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Inspiration4 min

Pro Tips to Taking Advantage of Extra Time During Slower Building Seasons

As winter approaches, it is typical for there to be a lull in builds and business. With a slower schedule comes the opportunity to maximize your time in ways other seasons don't typically allow for. The ability to grow and adapt your business based on the latest trends and developments is key to your success. What better time to develop new skills or master old ones than the offseason?

Perfect Existing Skills

Using the extra time in your calendar year to learn equips you to return to busier work seasons with more refined skills and higher efficiency. The LP SkillBuilder™ Online Training Hub is a great starting point for pros looking to maximize their time during the offseason and perfect their trade. Even if installing lap siding feels like second nature to you, there are always ways to improve your technique. Choose from courses aimed to help you master your skills and grow your business like How to Measure and Cut Roof Angles, Jobsite Efficiency, and Selling LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding to Homeowners.  

Build New Skills

In addition to refining pre-existing skills, the offseason is a great time to take up a new skill you may have been hoping to add to your skillset. The LP SkillBuilder Online Training Hub offers free videos with walk-throughs on installation instructions along with need-to-know information and siding tips to help you build with confidence. Learn from building professionals like the Kruse Brothers, whose experience and practical advice will give you better insight on subjects such as safety, training and industry best practices.

Strike Inspiration

As busier building seasons taper off, a dive into inspiration might be just the thing you need to refresh your perspective about the work you do. It is not uncommon to emerge from a strenuous building season feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. While some may dread the winter as a stagnant season, others may be longing for a break. Wherever you lie on the spectrum, you're likely due for a strike of inspiration. Research the latest home building trends or newest building technologies to discover products that will help your build stand the test of time. Not sure where to start? Architect’s Corner is an inspiration and product hub designed for creative problem solvers. 

Set Goals

It can be easy to bypass setting company-wide or personal goals when you're spending most of your time on the jobsite. When the winter season lightens your usual workload, consider looking at your work from a business perspective to identify key areas you want to improve or milestones you want to achieve. Maybe you want to build with more sustainable building materials, complete a certain number of builds or take on a complex design project. Whatever your ambitions may be, setting goals and having a strategic plan will give you clear direction and motivation for busier building seasons.

Slower building seasons don't have to be a lull in skill-building. A more open schedule allows for time to focus on learning new skills and finding inspiration for what's to come.

The LP SkillBuilder Online Training Hub provides tools and resources to help you become a pro in any season. Enroll today for free. 

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Business Advice4 min

Choosing Materials: Best Siding for Cold Climates

January and February typically usher in the season's coldest temperatures, bringing the need to use building materials that can withstand frigid temperatures with them. However, it's often the freeze/thaw cycle--cold days followed by quick warm-ups--that can cause significant damage to a home's siding. So, what is the best siding for cold climates to combat this?

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Business Advice4 min
Best House Sheathing for Cold Climates

With temperatures dropping, insulation and protecting new construction against the elements are top of mind. Of course, builders must consider how insulated wall sheathing can help meet code requirements and contribute to the overall performance of the building envelope. However, they must also carefully consider potential moisture problems both during and after the build and the potential impacts of freeze/thaw cycles. With the season of potential hard freezes followed by fast warm-ups upon us, let's explore methods for choosing the best house sheathing for cold climates.

Business Advice5 min
Building a House During Winter: Cold Weather Construction Safety Tips

With housing demand at an all-time high, builders do not have the ability to halt home construction during the winter months. Builders can work safely year round, even building houses during winter with planning and preparation. Advanced products and installation methods allow work to be performed during wet and very cold temperatures, but builders also need to consider winter safety for construction workers.

Business Advice4 min
Engineered Wood Siding in Multifamily Developments

Engineered wood siding has long been considered a trustworthy exterior product for single-family homes, but it is often overlooked for multifamily and commercial construction. LP® SmartSide® products are versatile enough for a range of builds beyond traditional single-family homes. Take a look at the homes featured in Madison Parade of Homes for siding inspiration and to see how LP SmartSide Trim & Siding might suit your building needs.