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.

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

Over the years, there have been housing styles that have come and gone. The craftsman, the Tudor, the Victorian, the ranch: all these homes were very popular in their day. One modern option that is quickly gaining ground to remain in the records of history is the tiny house. Though the definition differs depending on who you talk to, these go from an ultra-portable 80 square feet to a "tiny mansion" of 1,000 square feet. Focused on the movement towards minimalism and simplicity, the tiny house forces its occupants to only retain what has value to them, instead of plastic totes full of decorations for every holiday and boxes full of old records that "might be needed".

1) This beautiful floating tiny house in Maine brings a whole new meaning to the term house boat! At 240 square feet, it's solidly a tiny house, but after building it, the owners decided to ditch their plans of using it as a vacation and rental home in favor of enjoying a permanent home on the water. The decision was probably easier due to the home's design with an off-grid electrical system to provide the amenities. Image courtesy of Country Living.

2) This tiny mansion in Oklahoma is at the top end of the legal limit at 1,000 square feet. After spending a month in an RV at various national parks, the owners decided to sell their large home in Oklahoma city in favor of camping for eight more months on family property. Though the original plans were somewhat smaller, the family added an upstairs loft for a much-needed master bedroom suite and office space. Image courtesy of Country Living.

3) Are you in love with the idea of a simple New England cottage? This beautiful Maine vacation cottage is technically not a tiny house at 1,200 square feet, but most people would still consider it very small. But that doesn't prevent it from having all the amenities you'd expect in a traditional home, such as a full-size oven and a soaking tub. Due to its location on a small island, the owners - successful designers from Charleston, SC - had some challenges with the renovations as everything had to be brought over by bridge or causeway. Image courtesy of Country Living.

4) If you're determined to have a modern tiny house, this beautiful 300 square foot studio home in New York gives you the best of both worlds. The window wrap, somewhat unusual in tiny houses, provides both a frame for the beautiful scenery and expands the visual appearance of the living space, making it seem much larger than it actually is. Walnut is used extensively in the interiors and the site's rock features compliment the cable railing front porch. Image courtesy of House Beautiful.

5) Prefer a taste of the eclectic with plenty of elbow room indoors and out? This 800 square foot cottage was designed using sustainable materials and one-story living for the retiree owners. What you can't see from the outside is the amazing timber framed interior and beautiful woodworking throughout this home. Because of its size, the owners were able to splurge on high quality, full size appliances and granite countertops. A beautiful counterpoint to the large beams and living space are all the tiny niches and crannies for easy storage. Image courtesy of Tiny House Talk.

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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)

Steel framing is becoming much more prevalent in construction, but we often think more of the limitations of the material rather than the possibilities. But some contractors have begun to undertake truly amazing projects using steel framing. In this post, we'll take a good look at several beautiful structures that you won't believe used steel framing:

1. Catholic Charities

Image courtesy of Green Country Interiors.

This beautiful buildings for Catholic Charities blend in perfectly to the southwestern architecture common in their area, but they actually used extensive steel framing though out the structures. Who says that giving isn't physically beautiful? The range of structures constructed for this project helps this worldwide charity get the job done for poverty and disaster relief.

2. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

Image courtesy of Huggett Betten Corp.

This beautiful church building has the appearance of laminated wood joining in a beautiful pattern at the peak of its dome, but it's all a beautiful example of the amazing possibilities of steel framing and faux finishes. From the exterior, it has the appearance of a traditional stone and masonry construction. The intertwined beams are actually built up and around each other to create the aesthetically pleasing knotwork star at the apex of the chapel ceiling.

3. Kendall Whittier

Image courtesy of Green Country Interiors.

Though these beautiful surroundings have the appearance of classical architecture and old-world framing and plaster, they're a great way that steel framing can be incorporated into even the most traditional projects, in this case a neighborhood revitalization program. In this case, it was the entrance to a health clinic, creating a relaxing atmosphere for healthcare workers and patients alike.

4. Fire Pit

Image courtesy of Kurt Krueger Architects.

Just to show that you can take steel framing outdoors and incorporate it into your outdoor living design, this beautiful fire pit uses thin sheets of onyx over steel framing, with LED lights on the inside to backlight the stone's natural beauty. This is a great example of how steel framing can actually be incorporated as part of the design element, creating gentle upright bars and strong verticals across the fire pit.

5. Jenks Aquarium

Image courtesy of Green Country Interiors.

The rounded forms used in this aquarium fit well with its aquatic theme, but is a technique seen much more commonly with wood framing, but with the advances that have been taking place in forming metal framing tracks, this beauty is all steel framed. With the aquarium's focus on aquatic education, these flowing forms make it easy for children and adults to swim gently through the exhibits.

6. Niles, Michigan YMCA

Image courtesy of Huggett Betten Corp.

You already know that these sweeping curves and circular windows had to be an interesting framing job, and the exterior brick on this active YMCA would almost have you convinced it's a cast-in-place job, but it's all beautifully-imagined steel frame construction. The windows almost give the structure a Hobbit-esque appearance, making you wonder where the round door is located.

7. Cliff House

Image courtesy of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects Limited.

Though your eye is drawn immediately to the steel I-beams that are holding the structure over the face of the cliff, this beautiful home was entirely steel framed, which works very well with its modern appearance. It's easy to be inspired by the amazing views, but you can't help but hope it's not in a landslide-prone area or how they worked with the codes board on this modern home.

8. Renaissance Hotel

Image courtesy of Green Country Interiors

Though the amazing old world interiors and sweeping exterior architecture seems like something from centuries ago, this recent construction uses a wide range of steel framing techniques to bring off the appearance without breaking the bank. From the leather upholstery to the beautiful floors and sweeping columns, you'll think you've stepped into the old world, not Oklahoma.

These projects are a fabulous example of what can be done with steel framing. If you're considering using steel framing for your next project, whether grand or simple, please download our free Metal Framing Product Guide below.

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