Masonry Magazine March 2004 Page. 70
MCAA News
Customer Trust continued from page 54
"The study shows that it is just as important to have the right business management skill set and processes as it is to have the ability to lay a foundation and finish a job."
Customer Satisfaction Ratings
The Intuit study found that contractors are generally succeeding in keeping their customers happy. The survey revealed:
* 94% of businesses would recommend their construction firm.
* 84% of homeowners said they would recommend their contractor.
* Approximately 60% of those commercial and residential customers trust the firms with which they hired/do business.
Commercial and residential customers also agreed on their main reasons for dissatisfaction. A total of 56% of residential and 40% of commercial customers cited job quality as their primary reason for dissatisfaction. Other key factors included low productivity and efficiency, and both groups felt that construction firms need to do a better job communicating with them. In fact, 41% of commercial businesses wanted more clarity and promptness in the communications from their construction firm.
More information on Intuit Master Builder is available at http://masterbuilder.intuit.com. For more information on QuickBooks: Contractor Editions, visit www.usequickbooks.com/contractor.
Tuckpointing Routers
Newly developed tuckpointing router allows you to work in any direction without damaging the bricks. The tip of the router is made in full carbide and is reversible and exchangeable. The router fits on small grinders and should be used together with Danish Tool's safety shield, which allows for adjustment of the working depth of the router and for the attachment of a vacuum cleaner to evacuate dust.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Danish Tool Shop
www.danishtoolshop.com
info@danishtoolshop.com
CIRCLE 270 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Firewalls Missing in Devastating California Wildfires
In October 2003, California wildfires blazed through Ventura County, just north of Los Angeles. News reports indicated that among the devastating effects were 22 lost lives, more than 3,600 destroyed homes and over 750,000 burned acres of land. Even more devastating is that much of the damage could have been prevented or contained if fire-resistant concrete masonry firewalls and exterior walls had been used in construction of the homes. Wildfires like this demonstrate how fragile homes are constructed today.
The use of concrete masonry in construction for fire containment walls limits the spreading of fires when they do occur it is noncombustible and maintains its structural integrity during a blaze. A balanced design concept promotes a comprehensive approach to fire safety that includes three components: 1) compartmentalization to limit fire spreading by using noncombustible walls and floors; 2) automatic detection such as smoke detectors and 3) automatic sprinklers to suppress the fire until it can be extinguished.
Consumers are demanding greater levels of protection and architects, engineers and building code officials must comply if homeowners are to have a greater chance of protecting their homes and more importantly, surviving a fire.
For more information on fire safety, contact the National Concrete Masonry Association at (800) 366-7731 or visit www.nema.org.
Index to Advertisers
MP 33
800.000 11 AM 45
37 В 13 S 42 C
800.245.3544 17 C 51
35 Сни 10 с Рос 44 GU
15 29P 3
20. 21 10
34 47 S 23
1 SPEC MIL 38 Ст 45 ное
40 P 30 L 27 MCAA-Menbership
33 M 20 ALLC
25 'S 20 47
56 Masonry
March 2004
www.masoncontractors.org