Mastering the Craft: Essential Dos and Don’ts for Installing a Slate Roof

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Nov 4, 2023 7:15:00 AM

In the world of roofing material, slate is among the longest-lasting and the most durable. It's so long-lasting that some slate roofs from the 1800s are still in use today. This longevity and durability mean that slate is a very different roofing material than other types of roofing material commonly used today. Slate roofs have unique considerations that affect the installation process. If you're a contractor responsible for installing slate roofs on residences or commercial buildings, these do's and don'ts can help you find success.

Of course, working with the right tools makes all the difference. The FASCO® (a BECK member) F24 Slate Hook System is designed for slate roof installation. The system includes the Slate Hook tool for some of the fastest and most efficient slate shingle installations in the world. The FASCO® F24 Slate Hook System can be operated with just one hand, so it's perfect when working on steeply pitched roofs.


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Topics: Construction Fasteners, building, fasteners, Tools, Roofing, Slate Roofing, construction site, outdoor construction, power tools, fastening system, commercial building, construction, nail system, sheathing




Pro Tips for Fastening to Steel and Concrete

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Oct 28, 2023 7:00:00 AM

Some jobs are harder than others, and as a builder, you probably have a few jobs on your list of least favorite things to do. For many builders, those least favorite jobs include driving fasteners into steel and concrete. When you’re working with wood, drywall, or other, softer materials, you can leverage nail guns to make it quick and easy to drive fasteners. Where steel and concrete are concerned, however, it often requires a lot of time and hard work.

Below, we’ll explore the difficulties you’ll face when using traditional fasteners with these materials. We’re also going to show you a better way to fasten to steel and concrete: The ET&F® (a BECK member) Model 710 fastening system, which is designed for steel and concrete—and offers the same ease of use that you’d get from a nail gun.


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Topics: Construction Fasteners, building, fasteners, Tools, ET&F, steel framing, construction site, outdoor construction, power tools, fastening system, commercial building, construction, concrete, trimfast, nail system, nails, steel construction, concrete pins




Reasons Why Buildings Fall Apart

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Oct 21, 2023 7:15:00 AM

Buildings are designed to stand the test of time, but sometimes, they face challenges from natural forces or structural defects. Understanding the factors that can lead to a building's deterioration is crucial for ensuring the success of your construction projects.

To enhance the durability and stability of your structures, consider the advantages of BECK’s patented diamond-coated fasteners. This innovative diamond coating technology is expertly applied to a range of products, including BECK’s SCRAIL® SUBLOC® PRO and JUMBO strip nails. This coating significantly reduces friction between the fastener and the wood structure, resulting in a stronger grip on the material and fewer fibers being damaged.

Curious about the underlying causes of building failures? Keep reading to discover more.


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Topics: Construction Fasteners, Scrail Fasteners, building, fasteners, Tools, construction site, outdoor construction, power tools, nail screws, commercial building, construction, sustainability, diamond coated, nail system, nails, sustainable building, structural integrity




The Importance of Using Recyclable Building Materials

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Oct 14, 2023 7:15:00 AM

More and more, people are turning toward sustainable building methods—and it’s not just within the homebuilding industry. Commercial and industrial construction clients are also looking for ways to create more sustainable buildings.

And one of the best ways to do that? It’s through recyclable materials.

In many instances, builders are searching out materials that they can recycle directly into new builds—like timber, for example. For other types of materials, people are choosing options that, while you may not be able to directly recycle them at the end of their useful life, they can be recycled at the industrial level. Metals and concrete are examples of this type of recycling.

Fasteners are included in the push to use recyclable materials—and that’s what makes SCRAIL® nail screw fasteners, developed by BECK, a great choice for sustainable, recyclable builds. In this post, we’re going to show you the importance of recyclable materials, and we’ll show you how SCRAIL® fits into a recyclable building plan.


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Topics: Construction Fasteners, Scrail Fasteners, building, fasteners, Tools, construction site, outdoor construction, power tools, nail screws, commercial building, construction, sustainability, nail system, nails, sustainable building, structural integrity




Sustainable Woods for Construction: An Overview

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

Sustainability has become very important to consumers and contractors in the last several years. At the same time, what is involved in sustainable material selection is far more complicated than most people realize. There is not one set of standards that determines what is and isn't sustainable, and when it comes to sustainable woods, determining what woods are sustainable can be challenging. Knowing what to consider when trying to choose sustainable wood is important.

Contractors who prioritize sustainability also use the patented LignoLoc® Wooden Nail System made by BECK, the first collated nail made of wood, as well as Cross-Laminated Timber Panels. These panels offer a beautiful and functional solution for building projects and come in various types, including beerier wall panels, non-load-loading wall panels (dividers), and LCLT wall systems (LignoLoc® Cross Laminated Timber panels) which are CLT panels mechanically fastened using LignoLoc® wood nails and no glue. Discovering the innovative applications of sustainable woods like these can lead to a deeper understanding of their benefits and possibilities in construction.


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Topics: building, fasteners, Tools, lignoloc, construction site, outdoor construction, power tools, nail screws, construction, sustainability, wooden nail system, nail system, nails, clt panels, sustainable building, cross-laminated timber panels




Creating a Space for All Seasons: Designing Multi-Functional Outdoor Areas

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

Multi-functional outdoor areas certainly are popular, but do you know how to design spaces that your clients will love? Multi-functional spaces require planning and organizational thinking when designing the layout.

It's also important to use the right tools for the project. The Splitless.Decking.SCRAIL® systems from BECK are specially made to allow for rapid installation when creating boardwalks, footpaths, decks, and more. The blunt tip of SCRAIL® nail screw fasteners helps prevent the wood from splitting either in the top layer or the layer below. This reduces waste and wasted time, allowing for a faster and more efficient installation process.

But before you purchase tools, here are several key factors to consider when embarking on the design journey for multi-functional outdoor areas.


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Topics: Scrail Fasteners, building, fasteners, Tools, scrail, construction site, outdoor construction, power tools, fastening system, nail screws, decking, spitless decking scrail, commercial building, construction, fastener system, nails




Commercial and Industrial Construction What Sets Them Apart?

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Sep 23, 2023 7:15:00 AM

Construction falls into several different categories. Residential, infrastructure, commercial, and industrial are the biggest. Residential construction is obvious: Homes, multi-family units, apartment buildings, and so on. Infrastructure is pretty simple, too. That category covers everything from roads and bridges to airports, water, wastewater systems, and more.

But what’s the difference between commercial and industrial construction? Here, things are a little less clear.

We’re going to explain what separates commercial and industrial construction. We’re also going to talk about the Aerico® 90 Strip Nailer, which is a tool made to drive collated pins into steel and concrete—two common materials that are often worked with in both commercial and industrial construction.


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Topics: building, fasteners, Tools, pallets, construction site, power tools, staple systems, fastening system, commercial building, construction, fastener system, nails, Aerico® 90 Nailer, steel construction, industrial construction




Tips for creating a sustainable Building Design

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Mar 11, 2023 7:30:00 AM

The construction industry hasn't always been good for the environment. In fact, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the buildings and construction sector accounted for 39% of energy and process-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2018. But in recent years, a great shift toward sustainable construction has taken place. Recognizing that buildings can no longer be a source of such harm, many businesses have sought out sustainable construction for their buildings, and many construction firms have turned their sights toward green construction techniques.

Using natural, renewable building materials is a part of this push. The LignoLoc® Wooden Nail System from BECK includes compressed beach wood nails. It's the perfect tool-and-nail system for contractors who are serious about using renewable resources in their construction projects. But there are many methods to creating a more sustainable building design. Here are some tips to consider.


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Topics: Pneumatic Nailers, Nailers, building, Tools, lignoloc, wood, construction, sustainability




Tips to Improve Efficiency on Framing Jobs

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Sep 24, 2022 8:30:00 AM

Framing is a large and regular part of any builder’s daily work. And that means that ways to make this job more efficient are always welcome since efficiency can save time, materials, and potential headaches or framing failures down the road—all of which can prove costly for your business.

So, what are some helpful tips to make framing more efficient? The right tools are a good start, for one thing. We suggest the FASCO® (a BECK member) F70G Joist Hanger Nailer, which is a powerful tool that lets you drive fasteners when you’re hanging joists or other heavy-duty types of framing. Aside from that, there are a few other things you can do to make framing more efficient.


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Topics: Construction Fasteners, Nailers, building, fasteners, framing, joist hanger nailer




Improve Your Next Commercial Fencing Project

Posted by Brett McCutcheon on Sep 19, 2022 2:10:50 PM

 Commercial fences have an enormous  amount of practical and aesthetic  value. Aside from surrounding property in a definitive, visually pleasing, and even cozy way, they also provide first-line security while being affordable and easy to build.

 If a client requests to have a fence installed, in addition to offering them a variety of design options, make sure you install them correctly with the right tools and techniques to make the final product last as long as possible. In terms of tools for both speed and robust construction, BECK's brands are excellent examples of what simply works. The FASCO® (a BECK brand) F46A and  FASCO® F70G fence staple guns both deliver performance that's ideally suited for rapid, flexible fence construction. Particularly for deeply embedding and countersinking staples of up to 45mm (1 - 1 3/4") into pressure-treated wood and hardwood construction materials.

 Using these powerful staple guns can make your fence assembly flow smoothly, rapidly, and safely while you also keep in mind several other crucial tips for completing the overall job correctly. Let's get down to those now.


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Topics: Fence Staples, Fencing, building, Fence Stapler, commercial building





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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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