Imperial Cedar Products

A sampling of the tools and materials on exhibit at JLC Live in Providence, R.I. More

For heavy loads and long spans, engineered beams are the way to go. In this article, we compare LVL, glulam, and Parallam, plus some new composite beams. More

As federal and state governments try to get a handle on the pollution problem and the impact of "volatile organic compounds," or VOCs, they're turning their attention to paint. A cascade of regulations, moving from the EPA down through regional commissions and finally taking effect at the state level, is putting the squeeze on suppliers to reduce the solvent content of all paint, stain, and primer formulas — or else take the products off the market. Paint makers are staying ahead of the curve. After years of adjusting to California requirements, most suppliers can now provide low-VOC products that come close to matching the performance of the old solvent-borne formulations. But a close match isn't a perfect substitute — and therein lies the rub. For contractors in the field, reports Ted Cushman, the new formulas may call for some changes in the way they choose, handle, and apply their products. More