Welcome to “If Walls Could Talk” where Walls & Ceilings is out to discover just that.
Listen as W&C talks with influencers in the industry who are making an impact. We are helping educate and entertain the wall and ceiling industry as only W&C can do. What brought these people to the industry? What’s in store for the contractor? And “If Walls Could Talk,” what stories would they tell? Find out all of this and more on each episode.
WC Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney said he’s seeing increased immigration enforcement in unexpected places in Florida. From major busts in Tallahassee with more than 100 arrests, to smaller enforcement pushes on the highway, construction companies are at high risk for attention from federal and local authorities.
Roofing contractors should be aware of high-volume areas for ICE enforcement and know their rights, says Cotney, who said he’s seeing increased immigration enforcement across Florida.
“The administration has made it very clear what its position on the border is,” he explained. “We’ve seen an uptick in ICE enforcement in construction and not just in “Blue” states, it’s been in “Red” states equally.”
Even companies that are fully compliant with I-9 documentation can still fall under scrutiny for having employees that face deportation, Cotney said. With the help of local authorities, ICE agents are targeting at the jobsite, at familiar intersections, and even where materials are being picked up. Listen to the full conversation here.
Over the past 25 years, building envelope design has undergone a major shift toward high-performance wall systems focused on air, water, and thermal control. In a recent interview, TruFast’s Jason Wigboldy explained how innovations like the Thermal Insulation Fastening System and Tube Seal Fastener Technology are helping contractors build smarter, faster, and more efficiently.
In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C Editor John Wyatt talks with Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting on the importance of verified products.
The OSHA Walkaround Rule enacted during the Biden Administration faced major objections from some in the construction trades because it allowed third-party representatives to visually inspect jobsites, regardless of their profession -- or who they are.
“It’s key for our listeners to understand that if OSHA asks for a third party that’s not the contractor to be involved in the walkaround inspection, that they should object,” explained W&C Legal Insights Expert Trent Cotney, of Adams & Reese, in this brief episode.
Concerns like liability coverage, proprietary rights and materials staging make legitimate arguments for exemptions, and should be utilized, he continued. Listen to the full conversation here.
Websites are a staple for any business, including wall and ceiling contractors, but there’s more to maintaining them than updating them with photos and sales offers. Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, warns contractors that their sites may not be accessible and offers solutions on how to ensure they’re compliant.
Jill Bloom speaks with Ron Rice of CertainTeed Ceilings/Saint-Gobain about his industry leadership and recognition at CISCA Connect 2024, particularly his groundbreaking work on establishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for metal ceilings. Rice also emphasizes the importance of circularity in construction, advocating for smarter material selection, deconstruction, and reuse to support sustainability efforts led by architects, contractors, and manufacturers alike.
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