{"id":33181,"date":"2020-04-16T16:58:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T20:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?p=33181"},"modified":"2020-04-17T12:13:09","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T16:13:09","slug":"much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Lehigh Cement Co. is temporarily laying off 50 of its 90 local employees. Courtesy Lehigh Cement Co.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BY SUSAN E. CAMPBELL<\/p>\n

Coming out of winter, construction companies were getting ready for building and renovation activity that accelerates with warmer weather. But the coronavirus pandemic has changed things. <\/span><\/p>\n

The state has ordered non-essential projects be put on hold until further notice. The governor\u2019s order also calls for one person at a tome on a work site. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a challenge to keep a safe distance on a job site, which is why the governor put a stop to it,\u201d said Thomas Albrecht Sr., CEO of Hilltop Construction Co. in Hudson Falls. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnly one guy on a site is keeping things going,\u201d said Albrecht. \u201cSo my cup is half full.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Albrecht continued to pay all staff until April 2, when they became eligible for unemployment compensation. Some have been with the company 20 years and he expects \u201c100 percent of them to return. Their jobs will be there,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe compensate well and promote a good environment to work in,\u201d Albrecht said. He is \u201csaddened\u201d by the developments. <\/span><\/p>\n

Even if more workers at a site were possible, Albrecht said his company and others would still be \u201cgetting inundated with materials delays.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe supply chain can be disruptive,\u201d said Doug Ford, vice president in charge of sales and purchasing at Curtis Lumber Co. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome truckers from Canada are not comfortable coming into the States,\u201d said Ford. \u201cManufacturing of all kinds was shut down in Pennsylvania and that has had an impact.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Many such operations in Pennsylvania \u201cwere since deemed essential and are coming back,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Like the other administrative positions at Curtis Lumber, Ford has been working from home. This the first time he has done so in 25 years with the company, he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

The inside of Curtis shops are closed to all customers, but pick-up is available. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout half the staff are on site in our stores, including materials handlers and front-line staff,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have had no layoffs.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

At the headquarters in Ballston Spa, where Ford and about 200 other administrative personnel work in a separate building, there are kitchen and bath showrooms where customers usually browse for ideas and place their orders. Now personnel assist clients by using their tablets and cell phones to show what items look like so that they can make selections by video, Ford said. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne positive thing that may come out of this crisis is that the industry is exploring technology that it was not using a few months ago,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Another is the positive atmosphere among employees. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe employees are looking out for one another and have the sense that we are in this together,\u201d Ford said. <\/span><\/p>\n

At Lehigh Cement Co. in Glens Falls, David Creyer, plant manager, said due to the tremendous slowdown in construction projects throughout the New England region the company was forced to temporarily discontinue most of the cement making operations, as well as its quarry operations in the Town of Moreau. <\/span><\/p>\n

He said the finish cement grinding operations in Glens Falls would continue at this time, \u201cand we will continue to meet our customers\u2019 needs using the large quantities of cement we currently have on site. As a result of these actions, Lehigh will be forced to lay off 54 of our 90 local employees. The layoffs are expected to be temporary. <\/span><\/p>\n

He said the company would pay 100 percent of the affected employee\u2019s health insurance upon layoff and is providing assistance in applying for unemployment and other layoff-related benefits. <\/span><\/p>\n

At Precise Painting & Wallcovering serving the Glens Falls area, owner Jay Dickinson is facing his first layoff in 43 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a staff of 18 and have been buried with work we can\u2019t do now,\u201d said Dickinson. <\/span><\/p>\n

He said there have been winters when his company may be short staffed, but this year they were \u201cswamped\u201d up until the crisis. Now he has to limit his workers to one per project, whether interior or exterior, residential or commercial, and regardless of the size of the building. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some homeowners may be nervous about having workers inside their homes for the foreseeable future. But Precise Painting\u2019s high-end clientele this time of year is largely absent. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have second homes and vacation homes in Lake George that we get ready for the owners to move into,\u201d Dickinson said. \u201cUsually we have October through May to touch up cracks and paint and do other maintenance.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

One such home is 70,000 square feet, others may be 10,000 square feet or more. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m figuring out how to get those projects done with only one person,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I am confident we will work our way through.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Dickinson said he is \u201camazed at how the public has responded to how we all should act. Job sites have turned super clean. The staff often gets the flu this time of year, but not this season because of these new practices,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it will be a long time before relaxing these standards of hygiene.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Dickinson\u2019s company is \u201cthe only contractor allowed in Glens Falls Hospital right now,\u201d he said. \u201cWe did the coronavirus command center there.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

He said his estimator is busier than ever. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no limit to what he can bid on,\u201d he said. \u201cHe does bids remotely from home, based on floor plans and parameters he receives electronically.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The professionals all recognize the financial impact on the community as a whole. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy heart aches for the nonprofits who rely solely on gift givers,\u201d Albrecht said. \u201cI can imagine a company that was instrumental in supporting an organization going into survival mode. Everyone is in survival mode right now. You can\u2019t give all your cash away.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe construction industry was in very good shape, both residential and commercial,\u201d said Barry Potoker, executive director of Saratoga Builders Association, a nonprofit trade group. \u201cPrior to the virus, demand was for a lot more building.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe rules of engagement are somewhat unclear, as you would expect,\u201d Potoker said. \u201cThis is a devastating change for residential construction. If projects are unsafe, the sites are to be made safe and then shut down.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSaratoga Builders Association has 160 members who are not just builders, but mortgage companies, lumberyards, HVAC companies, and others affected by new rules,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are many other professions tied to the construction industry with their work trimmed or eliminated. Architects, engineers, real estate agents, attorneys, masons, electricians, plumbers and roofers are among them. <\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile all non-essential construction has been limited to one worker per site, even if only a few days from completion. Potoker said, \u201cHow much can one person get done on a residential home?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Potoker said that the 25th annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes scheduled for mid-September may be delayed, or worse. <\/span><\/p>\n

The residences showcased, most of which are under contract with a buyer, may not move along unless and until the residential construction mandate is lifted. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are in a holding pattern because these are high-end private homes and deemed non-essential,\u201d Potoker said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Construction trade associations throughout New York have reportedly asked the state to allow residential construction to resume while maintaining strict adherence to the higher safety standards recently imposed. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY SUSAN E. CAMPBELL Coming out of winter, construction companies were getting ready for building and renovation activity that accelerates with warmer weather. But the coronavirus pandemic has changed things. The state has ordered non-essential projects be put on hold until further notice. The governor\u2019s order also calls for one person at a tome on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":33182,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nMuch Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic - Glens Falls Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic - Glens Falls Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BY SUSAN E. CAMPBELL Coming out of winter, construction companies were getting ready for building and renovation activity that accelerates with warmer weather. But the coronavirus pandemic has changed things. The state has ordered non-essential projects be put on hold until further notice. The governor\u2019s order also calls for one person at a tome on […]\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Glens Falls Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-04-16T20:58:44+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-04-17T16:13:09+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/109\/2020\/04\/lehigh-cement-hc.jpg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"745\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"jessewinters\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"jessewinters\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/\",\"name\":\"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic - Glens Falls Business Journal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-04-16T20:58:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-04-17T16:13:09+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#\/schema\/person\/b937a48daf87d7a8bd713a73b5d6a1ae\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/\",\"name\":\"Glens Falls Business Journal\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#\/schema\/person\/b937a48daf87d7a8bd713a73b5d6a1ae\",\"name\":\"jessewinters\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b496e0843f9d888b12500994b6a8562b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b496e0843f9d888b12500994b6a8562b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"jessewinters\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/author\/jessewinters\/\"}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic - Glens Falls Business Journal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic - Glens Falls Business Journal","og_description":"BY SUSAN E. CAMPBELL Coming out of winter, construction companies were getting ready for building and renovation activity that accelerates with warmer weather. But the coronavirus pandemic has changed things. The state has ordered non-essential projects be put on hold until further notice. The governor\u2019s order also calls for one person at a tome on […]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/","og_site_name":"Glens Falls Business Journal","article_published_time":"2020-04-16T20:58:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2020-04-17T16:13:09+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":745,"url":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/109\/2020\/04\/lehigh-cement-hc.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"jessewinters","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"jessewinters","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/","url":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/","name":"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic - Glens Falls Business Journal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-04-16T20:58:44+00:00","dateModified":"2020-04-17T16:13:09+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#\/schema\/person\/b937a48daf87d7a8bd713a73b5d6a1ae"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/much-of-the-construction-industry-at-a-standstill-amid-struggle-with-pandemic\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Much Of The Construction Industry At A Standstill Amid Struggle With Pandemic"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/","name":"Glens Falls Business Journal","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#\/schema\/person\/b937a48daf87d7a8bd713a73b5d6a1ae","name":"jessewinters","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b496e0843f9d888b12500994b6a8562b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b496e0843f9d888b12500994b6a8562b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"jessewinters"},"url":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/author\/jessewinters\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33181"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/196"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33181"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33181\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33183,"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33181\/revisions\/33183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}