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Introduction Custom kitchens, with high-end appliances, granite countertops, and central islands, are becoming more and more prevalent in the home market today. These products and finishes are heavy and the dead loads from the central islands and/or cabinets positioned along interior...

Prefabricated metal plate connected wood trusses captured me, as I became a sawyer in April of 1977. I quickly found it to be a totally fascinating industry and would venture out every evening, after work, to view new buildings using our trusses. I wanted to know how everything fit together....

It’s in my nature to always keep working to build a better mousetrap, and that’s what I was doing when I started the JobLine back in 1992. I had used recruiters as a candidate and as a General Manager, and I saw how the typical recruiting process could be improved. JobLine...

The lack of attention to the moisture content (MC) of lumber used in truss manufacturing can cause or contribute to in-service performance issues. Mr. Glenn Traylor’s fine article in the September issue of The Advertiser, “Does Your Lumber Have a Shelf Life?”, was greatly...

October is a busy time for the wood products industry. There are not one but three weeks dedicated to national observances important to the safe built environment. Sunday, Oct. 7 – Saturday, Oct. 13: National Fire Prevention Week The National Fire Protection Association’s Fire...

Tariffs Keep U.S. & Canadian Lumber Border-Bound About Housing Affordability: The evidence continues to pile on. Let’s just skip right over the sources and the comments. They are numerous and more frequent. 25% of all homes for sale have lowered prices. New and existing home...

Lag screws are traditionally specified for many structural loads in wood construction. However, recent innovations in engineering for self-tapping wood screws have made them an increasingly popular, labor-saving alternative to lag screws. In the following, Aram Khachadourian, P.E., of Simpson...

I have been in our industry for over 25 years, so most people know me as a truss guy. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work for some really good truss manufacturers through the years and have made some great friends. Like many of my fellow truss guys though, I know the importance...

Comparing 2017 to 1967 doesn’t explain much about our last 50 years. These bookends of our industry’s experience show GDP growth, unemployment, and inflation at nearly identically low levels. Then, seeing today’s housing starts 7% lower than yesteryear’s might portray a...

Anticipation. Sometimes it generates excitement. Other times it enhances frustration. Is there a way to emphasize the “good” part of waiting and diminish the less desirable aspects?