What does it take to build a skyscraper? There are so many facets to it. These are projects that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, so naturally, it starts with a planning phase that can take years to get everything right. Then comes the building phase, in which there are several distinct phases. Throughout, contractors rely on a variety of different materials—and of course, heavy duty tools and fasteners such as those offered by ET&F®, a BECK brand.

Fiber cement is an interesting building material with a lot of applications. You’ll often find it used as siding, although there are uses for it indoors as well. When installing Fiber Cement, traditional nails or screws wont work with this material —but there are fastener alternatives out there. BECK offers the PANELFAST® Model 510A Nailer plus Fasteners to match. But we’ll get into that below! Keep reading to learn more about fiber cement and its uses.

The deep chill of winter can grind many outdoor projects to a frozen halt, and construction is no exception. However, it doesn't have to be this way. Prefab and mid-sized steel frame structure assembly is one superb solution to deep cold. Especially if you have the right tools for this type of job, the entire project can progress safely and exceptionally fast. BECK's ET&F® brand of cold-resistant tools and fastening equipment for steel building assembly, are designed to deliver both speed and strength. They can be applied to steel frame construction work, in innovative ways that allow rapid-fire fastening without having to waste time on pre-drilled holes, or difficult screwing techniques. Here are a few other reasons why steel assembly works so well in winter.

Choosing between concrete and steel can sometimes be a difficult challenge. Concrete has been around since the start of the Roman Empire, and it has endured the test of time. Steel’s popularity has grown over the last 150 years, and it is currently one of the most extensively utilized structural materials. They both have the strength, versatility, and accessibility to be used in almost any building job. The question is which material is better for your project? Here are some of the key differences between steel and concrete to determine what might be best for your project.

We have all heard about the importance of building strong foundations. From education to relationships to buildings, it is common knowledge that a solid foundation is the first step to success. Although the word “foundation” has made its way into daily speech, perhaps nowhere is it more important than in construction. Let’s review how to properly anchor your foundation, so your building is properly supported and insulated from ground water.

Steel is one of the most often used materials in construction today. From skyscrapers to bridges to warehouses, steel provides nearly unparalleled structural integrity in a variety of building situations, while also maintaining a moderately low-cost price tag when compared to other structure materials.

In any well-finished space, you’ll see the finishing touches of trim work, crown molding, chair rails, base molding, etc. Simple to install on wood framing, these traditional accents can create a truly polished look, and are almost always made of wood. These features are often missing in spaces like basements or office buildings. The reason is simple, commercial spaces or those prone to moisture are often framed using steel studs and historically, attaching anything to a steel stud, other than a steel stud, has been less than efficient. Here we discuss the variations in studs from wood to steel, and the tool that is making the bond between wood trim and steel studs possible.

As a top innovator of fasteners and pneumatic tools, the BECK Group is at the heart of the construction industry. As a result, we have witnessed many of the trends that continue to propel the industry forward. It’s important to stay aware of items on the horizon so you can prepare and plan for what’s ahead.

Let’s take a look at five construction trends in 2020 that will change the industry.

While pin fastening has been a commonly used practice in commercial construction for more than half a century, many are still skeptical of the pins’ ability to fasten to steel as securely as a screw. However, when driven pneumatically steel pins are firmly embedded, which allows for a holding power of equal, if not greater, value to screws. While some might be unsure if steel pins are a reliable fastening solution, they have proven to perform well consistently in a variety of applications. Here are the ins and outs of steel pins – how they work and why they can be successfully used in place of screws.