MASTERCHEF  “My dear friend Maryann sent me a flyer one morning telling me to apply to be on Fox’s TV competition MasterChef,” Lexy explains. “I loved to cook, and loved the show, but I never ever thought my two minutes of spontaneous boldness would lead to all of this. My time on that show was challenging. I was six weeks pregnant with my third child upon arriving in Los Angeles and morning sickness took full effect as soon as I stepped into that amazing kitchen. I was stressed every day,...

Haley Erickson had long lived by the motto: “eat clean, train mean,” but it eventually took over her life. “I was mentally enslaved at that point,” she recalled. Haley had never been happy with her body, or her weight, something she picked up from her mom. “I saw my mom always dieting and talking about what her body looked like and needing to change her body. So as a young girl that really looked up to my mom, I thought that I needed to look a certain way to also be loved and accepted by others...

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;  for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,  just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11 NIV) As a lover of naps and refreshment, Sabbath and rest are very close to my heart. They sometimes seem counterintuitive in our American culture, which is so focused on the grind or the hustle of working...

The wall and ceiling industry’s past and present, show it will have a successful future.

The best way to do something may differ depending from person to person.

Construction has been one of the last industries to adopt technology. That’s partly cultural—folks in the industry like to solve problems with their own ingenuity.

L.B. Hall Fireproofing, a minority- and women-owned fireproofing company located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, announced that Estefania Roa will become the company’s new CEO. In 2022, Roa became president and owner.

The value of the FCIA member, FM 4991-approved or UL-ULC qualified firestop contractor comes from the commitment to excellence. These important designations – FM 4991-Approved, UL-Qualified, ULC-Qualified and FCIA Member in Good Standing – are being recognized by 07 84 00 Firestopping specifications in many occupancies around the world.

October product focus on Firestopping/Fireproofing.

October product focus on Firestopping/Fireproofing.

3A Composites USA announced that its ALUCOBOND FaceFastened system successfully passed third-party NFPA 285 testing on a wood-framed assembly, which is commonly used in low-rise, multifamily and mixed-use market segments.

ClarkDietrich is giving framing contractors greater flexibility in leveraging the firestopping power of its BlazeFrame family of products with the introduction of BlazeFrame Tape.

Specified Technologies announced that its SpecSeal LC Endothermic Firestop Sealant is now being offered in three colors: deep red, gray and white. Customers have been asking for both the white and gray for gypsum wallboard and concrete block spaces.

Third-party contractor accreditation programs are required in specifications around the world. Special inspection agencies and their inspectors are required to demonstrate competence and relevant experience. This is demonstrated by passing a Firestop Exam.

I once witnessed a contractor mixing red chalk into a bucket of mud, and when I inquired what he was doing, he responded, “I’m making firestop.”

Festool released the CSC SYS 50 cordless table saw in 2023 and wants to give customers an opportunity to test it out themselves. Tradespeople can test out the tool and share their product photos and video reviews with Festool and other colleagues in the industry.

Knowing the best times to buy or sell can be critical during the exiting of your business.

The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants and Fenestration Canada on Aug. 13 entered into a memorandum of understanding that extends IIBEC’s partnerships in the building enclosure industry while bolstering FENCAN’s promotion, protection and advancement of the window, door and skylight industry across North America.

Cement production and processes emit over 5 percent of all carbon dioxide emitted by human activity. Reducing that environmental impact is a high priority among cement producers. Cement producers are now publishing their Environmental, Social and Governance credentials concerning energy use in their operations, greenhouse gas emissions and water usage.

O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC, a family office that invests in ambitious seed and pre-seed startups, announced Feb. 2 that it has invested in Furno Materials Inc.

A new tool that leverages the capabilities of NAIMA’s 3E Plus pipe insulation thickness calculator for commercial and industrial facilities is now available. Within just a few minutes, the 3E Estimator can give users a ballpark estimate of the energy and emissions savings from adding insulation to the piping in an industrial facility.

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.

If you’re like a lot of busy contractors in the walls and ceilings industry, every day can be bid day if you’re working up multiple bids at the same time. 

Summer is a great time for construction work, but a brutal time for construction workers. Excessive heat and sun exposure pose significant dangers, such as sunburn, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Every year, construction workers become ill on the job and some even lose their lives due to heat exposure.

During a time where there is a need for affordable housing, Westlake Royal Building Products, one of North America’s largest manufacturers and distributors of exterior and interior building products, celebrated its 300th home built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio, an organization that aims to build homes, empower families and develop communities. On Thursday, Sept. 15, the keys to a three-bedroom, two-bath single family home were turned over to a partner family in Columbus. For this home, Westlake Royal donated 20 squares of siding, including Exterior Portfolio Vinyl Siding and Portsmouth Shake & Shingles Siding, as well as Royal Shutters, Mounts and Vents accessories - marking its 300th siding donation to Habitat MidOhio over the last 20 years.

Westlake Royal Building Products announced that it has acquired Palight Trimboard from its long-standing partner Palram Americas. Through the acquisition of Palight Trimboard product lines, Westlake Royal will expand its portfolio of brands offered under Westlake Royal Trim & Mouldings Solutions, which provides the finishing touch for the interior and exterior of a home.

Westlake Royal Building Products announced three partnerships that will distribute Versetta Stone (Lumbermen’s Inc., Mid-Am Building Supply and Wausau Supply Company). These partnerships will expand the Versetta Stone footprint in the Midwest as well as the East Coast.

Westlake Royal Building Products has been named 2022 Vendor of the Year by Carter Lumber, one of the nation’s top building materials retailers. Despite industry shifts and challenges, the partnership has remained strong, allowing both companies to continue meeting the needs of customers.

Tamlyn received the prestigious “Best Family-Owned Business” award from the Houston Business Journal.

Westlake Royal Building Products, Inc. announced Sept. 7 that Palight Trimboard is now Skytrim, a sophisticated line of PVC trim options.

Westlake Royal Building Products announced Nov. 28 expanded partnerships with U.S. LUMBER and Amerhart, which are both Specialty Building Products brands, that will encompass multiple products and locations. U.S. LUMBER and Amerhart are leading distributors of building materials.

With a track record of 40-plus years in national multifamily leadership, the architecture firm, The Architectural Team, Inc., recently announced three key milestones for the firm's projects.

On Sept. 4, Werner introduced the new LevelSafe Pro, the easiest and most effective way to level a ladder. Working on uneven ground is a common challenge for the industry. The new Werner LevelSafe Pro system provides an easy and precise way to level a ladder.

Following the launch of its first-of-its-kind ExoActive Exoskeleton, Festool announced on Aug. 20 its lineup of fall products that blend power, efficiency and organization. The launch includes a new cordless rotary hammer drill, the KHC 18, new energy sets and Systainers, jigsaw and oscillator saw blade sets, and limited-edition DOMINO kits.

In a recent build, we used several designs found in GA-600 (Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual). We selected designs shown to have STC ratings of 50 to 54.

GMS Inc. announced Aug. 21 that it will participate in upcoming investor conferences.

With continuous insulation requirements, some matters have taken a while to be addressed. Here, the author addresses the TSIB's take on one.

An explanation of a few "whys" of EIFS installation.

Research by the Directory of Social Change analyses governance reviews carried out by more than 1,100 users of its app

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, also announced an increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions and a huge rise in health spending

The charity leaders body Acevo warns that charities could be forced to cut staff

The new initiative was announced by the government in the Budget today

The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upholds the lower permissible exposure limit in OSHA’s updated silica rule. Supporters of the rule call the court’s decision a “huge victory” for workers, while opponents say it disregards “legitimate concerns.”

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance is now offering two topics from the upcoming third edition of FenestrationMasters, its flagship education program, for individual purchase. The two à la carte modules cover the North American Fenestration Standard, including the NAFS Canadian Supplement and Fundamentals of Insulating Glass.

The Las Vegas police arrested a Pennsylvania contractor who is accused of defrauding New Jersey homeowners out of $140,000, reported Chris Spiker of Daily Voice Burlington County NJ.

Before the dust has settled on 2017, contractors should invest some time and effort into reviewing what really happened this year.

Finding new software for your construction business can be overwhelming. If you’re in the market for the right estimating software, you are looking for the fastest, more accurate tools to help you calculate labor and materials.

For many cost estimators, the days of working with full-size plans and a single digitizer are a thing of the past. 

Innovation drives progress. And in Amarillo, Texas, there is a new hub for innovation on the campus of Amarillo College. It is called Innovation Outpost, and the building’s renovation nods to the past with an eye on the future.

Awarded to the charity or social enterprise that has placed outcomes, rather than outputs, at the heart of its work and used impact reporting to bring about significant improvements to its beneficiaries