New Ideas

Spikes keep birds away

Bird-X Inc. has released Stainless Steel Spikes Needle Strips to deter birds from roosting on roofs, ledges and gutters. The 4 1/2-inch-long spikes are made of stainless steel and have an ultraviolet-inhibited polycarbonate base.

The base can be installed on regular and irregular surfaces by a variety of attachment methods, and each spike module is 2 feet long. Stabilizers in the base are said to keep the strips balanced during installation.

Saw blades are durable

Bosch Power Tools and Accessories has released a new series of circular saw blades featuring C3 Dyanite Carbide® teeth, which are said to have long lives because of the combination of tungsten carbide and boron. With hardened bodies, the blades also have an anti-friction coating that reportedly reduces heat buildup and produces straight, accurate cut lines. The company offers 16 blade sizes and tooth variations.

Staplers fit user preference

DEWALT has introduced D51430 and D51431, heavy-duty, medium-crown staplers for residential construction applications. Each stapler weighs 4 1/2 pounds and features jam-free springs and carbide inserts.

Air and dust reportedly are swept away with the staplers' 360-degree exhaust, and a depth-adjustment feature offers selection of depth settings. The crown of the D51430 is 7/16 of an inch, and the crown of the D51431 is 1/2 of an inch.

Estimating software is updated

Quest Estimator 6.5.5, the latest version of Quest Solutions Inc.'s digitized takeoff and estimating software, has been released. Features of the software include allowing a user to automatically set part numbers, phases, cost codes, etc.; export data directly to an Intuit accounting package; and build item lists and set account codes for data. Estimator 6.5.5 is compatible with Quickbooks 2003 and 2004 editions.

Software addresses fall protection

AppliCad has implemented a new feature in its roofing software that allows users to plan for the use of fall-protection anchors. Optimum placement and lifeline length of fall-protection anchors are taken into account, and the software enables an estimator to produce an anchor placement drawing, as well as include anchors in the parts list and price quotation.

In addition, the software can determine how many fall-protection barriers are needed for a job and add them to the total price based on roof slope. When the fall-protection barrier need is measured by slope, the barriers, accessories and installation costs are added to the quotation as a material and labor item.

Handbook details safety practices

Construction Safety Management: Fundamental Components of Successful Safety Programs is a new safety handbook released by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Based on ABC's Safety Training and Evaluation Process, a program that helps construction firms improve safety, the handbook details safety policies, methods and procedures. Topics discussed include recognition and incentives; proper training and inspections; and producing clear, comprehensive written safety materials. Additional safety and health tips are offered with regard to pretask planning, management support and return-to-work plans.

Bedliner is water-resistant

Wise Industries Inc. has introduced the BedRug® bedliner, a water-resistant, nonskid polypropylene fiber surface available for the redesigned 2004 Ford F-150 truck. The plastic bedliner is said to be unaffected by dirt, oil, grease, acid, bleach and other solvents, as well as impervious to stains. The product's foam bottom, bulkhead, tailgate and sidewall sections are custom-formed. The BedRug is said to install in less than one hour.

Wood sealant offers protection

Bond Distributing Ltd. has introduced One TIME,® its wood sealant said to cover two to three times more square footage per gallon than conventional sealants. The sealant, which can be applied to wood shakes, is a resin blend that contains 100 percent solids and is said to begin protecting wood within 30 minutes to 60 minutes of application. The product is said to penetrate deep into wood and become part of the wood's cellular structure.

Shingles are impact-resistant

CertainTeed Corp. has made available its three-tab impact-resistant shingle, XT™ 30 IR. Said to withstand the force of a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet, the shingle has a fiberglass scrim on its back surface for stronger impact resistance. The algae-resistant shingle is 245 pounds per square and offered in five colors—burnt sienna, colonial slate, moiré black, resawn shake and weathered wood.