In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C Editor John Wyatt talks with Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting on the importance of verified products.

The OSHA Walkaround Rule enacted during the Biden Administration faced major objections from some in the construction trades because it allowed third-party representatives to visually inspect jobsites, regardless of their profession -- or who they are.

“It’s key for our listeners to understand that if OSHA asks for a third party that’s not the contractor to be involved in the walkaround inspection, that they should object,” explained W&C Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, of Adams & Reese, in this brief episode.

Concerns like liability coverage, proprietary rights and materials staging make legitimate arguments for exemptions, and should be utilized, he continued. Listen to the full conversation here.

Websites are a staple for any business, including wall and ceiling contractors, but there’s more to maintaining them than updating them with photos and sales offers. Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, warns contractors that their sites may not be accessible and offers solutions on how to ensure they’re compliant.

Jill Bloom speaks with Ron Rice of CertainTeed Ceilings/Saint-Gobain about his industry leadership and recognition at CISCA Connect 2024, particularly his groundbreaking work on establishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for metal ceilings. Rice also emphasizes the importance of circularity in construction, advocating for smarter material selection, deconstruction, and reuse to support sustainability efforts led by architects, contractors, and manufacturers alike.

Optiline has made ambitious moves to expand beyond its New England territory. Two of its staff discuss this strategy.

In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C’s Jill Bloom speaks with Mike Mazzone of Statewide General Contracting about the evolving construction landscape in Hawaii, where growth is beginning to pick up after a slow few years. Mazzone shares his personal journey into the industry, the company’s shift toward specialty work like stretched fabric systems, and his unique perspective as a contractor based in the islands.

Contractors are often the subject of people’s poor perceptions of the trade and how they treat customers. And in a digital world, people with negative things to say about contractors don’t sit idly by. W&C Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney, partner with Adams & Reese, said it’s becoming more important for contractors to stand their ground and respond to negative emails and text messages about performance, because it’s that documentation that could be the difference between winning and losing in court. Listen to the full conversation now.