Flooring contractors usually deal with a wide range of materials and tools. If you don’t keep up with the options, you just never know what you could be missing. We’re not saying this is the final word on the top 10 best products for flooring contractors, but it’s definitely a start.

Be Mindful of the Knees

Until your business gets big enough to get you off the floor, your knees are your livelihood. You can struggle by with off-the-shelf kneepads, but for hours at a time they are point-loading the weight right on your kneecaps. Your body is a little bit different from the next person’s, so going the custom route makes good sense. Check out ProKnee to get custom fitted with kneepads that distribute your body weight across the length of the pad, reduce stress on the knee joint, and come with straps that won’t cut off the circulation to your legs.

Knowledge is Power

Before you fully develop skills, you need knowledge. That’s where The National Tile Contractors Association comes in. The organization offers a full range of training opportunities from online to workshops. There are 39 courses alone in the NTCA University’s Online Courses, and besides the basics of tile installation they cover business management topics like customer service, entrepreneurship and safety. There are many other knowledge products rounding out the association’s offerings.

Conquer Those Noses

Running carpeting on stair nosing keeps you standing on your head and wearing out your hands and wrists. But, a simple tool like the stair claw will make the job a lot easier. You hook the gripper teeth into the carpet just above the nosing, push down on the handle and pop in a staple through one of the cut outs on the underside of the tool.

A Powerhouse for Big Tile

Commercial tile jobs are notorious for large format tiles. Not only are they hard to handle, but, they’re also hard to cut. The Rodia 75 Spider has a built-in roller system to make it easier to place and remove tile. It cuts up to 28-inch tile, at thicknesses to 7/8-inch, and does it with 4,400 pounds of breaking power. You can score and break with one hand, and you have full flexibility in where you choose to place, score and cut on the tile surface.

Save Your Back

Although you’d like to avoid it, sometimes there’s no avoiding having to move furniture, boxes and appliances. These 48″ EZ Moves give you a lot of flexibility while making the task easier. They have foam on the top side to prevent slippage, and a slick underside to reduce friction. If you get the optional pull straps, you won’t be disappointed.

Power for Undercutting

For remodel work it takes a few specialized cutting devices to get a trim look on the finished floor. The Crain 812 Super Saw Kit is a workhorse for all those undercutting chores. Whether cutting flush to the floor for vinyl along the walls, or removing an inch from the bottom of a door, this saw has the power and precision you need. You get full inside corner cuts, and it has a vacuum attachment so you can save on cleanup time.

Help With Straight Cuts

Track saws have been around a long time, and besides being one of the best options for cutting sheet goods, track saws come in really handy for making those long cuts on laminates and hardwoods. You can get tracks to match the lengths of material you’re dealing with, and because you can preset the plunge depth on the saw you won’t cut material you don’t have to, or don’t want to. The bonus is accuracy. You’ll have dead-on straight cuts.

Simplify Measuring

If there’s a trade that spends a lot of time dealing with math it’s the flooring trade, And, what feeds the math are measurements. You can simplify that process with a laser measuring device. Turn it on, aim it at the far wall and press a button. It records the distance accurate to 1/16-inch over 100 feet.

Concrete Artistry

An artist lurks inside every flooring contractor, so, why not get artistic and make it pay off. Concrete etching can add a new product to your line while providing a needed artistic outlet. To help out with that, is the latest in the Mongoose lineup. It’s the Mongoose3 decorative concrete engraver. It has 10,000 RPMs, a profile that makes it easy to follow chalk lines, and you can attach a vacuum to it to avoid the dust.

Banish Moisture Issues

If you’ve received the go-ahead to install flooring on a concrete surface that has high moisture, and there’s no way you can delay until conditions are better, you have the option of using a surface-applied treatment. Most are liquids you apply over the concrete. But, a new option from TRAXX comes on a roll, and the manufacturer claims it is the ”first peel and stick moisture barrier of its kind.“ You can install many types of materials on it, and it suppresses water vapor emissions up to 99% R.H.

Do you use a product you can’t do without? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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Of all the trades, painters use tools and materials that seem to stand the test of time. Paint brushes have existed forever, and paint has too. But, that’s not to say there aren’t advances in these tried and true technologies. And, there are also a good number of new products coming out every year. Here’s our current list of the top 10 best products for painting contractors.

It’s All in the Brush

As a pro painter, you pay a premium for the best brushes, and reusing them is the only way to go. However, you often run into a couple of problems with cardboard and plastic covers. Cardboard falls apart from moisture, and plastic traps moisture in. Now, for 2-inch, 2.5-inch, and 3-inch angled brushes you can avoid those problems with the Brushaper. It wicks away moisture, keeps the brush’s shape, and protects the bristles.

Rolled Into One

This new dual roll-off bucket from Purdy has gotten strong reviews from buyers. If you currently use a standard 5-gallon bucket with a separate roll-off grate, you might enjoy the convenience of having everything rolled into one. Having the option to roll-off on either side makes positioning less important, and your cleanup is simpler.

Quick Fix Drywall Holes

Those pesky holes left in drywall by doorknobs, burn up quite a bit of time in not only doing the repairs but also waiting for the repair to cure. But, makers of a product called The Drywall Plug claim to simplify the repair, and make the wall as structurally sound as before the damage. It comes in two sizes, one for small holes like those caused by doorknobs, and another one for any hole up to the size of a soccer ball.

Simplifying Caulk

There are many conditions that come attached to caulks and sealants, and you can spend a lot of time reading labels to determine which one is right for the job. Many times, painting contractors just need to caulk or seal a small area, or blemish, and need a product that covers a wide range of applications. That’s when Sashco’s Lexel might do the trick. Sashco calls it the “duct tape of all caulks” because it is paintable, and it seals and sticks to nearly any surface. It works on wet or dry surfaces, interior or exterior, and even in places where movement is a problem.

Caulking Easier

Allway’s 3-In-1 Caulk Tool promises to make removing and installing caulk more predictable. You rotate a silicone triangle to get three different sizes of bead smoother, especially useful for those of you who have trouble applying caulk directly from the tube. It also includes a stainless steel caulk removal blade, and a cushioned grip.

The Power of Illumination

Typical work lights come with glare and shadows, two things that make painting difficult. Now, a company called Powermoon has taken balloon lights to the professional level. These light-diffusing balloon lights reduce shadows, eliminate blind spots, and deliver a smooth light all around. The lights are also very durable and made of Kevlar, LED, and steel.

When Spraying is the Answer

When you have enough business, and you need a spray rig that can push a wide variety of materials through a wide variety of nozzles, then the Graco GH 130 could be your answer. Add in the ability to quickly swap the gasoline powered motor for an electric one, and you’ve got a ton of painting flexibility.

Simplify Safety

The only way to paint is to paint safely, and Western Safety simplifies that. The company offers painting safety kits based on the type of material you’re working with. You can call them to get the correct respirators, filters, and other safety supplies included in your kit. Boots, gloves, Tyvek suits, goggles, and breathing protection come in the basic kit.

Getting Higher, Safely

With everyone going for high ceilings these days, and crown moldings to boot, traditional step ladders don’t provide the freedom of movement you’d like. Werner now offers a series of podium ladders that give you a full range of motion at heights, something that’s not been safely possible using standard step ladders. You can get them with the platforms set at the height where you most often have the greatest need.

Picture It

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, or more. If you’ve added profitable faux finish offerings to your line, then you know it’s sometimes difficult to explain what the final product will look like, especially within the lighting of the space it’s planned for. One idea is to make a sample to present to the customer. Making the sample also gives you a chance to practice with your technique. Mighty Boards make a good presentation medium. They’re 18×24 inches, accept most coatings, are tougher than foam core or poster board, and they feature a bright white matte surface.

Do you use a product you can’t do without? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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Concrete products are always evolving, so this list is a snapshot-in-time of what we think are the top 10 best products for concrete contractors. No matter what type of concrete work you do, there’s something here that can improve project outcomes, help with safety, or save you time and money.

Technical Information

The American Society of Concrete Contractors has pages of technical publications for sale that can help you stay up-to-date on the trade. From checklists for ordering concrete, to training DVDs, to quality control guides, you’re bound to find valuable information that’s well vetted.

Cracked Concrete Anchors that Meet the New Code

In many jurisdictions concrete anchors now have to meet new requirements if conditions exist that might crack the concrete. In the right circumstance, you can use these high-strength screw anchors to do the job more quickly and easily.

Bucket Crushers

These handy recyclers are now available for skid steer loaders so you can easily demo and recycle in small, difficult spaces like those often found in the urban environment. Or, if you’re using a mobile batch plant you can create aggregate right on site when the material is available there.

Improve Concrete Workability and its Environmental Footprint

Pumping, placing and finishing low-viscosity concrete comes with its own set of challenges, but the people who make this product, Master Ease, claim it can make all the difference. It reduces the pressure required to pump, makes it easier to place and finish, and, it means the mix can have a lower CO2 footprint.

Backsaver Hammer Drill Attachment

You do most of your concrete dowel drilling down low, where you have to bend, stoop, and kneel. That’s hard on your back and knees. This ingenious attachment lets you stand up while drilling, and it increases your leverage without requiring more energy.

Tigerloc

The makers of this product claim it can cut your cost of installing insulated concrete panels while improving the building’s thermal envelope. You won’t have to buy custom insulation, or cut standard insulation for fitting around openings. A variety of sizes ensure a custom fit on most jobs.

Induroshine

Leaving the concrete as the finished floor is widely popular these days in the commercial construction sector. But, that means the concrete has to really shine and have few blemishes. To get a really professional finish, you can hire approved applicators to grind and polish the concrete using this product as part of the process.

Eliminate the Dust

You’re always dealing with dust control, and many concrete contractors use water during concrete grinding and sawing. But that leaves a mess to clean up. Another option is using specially designed saws and grinders that hook to powerful vacuums.

Add Some Vibration

When you’re dealing with low slump you’re hoping for less shrink and more strength, but that comes at the cost of workability. So, you add surface water but then you’re compromising the mix. The makers of Rattle Stick suggest you use vibration by adding this product to the handles of floats, jointers, edgers and screeds.

Mini-Skid Steer Loader

The next time you’re doing interior demo and concrete repairs, cut labor costs with a mini-skid steer loader. This electric one has attachments like a hydraulic hammer, grapple bucket, hydraulic dumping hopper, and a rolling sweeper. It runs 8-9 hours on a single charge, and at a little over 30-inches wide, it easily travels through standard doorways and on elevators.

Do you use a product you can’t do without? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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Any roofing contractor faces a minefield of challenges everyday. But, our top 10 tips for roofing contractors can help you avoid or mitigate many of them.

Tend to Sales Basics

Every new day is a new opportunity to reinvigorate sales. Keep your website and sales materials up-to-date, and make sure phone calls get answered quickly. Put special emphasis on optimizing your website for local search.

Know Your Ideal Customer

You can waste a lot of time and energy trying to be a roofer for all people, and for all types of projects. Instead, focus your sales and operations where you have the best success. Find that out by carefully analyzing projects over time and rating them on a simple number scale. Rate them based on criteria like profitability, how well they matched your company’s expertise, and how well you met the project goals.

Manage Change Effectively

The only thing that’s for sure is that everything will change, often by the moment. If you’re smart, you’ll find opportunities in change by looking beyond the obvious pain points. Just consider the typical construction business cycle with its well documented ups and downs. You might get tempted to reduce sales or staff at the beginning of a downturn. However, when you do that, you end up limiting the sizes and types of projects you can take on. So when deciding how to respond to change, consider your previous responses and then maybe, change it up.

Stay Up-to-date on Everything About Roofing

If you want to offer your customers the best roofing solutions for their needs, then you need to know the materials and processes at your disposal. New research on roofing provides valuable information you can use to improve project outcomes. Stay up-to-date by following roofing publications and roofing associations.

Have Legal Counsel

Construction is a risk management business, and roofers get risks passed through to them by other project participants. Get competent legal counsel on your side. Build the costs into your overhead so that every contract gets the scrutiny it needs to minimize the risk you have to carry.

Deeply Qualify Your Subs and Suppliers

You can remove many headaches when you take the time to work with professionals. But since every sub will claim they’re the best, you need to dig deeply to find out if it’s true. Talk to others they’ve worked with, ask for financials, and check other available records like the Better Business Bureau, banks, and court records. Check up on your suppliers too. Can they deliver what you need, when you need it, and at the quality you require? And, can they do it consistently?

Take Care of Your Employees

Make safety the top priority, and make sure people are covered for life’s unexpected events. But also, tend to their career growth needs. Find out from them what they aspire to, and help them map their progression. Don’t overlook training, or your workforce will eventually become obsolete.

Make Quality Control Immediate

Put an expert on the roof to approve, or direct a redo of any critical installations like skylights, flashings, chimneys, and all penetrations. Identify other operations where you can’t afford to go back and redo something once work has moved on. Add those to your list of immediate quality control items.

Develop New Revenue Streams

A good place for you to start is with roof maintenance. For many installations, regular maintenance extends the roof’s life. Your maintenance activities become a profit center while saving the client money in the long term.

Improve Your Estimating

By one account, 90% of roofers underbid jobs. That’s because they rely on a price per square, which is really only an averaging exercise. Per square prices might make it easy to hit a competitive number, but your overhead costs are not the same as your competitors’ overhead costs. Your price per square needs to include your unique overhead costs.

Do you have some tips for roofers? Share them with us by leaving a comment!

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The Internet has many sources of information for construction in general, but if you’re a specialty contractor, you know it takes some serious searching to find the kind of niche information you need. So, we searched the web for you to come up with our list of the top 10 best websites for drywall contractors. These sites aren’t in any particular order, but they have at least two things in common. They are updated regularly, and they have information of particular interest to drywall contractors.

	Drywall forum on Contractor Talk This is a busy forum with lots of threads directly related to the drywall trade. There is a good mix of posters so it’s not overloaded with DIY looking for how-to information. Some recent popular threads included methods for getting square inside corners, pros and cons of lightweight rock, discussion on 20-minute mud, and putting a curve in drywall.

Drywall Talk This is a sister site to Contractor Talk and is geared to the professional drywall contractor. As such, you’ll find a lot of information beyond just what’s in the forums. It includes product reviews, blogs, a place to track and share projects, and business discussions. The two forums are Drywall Finishing, and Drywall Tools, Supplies and Equipment. Recent threads questioned three coats, the difference in tapers between the U.S. and Europe, and a discussion about nailspotters.

	Walls & Ceilings Online From its blogs and magazine, to its products showcase, this site is a comprehensive source of information for drywall contractors. Its magazine features interesting projects, while the rest of the site offers tips on managing your business.

	Interior Finishes at Building Design & Construction Here, you can get news and information about trends, tools, and the construction economy. You’ll also find many case studies that illustrate how contractors have pushed the limits on finishes in buildings across the globe.

	Builder Online This site has a comprehensive offering of construction news along with a library, learning resources, blogs, and newsletters. It offers much for keeping up on the construction industry in general.

Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. This association of commercial contractors claims 21,000 members and represents all specialties in the U.S. construction industry. The website’s News and Media page provides economic and general construction news. You can also attend free webinars on topics about AIA documents, safety, risk management, indoor air quality, and more. There are sections on construction careers, education, and workforce development. Joining the association opens up access to much more.

	The Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries Australia and New Zealand This site caters to its members, but the “On the Surface” magazine is accessible to the general public and has news and views on a wide range of topics of interest to drywall contractors. The parent site is the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry where you can read its “Construction Dimensions” magazine, monthly.

	National Association of Homebuilders Keeping the pulse of the residential building sector, this website offers, news, analysis, and data to help you understand trends and factors affecting homebuilding.

Gypsum Association This nonprofit trade association represents U.S. gypsum manufacturers and has a lot to offer drywall contractors. Although you have to buy the technical manuals and publications, there are other publications, a newsletter, and articles available for free. The association recently offered guidance on abuse-resistant and impact-resistant panel products. You can also take free courses like the one on common finishing terms, basic materials used in finishing, maintaining the right finishing environment, and understanding the differences among the various finishing levels.

Drywall Contractor Business A good starting point for gathering information and getting guidelines on writing or updating your business plan. Also includes segments on getting financing, market analysis, web strategy, managing your business, saving money, places to get grants in the European Union, and much more. This site also includes many “jumping off” links with more detail on the topics. Here’s a version of this website for the North American market.

Bonus sites!

Two other bonus sites in this list are the Drywall Finishing Contractors, and Interior Finish Contractors Association.

Are you in the drywall trade? Leave a comment and share some of your favorite sites!

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