be offered in 8 colors: white, gray, black, red, orange, yellow, green and blue.

The company will also offer a type 2 rated helmet with the accessory ports (available in June 2021) and a hard hat lanyard (available now).

Knee Pads

Launching in early 2021, Milwaukee will offer 5 different knee pads; 

• A Free-Flex Knee Pad (48-73-6000) for light weight comfort

• Hard Cap Gel Knee Pad (48-73-6010) for more durability

• Performance Knee Pad (48-73-6030) for maximum comfort

• Non-Marring Knee Pad (48-73-6040) for use on sensitive surfaces

• Stabilizer Performance Knee Pad (48-73-6050) for the most security with maximum comfort.

Safety Vests

• Also launching in early 2021 are 5 new safety vests:

• Class 3 High Visibility Safety Vest (48-73-5148)

• Class 2 High Visibility Mesh Safety Vest (48-73-5111)

• Class 3 High Visibility Mesh Safety Vest (48-73-5131)

• Class 2 Breakaway High Visibility Mesh Safety Vest (48-73-5121 to 48-73-5128)

• Class 2 Surveyor’s High Visibility Safety Vest (48-73-5161 to 48-73-5168)

Additional Safety Items

In addition to the hard hats, knee pads, and safety vests above, Milwaukee is also releasing a variety of different colored and magnified safety glasses, a retractable lanyard, banded ear plugs, and face masks, all launching in early 2021.

Watch Replays of Pipeline Episodes 3 & 4

You can also watch the full version of Episode 3 and 4 of Milwaukee Pipeline below for additional details:

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/17/milwaukee-pipeline-ep-3-and-4-recap-lighting-ppe-and-cutting

Autodesk Construction Cloud Releases 3 New Products: Build, Quantify, & BIM Collaborate

At last year’s Autodesk University (AU), the company’s yearly AEC technology conference, Autodesk announced the release of Autodesk Construction Cloud, which unified their in-house and recently acquired construction software under a single unified platform. Announced today at AU Virtual, Autodesk will be expanding the Construction Cloud to include 3 new products: Build, Quantify, and BIM Collaborate.

“Almost a year ago we introduced Autodesk Construction Cloud, sharing our vision for the most powerful and complete portfolio of construction management products. The new products we announced today represents a huge milestone for connected construction, with Autodesk Build providing an entirely new approach to project management,” said Jim Lynch, vice president and general manager of Autodesk Construction Solutions. “We’re continuing to deliver on our promise of helping builders across the world catalyze their digital transformation and make construction more predictable, safe and sustainable.”

Each of the 3 new products (Build, Quantify, and BIM Collaborate) will also include Autodesk Docs, Insights, and Administration to help users manage data and project administrative tasks.

Autodesk Build

Build will combine many of the existing features on BIM 360 and PlanGrid to provide an all-inclusive project management experience under one roof. The product will include the features you would expect from a project management platform, including cost budgeting, change orders, document storage, issue creation, RFI submission, meeting minutes, photos, and drawings markup.

Mobile access to construction documents is a pillar of PlanGrid’s capabilities and that will continue on Autodesk Build, with the creation of the PlanGrid Build Mobile App. Users on the app will be able to create RFI, track issues, and view/redline drawings.

It’s important to note that current customers of either PlanGrid or BIM360 will not be forced to use Build when it’s released and that Autodesk plans to continue to invest in both of the platforms. The company expects that many customers using those other platforms will be eager to make the switch, however.

Expected release: early 2021

Autodesk Quantify

Quantify will allow users the ability to perform cloud-based 2D and 3D takeoffs within the platform. Items can be counted, measured in length, area, and volume, and highlighted in different colors. The cloud solution will allow multiple team members in different geographical locations to work on their estimate at the same time, increasing transparency and collaboration.

Expected release: early 2021

Autodesk BIM Collaborate

BIM Collaborate will also offer a cloud based solution for accessing, reviewing, and collaborating on 3D models.  Features of the product will include project timeline, aggregated model viewing, change review, clash detection, and issues management.

In addition, Autodesk will also be offering BIM Collaborate Pro, which will offer Revit Cloud Worksharing, Collaboration for Civil 3D, and Collaboration for Plant 3D.

Expected release: early 2021

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/17/autodesk-construction-cloud-releases-3-new-products-build-quantify-amp-bim-collaborate

[VIDEO] Watch 1400 Days of Work Building the NFL’s Largest Stadium in 3 Minutes

via EarthCam // YouTube

While I’ve written a lot about the new Las Vegas Raiders stadium over the past couple of years, that stadium wasn’t the only one to make its NFL debut this season. SoFi Stadium, located in Inglewood, California and the new home to the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers, officially held its ribbon cutting ceremony on September 8 of this year, but, as well all know, it’s not real until the timelapse video is released.

Thankfully, EarthCam has us covered on the full timelapse video, which you can watch below, of the 1400 day construction schedule that started in November of 2016. After the completion of construction, Sofi Stadium became the league’s largest stadium by square footage (3.1 million SF) and also the most expensive stadium of all-time, topping an incredible $5 billion. Seating capacity for an NFL game is 70,000, but can expand up to 100,000 for special events.

The stadium isn’t just big, it hosts some pretty unique features, as well. It boasts a double sided video board, each 70,000 square feet in size, a 2.4 million pound behemoth. The stadium is also roughly 3 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), so the playing field is 100 feet below ground level to help reduce the overall height of the building to allow for flight paths.

The stadium was also designed to be “indoor/outdoor.” While its roof is fixed, the edges are open to the outdoors and the roof contains 60 foot by 60 foot adjustable openings on nice days. Just like the new Raiders stadium, SoFi Stadium’s roof is constructed of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or ETFE, which is a translucent material, allowing fans inside the stadium to see the sky, but also provides shade from the sun.

Check out the full build video, from EarthCam, below:

source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/16/video-watch-1400-days-of-work-building-the-nfls-largest-stadium-in-3-minutes

[VIDEO] Check Out This Excavator Free Fall Down a Huge Underground Access Shaft

Excavators aren’t typically meant to be dropped down to a lower level, but certain circumstances require it sometimes.  The machines are obviously extremely heavy, so a large crane and proper rigging is required for it to happen safely. As a construction firm in Hong Kong, China recently found out, though, it’s a little tougher than it seems.

While attempting to lower an excavator down an access shaft to the location of a highway tunnel currently under construction, the excavator begins to flip and then free falls all the way to the bottom of the shaft.

Based on one camera angle, it appears that the excavator falls for approximately 4 seconds, and, by using a calculation of the standard speed of gravitational acceleration ::pushes up glasses:: we can assume that the shaft was at least 250 feet deep.

Here’s a picture of the aftermath:

Excavator breaks loose from crane, plunges down giant shaft at Hong Kong highway construction site https://t.co/n1WTZZceT8 pic.twitter.com/ENYxmwlrs4

— AsiaOne (@asiaonecom) October 15, 2020

Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident, but someone has some ‘splaining to do.

According to Yahoo, the overall project includes a 4.7 kilometer long, dual three-lane highway and is expected to cost about $5.5 billion. Estimated completion is in 2025.

Enjoy two different angles of the incident, posted to YouTube by Alita Battle Angel, below:

source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/11/video-check-out-this-excavator-free-fall-down-a-huge-underground-access-shaft

Procore Acquires Cloud-Based Estimating and Takeoff Software, Esticom

via Procore

In what has become a growing trend in the construction technology sector, Procore has acquired another company to help grow their platform. Last year, Procore purchased Honest Buildings, a project management software aimed at owners and developers, before creating Procore for Owners.  The company has also acquired ConstructionBI , a data insight app and BIManywhere, a mobile 3D model viewing company which helped them create Procore BIM, in recent years.

This time, Procore is setting its sights on cloud-based estimating and takeoffs, with the acquisition of Esticom, which was announced at Groundbreak 2020. Procore previously offered preconstruction software, specifically in prequalification and bid management. To get an idea of how Esticom currently works, you can check out this 2-minute overview video below:

For specialty and trade contractors, which was a particular focus of Procore at this year’s Groundbreak, Esticom helps companies create professional quotes, while speeding up the estimating and takeoff process. The software can automatically recognize symbols, count items across multiple pages, and makes measuring lengths and area easier, among other features.

Currently, Esticom is available as in integration into Procore via the Procore App Marketplace, but will be fully integrated into the Procore platform in 2021.

“We welcome the Esticom team to Procore,” said Tooey Courtemanche, Procore Founder and CEO. “Procore is investing in the future of preconstruction, an increasingly important and impactful part of the construction process. Together, Procore and Esticom will deliver a single, comprehensive preconstruction solution on the Procore platform, with data connectivity that helps customers track costs and accurately predict estimates.”

Full Story: Procore Acquires Construction Estimating and Takeoff Company Esticom | Procore

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/10/procore-acquires-cloud-based-estimating-and-takeoff-software-esticom

The 10 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Violations in 2020 in Construction

OSHA

Each year, OSHA releases a list of the most commonly cited Federal OSHA standards at the end of their fiscal year, which runs from October of the previous year to September. The list gives a glimpse into what contractors struggle the most with and also what OSHA inspectors focus the most on.

In years past, I shared the top 10 list of violations across all industries, but this year, I was able to find a list of construction-specific standards.

Generally speaking, the list of standards doesn’t have a lot of movement. Duty to have fall protection has been at the top of the list for several years, unsurprisingly. Despite being the leading cause of jobsite injuries and fatalities for a long time, fall protection is still a huge opportunity in the industry. That number is also compounded by the fact that OSHA has more fall related incidents to inspect, leading to more violations. Fall Protection, in total, accounts for 3 of the violations in the top 10.

Falling just outside the top 10 list was the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard (1926.1153) with 288 violations and $538,696 in penalties.

Without further ado, here is the list of the Top 10 most frequently cited OSHA violations in Construction in 2020

1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501)

• 4,134 violations

• $22,313,961 in total penalties

2. Scaffolding (1926.451)   

• 1,714 violations

• $4,912,510 in total penalties

3. Ladders (1926.1053)

• 1,575 violations

• $4,695,884 in total penalties

4. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503)

• 1,231 violations

• $1,991,781 in total penalties

5. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment - Eye and Face Protection (1926.102)

• 1,096 violations

• $3,495,424 in total penalties

6. General Safety and Health Provisions (1926.20)

• 632 violations

• $2,292,974 in total penalties

7. Head Protection (1926.100)

• 578 violations

• $1,593,688 in total penalties

8. Specific Excavation Requirements (1926.651)

• 525 violations

• $2,742,125 in total penalties

9. Aerial Lifts (1926.453)

• 448 violations

• $1,465,467 in total penalties

10. Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices (1926.502)

• 429 violations

• $1,208,248 in total penalties

More information: OSHA Citation Violations for Fiscal Year 2020 | OSHA

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2017/10/2/the-10-most-frequently-cited-osha-violations-2020-construction-osha-1926

[VIDEO] Watch an 85 Year Old, 5 Story Building be Relocated 200 Feet with a ‘Walking Machine’

via YouTube

Usually, when a new development is going to go into a spot where a building already exists, that existing building gets blown into smithereens and its remaining rubble hauled away. BUT, there is apparently a different way to handle the situation now, which is by politely asking the building to walk away and to find a new home – well, kind of.

An 85-year old primary school in Shanghai, China was recently relocated 200 feet away and rotated 21 degrees to make way for a new development on its current home. By attaching 198 mobile supports under the support structure of the 5-story, 7,600 ton school, the building is able to “walk” to its new location.

While there are other ways to move a building, like a rail system or trucks, the building’s unique “T” shape created new challenges that had to be solved using the robotic leg supports. CNN reports that the legs have sensors attached to help control how the build moves. The technology was created by a company called Shanghai Evolution Shift in 2018 and was the school relocation was first time it was used in Shanghai.

Completed on October 15, the entire relocation process took 18 days, a pace of roughly 11 feet per day. The old school building will be turned into a center for heritage protection and cultural education.

Lan Wuji, the chief technical supervisor of the project, told CNN that, while he couldn’t share direct costs of the project, the method is generally cheaper than demolition and building a new structure.

To check out the robotic legs in action, you can watch the video below from the South China Morning Post. Special shout out to my good buddy, Rob, from Belts and Boxes for giving me a heads up about this.

source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/4/video-watch-an-85-year-old-5-story-building-be-relocated-200-feet-with-a-walking-machine

[VIDEO] CAT Creates Gigantic PAC-MAN Game Played with Remote Controlled Skid Steers

courtesy of CAT

CAT is no stranger to finding extremely creative and expensive ways to show off their construction equipment.  In years past, they’ve created a giant Jenga game with 600 pound blocks and the world’s first moving golf course on the backs of their dump trucks. Now, they’re showing off some of their new technology with the release of the biggest PAC-MAN game you’ve ever seen.

Measuring 162.4 feet by 180.4 feet, the PAC-MAN game that CAT created is 19,040% larger than the size of the original arcade game, but instead of a yellow circle PAC-MAN, your character is a CAT 236D3 Remote Controlled Skid Steer Loader, and instead of an animated screen, you’re playing in the dirt.

courtesy of CAT

In total, it took 70 man hours to dig the game board, which amounted to 6,880 yards of cut/fill. A 1% grade was added from side to side for better drainage and the walls were dug to 4 feet deep. Of course, there were even more CAT machine used to build the course, including the CAT 336 Next Gen Excavator and the CAT 323 Excavator.  All of the machines were equipped with Cat Grade 3D to help ensure everyone was using the same plan.

“Cat GRADE with 3D enabled the workers to only handle material one time for digging, loading, hauling and dumping,” explains J. Archie Lyons, creative director, global brand strategy and activation for Caterpillar. “Reducing material handling is just one of the challenges our customers face, and Cat Grade technology greatly enhances jobsite efficiency.”

The five human players represented PAC-MAN and each of the four ghosts and operated the skid steers on the berm next to the course via remote control.

In conjunction with the PAC-MAN release, CAT released 4 videos of the event: A highlight reel of the gameplay, a timelapse video of the course construction, and 2 behind the Scenes videos: one going in-depth on the actual building of the course and the other focusing on the gameplay. I’ll include all 4 below the article, starting with the timelapse of the course build.

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/11/3/video-cat-creates-gigantic-pac-man-game-played-with-remote-controlled-skid-steers