Tidbits from the Top

Welcome

Tidbits from the Top

Welcome

Welcome to

“Tidbits from the Top”

Welcome to our newest informative feature, “Tidbits from the Top”. These tidbits will inform you about topics relating to the building industry that may impact your building project. These topics will range from what to expect from a sales call, code concerns, types of building materials, building procedures, product availability, current issues in the industry and so much more!  We look forward to providing the latest updates in the industry and sharing our extensive knowledge with you. Each “Tidbit” will accompany the weekly special.  Tidbits will be archived for your convenience on EconomyGarages.com.

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Different State – Different Code

Tidbits from the Top

Different State – Different Code

Different State –

Different Code

Not all states, or their building codes, are created equal. Economy Garages builds in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Unfortunate for contractors working in both states, they each adapted a different set of codes. Minnesota follows the IRC or International Residential Code where Wisconsin follows the UDC or Uniform Dwelling Code. It happens to be the best-case scenario for Economy Garages’ customers because we build to the higher standard of the two codes regardless of location. This practice leads to above-code buildings in both states.

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Building Phases

Tidbits from the Top

Building Phases

Building Phases

Economy Garages breaks up the construction of a garage into four distinct phases: Permit, Excavation, Concrete, and Building. Each phase uses different people or crews which possess very different skill sets. Permits – the process of securing the ability to construct a building within a municipality or county. Excavation – the preparation of the site to properly support concrete and a building. Concrete – the installation of the footing, floor, block, apron, driveway, sidewalks, etc. Building – the completion of the building which includes everything above the concrete. Each phase moves at different speeds depending on workload, available labor, material availability and location.

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Impact of Weather

Tidbits from the Top

Impact of Weather

Impact of Weather

Weather affects building construction in many different ways. High temperatures can cause crew health problems due to lack of hydration, sun burn, and heat exhaustion. Low temperatures lead to frost bite and low core temperatures not to mention more clothing that slows the workers’ pace. Precipitation in the form of rain is dangerous around power tools and zaps the body of its heat and if it is snow, clearing the site before and during the day takes time and energy. Ice forming on surfaces also takes its toll on speed and safety. Wind is another factor that may deny the crew from safely standing walls, trusses, or sheeting a roof.

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Polyethylene Sheeting Under Concrete

Tidbits from the Top

Polyethylene Under Concrete Slab

Polyethylene Under

Concrete Slab

This may be one of the most misunderstood building components and is one of the discussions I hear most often.  The misconception is that poly under a concrete floor will stop moisture from showing on the surfaceThe poly, aka plastic, creates a barrier from moisture being introduced from the bottom side of the floor which helps in overall moisture content; however, most of the complaints come at the time where the floor is much colder than the warm, moist air above it, commonly is the spring, which is the formula for condensationPoly under the slab does nothing to correct this situation. 

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Sales Visit – Why?

Tidbits from the Top

Sales Visit – Why?

Sales Visit – Why?

A site visit from one of our Sales Representatives is a requirement to ensure all challenges, risks and concerns are discussed prior to locking into a contract for a new buildingElevation changes, access, existing structures, and utilities are just some of the topics that need a visual perspective.  Choosing products similar to the siding, shingles, and design style of existing buildings are much easier when it is right in front of you.  Discussing how a building is intending to be used may lead to valuable insight from our very experienced representatives. 

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Garage Doors – Delivery Time

Tidbits from the Top

Garage Doors – Delivery Time

Garage Doors –

Delivery Time

The garage door industry has been hit on many fronts throughout the last few years.  There are many products that go into the manufacturing of garage doors including steel, foam, petroleum products, and paint that require well-flowing supply lines to hold a decent delivery scheduleThere have been recent disruptions in steel and even chemicals used to produce the foam needed in the manufacturing of many types of insulated panelsThe lack of qualified labor has also taken its toll on delivery times, from open positions at the plant through the actual delivery of product to their customers. 

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

H-Clips

Tidbits from the Top

H-Clips

H-Clips

Panel Edge Clips, more often known as H-Clips (because they look like the letter ‘H’ when looked at from the side), are small building components having a large importanceThey transfer weight across two panels of roof sheathing and are typically centered between trussesThey give strength to the weaker panel edgeH-clips also serve another purposeSheathing panels require a small gap between sheets to accommodate expansion due to heat and moistureThe use of these clips ensures proper sheet separation. 

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

20-Year Workmanship Warranty

Tidbits from the Top

20-Year Workmanship Warranty

20-Year Workmanship

Warranty

Minnesota and Wisconsin law requires contractors to give a one-year warranty on their workWe, at Economy Garages, think that if you are good at what you do and have pride in building structures with best practices in mind, show it by extending this warrantyEconomy Garages instills customer confidence by extending this warranty by twenty times the requirement. 

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Ice Barrier

Tidbits from the Top

Ice Barrier

Ice Barrier

Icicles hanging off eaves is a very common sight in our neck of the woodsUnder insulated or under ventilated attic spaces, if not both, are mostly to blameMelting snow from the roof travels over the colder, unheated eve and freezesThis process can create a backup of ice commonly known as an ice damThis protective barrier typically made with polymer-modified bitumen, helps protect this area because it sticks to the roof deck and to itself to seal the seamsCode does not require this added protection on garages, but Economy Garages installs this protective layer on all buildings. 

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Window & Service Door Headers

Tidbits from the Top

Window & Service Door Headers

Window & Service

Door Headers

A “header” is a supporting member found above windows and doors designed to carry the load above it and move it to the sides of the openingMany builders use 2” x 6” dimensional lumber to build headers for openings less than six feet wideThis may be proper to carry the loads for some applications, but it is too close to the required minimums for Economy GaragesOur headers are built with a minimum of 2” x 8” lumberA calculation is done for each opening to make sure our minimum header size is sufficientIf it is not, engineered lumber is used which is manufactured specifically to carry certain loads and can be clearly calculated. 

Who’s at the top?

Jamie Bird is the Owner and General Manager here at Economy Garages. All our tidbits come directly from him! Jamie takes part in everything from finance to onsite production and is extremely knowledgable in code, building products, and current construction trends.

Welcome

Tidbits from the TopWelcomeWelcome to "Tidbits from the Top"Welcome to our newest informative feature, “Tidbits from the Top”. These tidbits will inform you about topics relating to the building...

read more

Different State – Different Code

Tidbits from the TopDifferent State - Different CodeDifferent State - Different CodeNot all states, or their building codes, are created equal. Economy Garages builds in both Minnesota and...

read more

Building Phases

Tidbits from the TopBuilding PhasesBuilding PhasesEconomy Garages breaks up the construction of a garage into four distinct phases: Permit, Excavation, Concrete, and Building. Each phase uses...

read more

Impact of Weather

Tidbits from the TopImpact of WeatherImpact of WeatherWeather affects building construction in many different ways. High temperatures can cause crew health problems due to lack of hydration, sun...

read more

Polyethylene Sheeting Under Concrete

Tidbits from the TopPolyethylene Under Concrete SlabPolyethylene Under Concrete SlabThis may be one of the most misunderstood building components and is one of the discussions I hear most often. ...

read more

Sales Visit – Why?

Tidbits from the TopSales Visit - Why?Sales Visit - Why?A site visit from one of our Sales Representatives is a requirement to ensure all challenges, risks and concerns are discussed prior to...

read more

Garage Doors – Delivery Time

Tidbits from the TopGarage Doors - Delivery TimeGarage Doors - Delivery TimeThe garage door industry has been hit on many fronts throughout the last few years.  There are many products that go into...

read more

H-Clips

Tidbits from the TopH-ClipsH-ClipsPanel Edge Clips, more often known as H-Clips (because they look like the letter ‘H’ when looked at from the side), are small building components having a large...

read more

20-Year Workmanship Warranty

Tidbits from the Top20-Year Workmanship Warranty20-Year Workmanship WarrantyMinnesota and Wisconsin law requires contractors to give a one-year warranty on their work.  We, at Economy Garages, think...

read more

Ice Barrier

Tidbits from the TopIce BarrierIce BarrierIcicles hanging off eaves is a very common sight in our neck of the woods.  Under insulated or under ventilated attic spaces, if not both, are mostly to...

read more

Window & Service Door Headers

Tidbits from the TopWindow & Service Door HeadersWindow & Service Door HeadersA “header” is a supporting member found above windows and doors designed to carry the load above it and move it...

read more

Supply Chain Issues

Tidbits from the TopSupply Chain IssuesSupply Chain IssuesProblems with the supply of different materials has reared its ugly head many times over the years.  Prices or lack of petroleum being...

read more