Construction

SIC 1521 General Contractors—Single-Family Houses - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

The category covers general contractors primarily engaged in construction activities (including new work, additions, alterations, remodeling, and repair) of single-family houses.

SIC 1522 General Contractors—Residential Buildings, Other than Single-Family - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This industry consists of general contractors primarily engaged in the construction of residential buildings other than single family homes. This type of construction includes new work, additions, alterations, remodeling, and repair of such establishments as apartment buildings, dormitories, and hotels and motels.

SIC 1531 Operative Builders - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This category covers builders primarily engaged in the construction of single-family houses and other buildings for sale on their own account rather than as contractors. Establishments primarily engaged in the construction (including renovation) of buildings for lease or rental on their own account are classified in the Real Estate Operators (Except Developers) and Lessors industries.

SIC 1541 General Contractors—Industrial Buildings and Warehouses - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

Like all construction activity, this category of non-residential construction is crucially dependent on overall U.S. and regional economic health.

SIC 1542 General Contractors—Nonresidential Buildings, Other than Industrial Buildings and Warehouses - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

As with the construction industry in general, nonresidential construction had benefited from a surging U.S. economy in the late 1990s.

SIC 1611 Highway and Street Construction - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

In 2001 the United States maintained 3.95 million miles of highways, the vast majority of which were under the control of local entities. Highway-user revenues totaled $128.7 billion.

SIC 1622 Bridge, Tunnel, and Elevated Highway Construction - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract of the United States, in 2000 there were 906 bridge, tunnel, and elevated highway construction contractors, down from 1,171 in 1997.

SIC 1623 Water, Sewer, and Utility Lines - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This industry covers general and special trade contractors primarily engaged in the construction of water and sewer mains, pipelines, and communications and power lines.

SIC 1629 Heavy Construction, Not Elsewhere Classified - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This classification covers general and special trade contractors primarily engaged in the construction of heavy projects, not elsewhere classified.

SIC 1711 Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

The U.S. heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry employed about 249,000 workers in 2002, according the U.S.

SIC 1721 Painting and Paper Hanging - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

Painting and paper hanging is a diverse, highly fragmented industry. In 2002, there were more than 468,000 individuals working in this industry, according to the U.S.

SIC 1731 Electrical Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

The electrical contracting industry in the United States is made up of a few large firms doing business in many regions and a large number of small companies that generally serve customers in their local vicinities. Many of these smaller firms are family owned.

SIC 1741 Masonry, Stone Setting, and Other Stone Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

The masonry, stone setting, and other stone work industry includes the laying of cement blocks and bricks, chimney construction, and stone and marble work, both utilitarian and decorative. While some contractors use techniques in existence for centuries, others rely on the latest advances in method and machinery.

SIC 1742 Plastering, Drywall, Acoustical, and Insulation - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This category is comprised of special trade contractors primarily engaged in applying plain or ornamental plaster, or in the installation of drywall and insulation. Activities include taping and finishing drywall, applying solar-reflecting insulation film, installing lathing, and constructing ceilings.

SIC 1743 Terrazzo, Tile, Marble, and Mosaic Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

SIC 1751 Carpentry Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

Carpentry is the work of cutting and joining timber to create frames for housing and items such as doors, windows, cabinets, and staircases. Work in this industry includes cabinet work performed at the construction site, carpentry work, folding door installation, framing, garage door installation, ship joinery, store fixture installation, trim and finish, and prefabricated window and door installation.

SIC 1752 Floor Laying and Other Floor Work, Not Elsewhere Classified - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

The U.S. floor-laying industry is characterized by a large number of special trade contractors who perform work for a general contractor or an architect.

SIC 1761 Roofing, Siding, and Sheet Metal Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

Construction services offered by the roofing, siding, and sheet metal industry include architectural sheet metal work; erection and repair of metal ceilings; copper smithing in connection with construction work; metal downspout installation; sheet metal duct work; metal gutter installation; roof spraying, painting, or coating; all roofing work, including repairs; siding installation; skylight installation; and tin smithing in connection with construction work.

SIC 1771 Concrete Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

Concrete—a mixture of portland cement, sand, gravel, and water—is used for the construction of everything from patios and floors to dams and highways. Special trade contractors involved in concrete work provide the following products and services: private asphalt parking areas; blacktop work; concrete work for private driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots; culvert construction; curb construction; pouring concrete to build foundations; grouting work; parking lot construction; patio construction; sidewalk construction, except public; and stucco construction.

SIC 1781 Water Well Drilling - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

The U.S. water well drilling industry includes more than 8,000 establishments operating roughly 19,000 drilling rigs in the early 2000s.

SIC 1791 Structural Steel Erection - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This category covers special trade contractors primarily engaged in the erection of structural steel and of similar products of prestressed or precast concrete.

SIC 1793 Glass and Glazing Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This industry consists of a few companies offering a range of services. Common industry activities include installing plate glass in storefronts and other commercial buildings, cutting and installing windowpanes for homes, and tinting windows.

SIC 1794 Excavation Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

This category covers special trade contractors primarily engaged in excavation work and digging foundations, including digging and loading. Contractors in this industry may also perform incidental concrete work.

SIC 1795 Wrecking and Demolition Work - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

Despite opposite objectives, wrecking firms are grouped in the larger trade construction industry. This is due to the similar physical and economic nature of demolition and construction work; they use many of the same tools, and the former activity often precedes the latter.

SIC 1796 Installation or Erection of Building Equipment, Not Elsewhere Classified - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

Special trade contractors primarily engaged in the installation, erection, or dismantling of miscellaneous building equipment make up this industry, which encompasses numerous firms that offer a wide range of services. Common activities include the installation, repair, and dismantling of conveyor systems, dumbwaiters, dust collecting equipment, elevators, incinerators, industrial machinery, power generation devices, revolving doors, and vacuum cleaning systems.

SIC 1799 Special Trade Contractors, Not Elsewhere Classified - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History

The special trade contractors, not elsewhere classified industry is comprised of a plethora of firms that provide a broad range of miscellaneous construction services. Examples of industry activities include bathtub refinishing, gasoline pump installation, grave excavation, swimming pool construction, post hole digging, wallpaper stripping, mobile home setup, house moving, fire escape installation, bowling alley construction, artificial turf installation, and sandblasting.