Florida Building Material Association to Offer OSHA Recognized Training Webinars
CSA’s sister organization in Florida, the Florida Building Materials Association is conducting safety webinars and CSA members are invited to participate at minimal cost. This Hard Hat Safe-T-Zone webinar series makes it easier than ever to obtain OSHA recognized safety education.
Beginning in August 2009, FBMA will present a series of webinars including fire safety, housekeeping, material handling, electrical safety, slips, trips and falls, and how to achieve and maintain a drug free workplace.
Each topic will be covered twice a month on different days and times to accommodate multiple shifts and positions in need of training. The duration of each webinar will vary between 20-30 minutes and will include a question and answer period. Following the webinar, each registrant will be e-mailed a certificate of completion for the webinar attended, as well as PDF's or helpful documents of materials covered.
Fire Safety, the first webinar in the Hard Hat Safe-T-Zone series, will be held August 13 and 25 at 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in eastern, central, mountain and pacific time zones. Read more.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
More on Weatherization
The Home Channel Network explains more on the weatherization tax credits in their article Pay Now, Save Later.
U.S. consumers were already predisposed to spending money on energy - efficient products before the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act came along this year. A survey published by the Home Improvement Research Institute in 2008 found that "reducing household energy costs" was the number one reason cited for going green by respondents. Read more.
U.S. consumers were already predisposed to spending money on energy - efficient products before the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act came along this year. A survey published by the Home Improvement Research Institute in 2008 found that "reducing household energy costs" was the number one reason cited for going green by respondents. Read more.
News You Can Use - On Technology
Walker's Building Estimating Reference Book Now Available Online, 94 Years of Know-How at Your Fingertips
Construction estimators can now access this authoritative, industry Standard reference guide, relied upon by generations of contractors for computing building construction labor and material unit costs, is now available on the Internet. In addition to the hard copy print book, Walker is offering the option of subscribing on-line to the entire book or to subsets, of CSI division chapters which are presented in HTML/PDF Read only formats. Read more.
National Gypsum Website Features Sustainability Information
National Gypsum Company has launched a new "Green Site"at http://www.ngc-green.com/
Architects, product specifiers, customers, and the general public can find practical information on how the company's products, processes, and plant network contribute to make positive contributions to green building practices.
The new site includes many tools starting with the Product Sustainable Features page listing National Gypsum wallboard plants, their use of recycled content, and the distance between the plant and its source of gypsum. Read more.
Construction estimators can now access this authoritative, industry Standard reference guide, relied upon by generations of contractors for computing building construction labor and material unit costs, is now available on the Internet. In addition to the hard copy print book, Walker is offering the option of subscribing on-line to the entire book or to subsets, of CSI division chapters which are presented in HTML/PDF Read only formats. Read more.
National Gypsum Website Features Sustainability Information
National Gypsum Company has launched a new "Green Site"at http://www.ngc-green.com/
Architects, product specifiers, customers, and the general public can find practical information on how the company's products, processes, and plant network contribute to make positive contributions to green building practices.
The new site includes many tools starting with the Product Sustainable Features page listing National Gypsum wallboard plants, their use of recycled content, and the distance between the plant and its source of gypsum. Read more.
NLBMDA News - Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Legislation Introduced
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) have introduced the Healthy Families Act (H.R. 2460/S. 1152) which will set a standard for mandatory paid sick leave for all employees. The bill would require an employer to provide each employee with no less than 1 hour of accrued sick time for every 30 hours worked up to a total of 56 hours of paid sick time in a calendar year. Read more.
News You Can Use - Product Information
By Victoria Markovitz
Source: PROSALES Information Service
DeWalt has voluntarily recalled two models of framing nailers due to risk of serious injury. Possible incorrect assembly of the bump action trigger during production could cause the nailers to eject a fastener unexpectedly or the trigger lock-off not to function, the Consumer Product Safety Comission reported in a press release yesterday.
DeWalt has voluntarily recalled two models of framing nailers due to risk of serious injury. Possible incorrect assembly of the bump action trigger during production could cause the nailers to eject a fastener unexpectedly or the trigger lock-off not to function, the Consumer Product Safety Comission reported in a press release yesterday.
So far, no incidents or injuries have been reported. Read more.
Eco Vinyl?
Claims and counter-claims about a product that remains the market share leader in siding.
Claims and counter-claims about a product that remains the market share leader in siding.
Source: REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR Magazine
To critics and competitors, vinyl siding is a deadly foe of the environment. Burn it, and carcinogens are released into the air. Bury it, and it lingers for millennia. Vinyl siding is the only cladding product ever to have a muck-raking documentary film, the 2002 Blue Vinyl, made about it. So who could or would argue that vinyl siding, the market-share leader in cladding both for new construction and replacement, is a green, or sustainable, building material? Read more.
Amana Tool, manufacturers of industrial-quality carbide-tipped, solid carbide and replacement carbide cutting tools, today announced the new Black Mamba™ saw blades as part of its A.G.E.™ saw blade offerings. Black Mamba blades are ideal for use in portable saws, either on the job site or in the shop, giving contractors access to industrial-quality cutting materials regardless of location. The new blades feature a thin-kerf design and hollow ground teeth that provide sharper cuts and help extend blade life. Black Mamba blades are designed for general rip and cut applications such as framing and decking where fast, efficient cuts are needed, even in wet lumber. Read more.
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (A.E.R.T.), Inc., a plastics recycler and manufacturer of Green building products, now offers MoistureShield® composite decking in a solid board profile. Using new and improved manufacturing technology, MoistureShield Solid provides the strength and beauty of MoistureShield decking with a new profile option. Featuring a deep-embossed wood grain texture on both sides, MoistureShield Solid gives builders the flexibility to install the boards either side up, making deck and dock construction faster and easier. Read more.
KraftMaid Cabinetry ranks highest among cabinet manufacturers in satisfying customers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Cabinet Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.
The study, now in its third year, measures customer satisfaction with cabinets based on evaluations in five factors (in order of importance): ordering and delivery; price; operational performance; design features; and warranty. Customers may have installed the cabinets themselves or with help from family and friends; hired an independent contractor or remodeler; used an installation service provided by a home improvement retailer; or used an installation service provided by the product manufacturer. Read more.
NLBMDA News - Health Care Legislation Continues to Take Shape
While the Senate Finance Committee pushed back a planned committee markup of financing options to meet the $1 trillion price tag of the Democratic health care overhaul, House and Senate Committees have continued work to draft a comprehensive bill. Unfortunately, all efforts still focus on an employer mandate that would have significant consequences for business owners, the vast majority of whom already provide health benefits, and a public option that would compete with private insurance plans. Read more.
NLBMDA News - Contact Your Legislators on the Form 1099 Tax Gap Proposal
As announced in last week's NLBMDA alert, President Obama's FY2010 budget proposal contains numerous tax hikes on employers and small businesses. One such proposal, which may be considered as a method to pay for the high cost of the Democratic health care overhaul or other programs, is one that would require that all businesses issue 1099 Forms to all of their service providers, including corporations. Read more.
NLBMDA News - NLBMDA Promotes Adoption of Eco-Label for Softwood Lumber Before ALSC Task Group
Last week, NLBMDA representatives appeared before a task group of the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC), which is considering changes to the American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20-05) in accordance with its five-year mandatory review. NLBMDA is urging ALSC to incorporate an "eco-label" as an additional mark in the lumber grade stamp to denote compliance with one of the major forest certification schemes (SFI, FSC, etc.). Read more.
News You Can Use - Trends and Numbers
Movement To Expand Home Buyer Tax Credit Gains Steam
Some federal bills would increase amount available for all buyers. But budget deficits raise questions about the extent of state programs, particularly in California.
Some federal bills would increase amount available for all buyers. But budget deficits raise questions about the extent of state programs, particularly in California.
Source: BUILDER Online
By John Caulfield
Pressure on lawmakers to extend and increase the federal tax credit for home buyers has intensified in recent weeks. Congressional committees are now weighing no fewer than seven housing tax credit-related bills. Prominent business groups have lent their support for such measures. And governors of several states have authorized their own tax credits or advances on the federal credit. So far, though, only lawmakers in California have indicated they'd like to see their state's largesse extend beyond this year. Read more.
Pressure on lawmakers to extend and increase the federal tax credit for home buyers has intensified in recent weeks. Congressional committees are now weighing no fewer than seven housing tax credit-related bills. Prominent business groups have lent their support for such measures. And governors of several states have authorized their own tax credits or advances on the federal credit. So far, though, only lawmakers in California have indicated they'd like to see their state's largesse extend beyond this year. Read more.
A price index of lumber and panels used in actual construction for June 26, 2009
*Western - regional species perimeter foundation; Southern - regional species slab construction.
Crow's Market Recap -- A condensed recap of the market conditions for the major North American softwood lumber and panel products as reported in Crow’s Weekly Market Report. Read more.
*Western - regional species perimeter foundation; Southern - regional species slab construction.
Crow's Market Recap -- A condensed recap of the market conditions for the major North American softwood lumber and panel products as reported in Crow’s Weekly Market Report. Read more.
Builders Indicate 'Cautious Optimism'
Sales, traffic improving even in move-up and active adult markets
Sales, traffic improving even in move-up and active adult markets
Source: BUILDER Online
By Alison Rice
The mood of the moment for builders? Cautious optimism. At the Jones Company of Tennessee, traffic has improved in May and June compared to the early months of 2009. "We are cautiously optimistic," said Bridget Wright, marketing director for the Franklin, Tenn.-based firm. Read more.
The mood of the moment for builders? Cautious optimism. At the Jones Company of Tennessee, traffic has improved in May and June compared to the early months of 2009. "We are cautiously optimistic," said Bridget Wright, marketing director for the Franklin, Tenn.-based firm. Read more.
Poised for a Comeback
The window industry's annual market report contains both good news and bad
The window industry's annual market report contains both good news and bad
Source: REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR Magazine
With housing starts down in double digits for 2008, the window industry could hardly expect to be booming. And guess what? It's not.The recently released "2008/2009 AAMA/WDMA U.S. National Statistical Review and Forecast," a numbingly thorough examination of the door, window, and skylight industry's trends and prospects, found little to celebrate. Read more.
Existing-Home Sales Rise in May
Sales of existing homes showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®. May's increase was the first back-to-back monthly gain since September 2005.
Sales of existing homes showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®. May's increase was the first back-to-back monthly gain since September 2005.
Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – rose 2.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 4.77 million units in May from a downwardly revised level of 4.66 million units in April, but remained 3.6 percent below the 4.95 million-unit pace in May 2008. Read more.
Harvard's 2009 State of the Nation's Housing Report Sees Challenges to Recovery, But Strong Future Demand
The worst housing downturn in generations continues to grind on, finds a study released today by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Despite some stabilization in homebuilding and home sales in the spring, real home prices continued to fall and foreclosures mount in most areas in the first quarter of the 2009. With mortgage interest rates heading higher in June and the economy still contracting, a sustained recovery for housing still faces an uphill climb. “Although there are some signs of improvement or at least steadiness in new construction and sales,” says Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director of the Joint Center, “housing starts stand near 60+ year lows and any life in home sales is coming from distressed foreclosure sales, temporary first-time buyer tax credits, and low interest rates that moved higher in recent weeks.” Read more.
The worst housing downturn in generations continues to grind on, finds a study released today by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Despite some stabilization in homebuilding and home sales in the spring, real home prices continued to fall and foreclosures mount in most areas in the first quarter of the 2009. With mortgage interest rates heading higher in June and the economy still contracting, a sustained recovery for housing still faces an uphill climb. “Although there are some signs of improvement or at least steadiness in new construction and sales,” says Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director of the Joint Center, “housing starts stand near 60+ year lows and any life in home sales is coming from distressed foreclosure sales, temporary first-time buyer tax credits, and low interest rates that moved higher in recent weeks.” Read more.
New Home Sales Fall in May
Sales of new one-family houses in May 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 342,000, 0.6 percent below the revised April rate of 344,000, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The performance is 32.8 percent below the May 2008 estimate of 509,000. Read more.
Sales of new one-family houses in May 2009 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 342,000, 0.6 percent below the revised April rate of 344,000, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The performance is 32.8 percent below the May 2008 estimate of 509,000. Read more.
NLBMDA News - House Passes Sweeping Climate Change and Energy Legislation
In a close 219-212 vote, the House of Representatives approved controversial climate change and energy legislation, H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, this past Friday before adjourning for the July 4 recess. Read more.
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