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Walls & Ceilings 'If Walls Could Talk'
Welcome to “If Walls Could Talk” where Walls & Ceilings magazine is out to discover just that.
Listen as W&C talks with influencers in the industry who are making an impact. We are helping educate and entertain the wall and ceiling industry as only W&C can do. What brought these people to the industry? What’s in store for the contractor? And “If Walls Could Talk,” what stories would they tell? Find out all of this and more on each episode.
In our latest podcast, Thomas Harris of PUR Consulting, discusses auditing and training.
The Federal Government is upping their support of existing building retrofits for energy conservation through federal and state level tax credit and financial rebates for energy conservation activities. For example, the state of Kansas now offers support for existing building owners who decide to reduce their environmental impact of their building portfolio.
As a result of current economic uncertainty and the lingering impact of supply chain issues, the residential and commercial construction build rates have slowed. It’s an experience that in these times, contractors look for new growth opportunities, new applications, they develop new skills and techniques to position their companies for the next recovery.
Some of the things they look for includes staffing – “Do I need to add new employee’s or can I train my current staff,” “Do I have the capability and bandwidth to take on a new market,” “What are the training requirements – access to training and support.”
Speaking from an actual jobsite, Health, Safety, & Compliance expert Tammy Clark emphasizes the importance of tailored safety approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, which can inadvertently create greater risks. She highlights the role of a "Competent Person" (CP) in identifying and mitigating hazards and criticizes general contractors for imposing blanket safety requirements, such as mandatory steel-toed boots, which may increase risks for certain workers like roofers.
Walls & Ceilings Editor John Wyatt interviews Jonathan Belanus, president of JB Insulation & Drywall in Oakland, N.J., recently featured in the magazine's November issue. Belanus, a third-generation insulation contractor, discusses his company’s work in residential and commercial insulation, drywall, and firestopping, with a focus on custom-built homes. He also shares his positive experience at this year’s ICAA Annual Trade Show in Chicago, which he has attended since his late teens.
In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C Group Publisher Jill Bloom speaks with Trent Cotney of Adams & Reese about his recent visit to the American College of Building Arts (ACBA). ACBA is the only U.S. college that combines professional training in traditional building trades with a liberal arts curriculum, offering students hands-on skills and creative problem-solving abilities. Cotney highlights the unique, high-quality craftsmanship being developed by students, many of whom will be sought after both in the U.S. and internationally.
The recovery effort following hurricanes Milton and Helene in Florida is slowly underway, and roofing contractors on their way in to help need to be prepared, said W&C Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney. Gas shortages, downed trees and power lines are commonplace during a state of emergency, and he cautioned regulatory enforcement won’t take a step back.
In particular, contractors need to be aware of:
Personal Protective Equipment – hard hats and eye protection, in particular.
The rise in spray foam manufacturers is driving prices down, but contractors are losing margins by competing on price instead of focusing on the product's value. Harris warns that some off-shore manufacturers are falsely marketing sealants as insulation without proper U.S. certification, risking the use of inferior products in the market.
After taking full ownership of Agent Wall Systems, Adam Taubman faced challenges during the pandemic but has since expanded the business into western Virginia. The company now specializes in load-bearing stud framing and prefabrication, influencing project designs. Taubman sees their recognition as a Top 50 Contractor as a tool to promote further growth.
