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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.

Lapolla Spray Foam Used in Extreme Home Makeover

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

 

Knez Building Materials believes that when it’s time to makeover your home, you might want to consider companies such as Bayer and Demilec for your Spray Foam needs. Using a spray polyurethane foam is one of the best ways to keep your home insulted. That’s what ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition did for the Hill Family home in Ottawa, Kansas in November 2011. ABC producers called on another great manufacturer, Lapolla Spray Foam, to help the Hill Family save on energy costs and reduce noise pollution.

A better insulated home saves on energy costs, reducing energy consumption. One reason for costly home energy bills is poor insulation. When a home lacks proper insulation, it loses more energy than it can keep.

Air infiltration is often the culprit of home energy loss. Poorly sealed windows, doors, and air ducts allow outside air in and inside air out. The home’s heating system has to work harder and longer to keep the home warm in the winter. The roles reverse in the summer when the cooling system kicks into high gear. This was one problem Lapolla helped the Hill Family fix in their extreme home makeover.

The second problem the Hill Family wanted to address was noise pollution. Spray foam also acts as a sound barrier. The spray foam blocks unwanted noise from coming in, such as the roar of passing cars and delivery trucks and the outbursts of playing children and barking dogs.

For ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Lapolla used its AirTight Open Cell Foam in the Hill Family home. Lapolla’s AirTight Open Cell Foam is malleable foam that can be worked into tight spaces. Because this foam goes on in liquid foam, it expands more than a hundred times its volume, growing into the tightest nooks and crannies and sealing the home. For the Hill Family, this contributed to savings on energy costs and made their home more comfortable.

Watch the clip!

Lapolla spray foam has been previously featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition series for home renovation projects inWashington,D.C., Freeport, Illinois, and Lewisport, Kentucky.

How to Winterize for the Season

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Customer Corner, Insulation, Weatherization

Winter means holidays, families, fireplaces … and potential dangers for your home and your wallet. After you’ve seen to standards like emptying gutters, weather-stripping, and checking pipes, you should think about upgrading your home’s insulation.

Winterize Your Home with New Insulation from Knez Building Materials Co.

Because winter also means higher heating bills! The colder it gets, the more it costs you to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Upgrading your home’s insulation level is an efficient way to keep heat in your house and the gas company out of your wallet. In fact, home insulation levels are probably the single most important factor in determining how much heat you use, and how much money you spend on gas bills.

Adding insulation to the walls of your home requires knowledge of home building materials and techniques. For this type of job, it may be best to contact an insulation contractor that specializes in home insulation projects. The cost of paying a professional can be saved many times over by reducing your monthly heating bill.

There are also simpler insulation jobs that you can do yourself. Attic insulation is one of the most important parts of keeping your home warm. Upgrading the level and quality of your attic insulation can save you significantly on your heating bill. And because attic insulation is (usually) accessible, it can be upgraded or replaced more easily than wall insulation can be.  Insulation may also be accessible and easily upgradeable at the ceiling of unfinished basements.

Pipes and your hot water heater can be easily insulated to reduce hot water bills and help prevent cracking and bursting. Most hardware stores carry pre-cut foam insulation designed specifically for pipes. Simply fit around the pipe, duct tape into place along the edge, and you’re done – and you’ve saved money.

These simple projects can be done in a weekend, could save you large amounts on this winter’s heating bill. For more tips on caring for your home in winter, and more on home building materials, keep checking our regular updates in this space.

Types of Boom Trucks for Your Projects

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

Boom trucks are utility vehicles used to assist workers in performing a variety of projects that are outside of normal human means. Boom trucks are versatile vehicles that can be outfitted to a variety of transport, freight or material handling tasks. The two most common types of boom trucks are:

  • Aerial boom trucks or bucket trucks, often casually referred to as “cherry pickers,” are transport and utility vehicles used to assist workers in performing jobs off the ground. A lift arm is built into the back of the truck with an attached bucket for a worker to stand in. The lift arm can be raised to the appropriate height to allow a worker to perform a job on trees, raised wires, etc. These are the trucks you often see your local utility workers using to fix phone or power lines.
  • Crane boom trucks are boom trucks that have been outfitted for use as a crane. A crane is a machine used for heavy material lifting and heavy material handling. Though they cannot reach the heavy transport or freight lifting capacity of dedicated cranes, boom trucks can be outfitted with a wench to create a multi-ton crane adequate for all but the heaviest industrial jobs.

A recent innovation of note in the building materials industry is a boom truck modification known as a skyfork, designed by John Knez Jr. of Knez Building Materials. The skyfork is a specially designed crane that can reach higher than a normal boom truck. This is a safer, more secure, more efficient way to get drywall to high and difficult to reach places, without the use of straps.

The Knez Skyfork in Action

The skyfork is also ideal for drywall heavy transport. It does not cause any of the breakage and waste seen with other forms of material handling and material lifting common in the drywall industry. Both for material transport and as a crane, the skyfork is vastly superior to typical boom trucks.

Customer Corner: What is Drywall?

By Knez Inc. | Posted on | Leave a reply | Posted in Customer Corner, Drywall

Whether you’re a first time or long time homeowner, understanding the building materials and construction techniques that went into your home will help you care for it, and make you a smarter consumer when considering renovations. That’s why our Knez experts have taken it upon themselves to help you get educated on building materials and methods. We will be posting a series of informational articles here on the Knez Building Materials blog that will help you get to know your home better.

What better place to start than drywall? Drywall, also known as plasterboard, or wallboard, is ubiquitous in modern home construction, and one of the most common home building materials. If your home was built after the 1950s it is likely that most of your interior walls are constructed of drywall. (If your home was built prior to the 1950s, you likely have lathe and plaster interior walls).

Drywall is made of a gypsum-based plaster contained between two thick sheets of paper. (Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral, and the most common ingredient in most common plasters). Pre-fabricated boards can be easily cut to size and installed over a non-structural wooden or metal support frame (the “studs” behind your walls).

Drywall is the most popular modern home building material in part because it is cost-effective both to produce and to install. Installing drywall is an efficient process. An experienced crew can install drywall into an entire home in only a day or two – considerably shorter than the week or more it took to build interior lathe and plaster walls.

Another reason for drywall’s popularity is that the water contained in the gypsum makes drywall naturally fire resistant. Other materials are sometimes also added to drywall plaster (in addition to gypsum) to make drywall boards with increased fire-resistance ratings.

Though it has a reputation for being susceptible to mold, modern drywall comes in several varieties that are appropriate for use in moist rooms (bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, etc.). In addition to standard mold-resistant drywall, drywall variety building materials available also include moisture resistant “greenboard” that contains an oil-based additive to help repel water particles, and the even more moisture-resistant cement board.

Drywall has been the dominant interior wall building material for more than half a century because it is a versatile, efficient, and cost-effective material that can be adapted to any number of purposes. Well-constructed, properly installed drywall can meet virtually any interior wall or ceiling need at a great price.

Still have questions about drywall and other home building materials? Keep checking out this space, where we’ll be talking about all of your home building and remodeling questions on a regular basis.

Knez Building Materials Makes an Appearance on DIY Network’s House Crashers for a Local Basement Build-Out

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

Any basement remodel or build-out needs careful planning to be executed correctly. In Portland, that is doubly important because of the rain that we get about 70 percent of the year, making the nooks and crannies of your underground space the ideal candidate for leaks, cracks and mold. But the advantages to a remodel does give homeowners endless possibilities for their enlarged space—from a home theater to a full-scale gym, your gloomy basement can be transformed into a fresh and cheerful space all year round.

Knez Building Materials had the amazing opportunity to help one Portland couple renovate their unfinished basement into an entertainment mecca. The DIY Network featured the work in an episode of “House Crashers: Basement Build-Out.” What was once a bland storage area has been altered into an elegant wine room, with a tasting area and custom media wall.

Check it out!

 

Knez was tapped by Shelbyville Remodeling, with the help of Eliud Perez Drywall and Painting, to donate and deliver drywall for the rebuild. In addition to drywall, Knez also offers tools and accessories for everything from prep work to finish. The company is very thankful to both contractors for the opportunity to donate material for the project!

“It was a great experience to work for local companies while helping out local people,” said John Knez III. “It was a great opportunity to have so many local people coming together to work on this project, and it was great to know that we were supporting our local economy.”

The drywall was actually used to build a new wall to add privacy to the basement space. With custom cork flooring and salvaged post beams that were used to make an once-of-a-kind wine tasting table, this brand new space is now ready for some holiday parties!

“It was nice to show out-of-towners [the Portland couple was originally from California] how we do it here in Portland and show the public who we are and what we do,” added Knez.

Watch the full episode of “House Crashers” on the DIY Network. Tune in to upcoming reruns of this basement build-out on the following days and time:

  • 12/21/2011 at 6 p.m.
  • 12/25/2011 at 6 p.m.
  • 12/26/2011 at 9 p.m.
  • 12/26/2011 at 12 a.m.
  • 01/01/2012 at 7:30 p.m.