Media Release

Congratulations to Building Company No. 7 for becoming the exclusive dealer in middle Tennessee for Dry-Treat sealing products.

The deal is a major boon for Building Company No. 7, as Dry-Treat sealers are rapidly becoming known across the globe as the premier protective sealers for natural stone, brick, tile and concrete. Suitable for large commercial or residential projects, icons sealed with Dry-Treat products include: The Sydney Opera House, Imperial Hotel in Vienna, Tennessee Titans’ Stadium, city malls, resorts and tens of thousands of floors, walls and counter-tops in homes each year.

“We take our mission of protecting peoples’ property very seriously, and are constantly pushing technological boundaries and improving our level of service,” says Dry-Treat founder Stuart Anderson. “So, we handpick dealers who provide this same dedication and high standard of service to property owners and building professionals in their community.”

Cutting edge science is the key to the extraordinary properties of Dry-Treat impregnating sealers, which penetrate deeper, last years longer, provide the best protection and won’t change the natural look of the material. Even more extraordinary are Dry-Treat’s written performance warranties of up to 15 years for some products, when applied by a Dry-Treat Accredited Applicator.

Matt Millsap’s Building Company No. 7 was chosen exclusively from among a prestigious group of middle Tennessee’s construction and renovation contractors. This distinction authorizes Mr. Millsap to supply a full line of world-renowned Dry Treat products and services for all of your building sealant needs. Contact Building Company No. 7 today for complete details on Dry Treat products and their15-year warranty.

For further information, please contact:
Building Company No. 7
Matt Millsap
2441-Q Old Fort Parkway
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37128-4162
Tel: 615.785.9029

http://www.buildingcompanynumber7.com/

Sealant types and Their Uses

Sealants refer to a wide variety of materials that are used to close the gaps between substrates, or various building materials.  Sealants are used to prevent air, gas, noise, smoke, liquid, or dust from penetrating small openings that cannot otherwise be closed.  Sealants begin as a viscous liquid, when applied, then dry into a solid.  Sealants of some sort are used in every level of civilization, from tarring the roof of a hut to weatherproofing a modern home with silicone caulk to specialty soundproofing.

In the past few decades, the sealant industry has globalized with the rest of the world market.  In fact, 60% of total global merchant demand of sealants comes from three major players.  Asia and India represent the highest growth market in recent years, due primarily to the rise of textile manufacture, electronics assembly, and woodworking.  Enduring woodwork would be impossible without the right sealants.

Sealant production has also responded to environmental concerns, with technological breakthroughs that have made sealants more effective and environmentally friendly.  Earlier generations of sealants commonly contained VOCs, or “volatile organic compounds.”  Advances in technology have produced Low-VOC and No-VOC sealants.  These new generation sealants are safer for the environment.  What’s more, they are applicable to a wider range of materials and conditions.

There are literally dozens of types of sealants, based on their chemical makeup and their various uses.  From dental sealants, to engine sealants, to household epoxy.  They are even used in the nanotechnology industry.  The most commonly recognized sealants are household sealants.  For example, the caulk used to seal a bathtub, window sill, or kitchen sink.

Sealants have three basic functions

1. A sealant fills a gap between two or more substrates.

2. Sealants form a barrier through the physical properties of the sealant itself and by adhesion to the substrate.

3. It maintains sealing properties for the expected lifetime, service conditions and environments.

Sealants are commonly grouped with adhesives, though they are different substances with distinct uses.  Adhesives are sometimes reformulated into sealants.  An adhesive is used to join to components together, like the panels of a cardboard box. While a sealant, though often sticky, is used to close gaps and openings where unwanted air and particles can pass through.  Adhesives are often stronger than sealants, but less flexible.  Sometimes the functions of sealants and adhesives overlap. Sealants do need to stick to what they are sealing, but that is not as important as the seal itself.

Sealants, though usually weaker than adhesives, have unique properties. Sealants, as opposed to simple adhesives, are particularly effective in keeping moisture in or out of the components they seal.  They provide soundproofing and thermal insulation.  Some sealants are quite effective as fire barriers.  Other sealants can have electrical insulating properties.  They are also used for finish work, like smoothing or filleting.

Sealants are a godsend in the field of home weatherproofing, and renovating kitchens and bathrooms.  The modern home would be impossible without the insulating properties of sealants.  This winter, try tracking down some of the drafts in your home – cracks and gaps around windows, under sinks, tubs and plumbing, or around electrical fixtures.  These are all places where household sealants, like silicone caulk and epoxy can make your home more comfortable and fuel-efficient.

Be sure to weatherize your home this season.  When doing so, don’t underestimate the utility and effectiveness of sealants.  Drafts can be eliminated and bills lowered all for the price of a few tubes of the right caulk.  There are numerous sealants on the market, each specialized for a different use.  Find out which ones are best for your needs.  Contact a local contractor that will answer your questions.

Some of the information in this report was gathered from The Third Edition of the Global Adhesive and Sealant Study: 2003-2006.  If you have questions about sealants and their uses, you may also contact the author of this article, Matt Millsap, a Tennessee based building and construction specialist.

Cash for Caulkers could mean $12K per home

By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com staff writer
On 6:32 am EST, Wednesday December 9, 2009

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President Obama proposed a new program Tuesday that would reimburse homeowners for energy-efficient appliances and insulation, part of a broader plan to stimulate the economy.

The administration didn’t provide immediate details, but said it would work with Congress on crafting legislation. Steve Nadel, director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, who’s helping write the bill, said a homeowner could receive up to $12,000 in rebates.

The proposal is part of the President’s larger spending plan, which also includes money for small businesses, renewable energy manufacturing, and infrastructure.

We know energy efficiency “creates jobs, saves money for families, and reduces the pollution that threatens our environment,” Obama said. “With additional resources, in areas like advanced manufacturing of wind turbines and solar panels, for instance, we can help turn good ideas into good private-sector jobs.”

The program contains two parts: money for homeowners for efficiency projects, and money for companies in the renewable energy and efficiency space.

The plan will likely create a new program where private contractors conduct home energy audits, buy the necessary gear and install it, according to a staffer on the Senate Energy Committee and Nadel at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Big-ticket items like air conditioners, heating systems, washing machines, refrigerators, windows and insulation would likely be covered, Nadel said.

Consumers might be eligible for a 50% rebate on both the price of the equipment and the installation, up to $12,000, said Nadel. So far, there is no income restriction on who is eligible. That would mean a household could spend as much as $24,000 on upgrades and get half back.

Homes that take full advantage of the program could see their energy bills drop as much as 20%, he said. The program is expected to cost in the $10 billion range.

It’s not clear how the home efficiency plan would be administered – the government may issue rebates to consumers directly, homeowners might get a tax credit, or the program could be run via state agencies.

If consumers have to spend a lot of money up front to get the credit, it could throw a wrench in the works, David Kreutzer, an energy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, told CNN.

“This will not be something that’s attractive to people who are having trouble already making their budget payments month to month or week to week,” he said.

To keep consumers from having to spend thousands of dollars before getting reimbursed, Nadel said, one idea is to have contractors or big box retailers pay part of the cost up front.

Fraud issues could also come up, Kreutzer said.

“Any program that is going to run through a third party and is going to distribute billions of dollars needs to have lots of checks and balances to make sure there’s not abuse,” he said.

Nadel noted that as a way to guard against fraud, contractors would have to be certified to participate.

Energy company boost

Obama’s new spending plan also calls for renewable energy companies to get additional support. That could come in the form of loan guarantees – basically, money the government uses to secure loans for startups.

In the original stimulus bill passed earlier this year, $6 billion was earmarked for such loan guarantees. But then lawmakers took away $2 billion to fund Cash for Clunkers – the popular program that paid people to turn in their old cars.

The $4 billion from the original bill has funded about $40 billion in loans, said the staffer on the Senate Energy Committee. Meanwhile, firms are hoping for another $4 billion in loan guarantees, since they have another $40 billion worth of projects that need funding.

A bill on energy efficiency reimbursements already has supporters in the Senate.

“Not only will [such legislation] increase our energy security and transform our energy infrastructure to a modern, clean and efficient one,” Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., wrote in a recent op-ed column in the Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper. “But it also will position the United States to lead in the development of clean energy technologies.”

Weatherization for Energy Efficiency

Home weatherization – what it is, why it works, and how you can do it.

Weatherization is the process of sealing and fine-tuning your home and appliances to conserve potentially large amounts of energy.  Drafty windows and doors need to be sealed.  Locate tiny holes and fill them.  Do everything possible to keep outside air outside and keep inside air inside.  Effective home weatherization can put a big, happy dent in your heating and cooling bills.

The U.S. Department of Energy has been offering home weatherization assistance for over thirty years.  The DOE helps low income families permanently reduce their utility bills through home weatherization.  President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has added millions and millions of dollars to this effort.  If your home is not weatherized, the time to take care of it has arrived.  You’ve got nothing to lose and money to save.

Basic facts.

The average insulated home contains small leaks between building materials that add up to a permanent 14 inch square hole in the home.  These tiny gaps, in addition to leaking energy out of the house, can cause water damage and create paths for insects to enter you home.  Imagine cutting a 14 square inch hole in your front door, letting air in and out all year, while the air conditioner or the heater is running!  With home weatherization, you can lower your utility bills, for good.

Find the leaks!

The first thing you must do is find the leaks.  Test your home yourself or call a professional contractor.  A professional contractor will conduct what is called a blower door test.  This is the most effective option, but you can find major leaks in your home by yourself.

On a cold, windy day, hold a lit stick of incense (or a small lit candle, incense is safer) next to your doors and windows.  Walk around the house and hold the lit incense up to windowsills, window edges, doorjambs, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic entries, and any where that air might find its way inside your home.  When you notice the smoke stream blow horizontally or the candle flame flicker, you’ve likely found a leak that needs sealing.  Make sure to test places where plumbing fixtures and electrical wiring penetrate exterior walls.  Check the cabinets under your sinks. Some bigger leaks you can feel with your hand.

Once you’ve found the leaks, seal them!

Caulk and weather-strip any doors and windows that leak air.  Seal air leaks where ventilation ducts, plumbing, or electrical wiring penetrate a wall.  Insulate water pipes with foam from your local hardware store.  Outlets and switch plates on exterior walls of the home should get rubber gaskets installed behind them.

If you’ve got the time and money, replace single pane windows with double pane windows.  Install storm windows in appropriate places in your home.  Modern windows can be three to five times more energy efficient than older windows.

Go up to your attic.  Inspect the insulation.  Look for dirty spots on your insulation that resemble used cigarette filters.  These are locations where air is probably moving in and out of your home.  when you find these gaps, fill them with foam, or staple a sheet of plastic over them and seal the edges of the plastic with caulk.

If you have a fireplace, close the flue whenever the fireplace is not in use.  The flue in your chimney is designed to let smoke and warm air out of the house.  It creates significant drafts.  Close it when there is no fire.

All of these various steps constitute home weatherization.  Before you begin, get some advice from your local contractor and hardware store.  If your home is very drafty, and you do a comprehensive job of weatherization, you can cut your utility bills by as much as 40 to 50%.  It’s an amazing difference, and you do not have to buy any new appliances or do any significant construction on your home.  Never underestimate the benefits of home weatherization.

Energy Star HVAC Tax Credits

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has delivered again.  Here are five HVAC systems that will score you a tax credit this year.

President Obama’s new energy efficiency tax credits have been expanded for 2009-2010.  For example, previous per-appliance caps for HVAC systems, which kept them at $300 or less, have been removed.  HVAC is an acronym that commonly stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning.  If you are considering upgrading your residential HVAC system, this is your year.

Keep in mind that not all Energy Star rated HVAC appliances are tax credit worthy.  The beauty of buying Energy Star HVAC products is that they lower your energy bills.  Even without the ARRA tax credit, an Energy Star HVAC will pay you back in a practical amount of time.  Do a bit of research about HVAC systems before you choose one.  If you want to take advantage of the tax incentive, make sure the HVAC system you install is eligible for the tax credit before you buy.

Homeowners are now eligible for up to a $1,500 tax credit for qualified home improvements.  In fact, homeowners that previously claimed credits in 2006-2007 are still eligible for the entire $1,500 limit.  The time frame for this tax credit is January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.  All purchases and installation must take place within this two year span to qualify for the credit.

What HVAC appliances does the Tax Credit cover?

There are five categories of HVAC appliances included in the tax credit legislation.  To qualify, you must have your equipment installed by a certified technician.  A bonus is that installation cost, not just the purchase price, is also included in the tax credit.

1. Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan.  Main air circulating fans are part of the “V” in HVAC.  It is an efficient fan or blower motor that sends hot air from your furnace through your duct system.  To qualify, the fan must use 2% or less of the furnace’s total energy.

2. Air Source Heat Pumps.  Heat pumps are an energy efficient alternative to furnaces.  Air source heat pumps are most effective in moderate climates.  Heat pumps use electricity to move heat from cooler spaces to warmer spaces, rather than generate heat.  During the heating season, warm air is brought in from outside to warm the home.  During the cooling season, warm air from inside the home is moved outside.

3. Central Air Conditioning.  Not all of central air applicances qualify for the ARRA tax incentive.  There is a lot of variety in central air conditioning units.  Ask your HVAC contractor about the types of central air that qualify for the tax credit.

4. Natural Gas, Propane, or Oil powered Hot Water Boilers.  Boilers heat water and circulate that hot water through your home.  Boiler systems use a system of baseboard heating units, radiant tubing installed in the floors, and radiators.

5. Natural Gas or Propane Furnace.  Furnaces generate heat using fuel and air combustion.  The heat is circulated through the ventilation system using an advanced main air circulating fan.  Though gas and propane furnaces qualify for the tax credit, furnaces are overall the least energy efficient.

Make sure to talk to an HVAC contractor or two before you make any final decisions.  Your best choice for an HVAC upgrade will depend on your local climate, your budget and the size of your home.  A good contractor will help you assess the size and layout of your home to optimize your HVAC renovation.

Warm Your Feet, Try a Heated Tile Floor

The Latest On Heated Tile Flooring

Are heated tile floors worth it? A home improvement expert helps you weigh your options.

Stone and ceramic tile floors are by far the most durable, attractive floor coverings on the market. When it comes to strength and beauty, tile flooring outdoes even hardwood, which is prone to warping under extreme temperatures and gouging under high traffic. Stone tile flooring, in particular, adds value to a home. It has a long life and is resistant to basically everything – stains, water, fire, scrapes and scuffs. Tile flooring is an excellent choice for high traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, dining areas, and patios.

The main drawback of tile flooring is temperature. Especially if you live in colder climes. Once winter arrives, tile flooring can really take a toll on bare feet. Many people, who otherwise love the look and feel of tile flooring, may choose another material because of how cold tile flooring can get. But, let’s face it, all flooring, except maybe carpet, gets cold in winter. And you don’t want carpet in your kitchen – a room where you and your family will spend most of your time.

Don’t carpet the floor. Heat it.

Part of tile flooring’s versatility is that you can heat it. Imagine stepping out of the shower on a cold December morning to meet with the welcoming warmth of a heated tile floor. In fact, tile flooring heats better than any other flooring material. For this reason, choosing tile flooring is an advantage in colder climes because it can maintain a most cozy and toasty warmth for your bare feet. A heated floor is a comfortable and classy sensation that you and your guests will not soon forget.

The physics works for you.

Because heat rises, a heated tile floor has the potential to warm most of the room. Plus the perceived warmth is more effective from below. Heated tile flooring, also called radiant floor heating, can nicely supplement traditional duct based heating, which is less efficient and blows allergen particles into the airspace of your home.

The Three Types of Radiant Floor Heating: Air, Electric, and Hydronic.

1.Air. Air does not hold a high amount of heat, compared to solids and liquids. Heating your floors by using a furnace or solar power to pump hot air through the floor panels is the least efficient form of radiant floor heating. Air loses heat as it travels through the ducts and it moves particles and allergens through the home. Air floor heating is almost never used in residential applications.

2.Electric. Using this method heat is supplied to the tiles using a network of warming cables installed under the floor. This is a very effective method of radiant floor heating, but electricity is expensive. To increase efficiency, electric floor heating is best installed into a large thermal mass, like a thick concrete floor, or a concrete layer under your tiles that houses the warming cables. Check to see if your electric company offers time-of-use rates. Time-of-use rates give you the option of “charging” the concrete mass with heat during off-peak hours. With a significant thermal mass, the floor can hold the stored heat for up to eight hours. Electric heated tile floors are most effective with a “wet” installation, which is described below.

3. Hydronic. Liquid is a great conductor of heat. Hydronic floor heating pumps hot water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern under the floor tiles. This is the most popular and cost effective form of radiant floor heating. The temperature in each room or zone is controlled by a system of thermostats and valves or pumps.

Two Types of Radiant Floor Heating Installations: Wet or Dry

1. Wet. Wet installations imply a large thermal mass, like a concrete subfloor. Another form of wet installation is a lightweight concrete layer over a wooden subfloor. Wet installations are commonly associated with electric radiant heating. This type of installation gets its name from the use of wet concrete to create a thermal mass.

2. Dry. Dry installations make use of radiant floor tubing sandwiched between two layers of plywood or attached directly to the underside of the finished floor or subfloor. Rather than encasing the cables or tubing in concrete, they are run through the airspace beneath the floor. Heat is conserved by installing reflective surfaces to deflect the heat up through the flooring.

Now you’ve got a few facts to get you started. If radiant floor heating sounds like the perfect winter gift for you home, do a little homework. Educate yourself about the types of radiant floor heating so you can be armed with information if you decide to shop. Maybe you will end up getting your home some heated tile floors for Christmas.