How Suppliers Are Offering Added Value To Builders
“There’s several key things our buyers are looking for today,” says Tom Schoonmaker, construction manager at Fieldstone Village in Orange.
“They want energy-efficiency, because they can realize the savings right away. That’s one reason why I use Superior Walls foundation system, because the insulation is built-in with concrete studs. That saves me on framing, plus it’s dry to the touch inside and out, versus standard basements which weep for years.”
Tom is a big proponent of Superior Walls because this precast foundation system saves him construction time; provides him with a tighter building envelope; and lowers energy loss. He really loves the fact that he has no call backs, and buyers get drier, warmer living space.
Extend your building season for greater “Profit Potential”.
With proper planning, you can build year round using the Superior Wall system. Superior Walls is completely waterproof-no tarring or sealing required. It’s pre-insulated, pre-studded and ready for sheetrock, allowing fast and easy finished living space. And Superior Walls is the only affordable “Green” foundation system.
Superior Walls of the Hudson Valley is a leader in residential precast foundation systems. Their high-strength precast concrete foundation systems are created in a factory-controlled environment with built-in insulation and these foundation walls come with a 15 year warranty.
Tight envelope
Reduces Energy Leakage: Superior Walls pre-engineered foundation wall system is designed to minimize the amount of air that can seep through joints. Three beads of polystyrene sealant are used to ensure that a proper seal is maintained.
Conservation
Lower Energy Utilities: The built-in R-5 insulation throughout the wall panels stops the transfer of moisture and the pre-studded wall panels offer an additional 6 inches for the opportunity to increase the R-value to approximately R-24.
Sustainability / Air Quality
Pre-Engineered for Energy & Strength: Superior Walls 5000psi concrete, engineered with a lower water-to-cement ratio, insures durability and helps prevent the transfer of moisture through the wall. This limits the possibility of mold and other airborne fungus that can be found in traditional basements and effect air quality.
Reduction of materials
Save Valuable Natural Resources: Since the foundation wall panels are manufactured with insulated concrete studs, Superior Walls reduces the amount of lumber used to finish your new basement.
Earth/Site Friendly
Eliminates Form Oil Soil Contamination: Superior Walls are built in an indoor production facility, thus there is no soil contamination on the job site from the use of form oil and other agents that prevent concrete from adhering to the forms.
Minimize Waste
Reduces Jobsite Waste: With the reduction of the building cycle time, there is less environmental impact and less jobsite waste that a home using a traditional foundation
Superior Walls of the Hudson Valley 1-800-639-4033 www.swhv.com
Strength Meets Versatility —
Builders find using LSB surprisingly easy
Steve Temkin of T&M Building Company was the first to let Connecticut Builder know about a great new product.
LiteSteel beams (“LSB®”) is a patented, cold-formed, light weight steel structural beam that combines the strength of steel with the installation ease of wood products. Ideal applications include basement beams, long-span headers, garage beams, roof and ridge beams, as well as floor and deck supports.
LiteSteel Technologies has been selling the LiteSteel beam products in Australia for the last four years. The LSB products have proven to be very popular with builders, architects and engineers. LSB is on average 40% lighter than alternative options, and can be easily installed onsite using standard tools.
“What we love about this product at T&M is that there’s no engineering necessary,” said Steve Temkin. “Lite Steel provides span charts. It’s great to use because it’s lightweight and easy to work with, and it doesn’t require a crane. What’s perfect is that it’s distributed by Bosie Cascade, so it’s available through lumber yards.”
Builders will achieve significant measurable reductions in systems cost, time, and complexity by using LiteSteel beams (“LSB®”), and they will find all aspects of LSB use including specification, installation and procurement to be surprisingly easy.
Lightweight — LSB saves money by eliminating the need for a crane for installation because it’s 40 percent lighter on average than equivalent hot-rolled steel or engineered-wood beams.
Strength — LSB delivers equivalent structural performance in load-carrying capacity, when compared to hot-rolled steel or engineered wood.
Versatility — LSB can be cut on a job site with a circular saw, and drilled, screwed, bolted and nailed using standard professional tools; it’s easily integrated with wood framing using standard connectors. LSB is available in 12 different sizes ranging in nominal beam depth from eight to 14 inches.
“We’re looking at a couple of applications for LSB right now,” said Steve Temkin.
Boise Cascade is distributing LSB in the Connecticut area out of their depot in Westfield MA. 877-462-6473.
WANTED: Builders Using Vinyl Siding
Given the uncertain economic times and the unprecedented impact this has had on the Connecticut building community, managing building cost is more important than ever. In an effort to help manage your siding installation cost, special labor pricing has been secured through several, James Hardie Installation Partners in the greater Connecticut area.
James Hardie is pleased to offer you a pre-negotiated labor price of $100.00 per square (100 sqft) of ColorPlus lap siding.
Here’s an example of the significant cost saving local builders have already achieved:
- House Square footage: 2500
- James Hardie Products Used: ColorPlus® Plank and Trim
- Total Cost: $8,500
- Estimated Cost Savings: $1,500
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PRE-NEGOTIATED LABOR PRICING, PLEASE CONTACT CHRIS MORRIS AT 617-905-7554.
Ark Contractors 2009 Best Green Home Overall
Adding value and cost savings every step of the way
James Hardie now has a process which will enable you to transition a majority of your projects to their ColorPlus® system with very little effort, energy or money.
Planning Stage: Provide a set of plans and receive a free quote.
- Contact your local representative and he will pick up a set of plans from your office or job site. Chris Morris at 617-905-7554 or Rocco Pizzi at 860-922-0359
- The local James Hardie Installation Manager (Marcelo Franca 508-308-7504 will begin the competitive bidding process with installers of your choice, or James Hardie can provide Preferred ColorPlus® Installers at a pre-negotiated rate.
- In a few days, Chris/Marcelo will contact you with the different quotes; either turnkey or labor only.
- Next the quotes will be reviewed with the installer of your choice.
Production Meeting
A general time schedule will be put in place to get all concerned on the same page, limiting any potential surprises down the road.
Building : James Hardie on site to ensure quality.
Whether you use a recommended Preferred Installer or one of your choice, the James Hardie Installation Manager will be present on-site when product arrives for a “1st Board, 1st Nail”. Here, they will spend a few hours hanging board with the crews to reinforce efficiencies, techniques, and most importantly make sure aesthetics and warranties are met.
Hardie resources to help you sell your homes faster.
- Model Home Program: get details from your local representative.
- Co-branded Model Home materials: supplied to you at no charge. With your logo, enjoy the benefits of free advertising in the way of samples, signs, banners, and DVD’s.
- Realtor Training: The local Hardie representative will provide a free 2-hour training session for all realtors and sales agents involved.
- Co-op Programs: Discuss successful marketing ideas, advertising. Hardie is a willing partner for Co-op programs.
Ed’s Garage Doors Adds Builder Line
Rich Cunningham of Ed’s Garage Doors has added a builder line of quality garage doors, which is 20 percent less on average than custom doors. His Norwalk showroom is the largest garage door showroom in the Northeast with displays of more than 30 full size garage doors in various styles and finishes. Builders can bring or send their clients to make selections. This year, Ed’s Garage Doors won ultimate state recognition by the home building industry with a HOBI Award for Best Showroom.
“I love working with builders,” says Rich Cunningham. “They know what they want.”
Over the past several years, Rich has provided features, such as garage lifts, as well as exquisite and unique doors for the three and four car garages of many HOBI winning homes. The award winning builders include Sound Beach Partners, Country Club Homes, J&J Custom Homes, Duffy Craftsman and Hemingway Construction.
Viking Offers Smart Luxury at A Competitive Price
Last month, Delia Inc., the exclusive distributor for Viking Appliances, launched Viking Range Corporation’s new, competitively priced Designer Series with an all day preview at their Viking Center in Wallingford.
“We call the new Designer Series Smart Luxury because it offers the same Viking quality at a great value,” said Delia Director of Business Development, Craig Callahan.
Independent dealers, like Doug Dupont of CAFD, love the look and competitive pricing of the Designer Series, and Delia is providing dealers with striking floor displays that feature 30” single and double stainless ovens and warming drawers mounted flush in elegant cabinets. Gas and electric cooktops will also be available
Builders will be impressed with the value offered by this series, and entry level consumers will be able to purchase the Viking kitchen they have always yearned for. A Designer Series free standing refrigerator, dishwasher, range and microwave can be purchased at just under $9,000 retail. Now that’s Smart Luxury!
