It is with great pride that we introduce this year’s winners of the annual Rural Builder Gold Key of Excellence. For the past 32 years, Rural Builder has sponsored this award, relying on the results of a ballot process that allows builders in the rural industry to tell us which companies provide the best...
Featured Magazine
Are you ready to roll your own? Metal roofing panels, that is.
More and more roofing contractors these days are answering “yes” to that question. Manufacturing independence, waste management, shipping considerations and other factors paint a compelling case for contractors looking to buy a roll former and produce their own panels. But it’s not that simple — additional manufacturing costs, employee training, warehousing and a different...
Fascinating Fasteners: The science of holding things together only gets better
– By Mark Ward – The fastener industry will soon celebrate 175 years of service in North America. Tom Hulsey, vice president of engineering and technical services for Sealtite Building Fasteners of Tyler, Texas, has seen firsthand the last 50 of those years. “I started my career with a metal building manufacturer and was...
NFBA 2013 Buildings of the Year announced
The National Frame Building Association has presented its Building of the Year Awards at the annual National Frame Building Expo in Nashville on March 6. The 2013 contest inaugurated two divisions for the award entries: the Experts Division (for companies with $0–6 million in annual gross volume) and the Masters Division (for companies with...
What’s New with Metal Shingles?
By Sharon Glorioso – With the proliferation of metal roofing companies, today there are more metal roofing materials, styles, colors and manufacturers to choose from than ever before. To hold their own in the industry, companies are producing additional kinds to satisfy what the customer is looking for. “There are a lot more players...
Something Old, Something New: Rural Builders Enhance Historic Properties
– By Sharon Thatcher – Historic restoration isn’t something most rural builders want to tackle, but there are occasional opportunities to build something new or to enhance something old in a way that preserves a property’s historic integrity. Featured are two builders who have accomplished that. Barn recovers Greiner Buildings Inc. has been doing...
Going green with steel
– By Sharon Thatcher –Rural builders know that a customer wants a building that serves an intended purpose and doesn’t cost a lot to own. Rarely are they asking for a “life cycle analysis” or demanding LEED compliance. But increasingly there is industry and public pressure to use fewer natural resources in the making...
Modern modular: an opportunity waiting for rural builders?
– b y M a r k Wa r d – During 2012, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that construction activity totaled $225 billion in the lodging, office, commercial, healthcare, educational and religious building categories. According to the Modular Building Institute, an industry trade association based in Charlottesville, Va., modular buildings comprised 1.3 percent...
The future of IMP: Insulated metal panels for walls are gaining traction, will roofs follow?
– By Sharon Thatcher – Metal roofing systems already provide benefits attractive to consumers looking for efficiency and sustainability, but if you have a customer who wants to step it up a notch to achieve LEED or net-zero, nothing can help you get there faster than insulated metal panel. While IMP for walls is...
Turning bling to Ka-Ching: award-winning horse barns comes down to details
– By Sharon Thatcher – With a name like Kentuckiana Building & Development LLC, it’s no surprise that owner Tim Noble knows a thing or two about horse barns. Located in the heart of thoroughbred country, about 50 percent of his business is building equine facilities. And with a background in trim carpentry, he...