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National Lumber has the quality building materials and related services you need for every project. Let National Lumber be the single source for all of your building and remodeling products. The National Lumber Family of Companies includes Reliable Truss, Pro Insulators, National Millwork, Kitchen Views, National Building Products, and Oxford Lumber — covering everything from the rimboard at the foundation to the roof shingles along with everything in between.
Shown in the photo above from 2013, a band of moss-killing chemicals is applied along the peak and at the mid-point of the roof plane. Rain will spread the chemical over the roof and kill the moss.
This past summer brought such unprecedented rainfall to New England that it felt more like we were living in the Pacific Northwest than the Northeast. Mother Nature finally decided to shut the faucet off as we moved into mid-autumn, this allowed our rivers and ground water levels to return to reasonable levels. The excessive onslaught of rainfall paired with a lack of sunlight created the perfect breeding ground for algae, lichen, and fungi last summer. While these types of bacteria are part of a healthy ecosystem it does not mean we want to see them on our houses.
A much larger percentage of homes are exhibiting green staining on siding and roofs than we are accustomed to seeing here in New England. While the inclination for many homeowners may be to simply ignore this discoloration, the reality is that is one of the worst things that can be done. Once these types of bacteria begin to form on a home’s outdoor surfaces action is required to remedy the situation, if no action is taken the problem will only get worse. In some cases, moss has taken hold on roofs.
The good news is if treated in the early stages of algae development there are ways to stop or slow the spread of these potentially destructive bacteria. The bad news comes when the problem gets ignored for too long, algae and moss can begin to form under the surface and even make their way into interior attic space where they can cause significant problems within a home, such as black mold.
Due to the aforementioned abnormal conditions, we experienced last summer, we expect to see a heightened need for roof repair in New England in Spring 2024 and beyond.
GAF Shingle Products Can Protect Against Future Problems
Now in 2023, GAF has two products that combat this problem with prevention rather than treatment after the fact.
GAF Timberline® HDZ Shingles have a 25-year StainGuard Plus Algae Protection Limited Warranty which can help save properties from dealing with these same problems in the future. Needless to say, once a homeowner goes through something like this once, they will likely not want to experience it again, and this product offers the protection they want.
Timberline® UHDZ™ Shingles — the premium laminate shingle from GAF. They feature the patent-pending Dual Shadow Line for dramatic sunset shadows all day long, offer the NEW 30-year StainGuard Plus PRO™ Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration, and GAF Master Elite® contractors can offer 30 years of workmanship coverage when they install a qualifying GAF roofing system with Timberline® UHDZ™ shingles and register a Golden Pledge Limited Warranty.
New Features only on Timberline® UHDZ™
● 20% Heavier than Timberline HDZ®, putting Timberline® UHDZ™ right in specification for many big HOA opportunities.
● Patent-Pending Dual Shadow Line delivers sunset shadows all day long.
● 10% MORE Proprietary Time-Release Algae-Fighting Technology than Timberline HDZ® powers the NEW 30-Year StainGuard Plus PRO™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty.**
When it comes to providing shelter from the elements, there’s nothing more important than the roof over your head — and shingles are the first line of defense. GAF’s Timberline UHDZ asphalt shingles deliver top-level protection against Mother Nature’s harshest assaults — hard-driven rain, snow, sleet and hail, as well as the record-busting heat that has become increasingly common in many parts of the country. The premium shingles are also fortified with a time-release algae-fighting technology that will help extend their life in damp, humid climates.
**30-year StainGuard Plus PRO™ Algae Protection Limited Warranty against blue-green algae discoloration is available only on products sold in packages bearing the StainGuard Plus PRO™ logo. See GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.
Did you know that National Lumber has drywall experts? In addition to carrying trusted drywall brands including Continental, Georgia-Pacific, National Gypsum, and US Gypsum we also carry the tools for drywall installation.
A 2015 Houzz report showed that over 50% of homeowners age 60+ are planning to age in place. As the baby boomer generation begins to enter the golden years, home construction and renovation contractors are seeing an increase in accessibility modifications being made. With more spending power than the younger millennial generation, the boomers are also a large player in the interior design industry; frequently updating their home to incorporate the latest design trends. Combining the need for accessibility with the desire to keep the attractive appearance of the home, these modifications are not only practical but stylish as well. Read below for some simple yet important modifications to make to your home accessible for any generation.
In case that you didn’t know, OSHA increased their penalty fines by almost 80 percent on August 1st, 2016. This means that their Top Serious violation fine increased from $7,000 to over $12,000, and their Willful and Repeat fines increased from $70,000 to $125,000. The fine increase has prompted many contractors to double down on their safety training and to invest in the best safety equipment. It also has made many contractors realize the importance of OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certification training, but especially Fall Protection training.
Fall Protection is the number one violation cited by OSHA, so understandably, it’s definitely an area the construction industry as a whole needs to work on. It’s also important that all contractors have developed and implemented a proper safety manual and training program to keep both their workers and subcontractors safe.
Fortunately, companies such as The Contractor Coaching Partnership, among others, have been keeping up with the OSHA changes for you. These coaches are well-versed in OSHA regulations and will ensure that you develop the proper program and acquire the right equipment to keep your workers safe. The small investment now is well-worth avoiding hefty fines later, and of course, to avoid preventable work site injuries. Training companies offer both OSHA Fall Protection and OSHA 10 and 30 Certification courses on a regular basis. You also can often schedule individual sessions to fit your schedule.
However, you decide to do it, it’s imperative to get the proper training for you and your employees as soon as possible. Get the necessary certification, too, so that you can avoid even the more minor infractions. The fines exist for a good reason, as OSHA is trying to prevent as many injuries and deaths as possible and this seems to be the best way to motivate people to do so. Don’t get fined. Get trained and stay safe!
To make it more convenient for contractors, builders, and remodelers in Southeastern Massachusetts, National Lumber provides training opportunities in Fall Protection, OSHA certification, and other certification and training courses. These classes are offered by outside companies who use National Lumber’s training room above the Mansfield, MA store. You can see our latest classes on our website at www.national-lumber.com/events. If the provided dates or location does not work for you, feel free to contact any of our affiliated training companies directly for more information.
Construction worker thermally insulating house attic with glass wool
The Cost vs Value Report released every year by Hanley Wood Remodeling is a benchmark for homeowners to see the potential return on investment of popular home improvement projects. This data is compiled by taking various recently remodeled homes that sold. One of the best projects for return on investment is installing new insulation in the attic. In particular, new fiberglass insulation is installed to cut down on potential heat loss. Because heat rises, this is one of the most important areas of the home to insulate. Good insulation saves on heating and cooling costs year-round!
Installation of Fiberglass Batt Insulation
The national average of installing fiberglass insulation in the attic is about $1268 according to the Cost vs Value Report. At resale, this upgrade recoups an average of $1468. That’s a 117 percent return on investment. When you look at the regional statistics for New England, the cost is roughly the same, $1292. But the average.return on investment is $1858, a return of 144 percent. This doesn’t even include the residual savings in heating and cooling costs during the life of the new insulation, which can be up to 20 percent. ENERGY STAR has a good tool for estimating energy savings from effective air sealing and insulation.
Installing Spray Foam Fiberglass Insulation Into Wall Cavity
Aesthetically, installing attic insulation isn’t exciting. But because of how much it adds to a home’s energy efficiency and performance, it’s becoming more of a focus than ever. Being highlighted in the Cost vs Value Report is making attic insulation more popular to install than ever. When it comes to comfort, it’s well worth the $1200-1300 of investments. Knowing you can get all that money back plus 20 to 40 percent at resale is a big selling point, plus as much as a 20 percent cost savings in energy costs.
Retrofitting an Older Home with Blown-In Fiberglass Insulation
Also, having properly installed quality insulation is necessary in gaining ENERGY STAR certification for your home. Pro Insulators, a division of National Lumber, has expert installation teams and the best available insulation products. Homeowners and contractors alike are quite happy with the work of the Pro Insulators teams. We provide the expertise to meet ENERGY STAR certification requirements for builders and timely, reliable service to homeowners retrofitting older homes.
Being one of the most cost-effective home improvements for homeowners and a selling point for newer homes, proper attic insulation and air sealing is well worth the investment. Not only can Pro Insulators bring your home up to the latest local and state building codes, but you can enjoy a more comfortable home for decades to come.
One of the biggest trends in decks for 2016 is a continuing focus on turning decks into outdoor living spaces. More specifically, more homeowners are thinking about basically making their decks into a continuation of their indoor living space. Essentially, decks are being thought of more and more as adding square footage to the home.
Multi-level Deck with Firepit
These outdoor living spaces are used for a wide variety of purposes. Outdoor kitchens are growing in popularity, not just for barbecues, but everyday food preparation. Entertainment and relaxation are traditionally how decks have been used for entertaining friends and family outdoors. Now more homeowners are expanding their use of outdoor spaces with better furniture and specialty lighting.
Gazebo with AZEK Decking
Pergola with AZEK Decking
Personalization of deck spaces is also becoming a strong trend. There are so many railing options and accessories available today that no two decks ever have to look alike. Since decks are becoming everyday living spaces, there are more multi-level decks being built than ever before. Incorporating specialty lighting to steps up to raised portions and stairs improves safety in the evening. Architectural elements are becoming more important. Some homeowners even incorporate gazebos and pergolas into their structures to provide shade and ambiance, making them more versatile spaces. Reliable Truss and Components, part of the National Lumber Family of Companies, can design and build gazebos, pergolas, and other similar structures.
AZEK Resurfacing Pavers
As deck designs evolve, homeowners can also choose from a wider variety of different materials than ever before. Many homeowners opt to mix and match decking materials. Azek has a line of versatile pavers that come in multiple colors to enhance the design of a patio. Or you can add planters and have curved elements in the design. Different colors can be used to map out certain areas of the deck visually based on their intended function. Certain areas of the deck may even have solid roofing so that they can be used even on rainy days.
TimberTech ReliaBoard Decking with Post-Cap Lighting
If you’re looking to spruce up your existing deck or build a brand new one, you will want to explore the many decking, railing, and deck accessories options on the market today. Many low maintenance products are now available so you spend more time enjoying your deck and less time maintaining it. We invite you to visit a National Lumber location near you to see products from Azek and TimberTech, offering a range of colors for decking, railings and many accessories such as built-in lighting. Decks are an easy way to effectively add square footage to your home, as well as a significant increase in your home’s value.
Thanks to Azek and TimberTech for the beautiful photos and to Home Town Restyling and Philip’s Fences for their insight into 2016 deck trends.
When it comes to entry doors, there’s far more involved than just a door. It’s a door system, which includes the door itself, the glass, and components. These components include hinges, sills, and weatherstripping. Everything works together in order to resist the elements, help keep cold drafts out, and keep the heat in. Well-built entry door systems are both energy-efficient and weather resistant.
Therma-Tru fiberglass entry door systems have been rated #1 in Quality by buildings in the 2015 Builder Brand Use Study. Not only that, but Therma-Tru entry doors also ranked #1 in Brand Specified and Used Most, further cementing the brand’s reputation. Each Therma-Tru entry door system comes with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. With all components either manufacturer or specified directly by Therma-Tru, you can count on a quality product that trade professionals trust.
National Lumber is a proud Therma-Tru doors dealer, and samples are shown at all nine of our locations. With entry doors a major part of a home’s perceived value because of their huge impact of curb appeals, Therma-Tru door systems are an excellent choice for new construction or remodels. Whether you are a homeowner wanting to improve your own home, a remodeling contractor wanting to offer the best value to a client, or a builder preparing to sell a brand new home, Therma-Tru is the best choice.
With home performance energy efficiency standards becoming higher than ever, competition between different types of insulation is stronger than it has been in the past. While many homeowners may think of insulation primarily for staying warm in the winter, proper insulation also saves on summer cooling costs. While fiberglass batts are still the insulation of choice for builders, spray foam insulation has posed a serious threat to batt insulation’s dominance. However, recently builders seem to be leaning back towards batts as their primary choice. So is one type significantly more effective than the other?
According to Pro Sales Magazine, there has been some extensive testing done with the two types of insulation. The findings suggest that fiberglass batts can be as effective as spray foam. Also, they provide statistics on the drop of using spray foam vs. fiberglass batts by builders. The bottom line appears to be that either is effective, if it is installed with best practices. Whether builders out in the real world are using such best practices is the unknown variable.
Spray foam insulation certainly does have its benefits in certain specific construction conditions. Like with any insulation, proper installation of spray foam is key to maximize air tightness. Some tests have actually found that spray foam, even with voids, can still perform better than fiberglass at extremely cold temperatures. Spray foam also shows significantly lowered air leakage under extreme conditions. Other arguments in favor of spray foam are that it’s more environmentally friendly and better for those with allergies. It also doesn’t make a good home for pests. Are these benefits worth the added cost over using fiberglass batts instead?
It appears that the economic downturn was a major factor for builders moving back to the use of fiberglass batts as a cost-saving measure. This is because they can install them more easily with their own crews rather than requiring the special equipment and training for spray foam. In areas such as typical exterior walls, with proper air sealing practices, fiberglass will certainly perform just as well as foam. However, the detriment to fiberglass insulation is when the air sealing is not done correctly, allowing air to enter the cavities and pass through the fiberglass, effectively robbing its insulating value. Fiberglass is much less expensive compared to the foam product, even after the builder adds the extra expense of the air sealing products and labor to install with the appropriate fiberglass products.
The benefit to both contractors and their clients is that National Lumber provides the quality materials they need to do the job, or Pro Insulators can provide expert teams to install insulation quickly and thoroughly with best practices using either fiberglass batts or spray foam. Hiring that expertise saves time for the builder’s crew and they move onto the next step of the building process sooner. If their high-end clients want to know they are getting the best value in their insulation, then professional best practices can provide that with either product.
What it comes down to with either type of insulation is that the quality of the installation and air sealing are key. Pro Insulators can tell you which type will perform better for a particular project. Also, it’s important that the installer be up to date with the latest energy codes, which today are always evolving. Pro Insulators always stays on top of these codes. Both types of insulation, properly installed, can meet these codes. Simply put, the choice really is the preferred material.
Just as you subcontract other specialized portions of every project, make Pro Insulators part of your team for expert results that benefit your profits. We all know that time is money, and getting the insulation installed faster by our experienced crews means that your building crew gets on to the next stage of the project faster. In addition, if a regular building crew makes mistakes installing the insulation, that will lead to failed insulation inspections. When such work has to be done over, it increases costs. The work will be done right the first time with guaranteed insulation installation by Pro Insulators. When word gets out that your homes are more energy efficient because the insulation was done expertly, word of mouth reputation for your company will grow. It’s good for the builder and good for the homeowner having Pro Insulators do the job.
Honoring All Who Served, Veterans Day, Nov 11, 2015. Our locations will be open with regular hours.
Celebrating the Contributions of Veterans, Then and Now
On Veterans Day, we have a reminder to stop at least for a moment and remember the honorable men and women who have protected our freedom, then and now.
Manny Pina, Marine Corporal in Vietnam, 1968-69
Then: They put themselves in harm’s way. Whether in the great world wars against global aggressors, foreign wars with or without the support of the public, or in more recent war zones, they did what was expected of them and served proudly.
Now: They have returned home and worked hard in a chosen field, showing themselves to be reliable whatever the task. Many also contribute by volunteering in their communities. You may not even realize how many of your co-workers are veterans, because they don’t look for recognition. But some have not had a smooth transition from combat back to civilian life. Let us remember those who now need our support, since their service was on our behalf.
Manny Pina, President of National Lumber Company
There are still dangerous areas around the world where our military serves in the name of freedom, with the hope of bringing peace. Do your part by honoring their service with your words and actions. They have done so much. What will you do now for them? God bless America.
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