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o Fasteners specially designed for exterior use include electro-galvanized, mechanically galvanized and hotdipped galvanized.

While all fasteners perform essentially the same function, certain types are better suited to one application than others. Factors including structure design, geographic location and the nature of the building materials used collectively determine which fastener is best. There are a variety of differing fastener types that are better suited for various applications: o Ring shank and smooth shank fasteners for framing, decking and sheathing. o Fasteners specially designed for attaching wood sheathing to steel studs. These case hardened fasteners have a ballistic tip and a knurled shank to ensure clean penetration and strong holding power in wood-to-steel applications. o Treated lumber nails are a high-end galvanized fastener with a polymer coating, a barrier necessary to reduce staining caused by chemicals or the acidic nature of cedar and redwood. a Fasteners that are heat treated are specially designed to penetrate concrete without deforming, aid in the attachment of furring strips to concrete block, as well as framing members to concrete slabs. These nails are also used in the attachment of metal hardware in a variety of framing applications.

To an extent, fastener specification is dictated by governmental regulation. Code bodies use product test results to determine minimum safety requirements for fastener type and quantity in a great majority of applications.

Certain areas in the U.S., such as the coastal regions, require that fasteners be specified by an engineer, who selects a particular style of fastener from a.comprehensive listing put together by the national Design Specification of the American Forest & Paper Association. This organization categorizes fasteners based on how well they remain in place and their lateral value (a determination of the nail's strength based on its length and diameter). Most local inspectors in coastal regions are requiring the use of full round head framing fasteners as the preferred nail. In addition, hot dipped galvanized nails are recommended over electro-galvanized fasteners because of their superior corrosion resistance, especially in corrosive regions.

But technological advances and product innovations result in frequent code updates, and codes can be modified by local building inspectors if they deem it appropriate. Hence, it's often difficult for contractors to know what fastener to use.

Performance factors also determine fastener specification. Using the wrong fastener may result in squeaky floors or floors that bend and bow, or exposed or raised nail heads on floors and decks. A rins shank fastener is recommended for floor decking, wall sheathing and roof decking because it will add to the overall performance. When nailing subfloors, squeaks can result when the subfloor is not held tight to the joists.

Ring shank nails should also be used in areas subject to extreme weather conditions because they grip the wood better than smooth shank. The head of the fastener is also a determinant, especially in earthquake-prone areas, because it is a significant factor in preventing "pull though," where the wood is literally ripped from the fastener.

Electro-galvanized nails have a very bright, shiny and expensive looking appearance, however the nail will not last very long if used in cedar, redwood or CCA treated lumber. The acids and chemicals in these types of woods will eat away at the zinc, causing the nail to rust and leave black streaks in the wood around the nail. Electro-galvanized nails are better for use in woods that do not have acids such as spruce, pine and fir.

Mechanically galvanized nails offer better corrosion protection than electro-galvanized because the amount of zinc per square foot is greater. The nail has a dull, gray appearance and performs best in cedar, redwood and CCA treated lumber.

Hot-dipped galvanized nails are dipped into molten zinc. The corrosion protection can be as much as two times that of the mechanical galvanized fasteners. It all depends on how much zinc is applied to the nail. Some companies even advertise double-dipped nails.

Power fastening is the preferred method of a wide majority of professionals and remodelers because of the speed and consistency of fastener application. In deciding

To an extent, fastener

and usually hold about 100 fasteners. Coil nailers are useful for roofing and decking applications because they hold 225-215 nails in a coil and require less reloading.

Cordless framing nailers are the ideal choice when the volume of nails in a job doesn't warrant the one to two hours involved in setting up and putting away the hoses and compressor necessary to operate pneumatic systems. Compact and lightweight, cordless framing nailers are well which to use, one should consider the nature of the task at hand, for cordless and pneumatic nails each are suited to specific applications.

Pneumatic nailers can perform at high speeds for long periods of time, and are ideal for heavy, high-volume framing and commercial jobs. They can fire up to 20,000 nails per day at a rate of up to six nails per second, compared to cordless nailers which are designed to fire roughly 8,000 nails per day at three nails per second.

Pneumatic strip and coil nailers provide power and speed for decking, sheathing and subassembly applications. Strip nailers are preferred for framing applications suited to nailing applications in attics, basements, tight spaces and overhead work on ladders. These nailers also are great for remodeling and light framing such as joist and rafter work, bridging, subassemblies, soffits, stairs and pick-up and service work.

Many 30" power fasteners use "D" head nails or nails that are clipped at the head for easier collation. Full-headed nails are required by code in extreme weather areas, including both U.S. coasts.

When fastening, it is important to consider not only the tool used, but the method of fastener collation. There are three main collating types. One type is paper tape collation. These fasteners are generally more expensive but are advantageous because they can be used in any weather condition from wet and cold to dry and hot. In addition, this method of collation generates virtually no on-site debris, decreasing safety concerns.

Another type of nail collation is plastic laminating or nails that are attached to a strip of plastic. This type is not preferable in cold weather and can also generate more debris that can cause slipping, cuts and damage to eyes.

Wire collated nails are yet another type of fastener collation. These nails are advantageous because nails can be put on a coil which offers more nails per application. However, they typically generate hot debris when the nails are fired, resulting in increased safety concerns.

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Builders FirstSource. Dallas. Tx., has acquired the lumber operations of Building Materials Industries, including Erlanger Lumber, Erlanger, Ky. ...

Christmas Lumber Co., Harriman, Tn., reopened the day after a May 12 fire and plans to rebuild

Stahlman's, Natchez, Ms., has reopened as Stine Lumber after being acquired by the Sulphur, La.-based chain earlier in the year; mgr. Nat Webb, asst. mgr. Peat LeDoux...

Raymond Building Supply has pud Georgia-Pacific $595,000 for a 20,525-sq. ft. warehouse plus an extra acre of land in North Fort Myers, Fl.

Hopewell Builder's Supply, Hopewell, Va., received planning commission approval to expand

Lyons Lumber & Coal Co., Dequincy, La., is temporarily operating out of a neighboring warehouse after losing its main building in a May 8 fire

Smith & Sons Building Centers Inc., Arl.darko, Ok., is building a replacement store, anticipating an October opening ...

Building Materials Holding Corp. opened an 80,000-sq. ft. Royal Door unit in Charlotte, N.C.. its first such location east of the Mississippi ...

Home Depot this month opens a 110,000-sq. ft. home center in East Fort Worth, Tx., and its first Floor Store, a 45,000-sq. ft. specialty shop in Plano, Tx., headed by gen. mgr. Randy Brown and Roy Ingram...

Hone Depot is seeking a zoning change to build in Huntsville, Al.; received a $750,00O county grant to build in Sebring (Tampa), Fl., and applied to add a 108,360sq. ft. store with 25,004-sq. ft. garden center in Foley, Al. lnwe's Cos,opened superstores in Royal Palm Beach, Fl. (Dennis Paffon, store mgr.), and Lafayette, La., replacing its 26-yearold Carencro unit, as well as a replacement store in Lincolnton, N.C. (Randy Anderson, store mgr.) ... the chain held grand openings at replacement stores in Martinsville, Va. (James Martin, store mgr.), and Monroe, N.C. (Fred Duncan, store mgr.)

84 Lumber opened a new 20,000-sq. ft. location in Lugoff (Camden), S.C. (store mgr. Tom Crosby, co-mgr. Derrick Braynon); held a grand reopening at its remodeled Pearisburg, Va., store; plans a September opening in .Waveland, Ms., and received rezoning approval to build in Granbury, Tx.

Lowe's has begun testing Internet sales on its Lowes.com site; got the go-ahead to build in Sfuart, Fl., and will anchor a redeveloped lvlariner Mall in Pensacola, Fl.; rebuilding begins after the last old tenant, Scotty's, closes ...

Ace Hardware Corp.3 800-person groundbreaking for - its 800,000-sq. ft. retail support center in Loxley, Al. (see Sept., p. 22), was certified by Guinness World Records to have the most participants ever for a groundbreaking

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Jeffco Flooring & Supply, Inc., Nashville, Tn., received Showroom and Personal Floor of the Year honors from the National Wood Flooring Association

Anniversaries: Phillips Building Supply, Charlottesville, Va., 35th

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Geo rgia- Pac ific Corp. will close its North Little Rock, Ar., hardboard plant July 22 due to its age and limited size...

Martco Partnership is installing a new forming line at its Lemoyen, La., OSB mill

Florim USA, Clarksville, Tn., is a new manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tile owned by the Florim Ceramiche Group of ltaly; Mino Baldini is president of FlorimUSA...

U.S. Plastic Lumber Corp., Boca Raton, Fl., received patent coverage for its extruded wood polymer composite and manufacturing technology ...

Egarden.com, Inc., Raleigh, N.C., this month is adding a "Wholesale Store" to its site and has established a dedicated link to Proflowers.com

ChanneLinx. which is moving its corporate headquarters to a larger office complex in Greenville, S.C., is integrating Timb e rline S of7-ware's Timberline Office desktop software with its csXnet electronic marketplace

Housing starts in May (latest figs.) slipped 4Vo to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.656 million single family starts fell57o to a 1.250 million rate, multifamily increased to a rate of 317,000 for 5+ units and 25,000 for 2-4 units ... permits decreased 4Vo to 1.559 million units ...

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Low Prices Force Mills lnto Summer Vacation

account for about 50Vo of Celotex's overall revenue.

Oversupply and slipping lumber there were other temporary shutdowns prices have forced dozens of mills at Weyerhaeuser's four southern pine across the country to close for at least mills in North Carolina and Georgia; oart of the summer.

Georgia-Pacific's southern pine

"During the past five weeks, mar- sawmills and planer mills; Crown ket conditions have significantly dete- Pacific's Prineville, Or., mill; Potlatch riorated due to increased interest rates, Corp.'s Lewiston, Id., sawmill; decreased demand, a sharp increase in Ainsworth Lumber's Chasm and imported industrial lumber, and excess Abbotsford, B.C., plants; West Fraser inventories. A combination of these Mills' seven B.C. mills; Pope & factors has created an imbalance Talbot's Castlegar and Midway, B.C., between supply and demand in the sawmills, and several Canfor mills. marketplace," said Tom Lovlien, vice Other facilities are cuttins shifts. president of Boise Cascade's timber including Gilman Forest Products' six and wood products division, which is mills in Florida and Georgia; staggering closures at five mills due to Roseburg's big-1og mill in Winston, the downturn in the lumber market. Or.; Umpqua Lumber's Dillard, Or.,

Celotex also signed a letter of intent to sell its roofing business to CertainTeed. The asphalt shingle facilities in Birmingham, Al.; Cincinnati, Oh.; Los Angeles and Fremont, Ca., and fiberglass mat production plant in Russellville, Al., account for abott 25Vo of Celotex' s revenue.

Still up for sale are Celotex's rigid foam-based insulation and sheathing business (five plants providing 207o of current revenue) and fiberboard operations (two plants, 57o of revenue).

The Asbestos Settlement Trust, which has owned all of Celotex's stock since 1997, began seeking a buyer in November after ensuring the company was free of all asbestosrelated liabilities (see Dec., p. 8).

Celotex Sells Off lts Parts

Celotex Corp., Tampa, Fl., has accepted an offer for two of its five business operations and is negotiating a definitive agreement to sell a third business.

Louisiana-Pacific shut down all but stud and planer mills, and L-P's Deer one OSB plant and five plywood Lodge,Mt.,fingerjointplant. plants for a week, two mills in Texas for two weeks, its Tacoma, Wa., stud mill and planer for two weeks, its Sandpoint, Id., sawmill and planer for three weeks, and its long-length mill in Bernice, La., and random framing mills in Evergreen, Al., and Henderson. N.C.. for at least four weeks, while decreasing production at all sawmills by 257o for the entire summer.

According to Random Lengths,

BPB plc of the United Kingdom is acquiring the ceiling products and gypsum wallboard divisions, including l2 manufacturins facilities that

"When we began the company sale process last year, our hope was that we could find a new owner interested in paying full value and acquiring the entire company," said president and ceo John P. Borreca. "As it turns out, after a very broad and public auction process, the marketplace has told us the highest value lor our company is in the sum of its parts, rather than in the whole."

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