Walls & Ceilings articles from January 2008

Walls & Ceilings archives from January 2008

A sad day for the wall and ceiling industry.(up FRONT)
January 1, 2008... Our industry has lost one of the people who make the wall and ceiling industry what it is, an honorable and respected profession. I am sure that every industry has people of influence and dedication; John Bucholtz, P.E., of the Plaster...

Article misleading on MgO fire-resistance.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... Editor: While the November 2007 article, "MgO Board: A Primer on the Next Generation of Sheathing," was quite interesting, it became less appealing when the author used open-ended comparative statements such as "much-improved...

Calendar.(TRADE NEWS)(Calendar)
January 1, 2008... JANUARY 22-25 WORLD OF CONCRETE Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas www.worldofconcrete.com 27-30 PACE Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles ...

USG announces design and specification Web portal.(INDUSTRY WIRE)
January 1, 2008... An Internet-based interactive specification tool kit to assist architects, designers and other specifiers has been unveiled by Chicago-based United States Gypsum. Titled Design Studio, the Web portal "provides architects and designers...

NIST 2-year study gives high marks to Dryvit.(TRADE NEWS)
January 1, 2008... A two-year study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of a variety of cladding options throughout the five stages of the products' life cycle gave high marks to Dryvit Outsulation Systems. The Life Cycle Analysis study...

Steel framing system passes quake test.(TRADE NEWS)
January 1, 2008... Two powerful simulated earthquakes did no damage to a full-size steel-framed building in tests conducted at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The tests, conducted in June, were the first in the United States of a whole...

ACH Foam Technologies opens new Nevada plant.(TRADE NEWS)
January 1, 2008... Foam Technologies, a provider of EPS for construction, architectural, geotechnical, packaging, and OEM applications, has opened a new state-of-the-art plant in McCarran, Nev. "To my knowledge, this facility is the only EPS operation in the...

Reward Wall Systems adds production location.(TRADE NEWS)
January 1, 2008... Reward Wall Systems has added a new production location for the company's iForm product line. As of October, Cellofoam has begun production of iForm ICFs in Orlando, Fla. This partnership will serve Florida and much of the Gulf Coast, including...

Leica Geosystems winner announced.(TRADE NEWS)
January 1, 2008... Leica Geosystems, based in Norcross, Ga., announced the winner of its 2007 Super-Charged Sweepstakes grand prize featuring a new 2007 X7 Bullet Super Bike. The winner, Steven W. Hughes, is a project surveyor for an international survey company,...

Spackle.(TRADE NEWS)(Cartoon)
January 1, 2008... HONeY, CALL PeST CONTROL... We've GOT DINGBATS AGAIN. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Steve Barefoot.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2008... CertainTeed Gypsum has named Steve Barefoot Manager of Marketing Technical Services for GlasRoc(R) Sheathing. In his new post, he will focus on the technical direction and support necessary for GlasRoc and the development of GlasRoc product...

Claire Kilcoyne.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2008... Claire Kilcoyne, Show Director of METALCON received a Show Manager of the Year award from The Expo Group at a dinner and ceremony at the Four Seasons in Atlanta. Awards are given for exhibited innovative practices, a strong customer service...

The Board of Directors of Graco Inc. has named Patrick J. McHale as President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2008... The Board of Directors of Graco Inc. has named Patrick J. McHale as President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board. McHale has been a Vice President and Officer of Graco since 1999 and is currently Vice President and General...

Dustan Fleming.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2008... Tools For Trades has added Dustan Fleming to their sales team. Fleming previously spent five years with Tools For Trades as Distribution Manager for their Florida and Georgia locations. After successfully opening his own business, Fleming...

Stucco expert John Bucholtz.(Obituary)
January 1, 2008... John Bucholtz, P.E., an internationally-known expert on Portland Cement Plaster (Stucco) died November 3, 2007 of lung cancer at the age of 83 in San Jose, Calif. As the owner of Construction Quality Engineers and Plaster Information...

Fiberglass insulation.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... GUARDIAN BUILDING PRODUCTS INC. This new fiberglass insulation, Fatt Batt, is designed to meet stricter energy codes and higher R-value recommendations by the Department of Energy. This insulation is 15 inches thick and installs in an...

Loose-fill insulation.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... APPLEGATE INSULATION Applegate Insulation's monolithic seal provides a tight-fitting barrier wherever there is a need to combat unwanted sound or energy transfer. Applegate insulations create a seamless insulation system conforming to the...

Closed-cell insulation.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... CORBOND CORP. This closed cell, spray-in-place product achieves thermal isolation, air isolation and moisture isolation, effectively sealing out moisture and humidity and thus eliminating the chance for formation of mold, bacteria, and...

Polyurethane spray foam systems.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... CONVENIENCE PRODUCTS The new Touch 'n Seal Home Sealing Foam Kits are Class 1 fire-retardant, two-component spray polyurethane foam systems designed as an air barrier and add R-value and sound reduction to commercial and residential...

Environmentally-friendly insulation.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... DEMILEC USA Sealection Agribalance is the newest addition to Demilec's "green" line of environmentally-friendly spray foam insulation. Sealection Agribalance is an open-celled, semi-rigid polyurethane spray foam insulation that contains...

Foam insulation system.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... ICYNENE This soft foam insulation and air barrier minimizes air leakage, providing advanced moisture management, improved indoor air quality and energy savings. Icynene is 100 percent water-blown, environmentally-friendly and air-seals...

Fiberglass insulation.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... CERTAINTEED DryRight fiberglass insulation helps building professionals control moisture within wall cavities. DryRight is faced with MemBrain, CertainTeed's patented vapor retarder that changes its molecular permeability under varying...

Firewall.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... NU-WOOL The new U382 Firewall offers two and a half hours of protection at half the cost of other solutions on the market. It meets all the requirements of ASTM-E-119 and UL 263, with only one layer of Type C gypsum wallboard on each side....

Spray foam insulation.(Insulation)
January 1, 2008... NCFI POLYURETHANES SeaLite is a high performance, water blown spray-in-place polyurethane foam insulation that provides energy savings with a direct payback to homeowners. Installed by professional applicators, any geometric design can be...

Making EIFS look easy: logistics are key to Atlantis EIFS project in the Bahamas.
January 1, 2008... If a photograph is worth a thousand words, there's a lot that can be said about the Atlantis, the newest, tallest and highest tropical resort in the Bahamas. In photographs of the spectacular complex, it stands majestic against the ocean...

Spraying Venetian: new application technique broadens range of options contractors can offer to customers seeking Old World charm.
January 1, 2008... In his two decades of specializing in artisan plastering in California, contractor John Bass has discovered it's hard to beat the beauty of Venetian plaster, and he's enjoyed the recent surge in interest in the ancient limestone finish. ...

How to create top-to-bottom-finishes with dramatic results: troweling different pigments atop a black base coat provides many options to show clients.
January 1, 2008... Quite often the best things in life are the simple things. In the case of this executive office suite transformation, a simple finishing technique pays off with dramatic results in a subtle pattern that balances the right amount of motion and...

ICFs convert: a long-time general contractor's desire to pour his own foundations leads to dramatic switch from traditional construction techniques.
January 1, 2008... Two decades after he built his first apartment building and only two months into his first ICFs project, Richard Colasuonno has no intention of ever building another stick-frame building again. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Colasuonno serves...

Packers score with EPS: Green Bay's Lambeau Field renovation includes foam insulation panels.
January 1, 2008... Wisconsin's Lambeau Field is home to the Green Bay Packers and carries the distinction of being the National Football League's longest continuously occupied stadium. With a staunch fan base, the facility has been sold out on a season-ticket...

The family of gypsum board products.(all things GYPSUM)
January 1, 2008... The topic of this article was originally addressed in the September 2002 issue of Walls & Ceilings. Since then there have been a few changes that have prompted us to revisit the subject. Most notably, ASTM C1396, Standard Specification for...

What is EIFS?(the FINISH LINE)
January 1, 2008... What is EIFS? This is not a dumb question. It has lots of implications and there are many opinions about what EIFS is. No doubt many contractors have gotten into some ripe discussions when someone who doesn't know the product very well tries to...

Harvesting underwater timber.(the GREEN thumb)
January 1, 2008... With the coming of the modern Industrial Age, the need to generate vast amounts of electricity called for hydroelectric resources to be exploited wherever and whenever possible. Beginning in the late 19th century worldwide, more than 45,000...

Coming to grips with conditioning.(all in AGREEMENT)
January 1, 2008... Conditioning can be the process of training to become physically fit by a routine of exercise, diet, and rest. It also can be a simple form of learning involving the formation, strengthening, or weakening of an employer and employee. ...

Are you on Angie's List?(smart BUSINESS)
January 1, 2008... Angie's List is an Internet-based ratings and referrals organization that collects customer satisfaction ratings on companies in scores of home service categories, everything from plumbing to pet sitting to piano tuning. [ILLUSTRATION...

Safety training that works--part II.(success with HISPANICS)
January 1, 2008... In my last column, "Safety Training That Works with Latinos," (W&C, November 2007) I discussed what safety training is and what it does, and listed some important factors to consider when teaching safety to Latino laborers. [ILLUSTRATION...

A question and a look ahead.(the PLASTER man)
January 1, 2008... This month I want to start the year by answering a question that comes up often, then take a look ahead at major trends in the plastering world. In addition to writing this column, I also train people in the fine art of plaster repair. I travel...

Code compliance and exterior siding.(cracking THE CODE)
January 1, 2008... Q: The building code requires exterior claddings to be held off the grade by 4 inches and paved surfaces by 2 inches. I run into builders and architects who want to hold the stucco siding closer to the grade or pavement. Is there any way around...

Drywall router.(the TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2008... ROTOZIP This new drywall-specific router is easy to hold and packs a significant punch. Custom created for drywallers by drywallers, the DR1 provides enhanced cutting capabilities and control while minimizing user fatigue. The tool also...

Rotary hammer.(the TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2008... MAKITA USA INC. This 15/16-inch rotary hammer with LED light, is a versatile rotary hammer, and weighs under 6 pounds. Engineered for the high-demands of professional tradesmen, the hammer has three modes: rotation only, rotation with...

Press Rings.(the TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2008... RIDGID The new ProPress Rings are designed for copper or tube pipe fittings. Used for new construction and instead of soldering, the rings have a swivel design with 180-degree rotation, allowing improved access in confined spaces or when...

VOC detector.(the TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2008... RAE SYSTEMS INC. The MiniRAE Lite is intended for outdoor environmental and construction site use where hydrocarbon-based volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chemicals pose a toxic threat. The MiniRAE Lite has a measurement range of 0 to...

ICFs installation system.(the TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2008... 440 PRODUCTS INC. Pro Set is a professional installation system for insulating concrete forms that allows for monolithic pours of the footer and the first one or two rows of ICFs. This saves a day's time and exhibits professional alignment...

Counterbalanced lift trucks.(the TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2008... HYSTER This Fortis line of lift trucks is designed to provide dependability at a low cost of operation and feature a durable power train design, industrial strength electronics, exceptional cooling and enhanced hydraulics. Hyster...

Foam cutter.(the TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2008... HOTWIRE DIRECT The new computer numerical controlled (CNC) foam-cutting machine is for those who want a high quality entry-level CNC expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam cutter. The 8300 CNC design is based on premiere CNC models, which use...

Looking up.
January 1, 2008... Location: Blackstone Lodge, St. Germain, Wis. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Architect: Springhetti & Associates, Appleton, Wis. Contractor: Appleton Lathing Corp., Appleton, Wis. Manufacturer: Acoustic Ceiling Products, LLC, Neenah,...