Brett McCutcheon

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How Erosion Can Halt Your Construction Site: Tips for Prevention

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Sep 2, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Erosion can be a major problem on the job site. What causes it? And what can you do to prevent it? There are several measures you can take.

We’re going to show you all about those preventative measures—and we’re also going to talk a little bit about our GABION line of tools. These are hog ring tools designed not only for agricultural use but also to help you maximize efficiency by building quick erosion control measures on the job site.


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Topics: Tools, Gabion Ringer, erosion control, construction site, power tools, construction, diamond coated, air driven, agricultural, gabion plier, soil




Summer Construction Challenges Solved!

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Aug 26, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Summer is one of the most productive and challenging times of year for most construction contractors. Problems like extreme weather, an overly busy schedule, and poor air quality can all cause delays in production and poor overall efficiency. Sometimes these problems can even cause injuries, poor morale, and loss of work.

These problems have solutions. Using the right tools and fasteners, such as BECK's patented diamond coating for fasteners, for example, can help make your season more productive and profitable. The diamond coating ensures reduced friction, fewer wood fibers destroyed, and higher withdrawal values, allowing you to work faster when using nails and staples made with this innovative technology.

Additionally, training workers to stay safe in challenging conditions and following summer-specific protocols are essential steps to overcome some of summer's biggest challenges. See below for more details on these challenges and what you can do about them.


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Topics: Pneumatic Nailers, Scrail Fasteners, Tools, Staples, pneumatic tools, Staplers, scrail, construction site, power tools, fastening system, summer, construction, diamond coated, diamond coated fasteners




Timber Construction and the Environment: A Perfect Match

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Aug 19, 2023 7:15:00 AM

As environmentally friendly building methods continue to rise in popularity, so too does timber construction—and that’s because there are few building materials out there that are better for the environment.

With that, timber lends itself well to tools and building practices that are also environmentally friendly. Consider the patented LignoLoc® Wooden Nail System from BECK, for example. These are environmentally friendly, pneumatically driven, wooden fasteners designed to be used in timber construction. Using them, you can create 100% wooden cross-laminated timber panels that are not only green and sustainable, but also thermally sound enough to reduce energy usage in the finished building.

That’s the true beauty of wood. There are multiple ways in which it helps the environment—and we’re going to examine some of these benefits here.


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Topics: Tools, lignoloc, Wooden Nails, mass timber construction, power tools, fastening system, construction, Eco-Friendly Construction, wooden nail system, sustainable building, timber panel




The Role of Fastener Selection in Ensuring Structural Integrity

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Aug 18, 2023 10:01:05 AM

When it comes to structural integrity, there are two key components to consider: The actual structural members themselves—like lumber, steel studs, or concrete—and the fasteners that hold it all together. Fasteners are crucial because the wrong fastener can create a weaker structure or one that fails long before it should.

That’s why we’re going to explore how to make the correct fastener choices for different applications. Along the way, we’ll show you many of the fasteners that BECK offers for these purposes.


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Topics: Metal Roofing Fasteners, Scrail Fasteners, fasteners, lignoloc, Wooden Nails, wood, mass timber construction, fastening system, construction, fastener system, concrete, diamond coated fasteners, structural integrity, concrete pins




Metal Roofing: The Secret to Increasing a Home’s Desirability and Value

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Aug 8, 2023 10:51:32 AM

The metal roofing industry was valued at $23.8 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow to $33.5 billion by the year 2030, partly due to metal roofing's rise in popularity on residential structures. Homeowners choose metal roofing for many reasons: it's durable and long-lasting, it has excellent wind and fire resistance, it's easy to maintain, and it's good for the environment. 

If you're a contractor working with metal roofing, it's important to use the right fasteners to ensure your work will last. The SCRAIL® RoofLoc® Metal Roofing System, developed by BECK, can be installed twice as fast as collated screws and includes a leakproof EPDM washer for efficient and effective fastening. Each screw is pneumatically driven with the FASCO® (a BECK member) Roofing Installation Tool using our patented SCRAIL® RoofLoc® fasteners. It makes metal roofing fast to install and built to last. But let’s explore further why metal roofing in general is a wise choice for housing.


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Topics: Metal Roofing Fasteners, Scrail Fasteners, fasteners, RoofLoc® SCRAIL®, RoofLoc®, Tools, Metal Roofs, power tools, fastening system, roofing system, construction, fastener system, Eco-Friendly Construction




How Steel Framing Enhances Your Building’s Earthquake Resistance

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Jul 29, 2023 7:00:00 AM

While it doesn’t always get a lot of attention, earthquake resistance is a crucial facet in architectural design—and steel framing can enhance your building’s earthquake resistance. How?

We’re going to explore that topic in depth. With that, we’d also like to showcase the ET&F® (a BECK brand) fastener systems, which are ideal for working with steel structures. Let’s get started by examining what makes steel a good choice for earthquake resistance.


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Topics: Steel Studs, Tools, ET&F, steel framing, power tools, commercial building, construction, fastener system, steel construction, steel structure, earthquake resistance




The Do’s and Don’ts of Rooftop Deck Construction

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Jul 22, 2023 7:00:00 AM

Rooftop decks are becoming increasingly popular all over the United States, especially in areas where space is at a premium, like Washington D.C. or Boston. In fact, space is what makes rooftop decks so popular. Your clients want outdoor spaces, and when they don’t have room for a backyard deck, they start looking at alternatives—like the roof, if there happens to be a flat space that is large enough to turn into a functional outdoor living space.

Since this is a job that you’ll be hearing about more and more, we’re going to show you a few helpful dos and don’ts for rooftop deck construction. We’d also like to highlight the SCRAIL® InvisiDeck® System, which gives you the power to install a seamless deck without visible fasteners and in a fifth of the time compared to traditional screws.


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Topics: Scrail Fasteners, Deck, invisideck, Tools, scrail, power tools, spitless decking scrail, construction, fastener system, rooftop deck, InvisiDeck system




Top Factors to Consider When Selecting the Ideal Underlayment for Your Client

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Jul 18, 2023 12:37:05 PM

Anyone in the construction industry understands the importance of choosing the right underlayment—the unsung hero that bridges the gap between a flawless floor covering and a rock-solid subfloor. With a myriad of options at your disposal, ranging from trusty cork and sturdy felt to resilient foam and robust rubber, your expertise comes into play.

But that's not all. When moisture threatens to disrupt your plans, an additional moisture barrier becomes your shield. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to analyze budgets, consider flooring materials, and navigate the intricacies of each project.

One thing is for certain: when you're installing flooring in your client's home, it's important to use the right tools for a successful project. BECK’s SCRAIL® SubLoc® PRO allows for fast installation of flooring materials and creates squeak-free subfloors. In fact, because of its special thread, the SCRAIL® SubLoc® PRO prevents squeaking years after installation. It can help you construct impeccable floors, but you should take these additional considerations into account.


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Topics: Subloc Pro, Scrail Fasteners, Tools, power tools, commercial building, construction, underlayment, plastic strip system, flooring, Soundproofing, diamond coated fasteners, nail system, durability




The Advantages of Wood Fencing for Livestock: A Farm Owner’s Guide

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Jul 8, 2023 7:00:00 AM

When it comes to building fences for livestock, wood is a classic and reliable material. Its strength, abundance, natural properties, and aesthetic appeal make it an ideal choice for fence builders, landscapers, and general contractors working on livestock fencing projects.

To construct sturdy and desirable farming fences, using the right materials is crucial. Tools like the FASCO® (a BECK member) F70G FENCE 45-315 Stapler and the FASCO® F46A FENCE 45-315 Stapler are specifically designed for fence building. These staplers are powerful and efficient, allowing professional contractors to quickly and effectively secure fence staples. Before diving into the advantages of these staplers, let's explore the benefits of using wood in livestock fencing and how it can impact your construction projects.


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Topics: Fence, Build Livestock Fences, Fence Staples, Fencing, Tools, Fence Stapler, wood, gas fence stapler, power tools, commercial building, construction, nail system, durability, wood fencing, livestock, fence building, farmers




Why Cross-Laminated Timber Panels are the Future of Sustainable Building

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Jul 1, 2023 7:15:00 AM

Today, sustainability is a major focus area in construction, with everyone from builders to manufacturers innovating new, better, more sustainable ways to build. Cross-laminated timber panels are emerging as one of the top new innovations—and there are many reasons why.

We’ll cover those reasons here, and we’re also going to show you some of our own innovations. That includes the patented LIGNOLOC® system, which is the first collated wooden nail system made from renewable compressed beech wood. Adding onto the LIGNOLOC® system, we’ve also developed our own LIGNOLOC® cross-laminated timber panels (LCLT), which represent a sustainable, metal and glue-free option for the architects and builders who are pioneering sustainable construction.


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Topics: Tools, lignoloc, Wooden Nails, wood, mass timber construction, power tools, commercial building, construction, Eco-Friendly Construction, sustainability, wooden nail system, nail system, durability, clt panels, sustainable building, timber panel





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SCRAIL®, Fast like a Nail, Strong like a Screw, are incredibly versatile collated fasteners that can be driven with a pneumatic nailer at a rate twice as fast as collated screws and eight times faster than bulk screws. You can rely upon SCRAIL® fasteners to hold strong, without callbacks to fix a squeak or a nail pop.

Give SCRAIL® a try, and enjoy 10% off your first order.

  • Use SCRAIL® almost anywhere ordinary screws are used
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  • Twice as fast as collated screws, eight times faster than bulk screws
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