Retro-fit???

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.

Housing starts up in January 2011

"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

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.

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.

A better foundation!

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

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.

Got the Blues????

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")

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

What is an upgrade worth?

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.

News for the week!

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.

WZTV Fox Channel 17 broadcast

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

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

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.

May 19th

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.

Beta House

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.