What is up with all our STUFF?

Posted on February 21, 2012 by TEAM PERKA

What is the Story of Stuff?

 From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view.

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

You can click on this link to watch the YOU TUBE video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8&feature=player_embedded

Or you can go direct to their website at http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html.

IT IS WELL WORTH THE WATCH!

Ever since 1981, TEAM PERKA has produced steel frames that were always intended to LAST!  We give it a 40 year warranty – but it will probably last even longer!  It’s made of STEEL!!!  Furthermore they are designed to be “stand alone”.  Which means they don’t rely on the purlins, girts and sheeting (the envelope) to give it the full CAPACITY that is needed.  The frames alone are designed to take it – then adding the envelope can actually ADD MORE strength and more durability! And when you’re done with them – probably in a 3rd or 4th generation from now… you can RECYCLE it!  It’s STEEL!

We also believe in the closed loop designing of our frames… and doing whatever we can to help all our buildings be made as sustainable as they possibly can.

While there are some debatable comments in her presentation – this video still explains this concept of a closed loop system quite well!  Whether you believe in the extreme situation of where we are as a society or not – there is still ALLOT of merit to being more responsible about consumption and being better stewards of what we DO have. These are trying times for most of us – and this ideal can go a long way to help us all both in the short term and the long run!!

We believe it’s about getting our facts straight about where we are as a race, where we’re going, where we REALLY want to go, and then collectively choosing to get there TOGETHER!

Like ANNIE says –  it wasn’t always this way –  WE CAN CHANGE!

THINK about it!!

Cheers,

Martial

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Some thoughts about buidling GREEN??

Posted on January 19, 2012 by TEAM PERKA

I recently came across a forum that asked for some thoughts about some different points regarding building GREEN! 

Here are the points with some thoughts you might be interested in reading!! 

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR:

(1) The type of truss or frame of the roof and shape/angle of the roof.

I am a big believer in the Hybrid WOOD STEEL design… I may be biased since my Dad was the one who kinda came to that conclusion after almost 20+ years of trying to find the best bang for the buck combination. And then he put together a system that has proven to really work over the years… It pretty much uses steel where steel is needed and wood where wood serves best.  Feel free to check out our system…. and you can see all kinds of pictures of them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/PERKA-BUILDINGS/254254764103;  but as with everything – do your homework and ask questions.

As for the shape – it would depend on the look you want + if you are to use passive solar heating and/or solar panels. Some single sloped or offset peak designs can make for a more efficient use of the space and location of your building site…

(2) The material for building and the framework etc concrete/timber/steel.

Once your superstructure is taken care of using steel for your main structure for durability and wood for your secondaries to create advantageous thermo breaks as well as make it all a whole lot easier to work with, for your envelope, your interior finish and to insulate…. then you can use just about ANY product(s) that will meet an optimization of your overall expectations including insulation value, waste, environmentally responsible, life span, overall suitability to other points mentioned below and budget. You see, in my experience, having a GREEN building is not only about it’s energy efficiency, but of course includes the whole “closed loop” idea of what happens before, during and after construction with time, all resources including any disposal(s) thereof, money and human resource management — they all have an impact on the overall carbon footprint, and all need to be considered as much as possible with the budget and location constraints! (i.e. you may be able to get the best solar panel system on the market – but if it has to be shipped from the opposite side of the world – how much of that “efficiency” do you lose in GETTING IT THERE… –> those sort of things…)

(3) What would be the best material for the floor.

While not my specialty – again – looking for what you can get locally – in budget should probably be a primary consideration — that said I hear alot of great things about radiant floor heating – with properly insulated (using reflective EPS board) layers beneath concrete.

(4) What is the best solar energy system.

That is an area I do want to have more info on myself — as the ROI starts to come down – they are becoming more viable as a true option for alternative energy and sustainability of the overall project. Again if the total capital investment is too high for the ROI, then that kind of skews the true GREEN value of the project!! But definitely an interesting option to consider for “getting off the grid”!! :D

(5) What is the water and heating system.

Geo Thermal is getting rave reviews from many of our clients – but it too has a decent initial capital cost to it… properly insulating your building should be the first priority under this category… the better you can address ALL 3 forms of heat loss/gains with the least of capital/material/labor costs the better! (Check out EPS core insulators with reflective and strong material coverings… – they easily address conduction, convection and radiant heat transfers with the most bang for the buck)

(6) What is the best ventilation system.

Another area that requires good study and knowledgeable experienced guidance … this will depend on how “tight” you insulate your building and know that there are no less than two almost opposing schools of thought there …. do your homework, ask questions, make the best choice decision for YOUR SPECIFIC system … one answer won’t necessarily apply to all systems!!

(7) Know any cool one story building designs .

If you want real cool cutting edge real outside the box designs – check these guys out: http://www.holistichouseplans.com/ While we know them fairly well – we are not affiliated and are not compensated by them!!

(8) What is the best insulation.

We prefer to use the P2000 Insulation System as the all in one application type super insulator I was referring to above!! check them out here: — > www.p2000insulation.com… Ask questions – do your homework! No two buildings are truly alike!

Feel free to follow up with any questions for clarifications!  Put a post on facebook… or email us at perka@perka.com.

Cheers

M

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Whether a Wood or Steel Building, To Do it Right – Be Ahead of the Curve

Posted on December 8, 2011 by TEAM PERKA
 
 It’s been almost 6 months since Team Perka has started it’s own local construction crew, and needless to say it has been quite enlightening!

 

Among the many obvious challenges all builders face, like weather, recruiting & motivating the right personnel, and the timely supply of materials … there are also many tiny details that can get so easily overlooked which could make for some costly setbacks in terms of time, money and potential disappointments… Thank God for good teachers, good project managers and his teams!

In fact I was told just today that there is really only about four to five weeks worth of labor in the average build. The rest of the time that can draw it out past any scheduled completion date is time spent waiting on weather, contractors and coordinating any detail adjustments… Needless to say there is a lot of time management in construction, and the most successful owner-builders are always the best project managers. They typically end up with more equity.
 So what does that mean for the every day do it yourselfer, the professional builder, or even the aspiring contractor/builder?
In 8 words or less: PLAN YOUR WORK, WORK YOUR PLAN AND COMMUNICATE!
You can have the best designed structure, the highest quality products, the best value for your investment, the friendliest folks serving you, but if you don’t have a plan for putting it all together, the potential frustrations can make it all seem a whole lot less than what it is!
 How do you get a good plan? FIRST THING IS GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE!
 Think! Ask questions. Build the job in your mind first. Communicate. Be patient and be frank. Look ahead at what you will be doing and needing for resources for 7 – 10 days ahead of time minimum. Why that much? Because most materials, special equipment and even certain personnel can take that amount of time (or more) to acquire or deploy! Anticipation skills are certainly an absolute pre-requisite! So unless you can live with the delays and live with the potential frustrations -> PLAN!!
Once you start falling behind, it can be almost like a magnetic vortex of “negative energy” that attracts even more of it. Unless you are really diligent and can get back to a new schedule, any original plan(s) made will go amuck! –> PLAN!!
 A good example and potential opportunity for ANY and ALL of us, regardless if we are builders, heading into 2012 can be with our “New Year’s Resolutions”! Any day can be a great day to choose to start anew but how many of us will choose any day — like TODAY?? And let’s face it, there is probably only a very small minority of us who are 100% TOTALLY happy with everything in our lives. We either need to lose weight, get more fit, make more money, clean up our house, organize our garage, do better in school, improve our relationships, etc., etc. So why do we usually wait for an ending, to start a new beginning!
 Like the END of the YEAR? Unfortunately, what happens when we do it New Year’s Day, along with MILLIONS if not BILLIONS of others, is we eventually get caught up in the mass consciousness, falling behind, like a huge vortex, that will begin the long list of excuses why we will NOT keep to our resolutions… and so by the time February comes around – the majority of us will be right back to where we were on January one, frustrated and less than happy! Sound familiar?
Here’s some GOOD NEWS, – and it relates to growing our individual and collective ability to PLAN! How about we start our resolutions TODAY!! Let’s be ahead of the curve. WE all have a good idea of what’s coming up and where we would like to be. So let’s PLAN on a path that will be more successful, more fullfilling more satisfying, starting TODAY! By getting ahead of that “vortex” we will be less likely to get sucked in to it. Wouldn’t you agree?
So what do you think? Make sense? Do you want to get ahead of the curve of “mediocrity”? –> PLAN!
One more thing. A good PLAN requires constant review. Unfortunately, since most of us are still on a 12:60 time clock cycle, it keeps on ticking as such. So if you want to “stay ahead” -> you got to keep ticking too… Think of it this way — each time we plan or review our plan, we are setting into motion our very own
PERSONALLY
LIBERATING
ACTION
NUDGE…
And with each nudge that moves us into action – we inevitably take another step closer towards actually achieving our resolutions, our objectives, our goals!
 So if you want a GREAT building experience. –> PLAN! And if you want it to be a COLLECTIVELY great experience. –> PLAN TOGETHER – with suppliers, designers, trades and owner.
 And if you can also be a good communicator about the whole process, then PLAN becomes a total PEOPLE LIBERATING ACTION NUDGE!
 Go for it.
 Start NOW.
 P.L.A.N. IT!
 
 
 
 
 
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Not ALL Wood Steel Hybrid Buildings are alike… ASK QUESTIONS!

Posted on November 11, 2011 by TEAM PERKA

With the financial challenges so many folks have had to deal with and overcome these past several years, most have thankfully been motivated to evolve into an actually MORE SERVING mindset.  From becoming more informed and conscientious about our choices regarding our relationships, our health and our money…  many of us have grown to be much less wasteful, more resourceful, more sustainable and more compassionate sovereign beings.  If you think about it, THAT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING, and something we may wish to add to our list of Blessings as the Holidays of reflection come fast approaching!

One of the areas where there is a rapidly growing trend is the huge move from either the traditional ALL WOOD Pole Barn / stick built buildings, or the ALL STEEL Prefab Rigid Frame Plate Beam structures TOWARDS the ever popular “best of both worlds” combination of WOOD STEEL HYBRID BUILDING SYSTEMS.

Now we felt that we had to make something perfectly clear right here and right now.

   NOT ALL HYBRID BUILDINGS ARE ALIKE…

A HYBRID, IS  A HYBRID, IS A HYBRID is SIMPLY NOT TRUE!

As the popularity of buildings using WOOD and STEEL grows over the coming months and years, with more and more distributors, dealers and even material suppliers starting to jump on the “bandwagon” of the next greatest evolution in buildings, it behooves everyone to really ASK about the DETAILS of what they are going to get, and what they want with their “Wood Steel Hybrid System”. 

Perka Buildings DELUXE HYBRID MODEL truly uses STEEL WHERE STEEL IS NEEDED and WOOD WHERE WOOD SERVES BEST.  There is no room for compromising on this adage if one wants a building that will be strong, serving and sustainable.

While you can call a building with STEEL trusses on Wood posts a hybrid …  think about this!  Are you really using steel where steel is needed?  Why are people shying away from Pole barns?  They don’t like the flat bottom cord, they don’t like the fact the poles will eventually weaken and rot and it’s becoming a bigger concern that many wood buildings have much difficulty passing building codes.  So the question that begs answering is why would you compromise your structure’s integrity with WOOD columns or components in important load bearing situations?… Especially when we know these WILL weaken over a relatively short period of time.  What will they look like in 5-10 years?  Do you really want that to happen in an important part of the building like the actual SUPPORTING frames?

Another thing that some so called Hybrid Building suppliers do is use total WOOD END frames.  Now sure that can significantly lower your materials cost and for some that may be better than no building.   After all the ends only have to carry half the load, right?  But again –  chances are the wood will weaken quicker, and compromise the overall strength of the endwall that will still be taking the brunt of winds… and do you really want that in a part of the building that structurally holds up and against a significant part of the load?

 And what about those WIDE door openings? As many pole builders, and now even some wood steel hybrid builders, they will fabricate this elaborate multi laminated jack beam that will hold up SEVERAL roof rafters and no doubt thousands of pounds of weight.   When everything is NEW and FRESH – it all passes the calculations and all is well…   But what happens to that “strength” when after 10, 5 or even just two years pass?   The wood will begin to deteriorate.  Everyone knows this besides it’s pretty apparent common sense. The wood is no longer rooted in the ground, it is no longer alive.  It is not filled with preservatives that will keep it fresh and strong as it was after it was freshly cut and analysed.  No.  Wood ages.  And it ages relatively quickly.  And as it does, it will weaken. It could sag, it could fail.  So why would you want this to support wood or now even STEEL trusses that probably has 2,3 or even many more times the life expectancy?  And what will happen to your door when that begins to sag?  Or when the wall starts to cave in a little?  Will you need to go back in and strengthen it back up? Is it really worth it?

Does this make sense?  

And there are other examples (like overhangs and leantoos) where wood is used in the place of PRIMARY STRUCTURE.  And again, where, over a much shorter period of time than steel, it will weaken!  DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?

So, before you buy just ANY Wood Steel Hybrid Structure, or even an all wood building –  make sure you know what you are getting.  And if you value what it’s going to contain and protect…  you might want to think twice about using WOOD where STEEL ACTUALLY SERVES BEST!

Happy Building!

Cheers

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Character Counts!! Ethics is NOT for the meek! Branding *PERKA*.

Posted on September 16, 2011 by TEAM PERKA

I just had to share this…

You see we are in the somewhat lengthy process of BRANDING our family business, our team…  PERKA.

From our coaching on this subject, we are learning that branding is about having folks recognize certain VALUES, PRODUCT TYPES and / or IDEALS with a name.  

Our name is PERKA. 

As a family and with our business as well as our every day lives, we always aspire to hold to the values associated with the Golden Rule.  We strive to apply it to our thoughts, our decisions, our actions, our products, our service and our every day way of doing business.  It’s not always easy to have all the players on a team buy into a “system” – but one person at a time and one experience at a time we always have the privileged opportunity to BUILD on this ideal and grow with it… 

This morning I received an email from motivational leader Brian Proctor…  It contained an excerpt from a Michael Josephson which pretty much said volumes about where we are hoping to be recognized as PERKA – some day in the near future… 

Needless to say this excerpt is going into our CORE VALUES list… 

While, admittedly, it will always be a challenge to live up to this version of our greatest vision, I believe it’s the only way to be in this “game” for the long haul!!   And the game of being a lasting business with a value added product and service is certainly NOT FOR THE MEEK!

BE GOOD!

Cheers,

Martial

Reproduced from www.charactercounts.org.

It’s Not Easy

Let’s be honest. Ethics is not for wimps.

It’s not easy being a good person.

It’s not easy to be honest when it might be costly, to play fair when others cheat, or to keep inconvenient promises.

It’s not easy to stand up for our beliefs and still respect differing viewpoints.

It’s not easy to control powerful impulses, to be accountable for our attitudes and actions, to tackle unpleasant tasks, or to sacrifice the now for later.

It’s not easy to bear criticism and learn from it without getting angry, to take advice, or to admit error.

It’s not easy to feel genuine remorse and apologize sincerely, or to accept apologies graciously and truly forgive.

It’s not easy to stop feeling like a victim, to resist cynicism, or to make the best of every situation.

It’s not easy to be consistently kind, to think of others first, to judge generously, or to give the benefit of the doubt.

It’s not easy to be grateful or to give without concern for reward or gratitude.

It’s not easy to fail and still keep trying, to learn from failure, to risk failing again, to start over, to lose with grace, or to be glad of another’s success.

It’s not easy to look at ourselves honestly and be accountable, to avoid excuses and rationalizations, or to resist temptations.

No, being a person of character isn’t easy. That’s why it’s such a lofty goal and an admirable achievement.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

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Why do not so good things happen to good people?

Posted on September 2, 2011 by TEAM PERKA

You know I’ve been “advised” by marketing gurus, professional net work marketers, Internet geniuses and by several good friends who are really quite impressive when it comes to knowing how this “Internet” works, that I MUST BLOG AND SEND OUT NEWSLETTERS, as often as I can, so that I can maximize the ORGANIC GROWTH potential of my business by being optimized with the world wide web’s search engines.  (SEO)

Great idea I say…  I can do that. 

But you know — EVEN MORE IMPORTANT than that, I feel we have a MESSAGE to deliver!!  A good message.  A strong message.  A purpose driven message.  One that can truly help our neighbors, friends, family.  And we really want to get it out there, so that more people can KNOW about it, be informed, make enlightened choices, build their shops, barns, storage buildings, warehouses, businesses, garages, schools, churches, homes, etc., with a building system that not only “works” — but is affordable, sustainable and just plain and simply more of the “RIGHT” thing to have, to do and to be!

So while search engine optimizing will certainly help in being ranked higher with Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask and or hundreds of other search engines, so that more people CAN indeed find our products, our services and our message –  IT is not our main reason to blog or send out newsletters.   THE main reason is we have a MESSAGE…  and we would really like for more people to hear it and thus become a bit more informed about what is known by really only some of the wisest insiders, and in that it has taken them decades to truly figure it all out!  There is just so much to know and understand.

We (Team Perka) are one of those privileged “insiders”.  My dad has been in the building and construction business since the late 60′s.  He was always the underdog, always cutting edge small business entrepreneur, working for the common man, the do it your-selfer the hard working, fun loving, family man.  He’s designed, manufactured, built and even “un-built” many a structures over the past 5 decades… and I and a few of my colleagues, were fortunate enough to be near him most if not almost the entire time, taking copious notes, registering his many thoughts, observations, critiques, opinions and SOLUTIONS.  I have spent decades myself, accumulating these and now am working on putting them together in some sort of comprehensive format.  At the same time, I am feeling a strong “push” to get the message out NOW, ASAP…  in ANY way, even if one blog or newsletter at a time.

That said…  I have been scratching my head lately trying to figure out how would be the best way to reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible without breaking the bank.  At the very least reach substantially more people than I have been. 

ESPECIALLY now in this tightened and quite volatile economic, social, environmental and political climate that we are in.   I feel it is now ever more important that we stop wasting resources, especially non renewable resources, not to mention our precious time,  health, security, sanity and of course money.  This information will definitely help in making great practical strides to achieve that!

 Well as fate would have it…  or if you believe in the power of “thought and attraction” I was just recently contacted by a reputable TV production network with a big name host, to see if we would be interested in co-producing a news/info-mercial on what we do within the realm of “Innovative Building Solutions”.  I thought WOW, what a coincidence and what an opportunity to possibly reach out to thousands if not millions of our neighbors quicker and possibly even more effectively.  So I am presently in the midst of entertaining and investigating that option along with going through the due diligence to make sure the return on investment will be there.  After all, if we are going to preach the NOT wasting of valuable resources, we better be practicing it as well. 

So stay tuned for that as we may be appearing on some major network programming in the coming months and sharing our message with hopefully the added advantage and leverage of one picture being worth a thousand words… YES?  (I wonder what a video is worth??).

Now, what does the title of this blog have to do with all this?  Why do sometimes not so good things happen to good people?  

As some of you know my dad, (who was also my friend, mentor, partner) passed away unexpectedly almost four years ago.  And that really hurt. 

The economic major downturn that started several years ago has affected millions of us. 

Terrorism, wars, famine, abuse, major climate calamaties and more have plagued not only our nation, but our world.  Billions of us humans, brothers and sisters of all races, creeds and religions are being challenged in ways that we would not have ever thought possible just some 10+ years ago.  (Soon it will be the 10th anniversary of 9-11 when it would seem that our entire planetary being took a whole different direction!)

With all this being said – how can we not wonder about all this, and ask WHY!

Well, all I can think of is what my Dad, and I am sure many of your own mentors may have told you …  “Whatever your challenge, whatever the obstacle you face, if it don’t kill you, it will make you that much stronger … and if you keep on keeping on, NEVER quitting, know that this too shall pass, as everything comes to pass and the SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN!”

So onward and upward we continue…  head held high, trusting the process, with faith and courage…  knowing that nothing is truly permanent and that if we keep “showing up”, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE TOO!

I will be sharing more GOOD NEWS, INSIDER INFORMATION AND PRACTICAL IDEAS about BUILDING FOR CHANGE real soon!  Follow this blog or newsletter and BE INFORMED!

Cheers,

Martial

 

 

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“PERKA”: synonymous with quality and doing things RIGHT!

Posted on August 24, 2011 by TEAM PERKA

The Brand PERKA is quickly becoming synonymous with QUALITY, HONOR, SERVICE and just basically DOING THINGS RIGHT.  The principles at Team Perka all agree that this just makes it always EASY to do the RIGHT THING!!

Make sense?

With dozens of built in design features like pre welded and pre-punched clips already on all the frames, pre tested assembly for bolt assembly accuracy, using wood where wood makes it easy and structurally sound to serve you best… putting PERKA steel trusses together for your garage, barn, shop, shed, warehouse, school, church or even your house will always be quick, easy and JUST RIGHT!! 

As stated above, each frame is pre-fitted at the factory to MAKE sure they go together RIGHT when you get them! They have been specifically designed for the “DO-IT-YOURSELFER”… with the minimum number of connections and everything kept SIMPLE and QUICK!  Imagine how simple this becomes for the contractor…  getting the job done becomes enjoyable and win – win for everyone!

Check out this you tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRKo4s-M06k&feature=player_embedded

Pictures are worth 1000 words eh?

For more information – give us a call at 800-467-3752 or email perka@perka.com.

** Ask for a FREE copy of our assembly guide and you will see how easy it all is…

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What do you plan to do now?

Posted on August 12, 2011 by TEAM PERKA

What do you THINK about all this economic, social and political volatility??? As business owners, managers, stewards, self employed and even employees what business model or philosophy should we be adopting now?

I mean if we’re not getting or going to get the results we really want, we can’t keep doing the same things we’ve been doing, right?  It is said that anticipation of change is a HUGE key to succeeding through changing times… and times are indeed a-changing, again!!

So what do we do?

Now many successful people will caution us to watch what we THINK!! I am sure you’ve heard the saying — “WE BECOME WHAT WE THINK”…

In fact the last time we had this sort of volatility – we went into SURVIVAL mode… did you do that?  And guess what?  IT WORKED!  We “survived”… but that was not exactly pleasant! The cutbacks, the sacrifices, the long days… there must be a better way…

Someone else once said – “THE GOOD LIFE CAN SURE BE EXPENSIVE, but the alternative SUCKS!!”

Since we know too that knowledge is power – it behooves us to get as much knowledge as we can… (by the way, if you haven’t checked it out yet – you might want to click on the following link for some great ‘insider’ info that can make a difference. http://ning.it/qwDxN4)

Like anything though – if you don’t put ACTION to the knowledge it’s pretty much useless!! We can’t forget that: DECISION + ACTION = RESULTS. There is no other way!! (Of course NO decision + NO action =  results too – NO RESULTS!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now coincidentally this morning I received this MOTIVATIONAL message from my friends at www.tut.com:

“” Quickie Happiness Workshop for Increasing Profits at Times of Seeming Peril:Think as much, if not more, about growing your income as you do of trimming your expenses.  And for extra credit, focus on customers more than vendors; smiles more than frowns; possibilities more than risks; options more than commitments; vacations more than overtime; detours more than setbacks; opportunities more than obstacles; and Goldilocks more than the bears.”"   End of Workshop…

What do YOU think?? . . . this has sure got me “thinking” differently this morning…

Should we change our tune this time and FOCUS on PROSPERITY??

For what it’s worth, that idea sure makes me feel a whole lot better…  and feeling better might just be the difference between surviving and prospering…

Cheers,

Martial

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Should you build in prefab steel, pole barn wood or some combination (HYBRID)?

Posted on August 3, 2011 by TEAM PERKA

With the challenges we are facing these days – our society is becoming more and more conscious about not being wasteful, living within our means, making sure our budgets make sense, are viable and that they are balanced. 

In an effort to help this process along, there are more and more folks thinking of building their own homes, shops, garages, etc., either as a do it yourselfer or as their own “General Contractor”…  While it may mean a bit more work – being personally involved in the process can have substantial benefits in time and money savings!

As your own builder you can not only be able to design it all exactly the way you would want it, but you can also be part of the selection and “shopping” for materials process.  Think about it… this is a good thing!  YOU GET TO CHOOSE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT!  No surprises!  –> It’s the ACTION part in the formula that says:  DECISION + ACTION = RESULTS!!

Now once you are committed to being your own “builder”, your next question that might come up is: “what materials to use for the superstructure?”… Should it be wood, steel or otherwise?

I can personally share with you, from experiences in being involved in the building industry for over 30 years, that a steel framed building for your home, business or shop will give you many advantages!  Below here are a few of these, put simply.  (So if you want more info regarding these or any other questions call or write to any of our Perka Team Mates!)

#1. IT IS MORE DURABLE

A steel framed home will be much more durable and sturdier from day one and, more importantly, for the long haul.  As you might expect – STEEL is definitely a stronger material than wood! It will last longer and withstand much more.

#2. IT CAN OFFER LARGE CLEAR SPAN OPTIONS

With steel frames as you main structure, you will be able to create nice, clean, clear spanned, unobstructed rooms.  Steel can span larger dimensions easier, not requiring posts or beams to support the roof trusses.

#3. STEEL IS MOSTLY MADE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS
 
Wood is a great organic material – but it is also being depleted faster than it’s being renewed! While a renewable resource – it does take time. Most steel comes from recycling. This is a good thing for the environment, which is good for everyone!

#4. WOOD HAS IT’S ADVANTAGES TOO
 
Of course going with all steel does sound pretty “COLD”… As stated above, wood is a very organic material and does offer a certain “energy” to a living or working space. So using a HYBRID Wood and Steel system - will give you the best of both worlds. You will be able use steel where steel is needed in and for the superstructure – and then can frame all the rest – including any openings for windows, doors etc, with wood where it serves best!

#5.  AREN’T STEEL HOMES/BUILDINGS HARDER TO KEEP WARM IN WINTER AND COOL IN SUMMER?

Steel Frames are not necessarily harder to heat or cool if you create the right THERMAL BREAKS.  By using a product like one with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) core (i.e. P2000 Insulation -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFkzxB_PhpQ&feature=player_embedded), you will be able to effectively and easily insulate the home against ALL THREE forms of heat transfers.

a) The EPS, especially on wood purlins and girts – will virtually stop conduction since it pretty much blocks the transfer of heat to the cold (like a coffee cup – but 5 or 8 times thicker?).
b) The coverings that are offered like reflective Mylar will handle the heat loss from radiation due it’s ability to reflect back most of the radiant heat.
c) And finally, by sealing all the board joints with their overlap, foam2foam and or tape systems, you will prevent any heat transference from convection (air flow)…

And that’s it – ONE application on a wood steel hybrid building and you have a virtually perfectly super-insulated system!!

#6. QUICK, EASY AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO ERECT.

If you get the right steel building frame design system (i.e. with pre-welded and pre-punched clips, pre-fitted to assure accuracy, minimal connections for simplicity, and well thought out and designed to eliminate as much shimming, splicing and retrofitting) – it will actually be allot quicker to erect, finish and insulate your home or building – and this will save you allot of time, money and “headaches”!!

You don’t have take my word for it, use these hints to ask the right questions of your supplier and do the homework. Check out the various steel building frame and insulation options that are available.  Know who you are buying from.   Know what you are getting, and what you are getting into!

You can easily have a well built, well insulated building or home that will not only be very affordable, but be low maintenance, easy to assemble, easy to modify, energy efficient, strong, secure, comfortable and last for generations.

Cheers!

Martial T

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Team Perka – Who, What, Why are we? A brief story…

Posted on July 30, 2011 by TEAM PERKA

Our Story

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Why did you start your business?

My Dad started our family business back in 1980. He was frustrated with the complexity of how buildings went together.   He’d been an entrepreneur all his life and was an avid DO-IT-YOURSELFER.   He had realized that life is purposeless without some form of CREATING…  He got into a literal BUILDING phase of his life.  He wanted to build his own office building, retail shop, garage, workshop, cottage and warehouse.   Looking for the “right” materials, to be able to do most of this on his own was a virtual nightmare. 

So, he designed his own frame system using a wood and pre fab steel hybrid combination.  This way he got strength and durability where it served best AND this would be much easier to work with than all steel!!   Plus, my dad was not a big believer in architect drawings…  or at least spending alot to put all the details on paper in advance.   So he needed to build with a system that would be flexible and not be a nightmare or cost an arm and a leg to change something later - like add a door or window!!  (If you’ve ever dealt with an ALL STEEL BUILDING, you know how costly and difficult a “change order” can be!!)

SO the PERKA BUILDING SYSTEM was born!   Easy to design, easy to build, easy to finish, easy to insulate, easy to modify, easy to maintain… JUST PLAIN EASY!!  How does it get better than that?

To this day we continue to innovate by making the building system EVEN easier and easier to work with, assemble, finish and insulate.  With the latest introduction of our own construction division (at least for a 75 mile radius to start with) – we can now get daily and even hourly feedback with photos of the whats, hows, whys of even more aspects of building…  AND we can plan even better to DO the little things to make life easier for the do it your selfer and the builder/contractor alike!!    And here is a little caveat…  something you need to research and understand: while you might find cheaper materials or packages to buy up front, with a Perka Building Hybrid System (either the Econo or the Deluxe)    –> by the end of the project you will not only have made up any of those price differences, but even MORE IMPORTANTLY – you will have saved alot of ibuprofen by avoiding all kinds of headaches.  Believe me – we have and do still live this from time to time as we have also elected to put up other types of buildings to get to know this difference FIRST HAND!!!  Most importantly, by the time you have finished your project, you will also have a much more efficient, better built, better finished, better insulated, all around BETTER building that will serve you, your children and your children’s children (without headaches) for years and years to come.

MAKE SENSE?

What makes you different than other similar businesses in your community?

I am not sure it’s exactly “different” per se, as I would like to believe that there are many family owned / operated type businesses working hard and smart, just like us.  We truly and ideally believe that our world is mostly made up of  folks desiring to make an honest living, doing the right thing to provide quality products, timely services at fair prices.

One thing that we do really emphasize at our place of joy-filled work - which might make us a bit different than some, is that we DO enjoy what we DO!  Life is too precious to waste being and doing something one can not find satisfaction, joy and a sense of fulfillment from, let alone earning enough to provide for one’s self and family.  So we look to fostering an environment here that is very family like, comfortable and safe to work in, where we can all be and do the best that we can – naturally and willfully. This generally translates into an even better product and service that we gleefully provide to our clients, many of whom are brothers, sisters, neighbors. Everyone here knows and agrees, we are in this for the long haul, taking each day, one at a time, with each challenge as the opportunity to be the next greatest version of our next greatest vision! And this makes for WIN – WIN for everyone!!

Team Perka : Thevenot Family along with it’s many great brothers and sisters (of other mothers) 
(Three generations strong)

Now going on 31 years in operation!

 

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