Blake Nelson

Blake R. Nelson is an attorney with Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC in Minneapolis, and focuses his practice on construction law and representing general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in the construction industry. He can be reached at [email protected].

Review These Subcontract Clauses Before Signing, Part 1

I have reviewed and drafted many of these agreements, and in this multi-part series I will detail the top clauses a subcontractor should review.

May 19, 2022

When working for a GC, make sure you review your contract carefully.

Understand the ‘Musical Chairs’ of Defective Product Liability

What do you do when a retailer supplies bad wood and you are stuck between the suppliers and the mills? Who’s at fault?

March 17, 2022

Figuring out who’s liable for replacing a faulty product can feel like a game of musical chairs.

A Contractor Didn’t Get Paid. Can He Take The Floor Back?

Construction law expert Blake Nelson breaks down options wood flooring contractors can take when a client refuses to pay the bill.

February 9, 2022

Destroying your work after not getting paid is illegal.

Waivers For Risky Projects: Are They Enforceable?

Even with a signed waiver in hand, wood flooring customers can still create arguments and cause trouble to get what they want.

November 27, 2018

Ooq 1218 Wfb Dj19 Mgment Guy Sm

The 10 Contract Clauses Every Wood Floor Contractor Needs

The worst time to review your wood flooring customer contract is the day you find yourself needing it. The best time is right now. What should be in it?

July 27, 2017

What might have been minor issues can become enormous headaches without a contract to fall back on.

Troubleshooting

Who Was Liable For These Three Real-World Relative Humidity Claims?

Here are three RH scenarios: the facts surrounding the failed wood floor, who ended up paying and what the law says about who is actually responsible.

July 28, 2015

Flooring Employee vs. Contractor: Know The Difference, Not the Fine

Businesses in the construction industry have historically relied heavily upon independent contractors to perform work. While it is sometimes clear that a party is a true subcontractor, such as hiring ABC Flooring Inc. or 123 Hardwoods LLC, it is equally as common to misclassify laborers who are legally employees as independent contractors.If an employer is audited and found to have misclassified employees, the consequences can be severe.

March 25, 2015

Limit Your Liability: How to Lessen Risk as a Manufacturer, Distributor, Contractor

Risk is like the flu—no one wants it. Part of any contract negotiation involves attempting to reduce risk and liability. This particularly applies to the flooring industry, where the product has been passed between multiple entities that want to shed their liability when they hand the product to a company further down the supply chain. From the manufacturer to the distributor to the contractor or retailer and then the consumer, some or all of these parties may attempt to limit their liability through published policies or through written statements.

November 25, 2014

Know Lead Paint Requirements or Risk Thousands

Are you certified to work on residential property containing lead paint? Are your subcontractors? If not, any work you perform on such properties built before 1978 could subject you to five-digit fines. Activities performed by many construction trades can disturb lead-based paint and have the potential to create hazardous lead dust. Under the RRP Rule, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based coatings (including lead paint, shellac or varnish) in "child-occupied facilities" built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

August 12, 2014

Wood Flooring Disputes: Should You Choose Court Trial Or Arbitration?

If you've entered into a contract with a customer, chances are good that you've approved via your signature some sort of dispute resolution-maybe you agreed that disputes will be heard at a particular location, or maybe you agreed to a specific form of dispute resolution. Did you realize that?

May 28, 2014

Page 2 of 2

Screenshot 2024 04 05 At 3 05 15 Pm

Craftsmanship Across the Globe: Introducing the Winners of the 2024 WFB Design Awards

Hailing everywhere from Italy to Portugal to Cincinnati to Washington, D.C., to Brazil to Chicago (by way of Poland), the recipients of this year’s WFB Design Awards prove, through sweat and creativity, that true craftsmanship has no borders.

Am24 Wdwrks Edgers 1

Meet the Repairman Turning Edgers Into Artwork

Talk Shop 424 Header

What’s Your Top Advice for When Things Get Slow?

This 7-inch-wide, 5/8-inch-thick engineered rift-and-quartersawn red oak floor was coated with Bona Natural Seal and Bona Traffic HD Satin waterborne finish. (Photo courtesy of Floors by the Shore)

White Oak vs. Red Oak: As Pressure Increases on White Oak, Red Oak Is a Versatile Alternative

Bona Traffic HD RAW® Damage Mitigation

Bona Traffic HD RAW® Damage Mitigation