Custom-Arch, LLC

Custom-Arch, LLC - National Exposure - Builder Online

Custom-Arch, LLC has been listed in an article on BuilderOnline.com.  This is a Hanley Wood publication and the author is Alison Rice.  The article is about builders and their suppliers using Twitter as a means of communication to potential buyers.  We use it as a quick means of telling builders and customers what we are up to, how we are and new products we might be launching.  

Take a look at our Twitter page - @Custom_Arch_LLC

As always, feel free to send me questions about your projects or plans.

Ben

www.Custom-Arch.com

Window Manufacturer adds new line...

One of our best customers has added a new window design requiring a custom made jamb extension.  They came to us to build stock material for them.  They will rip down a rough width to the exact size required.  There are two sizes a 4' x 3' oval and a 3' x 2' oval.  This is exciting for us as they have been using us for the traditional single radius extension for a few years now.

Check out pictures 11 and 17!!

http://www.custom-arch.com/gallery_specialties.asp

Ben
www.Custom-Arch.com

Other sources for Information on Custom-Arch, LLC -

For those customers of Custom-Arch who need to have minute by minute updates, we can be found on Twitter @ Custom_Arch_LLC.  Alison Rice of Builder Online just wrote a great article about the use of Twitter by builders and their suppliers.

www.builderonline.com/sales-and-marketing/builders-turn-to-twitter-to-connect-with-buyers.aspx

Our blog is updated roughly every 3 days.  We now have a Facebook page with updates and schedules.

www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/?ref=sb#/pages/Smyrna-GA/Custom-Arch-LLC/36296691695

Feel free to contact one of us through any of these sites.

Have a great weekend!!

Ben
www.Custom-Arch.com

Arches Decrease Phase Time, Reduce Warranty Calls and...

Improve Profitability...

We have several customers that have come to the realization that using Custom-Arch pre-built arches in their component walls - decreases production time, reduces warranty calls and increases their profits by reducing operating costs.

Wall panel companies are seeing an up-tick in business even as the Residential Housing markets approach or (hopefully) start to ascend from their low point.  Builders are faced with a need to get homes built more efficiently and do so with a very shallow talent pool.  Wall panel companies are looking to reduce costs and increase throughput.  That is why they choose Custom-Arch arches.

By using our arches a company can reallocate valuable square footage to a core manufacturing competency; essentially increasing productivity.  The amount of waste material generated from cutting arches by hand is eliminated; as is the need to buy additional sheets of OSB.  Thus reducing waste removal costs and cost of stocking raw materials.  Production managers no longer need look for a laborer who can build arches.  A line worker can install an arch as easily as a header or a jack.

Here are a few pictures of our arches in wall components - 

   

Visit our website or call 770-437-0755 to find out how we can help your manufacturing facility offer more to your builders.

Ben

www.Custom-Arch.com

Florida Housing Market shows signs of thawing...

In a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel, Jerry W. Jackson interviews a few of the top production builders in the greater Orlando area.  

The feeling overall is that the market will start to ease a bit in the first part of '09 with demand building in the later part of next year.

While the last few "difficult" months have had a terrible impact on the builder community, the consensus is positive for the surviving companies.  Here is a link to the story -

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-housing0408nov04,0,395517.story

Ed. - If it is possible for builders, subcontractors and vendors to stay afloat for the next 2 quarters, we will all be in a good position for the up tick after the correction.  

Ben

www.Custom-Arch.com

Our arches used in Metal Stud construction...

I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine who is in commercial construction.  Typically he builds using long spans and vast open areas.  He does occasionally need to use some curved soffits and arches.  He admits that he doesn't like to hire wood framing contractors just to do the curves.  He also admitted that he assumed he could not use our product.  Here are some pictures for you Scott.  You can indeed use our product in steel construction with all the flexibility of standard stick construction.

Our arches nail or screw right into the steel studs with no additional effort or special tools.

Feel free to submit requests for additional pictures if you have a project coming up that will be using steel studs.

Ben

www.Custom-Arch.com

Dome Installation Instructions 5 - 8...

Alright, now you can stand back and see the perfect circle in your square tray.  I know it seems strange to have the blocks sticking out like that, but it is a lot easier to nail the blocks in before the ring is hung.

The last step completed was cutting the top plate to act as our backing as the struts are put in place.

Step 5 - Hanging the #1 and #2 Struts

All the struts are labeled "strut" and have a number on the nailing face.  There will (2) #1 struts and (2) #2 struts.  Place the #1 struts so the ends butt together and are centered on the top plate.  Nail them in place.   Now lift the three connected pieces into the opening and rest them on top of the outer ring.  Center the struts against the center marks on opposing sides of the framed box, check plumb and nail into the box sides.  Place the #2 struts so they butt perpendicularly to the #1 struts.  Check plumb and nail into the top plate and the framed box.

 

Step 6 - Install #3 and #4 struts

Now that you have the experience of hanging the #1 and #2 struts, the #3 and #4 struts will be pretty easy to put in place.  

The #3 and #4 struts will be long.

Take (1) #3 and put it in place, between any #1 and #2 at a 45' angle.  It WILL hang over the back side of the outer ring.  Mark the #3 at the point of contact with the outer ring.  Draw a line across the face of the arch 1 1/2" below this mark on the end opposite the #3 label.  Cut off remaining material and discard.  Use this as your master for sizing the other #3 struts.  Nail all #3 struts into the top plate.

Take (1) #4 and repeat the steps above. You may need to use shims between the strut and top plate (or a larger top plate) depending on the size of your dome.

 

Now you are probably asking yourself how to keep the struts in place for dry wall.

Step 7 - Securing the Struts 

Nail all the #3 and #4 struts to the back of the outer ring.  Add some blocking to the back side of the struts for added structure.

 

Step 8 - Installing the light ring

Take the Light Ring pieces and line them up with the seams on the outer ring, check flush (plumb) and nail them into the previously installed blocks.  We would recommend that you always secure the top plate to a bridge built across the top of the dome.  Use a pair of knee walls and a box beam to assure stability and to support the weight of a light fixture or chandelier.

   

Now, admire your newly installed dome.  If you plan to hang a light fixture or want added structure and stability, build a bridge across the top using two knee walls and a box beam.  This way future homeowners can hang a light with a winch, confidently.

Ben

www.Custom-Arch.com

Dome Installation Instructions steps 1 - 4...

Today I will start the overview of Dome installation.  I do this as a resource to some builders who may have questions or prefer to have online access rather than the printed materials we send with each kit.

Each Dome Kit is exactly that.  It is a kit with a number of pieces that range from 10 - 244 (Big Valdosta Dome - pictured below).  Each component is labeled - Outer Ring, Light ring and Strut.

Before you can install a dome, you need to frame a box in the ceiling.  For the purposes of our discussion here I have a 7' box framed for a 7' dome with a 24" rise.

Step One - Lay out your components. 
Separate the Outer Ring pieces from the rest and install 1 1/2" blocks about every 12 1/2".

Step Two - Mark the center of each side of the framed box.

Step Three - Install the Outer Ring.
Line up each end of the Outer Ring with the line you just made on the center of the beam.  Put one nail in one end and check level.  Now finish nailing (3 nails per side should work).  Repeat for each piece of the Outer Ring.

 

Step Four - Cut your top plate material
Before you can hang the struts, you will need to cut a piece of ply or lumber to make a top plate.  1" ply or rim board works very well.  Cut it to about 12" x 12" or better 16" x 16".

In the next post I will talk about hanging the struts of your dome.

Ben
www.Custom-Arch.com

Big, Beautiful House - Loads of Arches, Domes, Groin Vaults and Barrels...(cont.)

Here is a piece of the e-mail the Construction Manager sent Gary regarding the house.  I will let it do my talking for me...   

"...from what I heard, everything went well at the (client name ommited) house. The fascia looks great.  I hope some old time builders look up there in the years to come and marvel at how we could get all that fascia so round. After they walk in the entry and in the house they will appreciate our craftsmanship in the ceiling details. We appreciate the work you did on this and other houses.  The quality of the work shows up not only after the drywall, but gives a great impression during the framing..."

Construction Manager
Brentwood Custom Homes

Ben
www.Custom-Arch.com

New Barrel pictures from Florida...

We continue to get pictures from builders excited by the flexibility and speed of construction our arches and related products provide.

Below is a picture of a Dual Radius Barrel.  This was a fairly complex design.  It doesn't look like it, but that is the idea of our product.  The builder wanted an exact rise and width to fit the remodel of this room.  There were other constraints, such as the way the arches mount to the inside of the tray and the specific radius on the outside of the arches.

Once lit and painted, this will definitely make a difference in the overall look of the space.  As we get a finished picture, I will get it up here right away.

Talk to you tomorrow when I start our discussion about installing a Dome ceiling.

Ben
www.Custom-Arch.com