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The "Un-socialized" Marketing Approach

A few minutes to a better understanding of the how and why behind the brilliance of local market development.
 

Truss Storage

  • The contractor should examine the trusses when they are delivered and determine if there is any damage that would impair the structural integrity of the trusses.
  • BCSI recommends that trusses stored outside for more than a week be stacked on blocking and have a cover that provides adequate ventilation.
  • The contractor is responsible for the construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, procedures, programs, and safety in connection with the receipt, storage, handling, installation, restraining, and bracing of the trusses. 

Parting Shots

In case you ever needed a picture to define the importance of diagonal bracing in the context of lateral restraint (i.e., top chord purlins as well), these photos of long span trusses say it all.

Faces of the Industry

Meet Steve Baker from Plum Building Systems, LLC in Waukee, IA.

The Old (mid) West: Heart & Littfin Celebrate 50 Years of Business

Apparently, the secret to surviving 50 years in the truss business is to begin by selling lumber, and then working your way into it. Heart Truss & Engineering in Lansing, MI, and Littfin Lumber (Truss) Company in Winsted, MN, are both celebrating half a century of success this year, and they share some common characteristics: one, they both hail from Midwestern states; two, their founders all started by selling lumber and building materials; and three, they all resisted the urge to expand beyond their means. 

An Eventful Year, to Say the Least

  • President Steve Stroder looks back on the pace of change and some of the industry's top issues.
  • SBCA took the tough stands that strong leadership requires to serve the best interests of all CMs when addressing the Southern Pine design value issue, which resulted in SBCA hosting the first Lumber Summit and the formation of the Lumber in Components Council.
  • A revamped BCMC may very well turn out to be one of the best shows we have had in some time.
  • Scott Ward takes on the leadership of SBCA and is the second father-son combination to serve WTCA/SBCA (Bob Ward President 1991, Scott 2013). The first pair was Don (1992 and 1993) and Ben (2009) Hershey.

R-values & U-factors for Wood- & Steel-Framed Buildings

  • When comparing the energy efficiency of cold-formed steel and wood components, the R-value and U-factor are a good place to start.
  • The R-value measures thermal resistance; it is the inverse of the time rate of heat flow through a building thermal envelope element from one of its bounding surfaces to the other for a unit temperature difference between the two surfaces.
  • The U-factor measures thermal transmittance, the coefficient of heat transmission (air to air) through a building component or assembly, equal to the time rate of heat flow per unit area and unit temperature difference between the warm side and cold side air films.

Parting Shots

 

No, this isn’t the latest haul from a fishing expedition; it’s actually trusses on their way to a jobsite. Northwest Building Components, Inc. in Rathdrum, ID, designed, manufactured and delivered the trusses for this project expecting to drop them off at the jobsite, which was a fishing cabin. Only when the driver arrived at the delivery location, a boat dock, did he realize this wasn’t a run-of-the-mill delivery.

The Consummate Gentleman: An Engineer of the Highest Caliber

Remembering the life and times of Bill McAlpine.

Men of Steel: Forging a Brand New Company

 

Take raw ore, throw it into the fires of hell & out comes steel.

May You Live in Interesting Times

  • The inaugural Lumber Summit held May 14-15 in Charlotte, NC, brought together  key lumber industry leaders, the top five lumber producers in North America, and component manufacturers representing approximately 700 million board feet of U.S. structural lumber purchases.
  • The SBCA Lumber Collaboration Council (LCC) resulted from the success of the summit.
  • A recent industry plant tour furthered relationships with the fire service and is a strong reminder to embrace plant tours as our most effective outreach tool.

Single Top Plate in a Wood Stud Wall

  • The exception to IRC Section R602.3.2 allows for the use of a single top plate in a wood stud wall if the design meets specific requirements.
  • By cutting the volume of lumber in the top plate in half, a single top plate allows more space for insulation and can reduce thermal bridging through the lumber, which increases the thermal efficiency of the wall system.
  • When trusses are centered over the studs with a tolerance of not more than 1", the stud spacing can be increased to 24" o.c., which removes more lumber, improves energy efficiency and still provides a continuous load path.
  • To determine if the use of a single top plate is beneficial, a number of factors must be weighed. 

Parting Shots

The modern truss was invented in the 1900s, but using triangles in construction has been a common practice for ages. While on vacation, a member of SBC staff stumbled upon this interesting truss-like ceiling at the Duomo di Pistoia or Cattedrale di San Zeno in Pistoia, Italy. This ornately decorated portion of the roof spans a large section of pews running from an entrance up to an altar. 

Be a Good Neighbor: Harnessing the Power of a Plant Tour

Do you know how a crayon is made? How about a Hostess Twinkie? If you or your kids have ever watched Mr. Rogers, chances are you probably do.

Mr. Rogers has a great approach. “Will you be my neighbor?” is a simple question. Kids around the world (possibly including you) accepted his invitation and learned a great deal about life through his half-hour shows. One of the most intriguing and memorable parts of his show are the brief glimpses he gives us of the various facilities, laboratories and studios where things are made.

Construction Defect Lawsuits: A Road to Successful Resolution Through Insurance

Knowing what your Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policy can provide in terms of a construction defect lawsuit defense and payment is crucial. 

With many property owners still owing more than their properties are worth, combined with the run-up in construction in the mid-2000s and resulting poor quality in many instances, I am led to conclude that thousands of construction defect suits will likely be filed in the next two or three years. Anti-construction defect litigation statutes adopted in many states will have little effect in stemming the tide. Component manufacturers will be among the many in the construction chain having to figure out how to defend and extricate themselves from such suits. 

Knowing what your Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policy can provide in terms of a construction defect lawsuit defense and payment is crucial. Understanding the degree to which many insurance companies will go to neither defend nor pay on construction defect claims is even more important. Far too many construction subcontractors and suppliers, including component manufacturers, are, in my opinion, naive when it comes to knowing what to expect from, and how to effectively manage, their insurance companies over a construction defect lawsuit.

 

The Sun Is Shining Again

  • After years of bad news, the survivors in our industry should be proud of their hard work and accomplishments.
  • SBCA members throughout the country are reporting stronger sales and backlogs.
  • Now is the time for CMs to determine how to elevate their individual companies and the industry, create more market share for components, and handle increased volume. 

Pick-Points for Hoisting Trusses

  • Hoisting trusses is a more dangerous practice than most people think; both individual trusses and bundles of trusses should not be lifted at the peak.
  • The recommended industry best practices for hoisting truss bundles are a bit different than those for single trusses, but the same basic concepts apply.
  • BCSI and CFSBCSI outline industry best practices for hoisting trusses.

Parting Shots

This project first featured in SBC Industry News piqued many readers’ interest. Now back by popular demand, this amazing 80'-wide Ponderosa Pine log truss built by Deadwood Log Homes shows that trusses come in all sizes—including enormous. So enormous, in fact, that Deadwood’s owner, Rick Johnson, has applied to have the truss considered by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest log truss in the U.S.