Walls & Ceilings articles from April 2008

Walls & Ceilings archives from April 2008

Global Warming: global warming. Just the mention of it seems to incite an immediate response from everyone. We can often determine whether one is a liberal democrat or a conservative republican in a moment just by their reaction to these two words.(up FRONT)
April 1, 2008... Is global warming real? Is man creating it? We read articles from one group of scientists on how the world is heating up at such an alarming rate that people living a few miles inland will soon have beachfront property. Other scientists are...

Interior EPS shapes need thermal barrier.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2008... Editor: I read your recent article, "Shapely EPS," in your December issue. Decorative shapes are not exempt from building code requirements. The IBC (International Building Code) dedicates an entire chapter to Foam Plastics (Chapter 26)...

Calendar.(TRADENEWS)(Calendar)
April 1, 2008... APRIL 24-26 NWCB La Costa Resort & Spa Carlsbad, Calif. www.nwcb.org MAY 15-17 AIA Boston www.aia.org JUNE 3-6 CONSTRUCT...

Industry wire.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... EIFS ONE STEP CLOSER TO CODE APPROVAL The following press release was distributed March 4 by the EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA) regarding preliminary approval for inclusion of EIFS in building codes: We are very pleased to...

National Gypsum enters joint venture in Mexico.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... National Gypsum Co. has entered a joint venture with Panel Rey S.A. to produce PermaBase cement board in Mexico. The new joint venture company will be PermaBase de Americas. PermaBase will open its first plant in Monterrey, Mexico, during...

Michael A. Gardner.(PEOPLE.)
April 1, 2008... Gypsum Association Executive Director Michael A. Gardner has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The CAE is the highest professional credential in the...

Lee Tigner.(PEOPLE.)
April 1, 2008... Spider, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, based in Seattle, Wa., has hired Lee Tigner as District Sales Representative for its Atlanta location. Lee has more than 10 years of experience in the building materials industry and will serve customers in...

Carol Kimmel-Schary.(PEOPLE.)
April 1, 2008... Carol Kimmel-Schary, of Nathan Kimmel Co., has received the 2008 Enterprising Women of the Year Award from Enterprising Women Magazine. The award honors the country's finest women entrepreneurs and their remarkable success. Nathan Kimmel Co....

Construction business blog set for launch.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... A blog site dedicated the business side of the construction industry was unveiled at the CONEXPO CON/ AGG trade show in Las Vegas on March 11. The author of the blog is Foundation Software CEO/Chairman Fred Ode, whose company produced and sells...

Materials distributor Parksite now under one name.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... Parksite, Inc., a national building products distributor based in Bata via, Ill., has announced a new company structure that became effective on Jan. 1. The company was previously known as the Parksite Group, and marketed branded and...

PCA has new standard for family Dwellings.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... A new standard, "Prescriptive Design of Exterior Concrete Walls for One-and Two-Family Dwellings," the first by the Portland Cement Association using an ANSI accredited process, is now available. The new standard, also known as PCA 100-07,...

Union web site shows member's accomplishments.(TRADENEWS)(Website overview)
April 1, 2008... The Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association has developed a new website showcasing the plaster and concrete work performed by its members. http://www.opcmia.org/

Primesource Building Products acquires 3-G's supply.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... PrimeSource Building Products Inc., a full-service wholesale distributor of building materials and fasteners, has acquired 3-G's Supply, a family-owned building materials wholesaler headquartered in Strongsville, Ohio. The transaction, which...

Spackle.(TRADENEWS)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ITS LOVELY, BUT I WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST AS HAPPY WITH A MODEST RANCH.

Fortifiber product wins builder news award.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... Weather Tex, a hybrid weather-resistive barrier manufactured by Fortifiber, is a winner in the 2007 Builder News Best Products competition. Winners represent the most innovative and useful products introduced during that year. "Weather Tex...

Water-resistive barriers is topic of white paper.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... A White Paper which gives home builders, contractors, architects, and homeowners the facts on the best moisture management solutions for residential wall systems is available from Benjamin Obdyke Inc., maker of roof and wall products for the...

Nahb urges Congress to shore up housing.(TRADENEWS)
April 1, 2008... With the negative drag of the housing downturn now spilling over into other sectors of the economy and threatening to immerse the nation in a full-fledged recession, in a March 4 teleconference, NAHB Executive Vice President and CEO Jerry...

Cordless impact driver; Hitachi power tools.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... This new cordless 18-volt 1.5Ah impact driver combines the high torque of automotive wrenches with the precision of traditional driver drills. The driver includes an electric brake and is designed for use in fastening, driving and drilling...

Stainless steel pins; ET&F fastening systems.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... The new line of 300 series stainless steel pins are designed to ensure corrosion free fastenings to cold-formed steel framing, 54 mil and lighter. Full round head knurled pins in stainless 316 and trim pins in stainless 304 protect the fastener...

Concrete drilling and anchor kit; Bosch power tools and accessories.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... This new kit is a collection of components specifically designed for the installation of anchors. The 9-piece kit comes in a case that is made to withstand even the most demanding worksite conditions. The kit includes a masonry screw drill bit...

Gas-driven fastening system; Hilti.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... Ergonomically designed, Hilti's gas-driven fastening system allows contractors to drive nails in tight corners and narrow track profiles. Designed for a wide range of repetitive fastening jobs, the GX 120 drives nails into concrete, rendered...

Polyurethane foam adhesive; FOMO products, Inc.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... The Handi-Stick adhesive is a one-component, pressurized polyurethane foam adhesive for ICF construction that is designed to create a strong, permanent bond while offering a three-minute open time to ensure quick bond strength. It cures when...

High-pressure fastener; aerosmith fastening systems.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... This new High Pressure StepPin was created, tested and marketed to attach cold-formed steel track to concrete. Originally designed for use in 400 psi high pressure pneumatic tools, the new fastener has been improved with a rolled point with a...

Cordless screw gun; PAM fastening technology.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... This screw gun is designed for large drywall applications with its lightweight, two-piece, ergonomic design. It accommodates 1-inch to 2-inch fasteners with 600 to 900 screws per battery charge and is durable and versatile. It is built for use...

Gas fastening system; Powers fasteners INC.(Fasteners/Fastening Tools)
April 1, 2008... The Trak-It C4 Gas Fastening system is a lightweight tool that has 130 joules of power to handle steel-to-steel, steel-to-concrete, and other applications. The 42-pin magazine holds a comprehensive range of pins from 3/4 to 2 9/16-inch lengths,...

Affordable specialty finishes: decorative walls and elegant finishes can be applied on a realistic budget and timeline.
April 1, 2008... Can you imagine: * Achieving a Venetian plaster effect over bare drywall in one day? * Achieving a Level 5 finish with color and durability over bare drywall in one day? * Achieving a textural finish with color, scrubbability and...

'One word young man: plastics!'Exterior PVC trims are growing in popularity for specifiers.(Cover story)
April 1, 2008... When I think of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) trims, I can't help but remember the 1967 movie The Graduate. Dustin Hoffman, fresh from finishing college, has a friend of his father's tell him at his graduation party: "I only have one word for you...

It's all about communication: advances are improving the way contractors run their businesses, but there's a downside.
April 1, 2008... I recently asked a builder friend of mine this question: "If I took away one tool that would have the biggest impact on your business, what would it be?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] His answer surprised me. "My cell phone," he said without...

Schools & stucco made for each other: stucco cement exterior cladding gets high marks for design flexibility, durability and safety in educational institutions.
April 1, 2008... When it comes to an exterior cladding, one would be hard-pressed to find something more suitable than cement stucco for schools. Architectural styles may go through phases and fads, and while another material may gain some popularity,...

Solutions for odd substrates.(the FINISH LINE)
April 1, 2008... Over the years l've seen eifs applied to some pretty odd wall surfaces ("substrates"). if you are determined to use eifs as the new cladding on an existing building, you may have a real challenge trying to find a way to get the.new EIFS...

Turning lien into Green; The owner of a project called me to say: "I would like to know why you filed a lien on my building, and how did you arrive at the lien amount?".(all in AGREEMENT)
April 1, 2008... It takes every ounce of self control I have not to say, "Well owner, I was bitten by a dog on my way to work and ended up at the hospital where they gave me 50 rabies shots through my belly button. If you multiply 50 by $20,000 each, you come...

When your price is too high.(smart BUSINESS)
April 1, 2008... How much to charge for your services is the focal point of any trade business. Charge too much and you won't get the job, charge too little and you'll go broke. Then you have to face the facts that every job is different, estimating is an...

Working class hero.(TROWEL talk)
April 1, 2008... According to the U.S. Department of Labor -- Bureay of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 6 million citizens or legal residents of the United States between the ages of 18 and 64 who are actively seeking work, but who are unemployed. We...

The inspector and seismic pods.(cracking THE CODE)(Interview)
April 1, 2008... Q. I have an inspector insisting we install seismic pods on a suspended plaster ceiling. some field guys are saying it is not required and others say yes it is. the inspector cannot point to the code section and relies only on the architect's...

In search of a better rating system.(straight GREEN)
April 1, 2008... I gave a Green Specifications presentation recently in a new, LEED-certified college classroom building with state-of-the-art lighting controls and AV equipment. The audience and I spent several minutes trying to figure out how to kill the...

Mud-Max drywall compound additive.(TRIM-TEX)
April 1, 2008... Designed to improve the strength and adhesive performance of draywall compounds, textures, and plaster products! Mud-Max is engineered to help the drywaller deal with the challenging conditions created by today's larger homes and more spacious...

Hilti GX 120 Gas-Driven Fastening System.(HILTI, INC)
April 1, 2008... The Hilti GX 120 Gas-Driven Fastening System is ruggedly built, perfectly balanced and ergonomically designed. Able to drive 750 nails with a single gas can, the GX 120 has no battery to charge, the world's first-ever LED gas gauge and an...

Continuous Flow mechanical boxes.(APLA-TECH, INC.)
April 1, 2008... Apla-Tech, Inc. introduces its 7", 10" and 12" mechanical boxes ready to attach to our Continuous Flow System. Cut your box weight by up to 70%, boxing effort by half, and increase production by over 100%. All this in just the first day. These...

ViperStud steel drywall framing system.(MARINO/WARE)
April 1, 2008... The ViperStud System is reinforced with Viper-Rib technology so it is stronger, stiffer and less prone to high shoulders when finishing. Its flat steel design works interchangeably with the conventional framing components you're used to, and...

Deflection clip.(FLEX-ABILITY CONCEPTS)
April 1, 2008... The Three Legged Dog deflection clip by Flex-Ability Concepts eliminates fumbling or dropped clips. Slide the clip onto the top end of the stud. With the clip attached, raise the stud into the deep-leg track and snap into place. Then, secure...

20 Years ... building a culture of excellence.(MASTER WALL INC.)
April 1, 2008... Master Wall Inc.'s "Top Dog" brochure celebrates our 20th year in business, our customer focus, and our growth from humble beginnings to one of the fastest growing EIFS & stucco manufacturers in the country. As one of the few privately held and...

Decorative Ceiling surfaces.(M-BOSS INC.)
April 1, 2008... M-Boss Inc. is the premier manufacturer of decorative metal surfaces. Products include: Tin Ceilings, Cornice, Moldings and Medallions. Patterns range from sleek contemporary styles and customized designs such as company logos and special...

Lafarge Mold Defense drywall products.(LAFARGE)
April 1, 2008... Lafarge introduces an improved line of Mold Defense drywall products. Designed for use in interior wall and ceiling applications, Mold Defense protects against mold, mildew and now offers the added benefit of moisture resistance. Mold Defense...

Wall & Ceiling Panels moisture & corrosion proof panels.(EXTRUTECH PLASTICS, INC.)
April 1, 2008... Offers Moisture Proof Wall & Ceiling Panels for use on Porches, Swimming Pool Rooms. Perfect for Non-Food Contact Surfaces in the Food Processing, and Bottling Plants. P3000 Beaded Panels (shown on top) and P1300 Flat Panels (shown on bottom)...

Triple production trimixx 3-position mixer!(DEMAND PRODUCTS INC.)
April 1, 2008... Our Commercial Duty Mixer comes with Roller/Conveyor, Three 3/4 HP Motors, Bucket Locking Mechanism and more. It can mix color in as little as 30 Seconds. See our CNC Foam Shaping, Coating, and Foam Recycling Machines. Free 2008 Catalog. ...

Faux Wood ceiling beams by outwater.(ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS BY OUTWATER)
April 1, 2008... Now you can easily and economically recreate the idyllic look afforded by authentic, aged, hand-hewn oak beams with Outwater's high-density polyurethane Faux Wood Beams, Not only lightweight and sturdy, Outwater's Ancient Rustic, Modern,...

Quick Bid 4.8.(ON CENTER SOFTWARE INC.)
April 1, 2008... Quick Bid enables estimators to be more thorough and productive by automating many of the functions typically performed manually. Version 4.8 incorporates new features such as: Material eQuote-Send multiple requests for proposals to vendors and...

Light gauge steel framing systems and drywall supplies.(STEELER INC.)
April 1, 2008... Steeler Inc. supplies a full line of cold-rolled structural and non-structural steel framing products for commercial and residential construction. Steeler also distributes a wide range of drywall supplies through its 13 branches across the...

Channel bender.(THE NATHAN KIMMEL CO.)
April 1, 2008... The perfect tool for on-site contouring of CRC - Bends 20- and 16-gauge CRC - Accepts 1/2- to 4-inch-wide channel - Heavy-duty all-steel construction - Built-in index for repeatable bends - Made in the USA - Easy to...

90-Degree Corners.(CAREFREE CORNERS)
April 1, 2008... Continuous Corners, Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes corners for use with plaster sill screeds and J-weep products. They are manufactured in both round and square designs and eliminate costly repairs as well as on-the-job injuries....

Zipwall 4 Pack Plus.(ZIPWALL)
April 1, 2008... Lightweight and simple, the ZipWall barrier system uses plastic sheeting or canvas to contain messy areas on any job site. Goes up in minutes with no tape, no ladders and no marred ceilings. Our new 4 Pack Plus is a great way to save money on...

Drill IT, drive IT and forget IT!(POWERS FASTENERS)
April 1, 2008... Powers Fasteners introduces the new Snake overhead anchor. The Snake anchor combines the holding strength of a traditional Wedge-Bolt anchor with the aesthetic advantages of a flush ceiling mount Easily installed with a cordless impact...

Total Flash - superior moisture protection.(TOTAL WALL)
April 1, 2008... Total Flash is an extremely flexible, rubberized, weather resistant material that provides an alternative to the use of weatherproofing tapes in systems requiring the use of a secondary moisture barrier. When used with fiberglass mesh...

Vivaldi Venetian Plaster system.(OLEA SPECIALTY PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... Olea Specialty Products introduces the Vivaldi Venetian Plaster system by La Calce Del Brenta to North America. This easy-to-use system features more than 200 colors, a beautiful color catalog and "Stucky" Venetian plaster in three convenient...

Structural laminate drywall corners.(STRUCTUS BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES)
April 1, 2008... NO-COAT's tapered corner design saves up to 50 percent of mud, so you can box three times more NO-COAT corners than metal corner bead without needing to refill. Watch top contractors Barton Malow, Troy Metal Concepts and Acoustic. Ceilings &...

Commercial coatings.(QUIKSPRAY INC.)
April 1, 2008... Quikspray Inc. is celebrating 50 years of business in the commercial coatings industry. The company manufactures application equipment (The Carrousel Pump line) and mixing equipment (Quikstir Mixers) that are distributed worldwide throughout...

New main beams for stucco/plaster ceilings.(ARMSTRONG CEILINGS)
April 1, 2008... To help achieve faster, more accurate framing of stucco and plaster ceilings, Armstrong has introduced new main beams with rout holes at 13.5 inches on-center that not only meet the requirements of ASTM C1063, but also allow the use of...

Battery-powered JobClock.(EXAKTIME)
April 1, 2008... Exaktime revolutionized time and attendance tracking in 2000, when it introduced the all-weather, battery-powered JobClock. This rugged timeclock is the #1 selling portable timekeeping system in construction because it's durable, easy to use,...

Walls and ceilings'.
April 1, 2008... Walls and Ceilings' new comprehensive English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English dictionary contains more than 1,500 words and phrases used in the walls and ceilings industry. The dictionary is evenly divided into English and Spanish and...

Mast climber.(HYDRO MOBILE)
April 1, 2008... The new E-Series mast climber offers an access solution for a wide variety of trades including glazing, EIFS, painting, roofing, caulking, restoration, inspection, cleaning, maintenance, etc. Using forward and back extensions and 180-degree...

Concrete floor underlayment.(HACKER INDUSTRIES)
April 1, 2008... This new gypsum concrete floor underlayment is formulated for use in buildings with lightgauge steel framing and a corrugated steel deck. Blending high strength and versatility, FIRM-FILL CSD offers a minimum compressive strength of 3500 psi...

Outdoor masking and stucco tape.(3M)
April 1, 2008... This tape combines a hefty polyethylene/cloth scrim backing with aggressive rubber adhesive for many outdoor construction, marine and maintenance applications, It is designed for clean removal from most opaque surfaces for up to 90 days. From...

Knockdown spray texture.(HOMAX PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... This Knockdown Spray Texture is formulated to match knockdown-type interior drywall textures. It is designed to blend seamlessly with an existing pattern and allows the user to finesse the trowel to customize the knockdown, or flattened...

Cork Wallpaper.(OUTWATER PLASTICS INDUSTRIES)
April 1, 2008... This new line of natural Rolled Cork Wallpaper is a fire and flame-spread retardant, and is designed to be durable and easy to maintain. In addition, the cork contains an insect repellant. It is available in a combination of 14 decor...

Sound-dampening gypsum board.(NATIONAL GYPSUM)
April 1, 2008... SoundBreak is an acoustically-enhanced gypsum board designed to reduce the transmission of airborne sound between living spaces within buildings. Designed to provide increased privacy and less sound intrusion in residential and commercial...

Stud cutter wheels.(MERCER ABRASIVES)
April 1, 2008... These aluminum-oxide grain RedMax Stud Cutter Wheels are formulated for low horsepower portable, electric chop saws. Designed for use on metal framing studs and light-gauge metals, they provide the benefits of fast cutting at 4,400 rpm, and...

Below-grade insulation.(INSULFOAM)
April 1, 2008... The R-TECH Below Grade Insulation is designed to insulate exterior concrete foundations. It is an ASTM-C 578 Type I expanded polystyrene insulation that is heat-laminated to a polyethylene film. The insulation combines moisture-resistance with...

Secure storage boxes.(KNAACK LLC)
April 1, 2008... The new Monster Box Series, featuring this 48-cubic-feet Piano Box model, is designed to be a durable and secure storage unit. It has heavy-duty tubular steel framing, a four-point crane lift system, integrated UL-rated drill-resistant lock and...

Dust collector.(ONEIDA AIR SYSTEMS)
April 1, 2008... The Dust Deputy is designed to turn a shop vacuum into a cyclonic vacuum. It captures 99 percent of the waste before it reaches a vacuum. The product allows the user to sand for long periods of time without having to clean the vacuum's filter...

Water management stucco accessories.(CEMCO)
April 1, 2008... The new control joint is part of CEM-CO's new line of water-management stucco accessories designed to combat moisture intrusion. They serve in two ways; as stucco grounds to maintain the proper thickness, and as flashing to divert water away...

Multi-purpose utility shears.(MIDWEST TOOL AND CUTLERY CO.)
April 1, 2008... The new KN1FTI-CUT Shop/Electrician Shear and Utility Snip is a compact multi-purpose snip that features needle-nose blades that provide ready access to confined areas and a full 2-inch cut length. The shears are designed for a wide range of...

Steel framing component system.(TRIAD)
April 1, 2008... The new sub-component manufacturing system by Triad consists of the steel clipper, vertical sub-component assembly table, and a rough opening component assembly table, all designed for steel framing applications. The clipper is built with a...

Flat in-wall speaker system.(ACP)
April 1, 2008... After final installation into a wall cavity usually between studs, the Onsia flat panel speaker system is completely invisible with no grates, grills or covers.The system is made of high-powered, vibrational-element flat panels that produce...

Wireless layout manager.(TRIMBLE)
April 1, 2008... The new wireless capabilities for the LM80 Layout Manager incorporates a new controller and office software for real-time, two-way data transfer between the project design team in the office and the general contractors at the job site. It...

Wall finish system.(ROOS INTERNATIONAL)
April 1, 2008... The Texturglas Architectural Wall Finish System is an environmentally-friendly collection of textured designer wal finishes. Features include mold and mildew control and the ability to cover up problem surfaces. The textures are designed to...