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Industry Today

Have we Seen the End of the Golden Age of Construction?
Monday, November 7, 2011 - 12:33

As the year “creeps” closer to its end on December 31, Flannery is fortunate enough to say that Gross Sales are up from last year’s numbers. This is despite a customer base that continues to be pessimistic about the future of the construction industry. We all continue to wonder if 2012 will be something special or will we continue to be in “slow-motion” as we try to crawl back from the brink of an industry collapse?

Many construction insiders are concerned that without any improvement in residential construction, the rest of the industry may continue to be stagnant. It would be great if someone would do a survey of construction professionals, similar to a “consumer confidence” survey, which asks industry insiders about their view of the current and future state of the building industry. Publicly, I think that most contractors are optimistic because they are bidding on a lot of work, but privately they are concerned about the New Year.

I love to talk with the veterans of the construction industry. It is almost like talking to a World War II veteran in that they have great stories of the sacrifice and triumphs in our industry from years gone by. Many of them talk of the good times of “building without limits” and “two years of backlogged work”. Every job was a winner back then, unless you screwed up royally on the estimating side of the job.

Those days are long gone now. These veterans now turn away possible work, not because they are too busy, but because they cannot risk having a loser on their hands. The jobs they do take have been bid three to four times and they get them out of loyalty from the builder as much as they did on their numbers. It is an age where things may improve, but as one veteran likes to say, “It will never be like it was”. Has the Golden Age of Construction passed us by?

Manufacturing Flexibility
Monday, July 4, 2011 - 08:11

One of the most important aspects of being a manufacturer of building materials is the ability to be flexible. Being flexible is something that can be difficult for many manufacturers. Sure, they may come up with new or innovative products for our industry, but once they have built their machine and have begun production on such a product, they are usually stuck.

They are stuck in their ability to allow that product to evolve and become something else. Once dies for a punch press or rollers for a roll-former are cast, there is no turning back. It is very difficult to change the shape, size, or function of the product that can be produced. So, how can one be a flexible manufacturer?

Well it begins with making products that can be manipulated in some way. Can you add or subtract a flange or hole-punch from a specific trim? Can you utilize certain products in more than one application? These sorts of questions have to be answered before a manufacturer invests several thousands of dollars on new equipment.

As we say at Flannery, “We can remove material from a trim, but we can’t add to it.” When Flannery invests in new machinery we do our best to design a machine that can be beneficial to the construction industry in more than one way. That is why Flannery has introduced not just continuous soffit vent, but also Vent Panels to the market. We never want to settle on one way of doing things. No one can survive in this market as a “one-trick pony.”
 

Does Aluminum Rust?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 11:10

After an aggressive young architect confronted me about the corrosive properties of aluminum at last month’s CSI Show in Los Angeles, I felt a little inept at my understanding of what happens to aluminum when it begins to breakdown. So, just like any professional, I went back to the books and sharpened my knowledge on what exactly happens when the elements start to work against aluminum.

Aluminum does not rust, however it does corrode. When aluminum corrodes the process is known as oxidation. Just like any other corrosive process, oxidation occurs when aluminum is exposed to the elements. This process occurs at different rates based on the type of finish covering the metal and the particular environment that the metal is exposed to.

When one examines rusting steel they will notice how the metal discolors (typically a “redish-orange” color) and begins to flake away. As the flakes fall away, more bare steel is exposed and begins to rust, which eventually leads to complete disintegration. Aluminum corrodes in a completely different manner.

When aluminum begins to oxidize, a white coating begins to form on the metal. This coating actually hardens and creates a protective layer over the exposed aluminum. This coating does not deteriorate and fall away like rust, but instead needs to be physically scraped off. The corrosion process is actually halted by this white coating unless someone removes it and exposes the raw aluminum below.

This natural process known as oxidation is actually mimicked and sped up when the metal is anodized in the factory. Clear or colored anodizing is simply the oxidation process on “steroids.” Anodizing is well known for its sturdiness as a final finish for aluminum products and trims, which is why many architects and builders prefer to have their aluminum anodized instead of simply painted.
 

Are Holes Necessary in a Foundation Weep Screed?
Friday, February 18, 2011 - 09:35

(Re-Submitted from 4/10/10 Blog)- ASTM 1063-03, 6.3.2 states the following:

"This accessory (foundation weep screed) shall have a sloped, solid or perforated, ground or screed flange to facilitate the removal of moisture..."

According to the ASTM listed above, a Foundation Weep Screed may or may not have holes. What it does require is a sloped edge for the evacuation of moisture that may reach the water resistive barrier. One must keep in mind that during the curing process, cement plaster will shrink away from the sloped flange of the weep screed approximately 1/32 of an inch. This space is sufficient to create a passage for moisture to escape.

Contrary to popular belief, holes in Foundation Weep Screeds are not "weep" holes. The holes are typically plugged solid with stucco. In fact, the holes in weep screeds could inhibit weeping since moisture could pool above these plugged up holes. If moisture does find its way through the perforations on the screed flange, it may be directed back towards the foundation where the weep screed's lower flange rests against it.