As a distributor of construction tools, fasteners and parts, we have great respect for well-done construction. We believe every job you take on should be completed with skill, care and attention to detail. A well executed job should last. But just because it’s built to last, doesn’t mean it needs to be built slowly. Here are some top reasons why we love pneumatic tools, combination fasteners and the speed they provide.

The life of a basement staircase is typically not all that exciting.  In many instances it’s a basic structure built when the house was constructed that still stands bare.  If it’s time to renovate a basement, don’t overlook those trusty, yet uninteresting stairs.  Now’s the time to rework them (if possible) into the new design.  Or at a very minimum, make sure they are appealing and safe now that the basement is going to be finished and getting more traffic.

When interacting with homeowners, contractors can make or break a sale depending on how well their interactions go. Oftentimes, it’s not the contractor’s experience or portfolio that loses the sale; it’s the homeowner’s own insecurities. There are so many unknowns in home remodels that clients often feel too much internal pressure and bail on the project or keep searching for the “right” contractor. The good news is that there are a few things contractors can do to minimize fears and win homeowners over.

The topic of construction fasteners isn’t always fascinating. They are simply tiny pieces of metal we use to join two pieces of material together.  If it’s a quality fastener and installed properly, you never have a second thought about that one piece of metal. But, if it’s poorly made or poorly installed, that little piece can give you big problems. Here are the characteristics of a good fastener.

A good fastener needs to be usable in multiple applications and environments. A few examples include decking (both composite and traditional wood), fencing, crating, subflooring, framework and hobby building. Some jobs are better suited to a nail, some to a screw. A combination fastener can give you the best qualities of both traditional options.

Finish options

Once you find a fastener that fits your project, you need to select from multiple finishes that vary in both cost and style. Exposed fastener work may require stainless steel. If you don’t have the budget for it, another option is the SCRAIL® which can be electro-galvanized or FasCoat® plated.

People in all parts of the country enjoy getting outside to relax, play with the kids, eat meals or just spend time socializing with family and friends. Outdoor furniture has come a long way since the days of the folding chairs set-up on your lawn. Today, outdoor furniture plays a key role in creating a welcoming outdoor space that is often an extension of the home’s interior, complete with many of the same (and sometimes even better) amenities.

Log homes were the original American homes. They began as simple, single room dwellings. As with all things, they have gone in and out of fashion over the course of time. In the late 20^th century, they grew to enormous size in the form of timber mansions. But now, as our awareness of our impact on the earth has become so clear, there has been a surge in popularity of getting back to nature but with a dramatic shift in design. In our final installment of this 3-part series, we share with you some design trends in log homes, both indoors and out.

In the 1980s, there was a surge in American log home construction. They took the concept of sweeping palatial mansions and combined them with the materials and look of log homes. Today’s log homes are not trending into the bigger is better mentality of the past. In Part Two of our 3-part series on log home building, we’ll tell you more about the type and quantity of materials that homeowners are using today.

The BECK Fastener Group® Expands Extensive Portfolio of Pneumatic Fastening Solutions with Acquisition of ET&F® Fastening Systems, Inc.

June 22, 2016

Muscle Shoals, AL

The BECK Fastener Group® is exceptionally pleased to announce the acquisition of Solon, Ohio, based ET&F® Fastening Systems, Inc., a leading supplier of fastening systems used by contractors for applications involving fastening interior and exterior building materials to light gauge steel. 

Pneumatic tool and fastener systems from ET&F® Fastening are engineered specifically for fastening to steel, which presents special challenges.  For instance, fastening fiber cement siding, wood based panels, exterior gypsum sheathing, DensGlass® and interior and exterior molding to cold formed steel studs as thick as 14 ga and 12 ga requires the use of tools and fasteners with superior power, durability, and reliability.   

Speed is also an important factor.  ET&F®'s Model 510 pneumatic steel framing tool, a key component of their popular PANELFAST® SYSTEM, can drive collated fasteners at a rate three to five times faster than traditional screw guns, saving contractors significant time and money.

Log home living is an increasing trend by homeowners, trapped in a highly technological world, to get back to a more natural environment. Log homes are no longer just the quaint, simple cabins hearkening back to Little House on the Prairie. What was once a weekend retreat is now a year round oasis. In this 3-part series, we’ll tell you all about the recent trends in log home building. Part one will focus on Location and Foundation. 

The construction of your lakefront property is almost complete. Your dream of being able to fish at your leisure is about to come true. Your final addition is a sturdy dock where you moor your boat. According to Home Advisor, a dock construction project “can be as cheap as $1,000, while high-quality permanent docks can cost between $50,000 and $75,000, depending on the difficulty of installation, water depth, climate, and other factors.” That’s not a cost to take lightly. Here are five factors to consider that can help you get the most out of your dock construction.