More Cable-tite 101 Tips

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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.