Austin Construction News December 2018

Covering the Industry’s News

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CONSTRUCTION

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The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net H (210) 308-5800 H Volume 15 H Number 12 H DECEMBER 2018

Slab-solutley

Twist and weld

Inside the truck is Bruecher Foundation Services Inc. owner William Howie Bruecher alongside his son William H. Bruecher IV.

L-R: Matt Rudolph, Jeremy Kullhem, and Troy Lemon, owner of Twisted Metals Welding & Fabrication.

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e uses hydraulically driven piles, but William Howie Bruecher has been using his expertise in foundation repair for 29 years. Bruecher originally started in the landscape and irrigation industry in 1985 and remembers the economy going to “hell in a handbag” in the late ‘80s. “There was not a lot of work for most of the contractors around here,” said Bruecher.

Bruecher found himself traveling to the east coast to help his friend with a job at Daytona Beach. Bruecher grew up with that same friend in Houston. As the dots continued to connect, his friend then fell into a franchise out of Houston. Bruecher found an opportunity as well when he was approached to pur-

chase one of these franchises.

“I was the first one in Austin to hydraulically drive in concrete piles in the ground underneath concrete slab houses,” said Bruecher. He had a new method to expose to the Austin market and incorporated Bruecher Foundation Services Inc. in 1989.

Bruecher Foundation Services offers foundation repair, pier and beam and concrete slab for residential and commercial clients. The business also offers drainage and small retaining wall services. Since the Austin-based company has brought forth the new method, Bruecher says hydraulically driven piles have become more the norm than other foundation repair continued on Page 16

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eople notice a difference when they come to Austin. Call it a vibe, atmosphere, culture, whatever - it just feels different in Austin.

Which makes it a perfect place for Troy Lemon, owner of Twisted Metals & Fabrication. Lemon will weld and make anything you pay him to do, but he likes turning loose his designing and artistic skills to produce unique pieces.

Lemon has always liked working with his hands. He started welding back in high school. He pretty much “mastered in shop class.” When he was 16, Lemon worked for an automotive shop. When he went to Austin Community College (ACC), he took all the welding classes he could, as well as art and blacksmithing classes.

This is where he “really found out that was the direction I wanted to go,” he said.

“I wanted to be more creative.”

Lemon originally started Twisted Metals back during the rough period of 2010. Unable to keep it going, he found work with Steel House Manufacturing until 2015, when, “pretty much on a wing and a prayer,” he said, “I thought it was time to go full time in my own business.”

With nothing lined up and working out of his garage, Twisted Metals became his full time baby.

On Day 1, it was just Lemon. But he’s grown the company and hired on, as well as trained his folks in his welding trade.

One employee used to be a carpenter continued on Page 16

Retirement villa addition

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hen Buckner Retirement Services Inc. was looking to construct phase two of the Buckner Villas, they wanted a general contractor with extensive experience in the construction of senior living projects.

Founded in 1968 by Luther Hill, Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors were more than qualified for this project. With offices in Austin, Lubbock and Dallas/ Fort Worth and an employee base of 300, Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors and their 50 years of extensive experience in automotive, aviation, critical care facilities, food and beverage, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, K-12 education, manufacturing, multi-family, municipal, office, parking garage, performing arts, religious facilities, retail, science and technology, senior living, sports and recreation, and warehouse and distribution made choosing Hill & Wilkinson a logical choice.

Phase 2 of Buckner Villas known as Greenridge West

Buckner Villas Phase Two is a new 69-unit, five-story addition to an existing independent living facility totaling 130,000-sf. Hill & Wilkinson also renovated 15,000sf of the existing public space in the existing facility throughout the project.

Concrete podium deck and wood framing were the primary construction materials used on the project. Spanish style architecture with a stucco façade and clay tile roof completed the look of the Villas. Interior finishes included multiple high end fixtures, including a fully landscaped podium deck courtyard, large conference and meeting area, highend custom millwork accented with hand-made and ceramic tile.

The existing building transformer was located within the new building footprint. To start the project, Hill & Wilkinson had to closely coordinate with continued on Page 16

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S

an Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said it best when describing the legacy of HOLT CAT by saying it “started back when horsepower was measured by actual horses.” Truer words could not have been spoken about the five-generation legacy Benjamin Holt started with the design and manufacture of the first continuous tracks for use in tractors, paving the way for heavy agricultural and construction machinery for years to come. Holt’s invention forever changed the world as the use of horse drawn power applications became a thing of the past.

On Oct. 26, HOLT CAT CEO Peter J. Holt and President and Chief Administrative Officer Corinna Holt Richter welcomed several distinguished guests, friends and media at the beginning of the 85th anniversary celebration. The event took place at the new state-of-theart HOLT CAT headquarters with opening remarks by Richter.

“We’re celebrating a number of milestones today. The biggest one is our organization’s 85 years in business. This weekend we will celebrate with a few thousand of our employees and their families to mark our history and impact in industrial innovation. We’re also celebrating our legacy as the largest Caterpillar

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orge Gallegos had mechanical know-how, but spent his days toiling on car repairs. His wife, Ana, had a degree in graphic design, but was too busy raising four kids under age 4 to work full-time in her in the field. It wasn’t long before the couple decided they needed to work together to change their path.

“After a while, I thought working on cars wasn’t fulfilling anymore,” Jorge says.

“I was doing a job that I liked but one that didn’t necessarily help me grow. Plus, I was really open for my wife to fulfill her love for graphic design. We thought about working together, so we bought a machine and used my mechanical skills and creative skills along with hers to create something. That’s how we started custom sign company Flash Point Steel in May 2016 out of our residence.”

While it was a big step, the couple had strong examples to follow.

“Our parents were entrepreneurs; her parents had a printing press and my mom had a bakery. If our parents did it, why couldn’t we?” Jorge says. “It is scary when you leave a job where you have a

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

HOLT turns 85

L-R: Phil Kelliher, Corinna Holt Richter and Peter J. Holt dealer in the United States. “We are honored to represent an iconic brand like Caterpillar. It’s really our people who make HOLT who it is and why our customers choose us. We will have an antique tractor show on our campus showcasing many of the products that our ancestor Benjamin Holt developed that forever changed industry worldwide and of course, we are celebrating are newly expanded corporate headquarters building which houses 250 of our 800 San Antonio

employees.

“It’s 80,000sf and has state-of-the-art conference and training rooms, collaborative workspaces, employee gym, outdoor walking trail and cafeteria. We are very proud of it.

“My brother, Peter and I, feel a great responsibility to ensure that our 2,700 employees have the resources they need to support our thousands of customers across the state. As the next chapter of history for Holt unfolds, we are proud of

Cut out for change

Jorge and Ana Gallegos, owners of Flash Point Steel

where we have been and excited to share the future with you,” says Richter.

The celebration continued as Holt greeted Mayor Ron Nirenberg; District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran; South Central Texas Regional Director for Senator Ted Cruz, Javier Salinas; Southside Chamber President Al Arreola, Jr. and Caterpillar Vice President Americas & European Distribution Services Phil Kelliher as they all presented the Holt family with commemorative gifts in honor of HOLT CAT’s 85th anniversary.

The party didn’t stop there. On day two of the 85th anniversary celebration, more than 2,000 HOLT CAT employees and their families from across the state of Texas gathered at the HOLT CAT headquarters for a true day of celebration. The employees and their families were treated to some of the best foods, activities and entertainment. In addition, they were able to enjoy the antique tractor show being held on the HOLT grounds which included a parade and live machine demonstrations.

The all day event provided plenty of activities for all including games for kids of all ages. There was rock climbing walls, moon bounces, a giant hamster ball race track, bungee joust, face painting, petting zoo, pony and horse rides and much more. No child could complain they had nothing to do. Even the adults had plenty to keep them occupied.

The progression of where HOLT is now and for their future, both in their new facility and the technology that is in all of their new equipment is “just a wonderful balance between the foundational legacy of where we are coming from and the innovative future that we going towards,” HOLT CAT CEO Peter J. Holt stated during the company’s 85th anniversary celebration.

HOLT CAT, the largest dealer of Caterpillar equipment headquartered in San Antonio, TX. –cmw

set paycheck and you know you’ll go into debt, but you had better lose that fear and take that step. When we first started the business, we did vinyl decals and sold little decals on eBay for a couple of years.

From there, we knew we could turn that into metal and not just vinyl. I taught myself how to weld and work with wood.

Then we just mixed it all together and started making signs. It’s really paying off now.”

It’s paying off so well that the couple is backed up with three weeks worth of work. Before they can hire the employees they desperately need, however, they need to secure more workspace.

“Our first goal is to move out of our house and get a shop, do some of our own powder coating and expand from there,” Jorge says. “We do plasma cutting now, but once we have bigger machinery, we can start fabricating furniture and get into laser and water jet. We plan to do that next year and from there we’ll keep growing.”

Custom plasma cut sign company Flash Point Steel is in Round Rock. –mjm

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

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Entrepreneur satisfaction

Going with the grain

L-R: East Austin Carpentry owner Chris Lambert and production manager David Wilkerson

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ho doesn’t want to do something for themselves, whether it is a onehour massage, a ten-day cruise or investing in their futures? Matthew and Pamela Counts sure did and they did it in a big way: In 2006, the couple decided they were ready to start their own business.

Having both been in the corporate world riding the perpetual rollercoaster of layoffs, limited advancement and lack of true stability, Matthew had had enough. He asked his wife, “Pam, I have an idea and if you can put your trust and confidence in me, I’ll go out there and start this company.” And so he did. Together they started Longhorn Fire & Safety and never looked back.

But starting a company was no easy task according to Matthew.

“I think starting a company is probably one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. Lots of hard work,” he says. “When we first started this company it was just [us]. I would go out and pound the pavement, knocking on doors everyday. I just walked from business to business asking them if they needed help

with their fire extinguisher inspections.

We did that for at least three years consistently, 8am to 5pm, with me going out pounding the pavement trying to get new accounts. Pam would come home after working an eight-hour day and put in another couple of hours doing all the necessary paperwork of accounts payables, receivables, etc. It took a while and it was tough. Money was tight, numbers were tight, but I am so thankful and happy we did it. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Today, Longhorn Fire & Safety has seven full-time employees and one parttime employee. They serve clients from Waco to San Antonio with plans to open a satellite office in San Antonio within the next year or two.

“There is a great deal of satisfaction with the machine of it all. [I enjoy] creating the situation where people have solid jobs, getting the calls, filling the orders, getting out there and getting it done, making our customers happy. “

Longhorn Fire & Safety is a full-service fire extinguisher supplier and service company in Austin. -cmw

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arpentry has taken Chris Lambert all the way from New Mexico to Massachusetts to Texas. The owner of East Austin Carpenters began working in construction at 16 years old, and it has always given him a home base.

“My mother died when I was 13, and my father was a traveling musician,” Lambert says. “A friend of my mother’s took me in and I started working with him as his helper doing remodeling. I worked my way up, got more tools and more experiences. When I left, I went to Santa Fe, NM where I was a laborer and just kept on learning more. Eventually, I started learning more carpentry work.”

In 2009, Lambert made his way to Massachusetts, where Lambert used his skills in a different way.

“I worked on violins for about five years,” he says. “I had a friend who was making cellos and had a little shop set up. I got into playing the viola and so it sparked an interest in me to learn that. I was involved in that trade for about five years and then decided I wanted to go back into construction; musicians don’t

have a lot of money and there are not as many opportunities as construction.”

Lambert got his business license in 2012, left Boston and moved to Austin in 2015.

“My father was actually down here at the time and I wanted to connect with him,” Lambert says. “I also wanted to get out of Boston because it was the coldest winter on record since I had been there!”

Since then he has been growing his business in the Lone Star State.

“One thing that I’m trying to work out is a monthly handyman service,” he says. “I’m also getting into new builds and learning the real estate side of things.

We’re also working on learning to do the insurance restoration process.”

“I enjoy learning and being active,” he continues. “It’s not monotonous where I’m stuck somewhere. That’s a big reason I run the business. I don’t want to be a gear in a machine; I would get stagnant. Once I feel like I know what I’m doing, I want to be doing something else.”

Austin subcontractor East Austin Carpenters specializes in remodeling. –mjm

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

life where I met my partner, Stephanie.

Julian Sanchez Partner Castle Flooring LLC Austin, TX

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ince he was a teenager, Julian Sanchez knew he would own his own business. He put in the work to prepare for it as well, learning the industry from as many angles as he could, listening and observing other people who did their work well. In his 21 years as partner at Castle Flooring LLC, he has used his know-how to help make more than 10,000 customers’ visions come to life.

Share a little about your background.

I am first generation from Mexico. Even though I was born in Chicago, my parents raised me in Mexico the first 10 years.

After college, I decided to join the Marines and have the privilege of being a Gulf War veteran. However, it is in civilian

What motivated you to launch your own flooring business?

Naively, I remember at age 13 telling my mother I was going to own a business.

In preparation I did work at the big box stores just to understand the field and what I was getting into. I became an estimator, a manufacturer’s rep, did flooring sales, all with the intent of starting a business.

In 1997, three years later, with Stephanie’s support and valuable advice, we started our flooring business. At the time, she was a mortgage underwriter auditing branches, but within two years, she joined me full-time.

Were you in any way nervous about starting your own business?

No; it was preplanned. One of the things I did was purposeful; I didn’t have much debt, but I got rid of all of it and started a little savings. Then I went and got specialized training through the big box stores and vendors. I don’t remember being nervous at all because I had a defined target, as much as it could be defined.

What attracted you to the flooring industry?

I have an analytical mind, and when I look at businesses, I always look at how they are structured, what is involved, and how capital-intensive they are. I felt that flooring was one that could be swayed but didn’t require a large amount of capital to get started. I was right in that sense because you could utilize good quality subcontractors or employees but you have the option of both.

We didn’t necessarily have to inventory things, so that was a big head start. We did have to eventually get a physical location to add value, but it wasn’t necessary. In fact, the first few years, I operated the business out of my garage. I would take flooring samples to my customers. It came to the point where I couldn’t carry enough samples and it wasn’t efficient, so eventually we moved into our original location on South Lamar.

What lessons have stuck with you in your 21 years of business?

There are a lot of flooring stores out there. What I think sets us apart is our insistence on delivering value. Value can start from the point of a customer walking into a clean environment. Is the company organized? Does it have specialized knowledge? Do they follow through? When I look at value, I look at it as a point system. How many points can I acquire before I even make the sale or even after the sale? The value is the full enchilada, the whole experience. We want to know the clients’ names, and we want to offer them water, anything that would make a customer’s experience more pleasant, and memorable for the client.

Are we perfect? No, but we’re very mindful that clients can go somewhere else to shop and perhaps have a better experience. We just want it be our experience because clients are willing to come into our environment. We want to give them our best. It comes back to simplicity; how would I want to be treated if the shoe was on the other foot?

Who has inspired you?

While I strive to learn from all experiences and people, Brad, who has been an installer for 35 years, was kind enough to share his wisdom. He is a perfectionist at what he does and that is one main reason why he would always have work. I would go out and work with him just so I could understand what his thinking process was and the tricks to what he was doing. I wanted to be better at what I was doing on the selling side. I would consider Brad a mentor from the installation aspect but also just as a kind human being because he would not put limitations on how much he would give.

If the job called for two days and it took him four days, he wouldn’t charge an extra two days. He always wanted to deliver his best.

What do you love about your work?

We have an immediate impact on a client’s space, an instant gratification.

Within a short period of time, we transform a space that gives a person joy.

We do believe a person’s environment contributes to happiness in life, and we’re a part of that. We love the design aspect and the creativity aspects, too. Along the way, we’ve managed to help more than 10,000 clients.

How do you connect with your employees?

We always lead by example. If it comes to the point where I need to get involved in installation, I will do so and that is an important aspect to what I do. It allows me to transfer how much I value their service, because they realize there’s an owner who is willing to get down on his knees. I don’t think that I’m above them, and while they understand that I’m an owner, I still transfer our values and commitment in that small manner. That’s something I learned from the Marines:

Share a bit about your family.

We’re very family-oriented; our siblings live close in proximity and enjoy gatherings with cooking and card games.

Stephanie does fuse glass; she’s an artist and that’s her outlet for more creativity.

My son, Ian, who is 14, has grown up with the flooring business, and he understands the nuts and bolts of it. He wouldn’t hesitate to shake your hand with a firm grip and ask you if you would like something to drink. He’s not shy at all.

What interests do you have outside of work?

I like architectural photography, reading and drawing. Like most people, we like to travel. We always pick a place where we get inspired. We do close the business when we leave for vacation, but our door sign reads, “Closed … Going to find more inspiration.” Our last vacation was two months ago to Santa Fe, and then prior to that, it was Maui.

What are your plans for the future of the business?

We often talk to Ian about whether he would like to continue the business.

For now, he would like to focus on his guitar and schooling. He has mentioned engineering as one of his options.

At the very least, we will transfer the business to, hopefully, another couple that has an ambition to offer the same or greater value to our clients. It is a worthy career that has been both financially but personally rewarding. We don’t want that to go to waste.

Castle Flooring LLC in Austin offers carpet, tile and wood flooring products and installation. –mjm

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Austin

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buddy Doebbler Editorial/Production . . . . . . Reesa Doebbler Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Wiatrek Production Manager . . . . Helen Greenwood Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terri Adams Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Dana Calonge Editors

Carol Wiatrek Lexie Velasquez

We are a big family, and I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine.

Daniel Zulli Reesa Doebbler

Contributing Editors

Melissa Jones-Meyer Ann Keil Jesse Abercrombie Austin Area Counties Travis, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, Blanco, Caldwell and Williamson counties Construction News Ltd. Home Office P.O. Box 791290 • San Antonio, Tx 78279 210-308-5800 Fax 210-308-5960 www.ConstructionNews.net

AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net HoustonEditor@ConstructionNews.net

Visit our Website to sign up for a free monthly Digital Subscription www.ConstructionNews.net The Austin Construction News (ISSN 15477630) is published monthly by Construction News LTD., dba Austin Construction News, and distributed by mail to constructionrelated companies of record in Austin and surrounding counties.

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Construction News, Ltd., dba Austin Construction News, will not be liable for errors in copy or in advertisements beyond the actual cost of space occupied by the error.

Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement at any time. ©2018 Construction News, Ltd.

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

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If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to 1963 to Dallas to see who shot JFK. Jeff Hernandez Rock Solid Paving & Concrete I would probably want to go back to Italy when [strings instrument crafter Antonio] Stadivari was making instruments in Cremona, so I could work his workshop.”

Chris Lambert East Austin Carpenters

world into what it is in a good way. To see first hand how they worked and how they did things.

Shivam Desai CRS Marble & Granite

If I could have gotten in on the gold rush, I wouldn’t have to work as hard on the roof. I would have tried to make that next fortune.

Rodney Licata Design Skylights

Since New York City is one of my favorite places it would be there during the roaring ‘20s. I would have loved to see the cityscape of New York City being formed, such exciting growth. Also, the formal attire of the men and women, their formal dinners and their exciting lives. Other than that it would be Israel. I think traveling through the Promised Land following teachings and travels of Jesus would have been awesome.

Debbie Mo R&R Ditching Service Inc.

I think I would like to go back to the ‘60s as a young teenager to have a re-do to affect people’s lives.

Reesa Doebbler Construction News

I would go back to one of the fishing trips that I did with my father and my grandfather in Mozambique, South Africa. I’m from South Africa originally.

Neale van Streepen CRC Concrete Raising and Repair

It would have to be in the 1950s. I love the cars. I love rock and roll. I just love everything about that whole era and culture.

Jorge Gallegos Flash Point Steel I would go back in time to meet and work with one of leaders that we still talk about, whether it be Gandhi for India or Martin Luther King from here - some very influential leader that helped change the

My first stop would be Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963. I’d have a buddy put his camcorder on the Book Store Depository Building, while I trained mine on the grassy knoll. I’d solve who killed (or who didn’t kill) JFK once for all. Then I’d take my camcorder and tape the Sermon On the Mount. The Gettysburg Address would be pretty cool to film as well. Then there’s Babe Ruth’s “called shot” in the ’32 World Series - did he or didn’t he?

Dan Zulli Construction News

Page 6

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

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OLT CAT was host of this year’s annual Antique Caterpillar Machine Owners Club (ACMOC) National Show, showcasing HOLT, Caterpillar and other brands of century-old construction and farming machines owned by collectors from across the country.

The free public event was held at the HOLT CAT headquarters in San Antonio Oct. 26 -28 with antique machine displays, a machine operating area, daily machine parade, food and entertainment.

Approximately 100 antique tractors dating back to the early 1900s were on display. Among the highlights were a 1910-era wooden Holt manufacturing combine, CAT 20 Experimental Tractor from the 1927 World’s Fair and the Holt 120 tractor which is currently on display at the Heidrick Ag History Museum in Sacramento, CA.

Antique tractor show

The live machine operating demonstrations and parade allowed spectators to appreciate the functionality of the machines that revolutionized the world. Also on hand were plenty of restoration stories to tell along with tales of rare finds and where they were found.

Along with the old, the newest CAT equipment was also on display. Getting a first hand look at how Caterpillar has evolved and the future it is moving towards was sure to leave everyone in total “ahh!”

Collectors of these antique tractors have a great passion for these machines. The ACMOC was founded in 1991 by a small group of enthusiasts who all shared a passion for the legacy of antique Caterpillar machinery.

Can you imagine operating this beast all day in a field?

Youngsters get a first hand look at this tractor

Their mission is to assist and educate not just their members but also the general public on the historic Caterpillar machinery and how it shaped the world. They have chapters across the continental United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. -cmw

The owner of this antique tractor gets it ready to operate.

1910-era wooden Holt Manufacturing combine

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Page 7

Part III: Plan ahead for accounting for new long-term contracts Scott Allen, CPA, Tax Partner Cornwell Jackson Plano, TX

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our company established the completed contract method of accounting for long-term contracts that are exempt from Code Section 460 because its gross receipts fell under the $10 million threshold.

As the company grew, it continued to use this accounting method. It had two very good years in 2015 and 2016. In 2017 average annual gross receipts for 2014-2016 exceeded $10 million for the first time. For contracts that were open in 2016, the company will continue to report income from those contracts under the completed contract method. For contracts that were started in 2017, the company will be required to report under the percentage of completion method in accordance with Code Section 460 for every year until the contracts are complete.

However, for contracts started in 2018, because the gross receipts threshold was adjusted to $25 million, those contracts are exempt from complying with Code Section 460. The company will report those contracts under the completed contract method since it is the company’s established accounting method for exempt contracts.

Then again, if it was decided that it made sense to report 2018 contracts under a different accounting method other than completed contract, the company will need to file for a change in accounting method with the IRS. The change is not classified as an automatic change; Form 3115 will need to be filed with the IRS prior to year-end. A user fee (currently $9,500) will also need to be paid in order for the Form 3115 to be processed.

The bottom line is that companies with three-year trailing average gross receipts under the $25 million threshold in 2018 should do an analysis to determine if a change in accounting method makes sense. The analysis should include the following factors: • Whether an overall method of

accounting of cash or accrual is the

most advantageous; • The amount of taxable income

deferred under the various

accounting methods for long-term contracts; • The effect of AMT on the owners’

returns given the new AMT exemp-

tions and elevated phase-outs; • The expected growth rate for the

company and the length of time

before it is expected to reach the

$25 million threshold.

With thoughtful consideration and planning, the proper accounting method for long-term contracts can result in the deferral of a significant amount of income tax, which will help your company manage working capital more effectively.

To select the most advantageous accounting method or to determine if your company should change its accounting method in 2018, controllers and CFOs may need the guidance of a CPA knowledgeable in accounting for long-term contract rules. It helps to get a second opinion to support the right accounting method for your contracts that is both tax law compliant and offers the best potential for tax planning or deferral.

For the complete article, Download the Whitepaper: 2017 Tax Law Impacts Accounting for Long-Term Contracts on our website.

Scott Allen, CPA, joined Cornwell Jackson as a Tax Partner in 2016, bringing his expertise in the Construction and Oil and Gas industries and 25 years of experience in the accounting field. As the Partner in Charge of the Tax practice at Cornwell Jackson, Scott provides proactive tax planning and tax compliance to all Cornwell Jackson tax clients. Contact him at Scott.Allen@cornwelljackson.com or 972-202-8032.

Consider a workers’ compensation deductible Wes Pitts, Sr. V.P. and Southwest Regional Construction Practice Leader for USI Southwest USI Southwest Austin, TX

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ou’ve seen your Workers’ Compensation premiums rising just on the basis growth of your company (payrolls), yet your controls and claims management processes have only improved and your resulting experience has been good.

I want to point out that there are some carriers out there, yes including the market leader in Texas, that are offering some pretty darn attractive deductible credits these days. First off keep in mind this is not a “one size fits all” approach.

Generally, to consider a deductible you need to have a somewhat sizeable WC premium, excellent controls and claims management, at least 5 years of experience to back that up, and the ability to post some security collateral. We generally like to look at a minimum $25,000. per person/claim deductible with No Aggregate (i.e. no agg. cap on the no. of deductibles you could have to pay for) because of the deeper credit this brings, which can be close to -25%. If interested, the first thing that needs to happen is your agent needs to conduct an analysis of what it would have looked like at least over the last 5-years of your WC experience – this is really nothing more than a spreadsheet that captures the term, losses under and over, the estimated premium savings, and the differential. If that differential is largely in the black over the term, then it may make sense for you. If the trigger is pulled, you’ll want to place even more emphasis on safety, policies, controls and probably most importantly having a dedicated person on claims management, which we addressed back in the Oct. issue. The collateral could be

$50,000., $75,000., $100,000., and generally in a combination of about 70% Irrevocable Letter of Credit (ILOC) and balance in cash, with the amount depending on your payment history, credit history, loss pick and credit on the pick. This collateral is not a working collateral – claims are not paid from it, but rather you would reimburse the Company for claims on a monthly invoiced basis. You’d also want to know going in that because it often takes several years for some claims to be paid and closed, you will continue to be responsible for reimbursing the Company for claims the Company has paid until all claims within your deductible are paid and then closed. Accordingly, the Company will maintain the Escrow Account established by the Deductible Escrow and Security Agreement after the expiration of the policy.

As you grow and try to manage your costs, it is always a good idea to look at all alternative funding arrangements for your insurance program, have your agent help you to learn and understand them, and then you can jump onboard if it makes sense for your company.

Wes Pitts is a Sr. Vice President and Southwest Regional Construction Practice Leader for USI Southwest - Austin, TX. 512-6514107, or Wesley.pitts@usi.com

Construction News ON LOCATION

In the right place

Construction News ON LOCATION

Just in time

L-R: Manuel Hernandez and Antonio Casillas with WPM Construction were in the right place at the right time for Construction News to take their picture at Longhorn Fire & Safety. -cmw

Construction News spotted Coleman King with Johnny Rooter Plumbing Inc. picking up supplies and took his picture before he drove away. -cmw

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Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

covered for the alleged property damage and to get an attorney lined up.

What to do if you suddenly become involved in a multi-party construction defect lawsuit?

Andres Gonzalez, Principal Cokinos | Young San Antonio, TX

T

imes are changing. Around Texas, there is an onset of multi-party construction defect lawsuits.

In the Valley and recently in Bexar County, various school districts have filed lawsuits. In the current climate of public owners or owners of multi-family housing units, construction defect lawsuits are becoming prevalent. When public owners are involved, the two or four year statutes of limitation do not apply. Instead, lawsuits may be brought ten to twelve years after substantial completion of a project.

If your company becomes involved in this type of lawsuit, you need to understand how to manage the unexpected legal costs of defending the lawsuit. Your commercial general liability policy should cover your legal costs.

or indemnify the insured against the loss.

Usually, a commercial general liability insurer owes its insured a duty to defend the lawsuit and a duty to indemnify for a judgment when the insured becomes legally liable to pay (assuming it is a loss covered by the policy). The duty to defend is a very important and valuable benefit. The cost of defending the lawsuit may exceed any amounts the insurer pays to ultimately settle the lawsuit

You want to put your insurance company on notice immediately. If you are aware of a project where your company will likely get sued, notify your insurance company or agent. Even if you do not yet have a copy of the citation or original petition, you may want to inform the insurance company of the pending lawsuit. By doing so, you will get some time to make sure that you are

This is a quick how-to guide for when you realize that your company is a party in the construction defect lawsuit or arbitration:

Once you have been served with a copy of the citation and original petition, send the copy to your insurance agent or adjuster. The insurance adjuster should hire competent legal counsel to represent you and pay the costs of defense. Those costs include attorney’s fees and the costs of hiring expert witnesses, copying charges, arbitration and mediation expenses, court reporters, and miscellaneous lawsuit-related charges. Most commercial general liability policies give the insurance company the right to select your defense counsel. If there is a particular law firm you would rather use, you should ask your adjuster if the insurance company will approve your selected defense counsel.

Lately, several Plaintiff’s lawyers have been filing very vague petitions. Your company will be named in the lawsuit but there is very little detail about why you were sued. In fact, you may feel it is a frivolous filing simply because it is unclear. It does not matter what causes of action are in the pleading. The pleading may identify negligence, breach of contract, or something entirely different. What does matter are the damages alleged to have occurred as a result of the acts or omissions of the insured or its subcontractors.

That pleading, however, is very important to trigger your insurance company’s duty to defend you under the insurance policy. In Texas, an insurers’ duty to defend the insured is triggered based on the “eight corners rule.” This refers to the four corners of the insurance policy and the four corners of the lawsuit. A court will examine the facts in the pleadings, the language in the insurance policy, and determine if the facts could potentially be covered by the insurance policy. The

Cranes and derricks in construction: Operator qualification Joann Natarajan Compliance Assistance Specialist OSHA Austin, TX

O

SHA changed the regulation governing crane operator certification in construction. First, this final rule removes the requirement that crane operator certifications include the crane’s rated lifting capacity. The two testing organizations that have certified the majority of operators have issued certifications by “type” but not “capacity.” These certifications, therefore, would not have been valid without a change to the rule. OSHA has concluded that the capacity requirement for certification is not necessary to protect workers.

OSHA is also making permanent the employer duty to ensure that operators are competent to operate the equipment safely. While certification ensures an objective baseline of general knowledge of crane operation, it does not ensure that operators know how to operate a particular crane for a specific task. For this reason, OSHA is revising the crane standard to preserve a requirement that employers assess the ability of their operators to run the cranes they will be using for the tasks to which they are assigned. This employer duty would have ceased to exist without this new rulemaking.

An operator can meet OSHA’s certification requirements by obtaining certification from an accredited, third-party crane certification organization. An employer can also comply with OSHA’s standard by developing an employer-audited program and use this program to certify operators it employs. Finally, crane operators can meet OSHA’s certification requirements by obtaining a state or local crane operator license that meets OSHA’s requirements in those jurisdictions that issue crane operator’s licenses.

In addition to ensuring that an oper-

ator is properly certified, an employer must also evaluate the operator to ensure that the operator has the skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and avert risk to operate the equipment safely. This evaluation must be done by a person who has the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to assess operators. Once an operator has passed an evaluation on one piece of equipment, the employer may allow that operator to operate different equipment without further evaluation if the employer can demonstrate that operating that equipment would not require substantially different skills, knowledge or ability to recognize and avert risk. For example, an employer may evaluate an operator and determine that he or she has demonstrated the ability to safely operate a large crane in a relatively complex configuration. If the employer determines that the operator has the skills, knowledge, and ability to identify and avert risk necessary to safely operate a smaller crane of the same type and operating system, in a simpler configuration with a shorter boom, then the operator would not need to be re-evaluated (assuming that the tasks are similar). natarajan.joann@dol.gov 512-374-0271 x232

factual allegations are considered without regard to their truth or falsity, and all doubts regarding the duty to defend are resolved in the insured’s favor. If a petition potentially includes a covered claim, the insurer owes the insured the duty to defend and must defend the entire lawsuit.

If you are a general contractor, you will want to make sure you have copies of the subcontract agreements and the certificates of insurance from the various subcontractors. You will want to make additional insured tenders to the subcontractors that have work implicated in the lawsuit. You will also want to tender the lawsuit to the subcontractor’s insurance agent and the insurance companies listed on the certificates of insurance. Often times, a subcontractor may still owe the general contractor a defense and indemnity based on the written subcontract agreement. This may apply even if the subcontractor’s work is not directly implicated in the pleadings. The subcontract agreement may require the subcontractor to defend and indemnify the general contractor for any lawsuit arising from the project.

At times, you may receive a reservation of rights letter from an insurer. This generally means that the insurer will provide you with a defense while reserving its right to deny coverage for the reasons set out in the letter, which often includes the application of various exclusions in the policy. For example, if your policy has coverage for property damage, only certain forms of property damage may be covered, depending on the provisions in your policy. You would need to discuss the reservation of rights letter and its implications with your attorney.

210-293-8752 agonzalez@cokinoslaw.com.

Stan and deliver

T

hough their careers started 25 years apart, Chris Strand and Stan Johnson Sr. are alike in many ways. Both men started businesses in their Austin garages. Both achieved wild success with the help of their loving families.

Both profoundly impacted the heating and cooling industry in Austin. So when Stan Johnson Jr. sold his father’s company, Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning, to Strand in 2011, it was truly a passing of the HVAC baton.

Strand was up to carry it.

After all, he launched his energy conservation company, Conservation Unlimited, with only a rusty Corolla and $1200 to his name. Strand, his brothers and his mom changed the company name to Strand Brothers and created the “Whole House” approach, which combines heating and cooling system efficiency with home efficiency improvements. The City of Austin noted their approach and started an energy conservation program based on it. Their take on energy efficiency for buildings and proper maintenance and service of air conditioning units was influential and incorporated into Austin’s building code. Because of this, Austin spends less per square foot on energy than anywhere else in Texas.

Strand Brothers was sold to Service Experts in 1998, but Strand missed working in a local family business, so he bought Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning. Since the 2011 sale, the 64-year-old business has nabbed numerous Angie’s List awards and the

Chris Strand

Austin American Statesman recently recognized it as “The Best of the Best” of Austin’s air conditioning contractors. CEO Strand and his business partner/COO John Williams have also grown the company 300 percent.

Strand has enjoyed getting back to his family business roots and strives to treat his employees like family.

“Almost every month, we try to have what we call ‘Fun Friday,’” Strand says.

“We provide the protein, like hamburgers, barbecue or turkey at Thanksgiving, and then everyone in the office brings something with it. It’s always a lot of fun; everybody participates.

“What I enjoy most is creating a culture of customer service and a family atmosphere inside the company and taking care of customers outside,” Strand adds. “It’s been a great ride, and we’re anticipating to keep on growing.“

HVAC subcontractor Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning is located in Austin. –mjm

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Page 9

W

South Texas trophies await you

by Capt. Steve Schultz Sponsored by: Waypoint Marine, Shoalwater Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Fishing Tackle Unlimited, E-Z Bel Construction, Costa Sunglasses, Diawa Reels, Simms Fishing, ForEverlast Fishing Products, Interstate Batteries, MirrOlure, JL Marines PowerPole, AFW and AFTCO Clothing

hether you are searching for a trophy speckled trout, redfish or South Texas whitetail buck, we have you covered. From December through February, I will be concentrating on these types of trips and catering to folk’s specific needs. By the time this article is in your hands, deer season will be in full rut and fishing should be getting pretty hot also. Here is a brief explanation of what I’m going to be doing for the next few months. Also, remember that I have gift certificates for that special someone for the holidays.

Fishing Trips: I will be splitting my time between Baffin Bay and Port Mainsfield this winter.

Baffin trips will be based out of Corpus Christi and depart from Marker 37 marina. These trips will be wade fishing with artificial lures targeting trophy speckled trout and reds. Port Mansfield trip will include accommodations in a luxurious five-bedroom house that will sleep up to 10 fishermen. The Laguna house has all

Trevor Boatright harvested this awesome slick 8-point buck on the Chaparrosa Ranch near La Pryor, TX. Trevor’s buck scored 140” and was guided by Steve Schultz Outdoors.

comforts of home with a large outdoor deck and cooking area to entertain clients and guests. A two-day minimum is required for the Lower Laguna Madre trips. These trips are also wade fishing throwing lures. If you are interested in either of the winter wade fishing packages don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss rates and packages.

Angler Steve Munoz of Dallas recently caught this 35” redfish in the upper Laguna Madre.

Steve was free lining live piggy perch when this brute hit. Photo by Steve Schultz Outdoors.

Ranch life

I

n November on a cold day in Aguilares, TX, Construction News editor Lexie Velasquez escaped the city and spent a day at the ranch. She shot a javelin with one shot and did some scouting for arrowheads. –lv

Lexie holding the javelin’s ear.

Arrowheads found in Aguilares.

Hunting Trips:

Whitetail hunts kicked off last month and are in full swing here in South Texas.

I have several ranches to choose from according to the caliber of deer your searching for. Most of my time is spent at the Chaparrosa ranch outside of La Pryor, Tx. This ranch is just shy of 100,000 acres and is considered one of the most premier ranches in the state. We offer low fence, fair chase hunts for deer up to 160” for groups from one to six persons. We also have hog, javelina and quail hunts if interested.

If you’re looking for a trophy larger

than 160, I have several ranches to choose from in Carrizo Springs and Charlotte Tx. These are smaller high fence ranches that offer whitetail deer hunts for deer that range from 160 to over 200”. These hunts are specific trophy hunts that are priced accordingly with the size of deer taken.

I still have several open dates for the 2018 fishing season weather permitting, and my deer hunts are booking up fast.

December offers some of the best South Texas deer hunting action during the rut which usually kicks off around the 10th of the month. Don’t hesitate in calling. I have several good hunting dates open.

Also, my 2019 fishing calendar is now open. Don’t hesitate in booking your fishing trips because my dates usually go pretty quick, especially during the more popular months.

To schedule your next bay fishing trip or hunting trip give Capt. Steve Schultz a call at 361-813-3716 or e-mail him at SteveSchultzOutdoors@gmail. com. Good luck and Good Fishing.

Page 10

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Ken Milam’s Fishing Line Since 1981, Ken Milam has been guiding fishing trips for striped bass on Lake Buchanan in the Texas Hill Country, You can hear Ken on the radio as follows: The Great Outdoors: 5-8 am Saturday on 1300, The Zone, Austin and The Great Outdoors: 5-7 am Saturday on 1200 WOAI San Antonio The Sunday Sportsman: 6-8 am Sunday on 1300, The Zone, Austin All on iHeart Radio

Wow, what difference a few weeks can make!

S

ince I wrote my last article, we have gone from hoping we could just catch some water in the lakes to help us recover from lack of rain in the summer to full on flash flood mode and now the clean-up and recovery work. Here on Lake Buchanan we see a lot of flood water pass through, but we don’t get the flood damage that our lower Highland Lakes can get. Our continuing thoughts and prayers go out to our friends downstream.

I am happy to let you know that there is an organization that is addressing that very problem! The Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation is already at work making the outdoors accessible to our young people again. You can go check them out online at https://www.gootf.com/

After several weeks the lake conditions here are finally settling back to normal. We do have new structure that came in with the flood and old structure that has been relocated, but the water quality is finally getting back to normal.

Now the fish can return to their regular feeding patterns for this time of year. The best part is that we can look forward to good lake levels to fish in the New Year

Half or Full Day Fishing Trips All Bait, Tackle & Equipment Furnished Your catch Filleted and Bagged for You

Ken Milam Guide Service (325) 379-2051 www.striperfever.com

If you are like me, you probably had parents or grandparents that would load you up and take you hunting, or fishing, or camping. We were still pretty close to the days when people made their living off the land and still had places to go and enjoy the outdoors. As the old home places have been sold off to become new subdivisions and such, we find ourselves less able to find our way outside and bring the kids. Did you know that the average age of a hunting license holder in the United States is now 62 years old? You have to ask yourself what will happen to the animals and habitats and the world outside over the next couple of decades when we lose those people.

If no one seems to notice or care about the world outside our door, who will take care of nurturing and protecting it?

Furnish your TPWD Fishing License & Refreshments, and WE DO THE REST!

and next spring instead of wondering if we would still have places to fish!

If you have some fishing time coming up during the Holidays, come on!

As we look forward to next year, I want to share some good news with you.

One thing that I have always been concerned with is our need to get our young people outside again. With all the indoor electronic distractions kids have these days, and the lack of available opportunities for them to go places and do things, we have a conservation crisis in the making.

“THE MISSION OF THE OUTDOORS TOMORROW FOUNDATION IS TO TEACH OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND TO PROMOTE AND FUND CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE WORLDWIDE.”

The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation has already established the Outdoor Adventures curriculum in over 400 schools by partnering with State agencies and conservation organizations to provide curriculum and equipment grants, and provide avenues for teacher training and workshops without charge. 37,000 students are currently enrolled as young people are encouraged to discover and safely enjoy the outdoors.

I urge you to go check it out!

First for the season

When Construction News’ managing editor went on her first hunt of the season, she was all to eager to show off this buck shot in Doss, TX. -cmw

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Page 11

HALLOWEEN PHOTOS A haunting we will go…The witching hour has come and gone, but that didn’t stop Construction News from rounding up the construction industry’s gh’oulious of them all.

Rogers-Obrien

3G Drywall

Baker Triangle – Dedicated to our Canadian Plexxis Trainer, Nick. May your friends be close and your Plexxis trainees be awkardly closer

Joeris General Contractors

Wurzel Builders, Ltd.

Trimbuilt Construction Inc.

Page 12

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Construction News ON LOCATION

Loading up

Chris Castillo with 1st Home & Commercial Services was loading supplies in his van when Construction News spotted him. -cmw

World-Class grouting conference

B

eginning Mar. 4, 2019 through Mar. 8, The University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering will host the 40th annual short course on Grouting Fundamentals & Current Practice. Professionals from all over the world will be attending the event to learn the latest and best in the field of grouting fundamentals and current practices. Since 1979, this unique course on geotechnical grouting materials, methods and applications has educated over 2,000 grouters and filled a wide gap in traditional university education. Although theory and calculations are an integral part of competent grouting work, practical experience is essential to success in the very critical situations grouters are called to fix.

A renowned course faculty that included experts from seven countries, many of who maintain active leadership and membership on the ASCE G-I Grouting Committee, will cover an incredible breadth and depth of subject matter. The 2018 course included 70 delegates representing engineering design firms, specialty geotechnical contractors, hydro-

power facility owners, equipment manufacturers and material suppliers. As is common, the majority of delegates were from throughout the US and Canada, with significant overseas attendance based on major upcoming geotechnical construction works. The recent course included such delegates from Australia, Albania, Bolivia, Uganda, and throughout Europe.

An integral part of this course will be the half-day field demonstration that facilitates direct hands-on learning. The field demo will include high shear mixing, QC testing of fluid grout, slab jacking, penetration of micro fine cements, tube-a-manchette grouting, methods for nondestructive quantification of ground improvement, along with a broad spectrum of grout materials (cementitious, chemical, and cellular).

UT Austin will again host the 2019 course. The University of Texas host invites you to come join them for some good times in Austin and their wonderfully warm spring weather. For course details visit: https://executive.engr.utexas.edu/epd/ grouting19.php. -cmw

The big finish

John King Construction hosted a ‘Big Finish Appreciation’ lunch for all the subs and project team members for the Hutto City Hall project. Jackson Galloway & Associates is the project architect. –cmw

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Page 13

THIS TH MON Jan: Construction Forecast Mar: Construction Education May: Concrete Industry July: Electrical Industry Feb: Construction Safety Apr: Women in Construction Jun: HVAC & Plumbing Aug: Service Providers

A bullish outlook Brian McGuire, President & CEO Associated Equipment Distributors Schaumburg, IL

A

ssociated Equipment Distributor members are reporting a strong year across North America on both equipment sales and equipment rentals, but as with any industry, challenges remain. The greatest strategic challenge facing the construction equipment industry is the scarcity of skilled technical workers. The industry’s technician shortage is costing AED members more than $2.4 billion per year in lost revenue and economic activity. Preparing workers for well-paying careers will ensure that U.S. companies can seize new business opportunities, making the United States more competitive in the global economy.

Earlier this year, AED commended the President for his leadership in addressing the nation’s skills gap. Businesses, schools and government officials must collectively commit to tackling the technical workforce shortage, and the president’s executive order was a positive step toward giving students and workers the necessary skills to thrive in today’s economy.

Another challenge is in the area of tariffs. AED was joined by eight other major construction industry organizations on separate letters to Senate leadership and the Trump administration opposing the recently implemented tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from Canada, the European Union and Mexico. Other

signatories were the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Associated General Contractors of America, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, the Energy Equipment & Infrastructure Alliance, the American Concrete Pipe Association, the National Utility Contractors Association and the National Asphalt Pavement Association. In the letter, AED and its construction industry partners cautioned policymakers that the tariffs will only exacerbate delays in manufacturers meeting customer equipment demand.

Due to the booming economy, manufacturers were already having a difficult

Bobcat

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT Sept: Green Building Nov: Architecture & Engineering Oct: Specialty Contractors Dec: Construction Equipment

time producing equipment needed to meet the demand of AED members and their customers. It’s unclear yet whether the steel tariffs have caused a production decrease. However, manufacturers, particularly companies making specialized machinery and attachments, are increasing prices creating an inflationary effect in the industry. The longer the steel tariffs remain in place the more detrimental the impact, as equipment will get more expensive, reducing demand and likely hindering growth in the broader construction industry as the cost of doing business increases for contractors and other users of heavy machinery On a more positive note, soon after being sworn into office, President Trump imposed a limit on regulations requiring two to be cut for every one issued, dramatically improving the regulatory environment. At the Department of Labor, Environmental Protection Agency and others, major rules promulgated during the Obama administration have been repealed or are in the process of being revised. However, we do anticipate rulemakings in the future that will impact the construction equipment industry, although hopefully in a positive way. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has commenced a rulemaking to examine and modify hours-of-service regulations that we anticipate will provide some relief to AED members. Additional-

L

ly, the Internal Revenue Service continues to issue guidance and rules related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

AED looks forward to working with all lawmakers, regardless of political party, to pursue pro-growth policies that expand equipment markets and lower our members’ cost-of-doing business. During the past two years, AED has laid the groundwork to engage Republicans and Democrats in Washington, positioning the association to work on a bipartisan basis regardless of party control. Divided government provides a unique opportunity for Congress and the president to work across the aisle to solve the biggest issues facing the United States, such as rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. While there is a degree of uncertainty about what the leadership in the new congress will look like, as far as AED’s legislative agenda goes, there’s early optimism about one of the equipment industry’s top legislative priorities - infrastructure investment. Other areas of bipartisan compromise could be workforce development and ratifying the renegotiated NAFTA (known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canadian Agreement).

Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) is an international trade association representing companies involved in the distribution, rental and support of equipment used in construction, mining, forestry, power generation, agriculture and industrial applications. -cmw

Link-Belt 228 HSL

ink-Belt Cranes Presents the 228HSL – 130-ton Crawler Crane.

• • • • • • • • • • •

45’-235’ Main Boom 30’-75’ Jib Cummins Tier 4 Final 106,150 lb Total Counterweight, easily transportable, and self installing/removing 119,541 lb Transport Weight (Base Crane, Side Frames and Base Boom Section).

44,565 lb Available Line Pull Self-Erecting – Easy and Quickly Link-Belt Exclusive Vision Package (Swing, Hoist and Rear View Cameras) Walkways, Catwalks, Guard Rails Link-Belt HSL Capacity Limiter Virtual Wall Auto Stop

M2-Series T650 compact track loader

T

he M2-Series T650 compact track loader from Bobcat offers a variety of performance, operator comfort and visibility enhancements to help increase operator productivity and provide enhanced machine uptime protection.

Cab comfort is enhanced with an automatic ride control option and new front and rear cab isolators, door seals and side screen dampers to reduce vibration and noise. A redesigned top window improves visibility with a 34 percent increase in open area. This is beneficial when loading material into a high-sided truck. Also available is an optional side lighting kit for increased visibility when

working when it’s dark.

A reversing fan option allows loader operators to temporarily reverse the cooling fan direction (for several seconds) to blow dust and small debris from the radiator and rear screens. This helps minimize downtime and can reduce the cooling area cleaning frequency.

With nine convenient locations across Texas, Compact Construction Equipment is your trusted name for Bobcat equipment. We offer a wide range of new and used Bobcat equipment, rentals, parts and in shop and field service. Stop by or log on to www.bobcatcce.com and find out more! –cmw

If you are looking for a crane that is an upgrade to your 110-ton crawler crane but still want the ease of transportation and set up, the New LinkBelt 228HSL – 130-ton crawler crane may just fit your need. The 228HSL has already developed a strong foot hold in the Texas Crane market not only as a great contractor’s crane, but the Link-Belt 228HSL has even started to make a name for itself in the Oil Patch. Features that add to safety and

Link-Belt 228 HSL

ease of operation leave the competition behind. Take a look at this exciting and productive new crane. Contact Holt Crane and Equipment – 877-275-1520.

Page 14

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

THIS TH MON

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

To represent your company in an upcoming FOCUS, contact Austineditor@ConstructionNews.net (210) 308-5800

NEXT MONTH (JAN 2019) Construction Forecast

GEHL RT165 compact track loader

Case C Series Mini Excavators

M2-Series T650 compact track loader

T

he Gehl RT165 compact track loader takes performance to the next level.

Designed with compact dimensions and operator’s choice of controls—joystick, Tbar, or hand-foot—this machine is ideal for many applications in the rental, landscape and construction industries. It was also built on an adapted R165 skid loader chassis for 85% parts commonality, another benefit for rental companies.

The Gehl RT165 can power through the toughest jobs. It has a 69.3 hp Tier IV Yanmar engine, packed with plenty of lowend torque, and a robust lift-arm that can reach further and dump higher. The RT165 offers an operating capacity of 1,650 lbs. and a maximum lift height of 119.6” when fully raised. In addition, a low operating weight of only 8,020 lbs makes this machine easy to transport.

Top Features of the Gehl RT165: • IdealTrax™ Automatic Track Tensioning System • Multiple control choices: Pilot Joystick, T-bar, Hand/Foot • Yanmar Tier IV 69.3 hp (51.7 Kw) engine at 2500 rpm providing 179 ft.-lbs. of torque • High-flow auxiliary hydraulics available with 30.1.5 gpm flow (121 L/min)

• Multiple track widths and tread patterns • Low operating weight of 8,020 lbs. (3638 kg) which expands transport options and provides low ground pressures for high flotation • Compact machine width of 66” (1676 mm) with a narrow undercarriage and overall machine height to ROPS at 77.5” (1969 mm) • Excellent breakout forces: • 4,230 lbs. (1,919 kg) tilt • 5,060 lbs. (2,295 kg) lift • Hydrostatic 2-speed drive system • Standard triple flange, maintenance free bogies • Excellent service access to maintenance components: • Large engine cover is hinged and positioned by gas-springs to assist with lifting and hold in place.

• Swing-out rear door allows full access to filters, fluid reservoirs and other maintenance components.

• Swing-out cooler provides improved access to the engine bay area.

• The ROPS/FOPS assembly tilts rearward with a gas-spring and latches safely in place for easy internal access to the pumps, hydraulic valve bank and drive motors.

For more information contact H&E Equipment Services at 877-700-RENT.

Caterpillar

Cat 259D Compact Track Loader Unmatched Performance & Comfort

N

o matter the size or model, every Cat® Compact Track Loader features a suspended undercarriage for superior traction, extra comfort, exceptional stability, longer track life, & lower ground pressure.

Easy-to-use pilot-operated controls keep you more productive throughout the work day. Our high performance powertrain, and advanced hydraulic system, can handle the toughest working conditions.

The Cat® 259D CTL with the reliable

Cat® C3.3B turbocharged engine delivers solid performance & requires no diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). When coupled with this powerhouse & the suspended undercarriage your operators will sit in the finest work station available to make long days seem shorter.

HOLT CAT® has a large inventory of new and used Cat machines, Cat certified technicians and 24/7 Parts availability.

Call today for special financing 877-7054619 or visit HoltCat.com.

M

M2-Series T650 compact track loader

ore power. More productivity.

More value.

Introducing the C Series, CASE’s expanded line of mini excavators that now includes six models from 1.7 to 6.0 metric tons. These compact excavators are ideal for use in tight spaces and applications such as general and residential construction, landscaping and utility work.

C Series mini excavators provide parallel, unobstructed operation near obstacles, tree lines and foundations thanks to their zero, short-tail or conventional swing design and independent center swing boom that can be offset left or right within an operating range.

Offered in zero tail swing, short-radius or conventional configurations, C Series

G

mini excavators feature an adjustable boom with the ability to offset left or right to work closer to buildings and obstacles.

The CX17C features a variable-width undercarriage and adjustable blade capable of passing through most common gates and for working on confined jobsites, close to buildings and in developed areas.

C Series mini excavators provide parallel, unobstructed operation near obstacles, tree lines and foundations thanks to their zero, short-tail or conventional swing design and independent center swing boom that can be offset left or right within an operating range.

Contact ASCO for more information at 800-687-0008 or ascoeq.com.

Genie

enie® trailer-mounted Z®-booms feature an outstanding operating envelope, making them ideal to reach jobs high and low. With easy-totow mobility and simple pictograph controls, Genie trailer-mounted Zbooms take productivity to new heights. Operating envelope of a Z-boom — reaches up, over and out. Genie towable boom lifts provide safe lifting solutions to contractors and homeowners and an excellent return on investment for rental store owners.

The Genie TZ™-50 boom has a working height of 55 ft 6 in and horizontal outreach of 29 ft 2 in. Up-and-over clearance is 22 ft. Along with the primary jib boom, the articulating jib boom provides an additional 4 ft 1 in (1.25 m) of horizontal reach and 135° of working range to position the platform above or below horizontal. This machine also has a 500-lb platform capacity and a weight of 4,400 lb.

The Genie TZ-50 lift offers outstanding “up, out and over” capabilities in a compact, lightweight package that is easy to maneuver in congested work areas. An assortment of options and accessories means the Genie TZ-50 lift can be customized to meet jobsite needs.

Other advantages of the Genie TZ-50 lift include: * Compact, narrow design is easy to maneuver in congested work areas

* Ground and platform controls utilize symbols to simplify operation * Optional Drive and Set™ feature lets you drive the unit from the platform when fully lowered * Easy access to batteries — just release the clamp and remove the cover * 359˚ non-continuous turntable rotation * AC power to platform * Illuminated outrigger indicators * Tilt alarm/sensor For more information contact H&E Equipment Services at 877-700-RENT.

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Page 15

100 percent chance for success

True to what he can do

Rodney Licata, owner of Design Skylights.

I

t’s a good thing Rodney Licata didn’t like working in a furniture store; for if he did, he never would have gotten into doing skylights.

Quitting the furniture business, Licata answered an ad in the paper to work for Design Skylights in Colorado. This trade took.

But not liking the cold either, Licata moved to Austin. He was familiar with Austin since he had visited his in-laws many a time. Thus, Austin was the perfect place for him to open his own Design Skylights in 2000. He asked permission from his previous employer to use the same name (although it’s not a franchise operation).

Licata does not sub contract out or have any hired help. “I’m a one-man crew,” he said. He does the entire job, even if it involves texturing and painting the inside ceiling. “I wear a lot of different hats.”

The 2 x 4-ft skylight is the most popular. Most customers have an idea of what they want, but Licata will guide them through the various options and costs.

He has done some commercial jobs, but most commercial skylights are built during construction, not after the fact, like most house projects are. If Licata has to install a skylight during construction, he’ll coordinate with the roofing folks to do his thing while they do theirs.

When it comes to the skylight leaking, the answer is, No - he doesn’t pour water on it to see if it works. “I put it in correctly, and I know it’s done right.” Licata’s success rate is 100 percent. If, by chance, there is a leak, it’s due to something other than the skylight.

Licata can knock off a skylight - bearing any complicating factor - in about four hours. Having to texture and paint can take an extra day.

Licata plans his work about two to three weeks out. Naturally, inclement weather impacts his carefully laid out schedule. Most people are understanding, although he will run into the impatient person who wants his job done right away.

Regardless, a 100 percent batting average is worth waiting for.

Design Skylights is in Austin. -dsz

Running with the business

S

hivam Desai is the general manager for the Austin store of CRS Marble & Granite. He came to the States from India when he was a junior in high school. He came to Milwaukee, WI, because his cousins lived there.

Yes, he is a Packers fan. “I don’t think they give you an option,” he said, of the Cheeseheads in Wisconsin. Desai is a Green Bay fan in Dallas Cowboy country, but that’s all right because he loves Texas.

“I’m glad I got out of there [Wisconsin],” he said, especially when it’s January.

Desai was asked by CRS owner Sunny Surana to open the Austin location in 2014. CRS’ headquarters is in Raleigh, NC, with other stores in Virginia Beach, VA, and North Charleston, SC. (“CRS,” according to Desai, is not an acronym for anything, actually. It doesn’t have a significant meaning.”)

Desai’s background is in bioShivam Desai, general manger of the Austin medical, but really wanted to get store of CRS Marble & Granite into business. Nothing caught his fancy until Surana called him. “I knew I more expensive it is. wanted to get into business and I was Even though Desai didn’t know a looking for an opportunity,” he recalled. thing about American football when he The Austin store boasts a 25,000sf first came over, he’s glad to be in the showroom where builders and designers business he’s in now. (When the quarcan come and pick out their stone prod- terback threw him the football in gym ucts, some 200 different colors worth. class, he threw it right back. The gym The big players in the natural stone teacher told him he was supposed to industry are India, Brazil, Italy and Mexi- run with it.) “Absolutely,” he said. “It’s co. Huge blocks of stone are quarried, not too bad being around pretty stones then bought by the factories, which will all day and seeing it used as amazing cut the blocks up into some 40-50 slabs. works. It’s a great industry to be in, esThese slabs are washed, polished and pecially in Texas.” dried in large ovens, then shipped out.

CRS Marble & Granite is a stone supThe more exotic looking the stone, the plier in Austin. -dsz

W

A wood plank concrete patio done by Texas Custom Concrete.

hat is the coolest thing you have ever seen your father do? For Jeremy Brackin, it was when he was seven or eight years old and he saw his father take a rubber stamp and put it on top of the concrete while it was still wet. It created a brick pattern and Brackin thought, “it was the coolest thing in the whole entire world as a kid.”

Brackin’s father introduced him to the concrete industry because his father did concrete work in Austin. Brackin started helping his dad at the age of 13. “From that point on I fell in love with the decorative concrete portion of it,” he said.

When Brackin got out of college from A&M Unversity, he decided to open his own company back home in Austin. It was in 2009, when he opened his first company. He remembers his first project in Austin; it was an animal hospital. Then while undergoing the recession at that time Brackin decided to specialize in decorative concrete. He worked on the Austin Aquarium. But, for a brief period Brackin got out of the business owner industry and went to work for element7concrete. “I worked for them for about two years and then I decided that I was going to open up my own company again,” he said.

In 2015, Brackin established Texas Custom Concrete. The company does decorative concrete, concrete counter tops and sinks. “Anything that is decorative in the concrete industry is what we do,” said Brackin. “One of the cool things we like to do is a wood plank. We take an old slab like a driveway and cut it into wood planks. We will stain it and grain it with acid stain to allow it to look like an actual wood plank. It is becoming pretty popular,” shared Brackin. In fact, Brackin says he is one of the only ones who will

Jeremy Brackin on a job site. do this because he knows how to do it.

Then a recent unique project he worked on because no one else would was for a customer’s cinder block home in Kingsland, TX. Brackin did a 5in. concrete roof over the top and it was all made from glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC).

Brackin also added decorative concrete to the walls making them look like rocks.

Texas Custom Concrete’s service area is about 150 miles from Austin. Right now Brackin has one helper because he wants to keep things “low key.” Brackin wants to stay in the Austin area and see how they do this year.

Texas Custom Concrete is a decorative concrete contractor in Austin, TX. –lv

Construction News ON LOCATION

Moore smiles

The guys at Moore Supply Co. were all smiles when Construction News walked in.

L-R: John Gentry, Jason Lefebure and Dauane Leger. -cmw

Page 16

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

JOB SIGHTS

L-R: Jose Gicon, John Cristoble and Walter Chargois with Biggs Plumbing installing plumbing lines at the South By Southwest project. Harvey-Cleary Builders is the project’s general contractor. -cmw

continued from Page 1 — Bruecher Foundation Service Inc. methods. He says the company’s service area is about a 60- to 70-mile radius, explaining, “I go as far as Waco, Smithville, New Braunfels and Marble Falls.”

The company staffs 22 employees and runs four or five crews out of the yard. Bruecher’s son, William H. Bruecher IV, has also been working with the company for six years.

“He does inspections of homes, estimating and he levels houses. He also helps out with the crews,” said the elder Bruecher. On the commercial side of projects, Bruecher says they are working on a three-story apartment building.

They have also had some exciting jobs. For instance, years ago there was a residential garage at the same elevation as the house’ second floor, with a room connecting the garage to the house.

“The garage was moving towards the house and pushing this room into the house. We saved it by trying something way different,” shared Bruecher. “It was a slow process, but we were able to move the garage away from the house by 3 inches and move the room back into line where it was supposed to be. That was pretty cool.”

In 2018, Austin experienced a large amount of torrential rain. With those on-again, off-again weather patterns,

Bruecher Foundation Services received calls from homeowners asking to raise their houses up out of flood plains. As a result they did raise houses up to 3 feet off the ground.

“Versus paying expensive flood insurance and taking the risk of their home being flooded, [homeowners] are choosing to raise their house up out of the flood plain,” explained Bruecher.

With a look at the economy and the amount of people moving to the area, the company has seen more work than Bruecher anticipated. The company’s future is simple; Bruecher wants to keep everybody moving.

He also keeps his trusty companion moving too. When Bruecher’s daughter left for college, she had to leave her deer Chihuahua “Destroya” with her dad. Now, Destroya likes to hang out in the office or go for rides to jobsites with Bruecher.

“We were working on a pier and beam job the other day and [Destroya] went right through the floor. One of the guys caught him and put him back up through the hole he fell through,” shared Bruecher. Not to worry, Destroya was not harmed, but ay Chihuahua!

Bruecher Foundation Service Inc. in Austin is a foundation contractor for residential and commercial projects. –lv

continued from Page 1 — Twisted Metals Welding & Fabrication

James Dillow with Engage Industrial Solutions listens to Harvey-Cleary Safety Coordinator, Arthur Jone, as they discuss fall protection and tie-off procedures at the South By Southwest project. -cmw

but is now a welder.

“Everyone on our team brings a different strength,” Lemon said.

When it comes to needing to get certified on a particular skill, Lemon will call up a contact back at ACC, who are authorized to do testing and certifying. “There are specific projects we’re asked to do that require code certification,” he said.

Lemon calls himself “pretty much a typical small business owner. I do everything from customer relations, design, fabrication, finishing stuff and installation. I do it all.”

With the creative juices flowing in the Texas capital, Twisted Metal will venture further out, like New Braunfels or the hill country, but rarely has to. The Austin metro area is his turf.

Lemon does a lot of high-end residential and commercial works. He’ll listen to the customer, then go back to the shop “to make it come to life.”

“It might be just kind of an Austin thing,” he explained, “but design is getting popular again. Architecture and design had a drop off in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

It’s actually cool to be a welder and work with your hands again.”

This is the Austin vibe that Lemon likes. “A lot of people are appreciating craftsmanship. Everybody really seems to be getting back into design and wanting to customize things.” The beautiful con-

ference table Twisted Metal did for a financial planning firm recently is a case in point.

“Design focus - there’s definitely a big trend toward that, more so than in the past,” Lemon said. A line-up of Twisted Metals services includes handrails and guardrails, gates, trellises and arbors, custom furniture, landscaping and planters, architectural elements and staircases.

But basically, if you can dream it, Lemon will build it.

For the future, Lemon would like to get bigger and better. He recently bought a CNC (computer numeric control) machine to be able to expand his creative possibilities. He would like to be able to mass-produce items.

By combining old-world trade skill with new-world vision and style, Lemon and his crew at Twisted Metals will take your concept and make it a reality, whether indoor or outdoor, from the practical to the whimsical.

Fortunate for us, Austin has gotten back to the uniquely designed lifestyle.

Equally fortunate is Lemon and Twisted Metals call it home base for its operations.

Even something as simple as a staircase rail can look nice. No rule says it has to be ugly.

Twisted Metals Welding & Fabrication is a custom steel fabrication shop in Austin.

- dsz

continued from Page 1 — Hill & Wilkinson

L-R: Kenneth Lee and Travis Huggins with Smith Brothers Steel Building Professionals at The Collective South Congress project, a new flex, warehouse and office space. -cmw

Gabriel Valle, Valle Sheetrock & Drywall hangs sheetrock at the Columbia Coffee project near downtown Austin. -cmw

their energy service provider and facility management to relocate the existing building power supply. “We did this transfer in August, when all AC/lights/ elevators in the existing building needed to be shut down while the power transfer was made. We were able to accomplish this transfer by closely coordinating shut downs with Austin Energy, the City of Austin & Facility Management. Shut downs were done in the middle of the night to minimize impacts and were limited to four hours or less,” recalls Zach Sienkiel, one of Hill & Wilkinson’s project managers on site.

Phasing of the occupied renovation was particularly important. The Hill & Wilkinson team divided the renovation into three EA phases to allow the building occupants to remain fully occupied throughout construction. This included keeping the kitchen that serves the entire property operational and food delivery options intact. They were able to successfully navigate this challenge by keeping open lines of communications throughout the project with both facility management and residents, holding monthly meetings with residents to explain the current construction progress and the upcoming phases.

Similar to most projects going around Texas right now, finding ade-

quate qualified labor was a challenge. In particular, electrical contractors were in short supply during this project. The Hill & Wilkinson team was able to take advantage of their connections through their Dallas/Fort Worth relationships and bring in an additional 15-20 qualified electricians for about three months to keep the project schedule on track.

Building in an occupied assisted living facility and tying the new structure to the existing were unique aspects for this project. Additionally, the courtyard on top of the podium deck, fully landscaped with trees and vegetation was a challenge. Landscape selection and materials were critical.

“Through this project we were able to strengthen our relationship with a great, repeat client and continue our successful relationship with architectural firm, D2 Architecture LLC. The owner was very accommodating and understanding through the ever-changing construction environment. The architect was able to help through various coordination issues ranging from new-to-existing building tie-in to multiple tricky waterproofing conditions,” agrees Project Manager Danny Elmore and Superintendent Bob Sharp.

Hill & Wilkinson is a full-service general contractor in Austin, TX. –cmw

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Page 17

Born to weld

Certainly one of a kind

T

L-R: Erik Kramer, Neale Van Streepen, Billy Edwards, Andrew Maxwell, Cris Dominguez and Frank Niess

hey haven’t hit their 10-year mark just yet, but that doesn’t stop CRC Concrete Raising and Repair from building good relationships with larger companies in commercial and multifamily residential. “We either fixed their buildings or their sidewalks,” said managing partner Neale Van Streepen.

CRC was established in 2010 with the purpose of providing concrete raising services to residential, government, corporate and commercial projects in central Texas. “We cover from south of Waco to south of San Antonio up and down the I-35 corridor,” said Van Streepen.

Since the company’s inception, they invested in a polyurethane technology.

Today, CRC has the ability to inject polyurethane instead of the cement slurry.

“This has opened up a whole new business for us in terms of the types of projects that we can do, including deep soil injection.”

One major commercial project that stands out for CRC this year was a golf course experiencing extreme erosion in San Antonio. CRC used the combination of their polyurethane spray foam and in-

stalled a seawall using PVC sheet piling to secure the foam underneath. The project was complete in 10 days.

The hard working team members at CRC consist of a total of 10 employees, six of which are on the production side, two in sales and two in administration. Van Streepen and his business partner Bruce Dickey have a great group of guys, who are cross-trained to be able to help wherever needed.

Dickey has been in the concrete business for 40 years and when he approached Van Streepen in 2009 to look into starting a concrete repair business, they realized they were on to something.

“We did some research and found there was nobody doing this type of work here in central Texas. We created the market here,” said Van Streepen. Today, their client base has grown immensely. CRC has been working for the City of Austin for the last six years and the City of Pflugerville for the last seven years.

CRC Concrete Raising and Repair is a concrete raising, repair and soil stabilization contractor in Austin, TX. –lv

Construction News ON LOCATION

In their yard

J

ust because one’s father does something, that doesn’t automatically mean his kids will follow suit. Aptitude and skill don’t necessarily transfer in a person’s DNA. But in the case of Sergio Sanchez, Jr., it did. In fact, Sergio, Junior, employs Sergio, Senior, at S & S Metals.

“My dad’s been a metal guy all his life,” Sanchez said. He’s been working with his father since his teens, and he’s really gravitated to it.

“I love the work,” Sanchez said. “I love metals. It’s the only thing I know how to do.”

Before starting S & S Metals, both Sergios worked for another company, with Junior being the general manager. Because of the events of 9-11, the company hit a rough patch. Junior had to make the tough call to lay off his own father.

Sanchez left the company on his own accord later, and eventually formed S & S Metals. Then, he was able to bring dad on board to be a part of it. This was only fitting, because it was dad who first got Sanchez involved with welding and trained him. “We work together,” he said, of he and his father. “We love it here. It doesn’t get any better than that, you know?”

Without formal education or training, Sanchez is pretty much a self-taught welder and fabricator. “My education has been hands on,” he said. “I got pretty good at it and climbed the ropes pretty quick.” Sanchez would learn a new welding skill or how to use a particular machine very quickly. He even learned CAD design on his own, so when he dialogs s

with college graduates on a project, he can keep up with them.

Even though welding by it nature is exacting and must conform to plans, Sanchez’s creative juices really flow when he gets the chance to let loose with the artistic. “We take on anything and everything,” he said, but when it comes to the ornamental or creative project, he’s on top of it.

S & S Metals has gone to Dallas and San Antonio to do work. “We go where the money is,” Sanchez said, but he prefers to stay in the Austin area.

One interesting project Sanchez is involved with is upgrading older post office facilities, due to new codes and regulations.

S & S Metals has a robust lineup of services: laser cutting and engraving, metal art and signs, truck accessories, barbecue pits and custom furniture.

Right now, the big trend in both commercial and residential worlds is the raw, unrefined look. Folks want to see the welds and the rust for that industrial, weathered appearance. They want it to look rough and aged. Sanchez enjoys the give-and-take between a client’s sometimes-unrealistic expectations and what can be actually made. “But we always find common ground,” he said.

S & S Metals employs six other men, and Sanchez is very aware of his role of being a business owner who is responsible for others and their families. “It’s tons and tons of responsibility,” he said.

But as long as he can do what loves, it’s all good for Sanchez.

S & S Metals is in Round Rock. -dsz

Submitted to Construction News

Round-Up

L-R: Angel Velazquez, Ignacio Perez, David Thomas and Kyle Shelton with Austin Rent Way in their yard. -cmw

Association Calendar

Content submitted by Associations to Construction News ABC Associated Builders & Contractors Dec. 5: ABC Holiday Party, Abel’s on the Lake, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., 5-8pm. For more info, call Amy Grace Torres at 512719-5263 Email amy@abccentraltexas.org AGC Associated General Contractors Dec. 11: Holiday Party, Zach Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd., 5:30-8:30pm. For more info, contact Toni Osberry at 512-442-7887 AIA American Institute of Architects Dec. 14: Holiday Party, 6:30pm. For more info, go to www.aiaaustin.org ASSP American Society of Safety Professionals Dec. 11: Construction Meeting, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), 8868 Research Blvd. #502, 11:30am. For more info, go to www.centraltexas.assp.org CTSA Central Tx Subcontractors Assn Dec. 11: Holiday Dinner, Oasis at Lake Tra-

vis, 6550 Comanche Trail, 5:30-8pm. For more info, contact Wendy Lambert at 512-255-6373 NARI Nat’l Assn of the Remodeling Industry Dec. 6: BMC Holiday Party, BMC Design Center, 2106 Denton Dr. For more info, email tricia.hickman@buildwithbmc.com NAWIC Nat’l Assn of Women in Construction Dec. 5: Chapter Dinner Meeting & Holiday Party, Pappasito’s Cantina, 6513 N. IH35, 5:30-8:30pm. For more info, contact Taryn Ritchie at 512-658-6573 or email taryn.ritchie@ryancompanies.com SEAot Structural Engineers Assn of Tx Dec. 6: Chapter Meeting, Maggiano’s Little Italy, 10910 Domain Dr., #100. For more info, call 512-301-2744

Tala Matchett has joined the Structure Tone Southwest as the company’s new V.P. of Business Development in Austin.

With a background of experience that extends across sectors, Matchett is especially experienced in the design and construction of healthcare facilities in both urban and rural communities across Texas. –cmw Steven L. Biegel, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP has joined PLACE Designers as the firm’s Architecture Department Director. A graduate of Syracuse University with degree in architecture, Biegel has designed and/or directed A/E teams on more than 600 buildings and residence in the US including the renovation of the U.S. Pentagon in Arlington, VA. -cmw

Merry

Pape-Dawson Engineers welcomes new Practice Leader Scott Dukette, P.E. He will help promote and manage the firm’s transportation services. Dukette has 35 years experience in a wide-range of projects from municipal to private. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas. –cmw

Round-Up Submissions

Submit Info & Photo: AustinEditor@ConstructionNews.net (210) 308-5800 Brief company announcements of new or recently promoted personnel, free of charge, as space allows.

Page 18

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Helping hands

A

Top L-R: Frank Castillo, Maxi Corbin-Trujillo Bottom L-R: Phillip Centorbi, James Ax and Ed Green

friendly face awaits you at Safe Way Rental Equipment Company.

They have been helping customers in Austin for over 60 years. The beloved Allen Rundell established the family owned Safe Way Rental in Jan. 1954. The Rundell family brought up their company as a family oriented one. Allen Rundell passed away in 2002, and his legacy is now lead by the owners/stepbrothers Dale Rundell and Terry Norris.

Their service manager at the Manchaca location is Frank Castillo. Castillo joined the company after retiring from the Air Force in May 1978. The company was originally located in downtown Austin. “Our motto back in the ‘70s and ‘80s was ‘Help Austin Grow,’” said Castillo.

Today they continue to do so with their two convenient locations in Manchaca and Round Rock. “Our customers love coming out here instead of having to go downtown and fight all the traffic and hassle that comes with being downtown,” he said. It was actually Dale Rundell who found their current location in

Manchaca. “Dale and Terry have carried on the torch.”

Whether a customer comes in for rental, sales or service Safe Way Rental employees are always ready to help. If you are buying equipment or brining in your own, Safe Way Rental will assist customers in servicing or repairing the equipment. Customer relations are a big part of the company. “Our customer service is one of our big factors and people do see that. To help out the customer we will go back to the original cost that they had for the daily rental and adjust that. It might be $5 dollars or $30, but they appreciate us working with them,” explained Castillo.

The employees enjoy their camaraderie together and are treated to breakfast tacos on Fridays. Those little things mean a lot to the employees. Safe Way Rental has been around for a long time and strives to keep going.

Safe Way Rental Equipment is located in Manchaca and Round Rock. –lv

Bing

H

Richard Bingham, owner of R.E.R Austin

e’s seen bobcats on a job site.

“They came running right up to the fence that was near me. I was happy there was a fence there, but I don’t think that will stop a big cat,” said Richard Bingham, owner of R.E.R Austin.

This was when Bingham was working a job in a residential area where there was a wooded area as well. “There are bobcats in Texas in many places that a lot of people don’t realize.”

Bingham started his company in 2013. He’s an Austinite because he’s been there for over 30 years. That is why he chose to start his company in good ol’ Austin. R.E.R Austin is a construction remodeling company that offers landscaping, paver patios, driveways, walkways, fencing and interior and exterior home remodeling. They do a little bit of commercial. “We’ve gotten into doing maintenance work for condos or apartment units,” said Bingham. Most of the work comes from referrals.

So, how did Bingham get involved with the construction industry? He was born into it. “Both my grandparents owned restaurants. My father owned a welding company and I worked for all of

them. I branched out into both construction and restaurant management. Then I decided to go work for myself and put together all the construction knowledge that I gained,” Bingham explained. In fact, he worked in the welding industry for 15 years.

Today, it is just Richard as a full-time employee. However, he does hire people as needed and will built a crew depending on the job. Recently they have been working on large condo complexes in Round Rock and Pflugerville. “One of the biggest jobs we did was a paver driveway and walkway. We excavated a concrete driveway and put in a paver patio driveway. Here in Austin the ground moves a lot, so a lot of concrete will become cracked. Paver patios will eliminate a lot of that cracking because they repair a lot easier rather than tearing out the whole driveway and putting in a new one.”

Bingham continues to service Austin.

His service area also includes, Kyle, Buda, Driftwood, Pflugerville and Hutto. R.E.R has seen quite a bit of construction, but let’s not forget bobcats too.

R.E.R Austin is a construction-remodeling contractor in Austin, TX. –lv

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018

Page 19

Did someone say R&R?

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L-R: Manuel Gonzalez and Dennis Perrien ready to get to work.

he team at R&R Ditching Service Inc has over 100 years of combined experience in the telecommunications construction industry. Their owner and president, Randy Moe, has persevered through the challenges in the industry to reach the success they have today.

Randy started the company in 1980 after graduating high school. He grew up in Austin and Pflugerville. They were incorporated in Dec. 1981, and their roots are in Manor, TX. Randy’s wife, Debbie Moe, is their secretary/treasurer. She said, “Most of our employees live in Austin and surrounding communities. This area between Manor and Elgin was an excellent choice for our shop and construction yard.” Also a part of their team is Mavis Takatsuka, office manager; Robin Griffin, operations manager; Manuel Gonzalez, aerial supervisor and Dennis Perrien, underground supervisor.

R&R Ditching Service Inc has over 35 years of experience in the utility construction industry. They continue to service the entire central Texas area. “R&R

Ditching is a one stop turnkey outside plant construction service provider for buried, aerial and underground cable and structure plant,” added Debbie.

Ninety-five percent of their business is for AT&T. “Almost all of our work is in establishing new communications in construction in these growing areas in Austin.”

As the central Texas area continues to grow, their area in Manor is no different. A new neighborhood community is coming soon and will be built right behind the R&R Ditching office. The company will likely be working on some of the jobs to get the community started.

Randy has formed a solid team and their work ethic is vigorous. The guys work 40-60 hours a week in the hot or cold Texas weather. “Their dedication to craft is such an admirable quality.” Randy enjoys cooking a meal of brisket, sausage and beans for his team during Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Yum!

R&R Ditching Service Inc is a utility contractor in Manor, TX. –lv

From stormy to clear

T

Enviroscapes Solutions owner Bill Fitzpatrick

he wet nature of the fall season makes it a busy time for storm water management services.

“With the water comes the phone calls,” said Bill Fitzpatrick, owner of Enviroscapes Solutions, a storm water management company specializing in water quality ponds compliance, maintenance, renovation and new construction.

Fitzpatrick explained their maintenance services are similar to landscape maintenance and, while it may not be the most glamorous job, it is certainly work that has to be done. It is also a job that keeps things looking clean, as they remove trash and debris. In Austin, every development requires having some type of water quality detention or retention pond.

Enviroscapes, established in 2008, is based in Cedar Park and services the whole metro Austin area.

“I’ve even gone to do jobs in San Antonio,” said Fitzpatrick. “In 2010, there was one job in Georgetown that was under construction in the fall and it was full of cattails and willows. It was 18in. of

standing water where it shouldn’t be.

Then when we had finished getting it all out, right in the middle of construction, a tropical storm came through and dumped near 14in. on us. We had prepared for it to get things back on track and we were able to handle that rain. We were back in business in three days after that big rain hit.”

Fitzpatrick says his wife Shannon Fitzpatrick, who also works within the company, handles the books and marketing. The Fitzpatricks also have three boys, two of which have worked with their father.

This year Enviroscapes Solutions celebrates 10 years of business! Fitzpatrick acknowledges that his background is how he came to start this company.

“In 2007, I got laid off, so I had to find something else. Having done the water quality ponds, I decided I could do that and have been doing it for 10 years now,” he said.

Enviroscapes Solutions is a storm water management company in Cedar Park, TX. –lv

Page 20

Austin Construction News • DEC 2018