Section

Materials

Information and guides on different construction and building materials, including their properties and uses.

A large, modern Central Utility Plant under construction at the University of Kentucky, highlighting the $580 million investment and joint venture effort.

Walsh-Turner JV to build $580M UK Central Utility Plant

The University of Kentucky is set to build a new 100,000 square-foot Central Utility Plant, a $580 million project secured through a complex joint venture and bond financing.

Luis Ortega· Jun 19· 3 min
Cross-section of a sustainable home wall with visible layers of eco-friendly insulation materials, emphasizing natural textures and environmental benefits.

Leading Eco-Friendly Insulation Materials for Sustainable Homes

A poorly insulated roof accounts for over 35% of heat loss in a home, according to Thermtest .

Kyle Brenner· Jun 19· 5 min
Expansive Amazon data center campus in rural Missouri, showcasing advanced technology and infrastructure against a twilight sky.

Amazon Unveils $10 Billion Data Center Campus in Missouri

Amazon is pouring $10 billion into a new data center campus in rural Missouri, an investment so vast it will directly create only 400 permanent jobs.

Luis Ortega· Jun 18· 3 min
Cross-section of a roof truss with properly installed and insulated ductwork, illustrating compliance with ASHRAE standards for energy efficiency.

Meeting ASHRAE Standards for Ductwork in Roof Trusses

A recent audit revealed that 60% of new residential constructions fail to meet ASHRAE's minimum duct sealing and insulation standards when ductwork is routed through roof trusses, leading to an averag

Kyle Brenner· Jun 12· 3 min
Bechtel construction crew overseeing the initial phase of Micron's massive $100 billion semiconductor factory complex in Clay, New York.

Bechtel to lead initial phase of Micron's $100B NY chip factory

Micron's planned $100 billion semiconductor complex in Clay, New York, will become the largest private investment in New York state's history.

Luis Ortega· Jun 11· 3 min
A modern, sustainable stadium with solar panels and green spaces, symbolizing environmental responsibility in the sports industry.

USGBC Certifies 31 North American Stadiums for Sustainability

Levi’s Stadium, home to the San Francisco 49ers, achieved LEED Gold status in 2014.

Luis Ortega· Jun 9· 3 min
A modern home under construction featuring advanced insulation and sustainable materials, emphasizing energy efficiency and future-forward building practices.

6 Energy Efficient Home Building Materials

A single inch of Polyiso foam insulation can deliver an R-value of up to R-6.

Kyle Brenner· Jun 4· 6 min
A busy construction site at dawn with many workers and cranes, illustrating the high demand for labor in the construction industry.

April 2026 sees highest construction job openings on record

On the last day of April 2026, the construction industry had 259,000 open jobs, marking its highest demand for workers ever recorded.

Luis Ortega· Jun 4· 3 min
A vast, modern data center with glowing servers and intricate cabling, representing the surge in construction driven by AI technology and its economic implications.

Data center construction spending growth surges due to AI

Meta's new data center in Tulsa will support approximately 100 jobs once operational, a stark contrast to the over 1,000 construction workers employed during its build-out, according to The Journal Re

Kyle Brenner· Jun 4· 3 min
Futuristic cityscape with buildings made from innovative sustainable materials, highlighting green roofs and advanced eco-friendly architecture.

Top 10 Innovative Sustainable Building Materials for 2026

The global market for sustainable construction materials is projected to swell to an astonishing USD 907.

Kyle Brenner· Jun 3· 5 min
A construction worker holding a Nextel walkie-talkie, symbolizing the end of an era in construction communication technology.

Nextel's construction communication strategies reshaped industry standards

On June 30, 2013, a communication lifeline for countless construction crews, the Nextel iDEN network, went dark forever.

Kyle Brenner· Jun 1· 3 min
A stylish and busy home entryway featuring a montage of durable flooring options, demonstrating their resilience against heavy foot traffic and potential impacts.

Top 7 Durable Flooring for High-Traffic Areas in 2026

While many assume porcelain tile is the ultimate choice for durability, it can crack or chip from a single heavy impact—a vulnerability modern luxury vinyl options are engineered to overcome.

Kyle Brenner· May 29· 5 min
A sparkling clean concrete patio achieved with minimal effort, showcasing the effectiveness of modern concrete cleaners for extraordinary results.

Find The Best Concrete Cleaners For Extraordinary Results

New concrete cleaning formulations can address old, tough stains with minimal scrubbing, transforming a once-dreaded chore into a surprisingly simple task.

Luis Ortega· May 25· 3 min
A panoramic view of a large-scale construction site with multiple cranes and buildings under development, symbolizing the surge in US construction starts.

US construction starts surge to $1.33T annual rate in April

US construction starts surged to a $1.33 trillion annual rate in April 2026.

Luis Ortega· May 22· 4 min
Turner Construction's impressive headquarters, symbolizing its top ranking on ENR's 2025 list with a commanding $29.2 billion in revenue.

Turner Construction Tops ENR's 2025 List with $29.2B Revenue

Turner Construction's revenue soared 40% to $29.2 billion in 2025, marking its sixth consecutive year as the nation's top contractor.

Kyle Brenner· May 22· 3 min
Interior view of a busy Wegmans grocery store at dusk, showcasing abundant produce and shoppers, representing a successful family-owned business.

Wegmans: 36th Largest US Family Business With $14.3B Sales

Wegmans, the grocery chain, reported $14.3 billion in sales, ranking 36th on Forbes' list of America's largest family-owned businesses.

Luis Ortega· May 21· 3 min
Close-up of a craftsman using a certified insulated level tool on a German construction site, emphasizing precision and compliance with new safety regulations.

German insulated level tool market analysis predicts 2026 growth

Approximately 40% of all insulated level tools currently in use across Germany will become non-compliant with new EU safety regulations taking effect next year, triggering a massive market scramble.

Kyle Brenner· May 18· 3 min
A roll of painter's tape being carefully applied to a wall, symbolizing the strong demand in the construction and renovation materials market.

Global market trends show resilient painter's tape and paint demand

Even as global demand for painter's tape, brushes, and wood stain drives the market towards a projected $250 billion by 2030, manufacturers battle profit margin erosion from raw material costs that ha

Kyle Brenner· May 14· 3 min
A vast, sunlit warehouse filled with organized boxes of machine screws, symbolizing the industrial manufacturing sector and global supply chains.

North America Leads Global Machine Screw Kit Market Trends

The global market for machine screws, integral components in various assemblies, reached $6.

Kyle Brenner· May 12· 4 min
Advanced robotic arms assembling intricate electronic connectors in a futuristic manufacturing facility, highlighting technological innovation and precision.

Electronic connector market projected to reach $168.5B by 2034

The global electronic connector market is projected to nearly double to $168.

Kyle Brenner· May 12· 3 min
Construction worker applying Sikaflex 11 FC+ sealant adhesive from a 300ml cartridge onto a building material.

Sikaflex 11 FC+ Packaging Innovations for Construction Projects

Sikaflex 11 FC+, a ubiquitous sealant adhesive, now comes in distinct 300 ml cartridges (boxes of 12) and 600 ml foil packs (boxes of 20).

Kyle Brenner· Apr 19· 3 min
Workers installing sustainable building materials like mass timber and recycled concrete on a modern construction site, reflecting green technology adoption and cost realities.

Sustainable Building Materials: Analyzing Adoption Trends and Cost Realities

The construction site is changing. A market for green building technology, valued at US$ 32.12 billion in 2024, is rapidly expanding, reshaping everything from concrete pours to insulation.

Kyle Brenner· Apr 4· 6 min
Close-up view of a home wall cross-section with various insulation materials being installed, emphasizing energy efficiency and thermal performance.

Choosing Insulation Materials for Energy Efficiency

Homes in colder climate zones now require R-30 wall insulation, a standard often exceeding traditional fiberglass capabilities.

Kyle Brenner· Sep 14· 4 min
A professional applying a high-tech ceramic sealant to a car's surface in a detailing studio, highlighting the glossy finish and advanced protection.

Protective Coatings and Sealants: What They Are and Challenges

A premium ceramic coating package for a vehicle can cost over $3,500, promising a decade of protection.

Kyle Brenner· Sep 13· 3 min
A stunning, modern skyscraper made of mass timber, highlighting sustainable urban architecture and innovative construction.

Mass Timber and Engineered Wood in Modern Construction

The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) now allows mass timber buildings to reach 18 stories, a significant increase that redefines possibilities for urban construction.

Kyle Brenner· Aug 17· 5 min
Futuristic construction site showcasing advanced structural adhesives bonding large beams, with drones overseeing the precise and innovative building process.

What Are Advanced Construction Adhesives and Why Do They Matter?

The global structural adhesives market, valued at $18.

Kyle Brenner· Aug 13· 6 min
Cross-section of a home wall showcasing advanced building insulation materials, emphasizing thermal efficiency and environmental benefits.

How to Choose Building Insulation Materials: R-Values and Environmental Impact

Composite foam–VIP boards currently offer R-values exceeding 25, a figure that dwarfs the performance of conventional insulation types.

Kyle Brenner· Aug 11· 5 min
A sprawling modern data center adjacent to a high-tech healthcare facility, with construction cranes and drones in the background under a sunrise.

Data Centers and Healthcare Fuel Construction Planning Boost in 2026

Data centers now command 92% of all office-category construction dollars and a staggering 22% of total nonresidential building starts, up from under 2% in 2023, according to ConstructConnect News .

Kyle Brenner· Jun 10· 2 min
Construction workers gathered at the groundbreaking ceremony for the $450 million Philadelphia cancer lab, symbolizing progress in biotech and cancer treatment.

Gilbane Breaks Ground on $450M Philadelphia Cancer Lab

A $450 million investment is transforming a 250,000-square-foot plot in Philadelphia's Bellwether District into a cutting-edge factory for radioactive molecules designed to fight advanced cancers.

Kyle Brenner· May 28· 2 min
Cross-section of a wall assembly showing warm air leaking, condensing into frost on sheathing, and causing hidden rot in a cold climate.

Manage Condensation With Smart Wall Assembly Ideas

In cold climates, air leaking outward through a wall accumulates as frost on sheathing, leading to hidden rot and structural damage before any visible mold appears.

Luis Ortega· May 24· 2 min