Good Thank You Vibes and Happy Thanksgiving!

There is much said and written about the benefits of being Thankful. You may have heard or read about this before!! ;) It never hurts to repeat and re-affirm!
 
There is indeed this certain vibration that is emitted whenever we are grateful. We all know the wonder-filled “feeling” we have when we are genuinely pleased and say a HEART FELT GENUINE THANK YOU to someone. Even if it’s for the sometimes taken for granted passing of the salt without you asking for it.
 
It is most notable however, and most power filled it seems, when we are assisted in or out of a situation that is less than pleasant! We’ve all experienced it right?
“Woah – what a relief – THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!”
 
Or even someone’s kind word to reassure us while we are feeling fear. An extra hand of help when we just can’t seem to go on. A bystander’s neighborly push when we’re spinning on the ice! WOW – THANK YOU! And what a vibe that emits! Right?
 
But did you know that a simple daily practice of consciously BEING thankful for even the most simple and often taken for granted things that we have, or that took place in our day, can emit HUGE benefits to not only our individual mind and body – but to our collective one as well?
 
Advanced research at the Institute of HeartMath (http://www.facebook.com/InstituteofHeartMath) and elsewhere has provided evidence that gratitude is not simply a nice sentiment or feeling. Sustained feelings of gratitude have real benefits, including the following:
  • Biochemical changes – Favorable changes in the body’s biochemistry include improved hormonal balance and an increase in production of DHEA, the “anti-aging hormone.”
  • Increased positivity – Daily gratitude exercises can bring about a greater level of positive feelings, according to researchers from the University of Miami and the University of California, Davis who studied this process in 157 individuals over 13 days.
  • Boost to the immune system – The IgA antibody, which serves as the first line of defense against pathogens, increases in the body.
  • Emotional “compound interest” – The accumulated effect of sustained appreciation and gratitude is that these feelings, and coherence, are easier to recreate with continued practice. This is because experiencing an emotion reinforces the neural pathways of that particular emotion as it excites the brain, heart and nervous system. The downside is that you also can reinforce negative emotions.
This therefore reinforces that what we think expands and generates certain feelings.
These feelings cause us to take certain actions (or no action)… which then produce results consistent with these!!
 
So if we are not getting the results we want — then THINK AGAIN!!
 
And in the light and spirit of this information – THANK AGAIN!!
 
With an attitude of Gratitude and an unswerving faith – the altitude of our aspirations can virtually be unlimited!!
 
So in this season of Thanksgiving 2012 – even though we may be “tested” from time to time – good fortune shall favor the bold and those who, with an altitude of gratitude, “never quit”!
 
Cheers to you and your family…
 
Thanks for who you are and all you do and for your interest in our family business and it’s products (Perka Buildings, Perka Fence & Gates, Perka Metal Art)!!
  
- Have a very Happy and most enjoyable Thanksgiving!
 
Martial & Family!
The family, circa 2011…
I know we need to get a more recent one!!
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Leaving a Legacy – Making Time…

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the day Team Perka’s Founder, Ed “ET” Thevenot, took his last unassisted breath!

It marked one of those days that would change the lives of many forever!

While he would stick around for 27 more days, albeit in a coma, and most likely to give many of us the opportunity to MAKE some “time” to “say” some things to his warm body and somehow come to grips with a totally unexpected event, his physicality would leave us on October 30th.

The months that followed were a huge challenge to the family, friends and the business alike.  Priorities changed.   Things we thought so important all came under a new scrutiny of value, determining to what we would make time for.

As we struggled with the idea of no longer having our Patriarch, who seemed to carry the main load of leadership, inspiration, invention, creativity and often times mentoring to so many, life went on.  Soon after, the economy contracted.  The socio-political landscape changed.  Social Media made huge strides between dividing and uniting the world.  Life’s priorities for many were indeed changing…  and still are.

As the passing of “time” healed our loss, our family regrouped, albeit a little scarred, our friends resumed their fast paced lives and the business regained it’s bearings, making many necessary adjustments, adding on of new teammates, re-inventing itself, to not only “survive”, but to continue to grow and evolve.

While we are now past the depths of the extreme uncertainty we once felt, things are indeed moving forward again.  There is a renewed energy for service, a commitment to quality and a dedication to excellence for all our stakeholders, to all our neighbors, with all our clients and especially as ourselves.   Many of the virtues Dad/”ET” impressed upon us continues to live on.

While succeeding in our work/business is tantamount to our ability to have certain freedoms to be able to express ourselves, it is indeed in this expression of ourselves where we find the essence of our founder and his beliefs, that gave us more than a business ethic to inure to our future generations.

Let me explain!

We are still very much the FAMILY business he started back in the early 80′s.    We produce great products like the PERKA WOOD STEEL HYBRID BUILDING, like ornamental style fencing, gates and railings, as well as all kinds of structural steel products including Metal Art.  Now, going on our third generation, we have several members of the direct family contributing.  From brother in law serving and consulting clients all over Western Canada, to daughter in law keeping track of all the business numbers, to son carrying on an entrepreneurial, inspirational and leadership role, to a son of another mother co-leading the charge in production, to grandson spearheading a burgeoning construction division and granddaughters supporting and pitching in on client service and delivery…  Add to these the many ANGEL teammates, past and present, that we have Blessing us every day with their time, talents and treasures, we have a solid and certain affinity to working and appreciating the ideals of a family business all the while dealing with any accompanying challenges!   Overcoming the latter makes the former just so priceless!

In fact, just this morning I experienced a “Ah Ha” moment reflecting first hand some of the mighty Wisdom Blessings “ET” left us.

About a month ago we hired a new part time receptionist.  A kind, humble and pleasant young woman who works very hard (with 2 other jobs) in her quest to make a good life for herself.   However, a few days ago her car gave way to some mechanical issues that would leave her without personal transportation for a while.  Without any hesitation, granddaughter Jill jumped up to help by offering a ride to and from her home or other job.  Despite being a full time pre-med student, fully involved in a blooming relationship and working several, albeit part time, hours in the family business, she did something her Grand Dad would be extremely proud of.   SHE MADE TIME!

He often preached that one of life’s biggest mysteries would be “TIME”.   How we understand or deal with it can make our life a form of heaven or hell!  Time, he said, can be one of our best friends or one of our worst enemies!  There is a certain sacred mystery to it – and YOU NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF!!

There is an opportunity in seeing this this gesture, of “making time” in a busy life, to come to the aid of another, as the epitome of a lesson that “ET” practiced often and shared timely (and I paraphrase as best as I can remember):

“… If you can master time – you will ALWAYS be able to MAKE time and therefore never suffer or be deterred from it.  Time is something you should NOT take.  Time is not something you should give in to not having enough of, nor having run out of…  it is literally there for your making… “

You may have to think about this one to gain the wisdom.  And then PRACTICE often to achieve mastery.

The way I see it, it’s pretty much the equivalent to his #1 Rule for LIFE and BEING POSITIVE:

<< NEVER, NEVER, NEVER Give up!>>

While he can no longer be physically with us to “spend” some time, he is Eternally with us, as we make time remembering and LIVING his Legacy!

… and NOW is always a good TIME!

BE POSITIVE!

Cheers,

Martial T.

 

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More than just Prefab Steel Buildings!

As a business – YES, we LOVE STEEL!  We totally enjoy creating new and old designs of buildings, fence, railings, gates, stairs, ramps, racks and even ART – MADE OF STEEL!

PASSION FOR PREFAB WOOD & STEEL BUILDINGS GREW WITH SUCCESS

We maybe did not start out with a PASSION for steel, or steel buildings or even steel art – but the more we did it, the more things we made, the better we got at it, and the better we got at it, the more people praised us — and of course, the more we loved doing it!  Over 30 years later – we’re passing it on to our next (third) generation!  How does it get better than that?

So it would appear that we’re not always BORN with certain LOVES for certain things — .  Someone recently asked me “how do we know what we are PASSIONATE about”!!!  Quick answer is you’ll know when you know it!!

What we are BORN with is much much MORE than what a simple Blog could possibly write about.  But in a nutshell, we ARE born with an innate and supremely Divine ability to THINK.  To choose.  To believe.  To BE!

BORN TO LOVE

Many have said that our founder was a BORN salesman!  He could sell a fridge to an eskimo, he could sell a steel building to a lumber mill, he could sell meat to a vegetarian!

Sure – he certainly had an ability to persuade…  not so much by force, but by INSPIRATION, by faith, by perspiration and most of all be LOVE!  When he understood something as being high quality, high purpose and serving, he fell in LOVE with it…  he became totally convicted in his belief and it exuded from every cell of his being.   He was enthusiastic, he bubbled with a aura of excited JOY, Goodwill, Success and a LOVE for family, friends and people in general.   And when he was at his healthiest self, people LOVED to be around him, because people love to be with people who are HAPPY, Joyful, loving and POSITIVE!

BURNING DESIRE BELIEF

So it’s more than just STEEL!  It’s a “burning desire” type belief in what you are DOING and BEING.  And it’s LOVING WHAT YOU DO!  Ed Thevenot had that, he LIVED that!

In his memory and to celebrate the upcoming 5th Anniversary of his passing and ascension to the spirit world, a commemorative facebook page and BLOG PAGE has been set up to honor and share his MANY “rules or guidelines” that helped make him successful and a PERSON who’s ENERGY and MAGNETISM is still very much missed still every day.

He was someone who always stopped to visit or call frequently, even just to say hello, ask about how “life” was and generally shine his light of POSITIVITY and glowing enthusiasm… To us, it is an example well worth following!

If you would also like to follow the ongoing publication of these rules and guidelines – visit on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/2bepositive1, or on the Blog web site at http://2bepositive.org/ give them a LIKE or FOLLOW and you stay on a list to be reminded of any NEW posting that can no doubt help you and me continue to just BE POSITIVE!

Cheers,

 

Martial T.

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IMPORTED FROM NORTH AMERICA!

Last weekend my family and I travelled to Quebec, Canada to attend the wedding of my older sister’s daughter…  (AKA my niece!)  Since my dad passed away more than four years ago now, this was actually our first family gathering that was a celebration!    The weather was perfect, the ceremony was elegant and the reception the most fun our family has had in years. 

These type of events always remind me of how important our families, friends and neighbors are, and how we must be very careful on how we prioritize things in our lives. 

I was able to visit with several members of the family of the groom and this also offered another glimpse into the fact that we ALL are “brothers and sisters” (even if of other mothers!!)   We all have so many things in common, especially with regards to the most basic human needs, such as that for Peace, Security, Harmony, Love and Freedom (to name a few).

It was a delight to be able to share, give and receive friendly conversation and, above all, connect with basically “fellow humans be-ing” within a context of LOVE and commitment.  There is no sure way to know what tomorrow will bring for the newlyweds or for anyone else for that matter, but on that night it was all about dancing, singing, celebrating family, unity and love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the next few days, before heading back home, we were also able to visit a few areas of the country we were born in, where, despite living there for almost half of our lives, we had hardly ever took the time to stop and actually visit with intention very much of it.  

Along with our son, younger daughter, her new boyfriend and my mother in law, my wife and I made time to walk the streets of Old Montreal on a very pleasant spring evening, reminiscing of the days of our youth.  It was all surreal and fabulous.

We also chose to spend another day with my younger sister and her husband and tour Old Quebec City, for our FIRST TIME ever.  We enjoyed a most delightful time experiencing local fare, revelling in the sights and sounds of cobble stone roads and street musicians while appreciating the wondrous history of the first (organized) city ever established in all of North America back in 1640I did not know that!!

 

 

 

 

Why am I sharing all this?  For me, it is to re-confirm again — how important it is to keep in context and with balanced perspective the who, what and why of our lives: our family & neighbors, our history and our purpose.

And if that was not already a delightfully poignant reminder for how to steer the journey of my life…  a highlight moment in terms of a most enlightening pointer of the relevance of (my own) individual as well as TEAM PERKA’s collective purpose, came as my wife and I were going through Border Customs on our way back home.  This touched not only the “who we are” but also the “what we DO”.

After waiting some 20 minutes in the line queue to reach the US Customs inspector we walked up to an officer with greying temples, a firm look and a matching, cool, greeting of “good morning”.  After looking over our documents he asked me what I did for work in the United States.  I proudly said that I owned and operated a family business, while mustering a smile that would make my dad proud!  And then, keeping his stern look, he cynically asked, “Oh, and what kind of business do you do?”   I replied with equal joy “we manufacture structural steel frames and components for prefab steel buildings, fence, railings and gates”.  His look immediately changed… with the corner of his mouth breaking into an ever so slight grin he almost gleefully stated…  “So you actually MAKE something?  … all I ever get coming through here are people in the business of selling “AIR”… software, ideas, thoughts, rights… it is VERY refreshing and reassuring to hear SOMEBODY in this country is actually MAKING SOMETHING!”  Then he thanked me and swiftly stamped our passports!

What an Ah ha moment that was for me.  It certainly pointed to a growing “concern” for our country –because if we are not MAKING as many things as we used to or could, who is?   And maybe this is a big reason for our high under and unemployment?  What will many of our Brothers and Sisters DO?  What can they do? Make things!

That moment made me proud that TEAM PERKA was in the “business” of making things for our fellow man, for our fellow NORTH AMERICANS… 

Our work is generally CUSTOM, each job is made for a specific, known client.  His or her name appears on all the paperwork and even on the material itself.  Each item is soulfully crafted by the hands of caring workers.  And, in a certain way, each truss, each frame, each fence, each gate, each railing we make is unique.  It takes time to make them.  BUT IT WILL LAST FOR YEARS, because we DO IT RIGHT.  We’re quick, but we’re careful. We’re proud, and we are GOOD at what we DO!  And most of all, we LOVE what we do and we are grateful for our FREEDOM and the PEACE within which we can do what we Love… 

On this Memorial Day weekend, what better way to SAY THANK YOU to everyone who does their part, from all those who serve our Country in various capacities and to all those who do whatever they can to support this goal, this dream… that allows all of us to live in the highest potential for REAL FREEDOM.

Now how does it get better than that?

Stay tuned… it does! (Especially if you want it to!)

 

 

Cheers,

Martial Thevenot, Proud Head Steward of TEAM PERKA on this ship called Earth!

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TEAM PERKA – WOOD STEEL HYBRID BUILDINGS: “We just love to serve!”

PERKA WOOD STEEL HYBRID BUILDINGSWe love all our clients… 

But ever since we started back in the early 80′s, it seems our most popular customer was always our friends, family and neighbors of the agriculture world…  Farmers, ranchers, cowboys, cowgirls and including the many entrepreneurs and business folks that supported and served this Blessed Industry!!   Without our farmers, how would we ALL eat???

There just seems to be something really cool about our buildings that make them very user friendly and attractive for the do it yourselfer types like most people in the AG world; this makes everything in the whole building process from research, to buying, to taking delivery to actually BUILDING, so much simpler and quicker!  No fuss, no muss!  Perka buildings are straightforward easy to install buildings, that can be easily finished, easily insulated and easy to maintain!

How does it get better than that?

Enjoy this little video!

Cheers

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What is up with all our STUFF?

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??

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

 
 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 TOGETHERwith 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!

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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Categories: Building Info, Innovative Ideas, PERKA - Building Made Easy | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Categories: Building Info, History, Inspirational | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment