Articles

When Getting Prices

Posted in Articles on May 10th, 2010 by Mario Espineira – Be the first to comment

In today’s market more than ever it’s important to find out exactly what someone is bidding for you. Every day, we here from customers, their stories about change orders that competitors give, which have no meaning what so ever. The #1 Rule in the construction Industry, besides using reputable companies that are licensed and insured is:

MAKE SURE THAT ALL PAGES PROVIDED FOR BIDDING ARE INDICATED ON THE CONTRACTS/PROPOSALS.

As the buyer you need to protect yourself and make sure that you are getting a price for what you have asked for and/or the Architect/Engineer has indicated and specified.

This rule, while it may seem obvious is over looked by many, because of dollar concerns and not content concerns.

AT Deco Truss, we take You, our client serious and always insure You Are Protected. All Pages of The Plans Provided (Architectural & Structural) are ALWAYS indicated on our Contract/Proposals along with dates and revision dates.

This Is Just One More Way That Makes Us The Desired Choice of Our Customers.

Out of Bad Comes Something Good

Posted in Articles on May 4th, 2010 by Mario Espineira – Be the first to comment

Have you ever heard somebody say that good usually comes out of something bad? Well it’s true if you sit back and think of the situation with an open mind, eventually you will see that something positive will come out of every bad situation.

Just this weekend I was thinking about the Current Recession we are in.  We do not need to turn on the nightly news to be reminded of this; all we need to do is look at our own bank accounts or the changes we have all had to make in our business lives and personal lives.  Where is the Good in this situation, well unless you are Warren Buffet, Donald Trump or Bill Gates you just got a crash course in Economics at an Ivy League level. Just imagine when things turn around and the money is rolling in again, will you make the same mistakes again, will you still advertise in the same spots, will you still keep inventory you do not use?  By now everyone in doing T&M “Test & Measuring” on everything in our business life to personal life. Consequently no money is spent that does not need to be spent. And when you spend it, you make sure you get the most for your buck. Our grandparents for the most part went through the Great Depression and knew how to save, I guaranty our generation will be well versed in this concept as well.

Mario R. Espiñeira, Jr

“There is only one boss; The Customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”

- Sam Walton

Industry Tech Notes You Need To Know

Posted in Articles on September 2nd, 2009 by Mario Espineira – Be the first to comment

As The Trusted Source for Pre-Fabricated Wood Trusses and Building Materials, we are happy to also be your source for industry specific information.

Every day we receive calls regarding numerous questions related to our field.  Below are subjects with links to the full documents, which is beneficial to The Architects/Engineers, Contractors, Homeowner Builders and Building Department Officials.

The Links are to PDF Documents, to buy originals please visit The Structural Building Comments Industry

Responsibilities in the Design Process Using MPCWT:

The 2008 version contains the latest language from Chapter 2 of ANSI/TPI 1-2007 the National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction. ANSI/TPI 1 is the industry’s consensus standard and is referenced by the IBC and IRC. This design responsibilities document is based on the former ANSI/TPI/WTCA 4-2002. It is intended as a comprehensive and thorough approach to the clarification of design responsibilities when metal plate connected wood trusses are incorporated into a building or structure. The requirements are specifically categorized into two distinct areas – when the legal requirements mandate a Registered Design Professional is used and when they do not. Responsibilities in the Design Process Using MPCWT

How to Read a Truss Design Drawing:

This four-page document presents a generic truss design drawing with color-coded explanations for every item of information contained therein. Truss design drawings have long been a source of confusion for contractors, design professionals and building inspectors alike. Use this valuable tool to educate your market and increase understanding of the important information presented on truss design drawings How to Read a Truss Design Drawing

Fire Resistance Rated Truss Assemblies:

This four-page color document explains fire rated wood truss assemblies, reviews modification and substitution guidelines for rated assemblies, and lists nearly two dozen summaries of 45-minute, 1-hour and 2-hour rated truss assembly reports. Fire Resistance Rated Truss Assemblies

Crane Use & Proper Truss Handling:

Learn the requirements of proper crane use and truss handling. Covering responsibilities and key considerations, this document discusses topics including crane size, hoisting, crane set up and inspection. Crane Use & Proper Truss Handling

Checklist for Handling & Installing Trusses:

This document provides customers with a simple checklist to use when handling and installing trusses Checklist for Handling & Installing Trusses

Bracing Webs in Trusses that have Dissimilar Configurations

Where Should Truss-to-Truss Girder Connection Information be Included?

A Comparison of Responsibilities of the Truss System Engineer and Truss Design Engineer per the Florida Board of Professional Engineers

Deco Truss Line Card

Posted in Articles on March 21st, 2009 by Mario Espineira – Be the first to comment

The Following are various Items that you can Order and Buy from Us.

Interior & Exterior Doors:

  • From Basic Stock Doors to Custom Doors, The Choice Is Yours.
  • Interior Doors
  • Exterior Doors
  • Bi-Folds & Pocket Doors
  • Door Hardware

Lumber/Plywood:

  • Southern Yellow Pine
  • Pressure Treated Pine
  • Spruce
  • Douglas Fir
  • Cypress
  • Cedar
  • Hem/Fir
  • Ipe
  • Hardwoods
  • Fencing Boards and Poles
  • TGI Beams
  • Glue Lam Beams
  • Forming Plywood
  • Sheathing Plywood
  • T1-11 Plywood
  • Tongue & Groove
  • And Many More Items

Rebar:

  • Rebar – Cut and/or Bent 40′ and 60′
  • Hoops
  • Bar Chairs
  • Beam Bolsters
  • Footer Chairs
  • Road Mesh
  • In-House Rebar Detailing

Many More Items Available, Including Tools and Hardware.

Call us with your needs

Is That Really A Good Price

Posted in Articles on February 11th, 2009 by Mario Espineira – Be the first to comment

When times are as hard as they are, competition will make competitors cheat, lie and steal just to get the order and by not knowing or following through you are the one who gets screwed.

Just the other day, a client of ours was given a really great price on his rebar, by a local competitor. But was that price really that good.

.34 Cents Per Pound on His Rebar

Compared to

.37 Cents Per Pound that we quoted.

That’s a .03 Cent Savings Per Pound, The Client Explained

Here’s The problem. The Job Only had 15 Tons (30,000 pounds) in it. The Competitor billed the client for 17.5 Tons (35,000 pounds). Therefore the client paid for 2.5 Tons (5,000 pounds) that were not in the job and never delivered. Consequently the client over paid, $800, for the .03 Cent a pound savings.

The Lesson Here is Simple, look at the whole order, not just the price per pound or what one item cost.

By the way, the customer whom over paid, was not a dumb or an inexperienced man by any means. He was just to busy to look at the small things and never thought anyone would do this to him.

If you have any doubts on an order you previously purchased, send us the competitor’s cut list, will be happy to offer a free re-quote and analyses of the order.

Your Export Partner!

Posted in Articles on January 13th, 2009 by Mario Espineira – Be the first to comment

Export PartnerYour special needs as our export clients and your demand of perfection when exporting is our business. You can count on us to help you with pricing, product selection, packaging and shipping to ensure you receive exactly what you want, when you want it at a competitive price. We provide you, a one stop shop with access to hundreds of vendors and products from Trusses, Lumber, Plywood, roofing Supplies and Materials, Doors, Millwork, and much more.  Our close proximity to several ports enables us to manage your orders, assist in freight arrangements and insure your orders are shipped and received on time.

Are You Getting The Right Price For Your Trusses?

Posted in Articles on January 13th, 2009 by Mario Espineira – Be the first to comment

Here are 5 simple questions you should ask, when you request a truss quote. If you don’t get these questions answered upfront, you may find yourself facing change orders and problems down the road.

  1. Will all the pages of The Architecture/Engineering Plans you provided for the Bid, be shown on the Contract/Proposal? This insures you are getting a Hard Number for what the Architect and/or Engineer designed or intended.
  2. Will Special Conditions, Loadings, Wind Loads and Building Code be shown on your contract/proposal?
  3. Will you be provided with a Preliminary Plan prior to Sealed Plans and Engineering’s?
  4. Will you be provided with Final Truss Plans and Truss Engineering’s for approval prior to fabrication?
  5. Will you accept changes made to your Architect or Engineer’s Plans? Consequently this will cost you money to have your plans revised and re-submitted to the Building Department. If No, than never, ever accept a contract/proposal that states your truss are bid,  per the truss company’s layout; make sure bid is based on the Architect/Structural plans provided.