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Apr/May 2014
OUTDOOR LIVINGNew Codes, New Choices
Also in this issue:
EXPO & Wisconsin Convention Recaps
Retaliation Claims: Protect Yourself
*Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT. © 2014 Federated Mutual Insurance Company
Every employer, no matter what size, has to deal with human resource issues, regulations, and employment law changes. Contact your local marketing representative to learn how Federated Insurance can help you surround compliance issues related to state, federal, I-9, and other regulations.
Visit www.federatedinsurance.com to find a representative near you.
Could Compliance Issues Derail Your Fortune?
BPC STAFF
Publisher (on leave)Paula Siewert psiewert@nlassn.org
Executive EditorBeth Stoll bstoll@nlassn.org
Advertising SalesErica Nelson erica@pierreproductions.com(763) 497-1778
NLA STAFF
President (on leave)Paula Siewert psiewert@nlassn.org
Acting PresidentCody Nuernbergcnuernberg@nlassn.org
Financial & Membership AssistantAbbie Diekmannadiekmann@nlassn.org
Director of Conventions and ToursJodie Fleckjfleck@nlassn.org
Website DirectorMelanie Hultmanmhultman@nlassn.org
Professional Development & Communications CoordinatorConnie Johnsoncjohnson@nlassn.org
Administrative AssistantPam Kivipkivi@nlassn.org
Field Service RepresentativeTim Larsontlarson@nlassn.org
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Daryl LundbergRob TremlJohn BatesMike Simon
The Building Products Connectionis published bi-monthly by the Northwestern Lumber Association, 5905 Golden Valley Road, Suite 110, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55422, (763) 544-6822. It is the official publication of the Northwestern Lumber Association (NLA). Copyright ©2014 by the NLA. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission. Annual subscription fee is $30.
POSTMASTERSend address changes to:The Building Products Connection5905 Golden Valley Road, Suite 110Minneapolis, MN 55422
April/May 2014
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 3
Mother nature knows the best footings are big and round.
1-800-934-0393www.bigfootsystems.comUPS shipping available
Adding on? Building a deck? Take a lesson from nature. For stability you can trust, build it with Bigfoot!
400552_Bigfoot.indd 1 10/16/08 7:53:21 PM
4 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 5
April/May 2014
EDITORIAL 7 Too Many Choices? By Beth Stoll
ASSOCIATION NEWS & EVENTS 8 News items and member alerts
EXPO & WISCONSIN ShOW RECAPS 14
CANTILEVER CODE UPDATE 16
OUTDOOR LIVING FEATURE 18 RETALIATION CLAIMS 22 WhAT’S NEW 24
CLASSIFIEDS/AD INDEX 26
Cover photo courtesy of TAMKO Building Products, Inc.
AFCO-Rail AluminumAFCO-Rail Aluminum features classic lines that enhance any architectural setting. Extruded from 6063 aluminum alloy, AFCO-Rail will not rust. Extruded, machined brackets afford great strength, durability and ease of installation. AFCO-Rail Aluminum is finished with durable AAMA 2604 powder coat paint; three high-gloss colors and four textured, low-gloss finishes. For outstanding appear-ance and enduring performance, make your choice AFCO-Rail Aluminum.
Fiberon SustainabilityProducing Fiberon composite decking and railing products with high recycled content in a virtually waste-free manufacturing process is just the beginning of providing homeowners with sustainable, durable and beautiful outdoor living products. Easy to maintain, Fiberon products retain their beauty for decades with only occasional cleaning. Fiberon incorporates smart, energy efficient practices in every phase of the manufacture of our products:• Madefromlocally-sourced,pre-andpost-consumerrecycledcontent.• Manufacturedwithzero,waterwastedischarge.• Ureaformaldehyde-free–notoxicchemicalsareusedinthemanufactureofFiberon products. • Fiberonproductsdeliverlong-termperformancewithoutchemicalpreservatives,stains or paints.• Contributestohighperformancegreenbuildings.• Safeforyourhomeandfortheenvironment.• Sustainable-durableperformanceyearafteryear.
Decksareeverywhere–anestimated two to three million new decks are built every year. Design trends are moving away from the traditional rectangular and squarestructures.Con-temporary redwood decks feature angular, asymmetri-cal and curved shapes and changing levels. Railing are more creative and often incorporated lattice, built-in lighting and accentsofglassandmetal.Mostofall,today’s decks are loaded with amenities –spas,shadeshelters,gazebos,outdoorkitchens, and intricate staircases.
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Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 7
2014 NLA BOARD
CHAIRMAN — Jeff ReinhardtInterstate Building Supply Cannon Falls, Minnesota
1st VICE CHAIRMAN — Trent PeabodyLumber Mart West Grand Forks, North Dakota
2nd VICE CHAIRMAN — William WoodFennimore Lumber Co. Fennimore, Wisconsin
TREASURER — Ron EnterwRight Lumber & Millwork, Inc.
Buffalo, Minnesota
PAST CHAIRMAN — Bob EganLampert Yards St. Paul, Minnesota
NLA PRESIDENT/SECRETARY Paula Siewert (on leave) Minneapolis, Minnesota
ACTING NLA PRESIDENT/SECRETARY Cody Nuernberg Minneapolis, Minnesota
ILA CHAIRMAN — Brian CarlsonRed Oak Do-It Center Red Oak, Iowa
NLDA CHAIRMAN — Mike SkillstadFarm & Ranch Building Supply
Norfolk, Nebraska
WRLA CHAIRMAN — Craig VandenHoutenVan’s Lumber & Custom Builders
Luxemburg, Wisconsin
DIRECTORS
Bryan Jensen 2011-2014Central Valley Ag Elgin, Nebraska
Daryl Lundberg 2011-2014Northwoods Lumber Blackduck, Minnesota
Brad Kranz 2012-2015Salem Lumber Company, Salem, South Dakota
Stephen McCarron 2012-2015McCarron’s Building Center, Inc.
Forest Lake, Minnesota
Bill Brotherton 2013-2014Wall Lake Lumber Co. Wall Lake, Iowa
Brad Spelts 2013-2015Spelts Lumber Co. Burwell, Nebraska
Mike Bertrand 2013-2016Lloyd Lumber Company North Mankato, MN
Jennifer Leachman 2013-2016Leachman Lumber Co. Des Moines, Iowa
Garry Mertz 2013-2016Mertz Lumber & Supply Ellendale, North Dakota
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Dave Charpentier 2012-2015Midwest Lumber Minnesota, Inc.
Stillwater, Minnesota
Aaron Lambrecht 2013-2016Shelter Products, Inc. New Ulm, Minnesota
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
NLBMDA REPRESENTATIVEScott Engquist
Engquist Lumber CompanyHarcourt, Iowa
2014 NLI OFFICERS
PRESIDENT — John BatesBarnes Building Materials Cedar Falls, Iowa
VICE PRESIDENT — Larry Provance
Arrow Building Center Chadron, Nebraska
TREASURER — Wayne BriggsCrane Johnson Lumber Fargo, North Dakota
The NLA 2014 convention season has come and gone. Perhaps most noticeable at the shows this year was an increasing sense of optimism. Feels good, it has been awhile.
Also noteworthy at both regional and national conventions, there was an ever increasing number of product choices, most noticeably in the outdoor living
category. Those who walked the halls at both the DeckExpo last fall and the 2014 IBS tradeshow were met with a plethora of new decking, railings, fasteners, lighting, trim, and accessories options.
Keep in mind that these same products are showing up at the consumer shows as well. Fused bamboo decking? Why not. It’s beautiful, feels denser than Ipe, and comes with a 20-year warranty.
Take the exotics out of the mix, and there’s still an overwhelming amount of choices within each product category. Composite decking manufacturers were exhibiting enough variations and new color options that would challenge even a specialty deck retailer to stock a full product line from a single manufacturer, let alone two or three. It’s great to see so many choices, but one wonders what happens to last year’s inventory as each new “must have” color is introduced.
In addition, railing is now a major component in outdoor living projects. In 2006, the ratio of decking to railing products in the inventory of a typical distributor was about 80/20; in 2013, the ratio was more like 60/40. Color coordinated mix-and-match posts, caps, collars, railings, and balusters — within each line — can create a stocking nightmare. And don’t ignore the increasing interest in designs that incorporate low-voltage lighting.
Too many choices? Not when you focus on providing the best value for your market. You don’t have to offer several brands of treated wood if you’re confident the one you have chosen is the best quality at the best price. Same goes for composites. As for how many brands and depth of lines you carry, you know your builders and your market.
Fact is, an increasing number of choices allows you to compete in new and different ways. Dealers in areas where high-end lake homes are the norm obviously can benefit from offering a variety of material, color, and style combinations for truly customized builds. In other areas, new manufacturing options — such as the new thermally modified woods — might make sense.
You don’t need to be overwhelmed by the options, but you do need to know what they are. Use them to your advantage.
Beth Stoll
Executive Editor
Editorial
TOO MANY CHOICES?
8 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
News & Events
NLBMDA OuTLINES 2014 POLICY AgENDA The National Lumber and Building
Material Industry (NLBMDA) released its
national legislative and regulatory policy
agenda for 2014. The 2014 National
Policy Agenda brings focus to the
common interests of the industry and
includes policy goals to revitalize our
nation’s housing and building industry.
“Our industry was hit hard by the
recession, but our members have
rebounded with lessons about what
needs to be done to set the housing
industry on the path to economic
WINTEr CLASSES WELL ATTENDED THrOugHOuT THE NLA rEgIONSixteen students, with experience
ranging from 6 weeks to more than 16
years, attended the Blueprint Reading/
Material Take Off class in Roseville,
Minnesota in January. Casey Voorhees
from the Western Building Material
Association did a fantastic job in leading
the class during the two-day event.
According to students, Voorhees does a
great job of using visuals for new folks to
the lumber business without it coming
across as being “too basic” for more
experienced estimators. He has an easy
to follow step by step procedure that will
save a ton of time, all the while being
very accurate.
One student commented, “Awesome
formulas — makes a takeoff easy to get
your arms around. Very beneficial.”
Two additional classes were held at the
end of February in Omaha, Nebraska and
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
If you are interested in attending or
sending students to classes of this kind,
please contact Connie Johnson at (763)
595-4045 or cjohnson@nlassn.org. If a
class is not currently offered in your area,
she will make arrangements with other
interested dealers to get one scheduled.
growth. We need policymakers to focus
on eliminating unnecessary regulatory
burdens, creating sound fiscal policies,
and reforming our tax code in a way
that will aid the economic recovery,”
said NLBMDA Chair Chris Yenrick,
President of Smith Phillips Building
Supply in Winston-Salem, N.C. “The
2014 NLBMDA National Policy Agenda
outlines what our vital small businesses
need to boost employment and get our
country back on track.”
NLBMDA will continue to advance
pro-growth policies that will strengthen
small businesses and protect the many
2014 NLBMDA SPRING MEETING & LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 1-2 Arlington, Virginia
MINNESOTA WILD NIGhT 10 Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, Minnesota
IOWA ARENA FOOTBALL 12 Wells Fargo Arena Des Moines, Iowa
NEBRASkA GOLF OUTING 22 Quail Run Golf Club Columbus, Nebraska
IOWA GOLF OUTING 3 Otter Creek Golf Course Ankeny, Iowa
june
april
Calendar of Events
may
Lampert’s Yards sent several students to the
Blueprint Reading/Material Take Off class in
Roseville, Minnesota last January.
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 9
multi-generational family-owned
businesses in the industry. The associa-
tion’s agenda includes the industry’s
positions on: housing & construction
policy; tax & economic policy; legal
reform & consumer protection;
workforce policy; the environment,
health, & safety; product supply & trade;
energy policy; transportation policy; and
highway safety.
NLBMDA’s 2014 National Policy
Agenda will be distributed to members
of Congress and key Administration
officials and will be used by NLBMDA
members when they visit their members
of Congress during the NLBMDA Spring
Meeting and Legislative Conference early
this month.
EPA rELEASES FINAL SPECIFICATIONS FOr ENErgY STAr VErSION 6.0The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) released its final program
requirements for ENERGY STAR
Version 6.0 for residential windows,
doors and skylights. The Window
and Door Manufacturers Association
(WDMA) represented the window,
door, and skylight industry during the
development of Version 6.0.
“While the final requirements for Version
6.0 are not everything that we sought,
WDMA worked diligently over the
past year with EPA and our supporters
on Capitol Hill to achieve a middle
ground that will increase energy
efficiency, allow manufacturers time
to prepare, and provide consumers
with a reasonable payback period. We
appreciate EPA’s efforts to work with us
to address our concerns,” said Michael
O’Brien, WDMA President and CEO.
The final Version 6.0 specifications
include significant improvements from
earlier drafts that increase ENERGY
STAR qualification requirements
of windows, doors and skylights
while keeping those products
more affordable for homeowners
purchasing them. Further, the agency
acknowledges the need to improve
the process for future updates to
the ENERGY STAR program to make
the process more transparent and
encourage greater industry partici-
pation.
In the final document, EPA has agreed
to delay implementation of Version
6.0 Northern Zone requirements
for windows until January 1, 2016.
Until then, the current Version 5.0
requirements will remain in effect in
the Northern Zone. Further, the final
Northern Zone u-factor for skylights
has been set at .50, which is a change
from the last draft, which had it set at
.48. Those requirements will go into
effect in on January 1, 2015, along with
the rest of Version 6.0.
MN/DAkOTAS FLL MEETINg rECAPOn February 14, 2014, six young profes-
sionals from the Minnesota and Dakotas
Chapter of Future Lumber Leaders met at
J.B. O’Meara in Burnsville, Minnesota for
the 2014 Spring Conference.
Attendees listened as Dan Fesler, CEO
of Lampert Lumber, gave his insights on
leadership. Fesler incorporated a number
of videos and examples into his presen-
tation that triggered a lively roundtable
discussion. Fesler got the group thinking
when he asked whether leaders are born
or made.
Jan Fedora of the Minnesota Safety
Council led the group in a discussion on
OSHA. OSHA was out and about in 2013
and there are no signs of the organi-
zation slowing down in 2014. The group
learned about the purpose of OSHA and
Jan provided a checklist of key areas
that will be highlighted during an OSHA
inspection.
(continued on page 10)
®
STAINLESS STEEL
june
april
may
Winter Future Lumber Leader’s meetings met throughout the region.
10 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
(continued from page 9)
NLA would like to extend a special thank
you to Mary O’Meara Moynihan and Pat
Hegseth of J.B. O’Meara for hosting the
conference and for their hospitality.
INSuLATION LEVELS IN rErOOFINg PrOjECTS TO COMPLY WITH rEquIrEMENTS FOr NEW CONSTruCTIONWhen existing roofs (that are part of
the building’s thermal envelope) are
removed and replaced, and when the
roof assembly includes above-deck
insulation, the energy code now requires
that the insulation levels comply with
the requirements for new construction,
replaced or even longer when existing
roofs are “recovered”. Until recently this
requirement was prescribed using vague
and confusing language.
“There has been a great deal of confusion
given the various terms used to describe
roofing projects on existing buildings in
both the International Building Code and
the International Energy Conservation
Code, such as reroofing, roof repair, roof
recover and roof replacement,” said Jared
O. Blum, President, Polyisocyanurate
Insulation Manufacturers Association
(PIMA).
Moving forward the IECC will use the
same definitions found in the Interna-
tional Building code:
• Reroofing. The process of recovering or
replacing an existing roof covering. See
“Roof recover” and “Roof replacement.”
• Roof Recover. The process of installing
an additional roof covering over a
prepared existing roof covering without
removing the existing roof covering.
• Roof Replacement. The process of
removing the existing roof covering,
repairing any damaged substrate and
installing a new roof covering.
• Roof Repair. Reconstruction or renewal
of any part of an existing roof for the
purposes of its maintenance.
“A survey of building departments in
many states and regions in the United
States found that online roofing permit
application forms rarely included any
information on the energy code and
required insulation levels,” added Blum.
“With the changes to the 2015 IECC, it
will be easier for building departments
to correlate the building code- and
energy code- requirements for roof
replacements.”
The clarification to the 2015 IECC
makes the code easier to interpret and
enforce. Along the way, it will help ensure
the opportunity to save energy when
replacing roofs.
Another benefit of this update is that the
according to a proposal approved by
International Code Council at public
comment hearings held in October 2013.
As a result of this proposal approval, the
2015 International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC) includes new language that
provides unambiguous direction on
how the energy code provisions apply
to roof repair, roof recover and roof
replacement.
Each year about 2.5 billion square
feet of roof coverings are installed on
existing buildings. The opportunity
to upgrade the insulation levels on
these roof systems occurs once every
several decades when the roof is
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Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 11
®
exemption for roof repair is now clearly
defined, making it easier for building
owners and roofing contractors to
perform routine maintenance without
triggering energy efficiency upgrades,
which would add costs.
NLBMDA WELCOMES NLrB DECISION TO ABANDON POSTEr ruLEThe National Lumber and Building
Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA)
welcomes the decision by the National
Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to
abandon a rule requiring nearly six
million employers to post an 11-by-17
inch notice regarding employee rights to
unionize.
The NLRB’s choice not to seek Supreme
Court review of the Poster Rule follows
a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C.
Circuit) on September 4, 2013, not to
rehear the case. On May 7, 2013, the D.C.
Circuit Court overturned the regulation
stating the rule violated the free speech
rights of employers.
In April 2012, the D.C. Circuit Court
issued an emergency injunction against
the rule, two weeks before it was set to
take effect, prohibiting the NLRB from
requiring employers to comply with
the regulation as the court considered
an appeal of a lower court decision
upholding the rule. The injunction was
granted in response to a request by the
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
(CDW), an organization of which the
NLBMDA is a member.
“The NLRB clearly overstepped its
authority with the Poster Rule,” said
Michael O’Brien, President & CEO
of NLBMDA. “NLBMDA is pleased
that the NLRB will not continue its
misguided pursuit of the rule and this
is good news for lumber and building
material dealers.”
NEBrASkA FLL MEETS IN NOrFOLkThe Nebraska Chapter of Future Lumber
Leaders met on Friday, February 21, 2014
at the Norfolk Lodge & Suites in Norfolk,
Nebraska. Ten future leaders and current
industry professionals met to discuss the
lumber and building material industry
and took the opportunity to network
with one another.
(continued on page 12)
12 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
(continued from page 11)
Chapter President Jason Schmidt, Shelby
Lumber, Columbus, led the group in a
series of discussion on social media, POS
systems and technology. The group also
discussed current employee benefits
structures and how a company might
work with them moving forward.
The group was joined by former
Nebraska Secretary of State Allen
Beerman for a presentation on
leadership. Allen told stories of his days
in the business and political arena and
left the group with helpful hints on being
a better leader for both their business
and our industry. In the afternoon, Clint
Ruether of Federated Insurance held a
discussion on succession planning and
touched on planning not only for the
future of the family business, but also for
the future of one’s family.
We would like to extend a special thank
you to Dealers Choice for sponsoring the
2014 meeting!
kNOWLEDgE CENTrAL SYSTEM ENTHuSIASTICALLY rECEIVEDKnowledge Central is a business tool
that enables firms to properly train every
employee (including management) and
at the same time insulate their company
from the day-to-day risks associated
with running their business. Simply put,
training employees is the best possible
protection against the potentially
catastrophic loss caused by a lawsuit,
whether initiated by an unsatisfied
customer, jealous competitor, or
disgruntled employee.
According to one of our members,
Doug Blanchard of Suburban Lumber
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, “The Knowledge
Central system is fantastic! It is exactly
what we need. Every building material
dealer in the country should be using it.
If they aren’t, they’re missing the boat,
and they’re open to all sorts of liability.
Our insurance company is supposedly
providing some training, but it’s not even
close to this. I can track every employee
and see who has completed their
training and who hasn’t. It’s a great tool.
Thanks for making it available.”
Knowledge Central is an online training,
testing and performance tracking
system. It also is a human resources
management system comprised of
dozens of forms, documents, manuals
and other pertinent materials that
together comprise nearly 7,000 pages
of a dynamic content. More than online
training and an HR toolset, Knowledge
Central is a risk management tool that
provides unparalleled protection against
a potential catastrophic loss.
The robust Knowledge Central training
curriculum currently contains over 200
training modules covering the gamut of
federal regulatory compliance. It also
contains sales training, Safety Data Sheet
cataloging and management as well as
required state and federal postings.
Knowledge Central is FREE to
Northwestern Lumber Association (NLA)
members. NLA has long realized there is
a need for members to train employees
— training that is often mandated by
state and federal regulatory compliance
regulations.
We also recognize that many, if not most,
of the programs now available to our
members are inconvenient or costly.
Knowledge Central was created to solve
this problem.
You can learn more about Knowledge
Central by contacting Connie Johnson
at cjohnson@nlassn.org or call (763)
595-4045 to get your login information.
THougHT for THe day Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, concerned citizens can
change the world. Indeed it is the
only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead
14_116_Building Products Connection_OUT.indd 1 2/19/2014 2:06:24 PM
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 13
14_116_Building Products Connection_OUT.indd 2 2/19/2014 2:06:33 PM
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EXPOThe 2014 Northwestern Building Products Expo at the Rivers Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud,
Minnesota featured an expanded, sold-out exhibit floor and a lot of foot traffic through the aisles on
Monday afternoon and evening. Mother nature threw a little winter storm Tuesday morning which
affected on-site registrations, but several dealers braved the treacherous roads from as far away as
Wisconsin to take part in the trade show and seminars.
Some highlights of the 2014 show include very well attended half-day sales seminars on Monday,
given by Ken Wilbanks and Mick Frank, followed by a buzzing Buying Event on the trade show floor
and a packed floor for the Grand Reception. Supplier-sponsored hospitality rooms kept the pool side
rooms hopping late into the night.
Tuesday was another day for learning, with a several seminars taking place. Topics included legal
landmines that affect your business, merchandising, trends in today’s housing, and balanced
inventories — all taught by experts in the industry. The Membership Meeting & Lunch focused on
youth in the industry as Keynote Speaker Larry Hillman spoke about relating to “Gen Y” in everyday
life and business.
We’d like to send a big congratulations to all the award winners at this year’s Expo: Freeborn Lumber
Company in Albert Lea, Minnesota received the Dealer of the Year Award. Weekes Forest Products
won the Best Single Booth award, while Bayer Built Woodworks took home the Best Multiple Booth
award.
Photos (top right, counterclockwise): Bayer Built Woodworks receives award; Grand Reception on
show floor; One of eight $100 drawing winners; Freeborn Lumber awarded Dealer of the Year; Weekes
Forest Product awarded Best Single Booth.
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 15
WISCONSINThe 2014 Wisconsin Lumber Dealers Convention was held at the
Marriott Madison West in Middleton, Wisconsin on February 5 & 6. With
a new venue in a new location, we saw several dealers and suppliers that
hadn’t been to the show in previous years.
One large draw to the convention this year was Rick Davis, who gave a
half day seminar on “Taking the Mystique Out Of Sales Results.” Davis
also was the keynote speaker at the Membership Meeting & Breakfast
and left attendees inspired to control their emotions in the work place
while facing the daunting challenges of our times. Two other seminars on
Legal Landmines and Changes in Healthcare provided key information
to dealers in attendance.
New this year was the very well attended Casino Night brought in for
the Grand Reception. Dealers and suppliers mingled over beverages and
hors d’oeuvres as they tried their luck at black jack, roulette, craps, and
more.
We’d like to send a big congratulations out to all the award winners
at this year’s Wisconsin Lumber Dealers Convention: Evan Koshak of
Tomahawk Builders Supply received the Wisconsin Lumber and Building
Material Dealer of the Year award while Kent Enright of Metal Sales
Manufacturing received the Wisconsin Supplier Representative of the
Year award.
Photos (top right, clockwise): Keynote speaker Rick Davis; Casino Night
attendees; Kent Enright receives his award; a new location attracted
several new dealers to the event.
convention recaps
16 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
16 Professional Deck Builder • November 2013
STRUCTUREInsight on engineering and codes
Anew package of prescriptive deck code provisions—RB 264, which
is partly based on the American Wood Council’s DCA 6—was approved at the final ICC code development hearing in early October and will be included in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). Among the provisions are updated span tables for decking, joists, and beams, which will help clarify the rules for cantilevers of joists and beams.
Joist CantileversAccording to the new span tables and IRC provisions, cantilevers can extend up to one-fourth the backspan of the joist. This
means that joists, such as southern pine 2x10s at 16 inches on-center, spanning 12 feet are allowed to cantilever up to an additional 3 feet (see illustration, below).
There are two sections in the new span table: one for joists with cantilevers, and one for joists without cantilevers. Cantilevering a joist produces greater stresses in the primary joist span (back-span), so the maximum span is often reduced. For cantilevers greater than the depth of the joist material (91⁄4 inches for a 2x10), you must use the span criteria for “joists with cantilevers.”
These joist span tables and cantilever allowances might be old news to those
familiar with DCA 6 (awc.org), but there are a few differences. For example, under the portion of the joist span table for joists without cantilevers (and thus a longer allowable span), joists are still allowed to cantilever up to the depth of the joist material. This will allow for minor adjustments to beam placement, without affecting the maximum span.
Another difference is that the current IRC requires full-depth blocking over the beam when joists are cantilevered beyond, while DCA 6 does not address this. The new IRC provisions strike a bal-ance, requiring blocking over the beam when joists cantilever, but allowing the blocking to be cut to 60% of the joist depth to accommodate deck-drainage systems that install within the joist bay.
Meanwhile, the AWC is poised to include a revised and more user-friendly joist and beam span table in the 2012 version of its DCA 6, expected next year. Instead of separate tables for non-can-tilevered and cantilevered joists, a sin-gle proposed table provides maximum joist span and cantilever distances for all conditions, which should simplify joist specification without compromis-ing design freedom.
Cantilever Code Updateby Glenn Mathewson
The 2015 IRC will contain separate span tables for joists with cantilevers (top left) and joists without cantile-vers (bottom left). As shown in these ICC drawings, cantilevers up to one-fourth the span of the joist are per-mitted, with the cantilever distance (or overhang) measured from the center of the supporting beam to the outermost framing material, typically the rim joist.
The new provisions will be included in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). Among the
provisions are updated span tables for decking, joists, and beams, which will help clarify the rules for
cantilevers of joists and beams.
Joist CantileversAccording to the new span tables and IRC revisions, cantilevers can extend up to one-fourth the backspan
of the joist. This means that joists, such as southern pine 2x10s at 16 inches on-center, spanning 12 feet
are allowed to cantilever up to an additional 3 feet (see illustration).
There are two sections in the new span table: one for joists with cantilevers, and one for joists without
cantilevers. Cantilevering a joist produces greater stresses in the primary joist span (backspan), so the
maximum span is often reduced. For cantilevers greater than the depth of the joist material (91⁄4 inches
for a 2x10), you must use the span criteria for “joists with cantilevers.”
These joist span tables and cantilever
allowances might be old news to
those familiar with DCA 6 (awc.org),
but there are a few differences. For
example, under the portion of the joist
span table for joists without cantilevers
(and thus a longer allowable span),
joists are still allowed to cantilever up
to the depth of the joist material. This
will allow for minor adjustments to
beam placement, without affecting the
maximum span.
Code Updates
A new package of prescriptive deck code provisions — RB 264, which is partly based on the American Wood Council’s DCA 6 — was approved at the ICC code development hearing last October.
The 2015 IRC will contain separate
span tables for joists with cantilevers
(top left) and joists without cantilevers
(bottom left). As shown in these
ICC drawings, cantilevers up to
one-fourth the span of the joist are
permitted, with the cantilever distance
(or overhang) measured from the
center of the supporting beam to the
outermost framing material, typically
the rim joist.
CANTILEVEr CODE uPDATE
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 17
The stresses in the backspan portion
of the beam are considered whether
there is a cantilever or not. A southern
pine (2)2x12 beam can span 8 feet when
supporting joists spanning a maximum
of 14 feet, and it can cantilever 2 feet
beyond the posts on each side. With the
allowable cantilever of the joists, this
beam would support a deck 12 feet by
17 1⁄2 feet.
While it will be years before the 2015
version is widely adopted by local codes,
many building officials often accept
provisions like these as easy-to-approve
alternatives to costly engineering.
By Glenn Mathewson
Reprinted with permission from
Professional Deck Builder, a Hanley
Wood publication.
Another difference is that the current
IRC requires full-depth blocking over
the beam when joists are cantilevered
beyond, while DCA 6 does not address
this. The new IRC provisions strike
balance, requiring blocking over the
beam when joists cantilever, but allowing
the blocking to be cut to 60 percent
of the joist depth to accommodate
deck-drainage systems that install within
the joist bay.
Meanwhile, the AWC is poised to include
a revised and more user-friendly joist
and beam span table in the 2012 version
of its DCA 6 expected next year. Instead
of separate tables for non-cantilevered
and cantilevered joists, a single proposed
table provides maximum joist span and
cantilever distances for all conditions,
which should simplify joist specification
without compromising design freedom.
Beam CantileversSimilar to joists, beams can cantilever up
to one-fourth their backspan. However,
unlike with joists, there is no need to use
a different column in the table for these
conditions.
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Beam CantileversSimilar to joists, beams can cantilever up to one-fourth their backspan. However, unlike with joists, there is no need to use a differ-ent column in the table for these condi-tions. The stresses in the backspan portion of the beam are considered whether there is a cantilever or not. A southern pine (2) 2x12 beam can span 8 feet when supporting joists spanning a maximum of 14 feet, and it can cantilever 2 feet beyond the posts on each side. With the allowable cantilever of the joists, this beam would support a deck 12 feet by 171⁄2 feet.
While it will be years before the 2015 ver-sion is widely adopted by local codes, many building officials often accept future provi-sions like these as easy-to-approve alterna-tives to costly engineering. ❖
Glenn Mathewson is a building plans analyst in Westminster, Colo.
Dropped (top) and flush (bottom) beams will be allowed to cantilever beyond their supports by a distance equal to one-fourth the span between supports, as shown in the above ICC illustrations.
Dropped (top) and flush (bottom) beams will be allowed to cantilever
beyond their supports by a distance equal to one-fourth the span between
supports, as shown in the above ICC illustrations.
18 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
ust try using Ford’s approach with today’s savvy homeowners
who are looking at options for outdoor living projects, and
you’ve just lost a customer.
The outdoor living market is growing faster than just about any
category. Market research company Principia predicts annual
growth rates of 4 percent through 2015, with overall demand
for decking and railing climbing to $4.1 billion. The increased
demand is bringing new products to market, as manufacturers
develop more products in response to the outdoor living trend:
more capped wood-plastic composites, which offer many of
the same performance advantages as cellular PVC but at a
lower price; new types of wood decking; and a growing list of
green-decking choices.
If there’s a downside, it’s that retailers’ and wholesalers’
jobs won’t get any easier as the number of SKUs they could
potentially stock increases and becomes more unwieldy.
(continued on page 20)
Henry Ford once stated, “You can get
it in any color you choose, as long
as it’s black.”
Too Many
CHOICES?
JPhotos courtesy of TAMKO Building Products, Inc.
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 19
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20 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
(continued from page 18)
More Capped CompositesThe first wood-plastic composites
combined recycled polyethylene and
wood flour and were a shot in the arm
for the decking industry when they
were introduced 20 years ago. But a
discouraging number of first-generation
composites had performance problems,
particularly mold growth.
Decking made from cellular polyvinyl
chloride fixed that by eliminating
cellulose from the mix, but the decking
was more expensive. In time, manufac-
turers found an attractive middle
ground by wrapping conventional
wood-plastic composites with another
plastic, a protective cap. The cap
improved scratch and stain resistance
while protecting the composite boards
from water, and capped composites
were less expensive to manufacture
than all-vinyl decking because the raw
ingredients were less costly.
Trex, the company that invented
wood-plastic composites, is phasing out
its uncapped line in 2014. And a number
of panelists at Principia’s Composite
Decking and Railing Conference in 2013
said that they expect a steady decline in
market share for uncapped composites
over the next few years.
Added Variety in WoodSynthetics get a lot of attention, but
wood decking still has the largest market
share: roughly 70 percent, by Principia’s
estimate. A key reason is that standard
pressure-treated southern pine has a
huge price advantage, plus, it’s familiar
to both homeowners and builders, and
it’s available just about anywhere.
But even in the wood decking category,
change is afoot. Thermally modified
wood is a recent transplant from Europe,
where it has been available for years.
During the treatment process, wood
is kiln heated up to 500º F. The wood
doesn’t catch fire because oxygen has
been removed from the kiln, but heat
does change the wood’s properties. It
becomes harder, more brittle, more
dimensionally stable, and more resistant
to water absorption and rot.
There are at least two brands of
thermally modified wood in the U.S.:
EcoDeck, made with No. 1 southern
yellow pine, and Arbor Wood, which sells
both ash and red oak decking.
Even pressure-treated pine is getting a
facelift. Universal Forest Products now
sells a type called ProWood Dura Color,
which has been color-infused during
the treatment process. It comes with a
two-year warranty against fading and a
lifetime warranty against termites and
rot. Unlike decking that has been painted
or treated with a solid-body stain, it still
looks like wood and is compatible with
aluminum building products. The cost:
less than $1 per linear foot.
Osmose, which developed the
technology, says that color-infused
decking is between 15 to 20 percent
more expensive than standard treated
wood. That may be one of the reasons
the new-generation wood decking
products are not in high demand as yet.
Railing: A SKU NightmareKits that packaged all the parts and
pieces for a section of railing in one box
looked to be a good way of simplifying
life for both contractors and retailers.
But builders couldn’t stop mixing and
matching the growing number of rail
components on the market to deliver
a unique look to their customers. This
continuing desire to give everyone
every option every time on every item
has turned railings into more of a
component business.
While options do increase flexibility,
the sale becomes much harder because
retailers are selling options every time.
More options mean more SKUs and a
space and inventory crunch for lumber
yards.
One solution? Lumber retailers have
been pushing the problem back on
wholesale distributors. Rather than
stocking the hundreds of items they
might potentially need to fill orders,
retailers are increasingly willing to ask
wholesalers to put the packages together.
Yet when special orders increase,
margins go down. Tie up cash in
inventory and risk making a mistake, or
free up cash and give up margin.
Aiming for GreenWith LEED and its rival green-rating
systems firmly established, the number
of green-building products is on the
rise with products made from waste or
easily renewable materials. GeoDeck,
for example, is made from powdered
paper sludge, dried rice hulls, and
polyethylene. Cali Bamboo’s BamDeck
consists of 60 percent reclaimed bamboo
fibers. NyloDeck is made from recycled
carpet.
These intriguing products make use of
materials that are usually discarded,
allowing eco-conscious consumers to
feel good about using them. However,
retailers have found that unless the
advantages are easy to understand, this
new wave of green products may not be
in high demand. Also, consumers seem
interested in green products, but their
enthusiasm quickly wanes as the price
goes up.
The Bottom LineThere’s a lot out there that’s new, but not
all of it makes sense for your builders
and their customers. The trick is finding
the right combination of products, the
right way to purchase and the right way
to market what you have to offer.
* Excerpts from Ready, Set, Deck!, January issue, ProSales Magazine.
More options mean more SKUs and a space and inventory crunch for lumber -yards.
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 21
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While the last year’s enforcement
statistics have not yet been released,
retaliation claims have been the
most-filed claim with the EEOC for the
last several years, accounting for more
than one-third of all complaints.
Employers must be aware of the fact
that employees who bring good faith
discrimination claims are shielded
from retaliation even if their complaint
is ultimately tossed out. As a result,
employees include retaliation claims
as part of their underlying discrimi-
nation complaints and often succeed
with these claims even when their
discrimination charges are dismissed.
This is a serious problem since most
federal discrimination laws specifically
prohibit retaliation against individuals
who exercise their rights. In addition,
state workers compensation laws and
the National Labor Relations Act also
prohibit retaliation.
Retaliation claims can cost organizations
big money even when no underlying
discrimination is found. There are four
steps (below) you can take to make
sure your organization is not liable for
retaliation.
The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) recently won
a $675,000 victory in federal court
for an employee who claimed age
discrimination and retaliation. The age
discrimination claim was dismissed,
but the retaliation claim resulted in the
large verdict. The fact that the employer
fired the employee, just three days after
he complained of age discrimination,
supported the retaliation claim.
This is not an isolated case. EEOC
statistics released last January showed
retaliation claims were the number one
discrimination claim filed and continue
to rise. Out of almost 100,000 claims
filed in 2012, almost 38,000 of them were
retaliation claims, accounting for 38.1
percent of the total claims filed.
Retaliation claim statistics are significant
for employers. Federal discrimination
laws prohibit retaliation against
individuals who exercise their rights
under the statutes. Employees often file
retaliation claims in conjunction with
discrimination claims when they feel
their employer has taken action against
them for exercising a legally protected
right. In fact, as in the age discrimi-
nation case, employees increasingly are
succeeding in retaliation claims even
when their underlying discrimination
claims are dismissed.
In addition, the Supreme Court has
broadened retaliation protections
over the last few years to allow more
situations to qualify for coverage.
Accordingly, employers need to make
sure they review every termination
decision to ensure retaliation has not
occurred and limit exposure.
Federal discrimination laws prohibit
retaliation against individuals who
oppose practices made unlawful by
those statutes, including Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act (Title VII), the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act
(ADEA), and the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Most
state discrimination laws contain similar
protections. Thanks to the Supreme
Court, former employees, as well as
current employees, are protected from
retaliation under federal discrimination
laws.
To be successful with a retaliation claim,
employees generally must prove the
following three elements: (1) that they
engaged in a legally protected activity
(such as filing a discrimination claim
or opposing discrimination); (2) that
they suffered an adverse employment
action (such as termination); and (3) that
there is a causal connection between
the protected activity and the adverse
action. Also, according to the Supreme
Court, Title VII also prohibits retaliation
not directly related to employment
or that causes the employee harm
outside the workplace. For a claim to
be actionable, a reasonable employee
has to show the retaliatory action to be
“materially adverse,” meaning that the
actions against the employee produced
significant harm.
The first two elements are fairly easy
Once again this year, retaliation claims seem destined to be a continued focus of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Business Matters
rETALIATION CLAIMS
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 23
to prove. Therefore, most retaliation
cases turn on whether there’s a causal
connection between the adverse
employment action and the protected
activity. Courts often will find a causal
connection when the time interval
between the activity and the adverse
employment action is brief and the
employee presents evidence that the
protected activity was a motivating
factor in the employer’s action.
For example, in 2011, the court allowed
a case to proceed to trial because the
timing of the discharge was suspicious.
The employee was terminated directly
after he gave a note to management
complaining that the company favored
Hispanics over Blacks. In contrast, in
2005, the court found no connection
between an employee’s termination and
her complaint about offensive conduct
by her boss because her performance
had been severely criticized before her
complaint and she was not terminated
for nearly a year after her complaint
during which time her performance
deteriorated.
When discrimination claims fail, retaliation claims can still surviveAs noted, retaliation claims are often
filed as part of a larger discrimination
case. Employees who bring good faith
discrimination claims are shielded from
retaliation even if their complaint is
ultimately determined to be without
merit. As a result, employees include
retaliation claims as part of their
underlying discrimination complaints
and often succeed with these claims
even when their discrimination charges
are dismissed.
For example, in 2010, the court upheld
the dismissal of an employee’s hostile
work environment claim but permitted
the retaliation claim to proceed because
the employer allowed a manager, whom
the employee had complained about and
who harbored retaliatory and racially
hostile feelings toward the employee, to
participate in the decision to discharge
the employee. In 2007, a nine-year
employee who could not prove race
and national origin discrimination was
allowed to go forward with his retaliation
claim. He was fired just days after he
filed an EEOC discrimination charge and
had never received any performance
warnings until he complained to his
supervisors about discrimination.
How to prevent retaliation claims in four stepsAs the discussion above demonstrates,
retaliation claims can be as big a
problem as the initial claims of discrimi-
nation. You need to be aware, also,
that many other federal and state
laws prohibit retaliation for exercising
protected rights, including the Family
and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor
Standards Act, the National Labor
Relations Act, the Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act, and many state discrimination and
workers’ compensation laws. Therefore,
as a way to limit your exposure to all
retaliation complaints, you should take
the following four steps:
1. Make sure that managers follow your
discipline and termination procedures
consistently. Managers should be
required to consider their motives
before taking adverse action against an
employee and should be able to show
they are treating the employee fairly
and consistently. They clearly must not
target, or appear to target, anyone who
has made a discrimination claim or
participated in a protected activity.
2. Document discipline and
termination decisions to show the
nondiscriminatory reasons for the
action. You should provide an accurate
accounting of the facts behind the
decision and any steps taken prior to
the action (such as counseling sessions
and warnings to improve). These records
can be a critical defense if you have to
justify your actions externally or defend
a lawsuit.
3. Review all discipline and termination
decisions before implementing them.
In particular, when the employee has
been involved in a discrimination
claim or is otherwise protected from
retaliation, a discipline or termination
recommendation should be reviewed
before finalization by the HR department
or someone at least one level of
management above the immediate
supervisor.
4. Implement and enforce clear “no
retaliation” policies so that managers
and coworkers understand the
seriousness of the issue. For example,
harassment, equal employment
opportunity, and complaint policies
should state plainly that you prohibit
retaliation against employees who make
complaints or provide information
about discrimination or other protected
activity. In addition, managers should
be trained to know what actions can be
interpreted as retaliatory.
Retaliation claims are routinely added to
the laundry list of allegations in discrimi-
nation and other complaints filed by
employees. By taking the above simple
steps, employers improve defenses and
the odds of winning if the organization
gets caught in this trend. And, just as
important, the employer is reducing
the chances employees will feel unfairly
treated in the first place.
Retaliation claims can cost big money even when no underlying discrimination is found.
24 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
What’s New
purchasing agent with the company as
he heads toward retirement in a year or
two, the new owners said.
It’s the fourth time the company, which
Kenny Barnes launched in 1952, has
changed hands. When Kenny died
in 1976, his son, Paul, who had been
working for his dad since the late 60s,
took over the family company. In 1992,
the company was converted to an
Employee Stock Ownership Plan and
named John Bates president.
DrExEL ExPANDS TO grEATEr FOx VALLEY rEgION Drexel Building Supply opened their
fifth location in Wrightstown, Wisconsin,
in February. The new store will service
customers and the building industry
throughout the Greater Fox Valley
Region. The Wrightstown location will
be led by Team Leader Nick Whitty.
Yard UpdateBArNES BuILDINg MATErIALS HAS NEW OWNErS, NEW NAME A 60-year-old Cedar Falls, Iowa, building
material supplier now is under new
ownership — and a new name. Jared
Huntington and Jared Honermann
have purchased all shares of formerly
employee-owned Barnes Building
Materials.
The deal was approved last September by
a vote of current and former employees
who had shares in the company. Effective
with completion of the acquisition
in January of this year, the company
changed its name to Builders Select LLC.
John Bates, who had been president of
the company for the last 21 years and has
been with Barnes Building Materials for
more than 40 years, has “a new role” as
grANT COuNTY LuMBEr uNDEr NEW OWNErSHIP On December 31st, 2013, Gene
Wenstrom sold Grant County Lumber,
Elbow Lake, Minnesota, to Dan Denardo
and Jason Lindquist.
Dan has been the manager since 1990.
Jason has been the salesman/estimator
since 2002. Gene Wenstrom started Grant
County Lumber in 1985 with four other
owners.
Supplier NewsACE HArDWArE ACquIrES EMErY-WATErHOuSE Ace Hardware Corporation announced
it has acquired Emery-Waterhouse; a
170-year-old distributor of hardlines
products for independent lumber, paint,
industrial and hardware outlets.
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Emery-Waterhouse will move forward
as an independently operated, majority-
owned subsidiary of Ace Hardware. The
Emery-Waterhouse brand will continue
operations as a separate business with a
distinct management team that provides
wholesale distribution services to
independent retailers.
FEDErATED INSurANCE HELPS YOu MANAgE EMPLOYMENT-rELATED rISkS Every employer, no matter what size,
is required to manage human resource
issues, government regulations,
and employment law changes. Any
size business can be vulnerable to
employment-related litigation. Employee
termination, harassment, or discrimi-
nation; improper documentation
processes; and a multitude of other
situations can expose your organization
to potential risk of a lawsuit.
Now, Federated Insurance has enhanced
resources available for clients to
help them address just these types
of situations. Federated is pleased
to introduce the new Federated
Employment Practices NetworkSM(FEPN).
Through FEPN, all clients can access:
• an employee handbook builder tool
• online supervisor and employee
training
• sample forms and policies
• labor posters
• monthly HR updates on frequently
asked questions
Clients who carry Employment-Related
Practices Liability (ERPL) coverage
through Federated also receive unlimited
access to independent employment law
attorneys.
For more information, go to
www.federatedinsurance.com.
New ProductsI-LIgHTINg™ INTrODuCES ILuMA rAIL LIgHTINg FOr DECkINg & OuTDOOr APPLICATIONSi-lighting™, a manufacturer of
exterior and interior LED lighting,
has introduced a new line of iluma
Rail Lighting featuring the company’s
proprietary “LED Lighting Simplified”
connection technology. Each system’s
Easy Plug™ micro connectors simply
plug together to ensure easy instal-
lations, which can be achieved in half
the time of traditional lighting and
with near invisible results.
Iluma Rail Lighting works equally well
with vinyl, aluminum, composite and
wood railing, creating nearly invisible
downlighting effects. The system’s
sleek 5mm design is also available for
4’, 6’, 8’ kits and can be customized
to meet user requests. For the best
outcomes, users need only email or
fax their plans to i-lighting and the
company will specify the project’s
lighting at no additional cost .
Each i-lighting system includes
a lifetime warranty for its LED
spotlights that use approximately 80
percent less energy than incandescent
bulbs and are rated for 12-plus years
of operation if used 24-hours-a-day/
seven-days-a-week.
For more information on i-lighting’s
new iluma Rail Lighting or any of its
existing Deck, Stair and Landscape
Systems, visit i-lightingonline.com or
call 888-305-4232.
If you have news or information you would like included in the What’s New section, email bstoll@nlassn.org. Please submit materials for the Jun/Jul issue no later than April 15.
FSC-Certified Suppliers
AMERHARt LtD.(800) 236-2211amerhart.com
BIEWER LuMBER(800) 482-5717 biewerlumber.com
tHE EMPIRE COMPANy INC.(800) 253-9000 empireco.com
FORESt PRODuCtS SuPPLy CO.(800) 892-7109FP-supply.com
LAkE StAtES LuMBER(800) 432-3727lake-states-lumber.com
PROGRESSIVE AFFILIAtED LuMBERMEN, INC.(800) 748-0089nationalbuyingpower.com
RAyNER & RINN-SCOtt, INC.(800) 221-6953rrswood.com
ROBERtS & DyBDAHL INC.West Des Moines, IA (800) 247-2100 robertsdybdahl.com
VIkING FORESt PRODuCtS INC.(800) 733-3801vikingforest.com
WEEkES FORESt PRODuCtS(800) 328-2890weekesforest.com
Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 25
26 Building Products Connection April/May 2014
Classifieds
Amerhart 4
Bayer Built Woodworks, Inc. 12, 13
Bigfoot Systems, Inc. 3
DeckWise USA 21 DECRA Roofing Systems Inc. 11 Dolle USA 21 Edco Products Inc. 13 Federated Insurance IFC Feeney Inc. 19 Hayfield Window & Door Company 24
J.B. O’Meara Company 10
Midwest Perma-Column, Inc. 26
Minnkota Windows 13
LP Building Products/Wausau Supply Company IBC
Precision Equipment MFG 21
PrimeSource Building Products Inc. 9, 11
Seljax Int’l Inc. 3
Shelter Products 6
Starwood Rafters 10
Thermo-Tech Windows 17
United Purchasing Group OBC
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SD corporate offices. Please mail resume
to Sprenger Midwest (attention Sales
Manager) at PO Box 2436 in Sioux Falls,
SD, 57101. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
iNside sales/accouNt MaNaGeR:
Expanding Building Material Retailer
is seeking a self-motivated, energetic
person for inside sales/account
manager. Must have sales experience
and knowledge of the building trade.
Duties would include, but are not
limited to, managing of contractor
accounts, securing new sales/customers,
estimating and assisting walk in trade.
Full-time, Salary plus commission,
health, dental, life, retirement, paid
vacation/sick leave. Please reply with
resumes or questions to cdeblieck@
stpeterlumber.com.
coNtRactoR salesMaN / iNside
sales: Full-time position with
benefits. Position includes take-offs,
estimating, and assisting contractors
and their customers. Applicants must be
ambitious, goal driven and possess good
communication skills. A valid driver’s
license is required. Contact Darwin or
Pat at Bismarck Lumber, 701-223-2145
or dfischer@bismarcklumber.com or
pjzidon@bismarcklumber.com.
(800) 798-5562www.midwestpermacolumn.com
DECK COLUMNDECK COLUMN
A PRECAST CONCRETE
POSTAvailable for
4 x 4and
6 x 6wood posts - 42” long
CONCRETEFOUNDATIONS
Peace of Mindfor a LIFETIME!
CONCRETEFOUNDATIONS
Peace of Mindfor a LIFETIME!
DESIGNED WITH THE INSTALLER IN MIND.
wausausidingsystems.com
1 | RigidStack
2 | Decorative Shakes
Heavy Duty Spline helps secure siding, straighter walls and
consistent spacing. 375% stronger than lap making it superior
resistant to wind, rain, sleet, snow & insects.
Octagons, Scallops, & Shakes - reversible, staggered or
straight. Blind nail application for faster install along with
shiplap joints for performance.
3 | Soffit & FasciaFree of knots and common defects for less waste. Available in
cedar & smooth finish, vented or solid & three pre-cut widths.
4 | Trim Enjoy the speed and simplicity of installation with our nail fin.
Our engineered durable, reliable hidden fastening system
eliminates blow outs, sunken/unsightly nails & bad touch-up.
5 | Outside & Inside CornerOur one piece nail fin features exclusive locking mitered
glued joint, resulting in extreme durability with a seamless
look; hidden fastener system; adding depth & distinction.
From RigidStack, to our hidden fastener system to the way we package & store our products, we always design them with quality, strength, dependability & easier installation. That’s why we include LP SmartSide products in our line.
LP® SmartSide® products deliver all the warmth and beauty of traditional wood in a product that is engneered for strength, impact resistance & decades of performance, even in harsh climates.
© 2014 Wausau Supply Inc. All rights reserved. Rigidstack is a trademark of Wausau Supply Inc. LP & SmartGuard are registered trademarks of Louisiana-Pacific Corportion and are used here by permission.
solutions
RIGIDSTACKTM
SIDING WITH A BACKBONE
DECORATIVE shapes
BEAUTIFUL ACCENTS&SOFFIT FASCIA TRIM
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