Your feet hold you up, hour after hour, day after day, while you're doingáa demanding job. But how well do you take care of them? When you're choosing a quality work boot that isávital to how successful you are working in the field, knowing what to look for in a work boot that will deliver when you need it takes a little time and effort. In this post, we'll discuss the ins and outs of construction work boots, what features to look for and which features really make the difference between a solid day working and one spent just getting along.

What to Look for in Quality Construction Work Boots

Proper Fit - Size, Width andáFlexibility.áWhen it comes to work boots, having a good fit is vital to how effectively the boots can protect your feet. A too-small pair will leave you with blisters and aching feet, while a too-large pair allow your feet to slip when you need solid traction on the job. A pair that is too wide or too narrow enters into the same hazards. Flexibility is something that often isn't considered, but is very important if you need to stretch, bend or otherwise move through a range of positions safely to get your job done, when a stiff boot may keep you from having full range of motion.

Safety Features - Toes, Tread Grip,áPuncture Resistance andáElectrical Resistance.áSafety features are also very important. Steel-, aluminum- or composite-toed boots help protect your feet from crushing or dropping injuries, keeping you moving. Tread grip helps keep you in place, preventing the primary accident that occurs in construction, slips and falls. Puncture resistance means there's a much lower chance that the nail hiding in the grass from the roofing job you've completed will go through your foot, while electrical resistance protects you from shocks when something goes wrong on the job site.

Construction - Sole Attachment and Weatherproofing.áThere are several ways soles can be attached, including gluing, which tends to be the lowest-quality and will fail fastest, Blake stitching which is durable, but requires a special machine to re-sole the boot, and Goodyear welt stitched, which is a durable classic that is easy to have repaired or re-soled. Weatherproofing ensures that your feet stay dry when the weather is wet, making you more comfortable and keeping your feet in better health.

Comfort - Support and Weight.áBoots that provide sufficient flexible support allow you to maintain a range of motion while protecting your joints from injury due to overextension. A boot with proper support helps protect you from rolling your ankles or otherwise injuring your feet and ankles. But at some point as you're adding options and features to your boots, you may realize that they're getting heavier. In construction, you do enough heavy lifting without adding heavy boots into the mix. If the boots seem excessively heavy, look for a better option if possible.

Options - Zippers, Laces and Insoles.áAs a law enforcement volunteer, I love that my duty boots zip up the side. I can completely customize the fit through the laces and then enjoy the convenience of just zipping them back off again at the end of a long day without having to fuss with the fit. Cheap laces can leave you hanging when you need to work, so make sure to get heavy-duty boot laces or latigo leather laces. If you have problems with flat feet, high arches or any other number of similar issues, make sure to get a pair of work boots with great insoles or the option to add separate insoles to your boots.

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There are a number of new buildings being constructed using cold form steel framing. These products are well known for offering all the structural stability that many teams need to complete projects on time. There are a few aspects that will set cold form steel framing apart from many other materials. Versatility and lightweight are a few reasons why cold form steel framing has been gaining ground for projects.

These materials are increasingly seeing a wide range of uses, which should draw in support from a few different sources. They are popular materials for use in large buildings and bridge designs. But they have also been used to construct storage racks and car bodies.

Benefits

• Versatile, can be formed in many ways
• Used in Large or Small Structures
• Lightweight
• Can be stored in many forms until they are needed

Transmission towers and poles have been used using this material as well. Consumers are increasingly looking to use this material to adapt to the some of the different types of options that they have. But they should plan to use it alongside other materials to improve the structural stability that may be in place.

Since modern techniques have diversified, there are a few different types of systems available to people. Most owners will appreciate the opportunity to use the highest grade cold form steel framing. It can be generated into bars, which are increasingly common for some structures.

Other structures can be pressed in to plates and set alongside other materials. Modern techniques have made it much easier for people to adjust to the way that these products are made over time. Builders should coordinate with their team to use these kinds of materials effectively as well.

Finally, the price point of these different types of materials are starting to decline as well. This has made it surprisingly simple to stock up on these products over time. Builders may want to find a way to store these materials in a few different types of settings. This is part of the appeal behind these projects, since the cold form steel can actually be put into storage until it is ready to be put in to place.

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1. Photo credit: kaz k / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

2. Photo credit: D H Wright / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Drip, drip, drip. In addition to being an annoying sound in the middle of the night, it's often the sound you hear when your roof develops a leak. But before you break out your checkbook to deal with a full roof replacement, stop and take the time to determine whether your roof really needs replacing, or whether a repair job will take care of the problem. Here are some things to look at when troubleshooting your roof leak:

Location, Location, Location

Is your roof leaking in the middle of a large flat span, near a dormer or in a valley? The location of your leak can help determine what the problem is. One of the most common locations that leaks develop is where the pitch of the roof changes. If there's a ridge, valley,áflashing or sealant near the leak, that should be your first place to consider when you're figuring out what's the problem. If the leak is in the middle of the main area of your roof, you could have damage from debris or high winds. If you're noticing a lot of separate leaks across your roof, it may be time to look at having your roof replaced.

Let's Get Physical

Now that you've had an opportunity to figure out roughly where the leak is happening, it's time to make an inspection of that area. Before you climb up, though, make sure you take care of some safety issues. Wear shoes or boots that have good tread and traction to help prevent slips. If your roof has a high angle, add a safety harness and rope to help prevent falls. Are you working on a metal roof? Make sure it's not dusty or damp, as that will significantly lower your traction.

Once you've climbed up onto the roof, take a good look around. If you have shingles, note if there are any that are missing or have damage to them such as tears or holes that you'll need to replace. Cut out the bad shingle and replace it, being very careful to make sure it seals back against the rest of the shingles. If it's cold, use a hair dryer or heat gun on low to gently heat the area and promote adhesion. If your leak is located near a change in pitch on your roof, take some time to inspect any flashing or sealant. If it's loose or has pulled away from the areas it's supposed to protect, there's a very good chance that's the source of your leak. By repairing the area, you should be able to stop the leak in your roof.

Dig Into the Inside

Now that you've figured out whether a repair or replacement is needed, it's time to take the next step. Fixing the leak doesn't mean that you're done yet - you'll need to fix any problems that have been caused inside your home. Take the time to replace any wet drywall or insulation and ensure that any electrical wiring or framing is still in good condition before completing the repair. If you've had some mold growth, you'll want to do a really good job of either ripping out the affected parts or cleaning it well with an alcohol or bleach solution and allowing it to dry out well before sealing the cavity back up.

Now that you've had an opportunity to figure out what you need to do to fix your roofing problem, it's time to start taking action. Do an inspection, figure out how bad the damage is and start making repairs or planning for a replacement. If the project has grown beyond the scope that you're comfortable making repairs on your own, contact a few reputable contractors to get quotes or for further advice on the best way to fix the problem. When you're ready to take action,áplease contact usáfor a free quote or to schedule a delivery. We're always happy to help.

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Photo credit: Eric.Ray / Photo / CC BY-SA

Photo credit: MTSOfan / Source / CC BY-NC-SA

When you're installing an acoustical ceiling tile project, do you have the right tools for the job? Although it can be tempting to simply improvise or mock up your own tools, having the right tool for the task at hand can mean all the difference between quickly completing a high-quality job and providing poor performance with ill-fitting material. But what tools really make the difference when it's time to get the job done? Here's a review of some of the most necessary and productive tools for your acoustical ceiling tile job.

Edge Cutters and Snap Blade Utility Knives

Ever had to replace material because of a poorly-scored cut made by a bad utility knife? Investing in a utility knife that has a comfortable grip and can quickly be changed for a fresh edge allows your crew to continue working quickly and effectively. Edge cutters help you refine the edge for a perfect shadowline or reveal.

Flanges

If you've never had to work on an acoustical ceiling in a building that wasn't square, level or plumb, you're more than due for one of these problem projects. When you need to adapt your ideal ceiling installation to less than perfect conditions or need better security to keep it in place, flanges will help get you there.

Punches

To quickly punch a hole in your grid without having support behind it, you need the right tools for the job. Punches allow you to easily punch holes with just one hand, making it much easier to get the holes where you need them to go while working on a ladder or a scaffold.

Rivet Guns

To quickly and effectively join your grid pieces together, nothing holds it together as quickly as a rivet. Rivet guns make it easy to get the job done, but not all rivet guns are created equal. Make sure the rivet gun you're looking at can get into small spaces and sharp angles to get the best use out of it.

Lag Drivers

Getting your frame attached into the framing members can be a tough job, especially when a suspended ceiling is far lower than the original ceiling. Fortunately, there are a wide range of tools available to make the job easier, including extension rods to reach from a distance.

Alignment Tools

There's nothing worse than getting all your ceiling tiles in place and realizing that it isn't level. Today's installer has it much easier than past use of line levels, as today's laser levels are available with self-leveling options to quickly get an easy, reliable baseline to work from.

Touch-Up Paints

Let's face it - there's always going to be an "oops" on the job site. Touch up paints are available to correct mistakes made on the tiles or grid, quickly restoring the ceiling's appearance to its original beauty without a lot of extra mess and fuss involved in the overall process.

In addition, feel free to download the CertainTeed Acoustical Ceiling Product Guide belowáfor a complete breakdown of product details and job applications.

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When it comes to the insulation industry's workhorses, fiberglass is a strong contender. Sometimes referred to as fiberglass wool, it's produced from many short fibers of glass drawn through tiny openings. It has superior sound and thermal insulating properties, making it ideal as an insulation product for homes and loud environments. Here's a quick look at some of the facets of fiberglass insulation.

Types of Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is available in blown-in form, batts and blankets. In the latter two forms, it's fairly fast to install between studs or posts, depending on the construction. It comes in a wide range of formulations, from unfaced batts that can be secured in place with a plastic sheathing to paper-faced batts with side tabs for stapling the batt securely in place with no further materials needed to keep it there. The blown-in form is much lighter in weight than cellulose and can be used in areas where blown-in cellulose would be too heavy, for example over a 1/2" drywall ceiling on 24" centers.

Though it does use high heat to form the glass fibers, it is also manufactured from up to 60% recycled glass. Because it is often manufactured regionally, it can quite often meet the requirements for regionally-sourced materials for LEED certification. It can be a bit itchy to handle due to the small size of the fibers, so make sure you wear long sleeves and gloves when handling it. Small amounts of the fiber can also become airborne, requiring a basic face mask to help prevent it from being inhaled.

How Fiberglass Insulation is Used

Fiberglass provides good to superior thermal insulation and superior acoustical insulation. Because of its light weight, it can be much easier for a homeowner to handle and install. In blown-in form, it reaches an R-value of 2.2 to 2.7 per inch. Batts and blankets achieve a much higher R-value between 3.0 and 4.0, depending on the specifics of the manufacturing process.

Though the blown-in form is lower in R-value when compared to cellulose, its lighter weight allows you to insulate areas that may otherwise prove difficult to impossible. It works very well for a wide range of applications, which is why it's such a popular option for homeowners and contractors alike.

Other Facts About Fiberglass Insulation

In addition to its use in structures, fiberglass insulation shows up in submarine and ship bulkheads, as well as a wide range of commercial and industrial applications including lining auto body panels to reduce noise. To form such fine fibers, the glass must be maintained at 2,500░ F during the process of drawing the fiber. Unlike cellulose, fiberglass doesn't settle and lose some of its thermal properties. Phenol formaldehyde is a binder that has been used in fiberglass batts and blankets in the past that is being phased out of production due to potential cancer risks.