The sweet spot of wood component supply is high dollar, high density housing. Beneath expensive finishes are complex structures, and the opportunity to gain significant value. With advanced whole house software, CM’s are able to model the mechanical systems as an integral part of the...

“I am new to the component manufacturing industry, what are some of the industry’s ‘Gotchas!’? Thanks for this Question. There are several ‘Gotchas!’ that come immediately to mind. Perhaps the one most often cited is not having, and sticking with, a...

“Structures are connections held together by members” (Hardy Cross) Take a quick look at a truss design drawing, and you will see a reaction summary that specifies the downward reaction, uplift and a horizontal reaction (if applicable) at each bearing location. Some people are...

The growing attraction of owning attached, close-in housing is a winning trend for componentization. Higher densities shift the labor equation in our favor, both in-plant and out on jobsites. Maximizing the “cube” of structures via open webbed floor and attic room trusses leverages...

In the first part of the Primer for Wall Panels, we discussed the fundamentals of wall panel production and how they may figure into your wood component business. In summary, we asked the reader to remember that wall panels were built for decades with little more than a blueprint,...

Modern technology helps to simplify our daily lives in many ways with the touch of a button—and now, today’s technology plays an important role in the way the wood construction industry is improving speed, efficiency and safety, and even compliance with the latest building...

The evidence is all around us that the “art” of component design continues to advance. This I clearly witnessed last week in a Northeast Atlanta suburb. Down the road from a jobsite I visited over 40 years ago, a highly customized project is rising (see photos on page 20). In the...

Do Building Officials really want education on the trusses we produce? On Monday, March 14, I had the honor and privilege of presenting to a group of Building Officials (BOs) and Building Designers (BDs) [over 350 individuals live and in-person!] at the Finger Lakes Building Officials...

With my local jurisdiction contemplating moving to the 2015 I-Codes, I keep hearing about a new truss design standard. Where can I get a copy of the referenced ANSI/TPI 1-2014? I am glad you asked. ANSI/TPI 1-2014 is a publication of the Truss Plate Institute (www.tpinst.org ), and is the...

The green building movement is inspiring an exciting new trend: reclaimed wood. Not only does using reclaimed wood help reduce the environmental impact of buildings and take discarded wood out of solid waste streams, but there is also a large opportunity being missed with the amount of...