Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/34592
4 • JULY 2011 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Editor’s Corner Waiting for the housing rebound There are few people who would argue that a sustained re- bound in the U.S. housing market is a key component in a turn- around for the fence industry, as well as many other industries. At the beginning of this year, that is exactly what was predicted, based on the lowest mortgage interest rates in almost 60 years, plus affordable homes in cities where buyers had long been priced out. So what happened? Experts point to several factors. Unemployment and underemployment combined with plummeting home prices have left millions of Americans owing more on their mortgages than the home’s market price. This is not at all conducive to a recovery, and the situation really can’t reverse itself until employment sees a sustained growth pat- tern. Some areas saw demand (and prices) for homes rise last year, but primarily due to the first time homebuyer credit, which could not be sustained. The situation above leads to foreclo- sures, another drag on the housing market, and the economy in general. Moody’s Analytics chief economist has stated that the foreclosure pipeline holds about four million loans that are delinquent by 90 days or more – or headed that way – and he thinks half of those will end up for sale. He added that delin- quency rates have peaked and that foreclosures should also peak in 2011. The worst-case scenario for home prices would be slow economic growth and high unemployment which drives up the foreclosure numbers and pushes down home prices, ac- cording to one widely respected newsletter. Consumers refrain from spending, further dampening economic growth and job creation. However, other economists see an upside (sort of). The chief economist at Fiserv Case-Shiller feels that the housing market is now “bouncing along the bottom,” but predicts that in many cities, prices will begin to tick upward again in 2012. If this creates more demand, firmer prices and increased sales, it might be the light at the end of the tunnel we have been waiting for. World Fence News is a proud member of these associations: MEMBER Expanded Metal Manufacturers Association Contents Regular Features Fence Industry Calendar of Events ..................... 8 Fencer’s Field Report by Jim Lucci ................................ 16 Through the years with World Fence News .................... 60 April construction levels unchanged from prior month .... 66 Fence ordinances from around the country .................... 70 • • • • • Monthly Columns Calculating fair pay and compensation, part 2 by Tom Luby .............................. 26 Toolbox safety talks – part 1 by Jim Lucci ................................ 36 • • • • • Classified Advertising Fencer’s Marketplace National Classified Advertising.................. 84 News NDPA sponsors 10th anniversary National Drowning Prevention Symposium .......................................... 68 Kiwi Fence Training School gets back in session this September ........... 71 Plan now to attend Operator Installer School ....................................... 71 Principia announces 8th annual conference on decking and railing ....... 77 • • • • • Special Features Alternative financing can help offset cash flow challenges presented by slow-paying customers, by Tracy Eden ............................ 50 Listening to the voice of experience by Tom Luby .......................................................................................... 54 Keep safety in mind when selecting a portable hole digger by Mike Hale .......................................................................................... 64 Beautiful exterior is all about the details The beautiful multi-story home pictured on the cover is located in Haverford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was built by DH Custom Carpentry of Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Adding a clean, white accent to the exterior is Boston Vinyl Privacy Fence by Superior Plastic Products, Inc. (SPP) of New Holland, Pennsylvania, used here to separate distinct areas of the patios and living areas. The Boston style features 5” x 5” posts, 2” x 6” Deco rails, and 7/8” x 8-1/2” tongue and groove boards with 4” look. It is available in 60” and 72” heights, in white and ivory. It is also available in pool code configurations. Also playing a prominent role in the classy exterior are Superior’s vinyl snap- together post wraps which were used to dress up existing wood deck railing framework. The Boston style is only one of numerous vinyl fence styles avail- able from SPP, which is a leading provider of vinyl fencing materials, gate hard- ware, vinyl posts and railings, vinyl balustrade systems and vinyl specialty products. For more information on the company and its product lines, call 800- 633-7093 or visit the web site www.superiorplasticproducts.com. VINYL FENCE, DECK AND RAILING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION A Division of the American Fence Association Publisher WORLD FENCE NEWS ISSUE NO. 339 • JULY 2011 Comptroller Rodger D. Duke Managing Editor, Barbara Jo Duke General Manager Advertising Director Mary Hummon & Webmaster Rick Henderson Production Manager Darlene Woehnker Contributing Editors In Memoriam Herb Borner • Jim Hart World Fence News (ISSN#1054-5185) is published monthly by U.S. subscrip- tions: one year, $40, two years, $65. Canada and Mex- ico: $75 per year. Paid subscription includes annual Presorted standard postage paid at Beaver Dam, Wis., Permit No. 415. Un solicited ma- terials not accepted. Opinions expressed in this publi- cation are not necessarily those of the editors, publishers or advertisers. Any resemblance between images created in cartoons and persons or objects in real life is coincidental. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content – text, repre- sentations and illustrations – of advertisements printed, and also assume responsibility for any claim arising therefrom made against the publisher. All advertise- ments, including classifieds, are accepted on the prem- ise that the product or service is properly described in the advertisement, is available at the advertised ad- dress, will be willingly sold to buyer at the price and conditions stated, and conforms to all legal and regu- latory standards. Any advertisement not in compliance with those standards will not intentionally be displayed in this publication. ©2011. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or part by any means without the expressed written consent of the publisher. All correspondence should be sent to 6101 W. Court- yard Dr., Bldg. 3, Suite 115, Austin, Texas 78730. Tele- phone (800) 231-0275 (U.S. & Canada), (512) 349-2536, fax (512) 349-2567. E-mail editor@worldfencenews.com. Contributing Editor Jim Lucci INDEX OF ADVERTISERS ADC MANUFACTURING ....................................... 6 AFA OPERATOR INSTALLER SCHOOL ............... 56 ACTIVEYARDS ................................................ 30–31 AGAPE INDUSTRIAL, INC. ................................... 18 ALAMO FENCE, DIV. ATLAS FENCE CO., INC. ... 50 ALL-O-MATIC, INC. ............................................... 67 AMERICAN MADE VINYL EXTRUSIONS ............. 69 AMERISTAR FENCE PRODUCTS ........................ 15 APOLLO GATE OPERATORS ......................... 24–25 ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPING CONCEPTS ............ 46 BD LOOPS ............................................................. 28 BIG RED POST PULLER (TYSON’S) ................... 84 BLOOM’S MACHINE AND TOOL .......................... 46 C. PALMER DIE CASTING, INC. ........................... 66 CARRIAGE MACHINE SHOP, LLC ....................... 63 CHAMBERLAIN PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS ... 33 CHEMQUE, INC. ................................................... 16 CI-FABRICS ........................................................... 34 CLASSY CAPS ...................................................... 64 COLLINS LTD. (THE ROOK) ................................. 84 CONTROLLED PRODUCTS SYSTEMS GROUP .... 52 D&D TECHNOLOGIES ......................................... 3,7 DKS DOORKING, INC. .......................................... 41 DANDY DIGGER & SUPPLY, INC. ........................ 61 DESIGNMASTER FENCING SYSTEM ................. 42 DIGI-CODE, INC. ................................................... 76 DYNA PRODUCTS ................................................ 72 DYNASTY ALUMINUM FENCES LLC - DYNASTY PROFILES LLC ............................... 40 ELECTRONIC ENTRY DISTRIBUTORS ............... 58 ELITE FENCE PRODUCTS, INC. ......................... 27 ENCON ELECTRONICS ....................................... 35 ENDURIS ............................................................... 19 EVERSTRONG PROFILES ................................... 63 EZ GROUT CORPORATION ................................. 53 EZ MOUNT, INC. ................................................... 28 FAAC USA ............................................................. 37 FENCE MASTERS TECHNOLOGY ...................... 68 FITTRITE HARDWARE ......................................... 48 FORTRESS IRON RAILING & FENCE SYSTEMS ......................................... 51 FUH INDUSTRIAL, INC. ........................................ 22 GATES & CONTROLS, INC. ................................. 65 GATEKEEPERS, INC. ........................................... 66 GLOBAL HARDWARE, INC. .................................. 34 HAMPDEN FENCE SUPPLY, INC. ........................ 18 HIRE A HERO – (COURTESY DYNAMIC TUBE & PIPE CO.) .... 76 HOMELAND VINYL PRODUCTS, INC. ................. 48 HUTCHISON, INC. ................................................ 26 IDEAL MFG., INC. / TILT-A-WAY ........................... 50 ILLUSIONS VINYL FENCE .............................. 44–45 INNOVATIVE FENCE PRODUCTS ....................... 35 INTERNATIONAL GATE DEVICES, INC. ......... 32,77 IRON WORLD MANUFACTURING .... FRONT PAGE J.C. GURY CO., INC. ............................................. 6 JAMIESON FENCE SUPPLY ................................. 23 JERITH MANUFACTURING CO., INC. ................. 49 KEENER-DUPONT WIRE, INC. ............................ 72 KENCOVE FARM FENCE SUPPLIES ................... 8 KING ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS................... 88 KROY BUILDING PRODUCTS .............................. 29 L&C ENTERPRISES–USA, INC. ...................... 55,62 LMT PRODUCTS CORP. ....................................... 87 LITTLE BEAVER, INC. ........................................... 14 LOG CABIN PRO DRIVER .................................... 64 LOGICAL DECISIONS, INC. ............................. 66,80 MANAGEMENT MOTIVATIONAL ASSOCIATES, INC. .......................................... 70 MASTER HALCO ................................................... 2 MAY ADVERTISING INTERNATIONAL LTD. ......... 26 MERCHANTS METALS ................................... 10–11 MID ATLANTIC VINYL PRODUCTS – MVP WEATHERWISE ....................................... 73 MILLER EDGE ....................................................... 12 NANTUCKET POST CAP COMPANY, INC. .......... 14 NATIONAL GATEWORKS, INC. ............................ 74 NATIONAL METAL INDUSTRIES ..................... 22,42 OVERSEAS DISTRIBUTORS, INC. ...................... 38 PERMALATT PRODUCTS, INC. ........................... 48 PEXCO® PDS® , LLC (EAST) – PEXCO® PDS® FENCE PRODUCTS ............................... 13 , LLC (WEST) – FENCE PRODUCTS ............................... 13 POLY VINYL CREATIONS, INC. ............................ 57 PRIVACYLINK / SLAT SOURCE ...................... 59,78 PRO-DEC.COM ..................................................... 38 PULJAK COMPANY, LLC ...................................... 61 QUALITY LINEALS USA, INC. .............................. 84 RAMSET AUTOMATIC GATE SYSTEMS, INC. .... 79 RICHARD’S FENCE .............................................. 54 RISING STAR, INC. ............................................... 62 RUSH TRUCK CENTER ........................................ 71 SEA-USA INC. ....................................................... 83 SECO-LARM USA, INC. ........................................ 43 SECURITRON MAGNALOCK CORP. ................... 77 SHARELOX BY SHARED ACCESS LOCKS, INC.................. 6 SKIDRIL ................................................................. 34 SOUTHWESTERN WIRE, INC. ............................. 65 SPECRAIL ............................................................. 47 STANDARD PAINTS, INC. ..................................... 65 SUPERIOR PLASTIC PRODUCTS, INC. .............. 36 SWAN FENCE, INC. .............................................. 80 TFC MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS .............. 70 TRI CUSTOM MANUFACTURING ................... 38,60 ULTRA ALUMINUM MANUFACTURING, INC. ...... 75 UNIVERSAL VINYL EXTRUDERS ..................... 8,84 USAUTOMATIC ..................................................... 39 VIKING ACCESS SYSTEMS ........................... 20–21 WAYMARK FENCE AND RAIL ACCESSORIES .... 32 WELDON INDUSTRIES ........................................ 9 WESTECH BUILDING PRODUCTS ...................... 17 WESTERN TUBE & CONDUIT CORP. .................. 69 WHEATLAND TUBE CO. ....................................... 5 WILLIAMS LOWBUCK TOOLS, INC. .................... 60 XCEL FENCE ......................................................... 8 W o rld F encing Data Center F encer’ s Almanac. , Inc. On The Cover