Shelter - September 2008

Volume 47, Issue 7 - September 2008

The Next Big Thing

STAIRWAYS
A Classic, Beautiful Staircase
Imagine Scarlett O’Hara gliding down the long, sweeping white marble stairway in “Gone With the Wind.” Now, envision that elegant curved staircase made of durable synthetic millwork. The same beautiful, classic lines are showcased in the new Hybrid Balustrade and Compound Curve Stairway System in the William E. Poole Collection by Fypon.

Designed to complement the Verandas house style created by designer William E. Poole, the Hybrid Balustrade and Compound Curve Stairway System can be incorporated into any home design featuring balconies and stairs, according to company officials. Custom configurations for the stair rise and factory-assembled stair balustrades are just two of the many time-saving installation features of the new product line.

Caps and rails in the system are easy to join and feature recognized joints to allow for expansion and contraction, which help to eliminate cracks. Threaded rods and nuts allow for fast installation by builders and remodelers. Smaller cross sections make rails easier to cut on the job site. ✔ www.fypon.com

TOOLS
It’s a Simple Estimation
Boise Cascade Engineered Wood Products introduced BC Estimator™ earlier this year. It’s a tool that gives estimators accurate take-offs in seconds and precisely measures square footage, pitch and angles with a simple point and click. The software’s assemblies can create fast estimates using customizable Excel-like formulas. The tool digitizes data from scanned documents and imports it into BC Framer® integrated analysis framing design software, saving designers up to four hours per plan and getting the design information back faster and more accurately.

BC Estimator enables customers who receive scanned or e-mailed electronic images to now work in a modern paperless environment. Another major benefit is that builders can accommodate last-minute plan changes without fear of losing profitability because of the software’s ability to do quick and reliable cost estimates. BC Estimator also improves accuracy and saves time because information is inputted only once. ✔ www.bc.com

DISPLAY PRODUCTS
New and Improved
Display manufacturer DAC Products has introduced new improvements to its popular knock-down door and window display. The previous caster system, which was designed for moving the display around a showroom, has been replaced with a reinforcing steel uchannel foot caster system made of steel and hard rubber.

This upgrade will allow window dealers to use the display in more mobile applications such as mall shows and fairs. DAC has also incorporated a new cam lock fastener system for quick and easy assembly. The instructions have also been simplified and many illustrations provided.

The KD display is available in blue and black and can be purchased with customized graphics in a quantity of only one. DAC also offers custom designs to meet individual requirements. ✔ www.dacproducts.com