Web-Only Features - Walls and Ceilings

Technology to Help Weather the Economic Downturn Too often the construction industry will implement technology in the “back office” but overlook efficiencies that can generate cash flow and reduce costs on the job site. by Alison Falco

	Roll On The goal of every professional finisher is to maximize finish quality and board feet while minimizing effort and eliminating callbacks. Fortunately, there are dozens of tricks, shortcuts and trade secrets that have been developed by Ames Taping Tools over the company’s 70-year history. by Mark Wilson

	A Green and Dry World You often hear the term “green building” as consumers seek to purchase homes that are often built using recycled materials or are low in energy usage. Both are important goals, but they must be pursued in a way that preserves a home’s ability to manage and repel moisture. by Paul Shipp Phd

What’s in the Attic? Residential re-roofing contractors are by definition working on a building that could have underlying problems, including improper ventilation, undiagnosed roof leaks and mold.

Myths about Mold The RSMC has compiled a list of myths about mold. These four points will address builder and owner concerns as it relates to the “M” word.

Mold Testing and Sampling: The R&R Q&A The best way to keep mold at bay is to control moisture. But even the most diligent homeowner or facility manager can’t plan for every situation. If a moisture issue does lead to mold growth and the need for remediation, testing can help ensure that the affected areas have been properly remediated.

	Made Over Not all television is created equal. There are reality shows centered around human degradation where people lie, cheat, steal and eat disgusting things for the honor of being the last one standing. by Alex Lundberg

	Cold Comfort A quarter of a century ago, during a typically frigid winter on the Maine coast, two partially completed structures weathered the storms and icy temperatures quite well.

	Noises Off Reducing unwanted noise results to a quieter and calmer life. Soundproofing products help achieve lower noise pollution. by Mark Darby

Web Exclusive: Drywall—A Trade To Pass Down or Pass Up? Recently, my father (majority owner, with my mother, of our family run drywall company) and I spent an afternoon skim coating a house, a feat considerable only because of its regularity by Sean D. Smith

	Web Exclusive: Dust Down Contractors reduce drywall dust and clean-up costs as they increase client satisfaction. by Jeff Hartin

Web Exclusive: Insure and Ensure EIFS Applications A southeastern based company firms works to bring its customers the strongest EIFS insurance to the table. by Joey Huckaby

	Web Exclusives: Social Mediums on the Web Uncovering the mysteries of social media—how fans, followers and viewers are important for business. by Ashley Feit

	Web Exclusive: Drywall Innovations The following companies submitted information about their new product ranges.

Web Exclusive: Generation Next The Ray Burbank family has called Washington State home for 100 years, and their family business, Burbank Stucco and Drywall Inc., has called Washington home for 40 years. by Leon and Terrance Resnick

	Web Exclusive: Bosch Has the Edge Walls & Ceilings associate editor Tom Watts attended the Bosch Global Leadership Tour held in April at the North American headquarters of Bosch Power Tools & Accessories in Mount Prospect, Ill. by Tom Watts

	Web Exclusive: Tying the Building Together with Polyurethane Foam Sealants The importance of air tightness in design and construction has been stressed for more than 25 years. Air leakage can lead to reduced occupant comfort, increased heating and cooling loads, damage to the building envelope, and even indoor air quality issues. by Robert Braun

	Web Exclusive: Brady Metal Framing System Wins CFSEI Award The CFSEI Cold Formed Steel Engineers Institute recently awarded Brady Innovations with an Innovative Design Award. Mr. Brady was recognized the innovative use of cold formed sheet steel in the Century Tower Project, Century City, Calif.

	Web Exclusive: Drywall Finishing Training Everyone who enters the trade makes a commitment to themselves as well as to their employer. This includes a commitment to work diligently, to learn new techniques, as well as improve on those already learned. by Shannon Denkins

	Web Exclusive: Magnificent Seven On a normal work day, the professional drywall hanger is not bothered by a film crew or the large audience of experts that were there to judge, critique and observe. However, on Oct. 22, 2008 the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters held the Drywall Challenge at the Carpenter’s Training Center in Ontario, Calif. by Mark Fowler

	Web Exclusive: Condo Ceiling Complexity When the owner of a new luxury residence wanted a ‘jaw-dropping’ ceiling, he chose unique shapes in drywall. by Jay McNally

	Web Exclusive: The Four Seasons The weather extremes in Northeast Wisconsin are the stuff of legends. Nowhere are those extremes more noticeable than on Lake Winnebago, the largest freshwater lake in the state. Each year, the story of the changing seasons is dramatically told in four distinct acts: winter, spring, summer, and fall. by Dave Blurton

	Web Exclusive: Suspended Animation Pre-Engineered drywall suspension system simplifies ceiling installation and reduces labor and material costs.

Web Exclusive: Tripping the Laser Light Fantastic

Museum visitors might not notice, but encasing artifacts requires stringent precision. Depending on the objects on display, showcases may feature active climate control and integrated passive humidity control. Some situations require an airtight vacuum seal or a pressurization system; others have minimal requisites, such as a dust seal.

by Lori Lovely

	NWCB names winners in its 2008 Outstanding Project of the Year Contest The Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau announced the winners of its annual Outstanding Project of the Year Awards for excellence in wall and ceiling construction.

Remodeling Update: Industry Speaks As indicators suggest another year before housing starts rebound, has the remodeling market seen a spike in activity? The walls and ceilings community seems divided on the answer. by John Wyatt

The Final Coat I’m referencing the gleaming and glamorous entertainment offered by several home improvement programs, especially those displaying the craft of drywall. Or more appropriately, the foils of drywall. by Sean D. Smith

ICFA Excellence Awards Six projects, including residential and commercial construction, were honored in the second annual Excellence Awards of the Insulating Concrete Form Association.