Fire-Resistant Drywall By Myron Ferguson The other day I was giving a demonstration on air sealing an attic. I built a box out of drywall scraps to use as a cover for recessed ceiling lights. This box would be fitted so that it sets tight against the drywall ceiling in the attic.…
POWER SANDING DRYWALL By Myron Ferguson One of the best ways to increase profitability is production based:tools, materials, and processes in the field. I didn’t always use a power sander and I don’t always get one out on a smaller job but I couldn’t work without one on larger job. I wish I knew the percentage of…
I Hope the Taper Does a Lousy Job By Myron Ferguson A few months ago I bid on a taping job for a friend of the family. The potential customer had hung their own drywall and did an OK job. The area consisted of a bonus room over the garage, a stairway and some…
Planning and Setting Expectations By Myron Ferguson I am often being accused of being too through when giving instructions. Well I have to be because I have a plan and my schedule depends on expectations being met. This past summer I took on a small repair and painting job to fill in a few days before…
DRYWALL SAFETY: STACKING DRYWALL By Myron Ferguson It is interesting that when I was doing research on safety when stacking drywall on a job site I mostly found information on avoiding injuries while lifting and carrying drywall. There was also a lot of concerns about structural tolerances with all the weight. However in my research I did find…
By Myron R. Ferguson What do we base the choices we make on? Do we actually see the full picture or calculate the cost all the way through? I have witnessed a contractor driving out of a lumber yard with a few pieces of metal corner bead in the back of the truck. They hit a…
I Just Need One Good Worker By Myron Ferguson aka “That Drywall Guy™” Maybe we all don’t notice the same things. But most people I know joke about road construction crews particularly a crew working on a city street. To most people it looks like there are way too many workers because usually there are…
Don’t Learn the Hard Way: LEARN By Myron Ferguson Finally this year NYS will implement a new energy code. Many of the builders I have been talking to have a lot of anxiety about this and to be honest so did I. In order for myself to be updated on the NYS Code I just…
TRUSS RAFTER What is a Truss Rafter? Trusses are pre-engineered and manufactured assemblies that take the place of conventional rafter, ceiling joist – roof construction. Trusses are usually installed across the entire width of a home and transfer the load to the outside walls and through them to the foundation. Houses that are constructed using…
By Myron R. Ferguson About 10 years ago I organized a field trip to a drywall factory. I took my employees, my father, the owner of the local drywall yard, and that’s about it. Turns out visiting a drywall factory is not at the top of most people’s list like it was on mine. The…