Bilco Company Offers 2008 Residential Products Catalog

The Bilco Company has announced its availability of its 2008 Residential Products Catalog. The catalog, which includes information on the company’s complete line of the IRC 2006-code compliant basement projects, is available free of charge by calling 800-854-9724 or emailing Bilco at bilco@bilco.com.

The new catalog offers information on their full line of basement doors, including the Classic Series Sloped Wall and Steel Sided doors and Ultra Series maintenance free door. All Bilco basement doors provide convenient direct access to basement areas and features easy one-hand operation and weather resistant construction. In addition, Bilco also offers a complete basement entrance system for new home construction or remodeling applications. The PermEntry® basement entrance consists of a precast concrete stairwell and Bilco door that are delivered and installed by licensed dealers.

Customers will also find information about the company’s line of emergency egress window well, which add light, ventilation, and building code compliance to basement areas. Adding a ScapeWEL® or StakWEL® window well makes a basement area as warm and inviting as any room in the house.

Round Three of Management Moves is Ready!

Dear CFA Member,

Over the past year, our Management Committee has been working hard to develop the content for a new series of information products that deliver tips and tricks we all use for the management of our businesses. Attend one CFA event and the first thing you realize is how much collective business expertise exists between the companies of this Association, and yet, we all approach things differently.

We realize that not everyone has the budget to attend events regularly and given the size of our market, it is difficult to get to each region on a frequent basis to make attendance to even one event easy. Therefore, expanding our membership services has been a primary motivation of the CFA Board in recent months.

It is our hope that through the Management Moves, you also will be compelled to share ideas you have successfully implemented in your own business. These publications continue growing the membership impact the CFA has, and further building the value of CFA to you.

Any ideas that you have had and implemented in your business that have helped you get through some tough situations, are ideas we’d like to share with other CFA members. With Round 3 we’ve now had 9 members come forward to share their insight. Please feel free to contact CFA headquarters to discuss putting your valuable information to use. Together we can continue building CFA member companies into the top functioning foundation businesses in the country.

I hope you enjoy this growing series!

David B. Martinson

CFA Management Committee Chair

CFA Board of Directors

CFA SELF-INSURANCE PRESENTATION IN OHIO

My “From the Director” column two issues ago presented some of the details of the CFA initiative to form a CFA self-insurance “Captive”. The CFA Board of Directors is ready to move forward with the CFA Self-Insurance Captive, but we need member participation to make it happen. This has the potential to be the biggest single benefit for CFA members with regard to financial payback. It can save members anywhere from 5% initially on their insurance premiums, upward to 30% or more when the corporation has greater experience managing member risks (anticipated at 4-5 years).

The CFA itself will also make money from the enterprise, which will help keep dues under control and fund additional member benefits.

This insurance will include all coverages except for health insurance. Workman’s compensation will be covered in all states except those where it is mandated that companies must purchase Workman’s Compensation from the state (Ohio is one we are aware of ).

The concept is one that has been used by municipalities, hospitals, government agencies, and corporations for decades to reduce their insurance costs. It has only recently been introduced to the trade association industry. Our program will be modeled after the successful venture of the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Corporation (CSDA). CSDA is similar is size, scope and risk to our group and their members are realizing savings on insurance premiums of approximately 30% in their fifth year of operation.

We have two challenges to get the program started.

• First, the CFA members must match the start-up fees involved in establishing the Captive. The total start-up costs are projected to be between $120,000 and $130,000. Our consultant will contribute $60,000 of this cost in return for a 5-year agreement to manage the Captive. CFA members, acting as investors, must come up with the balance. We are researching the steps involved to establish a separate corporation for the Captive and the mechanism of raising the remaining $60,000-70,000.

• The second challenge is having a sufficient number of companies participate so that the minimum annual premium amount, estimated to be approximately $3,000,000, is met. We anticipate 25-30 investor/participant companies initially. This will reduce the risk and investment of the companies.

Board members have attended a presentation by the consultant and most of them will be participating in the venture but we want to make certain that all of our members have the opportunity to participate at the start-up phase. Investors in the effort are projected to get a return of at least their initial investment (in addition to their insurance savings) plus a yet-to-be-determined return at a time the Captive has sufficient funds.

The concept is too complicated to explain in a letter, but in its simplest terms, members pay the same insurance premiums they are currently paying but pay them to the Captive. This premium covers basic losses identified for the program and purchases additional insurance to cover the higher risk and catastrophic losses that could be incurred. The premise is that the Captive members are paying only for the risks that they are subject to, and thus have a better opportunity to control and manage their risks as opposed to paying into a pool that includes the broad spectrum of risks and claims that a typical insurance company must pay.

To better explain the concept and determine the level of participation by our members, our consultant will make a presentation at our meeting this fall in Columbus, Ohio. The presentation will take between 3-4 hours and we suggest that the person responsible for your insurance and/or the financial officer for your company attend the presentation. (Turn to the Fall Regional Meeting Information pages and registration on pages 8-11.) Our intent is to move forward by December 1 if there is sufficient interest.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA

esauter@cfawalls.org

Bilco Introduces New and Improved Window Well System

Enhanced Design Results in Added Product Strength

CertainTeed Backs High-Quality Building Products with Redesigned Website, Online Tools

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (December 19, 2008) — With the launch of CertainTeed Corporation’s redesigned website (www.certainteed.com) building professionals are only a click away from a vast array of product information, technical resources and continuing education programs, as well as new tools to drive new business leads.

With customized portals for architects, builders, contractors and distributors, the site provides a wealth of readily accessible information for more than 1,000 CertainTeed(R) interior and exterior building products, including detailed specifications, material safety data sheets and installation guides. A new feature, “My Project Folder”, allows visitors to select and save product information for future reference.

In addition, an online “Learning Center” provides information on frequently asked questions and tips regarding CertainTeed product performance and best practices. The site also offers a comprehensive menu of continuing education courses and a special “Green Building Products” section, aligning CertainTeed products with LEED(R) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building Program(TM).

“CertainTeed’s leadership in the industry is rooted in the manufacture of high-quality products that are backed by the technical support and resources needed for building industry professionals to succeed,” said Peter Dachowski, President and CEO of CertainTeed. “Through the development of a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate website, we have strengthened that commitment to our customers.”

Providing a boost to lead generation, the CertainTeed website incorporates a new tool that connects consumers to contractors, installers and builders through an automated system. Using the “Find a Pro” tool, consumers can search for a building professional by zip code and automatically request information directly from the contractor, builder or installer.

Featuring project photos, case studies and an online, interactive tool — ColorView(TM) — the “Idea Center” serves as source of inspiration for building professionals and designers. A special version of ColorView can also be downloaded by building professionals and serve as a valuable sales tool, helping customers visualize CertainTeed products on their home or building.

CertainTeed serves the residential, commercial and industrial building sectors through the manufacture of insulation, gypsum, ceilings, exterior trim, vinyl and polymer shake siding, fiber cement siding, PVC pipe, foundations, roofing, fence, railing, and deck products. For more information, visit certainteed.com.

About CertainTeed

Through innovation and creative product design, CertainTeed has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm made its slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed,” which quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed(R) is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.

Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 7,000 employees and more than 70 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2007 the group had consolidated sales of more than $3 billion.

www.certainteed.com

For more information contact:

Michael B. Loughery,
CertainTeed
(610) 341-7328
mike.b.loughery@saint-gobain.com
www.certainteed.com/pressroom

EPA Proposes Rule Imposing Stricter Stormwater Standards on Construction and Development Activities

On November 28, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule under the Clean Water Act entitled “Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Point Source Category.” The proposed non-numeric effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) would require contractors, developers, and others conducting land-disturbing activities to implement specific minimum best management practices (BMPs) for erosion control, sediment control, and pollution prevention. Certain sites could be required to implement stormwater treatment processes in addition to BMPs in order to meet the new standards, and other large sites may have to meet numeric turbidity limits. Treatment and numeric limits would be a significant change from existing standards, which focus chiefly on BMPs. The proposed ELGs are intended to work in concert with state and local programs, establishing minimum requirements or a “floor” that would be applicable nationally. The ELGs, if promulgated, will be applied to construction and development sites as EPA, states, and tribes incorporate the new requirements into general and individual stormwater discharge permits. EPA has requested public comment on the proposed rule, and the comment period will remain open until Feb. 26, 2009.

In 2004, EPA decided not to issue ELGs for stormwater discharges from construction and development sites. The Natural Resources Defense Council and other plaintiffs filed suit, however, alleging that EPA’s decision not to promulgate ELGs for the construction industry violated a mandatory duty under the Clean Water Act. The U.S. District Court and the Ninth Circuit agreed with the plaintiffs and established a timetable for EPA to promulgate the ELGs. In response, EPA designed the proposed rule to achieve cleaner streams and greener neighborhoods through implementation of erosion and sediment control measures and pollution prevention practices. According to EPA, sediment is one of the leading causes of water quality impairment nationwide. Construction activities such as clearing, excavating, and grading disturb the land, and the disturbed soil, if not managed properly, can wash off construction sites and enter streams and other bodies of water. Stormwater discharge from construction sites can cause a variety of physical, chemical, and biological impacts to water bodies.

In addition to requiring BMPs, the proposed ELGs mandate that construction sites disturbing ten or more acres at a time also would be required to install sediment basins or approved alternatives to treat stormwater discharge. Also, certain large sites of 30 acres or more located in areas with high rainfall and with high clay content soils would have to comply with a numeric limit on the allowable level of turbidity. The turbidity limit would be set to remove fine-grained and slow-settling or non-settleable particles contained in stormwater, since particles such as clays and fine silts contained in stormwater discharges typically cannot be effectively removed by conventional stormwater best management practices. To achieve this numeric limit of turbidity, many developers may have to treat and filter the stormwater discharge at their construction sites.

Industry officials have voiced concern over the proposed numeric discharge limit that potentially requires installation of expensive control technologies at large construction sites. In addition, some industry and trade groups oppose numeric standards generally in the context of stormwater regulation, preferring BMPs as more flexible and as adding less to the bottom line on construction projects compared to complying with numeric standards. On the other hand, EPA did not include any post-construction runoff controls in its proposal, as environmentalists had urged. Post-construction stormwater is regulated indirectly, through the requirements imposed on municipal stormwater systems. Environmentalists had argued that post-construction standards should be imposed directly on developers.

EPA estimates that the proposed rule will reduce the amount of sediment discharged from construction sites by up to 27 billion pounds each year, at a projected annual cost of $1.9 billion. EPA says that the benefits from the proposed rule include better protection of drinking water supplies, improvements in aquatic environments, and reduced need for dredging of navigation channels.

EPA is accepting comment on the proposed regulation and may change its approach in light of comments received. Additionally, on Dec. 3, 2008, EPA filed a petition for panel rehearing by the Ninth Circuit. For more information, or if you are interested in making comments on EPA’s proposed rule, please contact Bob Martineau, Ed Callaway, Michael Stagg, Lena Babaeva or any member of the Waller Lansden Environmental practice at 800-487-6380.

The opinions expressed in this bulletin are intended for general guidance only. They are not intended as recommendations for specific situations. As always, readers should consult a qualified attorney for specific legal guidance.

Kathy Birchall
Seigenthaler Public Relations│Account Executive
office: 615.327.7999│cell: 615.521.1201
email: kbirchall@seigenthaler.com

The Bilco Company Offers 2008 Residential Products Catalog

New Haven, Connecticut (September 19, 2008) — The Bilco Company, a manufacturer of basement access and improvement products, has announced the availability of its 2008 Residential Products Catalog.

The catalog, which includes information on the company’s complete line of the IRC 2006 code-compliant basement products, is available free of charge by calling (800) 854-9724 or e-mailing Bilco at bilco@bilco.com.

The new catalog offers information on full line of basement doors, including the Classic Series Sloped Wall and Steel Sided doors and Ultra Series maintenance-free door. All Bilco basement doors provide convenient direct access to basement areas and feature easy one-hand operation and weather resistant construction. In addition, Bilco also offers a complete basement entrance system for new home construction or remodeling applications. The PermEntry® basement entrance consists of a precast concrete stairwell and Bilco door that are delivered and installed by licensed dealers.

Customers will also find information about the company’s line of emergency egress window wells, which add light, ventilation, and building code compliance to basement areas. Adding a ScapeWEL® or stakWEL® window well makes a basement area as warm and inviting as any room in the home.

For more information about Bilco’s products, please visitwww.bilco.com.

 

For more than 80 years, The Bilco Company has been a building industry pioneer in the design and development of specialty access products. Over these years, the company has built a reputation among homeowners, builders, architects, and engineers for products that are unequaled in design and workmanship.

Bilco – an ISO 9001 certified company – offers a line of roof hatches, automatic fire vents, floor access doors, and a complete line of residential products that are designed to improve the look and function of basement areas. With headquarters in West Haven, Connecticut, Bilco has manufacturing facilities in Trumann, Arkansas, and Zanesville, Ohio, and an international network of sales offices, dealers, distributors, and representatives.

CFA Announces Call for Entries for 2009 Projects of the Year Awards

Mt. Vernon, Iowa (August 18, 2008) — The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) – an influential organization within the construction industry that serves as an informational and networking tool for its members and carries out a multitude of educational and promotional efforts for the advancement of concrete foundation technology – has announced the call for entries for the “2009 Projects of the Year” Award, formerly known as the “Basement of the Year”.

According to Ed Sauter, executive director of CFA, the Basement of the Year competition enables foundation contractors to display the wide range of projects that are being completed today. The technological advancements that have been made in the poured wall industry allow contractors to complete complex projects more efficiently, which helps ensure homeowners’ dreams are realized, said Sauter.

“Each year the projects submitted to this competition get more complicated and demonstrate the diversity afforded through poured wall foundations,” said Sauter.  “With the increased focus we have created on technical and business competence, exposing the industry to the craftsmanship that exists is of utmost value.”

Cases in point are the winning structures from last year’s competition that ranged from a 4,300 sq.ft. basement with radius walls and over 150 yards of concrete to a basement of 25,000 sq.ft.  Also seen were projects incorporating free-spanning concrete stairs and a commercial rock quarry underground storage building.  These projects were voted most complex, most challenging and representative of the level of craftsmanship delivered throughout the CFA network by the very contractors that face projects like these every week.

Is your business concrete foundations or above-grade concrete structures with removable concrete forms?  If so, you should take advantage of this unique industry opportunity to display your work to the industry.  To enter a project in this year’s competition, you must be a CFA Contractor member. Non-members do not qualify for the awards program. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 28, 2008 and there remains no charge for each submittal.

This year continues the broadened categories seen the last two years available for submittal including:

• Single Family < 2,000 sq.ft.
• Single Family 2,000 to 5,000 sq.ft.
• Single Family > 5,000 sq.ft.
• Commercial / Multi-Family
• Non-Wall Structural Element
• Above-Grade Home

Voting is based upon many qualifications including the advancement of the use of concrete foundation technology. Attention to significant footing details, outstanding wall features, such as curved walls, columns, complex corners, etc., and the overcoming of any complexities or challenges along the way are all basis for consideration. Voters will also look for any special materials used or new and innovative advancements.

Once again, the contractor network of the CFA, who understand the market because they are members of the industry, will judge the competition.   Voting takes place at the CFA booth (N2027) during the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Feb. 3-6, 2009 in Las Vegas and online at www.cfawalls.org beginning January 1st.

Free registration to the World of Concrete exhibits and seminar discounts can be obtained from the CFA website or through their various media sources.

The rules and categories for submission can be found on the CFA website at http://www.cfawalls.org/awards/basement/index.htm.

CFA Presents 2008 Contractor of the Year Award

Mt. Vernon, Iowa (August 18, 2008) — The Concrete Foundation Association (CFA) –  an organization dedicated to improving the quality and acceptance of cast-in-place concrete foundations – recently presented its 2008 Contractor of the Year Award to Rich and Patty Kubica of K-Wall Poured Walls of Traverse City, Michigan & Asheville, North Carolina.

A member of the CFA for nearly a decade, the Kubicas were selected for this award for their aggressive pursuit of excellence and business expansion.

According to Ed Sauter, executive director of the CFA, the Kubica’s high level of enthusiasm and commitment to advancing the concrete foundations industry and the CFA are primary reasons why they were selected for the CFA Contractor of the Year.

“Rich and Patty have been one of the most aggressive companies in our Association,” said Sauter. “We have reveled at their ability to take on challenges for promoting high-performance foundation walls, above-grade concrete shells and the growth of poured concrete foundations in traditionally block markets.”

The annual award recognizes the contributions of a poured wall contractor to the industry. This year’s award was presented at the CFA Annual Convention held July 30 to August 2 in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.

Founded in 1992, in Traverse City, Michigan, K-Wall Poured Walls have maintained a commitment to craftsmanship and quality by implementing the latest foundation technology and staying active in education opportunities.  Their original location established a commitment to a full line of services including custom poured walls, flatwork and waterproofing that included ready to live basements.  However, that wasn’t enough for the Kubicas and their firm.  They continued to stay ahead of the market curves by expanding into epoxy-coated floors, pools and spas, decorative concrete and even flooring underlayment and radiant in-floor heating systems.  Their excellence in crafting high-quality poured concrete foundations also led them into the above-grade concrete home market where they pioneered this form of real estate in their market.  The opportunities continued to unfold as they became involved in featured concrete homes in St. John including a project affectionately known as “The Secret Seashell”.

The warmth of St. John behind them now, Rich and Patty have continued to push forward.  The excellence that they brought to the Traverse City market has now been replicated in the market surrounding Asheville, North Carolina.  Traditionally a concrete block market, this region has produced many challenges requiring innovative ways of promoting concrete, proving design compatibility and raising the bar for the quality of foundations.

At every step of the way, the Kubicas have remained an excellent model for contractor members of the CFA by recognizing the value of the CFA network to their business.  Rich credits the CFA with keeping his sights focused on the changing technology and providing valuable education opportunities that broadened both his construction and business backgrounds.  “Where we have found headaches and extreme challenges,” states Rich, “the CFA contractors and professional staff have been quick to come to our aid and support.  This encouraged us to tackle some pretty major obstacles such as jumping into the Caribbean and starting up a new venture half a country away.”

Rich and Patty thanked the CFA for the many opportunities, the support and the confidence during their presentation in New Mexico earlier this month.  They continued to encourage contractors to take on challenges and broaden their project opportunities by finding new products and techniques.  They also encouraged each company to recognize the wealth of knowledge and the reliability that resides in the CFA network and staff.  By using their membership and accessing these benefits, they can leverage their company to new heights.  They firmly believe that participation in the CFA is a main reason for their success.  The Kubicas were honored to receive this award and encouraged others to become involved in the one industry association that cares the most about the business they conduct.

Also during this presentation, Ron Ward, President of Western Forms, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri added his congratulation and presented the Kubicas with a crystal eagle symbolizing the soaring achievements that their company embodies.

The CFA was established in 1974 for the purpose of improving the quality and acceptance of cast-in-place concrete foundations. CFA provides promotional materials, educational seminars, opportunities for networking, and technical meetings for members in 26 states and Canada. The CFA also represents the interests of its members and the industry on several code and regulatory bodies, such as the American Concrete Institute’s committee responsible for the creation of the “Residential Concrete Standard.” Once complete, this standard will likely be adopted by the UBC, CABO, and other building codes. The CFA has several of its members on the ACI committee responsible for this document and will endeavor to ensure that the interests of the foundation contractors are considered.  For more information about CFA, please visit www.cfawalls.org.

CFA Elects New Board Members, Bromley Elected President

Mt. Vernon, Iowa (August 15, 2008) — The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) – a North American association dedicated to improving the quality and acceptance of cast-in-place concrete foundations – has announced the newest terms for its Board of Directors as well as a new President to direct its next two-year period.

During the CFA Annual Convention, held earlier this month at the Hyatt Tamaya in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, the attending members elected Tom Brown of TJ Construction Unlimited Inc. in Ely, Iowa and Jerry Hoyer of Hoyer Poured Walls Inc. of Marysville, Ohio to serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors.  In addition, Jim Rowe of Fastrac Foundations in Pittsburgh, Penn. and Amanda Morris of Herbert Construction Company of Atlanta, Ga. were re-elected to the Board for three-year terms.

Also at the meeting, Dan Bromley of ABI Corporation of Lee’s Summit, Mo. assumed the role of CFA President, replacing Brad Schrock of Westfield, IN.  Bromley had previously served and will continue to function as chair of the new Foundation Contractor Certification Program that successfully started during the same event in New Mexico. His plans for the Association over this next two-year period include extending the recognition of the certification program on a national level and seeing the benefits for contractor members of the CFA continue to increase.  These benefits would include opportunities for lower insurance rates, safety programs and management network groups among the already rich opportunities.

Bromley becomes the 23rd president in the rich history of the CFA and establishes the second father/son leadership. His father, Gary Bromley, was president from 1995-1996. Previously, Larry and Dave Clark became the first father/son presidential family, following Larry’s inaugural term in 1976-78 and Dave ‘s term from 1996-97. One other pair added to this history of lineage are Joe Carr, who served as President from 1993-95, and the current Past President (06-08), Brad Schrock, his son-in-law. The heritage of the CFA seen through the tenures of these gentlemen speaks of the passion held by the entire membership.

About the CFA

The CFA was established in 1974 for the purpose of improving the quality and acceptance of cast-in-place concrete foundations. Since that time, the CFA has transitioned to a network where foundation contractors can focus on building better businesses and improving the recognition of performance in codes and standards.  CFA provides promotional materials, educational seminars, opportunities for networking, and technical meetings for members throughout the U.S. and Canada involved in segment of the market now identified as Removable Concrete Forms (RCFs), walls produced by forming, placing concrete and then removing the forms of wood, aluminum or steel-ply.

The CFA represents the interests of its members and the industry on several code and regulatory bodies, such as ACI 332 the American Concrete Institute’s committee responsible for the creation of the “Residential Concrete Standard” and the International Residential Code (IRC) as well as concentrated efforts with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Portland Cement Association (PCA). The CFA produces industry-shaping documents including the CFA Standard for Residential Poured Foundations and the CFA Cold Weather Research Report. For more information about CFA, please visit www.cfawalls.org.