Walls & Ceilings articles from March 2006

Walls & Ceilings archives from March 2006

The beast with multimillion backs.(up FRONT)
March 1, 2006... I recently returned from the International Builders' Show and easily walked 10 miles per day. What an event. Each year, it seems to grow exponentially to where its slated four-day exhibit floor just isn't enough time for those that want to take...

Calendar.(TRADENEWS)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... MARCH 28-APR. 01 50TH ANNUAL CSI SHOW AND CONVENTION Las Vegas www.csinet.org APRIL 25-28 EIMA, Long Beach, Calif. www.eima.com 25-30 AWCI/CISCA CONVENTIONS + INTEX EXPO 2006 Long Beach, Calif. ...

Wallboard shipments set new record in 2005.(INDUSTRY WIRE)
March 1, 2006... The United States gypsum board industry achieved its highest rate of annual shipments ever in calendar year 2005, when the U.S. manufacturers of gypsum board shipped a total of 36.16 billion square feet of material, the Gypsum Association...

USG reaches agreement to resolve asbestos claims in Chapter 11.(TRADENEWS)
March 1, 2006... USG Corp. announced that it has reached an agreement to resolve all present and future asbestos-related personal injury claims, enabling the company and its subsidiaries to take a significant step toward emerging from bankruptcy. The agreement...

Ames opens store in North Carolina.(TRADENEWS)
March 1, 2006... Ames Taping Tool Systems Inc. announced the opening of its newest store in Greensboro, N.C. The opening continues the company's expansion into various metropolitan markets across the country. This year, the company also plans to open 20 new...

National Gypsum launches Spanish Web site.(TRADENEWS)
March 1, 2006... In an effort to make its resources available to all its users, National Gypsum announced the launch of the Spanish version of its Web site. Hispanic construction professionals are now able to find all the information about the company's...

Program benefits Hilti tool owners.(TRADENEWS)
March 1, 2006... Announced at this year's International Home Builders' Show, Hilti has launched its Lifetime Service Program. This program offers service, benefits and access to the latest technological advancements throughout a tool's lifetime. During the...

New home sales rise in December; 2005 sales shatter the record.(TRADENEWS)
March 1, 2006... The Commerce Department reported in late January that sales of new homes rose 2.9 percent in December. For the year, the department said a record 1.282 million new homes were sold, up 6.6 percent from 2004, capping a five-year rally. Sales...

Specialty Construction Brands.(PEOPLE)
March 1, 2006... Joe Renzetti has been named president and general manager at Specialty Construction Brands. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Board of Directors of Cliveden and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.(PEOPLE)
March 1, 2006... The Board of Directors of Cliveden and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are pleased to announce the selection of David W. Young as executive director of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site located in Philadelphia's historic...

ParexGroup.(PEOPLE)
March 1, 2006... Richard Seguin has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of ParexGroup, the Mortars division of French group Materis.

Spackle.(Cartoon)
March 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Hurricane and earthquake battling nail.(product FOCUS on Fasteners and Fastening Tools)
March 1, 2006... BOSTITCH Two independent laboratory tests concluded that HurriQuake withstands uplift forces of more than 271 pounds per square foot (depending on nail pattern and shank diameter). The nail includes a stiffer plastic collation formula that...

Outdoor application fastener.(product FOCUS on Fasteners and Fastening Tools)
March 1, 2006... METABO The DWSE 6.3 corded screwdriver, featuring the 4.8-amp, 550-watt Marathon motor, provides 10 torque settings ranging from 27 to 159 inch pounds and is ideal for applications including cladding steel frame and prefabricated house...

Gas-powered nailer.(product FOCUS on Fasteners and Fastening Tools)
March 1, 2006... POWERS FASTENERS INC. The Powers Trak-It W3-21FRH model has plastic collated 20[degrees] to 22[degrees] full round head nails for speed and efficiency in wood-to-wood high volume framing. With a larger. 280-inch head diameter, the full...

Ergonomically designed gun.(product FOCUS on Fasteners and Fastening Tools)
March 1, 2006... PAM FASTENING TECHNOLOGY The Cordless Screw Gun PC-12 system is perfect for professional remodelers and contractors who will appreciate the performance of a well built and durable cordless screw system. The gun is perfect for drywall...

Eight-contact-point screw.(product FOCUS on Fasteners and Fastening Tools)
March 1, 2006... GRABBER The LOX screw design features eight contact points, twice as many as the four points of traditional Phillips or square recess. These eight points transfer strong torque, while holding a positive engagement, drive after drive,...

Finish nailer.(product FOCUS on Fasteners and Fastening Tools)
March 1, 2006... DUO-FAST The SureShot 764 16-gauge 2-inch finish nailer is a light-weight, compact tool designed for high-volume, industrial applications such as cabinetmaking, woodworking and millwork. The tool is smaller and lighter than other 2...

18-volt heavy-duty fastener.(product FOCUS on Fasteners and Fastening Tools)
March 1, 2006... BOSCH The 18-volt Impactor has 1, 350 inches per pounds of torque and 2, 800 RPM, making it ideal for steel framers, installers, mechanics, HVAC contractors, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, woodworkers, general contractors and more,...

How to grab the bull by the horns: how the correct software choice for your company can automate business growth.
March 1, 2006... Being part of a rapidly growing company has created some unique challenges for me as a financial professional. I am CFO for Building Materials Wholesale, a Charlotte, N.C.,-based company that specializes in selling interior wall systems (i.e.,...

The straight scoop on curves: save on labor and time by ditching cut and snip framing and moving to curvable tracks.
March 1, 2006... We've been there before. The architect has created a great looking interior and has drawn lots of curves into the design. The owner loves it. The subcontractor loves getting the job. But he's a little worried about his crew's ability to handle...

A disturbing trend in veneer plaster: wrong material choice and the lack of skilled plasterers result in bad veneer plastering.
March 1, 2006... A veneer plaster system is a thin coat of plaster, usually 3/32 inch, over a gypsum-based panel. The reason for specifying a veneer plaster is typically to achieve a hard, abuse-resistant monolithic surface. While there are competing products...

Hurricane Katrina: an engineer's journey; A first-hand account of the devastating results of the Gulf's worst hurricane yet.
March 1, 2006... Thousands of damaged buildings were seen as our plane flew over the areas struck by Hurricane Katrina. Most of the news coverage took place in New Orleans and Biloxi; however, from our aerial view, vast areas of widespread damage spread through...

Challenges in wall installation: recent advancements in setting material technology are helping to make wall tile installation easier and improving installer efficiency.(Cover story)
March 1, 2006... Installing wall tile, whether ceramic, porcelain or natural stone, can be challenging. Keeping up with the latest in products, while remembering important application fundamentals, will help produce consistently successful--and profitable--wall...

Walls & Ceilings 2006-'07 trade show directory and industry events calendar.(Directory)
March 1, 2006... W & C 2006-2007 TRADE SHOW DIRECTORY -- MANUFACTURERS A-1 Plank & Scaffold Mfg., Inc. 500 Commerce Pkwy., Hays, KS 67601 (785) 625-7510 Fax: (785) 625-8452 sales@a1scaffold.com www.a1scaffold.com Your complete source...

The name game.(smart BUSINESS)
March 1, 2006... Jeff Edson of Restoration Roofing, formerly Western Systems Inc., in Longmont, Colo., had a dilemma. There was another roofing company nearby with a similar name (Western Roofing) and customers tended to confuse the two, so Jeff decided to...

Techniques and pricing.(the PLASTER man)
March 1, 2006... In the January and February columns, we talked over what factors are involved in estimating a project. This month marks a starting point for us to look at some projects a lot closer than we've done in the past. We're going to take a kitchen...

Special inspection of EIFS.(the FINISH LINE)
March 1, 2006... Did you know that EIFS projects are supposed to be inspected? There is a building code requirement for special inspections that is specifically for EIFS and it's in the International Building Code, published by the International Code Council....

Moisture in gypsum board.(all things GYPSUM)
March 1, 2006... The number of inquires to the Gypsum Association about water-damaged gypsum board always increases during the winter and early spring. What is interesting is how answers to many of these questions can be found in the content of one of the first...

Deja vu x 2 (Part three).(the GREEN thumb)
March 1, 2006... In part one of this series, we took a look at the mixed results when agricultural fibers were substituted for wood fibers in the manufacture of composite wood panel products, such as particleboard and medium-density fiberboard. We also saw how...

Evaluation time.(all in AGREEMENT)
March 1, 2006... My company last year completed a project on an airport. This airport is operated and managed by a local municipal corporation. The manager's mission statement is, "Creating economic vitality here." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The airport...

Seven special days to success.(success with HISPANICS)
March 1, 2006... Right after Thanksgiving of last year, I was giving a conference for some business owners in Arizona and this Anglo gentleman approached me with the following statement: "Why are some of my Hispanics so ungrateful?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

DIY kit.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... RYOBI The MultiTASKit Model EMM0001 is a "do-it-all" kit that acts as a helping hand or project assistant for people tackling common home improvement jobs by themselves. Its body houses the AIRgrip vacuum technology and four attachments...

Soundproof drywall.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... QUIET SOLUTION The lowest-cost, high-performance soundproof drywall panel QuietRock 525 is simple to score, snap and hang. It installs and finishes like standard drywall and requires no special tools or equipment. The board weighs about...

Dry cut saw.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... THE M. K. MORSE CO. The CSM14B metal cutting saw with dry cutting technology is equipped with a durable fast cutting Metal Devil 14-inch carbide-tipped blade. It produces a virtual spark-free environment. The low-speed, high-torque motor...

Router combo.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... RIDGID The Heavy Duty EVS 2 1/4 Peak HP Router Combo comes with fixed and plunge bases, and a motor all constructed from premium milled Mg magnesium for strength, fit and performance. It also features a precision-milled shaft whose runout...

Floating butt joint backer.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... BUTTBOARD The revised Buttboard better facilitates thicker drywall including 5/8 inch material. The product is available in 48 and 54 inch lengths and is designed to be used with 12, 16 and 24 inch on center metal and wood framing members....

Customized acrylic sheets.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... ACRILEX The Acriglas Metallic series is designed to emulate the look of bright dipped brushed anodized aluminum in easy to fabricate acrylic. These are offered in 12 standard colors and in thickness' ranging from 1/8 to 1/2 inch. Sheet...

Fiberboard panels.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... BARNES-STONEDALE The Load Bearing Insulating Fiber Concrete fiberboards, used in place of wood framing, can withstand winds up to 150 mph. LIFCON replaces traditional framing insulation and dry-wall in home building and light construction....

Arch-cased kit.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... CURVEMAKERS INC. The manufacturer of curved millwork has developed and patented the Arch Cased Opening Kit. These kits are fully assembled as finished jamb and casing assemblies that can be installed in minutes, completely eliminating the...

Reciprocating saw blade.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... LENOX The Lenox Gold reciprocating saw blade lasts longer and cuts faster because of its TiN-based coating along its edge. This improvement, coupled with the improved tooth form geometry and optimized blade geometry, creates a blade that...

Texture sprayer.(the TOOLBOX)
March 1, 2006... BENRON The RotorTex has an anti-spill 20-gallon hopper that is easy to fill and move around without the worry of spilling. It features a quick-disconnect removable control box that is easy to take off when cleaning the machine. The control...

One man operation.(bench TEST)
March 1, 2006... Finding an easy to install molding to add flair to a home project has been a difficult challenge for me in the past. While most of the molding products available on the market today can add that "custom touch" clients are looking for, the...