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Articles by Rocky Landsverk
Newest Magazine: March 2024 Edition
The newest issue includes a look at structural fasteners, plus a new way to set trusses.
FastenMaster’s New TrussBRACE System
Steven Szymanski had been working in construction for decades, much of it at truss companies, including his own company in Wisconsin, and he knew there had to be a better way to quickly and safely set roof trusses. He and his team at Truss Systems in Little Chute, Wisconsin, started working on their idea five years ago. They went through all of the required testing, got certified, then partnered with FastenMaster®, which then launched TrussBRACE nationwide.
Post-Frame Builder Show Preview: Branson June 2024
Trade shows can be focused on either attendance or buyers. Rarely is a show so big that it accomplishes both, and exhibitors at those big shows that attract both have the challenge of constantly deciphering who’s in front of their booth, while attendees at those shows typically struggle to get the attention they deserve. That doesn’t happen at Shield Wall Media business-to-business trade shows.
Working With Amish Contractors
Plain community builders supply a significant percentage of the smaller residential and shed construction in the United States, especially in certain regions, and their percentage of that business is increasing as their families continue to hand down the building tradition, which is not true among the general population.
Garage, Shed & Carport Show Preview
7 Manufacturers, suppliers, and companies dedicated to all things regarding the construction of small residential buildings will be gathering January 24-25, 2024, in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the third annual Garage, Shed & Carport Builder Show. As a business-to-business show, the Garage, Shed & Carport Builder Show brings the industry’s finest companies together in one 15,000-square-foot space, pairing them with qualified attendees looking to network, learn, and do business.
2023 October/November Issue
9 Read all stories by clicking on the PDF at the bottom of this article. 06 Shed Ramps Choose the Right One 10 Fasteners for Sheds The Right Fasteners Hold It All Together 16 Renovations: Siding & Stain 22 Measure Tips & Tricks Tape Measures and Speed Squares 28 Business Profile: Identi-Grow Growing to Maturity 30 The Future of ADUs About High-End Prefab Outbuildings 40 Project of the Month See the Garage of the Month 44 Dealer Profile Superior Sheds of S.C. 48 Business Advice To Discount or Not?
FastenMaster TrussBrace: Post-Frame Truss Framing Products
We’ve always known about FastenMaster here at Frame Building News, but our attention was elevated in the past year when we saw a particular product called the TrussBRACE. It helps set trusses faster and more accurately than you could before. That led to us asking the company about its other new products, and led to this interview with Web Shaffer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of FastenMaster, which is a division of OMG, Inc.
Future of Post-Frame
Almost everybody in the post-frame industry agrees that the primary opportunity in future of post-frame is barndominiums. The biggest question remaining seems to be “is there anything else we might miss if barndos are the only thing we rely on?” We spoke to several longtime post-frame experts and there aren’t many derivative storylines in post-frame besides 1) barndos and 2) the general construction environment, including the economy and interest rates.
2023 October Edition
185 Read all stories by clicking on the PDF at the bottom of this article. 6 Start Young, Work Hard Mike Rowe Recipient Shows How It’s Done 8 Open Up to Exterior Agricultural Doors 16 PVC vs. Drywall Interior Barn Walls Are Turning To Plastic 22 Metal That Looks Like Wood New Tech Machinery, Steel Dynamics Project 26 Basics of Planning a Barn 32 About the National Institute of Building Sciences 36 Manufacturer Profile Direct Metals Inc.
Employers Can’t Find Workers, But Here’s a Worker Looking for a Job
4 His name is Mose, and he’s an Amish builder from north central Minnesota. He wants to build sheds for a living, but not run his own company. He just wants to build. In a world full of people who don’t want to build anything, you’d think that Mose would have offers from which to choose. But that’s not how the shed business works, so Mose called me, and I thought I could help. So far I’ve been proven wrong.
Scout Camp Pavilion: FastenMaster
15 Vinny Abbondanza was a long-term employee of OMG Roofing of Agawam, Mass. He was a true leader in the commercial roofing industry and loved by everyone who knew him. In his spare time, he also served as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 114 of Southwick, Mass., and enjoyed the outdoor program as well as working with the youth and his friends, and of course watching his son earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Vinny passed away unexpectedly from Covid in 2020.
Metal Building Barn & Store: Fabral Metal Wall and Roof Systems
128 Established in 1855, Brooks Farms is a sixth-generation, vertically integrated dairy and crop farm in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The farm rotates corn, alfalfa hay and wheat crops on 1,600 acres. As part of a significant expansion, the Brooks family doubled the size of their herd of dairy cows and needed to update their facility to accommodate the additional livestock. Fabral Metal Wall and Roof Panels was selected to provide a durable, low maintenance exterior.
Equestrian Riding Stable: Amerilux International
18 Named after Grandma Rosie (Rose Ann), Legacy Rose Farm is located on a beautiful piece of land surrounded by tall trees and fields in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. “When we saw the land, we knew it was a sign,” explained Brittany. “We decided to sell our home and build our girls their dream barn and riding arena, and a new family home.” Working closely with construction company Pinno Buildings out of Rosendale, Wisconsin, Brittany’s brother personally designed the new riding facility.
Residential Restoration: Tando Composites
36 Jake and Mary Worstell bought a fixer-upper home in Carmel, New York, nearly 10 years ago after spending their early married life in Staten Island, New York, where Jake served as a firefighter for FDNY. After their second child was born, the couple decided to relocate to a more rural part of the state just 50 miles north of the city.
Pickleball Facility: Metal Building Contractors & Erectors Association
175 Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and the Picklebarn is a hub for pickleballers from beginner to expert. The Picklebarn is a dream come true for owners Mitch and Sidney Elofson. The couple spent a summer college internship in Florida where they were first exposed to the growing sport of pickleball. They knew right away that they wanted to bring the sport to the masses in their hometown.
Post-Frame Residential: Graber Post
17 An employee of Graber Post Buildings and his wife built an adorable but affordable home in Montgomery, Indiana. It sits next to his parents’ farm (you can see the silo next door). This home is 40’ by 40’ and the garage is 32 ‘ by 24’. Some post-frame homes that try to stay on the affordable end of the spectrum sit on slabs but this home has a full basement. The interior (not pictured) has big cathedral ceilings and an open concept.
Post-Frame Garage and Guest House: Walters Buildings
26 Walters Buildings built this stunning 36′ x 48′ garage with living quarters upstairs in Princeton, Indiana. The company partnered with the customer to design and construct this incredible post-frame building that combines a spacious garage with comfortable living quarters, perfect for guests, a home office, or a cozy retreat. The project features a 16′ x 8′ gabled dutch porch entrance, an 8/12 roof pitch, and Walters Buildings’ JWS charcoal steel panels.
Event Center: Schulte Building Systems
22 Starshine Texas is a 10,000 square foot space for family, business and community events on 25 acres in Houston, Texas. Russell Schulte, CEO and founder of Starshine Texas, says that they chose a metal building “to give versatility to the venue so that we could do anything that we wanted.” This versatility includes large expansions without any supporting beams to give the owners the ability to set up for many different types of events.
Hops Processing Facility: Varco Pruden
18 Yakima Chief Hops supplies beer makers in the Pacific Northwest and gets its hops from this hops processing facility owned by Sauve & Sons Farms. The building was engineered by Varco Pruden and its metal framed buildings. Sauve & Sons Farms is a fourth-generation family growing hops in Yakima Valley since 1938.
Equestrian Barndo: Prism Builds
21 When trying to provide a definition for barndominium or barndo, you’ll come across varying opinions about what comprises this new phenomenon. What criteria makes something a barndo? What isn’t in dispute is that you can call it a barndo if it does what this building does; it provides a living space for both people and horses. Express Barns provided this building and Prism Builds LLC was the builder. The barn has a pull-through, well, septic, water, and power.
Commercial Truck Storage: Cover’s Construction
144 This business owner was tired of not getting all of their equipment out of the elements. So with the help of Delta Metals and Cover’s Construction, everything now fits inside this commercial storage building. The building was designed for truck and equipment storage but as it was being built, the customer could see the advantage of adding some features to also allow it to be a repair shop.
Passive Solar Residential: S-5!
39 This family home was built to Passive House standards and has been submitted for approval to Passive House Institute US, Inc. (PHIUS) for certification. The home was built for a family of seven who loves to entertain and spend time with friends and family. The goals were multi-generational quality, low maintenance, and eliminating utility bills. The house was built with a fully “off-grid” approach. All water is captured from the metal roof.
Steam Flaking Mill: Chief Buildings and Chief Agri
36 SG Milling, in partnership with Settje Agri-Services, built this turnkey steam flaking mill for a large feedlot near Sterling, Colorado. This facility features an R&R steam chest and flaking mill capable of 30 tons per hour, Sellers boilers, Chief Agri grain handling systems, and a Chief Building. The building and layout were designed for expansion and can handle an additional boiler, steam chest, and mill.
Party Barn & Guest Space: Pioneer Millworks
215 For one couple in rural Connecticut, the concept was to create a multigenerational space to enjoy with their five children, friends, and extended family. This understated antiqued party barn is intended to adapt as the family grows and ages. Intentionally built out of reclaimed timbers and barnwood provided by Pioneer Millworks, the structure has a timeless feel that is completely at home in the country landscape.
Residential Pavilion: New Energy Works
29 What do pizza boxes, a canceled wedding, and a community hand raising have in common? This backyard pavilion in Oregon. For homeowners Matt & Laura, 2020 was rough. Both work in the front-line medical industry and their dream wedding was looking less and less likely to ever happen.
Multi-Use Barndominium: Wick Buildings
39 This pole barn home was built in Brutus, Michigan, with a foundation of column-in-ground with 4-inch poured concrete. One of its wings measures 36′ x 48′; a second wing measures 40′ x 60′. The owner was able to combine a living space with any possible options: • A multi-use toy shed • Workshop • Extra-large garage for boats or RVs, or so much more. The unique type of building allows for greater floor plan flexibility, more expansive interiors, and easier construction of extra-high walls.
Wedding Venue: Levi’s Building Components
237 This barn will be used as a wedding venue, making this huge open space metal building the perfect construction method. The 54′ by 50′ space was built by Hershberger Construction and features a gambrel roof. Preferred Metal Roofing provided the metal in its 29-gauge model. Levi’s Building Components holds it all together with its fasteners being used on the roof, sidewalls, and trim/soffit. The MWI cupola tops off what will be a facility for creating memories.
Pole Barn Home & Shop: FBI Buildings
197 This two-story pole barn home is located in the rural Midwest. Custom features include cupolas, a screen porch and overhead door framing. The pole barn home and shop combo give its owners a place that was unique to their needs. A BendPack lift allows them to work on their automotive projects regardless of the weather outside. The size is 60′ x 104′ x 16′ 6″.
Timber Frame Equestrian Barn
15 The purpose of the building is to house horses as well as serve as an office space for the owners, plus it’s a getaway in the mountains. Given the location in the hills of Central Vermont, the geography and weather were a main hurdle throughout the construction process. This caused a few delays in construction.
Post-Frame Residential: H&D Quality Builders
90 This building was built to serve as the retirement home for a husband and wife. They sold their home in town and moved out to the countryside with this home, looking for some seclusion and privacy. The footprint includes a space for a woodshop in conjunction with the garage space, with office space in the attic trusses above the garage. A porch on the side of the home was built to serve as the segue into the outdoor patio/fire pit area they are planning to build.
Drop Down Cupola Barn
28 This local customer came to American Building Network needing a large metal garage building with the visual character of a rustic barn. ABN came up with a custom design that features a 34′ x 41′ main building with a 10′ x 41′ covered porch that includes multiple frame-outs with Dutch 45 trim kits. And it’s all topped off with a distinctive 3′ x 3′ cupola in the center of the roof.
Pole Building Wedding Venue: Hansen Pole Buildings
16 Vista View Events is a mountain wedding venue situated in Rifle, Colorado. Located just three hours outside Denver, this secluded sanctuary provides celebrations of all styles and sizes with a vibrant and versatile celebration setting. Hansen Pole Buildings specifically designed the shell of the wedding barn to be charming and rustic but not overbearing. This means you can easily customize the interior with your decor, florals, specialty furniture, and more.
Brewery Renovation: Englert
17 Source Farmhouse Brewery, nestled in the rural town of Colt’s Neck, New Jersey, is a remarkable establishment housed in a 130-plus-year-old barn that exudes timeless beauty and historical significance. Philip and Keri Petracca, the proud owners of this unique award-winning brewery, have taken great care to preserve the barn’s original wood structure and ensure its historical charm remains intact.
More Post-Frame Windows Tips & Tricks
Compiled by Rocky Landsverk, Editor If you’ve been a builder for a long time but are new to post-frame construction, you may have some questions or concerns when it comes to installing windows in a post-frame building. Thankfully, the learning curve doesn’t seem steep. That doesn’t mean that post-frame veterans don’t have advice for you. It only means that with a few adjustments, you’ll be able to make your window installations work great, including making them waterproof.
Why Every Gift Shop Owner Needs To Be an Expert on Google Business Profiles
Gift shop owners, and all small business owners, have no choice but to know how to manage their Google My Business page. Too many potential customers can find your business via a Google search for you to fail to understand it. Smart Retailer has covered this topic a few times. Here’s a list of small business SEO tips from a couple years ago.
Flying at Elevation: Do You Need to Lean?
The Piper Owner Society members discuss how to fly at elevation, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, in this active forum discussion that was highlighted by Oregon member Eric Panning. The questions raised included: I do have some experience flying out West and Southwest, but it’s all been in a Jet. The Seneca POH talks about “Adjusting mixture prior to Takeoff from high elevations” and “in Hot Weather use Fuel Pump on LOW for Vapor Suppression”.
Flying at Elevation: Do You Need to Lean?
The Piper Owner Society members discuss how to fly at elevation, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, in this active forum discussion that was highlighted by Oregon member Eric Panning. The questions raised included: I do have some experience flying out West and Southwest, but it’s all been in a Jet. The Seneca POH talks about “Adjusting mixture prior to Takeoff from high elevations” and “in Hot Weather use Fuel Pump on LOW for Vapor Suppression”.
Electronic Aircraft Ignition Electroair Review
Piper Lance Restoration Continues With Dual Electronic Ignition Upgrade This is the second of two parts. The first part, which ran in the August 2022 issue, detailed the interior and exterior restoration of Fred Fischer’s 1976 PA-32R-300 Lance. This month, we look at one of the first installations worldwide of the newly STCed Electroair dual-ignition system. Fred Fischer spared little expense when upgrading and updating his 1976 Piper Lance.
Upgrading a Comanche Panel (Comanche Restoration Series Part 4)
Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, just in time for AirVenture in July and August 2021. This is part four of seven parts. Parts 1 and 2 of this Piper Comanche restoration series are free to read. Click here.
Piper Comanche 250 Specs
PA-24-250 Comanche 1959-60 Specs Here are the specs for a PA-24-250 Comanche, including engine horsepower, Comanche useful load, and more. We’ll add more Comanches to our specs list soon. Engine Lycoming O-540-A1A5 Horsepower 250 Cylinders 6 Propeller Hartzell 2-blade, 77″ Landing Gear Ret/Tri Gross Weight, lbs. 2800 Avg Empty Weight, lbs. 1600 Avg Useful Load, lbs. 1200 Baggage Capacity, lbs.
Piper Comanche Specs: PA-24 Comanche 1959-60
Here are the specs for a PA-24-250 Comanche, including engine horsepower, Comanche useful load, and more. We’ll add more Comanches to our specs list soon. Engine Lycoming O-540-A1A5 Horsepower 250 Cylinders 6 Propeller Hartzell 2-blade, 77″ Landing Gear Ret/Tri Gross Weight, lbs. 2800 Avg Empty Weight, lbs. 1600 Avg Useful Load, lbs. 1200 Baggage Capacity, lbs.
Piper Comanche Review | Piper Owner Society
Photos of this 1959 Piper Comanche Review by Jack Fleetwood (www.JackFleetwood.com). The plane is owned by Greg Piehl and his wife Deb. Greg was flying during this flight, with his friend Joe Cumbey co-piloting, and (not seen) dog Beau is piloting from the back seat. At long last, this 1959 Comanche that was disassembled and trailered from Massachusetts to Florida and rebuilt piece by piece over the previous three years is ready for flight.
Rebuilding a Piper Engine in a Comanche (Comanche Restoration Series Part 5)
This “rebuilding a Piper engine” article is from Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, just in time for AirVenture in July and August 2021. This is part five of seven parts.
Rebuilding a Piper Engine
This “rebuilding a Piper engine” article is from Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, just in time for AirVenture in July and August 2021. This is part five of seven parts.
How to Save Money When You Get Your Piper Repainted (Comanche Restoration Series Part 2)
In this installment we’re going to learn how to save money when you get your Piper repainted. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years grounded, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July and August 2021. This is Part 2 of seven parts.
Restoring a Piper Interior (Comanche Restoration Series Part 3)
This installment is about restoring a Piper interior. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, just in time for AirVenture in July and August 2021. This is part three of seven parts.
Restoring a Piper Interior (Comanche Restoration Series Part 3)
This installment is about restoring a Piper interior. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, just in time for AirVenture in July and August 2021. This is part three of seven parts.
How to Save Money When You Get Your Piper Repainted (Comanche Restoration Series Part 2)
In this installment we’re going to learn how to save money when you get your Piper repainted. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years grounded, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July and August 2021. This is Part 2 of seven parts.
How to Save Money When You Get Your Piper Repainted (Comanche Restoration Series Part 2)
In this installment we’re going to learn how to save money when you get your Piper repainted. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. After 34 years grounded, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July and August 2021. This is Part 2 of seven parts.
Member Awards Presented at Second Annual Member Dinner
The second-ever member dinner at Oshkosh AirVenture 2022 was the place where we announced our first-ever member awards. It was a long overdue idea that was the brainchild of Piper Owner Society Aviation Director Scott Sherer. The event took place at LaSure’s Banquet Hall on the opening Monday night of the show and hosted 150 guests. We thanked six people total with “Gold Star Awards” and gave them a plaque of recognition.
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