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...

Construction is rebounding, and with it the need to invest in education for safe and sustainable structures is more important than ever. As manufacturers of wood products, many in our industry have the opportunity to directly engage with those on the front lines of construction who are often...

Light gauge steel trusses have been around a long, long time. Steel trusses offer the same advantages that make light gauge steel framing generally appealing for a significant segment of the light frame construction industry. Light gauge steel does not burn. It does not serve as a food source...

Home buyers naturally take for granted that the floor system in a new house is safe and complies with the building code—and rightly so. But home buyers also have expectations for their floors that are unrelated to safety or the building code. In particular, many home buyers are aware of...

The phone rang this morning and the caller said that “they had a real quick question.” They went on to ask if “standard truss plates could be used with pressure treated lumber?” Hmmmm…the questions that some questions prompt. It sort of reminds me of the...

Exempt Structures, can I really do anything I (or the customer) wants when no one is looking over my proverbial shoulder? This question would be funny, if it were not so sad. Exactly what are exempt structures exempt from? Many jurisdictions make accessory buildings (storage sheds,...