Building Products CONNECTION Apr/May 2014

Apr/May 2014

OUTDOOR LIVINGNew Codes, New Choices

Also in this issue:

EXPO & Wisconsin Convention Recaps

Retaliation Claims: Protect Yourself

*Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT. © 2014 Federated Mutual Insurance Company

Every employer, no matter what size, has to deal with human resource issues, regulations, and employment law changes. Contact your local marketing representative to learn how Federated Insurance can help you surround compliance issues related to state, federal, I-9, and other regulations.

Visit www.federatedinsurance.com to find a representative near you.

Could Compliance Issues Derail Your Fortune?

BPC STAFF

Publisher (on leave)Paula Siewert [email protected]

Executive EditorBeth Stoll [email protected]

Advertising SalesErica Nelson [email protected](763) 497-1778

NLA STAFF

President (on leave)Paula Siewert [email protected]

Acting PresidentCody [email protected]

Financial & Membership AssistantAbbie [email protected]

Director of Conventions and ToursJodie [email protected]

Website DirectorMelanie [email protected]

Professional Development & Communications CoordinatorConnie [email protected]

Administrative AssistantPam [email protected]

Field Service RepresentativeTim [email protected]

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Daryl LundbergRob TremlJohn BatesMike Simon

The Building Products Connectionis published bi-monthly by the Northwestern Lumber Association, 5905 Golden Valley Road, Suite 110, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55422, (763) 544-6822. It is the official publication of the Northwestern Lumber Association (NLA). Copyright ©2014 by the NLA. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission. Annual subscription fee is $30.

POSTMASTERSend address changes to:The Building Products Connection5905 Golden Valley Road, Suite 110Minneapolis, MN 55422

April/May 2014

Building Products Connection Apr/May 2014 3

Mother nature knows the best footings are big and round.

1-800-934-0393www.bigfootsystems.comUPS shipping available

Adding on? Building a deck? Take a lesson from nature. For stability you can trust, build it with Bigfoot!

400552_Bigfoot.indd 1 10/16/08 7:53:21 PM

4 Building Products Connection April/May 2014


April/May 2014

EDITORIAL 7 Too Many Choices? By Beth Stoll

ASSOCIATION NEWS & EVENTS 8 News items and member alerts

EXPO & WISCONSIN ShOW RECAPS 14

CANTILEVER CODE UPDATE 16

OUTDOOR LIVING FEATURE 18 RETALIATION CLAIMS 22 WhAT’S NEW 24

CLASSIFIEDS/AD INDEX 26

Cover photo courtesy of TAMKO Building Products, Inc.

AFCO-Rail AluminumAFCO-Rail Aluminum features classic lines that enhance any architectural setting. Extruded from 6063 aluminum alloy, AFCO-Rail will not rust. Extruded, machined brackets afford great strength, durability and ease of installation. AFCO-Rail Aluminum is finished with durable AAMA 2604 powder coat paint; three high-gloss colors and four textured, low-gloss finishes. For outstanding appear-ance and enduring performance, make your choice AFCO-Rail Aluminum.

Fiberon SustainabilityProducing Fiberon composite decking and railing products with high recycled content in a virtually waste-free manufacturing process is just the beginning of providing homeowners with sustainable, durable and beautiful outdoor living products. Easy to maintain, Fiberon products retain their beauty for decades with only occasional cleaning. Fiberon incorporates smart, energy efficient practices in every phase of the manufacture of our products:• Madefromlocally-sourced,pre-andpost-consumerrecycledcontent.• Manufacturedwithzero,waterwastedischarge.• Ureaformaldehyde-free–notoxicchemicalsareusedinthemanufactureofFiberon products. • Fiberonproductsdeliverlong-termperformancewithoutchemicalpreservatives,stains or paints.• Contributestohighperformancegreenbuildings.• Safeforyourhomeandfortheenvironment.• Sustainable-durableperformanceyearafteryear.

Decksareeverywhere–anestimated two to three million new decks are built every year. Design trends are moving away from the traditional rectangular and squarestructures.Con-temporary redwood decks feature angular, asymmetri-cal and curved shapes and changing levels. Railing are more creative and often incorporated lattice, built-in lighting and accentsofglassandmetal.Mostofall,today’s decks are loaded with amenities –spas,shadeshelters,gazebos,outdoorkitchens, and intricate staircases.

SHELTER PRODUCTS, INC.810 North Front St.New Ulm, MN 56073507-233-2560 • 800-658-2433Fax: 507-354-6710

435538_SP_Ad.indd 1 2/19/14 4:34 PM


2014 NLA BOARD

CHAIRMAN — Jeff ReinhardtInterstate Building Supply Cannon Falls, Minnesota

1st VICE CHAIRMAN — Trent PeabodyLumber Mart West Grand Forks, North Dakota

2nd VICE CHAIRMAN — William WoodFennimore Lumber Co. Fennimore, Wisconsin

TREASURER — Ron EnterwRight Lumber & Millwork, Inc.

Buffalo, Minnesota

PAST CHAIRMAN — Bob EganLampert Yards St. Paul, Minnesota

NLA PRESIDENT/SECRETARY Paula Siewert (on leave) Minneapolis, Minnesota

ACTING NLA PRESIDENT/SECRETARY Cody Nuernberg Minneapolis, Minnesota

ILA CHAIRMAN — Brian CarlsonRed Oak Do-It Center Red Oak, Iowa

NLDA CHAIRMAN — Mike SkillstadFarm & Ranch Building Supply

Norfolk, Nebraska

WRLA CHAIRMAN — Craig VandenHoutenVan’s Lumber & Custom Builders

Luxemburg, Wisconsin

DIRECTORS

Bryan Jensen 2011-2014Central Valley Ag Elgin, Nebraska

Daryl Lundberg 2011-2014Northwoods Lumber Blackduck, Minnesota

Brad Kranz 2012-2015Salem Lumber Company, Salem, South Dakota

Stephen McCarron 2012-2015McCarron’s Building Center, Inc.

Forest Lake, Minnesota

Bill Brotherton 2013-2014Wall Lake Lumber Co. Wall Lake, Iowa

Brad Spelts 2013-2015Spelts Lumber Co. Burwell, Nebraska

Mike Bertrand 2013-2016Lloyd Lumber Company North Mankato, MN

Jennifer Leachman 2013-2016Leachman Lumber Co. Des Moines, Iowa

Garry Mertz 2013-2016Mertz Lumber & Supply Ellendale, North Dakota

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Dave Charpentier 2012-2015Midwest Lumber Minnesota, Inc.

Stillwater, Minnesota

Aaron Lambrecht 2013-2016Shelter Products, Inc. New Ulm, Minnesota

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

NLBMDA REPRESENTATIVEScott Engquist

Engquist Lumber CompanyHarcourt, Iowa

2014 NLI OFFICERS

PRESIDENT — John BatesBarnes Building Materials Cedar Falls, Iowa

VICE PRESIDENT — Larry Provance

Arrow Building Center Chadron, Nebraska

TREASURER — Wayne BriggsCrane Johnson Lumber Fargo, North Dakota

The NLA 2014 convention season has come and gone. Perhaps most noticeable at the shows this year was an increasing sense of optimism. Feels good, it has been awhile.

Also noteworthy at both regional and national conventions, there was an ever increasing number of product choices, most noticeably in the outdoor living

category. Those who walked the halls at both the DeckExpo last fall and the 2014 IBS tradeshow were met with a plethora of new decking, railings, fasteners, lighting, trim, and accessories options.

Keep in mind that these same products are showing up at the consumer shows as well. Fused bamboo decking? Why not. It’s beautiful, feels denser than Ipe, and comes with a 20-year warranty.

Take the exotics out of the mix, and there’s still an overwhelming amount of choices within each product category. Composite decking manufacturers were exhibiting enough variations and new color options that would challenge even a specialty deck retailer to stock a full product line from a single manufacturer, let alone two or three. It’s great to see so many choices, but one wonders what happens to last year’s inventory as each new “must have” color is introduced.

In addition, railing is now a major component in outdoor living projects. In 2006, the ratio of decking to railing products in the inventory of a typical distributor was about 80/20; in 2013, the ratio was more like 60/40. Color coordinated mix-and-match posts, caps, collars, railings, and balusters — within each line — can create a stocking nightmare. And don’t ignore the increasing interest in designs that incorporate low-voltage lighting.

Too many choices? Not when you focus on providing the best value for your market. You don’t have to offer several brands of treated wood if you’re confident the one you have chosen is the best quality at the best price. Same goes for composites. As for how many brands and depth of lines you carry, you know your builders and your market.

Fact is, an increasing number of choices allows you to compete in new and different ways. Dealers in areas where high-end lake homes are the norm obviously can benefit from offering a variety of material, color, and style combinations for truly customized builds. In other areas, new manufacturing options — such as the new thermally modified woods — might make sense.

You don’t need to be overwhelmed by the options, but you do need to know what they are. Use them to your advantage.

Beth Stoll

Executive Editor

Editorial

TOO MANY CHOICES?


News & Events

NLBMDA OuTLINES 2014 POLICY AgENDA The National Lumber and Building

Material Industry (NLBMDA) released its

national legislative and regulatory policy

agenda for 2014. The 2014 National

Policy Agenda brings focus to the

common interests of the industry and

includes policy goals to revitalize our

nation’s housing and building industry.

“Our industry was hit hard by the

recession, but our members have

rebounded with lessons about what

needs to be done to set the housing

industry on the path to economic

WINTEr CLASSES WELL ATTENDED THrOugHOuT THE NLA rEgIONSixteen students, with experience

ranging from 6 weeks to more than 16

years, attended the Blueprint Reading/

Material Take Off class in Roseville,

Minnesota in January. Casey Voorhees

from the Western Building Material

Association did a fantastic job in leading

the class during the two-day event.

According to students, Voorhees does a

great job of using visuals for new folks to

the lumber business without it coming

across as being “too basic” for more

experienced estimators. He has an easy

to follow step by step procedure that will

save a ton of time, all the while being

very accurate.

One student commented, “Awesome

formulas — makes a takeoff easy to get

your arms around. Very beneficial.”

Two additional classes were held at the

end of February in Omaha, Nebraska and

Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

If you are interested in attending or

sending students to classes of this kind,

please contact Connie Johnson at (763)

595-4045 or [email protected]. If a

class is not currently offered in your area,

she will make arrangements with other

interested dealers to get one scheduled.

growth. We need policymakers to focus

on eliminating unnecessary regulatory

burdens, creating sound fiscal policies,

and reforming our tax code in a way

that will aid the economic recovery,”

said NLBMDA Chair Chris Yenrick,

President of Smith Phillips Building

Supply in Winston-Salem, N.C. “The

2014 NLBMDA National Policy Agenda

outlines what our vital small businesses

need to boost employment and get our

country back on track.”

NLBMDA will continue to advance

pro-growth policies that will strengthen

small businesses and protect the many

2014 NLBMDA SPRING MEETING & LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 1-2 Arlington, Virginia

MINNESOTA WILD NIGhT 10 Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, Minnesota

IOWA ARENA FOOTBALL 12 Wells Fargo Arena Des Moines, Iowa

NEBRASkA GOLF OUTING 22 Quail Run Golf Club Columbus, Nebraska

IOWA GOLF OUTING 3 Otter Creek Golf Course Ankeny, Iowa

june

april

Calendar of Events

may

Lampert’s Yards sent several students to the

Blueprint Reading/Material Take Off class in

Roseville, Minnesota last January.


multi-generational family-owned

businesses in the industry. The associa-

tion’s agenda includes the industry’s

positions on: housing & construction

policy; tax & economic policy; legal

reform & consumer protection;

workforce policy; the environment,

health, & safety; product supply & trade;

energy policy; transportation policy; and

highway safety.

NLBMDA’s 2014 National Policy

Agenda will be distributed to members

of Congress and key Administration

officials and will be used by NLBMDA

members when they visit their members

of Congress during the NLBMDA Spring

Meeting and Legislative Conference early

this month.

EPA rELEASES FINAL SPECIFICATIONS FOr ENErgY STAr VErSION 6.0The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) released its final program

requirements for ENERGY STAR

Version 6.0 for residential windows,

doors and skylights. The Window

and Door Manufacturers Association

(WDMA) represented the window,

door, and skylight industry during the

development of Version 6.0.

“While the final requirements for Version

6.0 are not everything that we sought,

WDMA worked diligently over the

past year with EPA and our supporters

on Capitol Hill to achieve a middle

ground that will increase energy

efficiency, allow manufacturers time

to prepare, and provide consumers

with a reasonable payback period. We

appreciate EPA’s efforts to work with us

to address our concerns,” said Michael

O’Brien, WDMA President and CEO.

The final Version 6.0 specifications

include significant improvements from

earlier drafts that increase ENERGY

STAR qualification requirements

of windows, doors and skylights

while keeping those products

more affordable for homeowners

purchasing them. Further, the agency

acknowledges the need to improve

the process for future updates to

the ENERGY STAR program to make

the process more transparent and

encourage greater industry partici-

pation.

In the final document, EPA has agreed

to delay implementation of Version

6.0 Northern Zone requirements

for windows until January 1, 2016.

Until then, the current Version 5.0

requirements will remain in effect in

the Northern Zone. Further, the final

Northern Zone u-factor for skylights

has been set at .50, which is a change

from the last draft, which had it set at

.48. Those requirements will go into

effect in on January 1, 2015, along with

the rest of Version 6.0.

MN/DAkOTAS FLL MEETINg rECAPOn February 14, 2014, six young profes-

sionals from the Minnesota and Dakotas

Chapter of Future Lumber Leaders met at

J.B. O’Meara in Burnsville, Minnesota for

the 2014 Spring Conference.

Attendees listened as Dan Fesler, CEO

of Lampert Lumber, gave his insights on

leadership. Fesler incorporated a number

of videos and examples into his presen-

tation that triggered a lively roundtable

discussion. Fesler got the group thinking

when he asked whether leaders are born

or made.

Jan Fedora of the Minnesota Safety

Council led the group in a discussion on

OSHA. OSHA was out and about in 2013

and there are no signs of the organi-

zation slowing down in 2014. The group

learned about the purpose of OSHA and

Jan provided a checklist of key areas

that will be highlighted during an OSHA

inspection.

(continued on page 10)

®

STAINLESS STEEL

june

april

may

Winter Future Lumber Leader’s meetings met throughout the region.


(continued from page 9)

NLA would like to extend a special thank

you to Mary O’Meara Moynihan and Pat

Hegseth of J.B. O’Meara for hosting the

conference and for their hospitality.

INSuLATION LEVELS IN rErOOFINg PrOjECTS TO COMPLY WITH rEquIrEMENTS FOr NEW CONSTruCTIONWhen existing roofs (that are part of

the building’s thermal envelope) are

removed and replaced, and when the

roof assembly includes above-deck

insulation, the energy code now requires

that the insulation levels comply with

the requirements for new construction,

replaced or even longer when existing

roofs are “recovered”. Until recently this

requirement was prescribed using vague

and confusing language.

“There has been a great deal of confusion

given the various terms used to describe

roofing projects on existing buildings in

both the International Building Code and

the International Energy Conservation

Code, such as reroofing, roof repair, roof

recover and roof replacement,” said Jared

O. Blum, President, Polyisocyanurate

Insulation Manufacturers Association

(PIMA).

Moving forward the IECC will use the

same definitions found in the Interna-

tional Building code:

• Reroofing. The process of recovering or

replacing an existing roof covering. See

“Roof recover” and “Roof replacement.”

• Roof Recover. The process of installing

an additional roof covering over a

prepared existing roof covering without

removing the existing roof covering.

• Roof Replacement. The process of

removing the existing roof covering,

repairing any damaged substrate and

installing a new roof covering.

• Roof Repair. Reconstruction or renewal

of any part of an existing roof for the

purposes of its maintenance.

“A survey of building departments in

many states and regions in the United

States found that online roofing permit

application forms rarely included any

information on the energy code and

required insulation levels,” added Blum.

“With the changes to the 2015 IECC, it

will be easier for building departments

to correlate the building code- and

energy code- requirements for roof

replacements.”

The clarification to the 2015 IECC

makes the code easier to interpret and

enforce. Along the way, it will help ensure

the opportunity to save energy when

replacing roofs.

Another benefit of this update is that the

according to a proposal approved by

International Code Council at public

comment hearings held in October 2013.

As a result of this proposal approval, the

2015 International Energy Conservation

Code (IECC) includes new language that

provides unambiguous direction on

how the energy code provisions apply

to roof repair, roof recover and roof

replacement.

Each year about 2.5 billion square

feet of roof coverings are installed on

existing buildings. The opportunity

to upgrade the insulation levels on

these roof systems occurs once every

several decades when the roof is

• Spans up to 72 ft.• Bird nesting control• Up to 12 ft. spacing

depending on desired load• No feed alley post obstruction

• Additional ceiling height

LAM-PLY TRUSSLAM-PLY TRUSS

(715) 985-3117 (888) 525-5878 Independence, WI

www.starwoodrafters.com

MONO

GOTHIC ARCH

GAMBREL

TIMBER TRUSS

LAM-PLY TRUSS

OPEN M-F8:00am-5:00pm

Call for an appointment.952-890-8604

The Nation’s Leading Stair Part Selection CenterS H O W R O O M

www.jbomeara.com


®

exemption for roof repair is now clearly

defined, making it easier for building

owners and roofing contractors to

perform routine maintenance without

triggering energy efficiency upgrades,

which would add costs.

NLBMDA WELCOMES NLrB DECISION TO ABANDON POSTEr ruLEThe National Lumber and Building

Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA)

welcomes the decision by the National

Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to

abandon a rule requiring nearly six

million employers to post an 11-by-17

inch notice regarding employee rights to

unionize.

The NLRB’s choice not to seek Supreme

Court review of the Poster Rule follows

a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals

for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C.

Circuit) on September 4, 2013, not to

rehear the case. On May 7, 2013, the D.C.

Circuit Court overturned the regulation

stating the rule violated the free speech

rights of employers.

In April 2012, the D.C. Circuit Court

issued an emergency injunction against

the rule, two weeks before it was set to

take effect, prohibiting the NLRB from

requiring employers to comply with

the regulation as the court considered

an appeal of a lower court decision

upholding the rule. The injunction was

granted in response to a request by the

Coalition for a Democratic Workplace

(CDW), an organization of which the

NLBMDA is a member.

“The NLRB clearly overstepped its

authority with the Poster Rule,” said

Michael O’Brien, President & CEO

of NLBMDA. “NLBMDA is pleased

that the NLRB will not continue its

misguided pursuit of the rule and this

is good news for lumber and building

material dealers.”

NEBrASkA FLL MEETS IN NOrFOLkThe Nebraska Chapter of Future Lumber

Leaders met on Friday, February 21, 2014

at the Norfolk Lodge & Suites in Norfolk,

Nebraska. Ten future leaders and current

industry professionals met to discuss the

lumber and building material industry

and took the opportunity to network

with one another.




Chapter President Jason Schmidt, Shelby

Lumber, Columbus, led the group in a

series of discussion on social media, POS

systems and technology. The group also

discussed current employee benefits

structures and how a company might

work with them moving forward.

The group was joined by former

Nebraska Secretary of State Allen

Beerman for a presentation on

leadership. Allen told stories of his days

in the business and political arena and

left the group with helpful hints on being

a better leader for both their business

and our industry. In the afternoon, Clint

Ruether of Federated Insurance held a

discussion on succession planning and

touched on planning not only for the

future of the family business, but also for

the future of one’s family.

We would like to extend a special thank

you to Dealers Choice for sponsoring the

2014 meeting!

kNOWLEDgE CENTrAL SYSTEM ENTHuSIASTICALLY rECEIVEDKnowledge Central is a business tool

that enables firms to properly train every

employee (including management) and

at the same time insulate their company

from the day-to-day risks associated

with running their business. Simply put,

training employees is the best possible

protection against the potentially

catastrophic loss caused by a lawsuit,

whether initiated by an unsatisfied

customer, jealous competitor, or

disgruntled employee.

According to one of our members,

Doug Blanchard of Suburban Lumber

in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, “The Knowledge

Central system is fantastic! It is exactly

what we need. Every building material

dealer in the country should be using it.

If they aren’t, they’re missing the boat,

and they’re open to all sorts of liability.

Our insurance company is supposedly

providing some training, but it’s not even

close to this. I can track every employee

and see who has completed their

training and who hasn’t. It’s a great tool.

Thanks for making it available.”

Knowledge Central is an online training,

testing and performance tracking

system. It also is a human resources

management system comprised of

dozens of forms, documents, manuals

and other pertinent materials that

together comprise nearly 7,000 pages

of a dynamic content. More than online

training and an HR toolset, Knowledge

Central is a risk management tool that

provides unparalleled protection against

a potential catastrophic loss.

The robust Knowledge Central training

curriculum currently contains over 200

training modules covering the gamut of

federal regulatory compliance. It also

contains sales training, Safety Data Sheet

cataloging and management as well as

required state and federal postings.

Knowledge Central is FREE to

Northwestern Lumber Association (NLA)

members. NLA has long realized there is

a need for members to train employees

— training that is often mandated by

state and federal regulatory compliance

regulations.

We also recognize that many, if not most,

of the programs now available to our

members are inconvenient or costly.

Knowledge Central was created to solve

this problem.

You can learn more about Knowledge

Central by contacting Connie Johnson

at [email protected] or call (763)

595-4045 to get your login information.

THougHT for THe day Never doubt that a small group of

thoughtful, concerned citizens can

change the world. Indeed it is the

only thing that ever has.

-Margaret Mead

14_116_Building Products Connection_OUT.indd 1 2/19/2014 2:06:24 PM


14_116_Building Products Connection_OUT.indd 2 2/19/2014 2:06:33 PM

IntroducIng EDCO’s Cutting EDgE siDing

The S6, S8, V12, D4 & DL5 EnduraGrain® texture

with ENTEX® High Performance Exterior Finish

is now in available in HD!

Double 5" Dl Single 6"

EDCO iNNOVaTiON CONTiNUES!

the revolution of Steel

NEW

Double 4" NEW

Single 8"

NEW

vertical 12"

edcoproducts.com • edcotv.com • 800.593.2680


EXPOThe 2014 Northwestern Building Products Expo at the Rivers Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud,

Minnesota featured an expanded, sold-out exhibit floor and a lot of foot traffic through the aisles on

Monday afternoon and evening. Mother nature threw a little winter storm Tuesday morning which

affected on-site registrations, but several dealers braved the treacherous roads from as far away as

Wisconsin to take part in the trade show and seminars.

Some highlights of the 2014 show include very well attended half-day sales seminars on Monday,

given by Ken Wilbanks and Mick Frank, followed by a buzzing Buying Event on the trade show floor

and a packed floor for the Grand Reception. Supplier-sponsored hospitality rooms kept the pool side

rooms hopping late into the night.

Tuesday was another day for learning, with a several seminars taking place. Topics included legal

landmines that affect your business, merchandising, trends in today’s housing, and balanced

inventories — all taught by experts in the industry. The Membership Meeting & Lunch focused on

youth in the industry as Keynote Speaker Larry Hillman spoke about relating to “Gen Y” in everyday

life and business.

We’d like to send a big congratulations to all the award winners at this year’s Expo: Freeborn Lumber

Company in Albert Lea, Minnesota received the Dealer of the Year Award. Weekes Forest Products

won the Best Single Booth award, while Bayer Built Woodworks took home the Best Multiple Booth

award.

Photos (top right, counterclockwise): Bayer Built Woodworks receives award; Grand Reception on

show floor; One of eight $100 drawing winners; Freeborn Lumber awarded Dealer of the Year; Weekes

Forest Product awarded Best Single Booth.


WISCONSINThe 2014 Wisconsin Lumber Dealers Convention was held at the

Marriott Madison West in Middleton, Wisconsin on February 5 & 6. With

a new venue in a new location, we saw several dealers and suppliers that

hadn’t been to the show in previous years.

One large draw to the convention this year was Rick Davis, who gave a

half day seminar on “Taking the Mystique Out Of Sales Results.” Davis

also was the keynote speaker at the Membership Meeting & Breakfast

and left attendees inspired to control their emotions in the work place

while facing the daunting challenges of our times. Two other seminars on

Legal Landmines and Changes in Healthcare provided key information

to dealers in attendance.

New this year was the very well attended Casino Night brought in for

the Grand Reception. Dealers and suppliers mingled over beverages and

hors d’oeuvres as they tried their luck at black jack, roulette, craps, and

more.

We’d like to send a big congratulations out to all the award winners

at this year’s Wisconsin Lumber Dealers Convention: Evan Koshak of

Tomahawk Builders Supply received the Wisconsin Lumber and Building

Material Dealer of the Year award while Kent Enright of Metal Sales

Manufacturing received the Wisconsin Supplier Representative of the

Year award.

Photos (top right, clockwise): Keynote speaker Rick Davis; Casino Night

attendees; Kent Enright receives his award; a new location attracted

several new dealers to the event.

convention recaps


16 Professional Deck Builder • November 2013

STRUCTUREInsight on engineering and codes

Anew package of prescriptive deck code provisions—RB 264, which

is partly based on the American Wood Council’s DCA 6—was approved at the final ICC code development hearing in early October and will be included in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). Among the provisions are updated span tables for decking, joists, and beams, which will help clarify the rules for cantilevers of joists and beams.

Joist CantileversAccording to the new span tables and IRC provisions, cantilevers can extend up to one-fourth the backspan of the joist. This

means that joists, such as southern pine 2x10s at 16 inches on-center, spanning 12 feet are allowed to cantilever up to an additional 3 feet (see illustration, below).

There are two sections in the new span table: one for joists with cantilevers, and one for joists without cantilevers. Cantilevering a joist produces greater stresses in the primary joist span (back-span), so the maximum span is often reduced. For cantilevers greater than the depth of the joist material (91⁄4 inches for a 2x10), you must use the span criteria for “joists with cantilevers.”

These joist span tables and cantilever allowances might be old news to those

familiar with DCA 6 (awc.org), but there are a few differences. For example, under the portion of the joist span table for joists without cantilevers (and thus a longer allowable span), joists are still allowed to cantilever up to the depth of the joist material. This will allow for minor adjustments to beam placement, without affecting the maximum span.

Another difference is that the current IRC requires full-depth blocking over the beam when joists are cantilevered beyond, while DCA 6 does not address this. The new IRC provisions strike a bal-ance, requiring blocking over the beam when joists cantilever, but allowing the blocking to be cut to 60% of the joist depth to accommodate deck-drainage systems that install within the joist bay.

Meanwhile, the AWC is poised to include a revised and more user-friendly joist and beam span table in the 2012 version of its DCA 6, expected next year. Instead of separate tables for non-can-tilevered and cantilevered joists, a sin-gle proposed table provides maximum joist span and cantilever distances for all conditions, which should simplify joist specification without compromis-ing design freedom.

Cantilever Code Updateby Glenn Mathewson

The 2015 IRC will contain separate span tables for joists with cantilevers (top left) and joists without cantile-vers (bottom left). As shown in these ICC drawings, cantilevers up to one-fourth the span of the joist are per-mitted, with the cantilever distance (or overhang) measured from the center of the supporting beam to the outermost framing material, typically the rim joist.

The new provisions will be included in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). Among the

provisions are updated span tables for decking, joists, and beams, which will help clarify the rules for

cantilevers of joists and beams.

Joist CantileversAccording to the new span tables and IRC revisions, cantilevers can extend up to one-fourth the backspan

of the joist. This means that joists, such as southern pine 2x10s at 16 inches on-center, spanning 12 feet

are allowed to cantilever up to an additional 3 feet (see illustration).

There are two sections in the new span table: one for joists with cantilevers, and one for joists without

cantilevers. Cantilevering a joist produces greater stresses in the primary joist span (backspan), so the

maximum span is often reduced. For cantilevers greater than the depth of the joist material (91⁄4 inches

for a 2x10), you must use the span criteria for “joists with cantilevers.”

These joist span tables and cantilever

allowances might be old news to

those familiar with DCA 6 (awc.org),

but there are a few differences. For

example, under the portion of the joist

span table for joists without cantilevers

(and thus a longer allowable span),

joists are still allowed to cantilever up

to the depth of the joist material. This

will allow for minor adjustments to

beam placement, without affecting the

maximum span.

Code Updates

A new package of prescriptive deck code provisions — RB 264, which is partly based on the American Wood Council’s DCA 6 — was approved at the ICC code development hearing last October.

The 2015 IRC will contain separate

span tables for joists with cantilevers

(top left) and joists without cantilevers

(bottom left). As shown in these

ICC drawings, cantilevers up to

one-fourth the span of the joist are

permitted, with the cantilever distance

(or overhang) measured from the

center of the supporting beam to the

outermost framing material, typically

the rim joist.

CANTILEVEr CODE uPDATE


The stresses in the backspan portion

of the beam are considered whether

there is a cantilever or not. A southern

pine (2)2x12 beam can span 8 feet when

supporting joists spanning a maximum

of 14 feet, and it can cantilever 2 feet

beyond the posts on each side. With the

allowable cantilever of the joists, this

beam would support a deck 12 feet by

17 1⁄2 feet.

While it will be years before the 2015

version is widely adopted by local codes,

many building officials often accept

provisions like these as easy-to-approve

alternatives to costly engineering.

By Glenn Mathewson

Reprinted with permission from

Professional Deck Builder, a Hanley

Wood publication.

Another difference is that the current

IRC requires full-depth blocking over

the beam when joists are cantilevered

beyond, while DCA 6 does not address

this. The new IRC provisions strike

balance, requiring blocking over the

beam when joists cantilever, but allowing

the blocking to be cut to 60 percent

of the joist depth to accommodate

deck-drainage systems that install within

the joist bay.

Meanwhile, the AWC is poised to include

a revised and more user-friendly joist

and beam span table in the 2012 version

of its DCA 6 expected next year. Instead

of separate tables for non-cantilevered

and cantilevered joists, a single proposed

table provides maximum joist span and

cantilever distances for all conditions,

which should simplify joist specification

without compromising design freedom.

Beam CantileversSimilar to joists, beams can cantilever up

to one-fourth their backspan. However,

unlike with joists, there is no need to use

a different column in the table for these

conditions.

At Thermo-Tech® Premium Windows and Doors, we

continually work to develop innovative ideas and

quality products, like our Trimline Brick Mould that

easily adds a finished look to nearly any window.

Innovation from sash to sill.

Find over 400 dealer locations at ttwindows.com 877-565-0159 • 320-529-4012

• NOW AVAILABLE IN SHAPES!

• Trim face easily snaps on to hide fasteners (shown right)

• White, tan and sandlewood exterior colors

• Available in 1-1/2 or 2-inch

• Multi-chambers and welded corners

• Sill nose available

• Classic Series and Thermo-Fit

tt_bldg_prod_connection_1013_7.5x3.5_FNL.indd 1 10/25/13 11:43 AM

STRUCTURE

Beam CantileversSimilar to joists, beams can cantilever up to one-fourth their backspan. However, unlike with joists, there is no need to use a differ-ent column in the table for these condi-tions. The stresses in the backspan portion of the beam are considered whether there is a cantilever or not. A southern pine (2) 2x12 beam can span 8 feet when supporting joists spanning a maximum of 14 feet, and it can cantilever 2 feet beyond the posts on each side. With the allowable cantilever of the joists, this beam would support a deck 12 feet by 171⁄2 feet.

While it will be years before the 2015 ver-sion is widely adopted by local codes, many building officials often accept future provi-sions like these as easy-to-approve alterna-tives to costly engineering. ❖

Glenn Mathewson is a building plans analyst in Westminster, Colo.

Dropped (top) and flush (bottom) beams will be allowed to cantilever beyond their supports by a distance equal to one-fourth the span between supports, as shown in the above ICC illustrations.

Dropped (top) and flush (bottom) beams will be allowed to cantilever

beyond their supports by a distance equal to one-fourth the span between

supports, as shown in the above ICC illustrations.


ust try using Ford’s approach with today’s savvy homeowners

who are looking at options for outdoor living projects, and

you’ve just lost a customer.

The outdoor living market is growing faster than just about any

category. Market research company Principia predicts annual

growth rates of 4 percent through 2015, with overall demand

for decking and railing climbing to $4.1 billion. The increased

demand is bringing new products to market, as manufacturers

develop more products in response to the outdoor living trend:

more capped wood-plastic composites, which offer many of

the same performance advantages as cellular PVC but at a

lower price; new types of wood decking; and a growing list of

green-decking choices.

If there’s a downside, it’s that retailers’ and wholesalers’

jobs won’t get any easier as the number of SKUs they could

potentially stock increases and becomes more unwieldy.


Henry Ford once stated, “You can get

it in any color you choose, as long

as it’s black.”

Too Many

CHOICES?

JPhotos courtesy of TAMKO Building Products, Inc.


CableRail offers yourcustomers an attractive,ultra-low-maintenance,view-friendly railing infill

option, making it one of thefastest growing deck railingproducts. As the category

leader, CableRail by Feeneyoffers dealers an incredible

opportunity to expand their sales.

Built for Success:

• Leading brand in the industry

• Lead referrals

• Advertising & promotional support

• Low initial investment

• Fast inventory turns

• Very strong margins

• Pre-packaged cable assemblies

• Patented, easy-to-useQuick-Connect® fittings

• Movable freestanding displays

• Dedicated customer & dealer support teams

Learn more, 1-800-888-2418or

feeneyinc.com/BPConnection

An Open View to More Revenue

One ofthe 101 Best Products in 2013

2014-708_2014-708 2/20/14 11:48 AM Page 1



More Capped CompositesThe first wood-plastic composites

combined recycled polyethylene and

wood flour and were a shot in the arm

for the decking industry when they

were introduced 20 years ago. But a

discouraging number of first-generation

composites had performance problems,

particularly mold growth.

Decking made from cellular polyvinyl

chloride fixed that by eliminating

cellulose from the mix, but the decking

was more expensive. In time, manufac-

turers found an attractive middle

ground by wrapping conventional

wood-plastic composites with another

plastic, a protective cap. The cap

improved scratch and stain resistance

while protecting the composite boards

from water, and capped composites

were less expensive to manufacture

than all-vinyl decking because the raw

ingredients were less costly.

Trex, the company that invented

wood-plastic composites, is phasing out

its uncapped line in 2014. And a number

of panelists at Principia’s Composite

Decking and Railing Conference in 2013

said that they expect a steady decline in

market share for uncapped composites

over the next few years.

Added Variety in WoodSynthetics get a lot of attention, but

wood decking still has the largest market

share: roughly 70 percent, by Principia’s

estimate. A key reason is that standard

pressure-treated southern pine has a

huge price advantage, plus, it’s familiar

to both homeowners and builders, and

it’s available just about anywhere.

But even in the wood decking category,

change is afoot. Thermally modified

wood is a recent transplant from Europe,

where it has been available for years.

During the treatment process, wood

is kiln heated up to 500º F. The wood

doesn’t catch fire because oxygen has

been removed from the kiln, but heat

does change the wood’s properties. It

becomes harder, more brittle, more

dimensionally stable, and more resistant

to water absorption and rot.

There are at least two brands of

thermally modified wood in the U.S.:

EcoDeck, made with No. 1 southern

yellow pine, and Arbor Wood, which sells

both ash and red oak decking.

Even pressure-treated pine is getting a

facelift. Universal Forest Products now

sells a type called ProWood Dura Color,

which has been color-infused during

the treatment process. It comes with a

two-year warranty against fading and a

lifetime warranty against termites and

rot. Unlike decking that has been painted

or treated with a solid-body stain, it still

looks like wood and is compatible with

aluminum building products. The cost:

less than $1 per linear foot.

Osmose, which developed the

technology, says that color-infused

decking is between 15 to 20 percent

more expensive than standard treated

wood. That may be one of the reasons

the new-generation wood decking

products are not in high demand as yet.

Railing: A SKU NightmareKits that packaged all the parts and

pieces for a section of railing in one box

looked to be a good way of simplifying

life for both contractors and retailers.

But builders couldn’t stop mixing and

matching the growing number of rail

components on the market to deliver

a unique look to their customers. This

continuing desire to give everyone

every option every time on every item

has turned railings into more of a

component business.

While options do increase flexibility,

the sale becomes much harder because

retailers are selling options every time.

More options mean more SKUs and a

space and inventory crunch for lumber

yards.

One solution? Lumber retailers have

been pushing the problem back on

wholesale distributors. Rather than

stocking the hundreds of items they

might potentially need to fill orders,

retailers are increasingly willing to ask

wholesalers to put the packages together.

Yet when special orders increase,

margins go down. Tie up cash in

inventory and risk making a mistake, or

free up cash and give up margin.

Aiming for GreenWith LEED and its rival green-rating

systems firmly established, the number

of green-building products is on the

rise with products made from waste or

easily renewable materials. GeoDeck,

for example, is made from powdered

paper sludge, dried rice hulls, and

polyethylene. Cali Bamboo’s BamDeck

consists of 60 percent reclaimed bamboo

fibers. NyloDeck is made from recycled

carpet.

These intriguing products make use of

materials that are usually discarded,

allowing eco-conscious consumers to

feel good about using them. However,

retailers have found that unless the

advantages are easy to understand, this

new wave of green products may not be

in high demand. Also, consumers seem

interested in green products, but their

enthusiasm quickly wanes as the price

goes up.

The Bottom LineThere’s a lot out there that’s new, but not

all of it makes sense for your builders

and their customers. The trick is finding

the right combination of products, the

right way to purchase and the right way

to market what you have to offer.

* Excerpts from Ready, Set, Deck!, January issue, ProSales Magazine.

More options mean more SKUs and a space and inventory crunch for lumber -yards.


®

Become a DeckWise® Dealer!

Made from UV and Chemical Resistant Polymers

Hardened Stainless Steel Core with Black Oxide Finish for the Ultimate Hidden Look

Built in Board Spacers

Call today: 866-427-2547

•Higher Profit Margins •Larger Revenues •Quick Direct Shipping•No Set Stock Requirement •Marketing & POP Available •USA Made ProductsDEALER BENEFITS:

DeckWise® The Ipe Clip® Fastener Co., LLC 2111 58th Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34203

DeckWise® International B.V. • Nijverheidsweg Noord 60-2 • 3812 PM Amersfoort • The Netherlands

Email: [email protected]

Straighten1

2 Fasten

3 Protect

Hardwood Wrench™ Board Straightner & Spacers

Hidden Fastening Systems for Decking, Siding, and Tiles

Hidden deck Fasteners

An Ipe Clip® Brand

Toll Free: 800.237.5161Phone: 701.237.5161

[email protected]

R

www.DOLLEUSA.com / Toll Free: 855-365-5387

Banisters & Railings


While the last year’s enforcement

statistics have not yet been released,

retaliation claims have been the

most-filed claim with the EEOC for the

last several years, accounting for more

than one-third of all complaints.

Employers must be aware of the fact

that employees who bring good faith

discrimination claims are shielded

from retaliation even if their complaint

is ultimately tossed out. As a result,

employees include retaliation claims

as part of their underlying discrimi-

nation complaints and often succeed

with these claims even when their

discrimination charges are dismissed.

This is a serious problem since most

federal discrimination laws specifically

prohibit retaliation against individuals

who exercise their rights. In addition,

state workers compensation laws and

the National Labor Relations Act also

prohibit retaliation.

Retaliation claims can cost organizations

big money even when no underlying

discrimination is found. There are four

steps (below) you can take to make

sure your organization is not liable for

retaliation.

The Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC) recently won

a $675,000 victory in federal court

for an employee who claimed age

discrimination and retaliation. The age

discrimination claim was dismissed,

but the retaliation claim resulted in the

large verdict. The fact that the employer

fired the employee, just three days after

he complained of age discrimination,

supported the retaliation claim.

This is not an isolated case. EEOC

statistics released last January showed

retaliation claims were the number one

discrimination claim filed and continue

to rise. Out of almost 100,000 claims

filed in 2012, almost 38,000 of them were

retaliation claims, accounting for 38.1

percent of the total claims filed.

Retaliation claim statistics are significant

for employers. Federal discrimination

laws prohibit retaliation against

individuals who exercise their rights

under the statutes. Employees often file

retaliation claims in conjunction with

discrimination claims when they feel

their employer has taken action against

them for exercising a legally protected

right. In fact, as in the age discrimi-

nation case, employees increasingly are

succeeding in retaliation claims even

when their underlying discrimination

claims are dismissed.

In addition, the Supreme Court has

broadened retaliation protections

over the last few years to allow more

situations to qualify for coverage.

Accordingly, employers need to make

sure they review every termination

decision to ensure retaliation has not

occurred and limit exposure.

Federal discrimination laws prohibit

retaliation against individuals who

oppose practices made unlawful by

those statutes, including Title VII of the

Civil Rights Act (Title VII), the Americans

with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age

Discrimination in Employment Act

(ADEA), and the Genetic Information

Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Most

state discrimination laws contain similar

protections. Thanks to the Supreme

Court, former employees, as well as

current employees, are protected from

retaliation under federal discrimination

laws.

To be successful with a retaliation claim,

employees generally must prove the

following three elements: (1) that they

engaged in a legally protected activity

(such as filing a discrimination claim

or opposing discrimination); (2) that

they suffered an adverse employment

action (such as termination); and (3) that

there is a causal connection between

the protected activity and the adverse

action. Also, according to the Supreme

Court, Title VII also prohibits retaliation

not directly related to employment

or that causes the employee harm

outside the workplace. For a claim to

be actionable, a reasonable employee

has to show the retaliatory action to be

“materially adverse,” meaning that the

actions against the employee produced

significant harm.

The first two elements are fairly easy

Once again this year, retaliation claims seem destined to be a continued focus of the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Business Matters

rETALIATION CLAIMS


to prove. Therefore, most retaliation

cases turn on whether there’s a causal

connection between the adverse

employment action and the protected

activity. Courts often will find a causal

connection when the time interval

between the activity and the adverse

employment action is brief and the

employee presents evidence that the

protected activity was a motivating

factor in the employer’s action.

For example, in 2011, the court allowed

a case to proceed to trial because the

timing of the discharge was suspicious.

The employee was terminated directly

after he gave a note to management

complaining that the company favored

Hispanics over Blacks. In contrast, in

2005, the court found no connection

between an employee’s termination and

her complaint about offensive conduct

by her boss because her performance

had been severely criticized before her

complaint and she was not terminated

for nearly a year after her complaint

during which time her performance

deteriorated.

When discrimination claims fail, retaliation claims can still surviveAs noted, retaliation claims are often

filed as part of a larger discrimination

case. Employees who bring good faith

discrimination claims are shielded from

retaliation even if their complaint is

ultimately determined to be without

merit. As a result, employees include

retaliation claims as part of their

underlying discrimination complaints

and often succeed with these claims

even when their discrimination charges

are dismissed.

For example, in 2010, the court upheld

the dismissal of an employee’s hostile

work environment claim but permitted

the retaliation claim to proceed because

the employer allowed a manager, whom

the employee had complained about and

who harbored retaliatory and racially

hostile feelings toward the employee, to

participate in the decision to discharge

the employee. In 2007, a nine-year

employee who could not prove race

and national origin discrimination was

allowed to go forward with his retaliation

claim. He was fired just days after he

filed an EEOC discrimination charge and

had never received any performance

warnings until he complained to his

supervisors about discrimination.

How to prevent retaliation claims in four stepsAs the discussion above demonstrates,

retaliation claims can be as big a

problem as the initial claims of discrimi-

nation. You need to be aware, also,

that many other federal and state

laws prohibit retaliation for exercising

protected rights, including the Family

and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor

Standards Act, the National Labor

Relations Act, the Uniformed Services

Employment and Reemployment Rights

Act, and many state discrimination and

workers’ compensation laws. Therefore,

as a way to limit your exposure to all

retaliation complaints, you should take

the following four steps:

1. Make sure that managers follow your

discipline and termination procedures

consistently. Managers should be

required to consider their motives

before taking adverse action against an

employee and should be able to show

they are treating the employee fairly

and consistently. They clearly must not

target, or appear to target, anyone who

has made a discrimination claim or

participated in a protected activity.

2. Document discipline and

termination decisions to show the

nondiscriminatory reasons for the

action. You should provide an accurate

accounting of the facts behind the

decision and any steps taken prior to

the action (such as counseling sessions

and warnings to improve). These records

can be a critical defense if you have to

justify your actions externally or defend

a lawsuit.

3. Review all discipline and termination

decisions before implementing them.

In particular, when the employee has

been involved in a discrimination

claim or is otherwise protected from

retaliation, a discipline or termination

recommendation should be reviewed

before finalization by the HR department

or someone at least one level of

management above the immediate

supervisor.

4. Implement and enforce clear “no

retaliation” policies so that managers

and coworkers understand the

seriousness of the issue. For example,

harassment, equal employment

opportunity, and complaint policies

should state plainly that you prohibit

retaliation against employees who make

complaints or provide information

about discrimination or other protected

activity. In addition, managers should

be trained to know what actions can be

interpreted as retaliatory.

Retaliation claims are routinely added to

the laundry list of allegations in discrimi-

nation and other complaints filed by

employees. By taking the above simple

steps, employers improve defenses and

the odds of winning if the organization

gets caught in this trend. And, just as

important, the employer is reducing

the chances employees will feel unfairly

treated in the first place.

Retaliation claims can cost big money even when no underlying discrimination is found.


What’s New

purchasing agent with the company as

he heads toward retirement in a year or

two, the new owners said.

It’s the fourth time the company, which

Kenny Barnes launched in 1952, has

changed hands. When Kenny died

in 1976, his son, Paul, who had been

working for his dad since the late 60s,

took over the family company. In 1992,

the company was converted to an

Employee Stock Ownership Plan and

named John Bates president.

DrExEL ExPANDS TO grEATEr FOx VALLEY rEgION Drexel Building Supply opened their

fifth location in Wrightstown, Wisconsin,

in February. The new store will service

customers and the building industry

throughout the Greater Fox Valley

Region. The Wrightstown location will

be led by Team Leader Nick Whitty.

Yard UpdateBArNES BuILDINg MATErIALS HAS NEW OWNErS, NEW NAME A 60-year-old Cedar Falls, Iowa, building

material supplier now is under new

ownership — and a new name. Jared

Huntington and Jared Honermann

have purchased all shares of formerly

employee-owned Barnes Building

Materials.

The deal was approved last September by

a vote of current and former employees

who had shares in the company. Effective

with completion of the acquisition

in January of this year, the company

changed its name to Builders Select LLC.

John Bates, who had been president of

the company for the last 21 years and has

been with Barnes Building Materials for

more than 40 years, has “a new role” as

grANT COuNTY LuMBEr uNDEr NEW OWNErSHIP On December 31st, 2013, Gene

Wenstrom sold Grant County Lumber,

Elbow Lake, Minnesota, to Dan Denardo

and Jason Lindquist.

Dan has been the manager since 1990.

Jason has been the salesman/estimator

since 2002. Gene Wenstrom started Grant

County Lumber in 1985 with four other

owners.

Supplier NewsACE HArDWArE ACquIrES EMErY-WATErHOuSE Ace Hardware Corporation announced

it has acquired Emery-Waterhouse; a

170-year-old distributor of hardlines

products for independent lumber, paint,

industrial and hardware outlets.

CALL OR E-MAIL TODAY 507-477-3224

WWW.HAYFIELDWINDOWS.COMHAYFIELD, MN 55940window door co&

201 VINYL

Whether remodeling, replacing, orbuilding new, you want the mostenergy-efficient windows. HayfieldWindow & Door windows are built tolast and use the best performingspacer bar in the market — Duralite.

QUALITY, PERFORMANCE,SERVICE AND SUPPORT

BACKED BY A SOLIDWARRANTY

BestViewEverywhereThe

701 CASEMENT FIXED OVER AWNING

The

BEST VALUEin the MARKET

With Limited Lifetime Warranty

Hayfield half-page ad 4-12.1_Layout 1 4/11/12 2:11 PM Page 1

Emery-Waterhouse will move forward

as an independently operated, majority-

owned subsidiary of Ace Hardware. The

Emery-Waterhouse brand will continue

operations as a separate business with a

distinct management team that provides

wholesale distribution services to

independent retailers.

FEDErATED INSurANCE HELPS YOu MANAgE EMPLOYMENT-rELATED rISkS Every employer, no matter what size,

is required to manage human resource

issues, government regulations,

and employment law changes. Any

size business can be vulnerable to

employment-related litigation. Employee

termination, harassment, or discrimi-

nation; improper documentation

processes; and a multitude of other

situations can expose your organization

to potential risk of a lawsuit.

Now, Federated Insurance has enhanced

resources available for clients to

help them address just these types

of situations. Federated is pleased

to introduce the new Federated

Employment Practices NetworkSM(FEPN).

Through FEPN, all clients can access:

• an employee handbook builder tool

• online supervisor and employee

training

• sample forms and policies

• labor posters

• monthly HR updates on frequently

asked questions

Clients who carry Employment-Related

Practices Liability (ERPL) coverage

through Federated also receive unlimited

access to independent employment law

attorneys.

For more information, go to

www.federatedinsurance.com.

New ProductsI-LIgHTINg™ INTrODuCES ILuMA rAIL LIgHTINg FOr DECkINg & OuTDOOr APPLICATIONSi-lighting™, a manufacturer of

exterior and interior LED lighting,

has introduced a new line of iluma

Rail Lighting featuring the company’s

proprietary “LED Lighting Simplified”

connection technology. Each system’s

Easy Plug™ micro connectors simply

plug together to ensure easy instal-

lations, which can be achieved in half

the time of traditional lighting and

with near invisible results.

Iluma Rail Lighting works equally well

with vinyl, aluminum, composite and

wood railing, creating nearly invisible

downlighting effects. The system’s

sleek 5mm design is also available for

4’, 6’, 8’ kits and can be customized

to meet user requests. For the best

outcomes, users need only email or

fax their plans to i-lighting and the

company will specify the project’s

lighting at no additional cost .

Each i-lighting system includes

a lifetime warranty for its LED

spotlights that use approximately 80

percent less energy than incandescent

bulbs and are rated for 12-plus years

of operation if used 24-hours-a-day/

seven-days-a-week.

For more information on i-lighting’s

new iluma Rail Lighting or any of its

existing Deck, Stair and Landscape

Systems, visit i-lightingonline.com or

call 888-305-4232.

If you have news or information you would like included in the What’s New section, email [email protected]. Please submit materials for the Jun/Jul issue no later than April 15.

FSC-Certified Suppliers

AMERHARt LtD.(800) 236-2211amerhart.com

BIEWER LuMBER(800) 482-5717 biewerlumber.com

tHE EMPIRE COMPANy INC.(800) 253-9000 empireco.com

FORESt PRODuCtS SuPPLy CO.(800) 892-7109FP-supply.com

LAkE StAtES LuMBER(800) 432-3727lake-states-lumber.com

PROGRESSIVE AFFILIAtED LuMBERMEN, INC.(800) 748-0089nationalbuyingpower.com

RAyNER & RINN-SCOtt, INC.(800) 221-6953rrswood.com

ROBERtS & DyBDAHL INC.West Des Moines, IA (800) 247-2100 robertsdybdahl.com

VIkING FORESt PRODuCtS INC.(800) 733-3801vikingforest.com

WEEkES FORESt PRODuCtS(800) 328-2890weekesforest.com



Classifieds

Amerhart 4

Bayer Built Woodworks, Inc. 12, 13

Bigfoot Systems, Inc. 3

DeckWise USA 21 DECRA Roofing Systems Inc. 11 Dolle USA 21 Edco Products Inc. 13 Federated Insurance IFC Feeney Inc. 19 Hayfield Window & Door Company 24

J.B. O’Meara Company 10

Midwest Perma-Column, Inc. 26

Minnkota Windows 13

LP Building Products/Wausau Supply Company IBC

Precision Equipment MFG 21

PrimeSource Building Products Inc. 9, 11

Seljax Int’l Inc. 3

Shelter Products 6

Starwood Rafters 10

Thermo-Tech Windows 17

United Purchasing Group OBC

AdvertiSer iNdex

WANtedSALES & MARKETING: Sprenger

Midwest, a 35 year old wholesale

distributor of lumber and other

building materials, has an opening on

its sales and marketing team. The ideal

candidate for this opportunity should

have 3 or more years of experience in

building materials distribution sales, be

a goal-oriented, team player, who readily

accepts challenges, and wants to be part

of a dynamic and growing company.

Strong communication, customer-

service and computer skills are a must.

This position is based in our Sioux Falls,

SD corporate offices. Please mail resume

to Sprenger Midwest (attention Sales

Manager) at PO Box 2436 in Sioux Falls,

SD, 57101. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

iNside sales/accouNt MaNaGeR:

Expanding Building Material Retailer

is seeking a self-motivated, energetic

person for inside sales/account

manager. Must have sales experience

and knowledge of the building trade.

Duties would include, but are not

limited to, managing of contractor

accounts, securing new sales/customers,

estimating and assisting walk in trade.

Full-time, Salary plus commission,

health, dental, life, retirement, paid

vacation/sick leave. Please reply with

resumes or questions to cdeblieck@

stpeterlumber.com.

coNtRactoR salesMaN / iNside

sales: Full-time position with

benefits. Position includes take-offs,

estimating, and assisting contractors

and their customers. Applicants must be

ambitious, goal driven and possess good

communication skills. A valid driver’s

license is required. Contact Darwin or

Pat at Bismarck Lumber, 701-223-2145

or [email protected] or

[email protected].

(800) 798-5562www.midwestpermacolumn.com

DECK COLUMNDECK COLUMN

A PRECAST CONCRETE

POSTAvailable for

4 x 4and

6 x 6wood posts - 42” long

CONCRETEFOUNDATIONS

Peace of Mindfor a LIFETIME!

CONCRETEFOUNDATIONS

Peace of Mindfor a LIFETIME!

DESIGNED WITH THE INSTALLER IN MIND.

wausausidingsystems.com

1 | RigidStack

2 | Decorative Shakes

Heavy Duty Spline helps secure siding, straighter walls and

consistent spacing. 375% stronger than lap making it superior

resistant to wind, rain, sleet, snow & insects.

Octagons, Scallops, & Shakes - reversible, staggered or

straight. Blind nail application for faster install along with

shiplap joints for performance.

3 | Soffit & FasciaFree of knots and common defects for less waste. Available in

cedar & smooth finish, vented or solid & three pre-cut widths.

4 | Trim Enjoy the speed and simplicity of installation with our nail fin.

Our engineered durable, reliable hidden fastening system

eliminates blow outs, sunken/unsightly nails & bad touch-up.

5 | Outside & Inside CornerOur one piece nail fin features exclusive locking mitered

glued joint, resulting in extreme durability with a seamless

look; hidden fastener system; adding depth & distinction.

From RigidStack, to our hidden fastener system to the way we package & store our products, we always design them with quality, strength, dependability & easier installation. That’s why we include LP SmartSide products in our line.

LP® SmartSide® products deliver all the warmth and beauty of traditional wood in a product that is engneered for strength, impact resistance & decades of performance, even in harsh climates.

© 2014 Wausau Supply Inc. All rights reserved. Rigidstack is a trademark of Wausau Supply Inc. LP & SmartGuard are registered trademarks of Louisiana-Pacific Corportion and are used here by permission.

solutions

RIGIDSTACKTM

SIDING WITH A BACKBONE

DECORATIVE shapes

BEAUTIFUL ACCENTS&SOFFIT FASCIA TRIM

Built On:

This means you’ll get access to America’s Largest and Most Reliable Wireless Network, plus great deals on Calling Plans and all of our latest phones and accessories. Corporate Subscribers are eligible for the following offers:

GREAT OFFERS FROM VERIZON WIRELESS

1- or 2-year line term on eligible calling plans $34.99 or higher req’d. For Small Business SharePlan® discount available only on primary line. {{PROMO}}

Step 1:• Upon membership approval, you will receive an email that includes

a membership number, login and password.

Step 2:• Click on the link provided in the email and enter in the required information.

Step 3:• Accept the terms and conditions.

Step 4:• An email with a copy of the agreement will be sent for your record.

Each member facility must sign and execute a Verizon Wireless Member Agreement

to participate in the program. To become an Amerinet Member, please visit

http://verizon.amerinet-gpo.com.

Contact NPP Construction Member Support at 800-810-3909 for more information.

{{PROMO}}

Step 1: Go to www.UPG.org and click the “Join Now” tab.

Step 2: Complete the Registration Form to become a member.

Step 3: Return to www.UPG.org and login with your username (email address or member ID) and your password (created during registration).

Step 4: Locate the Verizon Wireless contract from the contracts page (default page after logging in). Click on the “Enroll” button and complete the Verizon Wireless contract.

These discounts are a result of an agreement negotiated between UPG and Verizon Wireless. Each UPG Member must have a FREE membership with UPG and accept the Verizon Wireless Member Agreement. Initial registration can be completed by visiting www.UPG.org.

Contact Unified Purchasing Support at 801-784-8744 for more information.

CALL CLICK VISIT

801-784-8744

www.upg.org

Your local Verizon Wireless businessrepresentative

Save 22% off Monthly Access feesFREE 250

TEXT MESSAGE PACKAGEPackage does not include picture messaging.

Activation fee/line: up to $35 IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Corporate Subscribers are subject to Nat’l/Major Account Agmt. Up to $175 early termination fee ($350 for advanced devices). Offers & coverage, varying by svc, not available everywhere; see vzw.com. ©2012 Verizon Wireless.0212-D0312

•

Construction Suppliers & ManufacturersVerizon Wireless is proud to be the wireless service provider of

$20 UNLIMITED WIRELESS EMAIL FEATURE

Not eligible for discounts. Must be added to a calling plan $34.99 or higher.

Unified Purchasing Group

Get 25% off eligible Verizon Wireless accessories•

Documents

Building Products CONNECTION Apr/May 2014