New technology makes its mark on construction

by Bryan Smith

SBJ Staff

Ralph Manley has watched the construction industry develop before his very eyes.

"I've been in construction for 52 years, and I've seen plenty of changes," Manley said.

The owner of Ralph K. Manley and Co. retired from the building business two years ago, but he has watched the past two decades bring major changes in the building of homes.

Manley said the biggest changes have come from the innovations of technology.

"We've gone from the wood-burning stove of yesteryear to flipping a switch or remote and getting a gas-powered flame," Manley said.

The growth of technology has resulted in change for the construction industry, both in the office and on the job site.

Tom Wirt, who formed the Wirt Corporation in 1977 after 13 years in Springfield, said breakthroughs in technology have allowed the business to cut days off of the time it used to take to finish a construction job.

"In our business, with the computer and the fax machine, we've speeded up the work quite a bit," Wirt said.

Howard Bailey, who started Howard Bailey Co. in 1972, agreed.

"When it first came out, you asked 'Who needs a fax machine?'" Bailey said. "Now you can't hardly live without one."

While the increasing use of computers and fax machines have had an impact in the offices, Bailey said, updating of equipment and products, such as windows and doors, has made a difference in constructing homes.

"The products that we're using now, compared to 20 years ago, have been significantly improved," Bailey said.

Manley said most houses are built with brick, and come complete with most major appliances and central air.

He has also seen today's homes return to things commonly used when he first started building homes.

"Hardwood floors have made a comeback as a luxury item, whereas it was a standard item many years ago," Manley said.

The trend for the last few decades has been for general contractor companies to become smaller, depending on subcontractors for specialized work.

"When I got into construction, most of the general contractors that had a lot of employees had phased out," Bailey said.

Now, subcontractors are responsible for most things that go on in the building of a home or business.

"It's all subcontracted. We have experts in every field," Manley said.

"Typically today, there are about 75 craftsmen that work on a house from start to finish," he added.

Bailey said construction has seen a lot of "little things" change, as pneumatic nailers have replaced the hammer and big machines have replaced the simple tasks.

"Twenty years ago, it wasn't uncommon to watch someone dig a trench," Bailey said. "Now you can't find anyone to do it."

Even the big machines have been replaced on the job site by newer and more expensive equipment.

"We used a crane and bucket on concrete that was difficult," Wirt said. "Now we've got a concrete pump."

But in the construction industry, some things never change.

"If you go from what we did 20 years ago in putting a house together, it hasn't changed that much," Bailey said.

Though new types of housing, including patio homes and condominiums, have increased in popularity, building those homes will continue to change very little in the future.

"I don't really see much change in the construction of a house," Manley said. "You'll probably see conventional methods like brick and lumber on a house."

But the changes in the construction industry have lent themselves to a growing and changing Springfield.

"It's just a vast amount of construction work here in Springfield," Wirt said. "It's hard to recognize Springfield anymore."

Because more buildings and industries have come to town, Manley has seen changes in Springfield's layout.

"We used to look like a waffle as far as streets were concerned," Manley said. "That's not so anymore. Now it looks more like spaghetti."

With continuing construction in the city, contractors can't help but wonder how much more technology will change the industry in the next 20 years.

"I think it will continue to be an influence, but I don't think the next 20 years will be as much of an influence as the past 20 years," Bailey said.

"It'll be interesting to see how it will cycle, because we don't know what will happen," he added.[[In-content Ad]]