Unprotected woods in direct contact with soil will rot over time and attract pests like termites. Assuming you don?t want that behavior, here are several ways to protect yourself or at least the structure.

Pressure Treated Woods

The most common material one typically considers here is pressure treated woods. Preservatives are forced into the wood to create a chemical barrier from the soil, thus protecting the underlying wood. The actual preservatives used and their retention (lbs/cu ft) help determine effectiveness and where one can use the wood. The more preservatives retained in the wood, the longer term it could be used with direct contact to the soil. Think top decking wood vs. fence posts vs. foundation wood here for instance. While you don?t want to replace the top decking wood, you don?t need the same retention levels as a fence post which will be buried in the soil. And, foundation wood you never want to replace, if you can avoid it.

If you go the pressure treated wood route, which chemicals to use for the treatment can produce varying levels of success. As previously mentioned theretention of the chemicals determine their effectiveness. But what about the actual chemicals? For about ten years now Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) treated wood has been banned from residential use. For the longest time, it was the go-to chemical. If you?re dealing with older construction though, you may still run across it. The A there is for the arsenic in the treatment. Since that is a carcinogen, it is to be avoided. Sealing CCA-treated wood annually will keep the danger at bay but for new construction you?ll want to use a different treatment. Some options to consider today are Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ), Copper Boron Azole (CBA), Cyproconazole, and Propiconazole, where the latter two are only for above ground applications.

Plastics and Composite Materials

Termites like wood not plastic. Polyethylene (HDPE or LDPE) plastic or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) survive well on the plastics side where material needs to come in contact with soil. On the composite materials side, you?ll find recycled and reclaimed materials like wood fiber (aka sawdust), rice hulls, and reclaimed plastics (like old grocery bags). Rubber timber, or old tires and plastic, can be considered here, too. Materials of this nature will survive like 10-50 years and are 100% insect resistant without the need for resealing every year. A common way to better preserve wood is to wrap it with plastic, where the wood might be in a cement footing and have a plastic coating wrapped around it. The only thing left touching the soil in the end is the plastic. Check with local building codes for what can be used structurally though. Typically, wood is a required element.

Naturally Durable Woods

You?ll find some wood species are naturally resistant to termites, or at least their heartwood is. The outer sapwood layers help conduct water to keep the tree alive but the inner heartwood of the tree can be used successfully where termite resistance is desired. In fact, some heartwoods are not just resistant to termites, but downright toxic. Consider construction-grade Alaska cedar, redwoods, or Tallowood, where the latter is a common Australian construction wood. Exotic hardwoods like Mahogany also work but are cost prohibitive and low in supply.

Metal Framing

Like plastics and composites, if you avoid the wood, you avoid the termites. Steel-framed structures are considered by many as an alternative to wood-framed homes. Steel however is only termite resistant, not termite proof. The feces from termites can corrode the steel. If they happen to get to the gypsum and eat the paper backing, what they leave behind could cause considerable damage. Also, while they might not eat the metal frame, you still have to worry about window and door frames. Use with care and make sure to spray the slab and protect any other areas that a termite could penetrate.

For structural needs, wood-soil contact is hard to avoid. Use an appropriately treated wood material with the retention level needed to best protect yourself from termite damage. If all else fails, you can avoid all risks of destruction by moving into a cave.

Unprotected woods in direct contact with soil will rot over time and attract pests like termites. Assuming you don?t want that behavior, here are several ways to protect yourself or at least the structure.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, '8904bb7e-cc50-4c4c-99bb-a2340a3d098d', {});

1. Photo credit: cbb4104 / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

2. Photo credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service - Recovery Act Team / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

National Gypsum Board Company, one of the largest gypsum board producers in North America, launched DEXcell, a conglomerate of up-to-date and hard-wearing roof boards for commercial roofing systems.

The DEXcell Brand consists of three products:

• DEXcell Brand Glass Mat Roof Board
• DEXcell Brand FA Glass Mat Roof Board
• DEXcell Brand Cement Roof Board

DEXcell products hold various approvals and are in alignment with numerous industry standards making their roofing products resistant to mold, while also providing a fire blockade for commercial structures such as hotels, hospitals, and schools.

Roof Board Particulars

- DEXcell Glass Mat Roof Board and DEXcell FA Glass Mat Roof Board are manufactured to resist mold. They are designed for use as a cover-board or thermal obstruction in commercial roofing applications. These products score and incise smoothly and are especially finished on the front, rear, and sides for trouble-free handling.

- DEXcell Glass Mat Roof Board is perfectly suitable for mechanically attached roofing systems and has encrusted fiberglass facers with an ameliorated gypsum core.

- DEXcell FA Glass Mat Roof Board is created for fully supported roof systems, and produced with heavy-duty coated fiberglass facers with an improved gypsum core.

- DEXcell FA Glass Mat Roof Boards are perfectly designed for a broad range of roofing systems along with, but not restricted to, fully supported single ply membranes, mechanically affixed roof systems, adapted bitumen, developed roofing, fluid applied spray foam and metal. It is also used on the roof side of low or parapet walls.

- DEXcell BRAND Cement Roof Board is a gossamer type moisture and mold resilient cement board manufactured for use as a cover board or thermal obstruction in all commercial roofing applications. It administers a fire-wall and thermal barrier. Portland cement is used for manufacturing, glass mesh, and a lightweight mixture of substances that produce a remarkably solid, long-lasting surface.

National Gypsum integrated its lightweight cement board know-how to produce a multipurpose product for all commercial roofing applications. DEXcell Brand Cement Roof Board offers a superb defense against dampness if trapped beneath the roofing membrane for an extensive length of time. In addition, the cement roof board has outstanding freeze and thaw properties.

hbspt.cta.load(385819, '008cb463-2917-49cc-ab3f-12ed4a3a6f33', {});

When you're working on a serious project, sometimes you need a building wrap that delivers more. With the pounding that a commercial job site provides, you need something tougher that will still be there at the end of the project. Though there are many building wraps available for this type of job, DuPont's Tyvek CommercialWrap has some great benefits that puts it above the competition. Here's why we recommend it:

Superior Performance On The Job Site

Though we expect Tyvek to be tough, CommercialWrap is even tougher. It has an even higher tear strength than regular Tyvek, as it's constructed using spun-bonded polyethylene atá7.1 mils. This makes it more resistant to those accidents that would otherwise have you repairing your building wrap. Additional UV protection is built in to the fabric, providing up to nine months of UV exposure before degrading.

You can also use CommercialWrap to build an extremely efficient envelope system for your building evenáin a variety of wall systems, including stucco, stone, metal panels, brick, granite, marble and synthetic stucco. The building wrapáis designed to integrate seamlessly into your project's design, leaving only a beautiful appearance and significantly lower energy bills behind.

Superior Air And Vapor Barrier

CommercialWrap provides significant benefits in creating a superiorábuilding envelope system. These benefits include significantly lower energy bills, a more comfortable work environment and better indoor air quality. The needs that CommercialWrap meets include:

• Air barrier. CommercialWrap prevents significant airáleakage, leading to more efficient building operations.áBy helping reduce movement into and out of the building envelope, HVAC systems operate much more efficiently, reducing energy costs.áCommercialWrap helps prevent air movement withináthe wall system, protecting insulation from drafts and letting it perform to its rated R-value. This combination reduces the energy requirements thatácost commercial buildings across the industryábillions of dollars everyáyear.

• Vapor permeable barrier. In addition to keeping air out, CommercialWrap allows water vapor to escape when excess moisture gets in, such as during a fire or flood. This property allows theáwall system to dry, prevent moldáwhileáprotecting and improving building air quality.á

• Water barrier. By preventing wateráinfiltration, CommercialWrap providesásuperioráwater exclusion, keeping insulation dry and and able to perform atáits ratedáR-value, while preventing costly wood and metal damageáas well asámold and mildew.

Because of this balance of properties, CommercialWrap improves building performance in a diverse range of climates and temperatures through all four seasons.

Superior Green Construction And Energy Savings

Did you know 30-50% of the energyáused in aácommercial building is wasted because of air movement, mostlyáthrough the building envelope?áBy providing a superior seal for commercial buildings,ágood-quality building wrapálowers that figure by up to 85%, according to a 2005 National Institute of Standard and Technology report.áThis drasticallyáreducesáthe energy required toáheatáand cool the structure by up to 40% forágas heat and up to 25% for electric climate control systems.

As businesses are turning to green building practices, energy codesáare changing, recognizingáhow important it is to have aáproperly sealed building envelope. As more focus is put on the impact of energy efficiency and environmental conservation, CommercialWrap helps meet those tight energy codes today and into a more sustainable future. CommercialWrap has been used in a number of U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified structures and helps provide points towards these environmentally friendly buildings.

Superior Support From A Brand You Trust

If you have questions or need to know what other contractors have done in a sticky situation, CommercialWrap use includes access toáThe DuPont?áTyvek«áSpecialist Network to provide expertáonsite adviceáfrom start to finish.áCommercialWrap also carriesáa 10-year limited warranty from DuPont.

Now that you've had an opportunity to learn more about Tyvek's CommercialWrap, why not take the next step? Contact us for a quote or to schedule a delivery from one of our convenient 4-state locations.

á

hbspt.cta.load(385819, 'c2e15edc-c716-4440-ae7c-b22f0c156f83', {});

Image Source: www.dupont.com

Mud season is coming - is your home's entryway ready? Entryway and mud room flooring options can mean all the difference between an easy cleanup after a rainy day and ruining your flooring. But what are the best possible options for your home's entryway that can look attractive, be durable and make for easy cleaning? Here are some great options to consider.

Solid Wood Flooring

Solid wood flooring is a timeless option to consider and it helps build your home's overall value. However, you'll want to stick with a dense hardwood, such as maple, oak or similar materials to ensure that it doesn't scratch or dent from the heavy traffic. It may require occasional refinishing or sealing, but is specifically designed for refinishing, unlike the other options we're mentioning below.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring allows you to have the look of softer woods with superior durability. It also gives you the appearance of more expensive wood without the extra expense. It's easy to install and can be very durable, but if it begins to wear, it may need to be replaced if you choose a variety that has too thin of a veneer for the surface layer. It can also be louder than traditional hardwood flooring with a hollow feeling for floating floors.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile has great versatility, durability and longevity with a lower overall price tag, allowing you to get a nice appearance that will last for a long time. It's also relatively easy to maintain and clean by simply sweeping or mopping. However, it can be slippery when it is wet, so it's important to look at the slip resistance rating to make sure it won't become a hazard when it's raining outside. It may be a poor choice if comfort is a factor.

Stone Flooring

Stone provides you with a high-quality flooring that is designed to stand the test of time. Available in a wide range of colors, it's very easy to clean and maintain, though you may have more issues with removing dirt from more textured areas. However, natural stone can be extremely expensive and it's not easy to install, making it a poor choice if you want to DIY your entryway flooring. It can also be cold and hard underfoot.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring gives you a wide range of inexpensive flooring options, with appearances from the fanciful to traditional materials such as wood or stone. It has a low price, is simple to install and is easy to keep clean, even in rainy weather. However, it won't last as long, with wear expected to become visible within five years.

Linoleum

Linoleum is available in a wide range of colors and patterns, and is becoming popular again as an earth-friendly flooring. It's more durable than vinyl, very affordable and easy to clean by sweeping or mopping. However, it does require professional installation and will eventually begin to show wear, though it remains very comfortable underfoot.

By having the right flooring in your entryway or mud room, you can ensure that rainy season cleanup is easy while your home retains its beautiful appearance. If you need help finding the right material for your home's mud room or entryway, our experienced associates are always happy to help. Please feel free to contact us today with any questions, to place an order or to take advantage of our special order service.

//

When you're in construction and you need a specific piece of equipment, you usually have just a few options available to get the job done. You can rent the equipment, and then have to deal with the rental's shortcomings that have developed from abuse by other renters. You can buy the equipment, and have to lay out a large chunk of change or arrange financing. You can lease the equipment and be a nervous wreck that every time it's going to be used, something will happen that will cause problems with the lease. But there's a new option that has come into the playing field recently, called peer to peer equipment rental. What is it and what can it do for your business? Read on for more details.

In its most basic form, peer to peer equipment rental is similar to the sharing industry business models set up by Uber and AirBnB. It essentially provides a marketplace for you to connect with people who want to rent equipment from or to you. Industry giants like Caterpillar have even gotten into the game, investing in California's Yard Club as part of their strategy to avoid disruption in the market from digitization. But how does it work?

Much like AirBnB, a peer to peer equipment rental platform allows construction businesses to list their idle equipment between jobs, providing them with an additional income stream while ramping up or down from a big project. A contractor who needs the equipment can then rent it through the platform and make arrangements to obtain access to the equipment, either through the platform itself or by working with the contractor renting the equipment to them. Both parties are vetted as part of the account setup process to ensure safe transactions.

But how much can you make from renting your equipment during your down time? One California company saw an additional $100,000 in revenue from equipment rentals their first year trying the program. Other peer to peer equipment rental models are using sensors and telemetrics to track equipment performance and location, providing additional security and a better way for the owner to track the rented equipment and what's being done with it.

What does this mean for your business? Instead of having to invest in expensive equipment, you can rent the equipment you need, when you need it. This helps lower your overhead, especially during down times when the equipment may otherwise sit idle instead of earning its keep. If you have equipment available to rent, it can provide you with additional revenue streams when you need it most.

//