Linda Beavert never thought she’d be able to enjoy retirement. “I've just sailed through it. I know because God's held my hand, you know.  He answers, and he leads me and there's just no better peace, no better confidence.” For most of their thirty-seven-year marriage, Linda and her husband struggled financially, even though they both worked full-time. “I was never comfortable about our money situation. We didn't know about budgeting; we never budgeted, and we lived from hand to mouth, just...

Work hard and play hard was the mantra that Eric Pavlack lived by. For 17 years, he traveled across the country laying railroad tracks which paid well but triggered a habit of reckless spending. “Because I was selfish, money was very important. and I’m making all this big money and I wasn’t used to it. I was spending it right and left. Guns, hunting trips, motorcycles, weightlifting stuff, trucks, cars.” In order to afford his lavish lifestyle, Eric worked extra hours. “I bought stuff on a whim...

Jeff Blackwell has been a beloved on-air talent for Catholic Community Radio in Baton Rouge for many years, but in 2020, Jeff was in a fight for his life. After going to dinner with his wife Diane, he became violently ill.   “I knew I was sick,” Jeff says. “I had never felt that bad before in my life. I couldn’t hold anything down. I finally told my wife, ‘I've got to go to the ER. I can't handle it.’"  Jeff was then admitted to a local hospital. He was later transferred to ICU where his...

The only source of water for Idealis was a river in their remote village in Indonesia.  But the path there can be dangerous.  Idealis explained, “When we went to the river to collect water, we often found snakes along the way. It took an hour to get water.”  Idealis lives with his mom, who is a widow.   His mother said, “The river water is contaminated because people put poison in it to kill fish. It makes the water smell bad and makes us sick when we drink it.”    Idealis explained, “When I...

Hospeco Brands Group, a United States-based, full-line manufacturer of cleaning and protection products to serve the janitorial, industrial supply, food service, health care and hospitality markets, has purchased Innocore of Ontario, Canada, maker of Touch Point and Certainty Brands premoistened, non-woven, surface and personal wipes and other hand care products.

The U.S. Department of Labor forced a San Diego contractor to pay thousands of dollars to employees for back wages and liquidated damages, reported Amber Coakley of Fox 5 San Diego.

If you are an employer, you know there are strict laws about minimum wages and overtime. But what about the time your workers spend preparing for a job or being trained?

The Coronavirus has caused many material shipments to be delayed or cancelled. As a result, the cost of ordering and supplying materials for many items has increased. 

A wildland-urban interface area is, “that geographical area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with wildland or vegetative fuels.” Approximately a third of all housing units in the United States are located within an area that meets this definition.

Batteries are increasingly being used in a vast array of applications, from consumer products and micromobility devices, known as e-bikes and e-scooters, to electric vehicles and utility-grade energy storage systems. As use of these devices has grown, so too has the number of fire incidents associated with them.

By always being willing to do work that was specialized and making sure that it was done right, I kept busy. I have suggested this idea in previous articles. And when I hear guys complaining that they can’t compete against the 30-man crews, I wonder if they have considered doing specialized work.

An important part of responsible power tool ownership is to appropriately dispose of rechargeable batteries at the end of their service life. Yes, lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized power tools and other devices by providing long-lasting, reliable power. However, no battery lasts forever.

I want to first thank all the great guests we have had on Walls & Ceilings’ videos with our Publisher Jill Bloom. 

Barricade Building Products announced that its products will now be available at all Building Products Inc. locations throughout the Midwest. The expansion allows customers in the region to easily access Barricade’s comprehensive range of high-quality building materials, ensuring their projects are safeguarded from the ground up.

Barricade Building Products announced its partnership with BIMsmith, which will enable architects, engineers and designers to access Barricade’s extensive product information and seamlessly integrate it into their projects.

Lime plaster has a notable place in the history of art, architecture and design throughout the world, from the Egyptian pyramids to the Italian Renaissance frescos.

For years, metal cornerbead was the industry standard and it still remains a reliable choice today. 

Have you ever been to an industry trade show? I usually attend several each year; the INTEX Expo, World of Concrete, and this year I had the opportunity to attend the Remodeling Show sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders at the Convention Center in Baltimore. You can always tell when a trade show is in town. Local restaurants and hotels are filled with small groups wearing matching shirts.

A high-profile green building project meets high standards for indoor air quality.

Andrea Baird is an Architect with Building Technology Consultants PC in Illinois.

Asheshh Saheba, RA, is a Principal for Steinberg Architects in San Francisco.

Werner introduced on Feb. 5 the new Bantam Switch, the first reverse-system self-retracting lifeline, for pros working at height. The SRL transfers weight of the housing unit from the user’s back to the anchor point and lightens the load to 0 pounds.

Siplast, a leader in advanced building envelope systems, introduced the WALLcontrol Monolith VP Adhered AWB, an addition to its existing WALLcontrol air and water-resistive barrier systems portfolio. The WALLcontrol Monolith VP Adhered AWB is a self-adhered, vapor-permeable air- and water-resistive barrier.

Centring missions, creating space for discussion and continuing to test and learn will help every charity tailor their approach to online spaces

Chris Sherwood says the charity’s public profile can make it feel like a ‘goldfish bowl’

ClarkDietrich announced on Oct. 1 the acquisition of Studs Unlimited, effective immediately.

S-5!, together with National Women in Roofing, is sponsoring a new scholarship program to empower women who wish to pursue educational opportunities in the skilled trades. The initiative aims to support women in their journey toward successful careers in the trades and contributing to the overall advancement of the construction industry.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. S-5! is donating $5,000 to two amazing charities to support breast cancer patients and their families. S-5! is asking people in the industry to join the company by purchasing its “Give Cancer the Boot” t-shirts.

There never seems to be a shortage of interesting situations in the stucco and EIFS world. With my passion for these industries and my ever-open eyes and ears-to-the-ground alertness, I find myself engaged in some very intriguing conversations usually related to a “situation.” 

In this video, W&C contributor Trent Cotney discusses ways to reach potential and existing customers.

The signs of a failing board can be evident long before a crisis hits. Liam Kay looks at the common problems and the action charities can take

Washington – OSHA’s scaled-back enforcement efforts on silica exposure during a recent two-year period left more workers at risk, according to a Department of Labor Office of Inspector General audit report released Sept. 29.

The Fundraising Regulator says it saw ‘little supporting documentary evidence’ to suggest the charity had comprehensive oversight over the work carried out by a clothing collection company in its name

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance partnered with World Vision, a humanitarian organization helping children, families and their communities overcome poverty and injustice, to provide school supplies to in-need children during the 2024 FGIA Fall Conference on Sept. 16-19.

Passive, curmudgeonly openness is no longer good enough: the sector needs a more radical and sustainable approach

The Michel Bakhoum International Collaboration Award, founded in 2024, honors the memory of Prof. Michel Bakhoum, an ACI member and internationally known structural engineer, researcher and educator.

Contractors must walk a fine line when it comes to dealing with sudden changes in material and labor costs.

Bad data. Duplicates. Data silos. Whether you’re a roofing or drywall contractor, you’ve probably experienced garbage-in, garbage-out. 

Bayer MaterialScience LLC now offers its Applicator Fundamentals Program in Spanish.

Owens Corning recently launched the Architectural Information Center, an online portal for architects and building specifiers.

Bayer’s EcoCommercial Building Network, dedicated to bringing together varied disciplines in the pursuit of high-performance buildings, has expanded its expertise in the public sector for governmental and institutional projects.

The new PAC-CLAD Board and Batten wall panel system from Petersen expands the creative options for designers and specifiers of exterior cladding systems. The Board and Batten system uses concealed fasteners to maintain clean lines and a rhythmic pattern of alternating wide, vertical boards and narrower, elevated battens.

On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to issue a new rule prohibiting the use of non-compete agreements for most U.S. workers. It is estimated that approximately 30 million workers are currently bound by such agreements, which prevent them from changing employers in their industry.

Honeywell Global Corporate Headquarters at Legacy Union in Charlotte, North Carolina, is recognized as one of the most sustainable and technologically advanced office buildings.

Following the 2023 debut of its “City of Yes” strategy to permit more housing faster in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams’ administration unveiled a raft of zoning changes last winter intended to make the proposed growth carbon-neutral, according to Adam Friedberg, a Buro Happold expert behind similar initiatives in the region and worldwide.

If you want to learn about campaigning, look to the community activists who seek no fame or fortune, just local change

The sector has to find and broadcast a refreshed sense of its role and value

Vycor enV is a rolled or spray-applied, one component, acrylic membrane that forms a continuous water and air barrier with seamless protection.

Associated Builders and Contractors reported Sept. 10 that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.2 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Aug. 20 to Sept. 5. The reading is down one month from August 2023.

Luke Lombardi was recently honored with the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California Emerging Leader Award, recognizing his leadership on sustainability and innovation in California.