Did You Know? Interesting Construction Facts

The construction industry has been around for a long time, and makes for some really strange, fun, and interesting facts. From massive skyscrapers that pierce the clouds to incredible technology discoveries and inventions, the industry wows every single day. Here are 10 facts about the construction industry that you probably don’t know—but definitely should.

1. CONCRETE IS THE MOST USED MATERIAL . In terms of volume, concrete gets used the most in the world— and actually dates back to Ancient Egypt! Unfortunately, it has also been known as one of the most environmentally unfriendly. However, that’s been changing thanks to great innovations that have reduced their gas emissions and permeable rendition. There’s also now pollutionabsorbing cement.

2. THE FAMOUS “LUNCH ATOP A SKYSCRAPER”

PICTURE IS REAL. There was some debate about this picture from 1932, showing eleven men eating lunch on a beam from the GE Building. One of the big reasons for the controversy is that the photographer wasn’t identified until 2003. The picture—which was originally used for a commercial poster—became a famous icon and had been recreated with well-known actors in the late 20th century. It turns out that the original picture incredibly had no alterations or darkroom tricks made to it

3. WOMEN EARN ALMOST AS MUCH AS MEN!

Although there’s only about 9% of workers in the US construction industry that are women, they do earn closer to what men earn, on average.

4. THE AVERAGE AGE OF A CONSTRUCTION WORKER TODAY IS 42 YEARS OLD. This is one year older than the average age of a worker in the general labor force. The ongoing shortage of construction workers and an aging workforce have contributed to the increase in the median age of construction workers.

5. COUNT THE NAILS. When building an average-size house—about 1,200 square-feet—there are about 12,000 nails used.

6. THE WORLD’S SMALLEST SKYSCRAPER WAS A CON. Back in 1919, a contractor named JD McMahon raised $200,000 from investors to build a skyscraper in Wichita Falls, Texas. But apparently, he never verbally stated the planned height of the building. Although the blueprints showed 480” (inches), his investors apparently never caught on, and thought they were getting a tall 480 foot—not 40 foot—skyscraper.

7. DRONE USE HAS INCREASED. As technology has improved over time, construction methods have improved as well. For instance, drone use on construction sites has grown over 239 percent in the past year, the most of any industry. Why? The aerial maneuverability of drones and the ability to record videos and take photos have streamlined and improved the construction project.

8. MOST FATALITIES OCCUR BECAUSE OF A FALL. It’s no surprise that training for safety is crucial. As the demand for craftsmen has gone up, so has the injury rate. Falls are by far the biggest risk, and result in death four more times more than other fatal incidents.

9. WORLD WAR II ENCOURAGED WOMEN TO ENTER THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. During World War II, thousands of women worked construction jobs— between 1940 and 1945, the female labor force grew by 50 percent. After the war ended, up to 85 percent of women wanted to keep their jobs, effectively paving the way for women in the construction labor force.

10. YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE LESS INTERESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. According to U.S. Census data, the number of workers aged 24 years or younger entering the construction industry decreased by 30% between 2005 and 2016. They have misconceptions— like that the construction industry is somehow unstable or you can’t earn a lot of money compared to collegeeducated careers. With cities across the country hiring for construction jobs, there’s never been a better time to start a new career in construction.

BY ELIZABETH BEARD DEAL

One of Benjamin Franklin’s famous sayings was, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Yes, home maintenance means adding more chores to your list. But deferring maintenance is likely to be time consuming and costly. Performing home maintenance tasks can prevent larger problems or deterioration, extend the life and value of the property, and create a safe and comfortable place to live.

To make home maintenance less painful, include home maintenance costs in your monthly budget or set aside funds in your emergency savings account for unexpected repairs. You can identify potential issues around the home when you engage in ongoing inspections of your property.

Here are some ideas for keeping up with home maintenance:

Check the inside of your home for cracks, stains, or damage on your walls, ceilings, or floors. Follow recommended maintenance schedules for appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, and stoves. Clean and check fireplaces and chimneys. Install proper insulation and weatherstripping for energy efficiency.

Check the exterior of your home for cracks, leaks, or damage to the roof, brick, siding, gutters, downspouts, windows, doors, driveways, walkways, fences, foundation, and the overall structure.

Pest control is important to the maintenance of a home, keeping unwanted pests or creatures away from the home to prevent health problems to people or damage to the home and property. It’s a good idea to inspect areas inside and outside the home, install or repair screens and seal cracks and other potential places of entry. You can use insecticides, traps, baits, or call in professional pest control services.

Maintaining the trees in your yard is good for the health of the tree and helps prevent any safety issues. Pruning, mulching, fertilizing, and watering are all important parts of caring for trees, depending on type, age, and size of tree. Inspections help identify pest problems or disease. Consult a certified arborist to inspect and report on the health of your trees. A certified arborist focuses primarily on the longterm health and maintenance of trees, but also removes trees. An arborist can help you determine if a tree can be saved. A tree removal specialist primarily focuses on the safe and efficient removal of trees.

Maintain the lawn area by trimming trees and shrubs, cutting grass, cleaning out gutters, addressing any drainage issues, and inspecting the irrigation system.

Stay on top of safety measures. Some examples are installing, checking, repairing, or replacing smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, alarm systems, door and window locks, first aid kits, indoor and outdoor lighting, stairs, thresholds, and railings.

Regular cleaning and organizing the home can help with air quality by removing dust and allergens and keep furnishings and floorings in top condition.

Maintaining the plumbing in your home is essential for preventing issues, avoiding expensive repairs, and keeping the system in good operating condition. Consider hiring a professional plumber for periodic plumbing inspections. This typically includes ensuring proper water pressure, checking for leaks in pipes, fixtures, or appliances, checking water heaters, cleaning drains, and inspecting backflow prevention devices and shut-off valves, cleanouts, and access panels for accessing plumbing components. Don’t mess with electricity! Call in a professional electrician to inspect your home’s electrical systems to keep your home safe or fix any issues. They can check for faulty wiring or loose connections, test outlets, replace worn out parts, and ensure proper grounding.

Keeping your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system properly maintained helps it run efficiently and save energy. Having it serviced once a year by a professional is recommended. Tasks may include cleaning or changing out filters, cleaning vents and ducts, checking thermostats, inspecting, and cleaning outdoor units and servicing the furnace.

Keep Up With Home Maintenance

• Create a checklist so all areas and systems are reviewed.

• Schedule your review of items on the checklist. Some areas may need to be reviewed more often than others.

• Identify and address issues promptly.

• Hire a professional when needed for repairs or replacements.

• Keep receipts, records, and warranties for any work done.