"We have a long history of successful steel construction in this country and, in fact, the world," says Jonathan Barnett, professor of fire engineering," on the PBS NOVA documentary, "Why the Towers Fell." "And one of the great successes is that under normal fire conditions, we don't have building collapse. In fact, until 9/11, I was unaware of any protected steel structure that had collapsed anywhere in the world from just a fire."

Feeling the sting of gas prices? Eighteen cents per gallon is federal tax, 20 cents in Texas. How will this affect how contractors do business? Higher prices? Less travel? Different

The title of this column is from the intro of one of my beloved childhood shows, "The Six Million Dollar Man." Who amongst us of Gen-X age doesn't recall running

It all came down to lowest foam pressure. The story is common in the construction industry: Work performed by varying trades with varying degrees of skill inevitably leads to a certain amount of failed installations.

So, people hear you're a drywall contractor and assume you hang, tape, mud, sand and on to the next one. Certainly, this is drywalling in the most basic form. But

Unfortunately, as with so many things, tragedy must occur before realizations are made. OSHA compiles records of fatal construction accidents, their causes and potential remedies.

Greetings, Walls & Ceilings readers! As it is July at long last and hopefully, there is as much work as everyone can handle, it's a good time to consider some

For most people, including contractors themselves, hiring specialists to perform any type of expensive work where they have no expertise is scary. For example, who doesn't dread hearing a "noise"

"The cost of crown or cornice work is big and the labor is intensive," Johnston says. "With the vinyl crown molding, you get that old plaster look and once painted, it has a totally finished look."

American Clay, of Santa Fe, N.M., offers a plaster-like product that is a combination of natural clays, aggregates, and pigments that create colors and textures designed as a final, decorative wall surface. Available in 30 colors, one can match any color scheme or interior décor.