Benjamin Obdyke Forms Innovation Council 2013

Benjamin Obdyke Inc., a provider of roof and wall products to the residential and commercial construction markets, has announced the formation of the company’s Innovation Council 2013. Comprised of builders, contractors, designers and architects representing a variety of states and climates, the Innovation Council maintains a dialogue with Benjamin Obdyke about best practices, innovative building solutions, and current needs in the construction industry. 

“As a manufacturer, we recognize that we have limited insight into, and access to, the marketplace,” says George Caruso, product development manager. “We are constantly looking to interact with leading building professionals on the front lines of the construction industry and the Innovation Council provides us with insight and ideas that we would likely otherwise miss. In exchange, we expose members to relevant market information related to building construction best practices and current industry trends."

The Innovation Council was formed in response to Benjamin Obdyke’s longstanding commitment to sharing ideas with like-minded industry professionals and the company’s desire to understand market needs and trends from the perspective of its customers. The Council recently completed the 2013 Product Concept Survey, an extensive questionnaire designed to glean insight into how and why construction industry decision-makers select certain building materials for their projects.

 

The Benjamin Obdyke Innovation Council consists of 97 members, 62 percent of whom participated in the 2013 Product Concept Survey. Plans for the rest of the year include in-person focus groups, meet-ups at industry tradeshows, co-creation of installation videos and other web resources. The Innovation Council will also be critical in providing feedback via hands-on testing of new product ideas and prototypes.

New members are reviewed on a rolling basis and can continue or end their membership at their own discretion. To join the Benjamin Obdyke Innovation Council, please visit this address to submit a brief application: http://tinyurl.com/bcxzfwr

Major Funding for BIM-Masonry

Organizations representing craftworkers, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers have agreed to $400,000 to fund the next phase of implementation of the Building Information Modeling for Masonry (BIM-M) roadmap that was developed recently in conjunction with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Digital Building Laboratory. 

The roadmap is a total immersion of all aspects of masonry, from architectural and engineering coordination through masonry materials and properties to construction management and mason contracting functions. The Roadmap is available at: www.ncma.org/foundation/programs/Lists/Funded%20Grants%20and%20Scholarships/Attachments/102/BIM-M%20Roadmap%20for%20Distribution%2031%20January%202013.pdf.

The lead contributors for the funding and development of the roadmap are the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC); the International Masonry Institute (IMI); the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA).

For further information on the roadmap and/or National BIM-M Initiative, contact David Biggs at biggsconsulting@att.net.

Belgard Hardscapes Announces Ultimate Contractor Contest

Belgard Hardscapes is launching its Ultimate Contractor Contest, running through May 15, 2013.

Belgard challenges contractors across the country to share a new sales or marketing approach that will grow their business in 2013. Submissions will be accepted through May 15 at www.Belgard.biz/ultimate. 

The contractor with the most innovative idea will be named the Ultimate Contractor and receive a $15,000 business improvement package including:
    • 1,000 square feet of a product from Belgard Hardscapes’ 2013 introductions (product may depend on geographic region)
    • One year subscription to VisionScapes design software
    • A marketing consultation facilitated by the Belgard Hardscapes Marketing Team
    • A “Come Alive Outside Day” hosted by leading industry consultant Jim Paluch
    • One year enrollment in the Working Smarter Training Challenge
    • One year enrollment in A Better Way 2 Learn Financials.
  
For full contest rules and regulations and to enter, visit www.Belgard.biz/ultimate.

Masonry Construction: Then and Now

By Rhonda Maas

Masonry construction technology has advanced so much over recent decades, that today’s techniques and materials would appear almost magical to a time-traveling mason from 100 years ago. By the same token, when contractors “travel” back in time to restore a building from that era, we confront techniques that may be very different from today’s practices.

Working with an old building requires an understanding of construction technology at the time it was built. After all, the building has survived until now, because it was properly constructed for its time. Modern advances have brought many improvements, but trying to apply these new techniques to an old building often results in failure. So, a contractor charged with restoring a masonry building needs to understand the differences between construction then and now, to avoid applying modern “fixes” that make things worse. Here are a few examples.

Masonry buildings built 100 years ago commonly were constructed with multi-wythe, load-bearing walls, unlike modern, curtain-wall construction based on a structural steel frame. Instead of an air space between the exterior masonry and the interior finish wall, a hundred-year-old building could have interlocking brick, stone or even rubble. The inside and outside walls are inextricably tied together. Understanding how these walls bear loads, flex with thermal movement and transmit moisture is critical to successful restoration. 

For example, trying to shore up an old masonry building by tying it to a steel structure is likely to hasten its demise by making it too rigid. Old masonry walls need to be able to flex with vibration or thermal expansion and contraction, or else they will crack.

Another important difference between new and old construction is insulating capacity. Modern insulation is available with very high R-values, so new buildings can be made practically airtight to minimize the expense of heating and cooling. In contrast, thick masonry walls have a low R-value, but high heat-retention capacity. They even out variations in daily temperatures, so masonry buildings don’t need as much insulation as modern, light-weight buildings. Super-insulating a historic masonry building actually can cause damage, because it keeps the outside wall colder and wetter, increasing the chance of freeze-thaw damage.

Moisture transmission is another significant difference between old and new construction. Old bricks and stone actually absorb moisture, but they also allow vapor to transpire. In effect, the building breathes. Introducing a moisture barrier, like a waterproof coating, actually can trap moisture in the masonry, accelerating deterioration.

Even though masonry buildings breathe, they can’t withstand a steady onslaught of liquid water or ice. The biggest threat to old buildings is water damage. Here is where modern advances bring benefits to historic preservation. Adding flashings at parapets or windowsills to direct water away from the masonry will prevent water damage. And a sheet metal cap is one modern (and inexpensive) way to protect the integrity of parapets, cornices and brick rowlocks that keep water off the masonry face.

Note that interior flashings commonly used in modern curtain walls cannot be used in multi-wythe construction.

Proper drainage also is critical. Keep in mind that gutters and downspouts often were much larger 100 years ago than modern standard sizes. An incorrectly sized downspout will not carry the amount of water intended in the original design. It may be necessary to fabricate custom spouts and gutters.

Foundations spotlight another difference between historic and modern buildings. Sandstone, brick or rubble-fill foundations absorb more water than modern concrete, and, because they are below grade, they can’t dry out the way masonry above grade does. It is vitally important to keep water away as much as possible by proper grading, landscaping and drainage. No downspout should empty next to a foundation. If a vapor barrier is desired, it should be applied to the outside of the foundation, leaving the inside open to allow moisture vapor to transpire out of the masonry.

In summary, construction techniques continue to evolve and improve. We wouldn’t build a new building today the same way we built 100 years ago. But we should be equally cautious about applying modern techniques to preserving an old building. Replicating the original construction is the best way to ensure a successful historic renovation.

               

Rhonda Maas is the co-founder and president of Building Restoration Specialties Inc. (BRS), which specializes in masonry restoration, preservation and conservation of historic buildings. Founded in 1986, BRS has a bonding capacity of about $7 million, and is positioned to handle projects ranging from $2,000 to over $2 million. Learn more at www.brsrestores.com.

North Carolina MCA Masonry University Coming March 13

The North Caroline Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) Masonry University 2013 featuring the MCAA Masonry Wall Bracing Seminar with Rashod Johnson, P.E., is Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at McGee Brothers Co. in Greensboro.

You an use this link to download additional details and a registration form:

www.ncmca.com/PDF/MasonryUniversity2013RegistrationForm.pdf

Masonry University is an opportunity for NCMCA certified individuals to maintain required continuing education. The daylong session covers the two-year requirement. However, participation is not limited to the certification program or to members of NCMCA. A number of masonry contractors have requested we bring the wall bracing program to the Carolinas. Here it is!

American Shotcrete Association Names Campo as Executive Director

The American Shotcrete Association (ASA), a non-profit organization of contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, designers, engineers, owners, and others with a common interest in promoting the use of shotcrete, has appointed Mark Campo as executive director of the organization.

Campo has an educational background in materials science and engineering (B.S.E., University of Michigan; M.S., Northwestern University) and has served for the last seven years at the American Concrete Institute as technical manager of its certification programs. There, he has overseen the maintenance of examination materials, study guides, and related documentation for new and existing certification programs, and also served as liaison to certification committees and managed the Quality Review program, as well as organizing and executing other ad-hoc committees and task group projects. Campo hopes to use this unique skill set to strengthen and expand ASA’s technical and educational resources and certification programs.

“[The year] 2013 will mark the 15^th year since the American Shotcrete Association was first formed, and we’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to make a positive impact on the concrete industry as a whole,” says Joe Hutter, president of ASA. “Over the past several years, Mark has been integral in ACI’s certification programs, and we’re extremely happy to have him on board with us as we begin our next 15 years.”  

Mason Contractors: Your "Dash" to Success in 2013

By “Coach Gary” Micheloni

Right about now, everyone’s all concerned with New Year’s resolutions, what next year may hold for us, what to change, and what to repeat. A wish for this and a hope for that… Consider this instead: This is how your 2013 actually looks: Jan. 1, 2013 – Dec. 31, 2013.

The year 2013 has to be your year to succeed. Everyone, including your competitors, has been given Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. The difference is the “dash” between day 1 and day 365. That difference is you. It’s all you’ve got.

Coach Gary has coaches himself. Let me tell you about Coach Kenneth, who said to me, “Gary, what are you doing with your dash, and what have you done with the dash you were given for 2012?” His questions really made me think.

Regardless of where you stand, you can expect politics to be pretty much business as usual. But the theme of my messages over the past couple of years to “hang in there” still is going to be important going forward. As an industry, and as individual contractors, hanging in there may just be the name of the game. Things likely will not get remarkably better any time soon.

As you plan your dash, what are you going to do differently this year from last year?

If you’re reading this in early-January, doesn’t it seem impossible that you are now writing the date as 2013? Where did the time go? My guess is that it went by pretty quickly – in a dash!

Life and business, even family, are a race. That new little baby is now asking for your car keys or is leaving for college, or just going out on his or her own. That new business has now been around the block a couple of times, can do more things, has more experience. How did all of that happen?

A famous old saying: If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get what you’ve always got! In other words, if 2012 wasn’t so hot (or could have been hotter), are you going to do the exact thing in the new year? Unless you are very content with things, then I hope that your answer is “No.”

I can tell you this with great certainty: The people at the MCAA have no intention of doing things the same as they did last year. They are in a growth mode, and you should position your business to work along with them. They know exactly where they are going in 2013. My suggestion is to run along with them, and let them do the hard work while you follow along in their draft.

Pope John XXIII put it this way, “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”

How big would your dreams be for this coming year if you knew that you couldn’t fail? Many of your competitors will not dream at all. But you are all about the dash!

Coach Gary’s Corner: What’s your plan for winning in 2013? Coaching will help you get there in less time, and with more success. Ask Coach Gary to speak for your group, association or convention, or even to coach your company. Coach Gary’s first book, “Get Paid for a Change!” is available at Amazon.com. And, get his FREE scheduling seminars at www.MicrosoftProjectClasses.com. Gary Micheloni is a working project manager, speaker, author, consultant and coach. Write him at FullContactTeam@gmail.com.

Copyright 2013 Gary Micheloni

Contractors Do Use Big-Box Retailers

A national research study conducted by Eric Mower + Associates' Contractor Insight specialty reveals that contractors make nearly half of their tool and building supply purchases from big-box retailers.

"Retailers score high for variety and convenience, but that's not the whole story for brand marketers; they must 'see' the customer as a shopper, not only as a contractor. If they don't - and they don't know the shopper's journey or how to align their product in the retail environment - they will not reach full potential in the aisles," says John O'Hara partner and leader of EMA's Contractor Insight specialty.

When it comes to purchasing hand tools, power tools and tool accessories, big-box retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's have an advantage over traditional distributors as the preferred shopping destination. Study respondents cited convenience, range of products and brands, and accessibility as their reasons for choosing their place of purchase.

According to the research, 46 percent of contractors purchase hand tools, 47 percent purchase power tools and 49 percent purchase accessories from big-box retailers; 42 percent, 35 percent and 36 percent purchase hand tools, power tools and accessories from distributors, respectively.

Contractors perceived big-box retailers to have a better variety of products, lower pricing, and greater convenience as a one-stop shop, according to the study. Of the respondents, 63% would prefer to make small-volume purchases at big box retailers.

Those who prefer purchasing through distributors said it was for their customer service (75 percent), relationships (70 percent), knowledge (63 percent) and delivery (54 percent), all of which ranked significantly higher when compared to retailers. Distributors were also ranked high for having tools for pros, shipping directly to the contractor site and credit arrangements. According to the survey, 80 percent would make large-volume purchases at the distributorship, especially for plumbers (91 percent).

"The takeaway for distributors is to maintain, if not sharpen, the edge they have over big-box stores: their knowledge, customer service and personal relationships," says John Favalo, managing partner and strategist with EMA's Contractor Insight specialty.

The EMA study was administered online to 500 general contractors, electricians, plumbers and HVAC specialists. More than 90 percent of respondents have at least six years' of professional experience.

To learn more about EMA's Contractor study, please contact John O'Hara, johara.@mower.com.

EMA's Contractor Insight specialty includes experts from EMA's Insight + Analytics, Creative Ideation, Design + Branding, Public Relations, Social Media, and Planning disciplines. The group's client list of leading brands includes Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Greenlee, Legrand/Pass & Seymour, LENOX and Southwire.

DSI Launches ID Badge System for Contractors

Dynamic Systems Inc. has created an ID Badge System for contractors that will identify temporary and permanent workers. Checkmate Construction ID System enables contractors to control who accesses jobsites, and prevents theft of supplies and equipment. Each Checkmate System includes a card printer, card stock, ribbons and camera, if needed. The badges can be either single- or dual-sided and include photos.

This program is targeted for contractors who want to control site access and reduce the loss of equipment and materials. It only requires a few minutes to print a badge and can help prevent theft.

“Loss of equipment costs multi-millions of dollars each year for the construction industry. Our customers see a payback of three to four months,” says Alison Falco, president of Dynamic Systems. Learn more at www.abarcode.com.