Despite the common perception that the construction industry is an unsafe place to work in and that accidents are on the rise, the reality is usually the opposite. Due to improvements in workplace safety, strict enforcement of OSHA regulations and largely also due to better tools for construction safety, such as the FASCO® (a BECK brand) line of tools, it's easier than ever to avoid accidents.

Misfortunes still do happen of course. As the numbers show, about 20% of workplace deaths in the U.S. occur on construction sites, despite construction workers making up only 6% of the workforce. In part, this is due to construction being more physically demanding than the largely office-based service jobs that have come to dominate the U.S. labor force. With that said, a sloppily run construction site will always be a risk to everyone involved, but it's mostly avoidable. Here's how to achieve just that.

What does it take to build a skyscraper? There are so many facets to it. These are projects that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, so naturally, it starts with a planning phase that can take years to get everything right. Then comes the building phase, in which there are several distinct phases. Throughout, contractors rely on a variety of different materials—and of course, heavy duty tools and fasteners such as those offered by ET&F®, a BECK brand.

An outdoor deck is a very useful and lovely addition to any house, but it's easy for homeowners to worry about the cost of its upkeep. After all, your client's deck is going to be exposed to the elements 24/7 and their worries about rain, ice, snow, sun and mold are fully justified.

Contrary to common belief, metal roofs are extraordinary energy savers. Though they are often perceived to penetrate extreme summer heat and barely contain warmth in the winter, the reality is the opposite: Metal is among the best materials for energy savings in a building, aside from its enormous durability.

Hanging exterior sheathing is straightforward enough that we rarely make changes to the process. However, there are a few adjustments you may want to consider that will make improvements to the way you hang up sheathing. One such improvement includes choosing the right nailer—and for that, we recommend the FASCO® (a BECK brand) F44AC G-50 TL Stapler. But beyond the tools, there are some other things you can do, so let’s examine the subject.

As most contractors know, market trends easily change from year to year. Even for property fences! So, keeping up is important. With that in mind, here is an overview that includes some of the most popular property fence trends of the last couple of years. We've included a blend of classic fencing options and new spins on enclosing property. And to help you get the job done, two great options to consider are BECK’s Fence Stapling System and BECK’s LignoLoc® Wooden Nails. But first, let’s review your fencing options.

Historically, builders relied on solid wood for most of their builds. With advancements in technology, however, engineered lumber became a popular material for a lot of different applications—and over the past couple of decades especially, even more advancements have made it so that there is a plethora of engineered products for just about every application you can think of.

So that brings up the question: Which is best for your build? We’ll examine the answers, plus you’ll get to learn about BECK’s Jumbo SCRAIL® Fastener System, which offers extra-large fasteners designed for heavy-duty applications, including large scale engineered lumber projects.

Erosion is a surprisingly common phenomenon on construction sites. If you work in landscaping or if you’re a homebuilder, you’ve probably experienced it before. Fortunately, there are strategies to prevent erosion—including building temporary structures to keep erosion from getting out of hand. That’s where the FASCO® (a member of BECK) F CL45A Gabion Ringer comes into play—but more on that later. Let’s start with a look at how erosion happens, and tips to prevent it from happening to you.

It's not difficult for non-industry people to get a bit confused about the differences between mobile, modular, and manufactured homes. The three seem similar enough to almost sound like the same basic thing, plus there are many practical similarities between the three that you as a contractor can use tools such as BECK’s F44AC Nailer to rapidly assemble any of these housing structures. However, though they may sound the same and have some similar building requirements, they are most definitely not the same. There are some practical differences between the three that are worth mentioning in further detail.

Bathroom remodeling can either be quick and easy or complicated and expensive. Which is the case depending on how large the bathroom is, how old it is and of course, how extensive your client wants the renovation to be. Here we're focusing on renovation jobs more complex than simply replacing the sink or toilet, and we're going to cover several key installation and remodeling tips for avoiding easy-to-make mistakes.