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Open Cell Spray Foam Now Recognized by California Energy Commission

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Company News & Events, Industry News, Insulation

Spray Foam Insulation by Knez Inc.

 

The California Energy Commission (CEC) recently passed legislation to recognize open cell spray foam as an energy efficient insulation for homes and low-rise residential complexes in California. Builders and home owners who use open cell spray foam insulation can now qualify for California energy tax credits and utility rebates. Knez Building Materials Co. highlights the latest on the open cell spray foam from California.

Open cell spray foam insulation is now part of the CEC’s 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and its Alternative Quality Insulation Installation Procedures. Members of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) California Task Group worked with CEC staff to help pass this new energy efficiency legislation on open cell spray foam in the state. Closed cell spray foam insulation continues to be recognized as an energy compliant form of insulation in the state.

“Open cell spray foam insulation, which has a lower R-value than closed cell foam, is ideal for vaulted ceilings, under floors, and sound barrier projects,” says John Knez, III. “Both open cell and closed cell spray foam insulations enhance a home’s energy efficiency by preventing air infiltration…It makes a lot of sense from a building perspective.”

California builders and home owners can apply for the energy credit after a Home Energy Rating System rater verifies the open cell spray insulation foam meets the Alternative Quality Insulation Installation Procedures inspection criteria, part of the CEC’s 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.

The open cell spray foam insulation can be applied to ceilings, floors, wood framed walls, metal framed walls, and roofs. For more information, read the official “Alternative Quality Insulation Installation Procedures for Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation: Medium-Density Closed Cell and Low-Density Open Cell SPF” document available on the CEC website.

Check out this video from FOAM WEEK NEWS UPDATE for highlights on the CEC’s recognition of open cell spray foam.

 Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation

Knowing and Understanding Building Codes

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Customer Corner, How-To, Projects

Knez Building Materials Co. knows that building codes and regulations can be a complex process. That’s why the Knez experts are here to help you answer four common building code questions to get you started and headed in the right direction.

Knez Building Materials Co., Portland OR

  • What’s your project?

Are you building new or adding onto an existing building? Are you renovating an outdated space or getting rid of it altogether? Building codes and regulations differ depending on what you’re planning to construct, change, or knock down. Pinpoint your project and then hunt down the appropriate materials and guidelines based on where the project is – our next question.

  • Where’s the project?

Building codes and regulations vary by location. Generally speaking, there are three code divisions: federal, state, and county. Codes and regulations for all three divisions must be met in order to “be up to code.” For instance, it’s common for counties to have sign-size restrictions for new buildings. Additionally, fire codes are usually set at the state level by the state’s fire marshal and ADA design standards are a federal requirement.

Go to your state and county’s governmental website and search for building codes to learn more about permit procedures, inspection requirements, and any fees associated with your project. Homeowners may also find it easier to contact their local housing department.

  • Who’s building your project?

It’s easy to get caught up in code. So, don’t forget about occupational and safety requirements. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration provides safety measures on everything from asphalt fume to welding, cutting, and brazing.

Hiring licensed contractors and certified specialists may also be required. Be careful not to confuse a professional license with a business license. A professional licensed electrician, for example, has passed exams whereas an electrician with a business license has business know-how and insurance (but perhaps hasn’t passed his exams – so be sure to ask).

  • Are you building green?

Green building and LEED are fast becoming a building standard. The place to start is with the U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, which oversees LEED certification and its rating systems for residential and commercial constructions and communities. The U.S. Department of Energy is another resource where you can learn more about the Building Energy Codes Program which helps states adopt energy codes for energy-efficient building.

Visit the Knez Building Materials Co. blog to read more about environmental and building green, including how to recycle building materials.

Industry News: Construction Spending in U.S. Beats Forecast & Boosts Growth at end of 2011

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Company News & Events, Industry News


The Great Recession hit every facet of construction, from housing to commercial builds. Construction workers, architects, landscapers, and building material suppliers were among people hardest hit. But with recent rock-bottom mortgage rates, the federal Making Home Affordable Program, and an upswing in the housing market, the industry is getting back on its feet. Here are the highlights from the latest Bloomberg article on construction spending and the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.

Construction spending has been increasing since the start of the last quarter of 2011. According to the Commerce Department, “Builders broke ground on more homes than at any time in the previous 19 months and construction permits climbed to a one-year high.” Based on mid-December figures, building permits increased 5.7 percent and housing starts hit an annual rate of 685,000 in November (compared with October).

November 2011 turned out to be a very good month for the construction industry. The U.S. Census Bureau News, released early January 2012, reported that construction spending in November had increased 1.2 percent above October’s figures, putting construction spending at $807.1 billion (compared to $797.4 billion in October).

Additionally, there were significant gains in both private construction and public construction. Residential construction and highway construction had the largest growth from October to November at 2.0 and 1.9 percents, respectively. Educational building rose slightly from $71.5 billion to $71.9 billion, or 0.5 percent; however, there was no increase in spending in nonresidential construction – this sector’s spending stayed the same at $278 billion from October to November.

In the Bloomberg article, CEO John Lundgren of Stanley Black & Decker Inc. said, “To get any better we need some help from commercial construction [but] it’s not going to get any worse from a macro perspective.”

Though the construction industry is on the mend from a four-year economic low, figures from December 2011 will not be available until February 2012. Stay tuned for more construction spending trends on the Knez Building Materials Co. Blog!

How to Build for LEED Certification

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Environmental / Building Green, How-To

LEED certification verifies that a home, commercial complex, or even a community, meet greener building standards. Greener building is more than recycling building materials such as drywall. Greener building is the progressive and healthier way to build for our future, and LEED certification is LEED-ing the way.

LEED certification is a multi-step process comprised of a series of prerequisites and rating systems. Understanding how to build for LEED certification can be a complex process. Knez Building Materials Co. would like to start you off with the basics to LEED certification, which involves 1) selecting the right rating system; 2) meeting prerequisites; 3) registering with LEED; and, 4) undergoing LEED rating and certification.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed LEED in 2000 to put into place and promote green design, green construction, and green maintenance. LEED measures sustainability and efficiency in several categories, such as water efficiency, materials, and resources, and in areas of education and regional priorities. LEED, however, does not measure all buildings or communal spaces in the same way – that’s where the rating systems come in.

There are LEED rating systems for new construction, existing buildings and current homes, just to name a few. To learn more about the different rating systems, read “LEED Rating System Selection Guidance,” which defines each rating system and outlines how to choose the right one. From here, you can find out if it meets the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) needed to register with LEED.

After registration, a third-party vendor certified by the Green Building Certification Institute rates your project or property on the LEED 100-point scale. There are four possible certification levels – Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – based on the number of points earned during the rating process.

And that’s LEED certification in a nutshell, friends. We recommend visiting the USGBC website to learn more about LEED certification and find the latest updates in the LEED certification process, starting with LEED 2012.

Knez Building Materials Co. is proud to contribute to the green building movement by recycling drywall and by also educating consumers about environmental and green building through the Knez Building Materials Co. blog.

Photo Courtesy of USGBC LEED

Alpha One Spray Foam and Coatings – Used in Northwestern University Build

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Insulation, Projects

Alpha One Spray Foam and Coatings, a Louisiana-based roof restoration specialist, renovated a 23,000 square-foot pedestrian deck for Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s Sylvan Friedman Student Union in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Alpha One partnered with Roofing Solutions to complete the 20-day polyurea / urethane deck-coating project in 2011.

The Northwestern State University Build deck-coating project consisted of several phases. First, the Alpha One Spray Foam and Coatings team removed the surface layer of Epoxy Pressed Gravel from the student union’s pedestrian deck. Following removal of the 1-inch surface layer, the team checked the 23,000 square-foot surface. In an article for SprayFoam.com, Alpha One Owner Steven Loga said team members checked the surface’s integrity with hammers in hand. Commenting on the project, Loga explained, “If the epoxy decking was secure, a ‘thud’ sound would be heard. If the original epoxy gravel had separated, hollow sounds would be made.”

The Alpha One team then hammered out all of the hollow spots on the NSU student union pedestrian deck and applied structural cement to the newly-made cavities. After curing, cracks were checked and chipped and rods were placed in the expansion joints. The team applied three VersaFlex products to fill the joints, prime the area, and reinforce the seams.

Alpha One team members applied Neogard Tan Urethane Coating to base coat the surface deck, completing the polyurea / urethane deck-coating restoration project 10 days ahead of schedule.

Watch the Alpha One Spray Foam and Coatings’ NSU project highlights on Foam Week TV:

Knez Building Materials Co. specializes in insulation contracting and insulation products, building supplies, and drywall recycling. With six Knez locations in Oregon and Washington, call on the Knez experts to handle your building and home restoration projects. Check back often to read about the NSU build and other industry news on our Knez Building Materials blog.

2011 Top Projects SW Washington: Vista Court Senior Housing Partners with Knez Building Materials

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Company News & Events, Projects

Top Projects, a Vancouver Business Journal construction projects magazine, recently featured Knez Building Materials Co. for supplying insulation in the newly constructed Vista Court Senior Housing residential development project in Southwest Washington. The 76-unit independent living community is located in downtown Vancouver, Washington and owned by the Vancouver Housing Authority. Vista Court will house honored citizens who are disabled and low income come 2012.

Knez Inc. supplied insulation for the new Vista Court Senior Housing project in downtown Vancouver. Photo courtesy of The Columbian.

An estimated 10 percent of Clark County’s residents are seniors. Cami Joner, in an article for The Columbian, reported that Clark County’s 65 or older population will increase from 44,000 to 100,000 within 20 years. The four-story Vista Court Senior Housing apartment complex was developed to meet the housing needs of this growing population and to complement the 100-unit Van Vista Assisted Living apartment complex that’s been providing senior housing since 1970.

With today’s emphasis on green building, Vista Court Senior Housing is energy efficient based on its sustainable design and the materials that went into its construction. Knez Building Materials Co. and its team of insulation experts were part of a larger group of subcontractors who participated in the project.

Knez was the featured insulation supplier for Vista Court, providing the right insulation materials to help residents on small budgets save big on their energy consumption and costs. An added bonus to the energy-efficiency of a well-insulated apartment is the noise reducing properties of today’s insulation materials. Knez insulation applications include spray foam insulation, blown-in insulation, acoustical sound insulation, building insulation, Styrofoam insulation, and insulation vacuum removal, which eliminates the need to hand pick out old insulation in homes and buildings.

Also in 2011, Knez Building Materials Co. was featured on DIY Network’s “House Crashers: Basement Build-Out.” Knez delivered drywall to help a Portland couple renovate their rugged basement into an entertainer’s paradise complete with a media station and wine bar – read about it in this post on our Building Materials blog.

 

How Can Boom Trucks be Used in Your Next Project?

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in How-To, Material Handling

 

As we mentioned in our earlier post, Boom trucks are flatbed trucks used to load, transport, and lift heavy materials. Boom trucks come in several different shapes, sizes, and lifting capacities and are used in residential and commercial construction projects. Knez can deliver a boom truck or skyfork, an operator, and crew right to your project site to help out with the heavy lifting.

Our very own Boom Truck at Knez Building Materials Co.

Consider using a boom truck or Knez Skyfork for your next construction project or when heavy lifting is needed.

The Knez Skyfork, designed by John Knez Jr., is the ideal crane attachment when delivering drywall. The Skyfork does what the boom truck can’t – access hard to reach high places, such as stairwells, covered parking lots, or areas within the jobsite that a boom truck can’t reach. The Skyfork makes drywall delivery easier, safer and more cost efficient by preventing damage to drywall panels when moving drywall stacks with a boom truck.

The Knez Skyfork

Boom Truck Facts:

  • Mini boom trucks are the safe alternative to the extension ladder, lifting workers toward hard to reach high places in warehouses and storage facilities. Mini boom trucks come in handy for ceiling repairs, too.
  • If you need to transport heavy materials or equipment across town and need to do work in high places, use a bucket boom truck. Bucket boom trucks or “cherry pickers” have bucket platforms attached to the crane. Utility workers and fire crews commonly use these types of bucket boom trucks on the job.
  • When your construction or work project involves heavy-duty lifting (i.e. several tons), rely on the crane boom truck to do the trick. A crane boom truck, also called construction boom truck, is equipped with a crane. The most common crane types are knuckle booms and trolley booms. Knuckle boom trucks are smaller than traditional cranes and offer more maneuverability in moving heavy materials and equipment.
  • Concrete boom trucks are used to drive and dispense concrete into designated areas. There is a specialized hose and nozzle, attached to the boom, used to pump the concrete.

Stay tuned for more on boom trucks and building materials right here on the Knez Building Materials blog.

Types of Drywall Panels

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Drywall, Material Handling

 

Also called wallboard or plasterboard – when it comes to drywall, there’s more to it than meets the eye. For every type of construction purpose – high traffic, covered walkways, or elevators – there is a type of drywall panel best suited for the project. Read on for a list of the most popular drywall panels on the market, and contact the Knez experts for more information.

  • DensGlass panels are finished with fiberglass on both sides. The fiberglass finish resists mold and moisture damage in commercial and residential construction projects. DenGlass panels work well in moisture-prone environments and in long-term construction projects.
  • DensDeck panels are designed for roofs. These roof boards, ideal for commercial construction, reduce sound transmissions and protect the roof from foot traffic and the elements: rain, wind, and heat (including fire). DensDeck roof panels can also be used in LEED building projects.
  • Abuse resistant drywall panels protect against surface damage in high traffic spaces. Abuse resistant drywall panels sustain the surface of the wall and reduce the need for cosmetic repairs caused by scuffs and minor dents.
  • Impact resistant drywall panels also protect against surface damage but are designed to withstand impacts and intrusions from repeated contact in high energy spaces.
  • Soffit drywall panels, or soffitboard, are used on the underside of exterior structures. Carports, garages, covered walkways, and breezeways are examples of where soffit drywall panels are implemented to prevent structural sagging. These panels are also fire resistant. Soffitboard should not be used in applications where direct exposure to the elements is likely to happen.
  • Shaft wall drywall panels are used in stairwells and elevators. Shaft wall panels are also used to enclose air returns and mechanical units in high rises. The purpose of shaft wall panels is to protect people and equipment in the event of a building fire. Shaft wall drywall is also impact resistant and reduces noise resonance.
  • Flexible drywall panels, flex for short, are used to construct curved walls, ceilings, and columns in home and commercial buildings. Flex drywall panels are extremely pliable – up to 30 inches in some applications. Flex drywall panels are for interior applications.

Remember to recycle your drywall and earn LEED points (for green building) when you finish your drywall project. Knez Building Materials – Clackamas Location makes it easy to recycle drywall with its onsite recycling plant.

Photo courtesy of www.gp.com.

Helpful Hints to Prevent Freezing Pipes this Winter

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in How-To, Insulation, Weatherization

 

Don’t let frozen pipes burst your winter plans this season. Instead, plan ahead with Knez Building Materials Co. Call the Knez insulation experts to help you with money saving tips to wrap and insulate the pipes in and around your home, which should be a part of every homeowner’s weatherization checklist. Wrapping and insulating pipes prevents them from freezing this winter and helps you avoid costly repairs and discomfort.

It takes more than frozen water to freeze pipes. It actually requires a combination of temperature changes, ice blocks, and water pressure to cause pipe failure. When the heat emitted from water inside a pipe hits freezing air, the water inside the pipe freezes and turns into ice. The ice blocks water from moving through the pipe. Because the unfrozen water has nowhere to go (the faucet is closed), it sits and freezes in place. The ice block expands along the pipeline, causing a buildup of water pressure. Ultimately, it’s this water pressure buildup that causes pipes to burst.

The best way to prevent pipes from freezing is to keep heat inside the pipe from hitting cold air outside the pipe. Protect at-risk pipes by fitting them with insulation sleeves or foam wraps – the thicker the sleeve or wrap, the better the protection.

Be sure to also check for air leaks in and around pipe fixtures and pipe lines. Common areas include under sinks, in the basement and attic, and in crawlspaces. Air leaks allow cold air into the home, decreasing temperatures and increasing the risk of freezing pipes. Lastly, remember to check outside pipes in the garage, sprinkler systems, and exterior faucets. When in doubt, call on a professional for advice on pipe insulation and installation.

Portland Online provides this handy diagram to educate its residents about frozen pipes.

Why Frozen Water Will Burst Your Pipe. Photo courtesy of www.portlandonline.com.

How to Recycle Building Materials

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Environmental / Building Green, How-To, Material Handling

 

The green building movement is changing the way people think about where they live and how they live. And thanks to the green building movement, home renovation, building, and restoring gets greener everyday, making it easier for you to “greenify” your own home projects. One way to do this is by recycling building materials.

But what if you don’t know what to do with that leftover plaster, paint, and porcelain tile? Consider donating unused materials to second-hand building centers that reuse such materials to promote recycling in the community. These centers are usually not-for-profit organizations. Their benefit to local communities is two-fold: they sell second-hand building materials at affordable prices and they educate the community on green building. Additionally, many centers offer free DIY and How-To classes to the public.

However, not all building materials can be donated or recycled into new items. Here is a short list of items referred to as not recyclable:

  • Painted wood
  • Window panes and mirrors
  • Items containing mercury such as thermostats
  • Old plumbing and pipe fixtures

Be sure to contact your second-hand building and recycling centers for more information on what building materials they take and which ones they don’t. And if you don’t know where to go, check out Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, which has resale centers in many communities across the U.S. and Canada.

Another way to learn what building materials can be recycled in your community is to contact your city government’s solid waste and recycling website. Along with the green building movement, many cities across the U.S. have begun including recycling and sustainable living information pages on their websites, where users can check the city calendar for community-wide recycling sweeps, read up on the latest tax rebates for greener homes, and also can find their nearest recycling and reuse centers.

Did you know that unused drywall free of nails, metal trim, and paint can be recycled into new drywall? Knez can help you recycle your drywall scraps, making your home renovation, building, and restoration projects greener for the environment.