Willem Kymmell is an architect and associate professor in Construction Management at California State University. He was quoted as saying, “Despite many recent developments in project delivery methods, owners are often still dissatisfied with the results of the construction industry; projects still take too long and come in over budget, while the quality frequently is not up to the client’s expectations.”
Once upon a time, architects created a set of plans with a pencil and paper. The process created an intimate attachment and knowledge to the building he was designing. Inevitably, he would make a mistake and things did not quite line up.
Welcome to Walls & Ceilings’ Third Annual Tool & Equipment Guide, a showcase of product availability from companies catering to contractors in North America. Presenting new and existing product lines, the following showcase displays a collective assortment of the tools of the trade within all realms of the walls and ceilings community.
The building industry is changing-for the better. There has been an undeniable shift toward more sustainable construction. Recent research predicts that sustainable building will grow at a rate five times that of conventional building. Today, more than ever, designers, builders and contractors are challenged with creating energy efficient, quiet, productive environments in a cost effective, sustainable manner.
Plaster and masonry are simply made for each other and belong together. This love story between stucco and masonry is not new and did not start in North America. Like Romeo and Juliet, these materials are well suited for each other. The intimate bond between the two started before any piece of paper or code was needed to sanctify their union.
As a 20-year-old in the early ’80s and working as an apprentice plasterer, I remember my first union meeting; the next youngest member was in his 50s. One of the old timers turned to me and mumbled that I could never make a living at this trade anymore. The consensus was that drywall had done us all in and there were just not enough plastering jobs anymore.
Since the beginning of civilization, man has been building abodes with stone. Even today, with all of our innovations in wall claddings and micro toppings, stone can still be found in almost any environment. This natural element generally transcends the passing fads and remains a staple in building aesthetics. In fact, when stone is used today, it generally carries a more affluent feel to the décor.
Glazed framing systems have undergone tremendous improvements over the metal framed, single-paned energy pigs of yesteryear. The introduction of dual glazed insulating units, low-emissivity coatings, and thermally improved framing systems have resulted in huge energy-saving performance. A single glazed, non-thermally-broken aluminum framing system has a U-value of around 1.0.
Everyone involved in the design and construction business is currently feeling the effects of the economy. Some projects that were started before the downturn occurred are now slowing, and others have been put on hold indefinitely. Owners and developers who have managed to hold on to their financing for projects are finding an abundance of qualified firms willing to slash their fees in order to secure a project. This makes for a very chaotic time in our marketplace. However, the one niche that has seemed to remain somewhat stable is green design and construction.
Sometimes, a project’s specifications require inspection of the EIFS. This type of inspection is a matter of a private contract-part of the business agreement to do the work. Other times, inspection is required by statute, as in cases where the building codes require inspection. Most EIFS jobs are not formally inspected: EIFS has not been relegated to the must-be-inspected world of critical construction, such as structural welds or elevators.
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