Briefings

Manufacturer news

Grace sponsors education program

Cambridge, Mass.-based Grace Construction Products has announced its sponsorship of the Hurricane-Resistant Construction Network (HRN), a sponsor-driven education program produced by Building Media Inc., Seattle. HRN focuses on hurricane- and flood-resistant construction codes and best building practices and targets builders and remodelers of single-family homes in hurricane-affected areas.

HRN offers an online help center—www.hurricaneconstruction.net—that provides building science- and code-related information. HRN also offers its Hurricane-Resistant Construction Guidebook, which includes code-indexed hurricane construction details from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as energy-saving construction details.

Carlisle acquires manufacturer

Carlisle, Pa.-based Carlisle Construction Materials has acquired Premier Building Systems, Fife, Wash., a subsidiary of Insulfoam. The acquisition is part of Carlisle Construction Materials' purchase of Insulfoam from Premier Industries, Tacoma, Wash. Premier Building Systems, which manufactures structural insulated panels used in construction of walls, floors and roofs in residential and commercial buildings, is Carlisle Construction Materials' eighth company.

"Premier Building Systems will be an excellent addition to Carlisle Construction Materials," says John Altmeyer, Carlisle Construction Materials' president and chief executive officer. "This will enhance Carlisle Construction Materials' overall offerings for building owners, architects and contractors who want to utilize premium construction materials."

Metals USA changes product name

Metals USA Building Products LP, Houston, a division of Metals USA Inc., has changed its Dura-Loc brand name to Allmet Roofing Products. The name change was effective July 1.

Metals USA Building Products will continue to produce its Signature Series product line of stone-coated steel roofing panels under the Allmet Roofing Products brand name.

Duro-Last® Roofing expands facility

Duro-Last Roofing Inc., Saginaw, Mich., has expanded its manufacturing facility in Jackson, Miss. The facility now fabricates metal components by EXCEPTIONAL® Metals, a division of Duro-Last Roofing.

Duro-Last Roofing also will use the facility to fabricate additional product lines, such as edge details and coping caps, and offer custom fabrication services.

Tremco wins technology award

Beachwood, Ohio-based Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance has won the Construction Specifications Institute's 2007 Construction Technology Award for its Rock-It™ Surfacing System and POWERply™ T24 Modified Bitumen/White on White Adhesive Roof System.

The award is presented to an individual, team, firm or organization for the development or use of new materials, methods, technologies or project delivery systems, or the development or use of existing materials, methods or technologies in new or innovative manners.

Firestone Building Products helps communities

Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. has partnered with its licensed roofing contractors to benefit local communities through its Firestone Community Service Program, which rewards qualified contractors with material credit for Firestone Building Products' materials installed as part of a donated labor community service project.

The following roofing contractors took part in the program during 2006: NRCA member AAA Roofing Co. Inc., Indianapolis; Crafts Inc., Manitowoc, Wis.; NRCA member J.M. Young & Sons Inc., Belleville, Pa.; John R. Imbt Inc., Troy, Pa.; NRCA member N.F. Mansuetto & Sons Inc., Martins Ferry, Ohio; NRCA member NorthStar Construction Services Corp., Leominster, Mass.; and NRCA member Weathercraft Co. of North Platte, North Platte, Neb.

Gardner-Gibson receives award

Gardner-Gibson Inc., Tampa, Fla., has been named Supplier of the Year by Chicago-based True Value Co., a hardware cooperative. The award recognizes companies whose contributions have helped drive growth of True Value and its members.

"We are proud and honored to be recognized by an outstanding partner like True Value," says Tripp Hyer, Gardner-Gibson's vice president of sales and marketing. "True Value's network has been an excellent channel for launching new products and concepts that have helped keep both of our companies on the leading edge of home improvement and protection from the elements."

Up the ladder

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has named Larry Brush, Jim Crew, Kurt Dismukes, Steve Felgate, David Kendziora, Cory McClung, Darin Richardson, Tom Ruffen, Steve Sapp, Chris Schrage, Ronnie Sebree, Ed Turner, R.A. Vidal and Pablo Wilckens managing partners.

United Coatings has named Mike DeBenedetto director of business development.

Contractor news

Tecta America announces acquisition

Tecta America Corp., Skokie, Ill., has acquired Delta Roofing, North Billerica, Mass., including its locations in West Bridgewater, Mass.; Portland, Maine; and Jacksonville, Fla. Tecta America now has 28 U.S. divisions.

"The acquisition gives us significant strength in the Northeast and complements our existing Tecta America companies," says Mark Santacrose, Tecta America's president and chief executive officer.

Great Lakes Roofing wins award

Germantown, Wis.-based Great Lakes Roofing Corp. has won the 2006 Wisconsin Corporate Safety Award in the midsize business category.

Great Lakes Roofing has won this award eight times and is the only roofing company to have won the award, according to Great Lakes Roofing representatives.

Allen Brothers partners with charities

Rochester Hills, Mich.-based Allen Brothers Inc. has partnered with six local charities to establish "Help A Neighbor, Support A Charity," a referral program that helps fund the charities' work in local communities.

Through this program, when a participating Allen Brothers customer refers someone to Allen Brothers and the referred individual purchases a new roof system or schedules a repair, Allen Brothers will send a $25 voucher to the referring person's selected participating charity.

The charities, which were chosen randomly, are Leader Dogs for the Blind; Lighthouse of Oakland County—Kids Café—After School Program; Rochester Area Jaycees; The Rainbow Connection—Bringing Kids' Dreams to Life; On My Own of Michigan—Helping Adults with Disabilities; and The Miracle League—Helping Disabled Kids Play Baseball.

Distributor news

Allied Building Products acquires company

East Rutherford, N.J.-based Allied Building Products Corp. has acquired Spartan Supply Co., Culver City, Calif. Spartan Supply will keep its name but relocate to Los Angeles.

"The acquisition of Spartan Supply will allow Allied Building Products to enter a high-end niche market and fill logistical distribution gaps," says Greg Bloom, vice president of Allied Building Products' Western regions.

Bradco Supply opens facility

Avenel, N.J.-based Bradco Supply Corp. has opened a facility in Charleston, S.C. The facility includes a warehouse and sales office and is Bradco Supply's second facility in Charleston.

"Our new location will serve the residential and commercial markets by stocking a selection of roofing products from manufacturers like GAF Materials Corp., TAMKO® Building Products, Owens Corning, Firestone Building Products Co. and Johns Manville," says Scott Nisbet, Bradco Supply's Southeast territories' regional manager. "The facility will also carry a comprehensive line of tools and building accessories to meet our customers' growing needs."

Other news

CSI honors roof consultant

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has named Robert L. Dye, CSI, a Fellow of the Institute. Fellowship is a top honor given by the institute, and nominees must be chosen by their peers, be members in good standing for at least five years and have contributed to advancing construction technology.

ASTM releases project cost estimation standard

ASTM International's Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings has approved a practice that helps builders and developers better estimate construction projects' costs. The new standard is titled E 2514, Practice for Presentation Format on Elemental Cost Estimates.

"E 2514 provides a common format and describes the preferred display of figures, their displayed precision, and the analysis and summary techniques used to create the displayed figures from the necessary underlying construction quantity and cost data," says Anthony Huxley, E06.81 member and construction consultant in Ontario, Canada. The new standard will make it easier to incorporate design changes prior to the bid process, according to Huxley.

Industry association launches online calculator

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Toronto, Canada, in partnership with Tremco Inc., Beachwood, Ohio, and the Athena Institute, Kutztown, Pa.—an organization helping architects, engineers and others evaluate buildings' environmental impact—has launched its GreenSave Calculator, a Web-enabled tool that compares the short- and long-term costs and benefits of green and conventional roof systems.

The GreenSave Calculator compares up to three roofing options during the defined life span of a project. The calculator accounts for life-cycle study period, discount rate, general and energy price inflation, investment cost data, residual or resale value, recurring operating and maintenance costs, and replacement costs.

The GreenSave Calculator also can capture other possible roof benefits, including storm water and heat island migration, extended roof durability, increased rental income, and tenant health and productivity improvements.

The GreenSave Calculator can be viewed at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' Web site, www.greenroofs.org.

The Construction Institute releases safety DVD

The Construction Institute, Boston, has released its multimedia DVD-based learning tool about common construction-related safety hazards. The DVD incor­porates text slides, computer animation, graphics, videos, and interviews with workers and safety experts.

"The construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S.," says Mary Vogel, The Construction Institute's executive director. "This DVD targets the four hazards contributing to most of the fatalities and serious injuries in our industry and will help workers and employers identify and control these hazards."

The DVD was funded through a grant from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. The Construction Institute partnered with MetaMedia Training International Inc., Germantown, Md., and Construction Safety Management Inc., Getzville, N.Y., to produce the DVD.

Safety campaign is launched

Aerial Work Platform Training (AWPT) Inc., Rouzerville, Pa., has launched a campaign aimed at encouraging users of boom-type platforms to wear full-body harnesses with short lanyards attached to suitable anchor points.

AWPT has produced stickers that read, "Click It! Wear a full body harness with a short lanyard in boom type platforms," which can be placed on boom lifts. Additionally, AWPT has made available "Technical Guidance Note AWPT H1," a document that provides recommen­dations for the proper use of harnesses and lanyards on different types of aerial platforms.

The campaign is being promoted internationally by AWPT's parent organization, the International Powered Access Federation, Milnthrope, England. Small quantities of the campaign's stickers are available for free. For more information about obtaining "Click It!" stickers or copies of "Technical Guidance Note AWPT H1," visit www.awpt.org.

Affiliate news

FRSA elects president

The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Association (FRSA) has named Billy Cone, president and owner of Rooftech Roofing and Sheet Metal Co. Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., president of the organization.

Keith Swope, president of NRCA member Tampa Roofing Co. Inc., Tampa, Fla., has been named president elect; Paul Furr, president of PDF Roofing Concepts, Bradenton, Fla., has been named vice president; and Dave Cumming, president of Camp Rigby Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., Cape Coral, Fla., has been named secretary/treasurer of FRSA. All new officers were named during FRSA's 85th Annual Convention June 13-16.