What have we learned?

2020. The year of COVID. Riots. Shutdowns. Elections. As I reflect on 2020, our story probably reflects that of many other contractors. Winter was mild, and while we always work through the winter, this year was exceptionally easy! Then March… The drumbeat of COVID grew louder. In rapid succession, we saw shutdowns in Pennsylvania (where I live) and across the country. Landscaping was deemed essential, and thus we were permitted to continue working... MORE

Working with strippers in Reno (cleaners & sealers too)

Contractor Andrew Vear started a paver cleaning, sealing and restoration company as a business opportunity for his son, and as a retirement vehicle for himself. Andrew says with paver maintenance they can generate almost the same amount of net profit as they could doing installation. But he says the key is residual income. “Paver maintenance is a really good residual income business. It’s something that I could easily hand down”... MORE

The PPP problem for contractors

The problem with the government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is that it pumped a bunch of cash into companies that operated on puny little net profits. It postponed the business failure of the weakest competitors, the lowballers. If your profits are puny, get yourself a healthy dose of business education with your PPP money. This could be the last chance you get to fix your financial future. Financial education is the success key... MORE

Training can make your company exceptional

Training employees has been one of the keys to the success of my company. Without our focus on training, we would not be doing the large involved projects we do, our profits would not be as high and our employees’ pride in their work wouldn’t be near where it is today. Even if a well-trained employee eventually leaves, at least we will have the benefit of increased productivity while he was with our company... MORE

Next level tools for hardscaping

My father always likes to remind me how they used to set 4’ granite stairs by hand. Today I set those stairs with a powered suction tool attached to my mini-excavator while I sit in the air conditioned cab with the radio playing. For this article I’d like to tell you about some “next level tools” that we use on our job sites... MORE

Contractor Profiles

Working to be the best

October/November 2020

Working to be the best

Focusing on efficiency, education and building a small, quality crew. MORE

Stone weathers Lake Michigan storms

August/September 2020

Stone weathers Lake Michigan storms

Award-winning "crazy quilted" natural stone paver project designed to take on high waves. MORE

Finding a happy place

June/July 2020

Biggest challenge is minimizing challenges

Contractor finds peace & profits transitioning to hardscape with a smaller, diverse, skilled crew. MORE

Lake work walls, permeables & cranberries

April/May 2020

Lake work walls, permeables & cranberries

Waterfront properties comprise 99% of Progressive’s work so they do lots of retaining walls and permeable pavers. MORE

See More Contractor Profiles

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