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I am just one of many people who had the privilege of calling Richard “Dickie” Vail my friend. Working with him over the years as a recruiter at TheJobLine.com, while he was at Trussway and then at Panel Truss, I was always impressed with his exceptionally detailed questioning about...

February’s International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando, Florida was massive in both size and content. I consider myself lucky to have gotten a press pass to the IBS. I say lucky not because the pass was obtained, any good trade show will offer that to increase exposure for the show and...

After a three-year absence, Virginia Tech is offering its popular two-day course on topics related to wood construction. On May 17–18 in Blacksburg, VA, the Structural Design Topics in Wood Construction course will address wood truss design, in-service performance, and installation...

Burton Lumber to welcome 2022 attendees to their Salt Lake City facility! “One of the main reasons I attend the MSR Workshop is because the event format always includes an opportunity to take a tour, to see or learn something new,” says Kyle Gibbons. “I think it’s what...

There are multiple Overlooked Obvious housing conditions that scream “runaway supply of shelter” is already in process. First and foremost, let us differentiate between housing and shelter. Housing demand implies one dwelling for a household. A household is not a family...

Pro-oriented, residentially focused construction supply companies acquired 671 locations and opened 154 others in 2021, capping one of the busiest years ever for lumberyards, specialty dealers, and related firms, Webb Analytics’ just-released 2021 Deals Report finds. [For charts and...

We have paired up with Jaime Costiglio from That’s My Letter to bring you free plans for a DIY sofa and ottoman. [For photos, see PDF or View in Full Issue.] Most people have a family room or another designated space where they watch TV or play games. In my home, we have an open first...

Trusses of the future will be flat, or nearly flat, based on The New American Homes (TNAH) that have been shown annually at the International Builders Show (IBS). Though the elegant designs of these homes may seem atypical, they have to abide by the same factors that affect every house being...

To withhold information from someone else is usually a deliberate choice, and of course there are legitimate reasons to do so. But let’s consider the instances when the reasons are less clear and motives more suspect. How often have you encountered these situations? You’re Not...

A new truss plant owner faced a daunting challenge: local home builders wouldn’t use trusses and apartment builders were driving tough bargains. The owner’s partner, Charlie Barns, 250 miles north in Dallas, couldn’t have understood since he was cranking out hundreds of trusses...