Mthomeexperts 2013 web

S u m m e r 2 013

MONTANA HOME

Experts A magazine for MBIA Members

mccall homes

Neighborhood Builders a new look!

Enjoy this refreshed publication from MBIA Let us know what you think

movers and shakers

StoneTek and More Association Standouts industry news

Why the Internet Drives Housing Innovative Products / And More MONTANA BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION 1 Greg mccall

Montana Home Experts

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MONTANA HOME

| SUMMER 2013

Experts

20 StoneTek This Belgrade business is leading the way in innovative recycling in Montana.

04 From the President Welcome from MBIA President Mike Hughes as we bring you the newly revamped Montana Home Experts magazine

06 Q&A: Home Building Warranties

Learn what type of home warranty is required under Montana law and how to reduce exposure to potential litigation.

08 McCall Homes: Neighborhood Builders

These developers are creating something unique and meaningful – a neighborhood that fosters a sense of community.

11 Why the Internet Drives Housing

The Internet has changed home building – for good. There is little room for error in marketing, so understanding why is essential.

12 Montana Veterans' Home Loan Program

Find out more about this unique and worthwhile program that can benefit veterans, buyers, builders and sellers.

14 Six Innovative Building Products

Check out the latest and greatest products that will make your home stunning, your life simpler, or both!

16 Association Standouts Our members make us proud.

In this issue we highlight three: Big Sky R Control, Anders Lewendal Construction, and Mindful Designs

18 Obamacare: What You Need to Know

How can we avoid the worst and use the best of the new health law?

Here are the details tailored just for MBIA members.

20 Social Media for the Building Industry

With a new social media seeming to pop up every day, it's crucial to know which ones apply to your industry.

We give you our top picks.

“It’s the neighbors that sell it. Every one of them has a friend or a family member that has chosen to live here because of that.” Greg McCall, on Josephine Crossing

Montana Home Experts

3

WELCOME |

a publication of

MONTANA BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION 1717 11th Ave / Helena, Montana 406.442.4479 www.montanabia.com

on the cover S U M M E R 2 013

MONTANA HOME

Experts A MAGAZINE FOR MBIA MEMBERS

MCCALL HOMES

Neighborhood Builders A NEW LOOK! Enjoy this refreshed publication from MBIA Let us know what you think

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

StoneTek and More Association Standouts INDUSTRY NEWS

Why the Internet Drives Housing Innovative Products / And More MONTANA BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION 1 GREG MCCALL

MONTANA HOME EXPERTS

Greg McCall, McCall Industries Photo by Alisha Soueidi Photography

design by

from the president

Let’s go build some homes!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our state board of directors for their support and allowing me to serve as your President of the Montana Building Industry Association for 2013-2014. I would also like to thank Eugene Graf for the great job he has done for our Association as President last year.

After recently traveling to Washington D.C, with the Association, it is very apparent that Montana is gaining a very visible presence on the national level with hard work from our members: John Harding, Steve Keaster, Jim Zarling, Richard Smith, Eugene Graf, Nathan Albrecht, Bill Fiedler, Gene Graf, Byron Anderson, Ray Mehrer, Ron Bartsch and Kim Chambers.

On the state level, our presence in the legislature is second to none. Participating in the last two legislative sessions, I have watched our Executive Director, Dustin Stewart, take our Association to the front of the line as one of the most recognizable, and influential trade associations in the state – all on a budget that is dwarfed by what most other associations spend. This being said, we still have to keep pushing forward on all the issues that threaten our industry – and the issues seem to just keep coming.

This year I would like to balance the MBIA budget and resume operating in the black. The last few years have been difficult for our industry and thanks to the great leadership in the past; we have been healthy enough to overcome hard economic times. Second, I would like to accomplish communicating to our statewide membership what an incredible value the MBIA has been providing to their members.

In the upcoming months we will provide information on how MBIA efforts have impacted our builder members’ bottom line in a very positive way. We hope to convey to our membership that the work being done by our state MBIA office is in fact increasing the value of your membership statewide.

I look forward to meeting with each of our local associations and as many members as I can during this next year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Let’s go build some homes!

God Bless,

Mike Hughes, MBIA President 1131 Poplar St / Helena, Montana www.edgemarketingdesign.com

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Montana Home Experts

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EXPERT OPINION |

Q&A

It seems that building liability issues have become a bigger concern in recent years.

What type of building warranty is required under Montana law? How can I reduce my exposure to potential litigation? –Brian, Billings Beth Kost

Risk Management Specialist 2-10 Home Warranty

Statistically speaking, one percent of new homes have experienced major structural damage costing an average of $32,500 to repair. Construction caused fire damage occurs in 1.1 percent of new homes and repairs cost an average of $17,600 to repair.

Montana law requires builders to provide their customers with a written, one-year expressed warranty. This warranty should cover workmanship of the project and should be written out in detail.

Additionally, Montana courts have ruled that each

new home carries a 10-year implied warranty of habitability.

The “habitability” of a building typically will deal with the structural integrity of the home; foundation, framing, etc.

Unfortunately, the legal industry is getting more aggressive when it comes to construction litigation.

Sometimes even the best builders can experience a construction defect or at least the burden of defending themselves in court.

You may want to consider purchasing a home buyers warranty from an insurance

carrier, such as 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. These policies shift the financial responsibility of a structural defect loss from the builder to an insurance-backed warranty.

The home buyer gets peace of mind, knowing he has a one year warranty on the builder's workmanship, a two-year systems warranty covering piping, ductwork and electrical plus a 10-year insurance backed structural defect warranty protecting the designated loadbearing elements of the home caused by failure that affects their load-bearing function.

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7

| MOVERS+SHAKERS

McCall Homes: by alana listoe Photo by Alisha Soueidi Photography

Developer Says Neighborhood is More Than Houses

McCall Homes is a family business operated by three siblings: (L to R) Brad, Carolee, and Greg

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Josephine Crossing residents recently held their biggest party of the year. Everyone brought a dish to share; there was music, a parade, and games “We will generally find any excuse to put on a party,” resident Amber Sundsted said.

The single business woman describes living in the Josephine Crossing community as a lifestyle that provides her with a large extended family. She said the houses are fantastic but it’s the lifestyle she loves.

“It’s a storybook neighborhood concept that is so different from anything we have in Billings,” she said.

Greg McCall, co-owner of McCall Homes, builder and resident of Josephine Crossing, said creating that sense of belonging to a neighborhood is completely by design.

This neighborhood nestled near the Yellowstone River in Billings puts emphasis on open green spaces, front porches and sidewalks. There are seven parks. One has a natural playground with logs and tunnels, another is more classic with porch swings, and others have basketball courts, a picnic shelter, or a spray park. McCall Homes is a family business operated by three siblings: Greg, Brad, and Carolee. The business was founded in 1993 by their father, Jim, who up until then ran a swimming pool company, which is now employee-owned.

Greg said their father instilled a strong work ethic and the value of foundational knowledge to prevent being taken advantage of.

After college the three returned to their home in the Magic City and took over the development business as their father retired.

Greg said they felt a strong calling seeing what was or wasn’t available with housing locally.

“The choices were higher-end, presold custom homes or ultraaffordable spec homes,” he said.

“We sort of thought there might be a niche to deliver something more personal and affordable.

We had this idea that we could build homes in an environment where there was a more human element instead of brown boxes that greeted you with a sea of garage doors.”

So the McCall trio set out to create something unique and meaningful – a neighborhood that fosters a sense of community instead of just the basic need for shelter.

The concept is not their own.

In fact, after some research, they learned that “new urbanism” was

a movement across the country that flies in the face of sprawling development.

“It’s not the type of subdivision that will appeal to everyone, but it will appeal to some and these people get excited,” Greg said.

The lots in Josephine crossing are small but the houses are just as diverse as the individuals and families that occupy them. Some houses have lots of bedrooms and come with big price tags, while others are small townhouses that sell for substantially less. They all however, have some common elements; they are uniquely designed to meet the needs and showcase the

“Lots of our buyers are Gen Y and they want to be part of something and make a difference, but it’s also the Baby Boomers because they want to watch children play and be in a place to experience the vibrancy of life. That’s the mission that we operate in. It’s the context of the fabric it’s woven into.” greg mccall

characteristics of the occupants with quality construction and are environmentally friendly because they are built green.

“A $160,000 cottage has nothing different in quality between the $350,000 home,” Greg said.

Having lots of diversity creates equality.

Josephine Crossing is a place where the neighbors know each other.

“I know all my neighbors now,” Greg said. “When there is a new baby, we bring them food for two weeks. When someone passes away, the entire neighborhood shows up to be with the family during the funeral. It has so very little to do with the house itself.”

He said on a macro-level, the U.S. is crying out for this.

“Lots of our buyers are Gen

Y and they want to be part of something and make a difference, but it’s also the Baby Boomers because they want to watch children play and be in a place to experience the vibrancy of life. That’s the mission that we operate in. It’s the context of the fabric it’s woven into.”

Sundsted is a Montana native who works as the government affairs director for the Real Estate Association and has lived in Josephine for the past four years.

“Being in Montana most people think the more acreage the better, but not everyone is looking for that,” she said. “It’s a foreign concept to a lot of people I work with and not something people can easily grasp. The great thing about this development is it fills a niche that other subdivisions aren’t filling.”

Another aspect is its openness to the community. This is in no way some kind of gated community.

“The more the merrier,” she said.

Sundsted said the longer she lives there, the more she loves the lifestyle.

“You really have to buy into the concept,” she said.

There’s always something happening from ladies wine evenings, poker nights for the guys, and concerts every Tuesday but attendance is never required.

“You can do as much or a little as you want, but it’s nice to have it available,” Sundsted said.

Today there are about 220 homes in the neighborhood and with little to no marketing it will be full with 350 likely spoken for in less than two more years.

“It’s the neighbors that sell it,” McCall said. “Every one of them has a friend or a family member that has chosen to live here because of that.”

Coleen and Jay Lee moved in five years ago and since then three of their five daughters have also purchased homes in Josephine.

“Sooner or later the other two will get here too,” Coleen said.

They also have two rental properties and their best friends are building a bed and breakfast there too.

“This is the community you had when you were a little girl; where you know your neighbors and your neighborhood,” she said. “It’s amazing and great for families, for grandparents, and single people. It’s for all types.

And, it’s riverfront property without paying for riverfront.

Montana Home Experts

9

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INDUSTRY TRENDS |

why the internet drives housing The Internet has changed home building – for good.

Paul Cadis / Founder and CEO, Avid Ratings paul.cadis@avidratings.com Article originally appeared in Builder Magazine, November 2012

Recently, I’ve heard industry folks downplay the role of the Internet in selling homes and making option selections. I was stunned to hear this and am concerned how damaging this viewpoint could be to home builders struggling to grow their businesses in a tepid market.

There is little room for error in marketing your homes, so please consider that the Internet has changed home building forever. Here are the top five reasons why: 1. Of home buyers aged 18-44, 96 percent use the Internet to search for a home, and of those 45 or older, 76 percent use the Internet to search for a home, according to the 2011 National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Overall, the Internet was the No. 1 information source cited by the average of all consumers in NAR’s national study (88 percent of all home buyers).

2. According to Nielson Global Trust in Advertising Survey, online consumers reviews are the second most trusted source of brand information and messaging, with 70 percent of global consumers

surveyed online indicating that they trust online customer reviews – an increase of 15 percent in four years. An elite group of home builders – in addition to companies such as Amazon, Travelocity, and Netflix – already has forged ahead of the competition through open customer reviews, with dramatic results.

3. Nowadays, consumers are less apt to physically visit a store or sales office to research a product. According to Coremetrics Web Analytics, there is a 35 percent increase in the sales conversion rate among shoppers who viewed online video tours versus those who did not. Also, shoppers perusing product tours online spent more than 2.5 minutes engaged in viewing detailed information about each product – far greater than the average visitor’s 33 seconds. Companies that increase buyer convenience via the Internet will outsell those who avoid providing multimedia home information online.

4. The average Facebook user has 125 friends linked to their page. Picture it: If 50 customers post a complaint about your company on Facebook and 10

percent of their friends repost it, and then 1 percent of those friends of friends, that message will be conveyed to 1,183,009 people. Imagine if your company had a negative post like Whirlpool Corp. did in 2009 by one disgruntled customer, whose message reached tens of millions of viewers online and eventually mushroomed into a story written by The New York Times. Conversely, though, a positive post could reach a similar number of viewers.

5. Only 16 percent of respondents in the NAR study indicated that home builder information is useful to consumers who are searching for a new home. Home builder information ranked seventh out of 10 possible choices on the survey. Clearly, overlap exists between what constitutes the “Internet” versus “home builder information.” However, the results do indicate consumers still don’t consider home builder information to be an important resource for finding

a home. The NAR study also found that only 5 percent of buyers found the home they purchased from a home builder. Perhaps it’s time for home builders to embrace new technologies such as virtual home tours, online options selections, and open online customer reviews to increase engagement with home buyers.

Unfortunately, our industry has been slow to adopt new technology and the NAR study indicates that we hold a marginal position in the eyes of consumers because of it. If home builders want to increase their market share, our industry will need to compete better against the resale market, where the majority of home buyers shop first. The Internet has made the most powerful impact to society in the modern era, so don’t let resistance to change put your company at a potentially fatal disadvantage, while your competition embraces it and leaps ahead.

“ Our industry has been slow to adopt new technology, but home builders must embrace digital advancements to stay afloat.”

Montana Home Experts

11

| BUYING+SELLING

key facts

ABOUT THE PROGRAM + Montana National Guard or in the armed forces and reserves, serving or honorably discharged + First Time Homebuyer (no ownership for three years) + Unmarried spouse of eligible veteran killed in battle + Montana resident + MBOH-approved Homebuyer Education graduate + Purchase price is $237,690 or less + Interest rate is 2.5% (currently) + Existing home or new construction in Montana + No condominiums + 30-year amortized fixedrate loan + Loan must be insured by FHA, VA, or HUD 184

Montana Veterans’ Home Loan Program

Use it to Sell Your Next Home Assisting Montana National Guard Members and stimulating the housing industry. The Montana Veterans’ Home Loan Program may help you better serve your clients.

The program is a permanent Revolving Loan fund that was established in 2011 as a result of MBIA lobbying at the State Capitol.

The program is designed to assist Montana residents who are National Guard members, and reserve force members from Montana to purchase their first home. This program helps fulfill part of the Montana Constitution that asks us to honor all those who serve our country in the military.

The program was initially funded by $15 million of principal from the Montana Coal Tax Trust Fund. But because of the success of

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the program, the 2013 legislative session increased the available loan funds to $30 million. First mortgage loans are administered by the Montana Board of Housing and purchased by Montana Board of Investments.

The rate charged for the loan is one percent below the current market rate, that is, the Montana Board of Housing regular program rate or the Fannie Mae 60-day lock rate, whichever is lower. The rate is updated every two weeks. Currently the interest rate is hovering around 2.5 percent. Check the Department of Commerce web site at www.housing.mt.gov for all current information on this very unique and worthwhile program for veterans, buyers, builders, and sellers.

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6 | TRENDING

Innovative building products

Check out the latest and greatest products that will make your home stunning, your life simpler, or both!

1

no

KITCHEN

GE Profile French Door Refrigerators This futuristic fridge has the only refrigerator filtration system that removes 98 percent of five common pharmaceuticals – from painkillers to hormones – and an easy-access filter that makes it more likely you’ll change it on schedule. Also cool: The hands-free “Autofill” water dispenser uses sound waves to detect and fill a glass, bottle, pitcher, or coffeepot – no hovering!

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FLOORING Sensitile Systems Sensitile materials are designed to creatively interact with all facets of light and illumination and are distinguished by their dynamic qualities – they are an experience and they create an experience in the spaces they inhabit.

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3

no

GARAGE DOOR MyQ Smart Garage Opener/ Chamberlain® These products enabled with MyQ® technology now allow you the ability to easily control your garage door opener, outdoor lights and house lamps with your smartphone. From anywhere in the world, you’re able to: Monitor and control your garage door opener and lights; Get notified if your garage door opens or if a light was left on; Know if your garage door opened while you were away.

LIGHTING Cree LED Light Bulbs These bulbs are said to be 84 percent more energy-efficient than their incandescent equivalents, and have a rated lifespan of 25,000 hours (with a 10-year warranty). According to the US Department of Energy, incandescent bulbs typically last about 1,000 hours.

BATHROOM Delta Touch20 Faucet This faucet allows users to tap anywhere on the spout or handle to start and stop water flow. It was such a big hit when it debuted in the company’s kitchen line, they have now made it available in two bathroom models.

For an extra level of function, upgrade to the XT model. It features a four-inch sensing field that turns the faucet on and off as users approach or exit its range.

5

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4

no

HEATING Nest Learning Thermostat Meet the next generation thermostat. Most people leave the house at one temperature and forget to change it. So Nest learns your schedule, programs itself and can be controlled from your phone. Teach it well and Nest can lower your heating and cooling bills up to 20 percent.

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Montana Home Experts

15

| MBIA MEMBERS

Montana Building Industry Association INNOVATORS

ASSOCIATION STANDOUTS VISIONARIES

TRAILBLAZERS

BIG SKY R CONTROL ANDERS LEWENDAL CONSTRUCTION MINDFUL DESIGNS (OUR MEMBERS MAKE US PROUD)

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summer 2013

Structurally Insulated Panels (sips) COMPANY

Big Sky R Control

LOCATION

Belgrade, Montana

WEBSITE

www.bigskyrcontrol.com

Big Sky R Control is an innovative insulation and panel manufacturing company located in Belgrade. Big Sky R Control manufactures unique, top-of-the-line expanded polystyrene (EPS) products and structurally insulated panels (SIPs). Big Sky R Control first created SIPs in 1984. They felt contractors and homebuilders needed a product that was strong as well as efficient. Essentially, SIPs are comprised of two oriented strand boards with EPS foam laminat-

ed and sandwiched in between them, creating a very strong H beam which has 2,200 pounds of load bearing with a single top plate. SIPs instantly brings the insulating and stick-framing processes together into one efficient step.

In addition to high-thermal efficiency SIP walls and roofs, the building uses natural ventilation and passive cooling to reduce energy consumption. The panels are intended to super insulate and reduce air leaks to stabilize the interior environment. The R-value of EPS remains constant and does not suffer from R-value loss. The closed cell structure of EPS contains air and not blowing agents which deplete over time compared to conventional insulation methods.

A SIPs home can often consume 50 to 70

percent less energy than a stick frame, and the large panel sections make the building process quick and easy. In many cases a SIPs roof can be installed in large 8 X 24 foot sections. The finished walls are beautifully straight, which saves time on drywall installation, painting, and other finishing work.

The selection of R-Control SIPs for your project makes it easy to comply with various national green building programs. The ENERGY STAR program provides a method for rating a structure. R-Control SIPs are deemed to comply with the program without conducting on-site blower door testing. The National Association of Home Builders Green Building program gives points for the increased effective R-value.

The All-American Home Sitting around visiting with other Southwest Montana Building Industry Association members, Anders Lewendal and his 23-yearold son Jake thought there must be a way to help the building industry recover without government assistance. Anders thought what if he purchased more American-made building materials and compared their price and value to foreign products? He calculated that just 55 more products could make a difference. If every builder in the country upped the American-made ante by that much, it would add 220,000 construction jobs and $14 billion to the U.S. economy.

To prove his point, in late 2011 Lewendal built a 2,280-square-foot, modern style, custom home in Bozeman using American-made materials and products. The All-American Home, as it has come to be called, took about eight months to finish and two to three

percent over normal construction costs (90 percent of the materials cost no more than foreign-made products). Lewendal challenged American home builders and owners alike to build just five percent Americanmade. He doesn’t expect others to build 100 percent American – just five percent more.

His goal is to make American home builders and owners alike more aware of the fact that buying American-made products over foreign-made ones can make a difference.

Last spring, Lewendal’s home received national attention when Diane Sawyer from

ABC News featured it in a two-part series. In a ripple effect from ABC, nearly a dozen other builders across the country have taken up Lewendal’s five percent or better challenge helping to support local and national manufactures, creating jobs for fellow citizens and revitalizing their local economies.

Lewendal’s All-American Home is sided with recycled steel from Bridger Steel in Billings and fiber-cement board from Certain Teed in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; trimmed with Mira TEC fascia from CMI in Chicago; and roofed with asphalt shingles manufactured in Wayne, N.J. The home was featured in SWMBIA’s Parade of Homes. The response was overwhelming. The house sold in six weeks, compared with a typical market time in Bozeman of two to four months.

environmental quality, water conservation, and community impact.

Their objective is to minimize the impact on the environment by life cycle analysis of the materials used throughout the building process and the environmental footprint after its completion. They feel the building design and site development must harmonize with the solar, water and ecological environment.

Air quality is the main focus when material selection is being considered along with natural lighting. With the air sealing techniques and insulation package used, a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is standard in all their homes.

As Certified Green Building Professionals with extensive education and experience

in green building, they feel building green does not have to encompass new and more expensive materials, it can apply to all styles, sizes and budget ranges. The folks at Mindful Designs would like to clear up some misunderstandings that not all green building practices are expensive and compromise style.

While other systems and material can be upgraded down the road, the insulation package is one aspect of a home that is very challenging to revisit and upgrade in the future. For this reason, Mindful Designs encourage clients to invest as much as they can into their insulation and air sealing as the benefits of comfort and energy saving will be felt throughout the life of the home.

COMPANY

Anders Lewendal Construction

LOCATION

Bozeman, Montana

WEBSITE

www.theallamericanhome.com

Conscious Building COMPANY

Mindful Designs

LOCATION

Whitefish, Montana

WEBSITE

www.mindfuldesignsinc.com

Mindful Designs of Whitefish emerged from three guys after graduating from college with a passionate vision for creating a designbuild company. Their goal was to create a service that would effectively produce inspiring homes while paying close attention to energy efficiency, house longevity, and a healthy comfortable environment. They take pride in educating their customers on energy efficiency, resource efficiency, indoor

Montana Home Experts

17

| HEALTHCARE

obamacare:

what every mbia member needs to know Love it or hate it, it is reality. How can we avoid the worst and use the best of the new health law? by mountain west benefit solutions

In October, a new website will go live. It will be called “The Montana Health Insurance Marketplace,” and has also been called “The Exchange.”

This website is the essence of Obamacare, and will work a lot like Travelocity or Expedia, but for health insurance.

Today, you can go online to a variety of private insurance shopping websites and comparison shop for your health plan. The difference will be that this website will

have dollars attached to it for 80 percent of Montana’s households. Obamacare requires that each individual purchase health insurance starting in 2014. The problem is that unlike car insurance, which is also mandatory, not everyone can afford health insurance, or get approved for it. So the law will require that health insurance companies cannot turn anyone down, or charge more for someone in poor health – and more importantly,

the law actually subsidizes the coverage for most families, based on a sliding scale. The less you make, the less you have to pay. A family of 4 with $94,000 in income will get a subsidy of about $300 per month, and will have to pay another $900 out of pocket.

That same family, with an income of $44,000 a year, will receive a much larger subsidy, and only have to pay about $209 a month for their coverage.

You can continue to offer health benefits to your employees if you are doing so today, or not. Keep in mind that coverage bought on the Exchange will not be tax advantaged, only employer coverage is tax advantaged.

Most of the business owners will not receive much of a subsidy, but for many employees, they will want to consider the

Exchange, as they may receive a hefty subsidy for coverage.

Members may want to help their employees find their way onto the Exchange to buy coverage, or make certain they have coverage somewhere – statistics have shown for decades that workers with health insurance submit fewer work comp claims than those without it.

As to whether or not to continue coverage as a group, if that is what you are doing today, you may want to play it safe and keep doing what you are doing until the dust settles. Surveys have indicated that employees do not like takeaways, and it will take some time to get used to the new system. The new law is not as good as some of its proponents have said, nor is it as bad as some people fear – things end up looking more the same than different.

For more information, go to the Montana Business Health Network online and read more:

www.montanabusinesshealthnetwork.org 18

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licensed property managers Managing Properties Since 1972

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| MOVERS+SHAKERS

StoneTek: BELGRADE BUSINESS LEADING INNOVATIVE RECYCLING IN MONTANA The saying “one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure” is reality for two Belgrade twin brothers who couple years ago, started a business recycling waste.

Shane and Shawn Peterson are second generation tile and stone installers and are bringing sustainability to the industry in Big Sky Country. Shane said they were unhappy with the tremendous amount of beautiful stone that was discarded, which they’d witnessed over the 20 years operating Peterson Flooring.

“Thirty percent of every piece they fabricate gets thrown away,” he said. “That’s a substantial amount of material. We wanted to find a use for it in an industry we are already in.” by alana listoe

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They discovered a way to create stone products from the waste material after attending an industry expo in Las Vegas about three years ago, and thus formed StoneTek, which is operated with help from Shane’s wife, Lisa.

“We never sold tile and stone, never had a show room, and just focused on installation,” Shane said. “We were strictly an installation company.”

That’s all changed now.

While they didn’t create granite recycling, they did purchase a machine that makes landscape pavers and are currently developing new equipment to create different ways to use solid materials.

“We are basically resizing rocks,” Shane said.

StoneTek brings in waste from five shops in the area and pieces are resized using hydraulics without cutting. This process takes one square foot and allows for three feet of coverage.

“It’s basically sliced like bread – a splitting process but not cutting,” he said. “I instantly saw the high-end material from the slab shop. It's raw stone that’s never been seen before, and some of it a gem quality.”

Their business that went from being a labor-driven installation company has expanded to include a new manufacturing arm and is flourishing. The Petersons are innovative and creative leaders in the industry using cutting-edge technology offering an affordable, ecofriendly alternative to everyday building materials. Not to mention, that StoneTek is helping to prevent granite waste in the landfills.

“Now we are able to provide an alternative to products that are standards for our customers,” Shane said. “The product has

“ Shane is essentially a machine inventor that is changing the world.

His talents are amazing.” julia rizzo

been received well and is now available in a few stores.”

StoneTek is the sole manufacturer using recycled granite and part of a big movement across the country.

Julie Rizzo, founder of Recycled Granite, says StoneTek is part of a network of 25 companies doing similar work in the U.S., adding that the number grows each day. She said the network is growing because decreasing the 150 million pounds of granite disposed of annually is appealing.

“We are stimulating our economy and marketing a product from the waste – it just makes sense,” she said noting that the network has reduced the waste by 25 million pounds a year.

StoneTek recycles materials in their local market, Rizzo said adding that they don’t’ have to ship it to another state to have it processed.

“Shane is an integral component to our industry because of his unique ability to manufacture machines because he has a hydraulic background,” Rizzo said. “He is essentially a machine inventor that is changing the world. His talents are amazing.”

Their approach to granite work caught the attention nationally and was featured in an episode of “I Want That,” a popular show on the DIY Network about the latest home “must-haves” from smart appliances to home wiring and new building materials. In the episode, a massive accent wall of sand colored stone showcases the artistic, recycled StoneTek granite.

The business was also part of “The All American Home” project in Bozeman, the first documented home in the country to be built using only American-made products.

StoneTek manufactures landscape pavers, split stone veneer, tumbled stone, and interior tile. To see samples of their work or for more information, visit www.stonetekproducts.com.

Montana Home Experts

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| THE BACK PAGE

With a new social media platform seeming to pop up every day, it's crucial to know which ones apply to your industry. Here are our top four picks for social media success.

GOOGLE PLACES FOR BUSINESS WHAT IS IT? This service is free and allows local customers to find a map to your business with the click of a mouse.

WHAT DO I DO? To sign up go to www.google.com/business/placesforbusiness/ and spend five minutes getting your free account.

YOUR LOCAL HOMES EXPERTS WEBSITE WHAT IS IT? The only place on the Internet where customers can browse through a listing of all of the best local contractors. Users can look through pictures of past projects, read about the company history and get educated on the home building process.

WHAT DO I DO? Getting your information on the site is fast and free to all MBIA members. Just email your local HBA your logo, company background and pictures of past projects. We will take care of the rest.

FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE WHAT IS IT? The grand central station of the Internet. Where else can you post something for free and have it be seen by 10,000 people in a single day?

WHAT DO I DO? To create a business page, you will need to have a personal account. Add your logo and post three to four short, fun updates per week. It might take some time, but you will gain followers

YELP! WHAT IS IT? A consumer review site that has been popular in larger cities is now making its way into the mainstream in small towns. Customers can easily share the experience about your company for all of the world to see. If nothing else, use it to be sure that your reputation stays clean.

WHAT DO I DO? To edit your information, go to www.yelp.com and search for your business name. Once you find your business, click the “edit company info� button to add photos to attract more customers.

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One Promise. One Warranty.

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Why should buying flooring be complicated?

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The ONE store for your perfect floor.®

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