Insights
What our operators are figuring out from the field. Trades, owners, and the projects we're building.
Patios, ramadas, and shade structures built for an El Paso summer
Ramada, pergola, or solid patio cover for an El Paso summer. What survives the UV and heat, how to set footings in caliche, what the city requires, and what it all costs in 2026.
- June 17, 2026·Commercial·5 min read
How retainage works on Texas commercial projects, and why it protects you
Retainage is the money an owner holds back on every payment until the job is finished. Here is how the 5 to 10 percent works in Texas, how it interacts with lien law, and why it keeps everyone honest.
- June 15, 2026·Residential·6 min read
Stucco cracks in El Paso: which ones are cosmetic and which mean trouble
A field guide for El Paso homeowners on reading stucco cracks. Which hairlines are normal, which stair-step and diagonal cracks mean foundation movement, and when to call a contractor.
- June 12, 2026·Commercial·6 min read
How to tell a real construction schedule from a wish schedule
A real construction schedule shows the critical path, long-lead items, and float. A wish schedule shows pretty bars. Here is how a Borderplex owner tells them apart before signing.
- June 10, 2026·Residential·5 min read
Keeping an El Paso home cool: the upgrades worth the money
Peak summer heat punishes a desert home. Here is how we rank cooling upgrades by return for El Paso houses in 2026, and which ones are overhyped for the money.
- June 8, 2026·Commercial·5 min read
Why summer concrete pours in El Paso need a hot-weather plan
When June afternoons run past 100F, concrete sets faster than crews can finish it and the slab cracks before it cures. Here is the hot-weather plan that keeps a summer pour sound.
- May 25, 2026·Insights·4 min read
Why the lowest bid is almost never the cheapest commercial job
The lowest bid on a commercial construction job is almost always the most expensive total cost by the time it finishes. Here's how the math actually works, with examples from real Borderplex projects.
- May 22, 2026·Residential·4 min read
How to read a residential change order before you sign it
What every El Paso homeowner should check on a change order before signing. Markup, schedule impact, payment terms, and the language that protects you when scope changes mid-project.
- May 20, 2026·Regional Insights·3 min read
What the Borderplex commercial pipeline looks like heading into Q3 2026
A field-level read on the El Paso, Las Cruces, and Permian commercial construction pipeline going into Q3 2026. What's funded, what's stalled, and what's bidding.
- May 18, 2026·Residential·4 min read
Five mistakes homeowners make on their first major remodel
The five most common mistakes El Paso homeowners make on their first major remodel. From contractors who have lived all five with clients. And what to do instead.
- May 15, 2026·Insights·3 min read
Pre-monsoon checklist for commercial property managers in West Texas
What every El Paso and West Texas commercial property manager should walk before monsoon season. Drainage, roof penetrations, dock pits, parking-lot grading, and the line items that show up in every post-storm insurance claim.
- May 13, 2026·Residential·4 min read
What to check on your El Paso roof before monsoon season
Six things every El Paso homeowner should check on their roof before monsoon hits in June. Drainage, flashings, mounting penetrations, ponding, and when the inspection is past DIY.
- May 12, 2026·Residential·2 min read
Five questions to ask any contractor before a kitchen remodel
The kitchen is usually the most expensive room in any remodel. Here are the five questions that separate a builder from a paper coordinator before you sign anything.
- May 11, 2026·Insights·4 min read
When a general contractor should self-perform the slab
When a commercial GC should pour their own slab and when to sub it out. Cost, schedule, quality, warranty, and what owners should look for in either approach. From actual Borderplex projects.
- May 8, 2026·Insights·3 min read
How owners should read a commercial construction proposal
Eight things every commercial owner should check before signing a construction proposal. Allowances, exclusions, retainage, schedule logic, and the line items that look small but cost real money.
- May 6, 2026·Residential·2 min read
What home renovation actually costs in El Paso right now
Honest 2026 cost ranges for kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and whole-home work in El Paso. What drives the number up. What brings it down. And what to ignore on a contractor's first estimate.
- May 4, 2026·Tilt-Up Construction·3 min read
Why ECG self-performs tilt-up in the Borderplex
Tilt-up panels are the workhorse of commercial construction in the Sunbelt. Here is why we keep our concrete and panel work in-house instead of subbing it out, and what it changes for owners.
- May 4, 2026·Residential·2 min read
What homeowners should know after a hailstorm in El Paso
Hail damage is the most common insurance claim in West Texas. The first 48 hours after a storm determine whether the claim gets paid in full, paid partial, or denied. Here is what to do.
- April 28, 2026·Regional Insights·2 min read
The Sunbelt corridor: a regional view from El Paso
From Phoenix to Houston, the Sunbelt corridor is one of the busiest commercial construction regions in the country. Here is how we think about working across it from a base in El Paso.
- April 21, 2026·Bid Strategy·3 min read
The slow knife of the early no-bid
Saying no to a project on Tuesday is cheaper than saying yes on Thursday. A short defense of killing bids before the spreadsheet starts crying.