Selling colormatched lasteners

f oNc usED ro cREATE aesI-lthetically seamless surfaces on siding, colormatched fasteners are increasingly being introduced for high-end decking and other building materials.

Building Products Digest asked Kim Pohl. marketing manager for Maze Nails, to size up the ins and outs of selling color-matched nails.

BPD What are the primary advantages of color-matched fasteners?

PohI Painted nails to match popular fiber cement sidings, PVC trimboards, cedar and redwood sidings, and metal roofing and siding provide a high quality, finished look to the homeowner.

Maze has been pre-finishing nails to match roll formed metal for the post frame industry for years.

In addition, Maze paints all of the nails for Hardie Colorplus and Certainteed ColorMax fiber cement technology.

BPD How does the price compare to non-painted nails?

Pohl Painted nails only cost about 2OVo more than unpainted, so it really is a nominal upcharge considering the overall cost of the project.

BPD Mechanically, how are the colors matched?

Pohl All Maze hand-drive nails are completely immersed in the paint drum. With collated sticks and coils, only the heads are painted.

Maze uses a high-quality automotive paint system. Paint matches are done electronically to match specific brands.

BPD Are the colormat c hed faste ne r.s pro duc e d in large quantities for dealers to stock, or ere they custom-manuJ'act u r e d p e r j ob, or...?

Pohl Maze paints and stocks many of the more popular colors. Collated nail applications are painted on a specific job basis.

BPD What process does the dealer use to sell, spec and order these products?

Pohl One of the benefits of ordering from Maze is that a lumber dealer can order as little as a 5-lb. box of painted nails to match Hardiplank siding, for example. With collated stick and coils, a dealer can order as little as one carton.

BPD Any marketing advice to help dealers sell more of these products?

Pohl For all of the above mentioned popular sidings and trims, promoting and selling painted nails is easy, affordable and logical.

In addition, Maze painted nails are available in both double hot-dipped galvanized and stainless steel for ultimate corrosion-resistance. For handdriven painted nails, hammer caps are available to eliminate paint chipping.