Washington, DC - Commercial construction is in high demand across the country and contractors are confident in the trajectory of the industry, according to the newly launched USG + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index. Nearly all contractors surveyed - 96 percent - expect revenues to grow or remain stable this year compared to 2016, with 40 percent expecting an increase and only 3 percent expecting a decrease in revenue. More 

Washington, DC - Design services at architecture firms continue to project a healthy disposition on the construction industry as the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) recorded the fourth consecutive month of growth. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the May ABI score was 53.0, up from a score of 50.9 in the previous month. More 

"Whether you experience the consistent climate of the Southwest, or the ever-changing Midwest weather, the sun is mostly viewed as a positive contribution to our lives," writes Jeff Alexander of the Valspar Corporation in his latest column for DesignandBuildwithMetal.com. But, as Alexander notes, the sun rays can wreak havoc on building exteriors. Fortunately, with high-quality paint coatings, metal claddings can resist the sun's harmful effects for decades . More