Newsletter Archive
December 2009 -- This article "Reduce Expense With Modular Office" is the third in our series of guest articles. Modular buildings such as offices are very easy to build within a very short span of time. Because of this, building costs are very much lower when compared to traditional structures. The materials may be significantly higher than that of conventional buildings, but owners save a lot on labor and other costs because of the small time frame needed for other things. Modular offices are thus great choices not only for those who are in a hurry but also for those who want to cut costs. Modular offices are also very energy efficient both during the time of assembly and the time of use. A modular office can be the right choice of your business requires you to move your location more than once. You would not have to demolish your old office building just to build a new one since you can bring the office with you as you move. You can easily convert sections of the office as you wish. Even though modular offices are portable, this does not mean that they are devoid of the usual features of regular office buildings. You have the same rooms like toilets, conference areas, receiving areas, and so on. You can also incorporate with the modular structures fixtures like drawers and filing cabinets, helping you lower the costs for your office furniture. You also have the option to add new sections and fixtures in the future without having to destroy a major part of the structure. Of course, like everything else modular offices have their own set of disadvantages, particularly the limit of their height due to the structural nature of these buildings. Modular offices can only by 8 feet high at the most to ensure the safety of its occupants. This is however still ideal for small businesses, which do not really need towering heights. This is also quite ideal for businesses that are still starting and are trying to get by with minimal costs. A modular offices can very well serve the needs of a small business like any other type of office space can. If you want to have your own office at low costs, then you might want to consider building a modular office. To know more about modular offices, you may consult with your contractor or look through your local directory. You may also search for modular office dealers online. To read more articles by Daniel Roshard, if any, visit http://ezince.com.
It is a known fact that people need money, at least in the present times, and the need for money increases as the years go by. Most people try to increase their income by looking for more ventures for business but in order to really get more money, you would have to also lower your costs. If you are still starting up an office, or trying to expand an existing one, a good way to cut costs is by constructing a modular office.
What is a Modular Office?
A modular building or office is a structure that is manufactured inside a factory and then shipped, part-by-part to the office location to be assembled. There are many buildings that make use of this modular system from classrooms, stores, restaurants, and of course, offices. There are also some churches and hospitals that are built this way because of the many advantages of these structures.
Editors Note: New construction techniques and materials have allowed the height of modular offices to increase to 9'. Modular offices may also be designed with a load bearing upper level or mezzanine as well as for use as two story interior office spaces.
November 2009 -- This is the second encore article.
As energy prices increase, warming and cooling your home is becoming more and more expensive. Upgrading your insulation is one way to fight the increased costs.
Insulation acts as a blanket for your home. During cold winters, it serves as a barrier to keep as much of the warm air produced by your heating system as possible in the home. In summers, it serves the opposite role of keeping warm air out and cool air in. All in all, this makes it a pretty flexible building material when you think about it.
The key to keeping your heating and cooling costs down is to understand insulation and use the best possible type for your home. To assist in this regard, every community maintains building codes calling out for minimum levels of insulation. Unfortunately, these minimum levels often are insufficient, a particular problem with new homes given that builders use them as the standard to minimize the cost of construction. Nearly every home could significantly cut heating and cooling costs if they upgraded their insulation.
Insulation comes in three basic forms -- flexible insulation, loose-fill insulation and reflective insulation. Flexible insulation is the most familiar, to wit, the rolls of pink [or yellow or white] stuff you see at construction projects. Loose-fill insulation comes in bags and is actually sprayed into walls. Reflective insulation is used like flexible insulation to fill stud walls, but works by using a material that reflects the radiating heat in a structure. There is also rigid insulation, but it is rarely used.
When considering insulation in your home, there are two key issues to address. First, the insulation in your home should have an "R" value, which represents the insulations resistance to the transfer of heat. If you really want to cut utility costs, you should replace your current insulation with a brand that has double the R value you currently have installed.
A second issue to consider is coverage. You might be surprised to learn that insulation is missing in certain key areas of your home. Heat rises, so checking the insulation in your attic should be your first step. You should also consider placing a seal around the entrance to the attic from the interior of the home. This space is almost always unsealed and acts as a highway for heat to escape.
Insulation is hardly a sexy topic when it comes to home improvements. While it may be bland, improving it can save you thousands of dollars.
To read more articles by Richard Chapo, if any, visit http://ezince.com/.
October 2009 -- Some things are worth repeating. We pulled this out of the archive because it is just as relevant this year as last. Our next three articles will be repeats from the past year or so.
With heating cost skyrocketing, energy efficiency is becoming an ever increasing concern. Anything you can do to cut heat loss from your home will help reduce the amount of heat required and lower those bills. Adding fiberglass insulation and sealing air leakage are some of the most common strategies for increasing home efficiency. Not to be overlooked, radiant barriers are gaining popularity in the north.
Radiant Barriers have been promoted for over 20 years in the south as a way to lower cooling bills in the summer. In reality they can work just as well at keeping heat in during the winter months.
A radiant barrier works on two principles: reflectivity and emissivity. First, the aluminum is reflective on the hot side which reflects some of the heat back to where it came. Second, and most importantly, aluminum has a low emissivity value of between 0.03 and 0.05. This means that only 3% to 5% of the heat is emitted to the air on the cold side. in order to benefit from both of these properties, the radiant barrier must be double sided (aluminum on both sides) and installed so that there is an air space or low density material, like insulation, on both sides.
Conventional insulation works to slow down the rate at which heat conducts through it. The higher the R-Value is the slower the rate of heat loss. Radiant Barrier has no actual R-Value as it works to redirect radiant heat. It holds heat in similar to an aluminum thermos. In addition, it keeps the insulation warmer, slowing down the rate of conductive heat loss.
In heating dominated climates, such as those in the northern parts of the country, installing the radiant barrier in a way to keep heat in, is important. To achieve the desired results the material must be installed on top of the attic insulation, or on the exterior side of wall and floor insulation. In this location the radiant barrier holds heat inside the radiant barrier by not allowing it to radiate off the insulation to the surrounding cold air. It is important to use a perforated radiant barrier product which has small holes punched through the material so it can "breathe" allowing moisture to escape.
Basic installation involves crawling around the attic to spread the material over the attic insulation being careful not to step through the ceiling! Most handy people can tackle this job, but if you have any doubts hire a professional to install it for you.
No matter the age of your house, or how much insulation you already have, adding radiant barrier will help reduce heating and cooling cost saving money on utility bills.
For more articles by Dan Walter visit http//:ezince.com.
September 2009 -- Wow, September already. Now is the time to stop thinking about saving energy and actually doing something about it. The cold winter winds will be blowing before you know it. With that in mind, we have decided to visit an article from one of our guest series articales. This was the second article in our Guest Article series.
As energy prices increase, warming and cooling your home is becoming more and more expensive. Upgrading your insulation is one way to fight the increased costs.
Insulation acts as a blanket for your home. During cold winters, it serves as a barrier to keep as much of the warm air produced by your heating system as possible in the home. In summers, it serves the opposite role of keeping warm air out and cool air in. All in all, this makes it a pretty flexible building material when you think about it.
The key to keeping your heating and cooling costs down is to understand insulation and use the best possible type for your home. To assist in this regard, every community maintains building codes calling out for minimum levels of insulation. Unfortunately, these minimum levels often are insufficient, a particular problem with new homes given that builders use them as the standard to minimize the cost of construction. Nearly every home could significantly cut heating and cooling costs if they upgraded their insulation.
Insulation comes in three basic forms -- flexible insulation, loose-fill insulation and reflective insulation. Flexible insulation is the most familiar, to wit, the rolls of pink [or yellow or white] stuff you see at construction projects. Loose-fill insulation comes in bags and is actually sprayed into walls. Reflective insulation is used like flexible insulation to fill stud walls, but works by using a material that reflects the radiating heat in a structure. There is also rigid insulation, but it is rarely used.
When considering insulation in your home, there are two key issues to address. First, the insulation in your home should have an "R" value, which represents the insulations resistance to the transfer of heat. If you really want to cut utility costs, you should replace your current insulation with a brand that has double the R value you currently have installed.
A second issue to consider is coverage. You might be surprised to learn that insulation is missing in certain key areas of your home. Heat rises, so checking the insulation in your attic should be your first step. You should also consider placing a seal around the entrance to the attic from the interior of the home. This space is almost always unsealed and acts as a highway for heat to escape.
Insulation is hardly a sexy topic when it comes to home improvements. While it may be bland, improving it can save you thousands of dollars.
To read more articles by Richard Chapo, if any, visit http://ezince.com/.
August 2009 -- Insulate Your Home and Bank Account
Looking for one of the most cost-effective ways to lower your home energy bills year-round? It’s insulation. Sealing your home’s envelope — its outer layer — keeps conditioned air from escaping. Start with your attic. If you have less than six or seven inches of insulation, add more. The U. S. Department of Energy offers guidelines for insulation visit wwwenergystar.gov/ homesealing to learn what’s optimal for your home. You can also add insulation to basements and crawl spaces. Insulation works best when air doesn’t move around it, so seal leaks and cracks. Add weather stripping to doors and seal windows and cracks around the home’s foundation. Add storm windows to your single-pane windows to keep heat in. Or replace them with doublepane windows, which can cut heat loss by up to 50 percent.
July 2009 -- How to Save on Your Winter Heating Bills - Tips on Conserving Energy 1) Seal duct leaks, weather strip and do caulking in the appropriate areas. Seal off your air leaks. Walk around the home and do a nice inspection to give yourself an evaluation. This can actually be a fun family project to get the kids away from video games for half an hour. Fiberglass insulation can really pay off in the long run. 2) Look at your windows and see where the drafts are coming in and places where you can plug the leaks. 3) Are there ways you can conserve? I’m not someone who likes wearing a down vest inside to save a little money but I will lower the heat when going out for several hours at a time. 4) If you have an old water heater, consider replacing it with a newer model that is a higher efficiency. 5) Are there rooms in your home that let the sun in during the day? This can be a nice way to warm up some of he rooms if you open the curtains or mini blinds. 6) Do you qualify for the low income energy assistance program (LIEAP)? Find out if you may be eligible for that rogram. 7) Depending on your heat source, you can also save by not heating up the bedrooms during the day but instead heat the living room and kitchen if that’s where your family spends most of their time from 3- 9 pm. 8) You can reduce gas water heating bills a bit by reducing the standby heat loss. 9) How is the insulation in your attic? Remember that warm air rises, and that if you have good insulation it will keep in the heat rather than have it just go out through the top of the home. [A good reflective foil radiant barrier will significantly reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer]. 10) Have you had a tuneup lately of your furnace? This can be an important way to save on your winter heating bills. Cleaning or replacing furnace filters can make such a difference. 11) Keep in mind that if there are ways you can interfere with the northwesterly winds you can also help your heating bills. See what rooms are on that side of your home. 12) Another way to conserve is to install low flow showerheads as well as to reduce the anount of hot water being used generally. If you work out in a gym, consider taking your shower after the workout rather than when you get home. You are paying for your gym membership which includes use of the showers. The Dangers of Garage Door Openers Garage door openers are not a toy, but to many young children, opening and closing a garage door can be fun, David A. Howarth has been working in the home restoration and improvement business in the UK for over 20 years For this and other articles by David Howarth visit http://ezinearticles.com/ In the previous article in this series, I talked about the beginnings of garage doors. In this article, I’ll talk about the some of the inventions and progress made in garage door construction and design.
I know that it is July and even though many people are running air conditioning full time, few are thinking about conserving energy (at least not until they look at the utility bill). Summer is just the time to do other things; a time that seems more care free and less burdened with concerns. It may seems early, but July is a good time to start thinking about winter. Right now it seems so far off, but it is really not that far away. In the spirit of the above conversation, we take this opportunity to present you with this first part of a two part guest article on conserving enegy.
It is always good to find ways to save a little money on the winter heating bills. There are many ways to heat one’s home and we will cover ways to reduce your heating bills.
For these and other articles by Dee Cohen, visit http://www.ezine.com
June 2009 -- What a month. We saw visitations to our website and our shopping cart grow for the third straight year, but there still seems to be an underlying sense that people are very concerned about the current economy and its future. As such, they are holding off on spending money for commercial property or home improvements. While I can appreciate their concerns, I don't think that it is a good idea to delay repairs or improvments. For example, replacing damaged insulation or installing new insulation produces an immediate return on the investment by helping to lower utility bills. Replacing a damaged or defective warehouse door is an investment in property security and may mitigate legal difficulties. Nothing is more difficult to defend than knowing about a safety issue and not resolving it.
As we continue through this calendar year, let us hope that our elected representatives govern with wisdom; starting with actually reading the laws that they are voting for. Let's hope that common sense and fiscal responsibility win out in the debates and votes on the Waxman-Markey Bill (Cap and Trade) and National Health Care.
We spent much of June working with our suppliers to lower or at least maintain the cost of goods. As always, we pass the savings on to you. At Cabot Components, we never forget that you are the reason for our success. We appreciate your business and your loyalty to our company.
May 2009 -- This article, History Of The Garage Door - Part 3, is the sixth article in our series of guest articles.
In the final part of my series of articles on the history of the garage door, I’ll talk a bit about garage door openers
and the dangers garage doors can pose.
After more modern materials and designs were used, a more modern way of opening the garage door was sought. Using the latest technology of the day, electrical energy, the new garage door opener could open the garage at the touch of a button, providing even more convenience. At first, they were a luxury. However, today most homes with garages have them and in many places, almost all new homes use electrical garage door openers. Opening the heavy garage doors can be difficult and dangerous (even if the home owner wasn't aware of it), so the electric opener made life easier for thousands of homeowners. Opening these heavy garage doors was also often a problem in the rain or the snow, where one had to get out of the car and try to open the door in the freezing cold or while soaked to bring the car inside. This took time and was often impossible as in many cases the handle became “iced over” and very slippery. Today, we can open our garage doors before we even enter our driveway and take our cars inside.
even though it is very dangerous. It was reported that at least 85 children in the U.S. had died or suffered
permanent brain damage between 1974 and 1995, in accidents involving automatic garage door openers. Hence, in 1993 the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the U.S. passed a law that required all garage doors to
be equipped with photoelectric sensors and pressure-sensitive sensors. The photoelectric sensors were mounted six inches from the ground and the pressure-sensitive sensors were mounted on the bottom of the door. When either of these sensors detected any object under a garage door while it was closing, they would automatically reverse themselves and fully open. Still garage doors are not completely safe and these sensors can function improperly. At one point, a study showed that on a test with 50 openers only 40% of them reversed and, before reversing, they exerted 130 pounds of pressure, enough to break an arm or leg of a small child. Even though we may have better garage door sensors today, it is much better to be safe than sorry.
now, and enjoys writing about home improvement features such as garage doors and double glazing.
April 2009 -- This article, History Of The Garage Door - Part 2, is the fifth article in our series of guest articles.
The Invention of the Folding Overhead Door
In 1921, a man by the name of C.G. Johnson developed the most common modern form of the garage door, the “up-and-over" garage door, which could be lifted upwards, opening the garage, while folding parallel to the garage ceiling. C.G. Johnson was instrumental in the development of the modern garage as 5 years later in 1926, he invented the electric door opener, which made it quick and easy to open the heavy garage doors. This new invention marked the birth of the Overhead Door Corporation, one of the largest garage door manufacturers in the world.
Wayne-Dalton also established himself in the industry and quickly became one of the leading manufacturers and servicers of garage doors and garage door openers. Wayne-Dalton moved to Mt. Hope, Ohio, which at the time was one of the largest Amish communities in the America. Here, they hired the Amish craftsmen who lived in the area to manufacture high quality garage doors, and this was the first of a series of events that enabled Wayne-Dalton to become a leader in garage door innovation.
However, even though the functionality of the garage door was all but finalized, style became a major factor, and as architecture changed so did people's ideas for garages. At this time, garages were not always in peoples’ homes. However, due to a decrease in the amount of space available, garages began to move closer to homes and then eventually became part of them. Hence, all garage doors were different in style now as they had to match the style and colour of the rest of the main building.
There was now a growing demand for Colonial, French, Mediterranean, and Old English-style garage doors that matched the architecture of the homes of the manufacturer’s clients. Craftsman was one of the more popular architectural forms during this time period because of their open framework, their lattices, and their pergolas. The garage door industry really began to pick up and succeed with this increased demand in styled garage doors as the demand created new jobs and business opportunities.
Garage Door Materials Progressed with Technology
Traditionally, garage doors had always been made out of wood. However, slowly but surely wood stopped being used as it could easily be damaged by the sun and rotted by the rain. Due to the hassle with the amount of maintenance that was required innovators went to work, developing a new type of garage door.
In the 1970s, steel was becoming quite popular, so galvanized steel garage doors became quite common. Steel was not as good an insulator as wood, but it definitely was more durable and two steel doors placed together could provide as much insulation as a wooden door. Hence, most garage doors during this time period used two steel plates around a layer of Styrofoam providing polystyrene insulation. Garage doors were now warm and durable. Still, people kept innovating and soon fiberglass was commonly used to construct garage doors. In addition to fiberglass, more materials such as resin-filled wood, and eventually vinyl-covered aluminum, similar to aluminum siding were used. Aluminium had many advantages because since aluminium siding was used in many modern homes and it was very simple to match the garage doors to the house, making them an attractive part of the home design.
March 2009 -- This article "History of the Garage Door - Part 1" is the fourth in our series of guest articles.
The garage door came about soon after the invention of the modern automobile, as people needed a place to store their cars. Originally, cars and horses were stored in the same building; but few liked the idea of storing cars and horses in the same place, as there was both a risk of the horse damaging the car and the idea of horse manure smelling cars just wasn't appealing.
Originally, garages were very similar to our one-level parking lots. Large (often privately-owned) garages were built where people could store multiple cars at $15 - $20 a month for a parking space (quite a lot of money back then). The garage was heated, maintained and cleaned by the owner and worked until about 1910, when there became too many cars and too few garages.
Now, people were looking for car garages closer to home to make travel faster and easier. The original garage concept that horses and cars shared a building was workable, if horses and the smell of their manure could be removed. Thus, the concept of the modern garage was born. The garage comes from the French, 'garer' - to shelter or protect.
The first garages were quite basic. They were simple barns with a very basic garage door to protect the automobiles from the elements. The first garage door was a simple barn door, a double door that was attached to the garage with hinges that could open outwards. These garages were basically sheds and for that reason, garage doors were often opened and closed and thus subjected to heavy wear and tear. The hinges would often creak and the screws would always bend and fall out. With winter, it also took much effort to shovel the snow off the ground so that the door could be opened.
In later years, sliding tracks would be used for garage doors, and hence more versatile designs were developed. If the garage doors could remain within the area of the garage via sliding tracks, a lot of space could be saved. These doors could be moved sideways across the front of the garage to open and close them. However, this led to a problem as it meant that the garage had to be at least double the width of the door. A new garage door was soon developed that was cut into sections, then hinged together at intervals allowing it to fold around a corner.
To read more articles by David Howarth, if any, visit http://ezince.com.
February 2009 -- This article "Reduce Expense With Modular Office" is the third in our series of guest articles.
It is a known fact that people need money, at least in the present times, and the need for money increases as the years go by. Most people try to increase their income by looking for more ventures for business but in order to really get more money, you would have to also lower your costs. If you are still starting up an office, or trying to expand an existing one, a good way to cut costs is by constructing a modular office.
What is a Modular Office?
A modular building or office is a structure that is manufactured inside a factory and then shipped, part-by-part to the office location to be assembled. There are many buildings that make use of this modular system from classrooms, stores, restaurants, and of course, offices. There are also some churches and hospitals that are built this way because of the many advantages of these structures.
Modular buildings such as offices are very easy to build within a very short span of time. Because of this, building costs are very much lower when compared to traditional structures. The materials may be significantly higher than that of conventional buildings, but owners save a lot on labor and other costs because of the small time frame needed for other things. Modular offices are thus great choices not only for those who are in a hurry but also for those who want to cut costs.
Modular offices are also very energy efficient both during the time of assembly and the time of use. A modular office can be the right choice of your business requires you to move your location more than once. You would not have to demolish your old office building just to build a new one since you can bring the office with you as you move. You can easily convert sections of the office as you wish.
Even though modular offices are portable, this does not mean that they are devoid of the usual features of regular office buildings. You have the same rooms like toilets, conference areas, receiving areas, and so on. You can also incorporate with the modular structures fixtures like drawers and filing cabinets, helping you lower the costs for your office furniture. You also have the option to add new sections and fixtures in the future without having to destroy a major part of the structure.
Of course, like everything else modular offices have their own set of disadvantages, particularly the limit of their height due to the structural nature of these buildings. Modular offices can only by 8 feet high at the most to ensure the safety of its occupants. This is however still ideal for small businesses, which do not really need towering heights. This is also quite ideal for businesses that are still starting and are trying to get by with minimal costs.
A modular offices can very well serve the needs of a small business like any other type of office space can. If you want to have your own office at low costs, then you might want to consider building a modular office. To know more about modular offices, you may consult with your contractor or look through your local directory. You may also search for modular office dealers online.
To read more articles by Daniel Roshard, if any, visit http://ezince.com.
Editors Note: New construction techniques and materials have allowed the height of modular offices to increase to 9'. Modular offices may also be designed with a load bearing upper level or mezzanine as well as for use as two story interior office spaces.
January 2009 -- Cabot Components Corporation received official notification from U.S. Door and Building Components that they were merging with Janus International Corporation. The following is text from a press release issued by Janus International Corporation.
Janus International Corporation and US Door & Building Components are pleased to announce the agreement to merge their two firms. David Curtis, President of Janus International, issued a statement to all staff, citing the current economy as a driving force behind the merger. ”We feel that due to decreasing levels of available business and the increased level of supply on the market that a merger was in our best interests,” states Curtis. “Combining the professional talents of the two companies will offer a new synergy to the door and building components industry that will offer unparalleled product design and service.”
The new company will continue to offer a full line of self storage, commercial and rolling steel doors. Corporate headquarters will be in
Cabot Components Corporation has been a member of the US Door & Building Components team since January 2007 with business dealings going back as far as 1993. According to Steve Johnson, this merger is good on several levels. Mr. Johnson also has an interest in Ready Built Steel Buildings which has recently established a business relationship with Janus International Corporation. Learn more about Ready Built Steel Buildings at http://www.readybuiltsteelbuildings.com/.
December 2008 -- This is the second article in our Guest Article series.
As energy prices increase, warming and cooling your home is becoming more and more expensive. Upgrading your insulation is one way to fight the increased costs.
Insulation acts as a blanket for your home. During cold winters, it serves as a barrier to keep as much of the warm air produced by your heating system as possible in the home. In summers, it serves the opposite role of keeping warm air out and cool air in. All in all, this makes it a pretty flexible building material when you think about it.
The key to keeping your heating and cooling costs down is to understand insulation and use the best possible type for your home. To assist in this regard, every community maintains building codes calling out for minimum levels of insulation. Unfortunately, these minimum levels often are insufficient, a particular problem with new homes given that builders use them as the standard to minimize the cost of construction. Nearly every home could significantly cut heating and cooling costs if they upgraded their insulation.
Insulation comes in three basic forms -- flexible insulation, loose-fill insulation and reflective insulation. Flexible insulation is the most familiar, to wit, the rolls of pink [or yellow or white] stuff you see at construction projects. Loose-fill insulation comes in bags and is actually sprayed into walls. Reflective insulation is used like flexible insulation to fill stud walls, but works by using a material that reflects the radiating heat in a structure. There is also rigid insulation, but it is rarely used.
When considering insulation in your home, there are two key issues to address. First, the insulation in your home should have an "R" value, which represents the insulations resistance to the transfer of heat. If you really want to cut utility costs, you should replace your current insulation with a brand that has double the R value you currently have installed.
A second issue to consider is coverage. You might be surprised to learn that insulation is missing in certain key areas of your home. Heat rises, so checking the insulation in your attic should be your first step. You should also consider placing a seal around the entrance to the attic from the interior of the home. This space is almost always unsealed and acts as a highway for heat to escape.
Insulation is hardly a sexy topic when it comes to home improvements. While it may be bland, improving it can save you thousands of dollars.
To read more articles by Richard Chapo, if any, visit http://ezince.com/.
November 2008 -- (In addition to writing our own articles, we occasionally come across articles that we think will benefit our customers. Over the next few months, we'll present a series of articles that our research has dug up. At the bottom of each article you will find a link to take you to more, if any, articles from that author. Here is the first Guest Article in our series.)
With heating cost skyrocketing, energy efficiency is becoming an ever increasing concern. Anything you can do to cut heat loss from your home will help reduce the amount of heat required and lower those bills. Adding fiberglass insulation and sealing air leakage are some of the most common strategies for increasing home efficiency. Not to be overlooked, radiant barriers are gaining popularity in the north.
Radiant Barriers have been promoted for over 20 years in the south as a way to lower cooling bills in the summer. In reality they can work just as well at keeping heat in during the winter months.
A radiant barrier works on two principles: reflectivity and emissivity. First, the aluminum is reflective on the hot side which reflects some of the heat back to where it came. Second, and most importantly, aluminum has a low emissivity value of between 0.03 and 0.05. This means that only 3% to 5% of the heat is emitted to the air on the cold side. in order to benefit from both of these properties, the radiant barrier must be double sided (aluminum on both sides) and installed so that there is an air space or low density material, like insulation, on both sides.
Conventional insulation works to slow down the rate at which heat conducts through it. The higher the R-Value is the slower the rate of heat loss. Radiant Barrier has no actual R-Value as it works to redirect radiant heat. It holds heat in similar to an aluminum thermos. In addition, it keeps the insulation warmer, slowing down the rate of conductive heat loss.
In heating dominated climates, such as those in the northern parts of the country, installing the radiant barrier in a way to keep heat in, is important. To achieve the desired results the material must be installed on top of the attic insulation, or on the exterior side of wall and floor insulation. In this location the radiant barrier holds heat inside the radiant barrier by not allowing it to radiate off the insulation to the surrounding cold air. It is important to use a perforated radiant barrier product which has small holes punched through the material so it can "breathe" allowing moisture to escape.
Basic installation involves crawling around the attic to spread the material over the attic insulation being careful not to step through the ceiling! Most handy people can tackle this job, but if you have any doubts hire a professional to install it for you.
No matter the age of your house, or how much insulation you already have, adding radiant barrier will help reduce heating and cooling cost saving money on utility bills.
For more articles by Dan Walter visit http//:ezince.com.
October 2008 -- Wow! What a roller coaster ride. Like most of you, we are watching the markets, listening to news about the bailouts and trying to keep up with the pros and cons of the two parties battling for this election cycle. There is a lot of fear out there, but there is also some good old fashioned American optimism.
At Cabot Components, we are optimistic about the future of this great nation and the resilient and robust people who make up this wonder of the world. By any measure, the U.S. of A deserves the respect and admiration of the world.
I heard one of the candidates quipping about our energy use, stating that we use 25% of the world's energy. Every time I hear that, they say it like it is a bad thing. It's like saying that the emergency room use 25% of the hospitals energy. It may be true, but we also drive the global economy and we are still the bread basket of the world, exporting a much higher percentage of food than we consume. It takes energy to produce food. And by the way, it was warmer in the Middle Ages than it is today.
Like I said, we are optimistic and that is why we expended a great deal of energy during the month (no pun intended) to pursue new suppliers and new products for our customer base. As always, our goal is to get what you need and want at a fair and reasonable price.
We're working hard for you. I'm Steve Johnson and I approve of this newsletter article.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at (866) 568-6594.
September 2008 -- August literally went out with a howl! We were attending a meeting in the Orange Beach, Alabama area and became part of the group of evacuees from Hurricane Gustav. Following our planned return route would have been a 10 hour trip; however, with necessary re-routing, it turned into a nearly 13 hour adventure. On the bright side, we did get to see a lot of beautiful country that we would not have otherwise visited. As we mingled with folks from Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi during our trek, we got the impression that the authorities had done a much better job this time around. Our kudos to the governors of the five states most affected by this storm.
This trip was the last scheduled trip of the month. We also attended meetings in Greenville, South Carolina; Winnsboro, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia and Adel, Georgia. We're working to improve our product offerings and get better pricing as well. Of course, we'll pass any price advantages on to our customers.
This month, we are looking forward to a visit from our Chicago based sales manager and we hope to complete work on the residential door line. If you need a residential door before we get the web work done, just drop us an email or give us a call.
August 2008 -- As promised, our products have been moved to the new shopping cart. We have also expanded the list of sectional door offerings by adding the Amarr Model 2400 series doors. The 2400 series overhead sectional door is a medium-duty door that is available in both insulated and non-insulated styles. Depending on customer preference the door may be constructed of single layer steel, single layer steel with polystyrene insulated back (R-6.84 rating) or a triple layer steel+insulation+steel style. Each style is available in wind-rated versions going up to a 145 mph rating.
August 2008 -- Are we nearing the end? No one has said anything about price decreases, but it seems that the two year trend of price increases may be coming to a close. Indications are that steel prices are stabilizing and the economy as whole continues modest growth with 2% reported in the last quarter.
We have seen a disturbing commercial where the narrator states that "it may not be a recession, but it sure feels like one". Well it's not a recession. It is a normal cycle; particularly for anybody who sells products in the steel industry. I have seen this cycle repeat itself three times since the early 1990's.
For those of us challenged by a tightening and tough market, getting ready for the pendulum to swing in the other direction is exciting and comforting. In the meantime, we'll work with our suppliers to get the best pricing that we can get and pass that on to our loyal customer base.
July 2008 -- Hey brother! Can you spare a dime? That's a phrase from the depression, you know, the Great Depression of the 1920's. Some folks think that we are in a great depression now, but it simply isn't so. The economy is still growing, albeit slowly. Technically, a depression has occurred when you have two consecutive quarters of negative movement in the economy. Some people use the term negative growth but that seems contradictory.
At Cabot Components, the current economy has given us our share of challenges. When gas prices push $4.50 per gallon and diesel is even higher, the freight carriers pass that on to us. We have to increase the price of our products to cover the increased cost of fuel. Add price increases for raw materials and life just gets more interesting.
If you eat it, wear it or drive it, when the price for energy goes up your price for those things goes up as well. You don't like it and I don't like, but what we should like even less is the fact that our elected representatives (on both sides of the aisle) have just given this problem lip service since the 1970's, the last great energy crisis.
It seems like the Congress has been asleep at the wheel. Things have gotten tough; particularly these past two years. I'll grant you that, but it's not the end of the world. It's hard to tell sometimes because of the constant barrage of drive-by media negativism, but we are a great nation, built by a great people and we will overcome these current obstacles and prevail. The country that survived the economic roller coaster of the 1970's, can survive this little bump in the road.
At Cabot Components we'll work to keep our prices fair and reasonable. We're not in it to get rich but we are in it to make a profit. We love our country and capitalism so we don't feel guilty about making a buck the old fashioned way -- earning it. We figure that if we give our customers the best price and provide high quality products, we will do well even in these tough times. In doing so, we will continue to contribute to the economy by paying our employees, spending money with our vendors and paying our taxes.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at (866) 568-6594.
June 2008 -- Cabot, AR -- Cabot Components Corporation today announced that daily operational responsibility for the company would be turned over to Sharon Johnson, Vice President and Secretary. Stephen Johnson has been selected to act as CEO and Chairman of the Board for SBS Flexsteel. He will still be available for consultation and retains an owership interest in Cabot Components Corporation. Sharon is anxious to assume her new duties and looks forward to growing the company and continuing its forward momentum.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at (866) 568-6594.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at (866) 568-6594.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at (866) 568-6594.
Work on the transition is well under way and is expected to be complete in July 2008.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at (866) 568-6594.
July 16, 2007 -- Cabot, AR -- Cabot Components Corporation today announced that it would begin expanding operations and broadening the classes of products offered to the potential customers. Details have been ironed out and the company is ready to continue work on its Internet storefront, cabotcomponents.com. According to Cabot Components Corporation Vice President Sharon Johnson, "the website will make our growing line of product offerings more accessible to commercial and government entities. Through our new online pricing and ordering system, we will give these busy folks a means by which they can efficiently and effectively select products, price and buy online. I am sure that they will appreciate our efforts to save them time and money."
Customers will have access to all of the company products through the cabotcomponents.com portal. For the potential customer, this will clearly be a valuable tool for researching these products and an apparently easy way to make the purchase once a buying decision is reached. While speaking about the company in general and new operational expansion plans in particular, company President Steve Johnson said "we look forward to developing this website and sincerely hope that it serves the interests of both our loyal customer base and the new customers that we hope to attract. I believe that if you have a sincere desire to serve the customer, a quality product and a fair price then prudent customers will generally choose you to be their product provider. If you go a little further by giving them the ability to gather and review relevant information and an easy way to buy your product, then how can they possibly resist. Obviously, my hope is that the people who use this new website will ultimately choose to be our customers and buy our fine products."
Cabot Components Corporation provides a variety of products for commercial and residential use, including but not limited to, steel secondary members for metal buildings, roof and wall panels, vents, louvers, fasteners, power tools, roll-up and sectional commercial doors, residential garage doors, insulation products, and commercial windows and entry doors. They also plan to offer forklift moveable portable buildings, also known as kiosks and easily assembled modular office structures designed primary for use inside commercial facilities and manufacturing plants. Along the same "portability" line, forklift moveable portable storage (mini-storage type) units and locker style stackable storage units will also be added to the product line.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at sales@cabotcomponents.com or call (866) 568-6594.
March 14, 2007 -- Cabot, AR -- Cabot Components Corporation today announced that discussions had begun with several vendors in anticipation of entering new operational areas. Encouraged by preliminary dialogue with GBP Guardian and Triangle Fastener Corporation representatives, the go ahead was given to begin work on the cabotcomponents.com website. Talks are planned with Clopay Door, Starrco, U.S. Door and Building Components and Nucor Corporation.
For more information, contact Cabot Components Corporation at (866) 568-6594.
If you have questions or need assistance, call toll free to 866-568-6594 or send an email to sales@cabotcomponents.com. Our normal office hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm Central Standard Time (CST), Monday - Friday and 8:00am to 12:00pm on Saturdays, except holidays.
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