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The Great Value Proposition: CTF's Efforts to Provide Value to the Market

“Think more about the problems customers face and figure out a way you can solve it by improving upon what you already produce.”

A Gamble on Gambrel: Cascade’s Customer Service Pays Off

For Cascade, gambrel trusses were just one unique aspect of an entirely unusual project

Why Effective Jobsite Training Does More Than Promote Safety— It Makes OSHA Happy

  • Effective employee training on jobsite safety requires an approach that combines good information with consistent messages and continuous delivery.
  • The NFC’s Site-Specific Fall Protection Plan is being added to the already robust FrameSAFE program.
  • Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Effective training is the best way employers can “help their employees help themselves” to work safely on the jobsite.

Labor Pains

“All the builders and framers I talk to out there say the same thing: they can’t find enough guys to do what they want to do.” Those are the thoughts of Jason Blenker, president of Blenker Building Systems. If national surveys and media reports are accurate, the sentiment is shared by most of the construction industry across the country.

Fast Foundations Start with Floor Systems

Floor systems are as key to making framing better, faster and more cost effective as wall panels and roof trusses. 

Giving Dues Their Due

The purpose of changing the dues policy is to ensure everyone contributes on a more even footing to the organization.

 

We Are All in This Together!

How one CM introduces building officials to the entire scope of work that goes into truss manufacturing. 

 

Faces of the Industry: David Green & Steve Strom

Meet two new members of the SBCA Board of Directors.

 

Parting Shots

NFC member shares proper bracing in action.

Do You Know What It Takes to Pick the Perfect Plate?

A lot of engineering goes into the design of metal plate connected wood trusses, including the connector plates themselves. 

Ahead of the Curve

When a homeowner asked for the contemporary look of a curved roof without the expense of beam or steel construction, the designer knew the answer was trusses.

Faster. Stronger. Safer.

How Framing the American Dream again shows there’s a better way to frame.

The Positive Feedback Loop

“The sooner a project is completed, the sooner it can be sold or leased. That’s a real opportunity cost that means something to owners when I sell them on using our products.” Ken Cloyd, chairman of the board of California TrusFrame, said this to me a few years back during an interview for an article focused on innovation in the industry.

 

A Tale of Two Chapters

The SBCA chapter presidents recently discussed the state of SBCA chapters. We have many strong, active chapters with a great deal of participation. We also have chapters that lack consistent participation, which makes chapter leadership a challenge.

 

Practicing Preventative Maintenance

A little up-front effort can have significant downstream effects.

Faces of the Industry: Greg Griggs

Meet SBCA's incoming secretary: Greg Griggs, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing – East for Builders FirstSource.

 

Parting Shots

Construction of the SBCRI testing facility was no simple matter. Building permits were a challenge to obtain, elevator and stair requirements were unique due to the expectation of moving large materials and equipment, and the floors needed to be extra strong to support full-assembly and 200-pound-per-square-foot (i.e., high-force) testing.

Designing for Damp Conditions

A truss designer who recognizes conditions that require a reduction in lumber or plate design properties can help ensure trusses perform as the building designer intends.