Cable-Tite

American Made!

2011-10-10T10:48:00.007-05:00

Quite often I am asked where "Cable-Tite" is made. The answer: Gallatin, Tennessee. You may wonder why a foundry in Gallatin TN manufactures a hurricane tie-down system that's used in high wind regions outside of Gallatin TN.

We are first of all, a foundry, started in the 1950's making steel parts for a number of industries, including military, automotive, aircraft, and nuclear plants. A new home builder came to us to solve the problem of hurricane tie-down systems that were either difficult to install or lacked hold-down capabilities.

As a result, our engineers patented this cable tie-down system for uplift protection to meet a demand for better protection than current systems that use stamped aluminum hurricane clips or threaded rods. At Cable-Tite we love to say that we exceed codes, that we are better than we have to be, and "that it's not tight, until it's Cable Tite"

The three steel parts, the anchor nut, the anchor cap, and the top plate are made from poured steel in our foundry, the same basic steel materials used for tanks and machine guns. Steel, poured at 2800 degrees, not stamped out aluminum clips. The cable vises are made for us in Chicago.

So, when we say "Made in America" it is!!! Buy America!!!!

2011-06-30T14:16:00.003-05:00

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/interior/8-ways-to-protect-your-home-against-tornadoes-and-hurricanes-cable-tite-pin-down-your-home#fbIndex6

Thank you, Popular Mechanics, for including us as one of the 8 ways to secure your home from high wind uplift in hurricane winds. This is a great article.

Retro-fit???

2011-06-28T10:03:00.003-05:00

I receive many phone calls about using Cable-Tite to"retro-fit" for wind storm protection. It seems that homeowners are keenly aware that their homes were not adequately constructed 10, 15, 20, 30 yrs ago. They currently have no high wind uplift protection from hurricanes or other straight-line winds. So, they call me....

First of all, I am thrilled that they have watched the Cable-Tite video, read the Cable-Tite information, and want the best, most robust tie-down system available. The question is about the possibility of retro-fitting their current home. Cable-Tite is designed for new home construction. However, if the home owner is willing to make the effort, then, yes, Cable-Tite can be used for retro-fit.

But, it's a lot of work. You need to have access to the foundation with the anchor bolts and to the top plate, and the area between the studs needs to be open. Cable-Tite is only installed in the outside walls, so there's no need to open the interior walls. Retro-fitting with Cable-Tite is easiest during a remodeling project. Usually the walls are open which gives you easy access to the foundation and top plate and allows you to tighten the cable tightly and properly.

Sometimes the home owners are frustrated with the amount of effort and cost there is to retro-fit for high wind protection. Of the 8 high wind protection systems on the market, all require you to open the walls for proper installation. When you think about what you are trying to do...that is, secure the top plate to the foundation, you realize that you have to have access to both them.

I applaud those home owners who see the need and spend the time and effort to install a secure high-wind protection system, and who realize Cable-Tite is the best and the easiest to install. Remember that your home is only as secure as the system you install.

For any reading this that are contemplating new home construction.....please.....insist on installing Cable-Tite soon after the roof is installed, and while the walls are still open.

If you are considering a retro-fit, call me for advice and tips.

Tornado in Cleveland TN.

2011-04-29T15:18:00.002-05:00

Wednesday afternoon a tornado touched down in Cleveland TN, near my daughter's house. She sent me a photo of damages to a house nearby. I am posting it because this is a classical mistake in building codes, and a mistake that Cable-tite can correct. Look at the close-up on the left of the foundation. Notice that the top block is still attached to the house. This is because the anchor bolts were set in the top row. They held......but what didn't hold was the mortar joint.

The sad part is that this house is built "to codes". At Cable-tite, we have pushed to build "beyond codes". If the builder had installed the anchor bolts into the footers (or slab) and attached Cable-tite to them with extended cable attached to the top plate, this problem would have been avoided. The cost during construction for Cable-tite could have been approximately $1000, and the house would have been secure.

Cable-tite is not considered tornado protection. A heavier wind would have destroyed the house with or without Cable-tite. But in this particular case, it would have saved the house.

For builders reading this.....please.....sink the anchor bolts into the footers, EVEN if you chose not to use our products. There is virtually no cost for doing that. Call me and I'll help guide you in building a more secure home.

Homeowners.....ask for Cable-tite by name. Cable-tite is the leader in hurricane protection and straight line winds that create uplift. This most recent flurry of tornadoes had straight-line winds, some over 100 MPH in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Cable-tite is concerned about your safety.

Housing starts up in January 2011

2011-02-21T17:15:00.003-06:00

"Housing starts up 14% in January to 596,000 units. The U.S. home building industry beat market forecasts in January, as starts rose 14.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 596,000 units — the highest level since September 2010, according to the U.S. Commerce Department."

More good news for the new home construction industry....housing starts up again. We continue to see a recovery, which everyone loves to hear. We are not back to 2007 housing start rates, but at least better than 2009 and 2010.

At Cable-tite, we are proud to be part of the hurricane and high-wind uplift protection used in new homes in the wind zone regions. Thanks for using our cable tie-down system in your engineered designs. Remember...."it's not tight, until it's Cable-tite"

Architects, Engineers, Contractors, and Home Owners: Please call us for advise or help with your wind protection questions.

Multi-generational Housing

2011-01-11T11:27:00.002-06:00

In early 2007, housing took a downturn, and still today isn't near the 2006 levels for new home construction. However, the demand for housing did not decrease. That is, new households continue to be established at the same rate. The problem felt nationwide was that the new household didn't have the funds to purchase either an existing home, or a new home. The trend for two households to share the same dwelling is increasing.

But, this is nothing new. In 1900, 57% of homes had two or more households of multi-generational families living together. Quite often there were persons over 65 living with their extended family. With the post-war boom through the end of the century, the percentage decreased to approximately 16%. However, since 2000, there has been a 30% growth in multi-generational family dwellings.

What does all this mean? It means that architects and new home builders are reconsidering the master plan to include space for either returning children called "boomerang" kids or older parents. This often includes two master bedrooms, one level housing, finished space in either the attic or the basement, or even a "suite". Some small families are including a separate living space for rental income. Builders are referring to the added or finished space as "Residence Two".

At Cable-Tite we realize that whatever the housing trends are, there is still a need for high-wind uplift protection. Maybe even more so with more lives to protect. Don't overlook the need for a continuous tie-down from the anchor bolts to the top plate. The Cable-Tite system is the only hurricane tie-down system to offer "continuous" tie-downs, and it exceeds new home construction code requirements.

Housing starts are UP

2010-12-20T11:36:00.003-06:00

Let's not overlook any positive news in housing starts. A report just out shows that new home construction starts are on the increase.

"Privately-owned housing starts in November were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 555,000 — 3.9 percent above the revised October estimate, according to the Commerce Dept.
Single-family housing starts in November were at an annual rate of 465,000, up 6.9 percent from the revised October figure of 435,000. The November rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 72,000. "

The details of the report show that increases were substantial in the high wind regions. Jacksonville, NC had the best increase of all US cities. More housing means more demand for high wind uplift protection from hurricane winds. And, more demand for Cable-Tite brand cable tie down systems. For those of you following this Blog, make sure you are engineering Cable-Tite into your new home construction.

Don't eliminate the mortgage tax deduction

2010-12-06T10:34:00.003-06:00

You may not know that there is a proposal to eliminate the mortgage tax deduction. This is among the efforts to eliminate all tax deductions. As for the home builders and the construction industry, the mortgage tax deduction is critical for the growth of this market segment. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, we support new home construction. It is one tradition that has meant economical growth for decades. At Cable-tite, we do not want to see this deduction eliminated, and support NAHB and many other agencies who are fighting this proposal. Please do you part to let it be known that we need to keep the home owner mortgage deduction! http://www.savemymortgageinterestdeduction.com/ The consequences would be devastating for home owners, the housing market and the nation’s economy.

The case FOR home ownership

2010-11-24T08:32:00.006-06:00

TIME magazine published a story in Sept 6, 2010 issue about the loss of the American dream of home ownership. Not only was it a discouraging article, it was wrong! There is nothing more central to the American way of life than home ownership, and that dream is just as alive today as ever. Young couples can take advantage of the lower interest rates to make home ownership affordable. It gives them a root for growing their families and establishing a stable community.

TIME looked at home ownership as an investment, from a financial side. True that prices haven't escalated as in the past, but it is still a sound investment. A home is far more than a financial investment. It is an investment in the family, which still today, is the American Dream.

Home building has a strong economic impact on the local economy. This is why Obama and the economic stimulus package gives rebates and tax credits to new buyers. The growth of new home construction, some say, will have the greatest impact on overall American economic recovery. Home owners paying real estate taxes are the primary source of local government funds. More home owners, more money in the local ecomony for better schools, better roads, better community!

Studies show that home owners are keeping their houses longer. Therefore, it would make more sense to build a better, more secure home. Spend a few extra dollars to build beyond codes. that includes adding the best hurricane tie-down system available, Cable-Tite. It was designed by engineers to exceed construction codes for protection from high wind uplift by using cables attached from the top plate to the anchor bolts for maximum protection.

Buy a new home with confidence about your investment in your family and your future, and insist on Cable-Tite uplift protection.

Dale Returns.....

2010-11-19T14:00:00.000-06:00

Some of you are probably wondering why there haven't been any recent blogs about the goings-on at Cable-tite. I was gone for a few months working on another unrelated project. But, alas.....I'm back, and continuing to post about all the benefits of using the Cable-tite system of hurricane tie-downs for new home construction uplift protection in high wind regions. I will continue to tout the benefits and ease of using Cable-tite over traditional hurricane clips or threaded rods. Your comments are always welcome whether you are a home owner, new home builder, an architect, or an engineer. "Cable-tite - exceeding codes"

Brian Harris Homes - block foundations

2010-07-13T10:09:00.009-05:00

From time to time we have questions about using Cable-tite as hurricane and high wind tie-down protection with block foundations. There is a little more work to anchor the top plate to the foundation anchor bolts, but it can be done.

I recently worked with Matt Harris at Brian Harris Homes, a new home builder in middle Tennessee. One thing I liked that Harris did was core fill the block to the footer. This offers much better hold down value than blocks with only the top block filled.

After the house was framed and roofed, I went to the crawl space and installed the anchor nut and cap. I drilled a 3/8 hole for the cable, then attached it to the top plate as standard installation. I crawled back under the house and locked the Cable-tite firmly in place.

NOTE: See the small blue electrical wire sticking through the floor above the drill in the photo above? I drilled a small 1/8" hole in the subfloor and used the blue wire to mark my place. Upstairs, I drilled the 3/8" hole for the cable. This is much easier when working in a small crawl space.

In this photo of the finished installation, note that the anchor nut, cap and cable vise are not seen. They are in the crawl space below.

Texas ranch house update

2010-06-16T14:43:00.021-05:00

A In January, I had the privilege of working with an Austin TX builder and a home owner. We installed Cable-Tite in a ranch house. It was a magnificent home site, and a well-designed house.

Here are some photos of the house in May, and it's coming along quite nicely.

The first photo shows columns on the back of the house with lights installed in them. There are two Cable-Tite hurricane tie-down systems in each column. I installed them after the columns were framed. The beauty of Cable-Tite is that everything is hidden inside the walls. No one sees the uplift protection Cable-Tite offers, but the home owner feels safe knowing they are there.

The second photo shows small columns on the front porch. There is a 4x4 post holding the roof, and Cable-Tite in installed beside it to an anchor bolt. The post hold the roof up, and the cable holds the roof down. The tension of approximately 600 lbs. holds the cable, so the system is in constant compression, on a sunny day like this day, or in high-winds and stormy weather.

In addition to Cable-Tite throughout the perimeter walls for the house, there are metal hurricane clips securing every rafter to the top plate.

Thanks to the home owner, the builder, the engineer, and the architect for using Cable-Tite to exceed the construction codes for hurricane tie-down systems.

A better foundation!

2010-05-25T10:47:00.012-05:00

Building a better foundation is the philosophy of Matt Harris with Harris Homes, new home builders. Cable-tite is working with him to install our hurricane and high wind tie-down systems in a new home for Tonya and Chaz Jetton.

My big complaint has been that most of the time the anchor bolt is only secured in the top block of the foundation. This makes the weakest part of the tie-downs the mortar joint between the top block and the one below it. As you can see in the right photo above, the mason is filling the entire cell with mortar, all the way to the footer. He also uses an 18" anchor bolt which secures it to the second block. This creates a much better foundation with which to attach the Cable-tite anchor nut. For Cable-tite to work correctly, the elements surrounding installation need to be strong. Harris believes the same, and proves it by filling the block. Thanks! Cable-tite will attach to the anchor bolt then connect to the top plate for the ultimate in uplift protection.

In the left photo you will notice that some of the anchor bolts are not perfectly straight. That is not a problem for Cable-tite because of the flexibility of the cable. It would not work with threaded rods.

Floods in Tennessee - May 1-2

2010-05-04T11:30:00.004-05:00

For those reading this blog living in Tennessee, you know all about "The Flood" of 2010. Very difficult to absorb and comprehend. Our hearts go out to those who had losses, and wish them Godspeed in their recovery.

On Saturday afternoon the non-stop broadcast showed a spot on the weather map and told those residents living near there to expect "shear winds" as strong as 100 MPH. The weatherman followed that warning for an hour or so as these high winds traveled across middle Tennessee.

So many new home builders, architects, and engineers say that Cable-Tite is not needed in the "non" wind zones, and so often I say "what if". This weekend that "what if" came true. Winds at 100 MPH are the same as a Category 2 hurricane. Codes in non wind regions do not require tie-downs. Even though this is somewhat rare, what if it were your house in the path shown on that weather map? Wouldn't you be thankful your builder installed Cable-Tite.

Middle Tennessee locals will recall the video of the school portable floating down Interstate 24 near Bell Road. WOW!!!! If they had used Cable-Tite to anchor it to it's foundation, it would not have floated away.

If you are reading this and building outside the high-wind regions of the US, please.....consider Cable-Tite for your safety.

WKRN Channel 2 News story

2010-03-30T08:48:00.002-05:00

http://www.wkrn.com/global/story.asp?s=12223631#

(video on website)

GALLATIN, Tenn. - A Gallatin company has designed a system that may keep homes in one piece during high winds.
Cable-Tite installs high tension cables within the walls of new construction homes. The cables are anchored in the foundation and tied to the roof.
"What we're trying to do is hold the roof to the foundation," Cable-Tite's Dale Richardson explained. "We want to keep the square of the top plate and the bottom plate and the walls as a cube and hold it together."
The science behind Cable-Tite is that if the home is kept squared, with the roof intact, the construction can withstand higher sustained winds and wind gusts.
Richardson said, "When you have high winds, it's trying to push the roof off the top of the house and when the roof goes up, then the walls fall over."
Cable-Tite has only been in business for two years and has done most of its work so far along the Gulf Coast and in Houston, Texas.
As for costs, according to Richardson, in "most houses, it's going to be maybe 1% of the total cost, if you're talking a $200,000 home, maybe $1,200 to $1,500."
Gallatin builder Fred Yates told News 2 he wouldn't think of building another house without Cable-Tite.
He's currently including the system in a massive upper-scale home on Old Hickory Lake.
"Anytime [the wind] starts whipping up, you can see it can get under that roof and lift it up," he said. "If you don't have something holding it down, it can tear it right off."
Yates said he can see the system gaining popularity quickly among other builders who build upscale homes, and once others see the benefit, the cable system will be in demand in mid-priced houses.
"This system will probably not withstand a Category 5 [Hurricane], but nothing will, but the peripheral winds, the ones that are 60, 70, 90 miles per hour, you don't have a problem," he said. "It'll hold it down.
Richardson said the system has been lab tested to withstand winds of up to 90 miles per hour, but so far, none of the homes where the system has been installed have been tested by Mother Nature's highest winds.

Got the Blues????

2010-03-23T10:19:00.005-05:00

Today's blog is a little different, but informative. As you know, Gallatin, TN is the home of Cable-Tite. But did you know Clarksdale, Mississippi is the home of the Blues. Check it out! http://www.shackupinn.com/

And if you love the blues, you will love Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale. Each room is a refurbished cabin, rugged on the outside as in by gone days, but clean, comfortable, and cozy inside. It's a great weekend getaway to listen to some authentic blues music played all over town. And spend the night in a cabin.

Now, we can add "safe" to the description. Recently they added Cable-Tite to the newly constructed cabins. You will notice in the photo that the cabins are sitting on piers. The owners were concerned about uplift protection from high winds and hurricanes. They contacted us and we worked out a plan for Cable-Tite usage to tie-down the cabins. Anchor bolts were installed into concrete beside the piers, and cable extended to the top plate. The flexibility of Cable-Tite makes it the only hurricane tie-down system that would meet construction codes for uplift protection.

Visit Clarksdale and the Shack Up Inn. Stick your head under the cabins and see the Cable-Tite system. Hopefully, you won't need it, but just in case, you know it's there. At the Shack Up Inn or at your house.......Cable-Tite offers peace of mind. (sorry, we don't offer "Blues")

IAPMO Evaluation Report - News Release

2010-03-10T14:27:00.003-06:00

IAPMO ISSUES FAVORABLE CABLE-TITE REPORT

Gallatin, TN – On March 1, 2010 the IAPMO Certification Board issued an Evaluation Report which certifies that Cable-Tite meets the International Building Code for residential wood-frame construction in high-wind regions. IAPMO reviewed the certified Smith-Emery Laboratories test results with their engineering staff and determined that Cable-Tite’s claim as a hurricane hold-down system was true. The report, number 0170, is available to read online at www.cabletite.com.

New home builders continue to search for the most robust system for protection from uplift caused by high winds. There is a good, better, and best approach for what they choose. The metal hurricane clips are a good system that allows for minimum protection. The threaded rods offer better protection but are difficult to install. The best system is the “Cable-Tite” system that uses cables to create a continuous path from the roof to the foundation.

“Other current methods are time consuming and expensive. Cable-Tite is an easy system to install, in about half the time, and offers better protection”, says Dale Richardson, Business Development Director at Cable-Tite. “The high-strength steel cable is attached to the top plate and held securely in place with our patented cam locking cap and nut screwed to the concrete embedded anchor bolt.”

With the recent certification, engineers, builders, codes inspectors, and ultimately, home owners can request and use Cable-Tite Tie-Down Systems with confidence.

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-01T15:24:00.005-06:00

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Today our "official" Evaluation Report came, Report #0170, and is posted on our website. It is amazing that it has taken our own in-house testing during 2008, Smith-Emery Laboratory testing in April 2009, and further review and scrutiny until today.....March 1, 2010 to receive an "official" response from IAPMO, an Evaluation Service. Nevertheless, the claim that we made in the beginning has now verified. Cable-tite has been dissected many ways to get the same conclusion.....Cable-Tite is the best, most robust system for anchor tie downs of your new home to offer high wind protection typical of a hurricane over 150 MPH. It meets and exceeds all construction codes for hurricane tie-down systems in the high wind regions for uplift protection.

Designed, tested, proven, and today.....stamped OFFICIAL!

More Cable-tite 101 Tips

2010-02-15T15:55:00.005-06:00

This is a Cable-tite tip for installing Cable-tite on a porch or deck or in any area that doesn't have a traditional top plate.

In this house being built by Ronald Deutch shown at the left, there were 2 - 2x12's used to support the roof rafters. They are sitting on top of a site-built column. We drilled a 1/2" hole in the crack between the two 2x12's for the cable to install between the anchor bolts and the top plate. The problem in this case was the inability to drill a one inch hole for the cable vise to sit. The roof was already constructed and there wasn't room for a drill.

We found two scraps of 2x4 and nailed them together. Then, drilled a one inch hole in them. They fit perfectly on top of the 2x12's and allowed the vise and steel top plate to sit properly. Once the cable was locked it was installed correctly.

This is yet another reason Cable-tite is the preferred cable tie-down system for builders who need uplift protection from straight-line and hurricane winds in high wind zone areas. The system is flexible on site, and didn't add more than 5 minutes to the installation.

Texas Hill Country

2010-01-26T15:05:00.005-06:00

80 Cable-tite in Texas Ranch Home

Cable-tite just completed installation of 80 high-wind tie-downs in the Texas Hill Country new home of Ronald Deutch. Mr. Deutch chose Cable-tite for his uplift protection after studying several systems on the internet. This 3500+ sq ft. ranch style house sits on a hilltop and he felt he needed more than hurricane clips or threaded rods. He was glad to have a flexible cable system that adjusted easily to the framing of the house. Mr. Deutch's house far exceeds construction codes. It's encouraging to work with a person that understands the need for a safe and secure home by constructing a home much better than it "has" to be. My motto "Build Beyond Codes" and that's when Cable-tite excells.

I worked with Carlos Tellez and Jose of Tellez Remodeling and showed them how Cable-tite is installed. After approximately 30 mins, they were able to install them on their own. When we say this is easy and quick to install, we mean it. We averaged installing one every 11 mins. This included adding or replacing some anchor bolts.

Thanks to everyone involved in this installation....it went GREAT, and we all enjoyed working together. Yippee Ki-Yea

2009-12-18T10:34:00.003-06:00

INCAST Magazine is the trade publication of the Investment Castings Industry. Cable-tite anchor nut, cap and top plate are made using the investment casting method.

We are thrilled that the January issue has a case study on Cable-tite and how Precision Castings of Tennessee used investment casting to satisfy a need in the housing industry to meet and exceed construction codes.

Please look at our NEWS page for the entire article.

And.....thank you, INCAST!

Dale is on Cajun Contractor's Show ....again!

2009-12-17T10:24:00.005-06:00

http://www.lifestyletalkradio.com/weekend_hosts/archives/ht.shtml

Thanks to Michael King for the excellent show and interview on Home Talk USA, Saturday Dec 12th. The show archive link is above. I was on the last half of the show, the second hour, if you'd like to listen. He and I talked about the need for hurricane and high wind uplift protection using Cable-tite to meet construction codes. He asked me about the anchor bolts and about using the tie-down system instead of cumbersome hurricane clips. This was my third appearance on the show.....thanks Michael for your belief in Cable-tite.

The Cajun Contractor

2009-12-11T15:21:00.007-06:00

On December 12, 2009, Mike King, "The Cajun Contractor" will interview me on his show from 10:30-11:00 AM. This show is heard nationwide on over 350 stations and the shows are archived on the Internet at http://www.hometalkusa.com/ Michael King loves to introduce new and useful construction ideas to the marketplace. He researches the products for their claims and only invites people on his shows whose product he believes will perform.

I met Mike several months ago when he was reviewing hurricane tie down systems and high wind storm protection. He and I talked about the benefits of Cable-tite at the New Orleans Home Show. He was impressed with the continuous tie down of the cable from the top plate to the anchor bolts.

Saturday, Dec 12, he and I will discuss the need to use a pretension cable system rather than cumbersome threaded rods and labor intensive metal hurricane clips. Cable-tite is excellent as uplift protection in other high wind zones outside the hurricane regions. It exceeds the construction codes in all areas of the country.

Listen in!

Tax Credits

2009-11-17T09:06:00.005-06:00

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) lobbied for an extension of the "First Time Buyer New Home Tax Credit" and won!!!! The extension is through April 30, 2010. And there's a bonus to the bill. There is a tax credit for anyone who buys another home and has lived in their current one over 5 years. The first-time tax credit is $8000, and the repeat buyer tax credit is $6500.

This tax credit extension has a two-pronged affect. First, it will encourage those young first-time buyers to buy a home, either a new one or an existing one. They might not have otherwise made this purchase. A current home owner is encouraged to move to a new home now, that might have otherwise waited. These two factors create a demand on the surplus of new homes, and will remove them from the market. There has been a "pent-up" demand for over a year, and the extension of tax credits will help release it. The tax credit will bring the supply and demand closer together, for a more even flow in 2010.

Three cheers and a tip of the hat to NAHB!!!!! Thanks!

Product EXPO - October 22

2009-10-26T08:50:00.007-05:00

Houston - The Product EXPO at the Sam Houston Racetrack on October 22 was an excellent success. Thanks so much to all the GHBA builders who came by and talked to me about hurricane tie downs and the Cabletite system for uplift protection. Mr. Jay Conner with MLAW Engineering in Austin helped me man the booth and was also thankful for those who came by the discuss windstorm engineering.

We had some displays available for demonstration of the cable attachment to the anchor bolts and the top plate and the vise that holds the cable. There were several who asked how the cable meets construction codes for high-wind areas. With it's 3200 lb hold-down strength, it far exceeds codes requirements, and is much more robust than hurricane clips. We look forward to working with several new home builders in the Houston area in the weeks and months ahead.

Fred Yate's home

2009-09-21T13:53:00.005-05:00

A few days ago I re-visited Fred Yates home on Lake Park Drive. You might remember that we installed over 60 Cable-Tite in his new home in April. For whatever reason, he was just now closing the walls, which worked to our advantage. The Cable-Tite product had been installed approx 4 1/2 months. And every cable was still "cable-tight".

There's a lot of talk in the industry about accumulated compression. Cable-Tite does not have an issue with this problem. First of all, the cables were installed in his house about a month after framing, which we suggest for best results. But even so, accumulated compression will continue for 3-6 months after framing. There was no noticeable change in the pretensioned cables.

It confirmed our claim that there is no need for adjustment after installation. As you know, metal hurricane clips bend, bow, or loosen during accumulated compression. This issue is exaggerated by installing the clips the next day after framing, when there is no accumulated compression. Typical compression is between 1/4 and 3/8 per story. In a two-story house the metal clips at the sil plate could be bent as much as 1/2 inch. If so, the clips have lost much of their hold-down value. Threaded rods can be a better alternative, but they require an adjustment in the attic 4-6 months later, and maybe again a year later.

After my visit to Fred Yate's house I'm even more "sold" that Cable-Tite is the best high-wind and hurricane tie-down system available for uplift protection. And did I mention.....easy to install.

Be prepared

2009-08-28T15:31:00.004-05:00

No one wants to face a hurricane, but we are in the midst of hurricane season, and we ought to "be prepared". Here are some tips I thought were helpful. Remember the best preparation is building a solid, sound home when it's sunny so it will withstand the hurricane. This includes Cable-Tite, the BEST in hurricane tie-down systems for high-wind uplift protection!!!

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reminds residents in hurricane-prone areas to monitor weather reports and to take time to prepare as storm activity increases in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Now is the moment to take stock in determining what the needs are for your family and loved ones should conditions of these storms increase in intensity. Families should always have a disaster plan that includes kits with necessary supplies to last for at least three days. Weather systems such as the ones we are currently tracking can change their status quickly. It is just as important to stay informed about local weather conditions and pay attention to emergency information from state, local and tribal officials.

FEMA recommends taking these steps to prepare for hurricanes:
1. Develop a family disaster plan and know how to stay safe in a hurricane. Discuss what your family should do when a hurricane comes ashore and where you might go in an evacuation - to a shelter, hotel or to stay with family or friends. Don't forget about pets. Many shelters will not permit them, so plan in advance what to do with them.
2. Know and review your evacuation routes and never drive through high water.
3. Develop a family communication plan. Identify a friend or relative in another state or city to serve as a point of contact in case family members are separated.
4. Put together a disaster kit and store it in a portable container in case of evacuation. The kit should include:
At least a three-day supply of food and bottled water for each family member;
Battery-powered radio and flashlights with extra batteries;
First aid kit with family members' medications;
A manual can opener;
Emergency contact list and phone numbers;
Hygiene and personal care items;
Pet supplies;
Copies of important papers and
Emergency cash or credit card in the case of an evacuation with little notice.

Clipped to death!

2009-08-19T11:19:00.003-05:00

Notice anything here????? Clips, straps, clips, straps, more clips, more straps. It's clipped to death. This house has so much metal it'll be destroyed in a magnet storm.

Notice the straps are bowed or buckled. Do you know why??? They were attached just after framing and prior to any accumulated compression, and either the nails become loose or the metal buckles when the weight of the house compresses and wood shrinks. You can imagine how "wonderful" the sheetrock looks!

There's a better way to have hurricane uplift protection. Cable-Tite. It's twice as robust, hidden in the walls, easy to install, sheetrock hangers love it, and holds up well in a heavy magnet storm.

What is an upgrade worth?

2009-08-18T10:51:00.005-05:00

What's an upgrade worth???

I see builders advertising features about their homes, and I ask why they have added features that cost them money? For example, they offer a super-duper dishwasher, when they could buy the cheaper contractor dishwasher. Why?

Obviously, there is value to an "upgrade". There is a real value and a perceived value. The extra $50 spent on the dishwasher will add $200 to the asking price of the house. But who knows the perceived value. The home buyer sees this upgrade along with others and perceives that the builder is concerned about building a better house. When there's a decision between homes, the one with the better perception wins! And the builder knows that.

What's the difference in upgrading the hurricane and high-wind uplift protection with cable tie-downs. Is the thought that this is unseen so it's un-important. This is an added feature that the builder can use as an asset to the home. He could have installed a "good" system, but he installed the best system, Cable-tite. Chances are there are other "hidden" features to the construction that can also be mentioned.

Don't be afraid of costs. Features cost money. But they also reap rewards. Features add a ROI much greater than the cost, both in real dollars and in perceived value. Realtors tell me all the time that a home that is built better is easier to sell. Builders.....don't be afraid to build better than you need to.

THANKS, Houston

2009-08-10T13:50:00.004-05:00

THANKS to everyone who made me feel so welcome in Houston Aug 3-7, and to all those who had such interest in our Cable-tite hurricane tie-down system. I had the opportunity to meet a number of builders, both large and small. And everyone had a welcome and nice word to say about our high-wind uplift protection. I also met engineers who loved our system because it ties the house to the foundation with the anchor bolts.

A huge thanks to Lisa and D'Nita at GHBA. They were so helpful with suggestions about how they could help through GHBA. By my second visit, I felt right at home. Thanks for introducing me to so many people in the Houston home building market. We have volunteered to help and donate for the Benefit House, and want to participate in the upcoming Product Expo.

We are anxious to get started with projects in Houston. We will work with the developers/home builders any way needed to move forward with Cable-tite.

June housing starts UP

2009-07-20T10:15:00.003-05:00

June housing starts are UP!!!!! According to economist Dr. Ken Mayland at ClearView Economics, the bottom for housing starts has been hit, and we are slowly rebounding back towards growth. New single family housing starts increased 3.6% in June, and forecast for 2009 have been increased by 8.7%. The recovery is underway!

It is particularly interesting to note this increase when foreclosures and existing home sales have increased in units and decreased in prices, making many bargains available to the buyer. Yet, new housing starts increased. This tells me that once the abundance of inventory is depleted, new housing is set to boom.

Don't forget Cable-Tite when you plan your new house. It's the most robust hurricane and high-wind tie-down system available. It exceeds construction codes by offering a continuous anchor from the foundation to the top plate for uplift protection.

Building beyond codes

2009-07-15T16:11:00.004-05:00

Quite often I meet with builders to explain Cable-Tite's superior hurricane and high-wind tie-down systems, and they will respond that it's more than code requires. Some say it directly, and some hint....but the response is this, "I'm only going to do what the code says".

I call that "minimum building". Meet the code, and get an occupancy permit. The code itself is minimum. The code says this is what you have to do "at a minimum" to get final approval. The minimum applies to foundations, framing, windows, insulation, flooring, roofing, HVAC systems, ovens, garage doors.....every aspect of the home, just the minimum. So, in a majority of homes across America, we live in houses built just good enough to get by.

My challenge to the builders is to build beyond the codes. Do more than just get by. Build the house YOU would live in, or one you'd build for your grand kids. There are many building techniques that add just a little to the overall cost, whether building a $100,000 house, or a $1,000,000 one. The home you are selling is for that family's protection against the elements....heat, cold, rain, snow, fire, or wind. Build tighter, build greener, build stronger. It's not just a good idea, it's a moral responsibility.

And home buyers, I challenge you to grill the builder. Ask questions about all aspects of the house. The builder will impress you with the kitchen cabinets, but look beyond that. If you aren't sure what questions to ask, get a trusted friend who understands construction to ask them for you. This house is for your family, so make certain you are comfortable living there when the elements are raging.

Some builders are an inspiration because they understand building is not just about making a profit. They build with respect to the family who will live there, and their well-being, and then, yes....make a profit.

....insist on building beyond codes!

Lunch at LA House - July 9

2009-07-13T15:53:00.002-05:00

A huge "THANK YOU" to Dr. Claudette Reichel and Margaret Pierce at the LA House on campus at LSU for letting us use the facility for the builders "Lunch and Learn" on Thurs, July 9. Excellent jambalaya!!! by LSU catering.

And thanks to all the builders who attended. It was GREAT to meet you.

I appreciated the opportunity to present Cable-Tite and explain how it works to meet construction codes in the high wind regions, like Baton Rouge. I had some samples of how the cable attaches to the anchor bolts and ties down the roof, the perfect hurricane tie-down system. There were a lot of questions about uplift protection since codes are soon to be changed to reflect high wind construction.

Again, thanks to all!

Baton Rouge Luncheon

2009-06-29T09:39:00.002-05:00

On July 9, we are hosting a luncheon at the LA House on the campus of LSU for anyone who is available to come. It will be a lunch and learn session. I will have several displays of the Cable-Tite system for you to see, and explain how it works. One of the most exciting things for you might be our Partner Program, which I will discuss. It's a way to get started with Cable-Tite in your next project at a savings, and to establish a long term relationship with us for promotions.

Seating is limited, so please call for reservations. 615-451-9080

News for the week!

2009-06-17T09:07:00.005-05:00

There's more exciting news this week.......

1. Precision Castings of Tennessee (PCT) , our parent company, was the feature business of the month of June for the Gallatin Economic Development Agency Go to this link and read all about us! http://www.gallatintn-eda.com/existingindustry/featuredindustry.htm Thanks to Clay Walker and Shirley Smith for selecting us.

2. "The Cajun Contractor" - Home Talk with Michael King, which airs across the country on 350+ stations, will feature Cable-tite Saturday at 10:00 AM, and again at 3:30. Tune in if you can, or listen on the web at http://www.hometalkusa.com/ and click on LISTEN LIVE in the upper right corner.

3. We had an excellent meeting with two prospective customers, Adam Pittman at Weyerhauser and Lynn Taylor at Taylor Made Plans.

Adam was impressed with our hurricane tie-down system that uses cables for uplift protection. He was impressed that they replace the troublesome threaded rods. He intends to pass our name along and recommend us for new home construction to contractors he knows all over the south.

Lynn does excellent historical looking new home designs and sells them online at www.taylormadeplans.com She is an excellent resource too. She twitters often at http://twitter.com/taylormadeplans If you'll sign up, she will keep you informed of many new products as they hit the market.

Look at the porch now!!!

2009-06-10T10:07:00.002-05:00

I thought you'd like to see the progress that's been made in last few weeks on the porch. Remember I blogged earlier about the telajack posts and Cable-tite working together. The Telajack is holding the porch up, and the Cable-Tite is holding it down. They work together inside the columns.

The columns are finished now and look terrific. The Telajack and Cable-Tite are totally enclosed so you never see them again. But Fred Yates knows they are there when the storm's high winds come across the lake, and he's glad they are there. They are securely anchored.

I have a ton of photos showing the column construction. This is not only necessary to hold the roof up and down, but cost effective and easy. Try it on your next project!

WZTV Fox Channel 17 broadcast

2009-06-09T09:28:00.000-05:00

WZTV FOX 17 Nashville produced an EXCELLENT news story on Cable-Tite for Monday night's 9 PM newscast. Erika Lathon did a good job of understanding our company and then telling middle Tennessee about it. She told about our hurricane tie-down system and how it protected against high-wind uplift.

She interviewed Fred Yates, who offered an excellent testimonial about Cable-tite. You can click on this link and see the news clip.

http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stories/mywx_vid_5912.shtml

Video online

2009-06-03T15:14:00.001-05:00

http://www.wsmv.com/video/19639053/index.html

The video from June 2 NEWS on Nashville station WSMV, Channel 4 is available by clicking this link. Alan Frio did an excellent job!!!

"this device could help save you home" Learn more at 6

2009-06-02T15:10:00.004-05:00

THANKS!!!!!! to WSMV Channel 4 for their report on Cabletite for the 6 o'clock news today, June 2. We were very excited that Mr. Alan Frio and Josh Winstead took the time to interview me and Andrew for the NEWS. This report will air at 6 on Nashville Channel 4. In a few days we will have the video on our website. They came to Fred Yates home which has 70 cabletite's installedHe asked me about the benefits of Cable-tite and the uplift protection that the tie-downs provide.

Porch/Deck tie-down applications

2009-05-27T11:11:00.011-05:00

Recently we were asked to provide hurricane tie-downs for uplift protection for a customer's deck as shown above. There is no place to sit our top plate, like the 2x4 top plate in stud wall construction. Our engineers offered two solutions.

1. Photo one shows that you can drill a 3/8" hole upwards between the two 2x12s and then drill a 1" wide by 4" deep hole for the cable vise to sit. This meets the IBC codes and maintains out hold-down values. But before you drill through a support beam check with your local codes to make sure there's no variance in codes.

2. A easier and better solution is to use a cable bale and yoke to hold the cable vise in place, as seen in photo two. It is a simple, easy, and quick method to wrap the support rafter and hang the vise. The cable is extra high strength, so you will not lose any hold-down value. If you have a shorter or smaller span, you may have only one 2 x 12 or 2 x 10 so you will need the cable bale.

Building Site Lunch HUGE success!

2009-05-22T09:18:00.005-05:00

May 19, 2009 - The lunch open house at 931 Lake Park Drive hosted by Cable-Tite and Fred Yates Homes was a HUGE success. It was attended by other builders, architects, designers, inspectors, and community leaders. The purpose of this lunch was to aquaint the local community of builders and home owners with our Cable-Tite system. It is a tie-down system that attaches to the anchor bolt and the top plate. It's designed to secure the house from high-wind uplift caused by straight line winds or hurricane force winds in high-wind regions.

The house has 61 Cable-Tite systems installed in the walls and everyone enjoyed walking around and seeing them first hand. And "twang-ing" the cables. It's easy to see how this eliminates the need for all those time consuming and labor intensive hurricane clips and tie-downs other anchor systems require.

The house also has 38 Telajack posts, featured in the basement and on the deck. Cable-Tite and Telajack work together inside columns because one is holding the roof up and the other holding it down.

Above photo shows the Cable-Tite boys in yellow and Mr. Fred Yates. Everyone has profited in the partnership.

The house is still available for inspection for a couple more weeks, for anyone that missed our event and has a desire to see it. Please don't drop in....call me or Fred first. Call me 451-9080 I'm happy to give you a tour, but sorry....no strawberry pie! (you really missed something there)

May 19th

2009-05-06T10:17:00.008-05:00

NEW DATE!
A new date has been set for the open house at Fred Yates custom built home. It is May 19, 2009 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at 931 Lake Park Drive, Gallatin, TN http://www.mapquest.com/

Cable-Tite is launching the robust hold-down cable system at this house. It secures the top plate to the foundation and offers high wind uplift protection. This adds peace of mind in an area of strong shear winds.

This house has 61 Cable-Tite tie down systems in it. The walls are open so you can see the installation. You will see how easy it is to install from the anchors to the vises, cables, and top plate.

There will be engineers at the site this day to explain our system and answer any questions.

A nice lunch is planned, FREE, but....please.....call us an let us know if you plan to attend so we can have plenty of food.

We all look forward to meeting you.

Change for April 30th reception

2009-04-27T11:58:00.004-05:00

UNcircle April 30th. We have changed the date for the builder's reception until sometime later in May. The hurricane tie-down system by Cable-tite is installed, but there are some other features we want to show that will not be completed in time for April 30th reception. Please keep watch and we will re-post as soon as we have a firm date.

2009-04-13T15:12:00.004-05:00

APRIL 30 - Circle that date!!!! We are currently working to complete the Cable-Tite system for our Lake Park Drive test house. Mr. Fred Yates has agreed to open his house to builders, contractors, and inspectors to show the robust hurricane tie down system we've installed in his house. And the best part.......lunch is provided.

If you'd like to see this exciting new anchoring system, then you'd be welcome to attend. Please let us know so we can "throw another cup of water in the soup" Thursday, April 30 11:30AM-1:00 PM

Cable-Tite testing

2009-04-08T10:09:00.006-05:00

Do you remember the commercial of Dennis Green in a press conference and he says "they are who we thought they were". Well, we've just finished testing our Cable-Tite system at Smith Emery Labs in Los Angeles, and they certified our own in-house test results, confirming that "we are what we thought we were". YEAH!!!!!!!

When we get the "official" certified test results, we will post them on our website, but for now, the uplift protection is 6900 lbs. The failure was in the cable, not the cast parts. So, if you needed more than that in hold down value, we could change to 3/8" or 1/2" cable. Our cast anchor nut and cap looked like they'd never been used.

Once again, we are excited that the hurricane uplift protection of Cable-tite is greater than hurricane tie-down clips or threaded rods. We exceed construction codes, and now we have the data to back up that claim!

NOLA very successful!!!

2009-03-31T14:38:00.006-05:00

THANKS!!!! to everyone who made me SOOOO welcome at the New Orleans Home Show this past weekend. I underestimated the amount of friendliness. A special thanks to Mike Zalaznik, Randy Noel, David Sansone, Ann Christian, Jeff and all the staff of HBA and the staff at the SuperDome. You couldn't have been nicer and more welcoming. The people in the booths around me at 817 were also very nice. I made a ton of friends in New Orleans, and I appreciate it very much.

But the real reason the show was so successful was the attendees who loved our Cable-tite system for high wind protection as a great alternative to hurricane clips for the hurricane tie down systems and threaded rods. One man told me that he and a helper spent 5 days installing threaded rods. A builder hated the metal straps because the were in the way of the sheetrock. The inspectors from IBTS loved the system, as did several engineers and home owners. YEAH!

Saturday morning I went to the top of the Dome, and took this photo. Our booth is the in the center. It's an 8' x 8' stud building, with two men standing inside (not me....I was taking the photo) "kicking the tires."

Dow and Home Sales Up

2009-03-24T08:41:00.003-05:00

Good News for a change. On Monday Mar 23, the Dow-Jones Industrial Average shot up nearly 500 points. Part of the reason was the news released by the National Board of Realtors that home sales had increased. There currently is an over inventory of existing homes. When this inventory decreases, new housing starts will begin to move forward.

For those of us in new housing construction, this is a glimmer of hope that perhaps the bottom has been reached and there will be upward movement on demand for new housing. Of course some areas will recover faster than others, but the general feeling is that there is optimism for the last half of 2009, and more in 2010.

In a day of continual bad news.....let's celebrate this good news story.

Comparisons

2009-03-17T16:23:00.001-05:00

I am often asked how the Cable-Tite system compares with other systems. My first answer is that it's so much better there isn't even a comparison....ha! But seriously.....some of you want to know. So here's my answer:

There are three types of tie-down systems being marketed: the galvanized metal fasteners, threaded rods, and cables. Cable-Tite is a system that outshines all three in ease, cost, and efficiency.

The galvanized metal connectors are the most poplar because of price and they are readily available at most lumber suppliers, Lowes, and Home Depot. They are time consuming to install because they require many nails. They are only as strong as the weakest point, which in most cases is about ½ the strength of the wood. They satisfy the minimum requirements for codes approvals.

For the better builders, the threaded rods seem to be used more frequently. They are even more time consuming to install than the connectors because the rods must be exactly straight to be secured tightly. The rods are not flexible. They need to be ordered prior to construction if lengths are greater than normal inventory, and cut on-site. Since there are several parts to the threaded rod system, care needs to be taken to order all the pieces to install correctly. There are some problems with accumulated compression, and in order to address it in 2 or 3 story applications, those connectors are expensive.

There are some cable tie-down systems. They require advance ordering because they are cut to length, and are a time consuming installation. They require expensive epoxy glue and 24+ hour wait. The systems have little room for error in lengths.

The Cable-Tite tie-down system uses the patented cam locking cap and vise that is easy to install, flexible in lengths, and cost efficient. It requires no pre-order. It can be installed in minutes by your own crews. Since cable is cut to length on-site, it is adaptable to any ceiling height. There are no bulky parts to store. And, it exceeds codes requirements with over twice the uplift protection. It is simple to order because the same 5 parts fit all applications.

New Orleans Home Show

2009-03-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

We are excited to announce that we'll be exhibiting at the New Orleans Home Show, March 26-29, at the SuperDome. Booth 817. We will be featured in the "What's New" section of the show. On Thursday evening we will be host to a Builders reception for all members of the New Orleans Home Builders Associttion - HBA-GNO. Please visit us there and see our complete hurricane tie-down system for securing home in a continuous tie-down from roof to foundation. It is the best and strongest uplife protection you can have. Come see how much easier it is than conventional hurricane clips and threaded rods.

Update on Beta House

2009-03-05T14:34:00.000-06:00

We visited the Yates beta house today and....WOW.....framers move fast!!! Most of the stud walls were up. They notched out for the anchor nuts which will attach to the anchor bolts as we continue updating you on the hurricane tie-down system we're installing in his home.

Beta House

2009-02-26T13:04:00.000-06:00

Mr. Fred Yates of Fred Yates Home has agreed to a beta test for the new home he's constructing for himself on Lake View Dr, Gallatin. We will keep you posted on the developments of the house. Here's today's look. The first step for installing our hurricane tie-down system is to screw the anchor nut to the existing anchor bolt. It can be done now to secure the sill plate, or later when installing the complete system. Even though Gallatin Tennessee isn't in the hurricane zone, Mr. Yates home is on the lake which in prone to high winds. This high wind uplift protection will add less than 1/2 of one percent to the cost of his home.

Cable-Tite's first BLOG......

2009-02-23T12:46:00.000-06:00

Hello, and welcome to Cable-Tite blog. This will keep you updated on all the latest news from the soon-to-be leader in hurricane tie-down anchors systems.

Cable-Tite started in 2007 when we were discussing the various hurricane clips and tie-down systems used to anchor home roofs to the foundations, currently on the market. Our engineers designed and patented a locking cap as seen on the website. The problem with other systems was the complex way of ordering correct parts, or the difficult way to install them properly. We've got a better "mouse trap"

We spent over a year testing and developing the product and final designs were first shown at the Nashville Home Show February, 2009. T-Rex stopped by to wish us well.