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.

The deep chill of winter can grind many outdoor projects to a frozen halt, and construction is no exception. However, it doesn't have to be this way. Prefab and mid-sized steel frame structure assembly is one superb solution to deep cold. Especially if you have the right tools for this type of job, the entire project can progress safely and exceptionally fast. BECK's ET&F® brand of cold-resistant tools and fastening equipment for steel building assembly, are designed to deliver both speed and strength. They can be applied to steel frame construction work, in innovative ways that allow rapid-fire fastening without having to waste time on pre-drilled holes, or difficult screwing techniques. Here are a few other reasons why steel assembly works so well in winter.

When working with wood, you need fasteners you can rely on for strength and durability. BECK is the only company that offers a truly unique coated fastener that delivers smooth performance and outstanding strength: Diamond Coated Fasteners. These innovative fasteners can hold up to 60% more weight than non-coated—a significant increase for wood-to-wood fasteners. To help you further understand why these fasteners can make the difference in your builds, let’s explore diamond coating.

Washers, for those that don’t know, are the circular metal pieces that fit between a screw or bolt and the object it is going to be driven into. They can be made of a variety of materials including metal and plastic. They also come in many different shapes and sizes. Unlike a screw or bolt, a washer isn’t driven into any material which has caused some confusion about what they do. Washers, like those from ET&F® Fastening Systems, a BECK brand, have a variety of uses. Each of these uses is designed to extend the longevity and stability of your construction project.

Mauerkirchen/Lakeland FL, September 13^th, 2018

/ˈkraf(t)smənˌShip/ - to obtain a skill in a particular craft, the quality of design shown in something made by hand, artistry.

People have been building decks for hundreds of years. There is something to be said about not reinventing the wheel. While trends towards using composite decking and hidden fasteners have been growing, we wanted to take a minute to remind you what you’ll miss out on by omitting traditional deck construction methods.

In a perfect world, the only thing impacting the life of our construction work would be the quality of the workmanship. But in the real world we have to account for the wear and tear that Mother Nature will inflict upon our work, and the people inside it. Here are a few smart ways to prevent the forces of nature from destroying your hard work.

Holiday weekends are the calendar year’s greatest gift to homeowners. With an extra day added to the roster, the possibilities are limitless. This Labor Day weekend, tackle a project that never seems to fit into the standard Friday-Sunday timeline, and still have time for a family BBQ or two.

In the beginning, there were nails. 3400 BC is the earliest known use of them, in Ancient Egypt. It took 3337 years for screws to become the “next wave” in fasteners, found in 3^rd century BC Greece. As you can tell, the innovations in fasteners picked up speed in the last few hundred years. Prior to the 1800s, screws were made by hand specifically for the purpose they were needed for. Then they began to produce them in forms, creating the ability to standardize and reproduce them with ease. Now, there are not only thousands of fastener options, but a wide range of finishes as well, each suited to a specific task. Here is a quick guide to the finishes you’ll see in the market today.