Category Archives: construction

Tune into the next MetalCon Live this week!

Nearly 300 metal industry professionals tuned in last week to METALCON’s first live “Town Hall” event when METALCON Co-Founder and CEO, Frank A. Stasiowski, FAIA,  in partnership with the Metal Construction Association, and Rob Haddock, CEO and Founder of S-5! Metal Roof Innovations, led an engaging and honest conversation about the current status of the industry amidst the current pandemic crisis. Along with providing practical tactics that companies can do right now, they mixed in live polling questions that added to the overall content.

Tune in THIS Wednesday, April 8 at 1:00 PM EST for the second METALCON Live and another chance to get practical advice from these two industry titans, along with participation from metal construction colleagues from around the world.

YOU can participate in advance by sending topics and/or questions that you would like covered by emailing them to JUDY@METALCON.COM.

Give us 60 minutes and we’ll give you clear no-BS answers and practical steps you can start using immediately!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE

METALCON |OCT. 14-16, 2015 | TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER

METALCON
OCT. 14-16, 2015 | TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER 

Learn, network, and close sales at the largest international event dedicated to metal in construction.
* The latest innovative products and services
* Education sessions with expert speakers 
* Solutions to your business challenges
* Attendees ready to buy your products
Register for this “must-attend” 3-day event that gets results!  

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METAL ROOFING CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

METAL ROOFING CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Come to METALCON where contractors can compete for cash prizes in challenges such as “The Triangle Screw Gun Challenge,” “D.I. Roof Seamers 90 Degree Challenge,” S-5!’s Let It Snow Challenge,” and “JJs Give It a Boot Challenge.” 

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HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY METALCON!

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY METALCON!
Oh, how they grow up so quickly! Yes, it was 25 years ago that METALCON was born!  Exhibitors joined forces to help launch what is now the premier event for the metal construction industry. 

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STAY ON COURSE WITH THESE COURSES:

STAY ON COURSE WITH THESE COURSES:
At METALCON, learn from a series of educational courses and programs to gain the cutting-edge knowledge, sophisticated tools and advanced techniques to help ensure your business success, regardless of your niche.

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WE GOT YOUR BACK!

Join The MCA And Get Help To Grow Your Business
The Metal Construction Association helps members meet, learn, network, grow their business, and even expand the entire market. If your company develops, produces, distributes, markets or supplies materials for metal construction products, joining is a no brainer…especially now that memberships are at a discount.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/1yBzRqg

 

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Why You See Christmas Trees Atop Construction Sites

tree 1 This time of year, it’s common to see Christmas trees. But why do you see them on top of commercial construction sites all year long? These trees are a tradition in commercial construction. But do you know where the tradition comes from, or what it means?

Topping Out Ceremonies
Prior to adding the metal panels and metal roofing, a building’s framing is completed by placing the last beam at the highest point of the building. To commemorate this accomplishment, crews have a Topping Out ceremony: a party to celebrate those who made the building possible. They hoist an evergreen tree attached to that last beam for all to see. Often an American flag is also put on the opposite end of the beam. Sometimes the last beam is painted white and signed by the members of the crew, contractor, architects, and owner. But where did this odd tradition come from?

How It Started
Immigrants to the U.S. brought the tradition with them from Europe and Scandinavia, passed down from early pagan and Christian traditions. It’s believed that as early as 700 A.D. Scandinavians began topping out structures with a fir tree to signal those nearby that it was time for the celebration to start. Others believe the tradition of an evergreen atop a structure was started to represent new birth, as the Christmas tree represents the birth of the baby Jesus. There are many tales how the tradition started, and so the specific origin is murky.

tree2The Building Is the Gift Under The Tree
While Grand Opening festivities introduce a new building to the public, the Topping Out ceremony uniquely honors the accomplishments of the construction crew, architect, building owner and other key people who made the building possible. Reminiscent of a party at the end of an old-fashioned barn raising, a Topping Out ceremony gives credit to those who do the actual work of designing, planning, and constructing buildings.

Celebrate Your Own Metal Construction
The Topping Out ceremony is a wonderful celebration for any construction project, whether low-rise, high-rise, commercial, residential, or other. On your next construction project, take the time to celebrate what’s been accomplished and the people who made it happen with a Topping Out ceremony. It’s a little bit of Christmas that you can look up and experience year round!

New Study Verifies Steel Roofs Can Last As Long As The Buildings They Cover: Typically 60 Years Or More.

Low-Slope-Galvalume Roof

By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association

The cost of replacing a roof can be one of the most significant maintenance expenses in the life of a building. USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building rating program (version 4) assumes a building service life of 60 years. With most types of roofing, building owners can expect to replace the roof once or twice in that amount of time, incurring significant expense to do so.

Many buildings are The Metal Construction Association (MCA) is proud to announce a new study that verifies that coated steel roofs can last as long as the buildings they cover. The research study concluded that the expected service life of an unpainted 55% Al-Zn coated steel standing seam roof constructed today in a wide range of environments using best practices can be expected to be in excess of 60 years.

Learn more about the study here, and access the full study and executive report in MCA’s Technical Resources  library.

MCA’s New Metal Roof Installation Manual: An Essential Tool for Anyone Working with Metal Roofs

Using the Right Methods, Materials and Tools is Essential to Installing Your Metal Roof Properly
Using the Right Methods, Materials and Tools is Essential to Installing Your Metal Roof Properly

By: John Ryan, Metal Construction Association

Using the right tools is key to getting any job done correctly. Contractors and installers who work with metal roofs know how important it is to have the right seamer or a quality screw gun. And architects and specifiers know how important it is to have a good architectural scale and the most current reference manuals.

MCA Metal Roof Installation Manual
MCA Metal Roof Installation Manual

If you work with metal roofing, MCA has another essential tool for your toolkit: the new Metal Roof Installation Manual. Now available at MetalConstruction.com in the Technical Resources section, this new manual offers 20 chapters of best practices, tips and training for installing metal roofs. The manual covers a full range of useful information about installing metal roofs, including:

  • Introductory information about roofing materials
  • Panel types, attributes and profiles
  • Roof deck substrates
  • Safety
  • Sealants and Fasteners
  • Maintenance
  • Re-Roofing

Download your copy of the MCA Metal Roof Installation Manual today, and keep the document handy as a reference as you come across questions with your metal roof project. It’ll soon become an essential tool in your toolbox.

And the best part about this tool? It’s free!