NOLA very successful!!!

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

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

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

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

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.