1 hour

In this course, we explore a cutting edge technology, called Ultracompact Surfacing. The audience will gain insight into how this surfacing material possesses similar characteristics of natural stone while providing superior durability compared to Porcelain and universal design flexibility.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of the types, features, and benefits of designing with cellular PVC trim, including a discussion on the installation guidelines and manufacturing processes.

 1 hour

Through sustainable management, the forests of New England have had a remarkable comeback since the 1830s, with eastern white pine being the most represented softwood in these forests. This light yet strong wood species has been used for generations and today, meets the requirements of a renewable and sustainable building material. This course reviews eastern white pine’s contribution to sustainability, its grading rules, wood products, and many applications.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of the performance characteristics and benefits of using multi-layer, cellular PVC decking–a durable decking material that replicates the unique beauty of exotic hardwood.

 1.0 hour

Insulated vinyl siding, known as insulated siding, is an exterior cladding that combines the protection and low maintenance of traditional vinyl siding with the energy efficiency of EPS foam. The composite results in an improvement in performance and aesthetics. This course discusses the benefits associated with installing insulated siding on new and renovation residential construction projects, and the range of architectural styles that can be achieved with the breadth of design and color options available.

 1 hour

Addresses the history of laminates, how laminate is made, the varying types of laminate, as well as their characteristics and performance attributes. Discover how textures can customize design based on need. Test procedures and industry standards will be defined.

 1 hour

Open walls embody the true essence of indoor-outdoor living. This program explores large opening glass wall systems, their LEED® contributions, and how they lend themselves to sustainable design. The course focuses on: their benefits and applications; door types; door system components; and selection and installation considerations.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.

 1 hour

Presented by materials historian Grace Jeffers at select conferences.

 1 hour

Synthetic roofing materials have been available in the market for more than a decade, providing a cost-effective, viable alternative to traditional slate and shake roofing systems. This course provides an overview of the features and benefits of slate and shake synthetic roofing products, including a discussion on the testing methods used to rate specific performance characteristics.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of the characteristics, features and benefits of engineered quartz surfaces, as well as a discussion on the related green certification programs.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of pre-engineered metal egress stairs including discussions on advantages, types, class, fabricator vs. manufacturer, railings, stair flight and landing construction, connections, and building code requirements.

 1.0 hour

Regenerative design is a philosophy that reaches beyond being merely sustainable. It empowers creative potentials in pursuit of unique, system-wide benefit. This course explains the theory of regenerative design and its underlying concepts and paradigms. A case study, regenerative bark wall coverings, is presented to illustrate how regenerative design theory can be applied to the design and production of a building product.

 1.0 hour

Maintaining the beauty and aesthetics of a project requires protecting against the elements. An effective way to do this is with the use of protective coatings. This course discusses fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) fluoropolymer coating technology, including the various types of FEVE resins and their applications, with a focus on performance characteristics, sustainability factors including LEED credits, and life cycle costs.

 1.5 hour

The popularity of bamboo products has soared due to their desirable aesthetic and unique, eco-friendly attributes. This course covers an overview of the history, uses, characteristics, and specification considerations of bamboo, including a discussion of the health advantages and green benefits of designing with bamboo products.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of the performance characteristics, fabrication techniques, and manufacturing processes of High Pressure Decorative Laminate (HPDL) which make it a sustainable decorative surfacing solution for commercial and residential applications.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.

 1 hour

Wood is the only carbon-negative, sustainable building product there is. Using more wood and wood-based products for interior and exterior applications can help to lower carbon emissions and combat climate change. This course discusses the benefits of using wood, identifies what sustainable hardwood species are the most abundant and where some of the best managed, certified hardwood forests are located, and compares the physical and performance properties of European beech to eight other temperate hardwoods.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of engineered stone, with a focus on the process of designing with the material and descriptions of how engineered stone makes an appropriate, attractive, cost-effective, and sustainable design choice.

 1 hour

Acrylic solid surface is an attractive design solution, delivering enhanced aesthetics combined with superior properties. This course provides an overview of the characteristics of 100% Acrylic Solid Surface compared to other surface materials, and the driving factors that contribute to its growing role in sustainable design strategies. Also discussed are the manufacturing, fabricating, and thermoformable processes of 100% Acrylic Solid Surface and the related green standards and certification programs.

 1 hour

Explores inspiration and trends in surfacing. It demonstrates how laminate is used as a decorative surface in interiors.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of the benefits cellular PVC as a cladding material and focuses on water-based PVDF coatings, how they work, and how their performance characteristics contribute to their durability.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of the manufacturing processes, features, and benefits of specialty acrylic products that afford architects and designers unique and inspiring design solutions for a wide variety of applications.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of the sustainable attributes of redwood building products, including a discussion of redwood lumber grades, characteristics and applications. Also presented are the results of a recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing redwood and plastic-composite decking options and information about redwood's Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.

 1 hour

Addresses the history of solid surface, manufacturing processes, product attributes and how these affect the performance and use of the product. Explores textures and edge treatments for design versatility. Evaluates test procedures and industry standards, as well as, reviews common and surprising uses of solid surface in both residential and commercial environments.

 1.0 hour

The term “post-frame building system” refers to a building erected with structural frames of wood posts as columns and trusses or rafters for roof framing. Post-frame buildings are engineered for site and building requirements and through proper design and quality materials, they can be constructed to be as strong as a steel-frame building. This course covers the attributes, construction methods, materials, of post-frame building systems and their applications for low-rise commercial buildings.

 1 hour

Unfortunately gun violence is a reality and design strategies must be employed to ensure a suitable level of protection. This course addresses bullet-resistant fiberglass composite panels and the need for architectural armoring. The course discusses ballistic material testing and standards, the types of ballistic materials available, and fiberglass composite panel applications and installation considerations.

 This course is part of one or more "Course Collections". Click here to view the details.

 1 hour

Provides an overview of gypsum wallboard manufacturing, a review of the Gypsum Association's recommended levels of finish and examples of writing specification of levels of finish.