November 9, 2026

Weekly Tip: Share a case study of a failed recovery project (with the permission of the homeowner, of course). Highlight the mistakes that were made and the lessons that were learned. This can be a powerful way to educate your clients and to prevent them from making the same mistakes.

How This Helps Your Business: Demonstrates your honesty and transparency, builds trust with potential clients, and can help you avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

How This Helps Make Your Community Resilient: Helps homeowners and contractors learn from the mistakes of the past, which can lead to better outcomes in the future.

MORE INFO: What Went Wrong? Turning Failed Recovery Projects into Valuable Lessons

Not every disaster recovery project goes according to plan. Some experience significant delays, unexpected costs, insurance disputes, poor workmanship, or communication breakdowns that leave homeowners frustrated and struggling to move forward.

While successful projects demonstrate what works, troubled projects can reveal just as much about how to improve the recovery process. Understanding why a project failed, what warning signs were missed, and what could have been done differently helps contractors strengthen their operations and avoid repeating costly mistakes.

This week, consider sharing a case study of a recovery project that encountered serious problems. The goal is to identify practical lessons that other contractors and homeowners can apply.

Here’s how to turn a failed recovery into a useful case study:

• Explain the original situation. Describe the disaster damage, the planned repairs, the expected timeline, and the homeowner’s needs. Establish what a successful outcome would have looked like.
• Identify where things went wrong. Was the original scope incomplete? Were hidden damages discovered too late? Did insurance disagreements delay construction? Were subcontractors unavailable or materials difficult to obtain? Explain the problems clearly.
• Examine the root causes. Look beyond the immediate setback. For example, a project delayed by an insurance dispute may have suffered from incomplete documentation, unclear responsibilities, or inadequate communication early in the process.
• Recognize the warning signs. Identify problems that could have been detected earlier, such as unrealistic estimates, missing permits, vague contracts, inconsistent progress reports, or unqualified contractors.
• Explain the consequences. Describe how the problems affected the project timeline, budget, workmanship, or homeowner. Use actual figures and timelines when available, without exaggerating the impact.
• Share what should have been done differently. Recommend specific improvements, such as better initial inspections, clearer contracts, more thorough documentation, regular homeowner updates, or stronger subcontractor oversight.
• Show what changed afterward. Explain how your company improved its procedures, training, quality controls, or communication practices as a result of the experience.

An effective case study focuses on understanding the failure and preventing similar problems. Avoid assigning blame without evidence or making accusations against homeowners, insurers, subcontractors, or other parties.

Always obtain the homeowner’s permission before sharing identifiable project information. Remove sensitive financial details, personal information, and confidential insurance documents. If the project involves an unresolved dispute or potential litigation, obtain appropriate legal guidance before publishing.

Business impact

Sharing lessons from difficult projects demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Prospective customers want contractors who recognize problems early, communicate clearly, and take responsibility for finding solutions. Explaining how your company has improved its processes can help establish credibility and differentiate your business.

These case studies are also valuable internal training tools. Reviewing project failures with your team can reveal weaknesses in estimating, scheduling, documentation, subcontractor management, and customer communication.

Turning those findings into updated procedures can reduce preventable delays, improve project performance, and help protect profitability.

Community impact

Disaster recovery is particularly challenging because homeowners often face financial pressure, displacement, insurance uncertainty, and difficult decisions about rebuilding.

When contractors share lessons from troubled recovery projects, they help homeowners recognize warning signs and ask better questions before hiring someone or approving repairs.

Other contractors can also benefit by learning which practices created problems and how those problems could have been prevented.

Better documentation, realistic project expectations, qualified construction professionals, and consistent communication can help reduce unnecessary setbacks during future disasters.

When these lessons are shared throughout the industry, communities become better equipped to manage recovery and rebuild successfully.

You should know: Burgess Construction Consultants provides construction consulting expertise that can help contractors understand project quality, construction practices, and issues that contribute to project failures.

Alchemy Insurance Solutions offers an insurance perspective that can help contractors better understand coverage-related considerations and risk management. StrucSure Home Warranty provides warranty and risk management resources relevant to construction quality, workmanship, and homeowner protection.

These perspectives can help contractors examine recovery challenges from multiple angles and identify improvements that reduce the likelihood of future problems.

A practical starting point: Identify one recovery project that experienced a significant setback, even if the project was eventually completed successfully.

Gather the original scope, project timeline, documentation, and relevant communications. Then answer four questions:

1. What went wrong?
2. What was the underlying cause?
3. What could have prevented the problem?
4. What have we changed to ensure it doesn’t happen again?

Use those answers to create a short, anonymized case study for your team. With the homeowner’s permission, consider sharing the lessons publicly through your website, social media, or customer education materials.

The most valuable lesson from a failed recovery is what you do differently afterward. By examining mistakes openly and sharing what you’ve learned, you can build a stronger business, help homeowners avoid preventable problems, and improve disaster recovery throughout your community.

VIDEOS

November 2, 2026

Weekly Tip: Share a case study of a successful recovery project that you have completed. Highlight the challenges that you faced, the solutions that you implemented, and the lessons that you learned.

How This Helps Your Business: Demonstrates your expertise and experience, builds trust with potential clients, and can lead to new business opportunities.

How This Helps Make Your Community Resilient: Provides a roadmap for other contractors and homeowners to follow, which can help to speed up the recovery process after a disaster.

MORE INFO: Learning from the Past: Turn a Successful Recovery into a Roadmap for Others

Every successful disaster recovery project has lessons worth sharing. Behind the finished repairs are decisions about damage assessment, documentation, materials, scheduling, insurance, and communication that helped a homeowner get back into a safe, functional home.

For contractors, these experiences are valuable business assets. A well-presented case study demonstrates your capabilities, shows prospective customers how you approach difficult projects, and helps other contractors learn from your experience.

This week, choose a successful recovery project and turn it into a case study that others can learn from.

Here’s how to build a recovery case study that delivers real value:

• Start with the situation. Describe the disaster, the damage, and the homeowner’s immediate needs. Explain the condition of the property when you arrived and the challenges that made the project particularly demanding.
• Document the damage. Include before photos, inspection findings, and the original scope of work. Show how accurate documentation helped establish priorities, communicate with stakeholders, and guide the recovery process.
• Explain the biggest challenges. Identify obstacles such as hidden damage, material shortages, permitting delays, insurance questions, or scheduling conflicts. Be specific about what made the project difficult.
• Show how you solved problems. Describe the decisions, construction techniques, communication practices, or technologies that helped overcome those challenges. Explain why those solutions worked.
• Highlight resilience improvements. If the project included stronger roofing, improved drainage, flood-resistant materials, or other protective upgrades, explain how those improvements can help reduce damage during future disasters.
• Measure the results. Include the project timeline, completed improvements, and other measurable outcomes where available. If you reduced delays, improved coordination, or helped the homeowner return sooner, explain how.
• Share the lessons learned. Identify two or three practices you would repeat on future projects. Include what you would improve, even if the overall recovery was successful.

A useful case study doesn’t need to be lengthy. A few paragraphs, several well-organized photographs, and a clear explanation of the challenges and results can communicate a great deal.

Whenever possible, include the homeowner’s perspective. A short testimonial about the recovery experience can help future customers understand the importance of clear communication, reliable scheduling, and professional support during a difficult time.

Always obtain permission before publishing homeowner photographs, personal information, or project details. Avoid sharing sensitive insurance or financial information without appropriate authorization.

Business impact

Recovery case studies give prospective customers evidence of your experience and problem-solving abilities. Homeowners facing disaster damage want to know that the contractor they hire can manage complicated repairs, communicate effectively, and complete the work.

Documented success stories can strengthen your website, social media, proposals, and referral efforts. They also provide useful examples when speaking with insurance professionals, community organizations, and potential business partners.

Reviewing completed projects internally can improve estimating, scheduling, documentation, and project management. Over time, these lessons can help your team avoid recurring problems and deliver more consistent results.

Community impact

When contractors share successful recovery experiences, they help others understand what effective rebuilding looks like.

Homeowners gain a clearer picture of the recovery process, including common challenges, realistic expectations, and the importance of proper documentation.

Other contractors can learn which practices worked and apply those lessons to future projects. Sharing effective construction methods and resilience improvements can also encourage stronger rebuilding throughout the community.

These experiences become especially valuable after widespread disasters, when many homeowners and contractors face similar challenges simultaneously.

You should know: Fortress Building Products offers building products and project examples that can help illustrate approaches to rebuilding and improving durability after severe weather. Fortified Structural Solutions brings expertise in FORTIFIED construction practices that can help demonstrate how recovery projects incorporate stronger protection against future storms.

CompanyCam provides photo documentation and project organization tools that can help contractors capture the progression of a recovery project. Buildertrend offers construction project management tools for tracking schedules, communications, and project details, making it easier to organize information that can later support a case study.

A practical starting point: Choose one completed recovery project that you’re particularly proud of. Gather five to ten photographs showing the damage, construction process, and finished results.

Then answer four questions:

1. What was the biggest challenge?
2. What solution made the greatest difference?
3. What was the final outcome?
4. What would you recommend to another contractor facing a similar situation?

Turn those answers into a short case study for your website, social media, or customer presentations.

Every successful recovery contains lessons that can help the next family rebuild. By sharing what worked, contractors demonstrate their expertise, improve the recovery process, and help their communities become more resilient.

VIDEOS

October 26, 2026

Weekly Tip: Advocate for increased funding for resilience projects at the local, state, and federal levels. This can include everything from grant programs to tax incentives.

How This Helps Your Business: Can lead to new business opportunities as more funding becomes available for resilience projects.

How This Helps Make Your Community Resilient: Helps to ensure that your community has the resources it needs to invest in resilience and to protect itself from the impacts of climate change.

MORE INFO: The Power of the Purse: How to Advocate for Resilience Funding

Stronger roofs, flood-resistant construction, wildfire protection, and other resilience improvements can significantly reduce the damage homes experience during disasters. But these improvements often come with upfront costs that many homeowners struggle to afford.

Government funding can help close that gap. Grants, tax incentives, low-interest financing, and other programs can make resilient construction more accessible while helping communities prepare for future disasters.

Contractors have an important role in advocating for these investments. You understand what improvements cost, which upgrades make the greatest difference, and what homeowners can realistically afford. Sharing that experience with policymakers can help shape funding programs that deliver meaningful results.

Here are several ways contractors can advocate for greater resilience funding:

• Learn what funding already exists. Research local, state, and federal programs that support disaster mitigation, home hardening, flood protection, and resilient construction. Understanding current resources helps you identify where additional investment is needed.
• Work with your builders association. Local and state home builders associations can provide opportunities to participate in legislative discussions, communicate industry priorities, and support policies that encourage stronger construction.
• Share real project costs. Policymakers need to understand the actual costs of resilient upgrades. Providing examples of roofing improvements, impact-resistant windows, flood mitigation, or wildfire-resistant materials can help demonstrate where financial assistance would make a difference.
• Support grants and incentives. Advocate for programs that help homeowners afford improvements before disasters occur. These might include matching grants, tax credits, rebates, or low-interest financing for qualifying projects.
• Speak at public meetings. City councils, county commissions, and state legislative committees often provide opportunities for public comment. A short explanation of what you see in the field can help decision-makers understand why resilience funding matters.
• Encourage practical program design. Funding programs work best when requirements are clear, application processes are manageable, and qualified contractors can participate. Share suggestions that make programs easier for homeowners and contractors to use.
• Highlight long-term benefits. Explain how investing in stronger homes before disasters can reduce future repair costs, limit displacement, and help communities recover more quickly.

You don’t need to become a full-time advocate to make a difference. A letter to an elected official, a conversation with your builders association, or a few minutes of public testimony can help bring attention to the need for stronger resilience investments.

Business impact

Expanded resilience funding can create new opportunities for contractors by making improvements affordable for homeowners who might otherwise postpone or abandon projects.

Programs supporting fortified roofing, flood mitigation, wildfire protection, and other upgrades can generate demand for contractors with the skills and qualifications to perform this work.

Contractors who understand available programs can also become valuable resources for homeowners exploring their options. Helping customers identify potential funding sources, understand project requirements, and plan eligible improvements can strengthen relationships and build trust.

Keep in mind that funding availability, eligibility requirements, and contractor qualifications vary by program. Understanding those details before making commitments to customers is essential.

Community impact

Resilience funding helps communities invest in protection before the next disaster strikes.

Financial assistance can be particularly important for households that lack the resources to make major improvements on their own. When more homeowners can afford stronger roofs, better flood protection, and other mitigation measures, the benefits can extend throughout neighborhoods.

Investing in resilience can also reduce future demands on emergency services, disaster assistance, and rebuilding resources. Communities with less severe damage are better positioned to keep families in their homes, maintain essential services, and recover more efficiently.

Well-designed funding programs can help ensure that disaster preparedness is accessible to more households, rather than limited to those who can afford significant upgrades without assistance.

You should know: Fortified Structural Solutions brings experience with resilient construction and the FORTIFIED program, providing practical insight into the types of improvements that resilience funding can support. The Association of Professional Builders offers professional education and industry resources that can help contractors strengthen their understanding of business and policy issues affecting the construction industry.

A practical starting point: Contact your local or state home builders association and ask whether any resilience funding proposals, grant programs, or disaster mitigation initiatives are currently being considered.

Identify one improvement you regularly recommend to homeowners that could benefit from financial assistance. Then send a short message to an elected official explaining what the improvement costs, how it protects homes, and why additional funding would help more families make that investment.

When contractors advocate for resilience funding, they help turn stronger construction from an aspiration into an affordable reality. The result is more opportunity for contractors, better protection for homeowners, and communities that are better prepared for the next disaster.

October 19, 2026

Weekly Tip: Invite your local and state elected officials to visit one of your job sites. This is a great way to educate them about the construction industry and to show them the importance of resilient construction.

How This Helps Your Business: Helps you build relationships with key policymakers, gives you a voice in the legislative process, and can lead to new business opportunities.

How This Helps Make Your Community Resilient: Helps to ensure that policymakers are making informed decisions about issues that affect the construction industry and the resilience of your community.

MORE INFO: Bring Policymakers to the Jobsite and Show Them Why Resilience Matters

Elected officials make decisions that directly affect contractors, homeowners, and the safety of entire communities. From building codes and permitting requirements to disaster recovery funding and insurance-related policies, their decisions influence how homes are built, repaired, and protected.

Yet many policymakers have limited firsthand experience with residential construction. They may understand the goals of stronger building standards without fully appreciating the materials, labor, costs, and practical challenges involved in putting those standards into action.

Contractors can help bridge that gap by inviting elected officials to visit an active jobsite. A short, well-organized visit can provide valuable insight into how resilient construction works and why it matters.

Here are several ways to make a jobsite visit productive:

• Invite the right people. Contact your city council members, county officials, state legislators, or their staff. Focus on officials involved in housing, construction, economic development, or disaster preparedness.
• Choose a project that tells a story. A home with a fortified roof, impact-resistant windows, improved drainage, elevated mechanical equipment, or other resilience features provides an opportunity to demonstrate how stronger construction protects homeowners.
• Show the details. Walk officials through specific materials and installation techniques. Explain how each improvement helps a home withstand severe weather, flooding, wildfire, or other local hazards.
• Explain the costs and benefits. Help policymakers understand the additional labor, materials, training, and inspection requirements involved in resilient construction, along with the potential savings from avoiding future damage.
• Discuss real-world challenges. Share examples of permitting delays, workforce shortages, outdated codes, or other obstacles that make it harder for contractors to deliver stronger homes.
• Connect construction to community recovery. Explain how better-built homes can reduce displacement, limit repair needs, and help neighborhoods recover more quickly after disasters.
• Keep the conversation going. Follow up with a thank-you message, photos, or additional information. Offer to serve as a resource when construction-related issues come before policymakers.

A successful visit does not require an elaborate presentation. A 20- to 30-minute walkthrough and a straightforward conversation about what you are building, why it matters, and what could make the process better can leave a lasting impression.

Always coordinate with the property owner, follow jobsite safety requirements, and make sure visitors have appropriate protective equipment.

Business impact

Building relationships with policymakers gives contractors an opportunity to contribute practical expertise to decisions affecting their industry. Officials who understand your work may seek your perspective on proposed legislation, code updates, permitting reforms, or construction-related programs.

These relationships can also strengthen your professional reputation and help you stay informed about policy developments and potential business opportunities. Participation in public discussions demonstrates leadership and a commitment to improving the construction industry.

Community impact

When policymakers see resilient construction firsthand, they gain a better understanding of which improvements provide meaningful protection and what it takes to implement them.

That knowledge can inform stronger building codes, more practical incentive programs, better disaster mitigation investments, and policies that help homeowners access resilient construction solutions.

Contractors also bring an important perspective to disaster recovery planning. Their experience with damaged homes, rebuilding costs, labor availability, and construction timelines can help officials make decisions that support faster, more effective recovery.

You should know: Fortified Structural Solutions brings experience with the FORTIFIED program and the construction practices that help homes withstand severe weather. Its expertise can help illustrate the practical value of stronger building standards and resilience-focused policies. The Association of Professional Builders provides professional education and industry resources that can help builders strengthen their leadership, communication, and engagement with issues affecting the construction industry.

A practical starting point: Identify one local or state elected official and invite them to visit a project where you are incorporating resilient construction features. Keep your invitation simple:

“We’re working on a project that demonstrates how better construction can help protect homes and families from future disasters. I’d welcome the opportunity to show you what we’re doing and discuss how these practices can benefit our community.”

You don’t need to be a policy expert to make a difference. Your firsthand construction experience is exactly the kind of knowledge policymakers need.

When contractors open their jobsites to policymakers, they open the door to better-informed decisions, stronger homes, and more resilient communities.

October 11, 2026

Weekly Tip: Advocate for the adoption of modern building codes that are based on the latest climate science. These codes can help to ensure that new homes and businesses are built to withstand the impacts of climate change, such as more intense storms and wildfires.

How This Helps Your Business: Positions you as a leader in your field, can lead to new business opportunities, and helps you build a reputation as a contractor who is committed to quality and safety.

How This Helps Make Your Community Resilient: Helps to ensure that your community is built to last, which can save lives and property in the event of a disaster.

MORE INFO: Building Better Today for Tomorrow’s Disasters

Building codes establish the minimum standards for how homes and buildings are constructed. But as communities face changing weather patterns, more intense rainfall, stronger storm impacts, and growing wildfire exposure, those standards need to keep pace with the risks.

Modern building codes incorporate advances in building science, engineering, materials, and lessons learned from past disasters. For contractors, understanding and supporting stronger standards is an opportunity to improve the quality of construction, protect homeowners, and help communities avoid costly damage in the future.

There are several areas where updated building standards can make a meaningful difference:

• Wind resistance: Stronger roof-to-wall connections, improved roof attachment, impact-resistant openings, and continuous load paths can help buildings withstand severe storms.
• Wildfire protection: Fire-resistant roofing and siding, ember-resistant vents, and appropriate construction details can reduce a home’s vulnerability to wildfire.
• Flood resilience: Elevating critical equipment, using flood-resistant materials where appropriate, and following updated flood elevation requirements can reduce damage and recovery costs.
• Water intrusion: Better flashing, roof assemblies, drainage, and moisture management can help prevent costly damage during extreme rainfall.
• Structural performance: Updated engineering and construction requirements can improve how buildings respond to local hazards.
• Beyond minimum code: Voluntary standards and programs, such as the IBHS FORTIFIED program, can provide additional protection beyond what local building codes require.

Contractors can influence these improvements by participating in building code discussions, working with local building officials, and sharing practical experience with home builders associations and policymakers. Your knowledge of installation methods, material costs, construction challenges, and real-world building performance can help ensure that stronger standards are both effective and achievable.

Business impact
Staying ahead of building code changes helps contractors prepare for new requirements, avoid compliance problems, and demonstrate expertise to customers. Understanding resilient construction practices can also create opportunities for specialized upgrades, retrofits, certifications, and projects where homeowners want greater protection than minimum code requirements provide.

Contractors who can explain why stronger construction matters may also differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Homeowners increasingly need guidance on which improvements offer meaningful protection and how to prioritize their investments.

Community impact
Stronger building codes can have benefits that extend across entire neighborhoods. When more homes are built or upgraded to withstand local hazards, communities can experience less property damage, fewer disruptions, and reduced demand for emergency repairs after disasters.

Over time, better construction standards can also help protect public resources by reducing the scale and cost of rebuilding. The greatest benefits come when communities adopt appropriate standards and ensure they are consistently implemented.

You should know: Fortified Structural Solutions brings expertise in FORTIFIED construction and certification, helping demonstrate how enhanced building practices can provide additional protection against severe weather. The Association of Professional Builders offers education and professional development resources for builders, while CertainTeed provides building products, technical information, and training that can support code-compliant, resilient construction.

A practical starting point: Find out which edition of the residential building code your community currently uses and whether any updates are being considered. Contact your local building department or home builders association and ask how contractors can participate in the discussion. Then identify one resilience improvement you can begin recommending to homeowners today, even if local codes do not yet require it.

Building stronger communities starts with building better homes. Contractors have the experience and influence to help make that happen.

VIDEOS

October 5, 2026

MORE INFO: Turn Your Jobsite Experience Into a Voice for Resilience

Contractors see the consequences of building decisions firsthand. You know which materials perform, where homes repeatedly fail, which code requirements create real value, and where regulations or funding programs create unnecessary obstacles. That experience can be valuable when communities and states make decisions about building codes, disaster mitigation, insurance, permitting, and recovery.

The challenge is getting that experience into the rooms where decisions are made. Local and state home builders associations, trade organizations, code committees, and other industry groups can give individual contractors a stronger collective voice.

There are several practical ways to get involved:

• Join your local or state builders association: Learn which legislative and regulatory issues they are currently working on.
• Participate in code discussions: Building departments and code organizations need input from professionals who understand how proposed requirements actually work in the field.
• Attend legislative days: Many industry associations organize opportunities for contractors to meet directly with state lawmakers and their staffs.
• Share real examples: A short explanation of what happened to actual homes during a hurricane, wildfire, flood, or other disaster can help policymakers understand where improvements are needed.
• Speak up about incentives: Grants, tax incentives, insurance programs, and other policies can help homeowners afford resilience improvements.
• Build relationships before you need them: Get to know building officials, emergency managers, association leaders, and elected officials before the next disaster or major policy debate.

Business impact
Being involved helps you understand changes that could affect your company before they reach the jobsite. You may gain earlier insight into new codes, permitting requirements, resilience programs, funding opportunities, and construction standards. You also build relationships with industry leaders and public officials who increasingly need experienced contractors when new programs are being developed or implemented.

Community impact
Good resilience policy can influence thousands of homes at once. Stronger building standards, practical mitigation incentives, better permitting processes, and well-designed recovery programs can reduce future damage and help communities rebuild more effectively. Contractors can bring an important perspective to these discussions because they understand both what makes a building stronger and what it actually takes to implement those improvements in the field.

You should know: The Association of Professional Builders provides education and resources that can help builders strengthen their businesses and engage with broader industry issues. CertainTeed brings the perspective of a major building-products manufacturer operating within building codes, product standards, testing requirements, and evolving expectations for building performance.

A practical starting point: Find your local or state home builders association and ask one question: “What resilience, building code, insurance, or disaster-recovery issues are you working on right now?” Then attend one meeting or volunteer for one committee where your field experience can add value. You do not need to become a lobbyist. You need to bring the contractor’s perspective into the conversation.

VIDEOS

September 27, 2026

MORE INFO: Smarter Security for the Modern Jobsite

Tools, equipment, appliances, copper, lumber, and other materials can represent a significant investment sitting on a jobsite, often when nobody is there to protect it. Theft or vandalism can create costs beyond the value of what disappears. Crews can lose productive time, replacement materials may delay schedules, and unauthorized people entering an active construction site can create serious safety and liability concerns.

New security technologies give contractors more ways to monitor jobsites without having someone physically watching them around the clock. The most useful systems combine several layers of protection:

• AI-enabled cameras: Modern systems can distinguish people, vehicles, and unusual activity and send alerts when predefined events occur.
• Drones: Where regulations and site conditions permit, drones can provide aerial visibility across large or difficult-to-monitor properties. They can also help document site conditions and valuable materials.
• Security robots: Mobile units equipped with cameras, lights, sensors, and communications technology can patrol defined areas and provide another set of eyes on larger sites.
• Smart tool and equipment tracking: GPS, Bluetooth, RFID, and other wireless technologies can help contractors locate equipment and identify when tracked assets leave designated areas.
• Remote monitoring: Connected systems allow project managers or security providers to review alerts and site conditions without traveling to the property.
• Digital access control: Connected gates, locks, and entry systems can create a record of who entered a site and when.

Business impact
Better security can help reduce theft, vandalism, downtime, and replacement costs while giving contractors better documentation if an incident occurs. Tracking technology can also solve a more routine problem: equipment that is not stolen but simply cannot be found when a crew needs it.

Security improvements may also be viewed favorably by some insurers, but contractors should ask their broker or carrier which systems qualify for discounts rather than assuming that installing a particular technology will automatically lower premiums.

Community impact
Security becomes especially important during disaster recovery. Rebuilding can put large amounts of equipment and building materials into neighborhoods where properties may be vacant, damaged, or without normal security systems. Theft or vandalism can delay individual projects and consume resources that are already in short supply.

Better monitoring also helps keep unauthorized people away from hazardous work areas. Keeping projects secure and operating on schedule helps contractors move more homes through the recovery process and supports a more orderly neighborhood recovery.

You should know: AUTOTRAK INC and Bedrock Wireless offer technologies related to tracking equipment and assets, an important layer of modern jobsite security. Buildertrend represents the project-management side of the connected jobsite, while Dell Technologies provides computing infrastructure that can support increasingly connected security and monitoring systems.

A practical starting point: Walk one of your jobsites after the crew leaves and look at it from the perspective of someone trying to get in. Identify the equipment or materials you would least want to lose and the areas you cannot easily see. Then choose one vulnerability to address with better lighting, an AI-enabled camera, asset tracking, access control, or another appropriate security measure.

VIDEOS

September 21, 2026

Provide your workers with exoskeletons to help them lift heavy objects and to reduce the risk of injuries. Exoskeletons can also help your workers stay productive for longer periods of time.

MORE INFO: Give Your Crew a Little Extra Muscle

Construction takes a physical toll. Repeated lifting, bending, kneeling, and overhead work can contribute to fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries, especially when workers perform the same demanding movements day after day.

Wearable exoskeletons are designed to reduce some of that physical load. Unlike the powered robotic suits you might picture from science fiction, many construction exoskeletons are relatively simple wearable devices that support a specific part of the body or movement. Depending on the design, they can provide assistance to the shoulders, back, legs, or knees.

Contractors are beginning to encounter several types of wearable support:

• Shoulder and arm support: Useful for prolonged overhead tasks such as electrical work, drilling, painting, and drywall installation.
• Back-support systems: Designed to reduce strain during repetitive lifting, bending, and material handling.
• Knee and leg support: Can assist workers who spend significant time crouching, kneeling, climbing, or working in demanding positions.
• Passive exoskeletons: Use springs, elastic elements, or mechanical structures to redistribute forces without batteries or motors.
• Powered systems: Use motors or other powered components to provide greater assistance for certain demanding applications.

The key is matching the technology to the task. An exoskeleton that helps with overhead work may offer little benefit to someone moving around a jobsite all day. Comfort, mobility, fit, heat, interference with other PPE, and worker acceptance also matter. These devices should complement good ergonomics, lifting practices, job rotation, and appropriate equipment rather than substitute for them.

Business impact
The potential value extends beyond completing a task faster. Reducing physical strain may help workers finish demanding shifts with less fatigue and could help experienced tradespeople remain productive longer in their careers. Fewer strain-related injuries and lost workdays can also mean fewer disruptions to schedules and crews.

There is a recruiting and retention angle as well. Providing tools that reduce unnecessary wear on employees sends a clear message that protecting skilled workers is part of how you run the company.

Community impact
After a disaster, construction demand can increase quickly and remain elevated for months or years. That puts additional pressure on an already limited skilled workforce. Technologies that help reduce worker fatigue and physical strain can support the capacity needed to repair more homes and infrastructure while protecting the people doing the rebuilding.

A practical starting point: Do not outfit your entire crew on day one. Identify one physically demanding, repetitive task such as overhead drilling, drywall installation, or material handling. Find an exoskeleton designed specifically for that movement and let the workers who actually perform the task test it. Their experience will tell you whether the technology deserves a bigger role on your jobsites.

VIDEOS

September 14, 2026

MORE INFO: Let Robots Handle the Repetition

Construction robotics are becoming increasingly practical for tasks that are repetitive, physically demanding, or require the same motion hundreds of times. The goal is simple: use machines where automation makes sense and keep skilled workers focused on the work that requires experience, judgment, problem solving, and craftsmanship.

Robotic and automated systems are already being developed and deployed for jobs such as bricklaying, rebar tying, layout, drilling, drywall finishing, painting, material movement, demolition, and site preparation. For contractors, the opportunity is to look at where crews spend significant time performing predictable tasks and determine whether technology can reduce that workload.

Good places to look for automation include:

• Highly repetitive work: Tasks involving the same movement or process throughout the day.
• Physically demanding work: Activities involving lifting, bending, carrying, overhead work, or other repetitive strain.
• Precision work: Layout, measurement, drilling, and other activities where consistent positioning matters.
• Material handling: Moving heavy or bulky materials around the site.
• Debris removal: Getting waste out of the work area quickly so skilled workers can keep moving.
• Hazardous environments: Tasks where automation can reduce worker exposure to unstable structures, dust, debris, heights, or other risks.

Business impact
The biggest opportunity may be increased capacity. If automation reduces the hours your skilled workers spend on repetitive tasks, those workers can focus on quality control, detailed installation, troubleshooting, supervision, and customer communication. Robotics can also help reduce physical wear on experienced employees, an important consideration when skilled labor is already difficult to find and retain.

For most contractors, this does not mean buying an expensive robot tomorrow. Some technologies can be rented, subcontracted, or brought onto specific projects through specialized providers. The first step is understanding what is available and whether the economics make sense for your workload.

Community impact
Robotics could become particularly valuable during disaster recovery, when the amount of construction work can increase dramatically while qualified labor remains limited. Automated equipment can help with debris removal, site preparation, material handling, assessment, and repetitive rebuilding tasks. Increasing the amount of work each crew can safely manage can help more properties move through the recovery process.

You should know: Equipter develops equipment designed to make debris management and cleanup more efficient on jobsites, while Combilift specializes in material-handling solutions that can help contractors move difficult loads more efficiently. Automist demonstrates another side of construction automation: using smart technology to perform important building functions with less dependence on manual intervention.

A practical starting point: Ask your crew one question: “What repetitive task eats up the most time or wears you out the most?” Pick the most common answer and research whether a robotic, automated, or mechanized solution already exists. You may find that the best first use of robotics is solving one very specific problem that your team deals with every day.

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