Walls & Ceilings articles from August 2005

Walls & Ceilings archives from August 2005

Wall bored?(up FRONT)
August 1, 2005... So, people hear you're a drywall contractor and assume you hang, tape, mud, sand and on to the next one. Certainly, this is drywalling in the most basic form. But as more innovative decorative products become available to contractors, drywall,...

Corn goodness!(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Great article on removing "popcorn" ceiling texture ("Kernels of Truth," March 2005 W & C)! On average, we are doing at least one project like this every two weeks. I really appreciate the heads up on asbestos testing. I was truly unaware that...

Spackle.(Cartoon)
August 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Calendar.(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... AUGUST 8-11 2005 FAUX EXPO, Dallas. (888) 508-FAUX. www.fauxexpo.com. SEPTEMBER 22-24 ICAA, Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami. (703) 739-0356. www.insulate.org. OCTOBER 4-6 METALCON, Donald E....

Ames Tools opens New York store.(INDUSTRY WIRE)
August 1, 2005... Ames Taping Tool Systems Inc. announces the opening of its newest store in Long Island City, N.Y. The opening continues the Atlanta-based firm's expansion into major metropolitan markets across the country. Ames has established company-owned...

Steel ceilings announces facility move/relocation.(TRADENEWS)
August 1, 2005... Bill Sturgeon, president/CEO of Manufacturing Specialties Inc., announced the recent move to Johnstown, Ohio, located 20 miles from Columbus. The building is 53,000 square feet on a 13-acre site. "(The move)... allows us to be more...

Mohawk acquires Unilin flooring.(TRADENEWS)
August 1, 2005... Mohawk Industries Inc. announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Unilin Holding NV for 2.2 billion Euros or approximately $2.6 billion in cash. Mohawk intends to allow Unilin to operate as an independent company as they have...

Spider contracted to replace facade at 3M headquarters.(TRADENEWS)
August 1, 2005... Spider, a division of SafeWorks LLC, announced the award of the contract to replace the facade maintenance system on 3M's corporate headquarters located in Maple Wood, Minn. The contract is part of a multi-million dollar refurbishment...

NWCB issues clarification of code requirements for acoustical ceilings.(TRADENEWS)
August 1, 2005... The Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau has unveiled a new technical document, "Suspension Systems for Acoustical Lay-in Ceilings" to clarify the requirements of the new International Building Code for acoustical ceiling installation in Seismic...

Hacker Industries announces three new licensed applicators.(TRADENEWS)
August 1, 2005... Hacker Industries Inc. announced its newest licensed applicators in Florida, Michigan and New York. Gyp-tech Inc., in Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; K-Wall Poured Walls in Traverse City, Mich.; and Substrate Solutions, in Bethpage, N.Y., join...

PPG introduces Building Renewal Program for building owners and facility managers.(TRADENEWS)
August 1, 2005... The PPG Building Renewal Program is designed to give building owners and facility managers a one-stop resource for the coatings, glass and paint products and information they need to revive the appearance of older, weathered commercial...

ServiceMagic to acquire ImproveNet.(TRADENEWS)
August 1, 2005... ServiceMagic Inc. and ImproveNet, Inc., the two online marketplaces that connect consumers with prescreened residential contractors and home service professionals, announced they have entered into an agreement whereby ServiceMagic will acquire...

International Firestop Council.(PEOPLE)
August 1, 2005... The International Firestop Council has added four new members to its roster. Royal Quickstop Fireprotection Systems, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; S & W Waterproofing, Kansas City, Mo.; Total Fire Stop Systems, Warren, Manitoba, Canada; and Global...

Steel Ceilings Inc.(PEOPLE)
August 1, 2005... Grant Snowden has been named president and unit manager of Steel Ceilings Inc.

Perry Manufacturing Inc.(PEOPLE)
August 1, 2005... Perry Manufacturing Inc. announced the appointment of George Rifford as western regional manager.

Omega Products International.(PEOPLE)
August 1, 2005... Omega Products International recently announced the addition of Don Halford and Shirley Schaefer to the Colorado territory as product support representatives.

Cladding.(product FOCUS on EIFS and Stucco)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... STO CORP. The Powerwall NexT is a new cladding that incorporates the company's Powerwall design flexibility and Sto Guard, an air and moisture protection system. The system protects using Guard, a seamless, fluid-applied air and moisture...

Micro plaster.(product FOCUS on EIFS and Stucco)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... ATOVA INTERNATIONAL Stucco Luna is a fine micro-plaster that gives a strong luster sheen to the surface while providing depth and color. It has a spreading rate of approximately 400 square feet per gallon. It comes in two bases, gold and...

Non-metallic stucco lath.(product FOCUS on EIFS and Stucco)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... DEGUSSA WALL SYSTEMS The PermaLath reinforcement for cement plaster (stucco) wall systems is a patent-pending, non-metallic lath reinforcement that is an alternative to metal lath and stucco netting. It was designed specifically for use in...

Polished plasters.(product FOCUS on EIFS and Stucco)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... ARMOURCOAT The company's line of polished plasters consist of polished lime stucco, well-aged slake lime, combined with natural stone aggregates and colored with natural pigments. The mix is hand-trowelled in successively thinner layers...

Set and achieve acoustic goals; If good acoustics is a prime goal of a building project, then ask two questions: how good do the acoustics have to be? How important is it to achieve good acoustics?
August 1, 2005... Acoustics is given a low priority in many building projects. It usually doesn't start off that way at the beginning of the project but its high status can be slowly chipped away by noisy site selection, misprogramming of the building,...

Plaster-pieced theater: repairing plaster at an elevated height of 100 feet is nothing with some secure staging, talent and a slew of rubber molds.(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... Located in Chinatown and Boston's theater district, the Thomas Lamb architectural giant the Boston Opera House is now a fully renovated ornate palace, resurrected from the near forgotten. The once registered "11 of the Most Endangered...

Walls that move: demountable walls remain an in-demand product that wall contractors can benefit from installing.
August 1, 2005... Demountable walls continue to proliferate offices, schools, hospitals and other interior spaces that require periodic restructuring of floor plan space. While initially more expensive than standard drywall, demountable walls offer savings in...

Minor & major makeovers (part two).(the PLASTER man)
August 1, 2005... Last month, we covered some repairs to two kitchen areas (what I would consider "minor" in nature). One had a hole that was repaired and then the whole ceiling resurfaced. The second involved skimming out some areas that the homeowner had...

A tale of two sealants.(the FINISH LINE)
August 1, 2005... When designing and installing EIFS, one of the most important things to pay attention to is the interface between the EIFS and adjacent wall components at the perimeter of the EIFS. This includes ever-present locations, such as windows, doors,...

The Gypsum Association celebrates 75 years.(all things GYPSUM)
August 1, 2005... Earlier this year, while announcing the Gypsum Association's 75th anniversary, readers were given a thumbnail sketch of how the association was established. Now that we're officially 75 and have had the opportunity to review the organization's...

Remember: Safety First!(HIGH ON SAFETY)
August 1, 2005... This headline is a great mantra that should be branded on all workers' hardhats and engraved within every staging set erected. Furthermore, scaffolding and safety product manufacturers should consider a bumper sticker campaign with their...

Safety in numbers: learning from fatal mistakes will save lives.(HIGH ON SAFETY)
August 1, 2005... Unfortunately, as with so many things, tragedy must occur before realizations are made. OSHA compiles records of fatal construction accidents, their causes and potential remedies. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Like soldiers lost in war, we...

Hispanic-speaking safety: Hispanic workers increasingly represent the labor force in construction and must be treated accordingly, with safety the utmost concern.(HIGH ON SAFETY)
August 1, 2005... Here's what I think: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Back in the '50's and '60's, workplace safety was not considered a reasonable cost issue or even a relevant talking point for most employers. By 1970, Congress instituted...

The centerfold interview: UnSafety Boy!
August 1, 2005... Last August's issue of High on Safety introduced to the Model of Safety. This year, we bring you his evil twin. We call him UnSafety Boy, and he, too, is a poster child for OSHA... but it's the bad kind of poster. OSHA has devoted two entire...

Scaffold safety: competence always translates to less risk.(HIGH ON SAFETY)
August 1, 2005... Any discussion with respect to scaffold safety has to begin with a definition of competence. The OSHA definition for competent person: "Competent person means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the...

Hail to the (former) chief.(the GREEN thumb)
August 1, 2005... "This is the kind of commission that only happens once in a lifetime." That's what noted architect James Polshek, founder of Polshek Partnership Architects, had to say when offered the opportunity to design the William Jefferson Clinton...

Sucking out.(all in AGREEMENT)
August 1, 2005... "Sucking out" is a term poker players use to identify a player who stays in a hand until the last card is dealt and wins. The player who wins on the last card is referred to as a "suck-out" player. The odds of a suck-out player winning are...

Flexible work schedules may make sense.(smart BUSINESS)
August 1, 2005... A revealing survey recently crossed my desk. It was from a human resources outsourcing organization that conducted it on behalf of a client trade association of plumbing contractors that do new construction work. The annual "Unscheduled Absence...

Planet screw.(adventures in DRYWALL)
August 1, 2005... We're surrounded by seemingly insignificant items that are taken for granted. Consider the lowly screw. I doubt you can pick up any manufactured object that isn't held together by these quiet behemoths. From the toy car you stubbed your toe on...

Diamond blades.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... STOW CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT The new diamond blade line is for the cutting of a full spectrum of materials from tile, brick and mason block to concrete and asphalt. Each blade is well suited for use by contractors and cutting professionals...

Laser level with green beam.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... JOHNSON LEVEL & TOOLS The AccuLine Pro laser level features scan modes, slope modes, automatic leveling and more. It also features the GreenBrite technology--with green laser beam--available on selected models. The UV green beam helps...

Metal cutting saw.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... MAKITA The model 4131 is a 7 1/4-inch metal cutting saw, ideal for steel framers, among others. The saw has a 13-amp motor to cut through a variety of metal including sheet metal, steel studs, pipes and rebar. A large cutting capacity...

Right-angled impact driver.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... RIDGID The 12-volt Right-angled Impact Driver R82233 is equipped with a high torque motor (0 to 2,150 rpm) and a die-cast gearbox. It offers more than 650 inch pounds of torque. It features a variable speed reversing switch to enable the...

Cordless reciprocating saw.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... DEWALT The upgraded heavy-duty 18V XRP reciprocating saw DC385K provides the user with longer stroke length and faster speed of cut, increasing productivity on the job site. The tool is also designed with the first-ever 4 Position Blade...

Tower and platform walkway.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... PUTZMEISTER AMERICA The company's newly designed PM Tower and Platform walkway can be used with all the company's placing boom models reaching horizontal lengths from 24 to 38 meters. The new tower is functionally and visually different...

Utility knife system.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... BON TOOL CO. The Dolphin Knife System permits fast and easy blade changes with no tools required. The knife quickly changes from a basic utility knife to a drywall saw or laminate scorer. Its large, ergonomically designed, die-cast handle...

Tintable silicone.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... PECORA The 890FTS Field Tintable Silicone is a 100 non-staining product that allows creative opportunities while ensuring demonstrated silicone performance. Distributors now have the opportunity to carry an on-hand inventory of 48 standard...

Band saw blades.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... THE M. K. MORSE CO. The Independence II and Independence EXS blades bridge the gap between traditional bi-metal blades and carbide tipped blades. Utilizing a microstructure, the new line of band saw blades combines a high-speed steel...

Multi-purpose tool.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... ALLWAY TOOLS The 8-in-1 Tool features a soft-grip ergonomic handle, and a threaded end that accepts standard extension poles and mop sticks. The tool has a professional quality, precision ground, stainless steel blade with a chisel edge....

Arch framing.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... FLEX-ABILITY CONCEPTS The Flex-C Arch is a product that allows builders to frame arches in a fraction of time. It accommodates most doorway and window arch applications. It comes in sizes of 2 inch by 4 inch, 2 inch by 6 inch and 3.635...

Customized vinyl sheet products.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... INPRO CORP. The Expressions Spirit line of customized rigid vinyl sheet products can take artwork provided and produce full-color renditions, all set in standard 4-feet-by-8-feet sheets of the company's Sanparrel rigid vinyl. The sheets...

Hydration pack.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... DULUTH TRADING CO. The Hydration Pack fits on your back, holds up to 100 ounces of water and provides you liquid refreshment anytime. It has spring-like cushioned pads that sit away from the back, so cool air can circulate through the...

Insulation system.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... JOHNS MANVILLE Spider is a spray-in formaldehyde-free, fast-dry insulation system made from specially designed glass fibers that are naturally white like cotton. During the installation process, the fibers are mixed with a non-hazardous...

Structural sheathing.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... TEMPLE-INLAND The StructGuard TS is a structural sheathing that fights mold development while providing code-recognized racking resistance. The panels are designed to be scored and cut using standard dry-wall tools. This removes the need...

Auger bits.(the TOOLBOX)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... BOSCH The Power Band Tip is an innovative new auger bit feature. As other bits bind or struggle to cut, the Power Band Tip keeps all the drilling power focused to the cutting edge. The Type I Power Band Spur Auger Bit line ranges in size...