Advantages of Components (FAD)

Supporting the Arts

Ric Thompson, a senior truss designer with Millard Lumber, is used to taking on a challenge. “I don’t do small jobs,” he said. “I only do monsters.” Still, some monsters are more monstrous than others. Ask him about BLUEBARN Theatre, and it’s clear that this project stands out.

Building Better

If a new product can solve age-old building challenges, it can work anywhere—and help CMs become the go-to suppliers in their markets.

Why Market Now?

In many areas of the country, business is thriving. CMs have all the work their crews and plants can handle without drumming up new sales or making new connections in their marketplaces. Jess Lohse—president of Rocky Mountain Truss and 2015 president of SBCA—and Jason Blenker—president of Blenker Building Systems—say today’s boom is a perfect time to market components. 

The Positive Feedback Loop

“The sooner a project is completed, the sooner it can be sold or leased. That’s a real opportunity cost that means something to owners when I sell them on using our products.” Ken Cloyd, chairman of the board of California TrusFrame, said this to me a few years back during an interview for an article focused on innovation in the industry.

 

Fast Foundations Start with Floor Systems

Floor systems are as key to making framing better, faster and more cost effective as wall panels and roof trusses. 

Labor Pains

“All the builders and framers I talk to out there say the same thing: they can’t find enough guys to do what they want to do.” Those are the thoughts of Jason Blenker, president of Blenker Building Systems. If national surveys and media reports are accurate, the sentiment is shared by most of the construction industry across the country.

Faster. Stronger. Safer.

How Framing the American Dream again shows there’s a better way to frame.

If You Build It, Promotion Will Follow

In this issue, we take a look at the Framing the American Dream (FAD) project and the value it has for component manufacturers (CMs). This FAD overview lays the foundation for future articles in which we’ll go into greater depth on specific benchmarking data. A comment from Jack Dermer, president of American Truss, sums it up: “Now that the latest study is completed, the next step is for component manufacturers to look at their own markets and find different ways to talk about the study so it’s applicable to their own unique situations.”

 

Being President Has Its Perks

Having a voice and a united group of CMs to drive the industry forward is one of the primary reasons for belonging to our trade association.

Preserving & Growing Market Share

  • By conducting its own ASTM E119 floor assembly fire testing, SBCA has the data it needs to effectively fight the controversial IRC Section R501.3 code provision and help preserve CMs’ market share.
  • SBCA has drafted template best practice language CMs should consider using in their TDDs, customer contracts and submittal documents to counter the efforts of the lumber industry to shift liability onto end users.
  • Through Framing the American Dream and WorkForce Development efforts, SBCA is actively engaged in helping CMs successfully navigate today’s labor challenges and grow their businesses.