American Made!

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!!!!

Dale Returns.....

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"

Texas ranch house update

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.

IAPMO Evaluation Report - News Release

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.

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

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!

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.

Fred Yate's home

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.

Clipped to death!

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.

Building Site Lunch HUGE success!

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)

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."

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.