Builder Insights / Blog

Fiberglass is the Most Popular Insulation Material for Home Builders

The 2019 Home Innovation Research Labs builder survey found that construction pros still favor fiberglass insulation over other options. In fact, fiberglass batt insulation takes just over half of the market for single family homes while blown fiberglass is gaining traction at 19%. Of the 1,600 builders participating in the study, 71% used fiberglass in …

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Contract Language Pitfalls to Avoid

When signing onto a contract as a subcontractor, you may not want to consult a lawyer every time you take on a new job. Here are some things to look out for that may cause issues down the line or make you liable for mistakes and callbacks. If your Request for Proposal (RFP) states that …

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Plenum Truss: Get Your Ducting into a Conditioned Space

Placing notoriously leaky HVAC ductwork into an unconditioned space will not make for an energy efficient heating or cooling system.There are a few options which locate the ductwork within the thermal enclosure of the home. Options include moving the ceiling plane to the underside of the roof with an unvented attic or placing the ductwork in a conditioned basement. A third option is the installation of plenum trusses which allow for a compact ducting system to be placed in a conditioned bulkhead.

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Track your Tools Using these Innovative Options

Construction labor shortages mean every minute counts on the jobsite. If you spend too much of your time tracking down tools, you can streamline your business and reduce lost assets by implementing a tool-tracking system. Bar-coded tracking systems These systems allow you to tag your tools with barcode stickers. This means even smaller tools can …

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Stronger Walls in One Easy Step

Increased incidence of strong weather systems and the tragedies that follow high wind events have encouraged engineers and designers to rethink the way we build to improve wall strength. Stronger walls will keep home occupants safer during weather events and will increase the lifespan of the home. One of the problems is that the roof, wall and flooring systems are installed as separate entities. Connecting the OSB wall sheathing and the flooring system can create a continuous load path which can improve wall strength by up to 38%.

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