Here are some links that may be helpful.
Used Equipment Sites
There are still a lot of bargains out there. Wasserman and Associates has lots of listings. The font on their pages is very small, so I’ll share a Windows trick I’ve learned: On most web browsers, if you have a scroll wheel on your mouse you can hold down the Ctrl key and use the scroll wheel to make the text larger or smaller as needed. No scroll wheel? You can also hold down the Ctrl key and push the “+” or “-“ button to do the same thing.
Wood Truss Systems has a well-organized web site with lots of pictures.
More geared to heavy equipment is Iron Planet, which also has on-line auctions and an easy to use search capability.
Competing Against Conventional Framing
Let’s keep fighting the good fight against conventional framing. If we win that war there will be more work for everyone. What tools do we have for making sure we are effective advocates for components vs. stick framing?
The Framing the American Dream® project sponsored by WTCA featured two 2,600 square-foot homes built simultaneously. One was built using wood component systems framing, and the other fully engineered conventional stick framing. The brochure and video that came out of this project are probably the most professional, ready-for-distribution marketing material ever developed for competing with conventional framing. The videos come in 10- and 34-minute versions.
A nice summary of the advantages of structural components vs. stick framing is found on the Classic Truss (IN) web site.
From Rickie Bell’s Ezine article, I like these points:
· Conventional roof framing requires the use of larger framing members to form the roof plane as well as the ceiling resulting in higher labor costs.
· Each individual piece of the roof and ceiling must be figured out, marked, cut to length, then placed and nailed in the correct position.
· Requires the use of interior load bearing walls.
· May take several days to construct leaving the new home exposed to the elements for a longer period of time, increasing the chance for moisture damage.
· Highly experienced carpenters must be used further increasing labor costs.
Information
A lot of good code agency and association links are at Truss-Frame.com. Unfortunately, there are a number of broken links there, too.
Using Google’s Custom Search feature, I created a Wood Truss Industry Search Engine that looks at (only) 61 sites, so that if you want information on “linear saw” you will only get hits that are relevant to our industry.
What’s the ground snow load at your job site? Find out at Ground Snow Load by Zip Code. (Thanks, Mike.)
Manta is my favorite way to find out something about a business whose name I know, but very little else. It is a place to get started. Hoover’s is a second source.
Need your brain stimulated? Just visiting the TED website makes me feel “with it.” Click on “Business” if you want stay “on task.”
MiTek Stuff
Web-based training (requires login and password, available from Technical Support)