The contractors developing AI tools

Successful contractors are always learning. This week’s issue includes educational opportunities, plus what  one residential concrete company is doing to stay competitive in this downturn. Plus, how to  keep crews safe and make the most of tight margins in an unpredictable market. But first: Why those quintessential American work pants are called "jeans."

>>  On the level. Tell me you’ve done a good job without telling me you’ve done a good job. This construction Redditor left a level on a recent work in progress to low-key show off the job’s quality.

>>  I’ll have what he’s having. Meet Chaz Arro, the foreman who’s made a name with jobsite #lunchcheck videos.

>>  Everybody’s a comedian. Need a joke for today’s huddle or toolbox talk? Lay this groaner on them.

>>  What’s left to learn? We all know it’s righty tighty lefty loosey, but have you ever thought about why? Contractor Alexandra McNamara has.

Survival mode isn’t passive—it’s tactical for this Colorado concrete company

Welham Concrete, based in Brighton, Colo., has been pouring foundation walls across the Front Range since 1993. At its peak, the company ran 50 employees and delivered 15 homes a week—no website, no ads, just reputation. In this town, they’re on every bid list that matters. Even so, in this latest downturn they’re now down to one or two homes a week.

Owner Blaze Welham is leading a smaller crew through a slower, tougher market—but he’s not standing still. He’s adjusting the business, staying lean and betting on discipline over desperation.

For builders navigating the same headwinds, this conversation offers the real playbook: cut mistakes, control overhead, protect your people and wait for the turn. And the right moves now can mean coming back stronger than ever. -Bianca Prieto

You were building 15 homes a week in 2018. Now you’re at one or two. What’s been the hardest part of that shift?
The stress, honestly. Laying off good people, guys who’ve been with us for years, that’s been the toughest part. There’s this constant uneasy feeling. You’re trying to keep equipment stored, find enough work for the crew and manage your own headspace. It all adds up.

But slowing down has also let us focus on teaching more because we have time to do so. I’ve gotten back into sales, reaching out to everyone I can. We’re chasing big contracts again with up to 1,000 homes. Once one of those kicks off, it opens the door to a lot of work fast.

Have you added or changed services to stay busy during the slowdown?
We’ve had to. We’re doing flatwork and slabs for homeowners who already have a place and want to fix it up. We’re even doing some landscaping and fencing too—anything to keep our guys from having to find other jobs. We are doing jobs we never would’ve taken before and we’re being more flexible than we used to be. When we’re slammed, we don’t have time for that. But now, it helps fill the gap and keeps us building.
I’m bidding every project that comes across my desk—four a month, easy. We’ve got 10 housing developments in the pipeline, but only doing one or two homes a week. Just a few years ago, we were at 10 a week.

What are developers and general contractors asking from you in this environment?
Everyone’s asking us to cut costs. We’ve had to lower bids eight to 10 percent just to help them with margins. It’s just one of those times where everybody takes a hit. The goal is to keep things moving, survive the slowdown and be ready when the market comes back.

What’s helping you stay efficient right now?
Fortunately, materials haven’t been a major issue. Rebar prices are up a little, but nothing too bad. Our biggest strength is in the crews. We’ve kept our foremen working and a few laborers. When things pick back up, we’ve still got the people and leadership to ramp up fast. These are guys I trust, and they’ve stuck with us. My nephew’s our construction supervisor, and my son’s in the office managing operations. Having a family operation that I trust allows me to go out and find more work for our guys. We’re small, but we’re solid.

If you could give other construction pros one piece of advice from this year, what would it be?
Double- and triple-check everything. When margins are tight and prices are down, you can’t afford mistakes. One error can wipe out the whole job.
And when times are good, pay everything off. A lot of guys ride the wave, rack up debt, and then they’re stuck when the slowdown hits. You need working capital. If you’re just breaking even, you can’t reinvest when it’s time to grow again. Sometimes you’ve got to scale down and pause instead of pushing so hard you break. Reset. Stay smart. Be ready when it turns.

Contractors share how they’re managing through uncertainty

Top Colorado builders told The Denver Post they’re staying ahead of disruptions by monitoring the market, securing materials early and reinforcing vendor relationships. Labor strategies include tracking immigration policy, aggressively recruiting and verifying worker eligibility. Some are thinking long term with investments in AI tools and training programs. To ease customer hesitation in a shaky economy, one firm even offers flexible financing. 

Why it matters: These contractors aren’t guessing—they’re adapting with intention. Their tactics offer a useful benchmark for firms looking to reduce risk, protect margins and build smarter through uncertainty. (The Denver Post)

>>  Data Dump: Latest housing start numbers show mixed performance

>>  Future Focus: What’s ahead for windows and doors

>>  Budget Buster: Federal claw-back stalls workforce training for underrepresented groups

>>  Recent Recall: Lead found in some kitchen faucets sold on Amazon

Contractors turn to AI for training, safety and a competitive edge

AI is making its way from the back office to the front lines of construction. Builders are creating custom tools that help crews access training materials, interpret safety protocols and apply lessons learned from years of project data—all from a mobile device. These platforms combine internal documents, industry standards and regulatory guidance to deliver real-time support where it’s needed most. Granite Construction and Skanska are among the firms leading this shift, each developing in-house AI tools focused on crew training and jobsite safety.

Why it matters: With labor tight and jobsite complexity rising, contractors are looking for every advantage. AI-powered systems offer a way to capture institutional knowledge, train faster, improve compliance and reduce risk. Firms investing in practical, field-ready AI now are positioning themselves to work smarter and stay ahead. (Construction Dive)

Survey reveals site safety hazards

Maintaining a safe site was the third-biggest challenge reported in a recent Sherwin-Williams survey of contractors. Only staying on budget and managing schedules/timelines ranked higher. Falls were a leading hazard, with 43% of respondents reporting that falls from a significant height accounted for one or more accidents, injuries or deaths. A less obvious danger was building fires, experienced by almost a quarter (24% ) of participating contractors.

Why it matters: Hazards like these are costly, causing lost work days, fines and potential insurance premium hikes. Reduce falls by following OSHA’s advice and decrease fire risk by exploring fire-protective coatings and fire-resistant materials. (Building Design+Construction)

• Build back better. Learn about constructing nature-based flood protection infrastructure in this webinar offered in English and Spanish. (May 14 & 22)
• Always be closing. Hone your sales chops in the NAHB’s live online sales strategy and tactics class. (May 29)
• The shift is on. Get the information you need to transition to hydronic heat pump systems in this 60-minute webinar. (June 3)

Thanks for reading today's edition! You can reach the newsletter team at thelevel@mynewsletter.co. We enjoy hearing from you.

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The Level is written by Margot Lester and edited by Bianca Prieto.