As we head into the winter months, when all of our normal business cycles slow down, I wanted to give all of you a brief update on how we are doing and our outlook as we go into 2010.
The Great Recession - It seems most agree that the significant slowdown in economic activity has reached a bottom and the economy may start to improve as 2009 draws to a close. Recently it was announced that gross domestic product (GDP) turned positive in the third quarter after four consecutive negative quarters. As a result, the technical definition of a recovery may be underway.
Construction will lag - While the general economy may slowly improve (most agree it will be a slow growth in 2010-11), improvement in construction markets and our industry will lag the recovery. Key factors:
• While residential starts will increase in 2010-11, they will be 40-50% less than at the peak in 2006-07.
• Private commercial construction could continue to decline given excess inventories of commercial office and retail space. In addition, financing for private development is still very difficult to obtain. Banks are being significantly more conservative in lending as a response to the banking crisis earlier this year.
Consumers could help - To the degree that confidence comes back to consumers, our dealer business and our contractor base could benefit from higher sales. The growth will be tempered by continued high unemployment and worries about consumer debt that may delay improvement until late 2010.
Repositioning Mutual to the new reality - Lots of folks have been working on multiple fronts to reposition the Company to a lower level of sales. These efforts have been underway since late last year and continue as I write this update. The good news is we have accomplished a great deal in this area.
The last two months our results have trended better than we reforecast earlier in the year. We are seeing more cumulative benefit from some of the difficult decisions we implemented earlier in the year.
Most importantly we are positioned much more appropriately for the level of business we expect to achieve. We are also continuing to be very focused on capturing as many opportunities as we can. The market is very competitive and we want to ensure we’re working with our customers to expand sales for Mutual and our customer base.
While there continues to be economic uncertainty, the financial crisis in the US appears to be over. From here, hopefully, Mutual, our customers and the country can build from this level and start to move forward again.
Thank you for your efforts and work in these challenging times. What each of us does-matters.
Sincerely,
Joe Bowen
President
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
What’s New in Natural Stone
We at Mutual have been very busy in 2009 sourcing new and fresh Natural Stone offerings to bring to market for the 2010 season. We pride ourselves at being innovative and always looking forward to provide customers with the newest product offerings to go with our established lines of Masonry and Hardscapes products.
For the 2010 season we will be offering the following new Natural Stone products:
1. Natural Stone Pavers, Cobbles and Treads
2. Ledgestone Light - Lightweight Modular Natural Stone Panels
3. Glacier Mountain Natural Ledge Thin Veneer
4. Bitterroot Wall Rock
5. Montana Mossy Ledgestone, Patio and Boulders
We are very excited to launch our new line of Natural Stone Pavers, Cobbles and Treads, as they will make any Hardscape project stand out.
We will be stocking tumbled Slates, Limestone’s, and Quartzite’s in three colors and sizes 4”x4”, 4”x8” and 8”x8” all two inches thick. Colors will be Cool Jazz, Autumn Rust and Moon Dance. These are intended to compliment our RoxPro stone panel line.
We will be featuring three colors of Flamed and Beveled Granite pavers in a 4”x8”x2”: Black Crystal, Golden Topaz and Olde Pewter. Two sizes of Granite Treads will also be stocked in Black Crystal and Olde Pewter (12”x2”x8’ and 18”x2”x8’). The top and front face will be a flamed (thermaled) surface. We will also be stocking Tumbled Granite Cobbles in three colors in a 4”x4”x3” size.
All of our Natural Stone Pavers can be sand or mortar set depending on the requirements of the project and the desired look. There are many other sizes, colors and textures that can be special ordered to fit any customers needs or imagination.
We are pleased to add Ledgestone Light to our line of Modular Stone Panels. These panels are lighter in weight than our current Ledgestone panels, weighing 15lbs per Sqft, qualifying them as a thin veneer. They will provide the same weathered edge look and reveal of a ledgestone without the added weight. We will be stocking Ledgestone Light in Autumn Horizon and Rocky Mountain.
Glacier Mt, Natural Ledge Thin Veneer is our most current offering in Thin Veneer Cut-Stone. This Argillite stone, from the Northern Montana Rockies, has a cream base with hues of gold, black, and light gray’s running throughout. This stone can also be special ordered in full bed and thin veneer in many other shapes and sizes to meet any projects requirements.
Bitterroot Wall Rock is low cost Montana stone that’s uses can be very versatile. This stone features vibrant hues of burgundy, gold, and bronze set against a neutral background of gray’s and browns with some occasional moss on some stones. This stone can be used in many Hardscape and Masonry applications from Drystack walls, to rustic fireplace veneers and will add value to any project.
Montana Mossy comes from the rolling plains of Eastern Montana. This brown Sandstone has been weathered and covered with Lichens and mosses for centuries and will add a rustic natural look to any project. Mutual Materials stocks this product in Ledgestone, 1-3 Patio, and Boulders.
If you would like to learn more about Mutual Materials and its Natural Stone products, or if you would like to find a qualified contractor for your project, please visit us at our website www.mutualmaterials.com. We also have 19 branches in
Sincerely,
Michael G. Jones
Natural Stone Sales Manager
Monday, December 14, 2009
Retaining Wall Projects
Can I really install a retaining wall project myself?
For many of our customers, installing a retaining wall is the most intimidating type of hardscape project. Stacking heavy blocks that need to result in both structural and visual integrity can be a daunting task, especially if it’s large in scale or on a hillside. In most cases we encourage you to hire a professional. Most cities and counties require both a permit and engineering when building a wall over 4’ in height. Areas where there is heavy water accumulation also require some consultation. In most circumstances, you will want to use a contractor. You can find Mutual Materials’ Preferred Contractors at: www.mutualmaterials.com
However, if you are building a small, simple wall or planter, you can handle the project yourself. All you need is the right tools and a few friends. Follow the steps below to install segmental retaining wall block.
Step One: Choose your wall system
There are a number of wall styles and textures. Some wall blocks are best suited for tall structural walls, while others look good for planters and terraces. Once you choose the type of wall you then have to choose your color.
Step Two: Lay out your project
Armed with wood stakes, a string line, measuring tape and a level lay out each wall level. This helps you get a sense of where each wall is going and how it is going to look. This step also helps you estimate the amount of wall block you will need.
Step Three: Start digging!
This is where the fun begins! As a general rule, retaining wall footings are 4 to 6 inches deep and 12 inches wider than the total width of the wall block. Admittedly this is not the most enjoyable part of the project. After all, who likes to dig? This is a great time to get friends and family to help. After digging the footings you will notice that you have extra soil. This can be used for back fill if you are doing a terrace or planters.
Step Four: Laying your base
This is one of the most important steps in building a wall. Once your footings are dug, they need to be back filled with 5/8 minus (a fancy term for crushed rock). The base rock then needs to be leveled and compacted with a tamper.
Step Five: Laying your first course
When laying your first course of block, you need to spend extra time with a small level and rubber mallet leveling each block, front to back and right to left. Spending the time getting this right will save you a lot of headaches as your project continues. Once the first course is set it’s time to stack your block insuring that you straddle the seam from the block below.
Step Six: Back fill
Once all your courses are laid, you will need to back fill your wall with washed drain rock and 4” perforated drainpipe if needed. You could also add filter fabric at this point if it is necessary.
The important thing to remember is that help is just a click away at www.mutualmaterials.com or a phone call to one of our 19 branches.
Sincerely,
Marty Njaa
Washington Dealer Sales Manager
For many of our customers, installing a retaining wall is the most intimidating type of hardscape project. Stacking heavy blocks that need to result in both structural and visual integrity can be a daunting task, especially if it’s large in scale or on a hillside. In most cases we encourage you to hire a professional. Most cities and counties require both a permit and engineering when building a wall over 4’ in height. Areas where there is heavy water accumulation also require some consultation. In most circumstances, you will want to use a contractor. You can find Mutual Materials’ Preferred Contractors at: www.mutualmaterials.com
However, if you are building a small, simple wall or planter, you can handle the project yourself. All you need is the right tools and a few friends. Follow the steps below to install segmental retaining wall block.
Step One: Choose your wall system
There are a number of wall styles and textures. Some wall blocks are best suited for tall structural walls, while others look good for planters and terraces. Once you choose the type of wall you then have to choose your color.
Step Two: Lay out your project
Armed with wood stakes, a string line, measuring tape and a level lay out each wall level. This helps you get a sense of where each wall is going and how it is going to look. This step also helps you estimate the amount of wall block you will need.
Step Three: Start digging!
This is where the fun begins! As a general rule, retaining wall footings are 4 to 6 inches deep and 12 inches wider than the total width of the wall block. Admittedly this is not the most enjoyable part of the project. After all, who likes to dig? This is a great time to get friends and family to help. After digging the footings you will notice that you have extra soil. This can be used for back fill if you are doing a terrace or planters.
Step Four: Laying your base
This is one of the most important steps in building a wall. Once your footings are dug, they need to be back filled with 5/8 minus (a fancy term for crushed rock). The base rock then needs to be leveled and compacted with a tamper.
Step Five: Laying your first course
When laying your first course of block, you need to spend extra time with a small level and rubber mallet leveling each block, front to back and right to left. Spending the time getting this right will save you a lot of headaches as your project continues. Once the first course is set it’s time to stack your block insuring that you straddle the seam from the block below.
Step Six: Back fill
Once all your courses are laid, you will need to back fill your wall with washed drain rock and 4” perforated drainpipe if needed. You could also add filter fabric at this point if it is necessary.
The important thing to remember is that help is just a click away at www.mutualmaterials.com or a phone call to one of our 19 branches.
Sincerely,
Marty Njaa
Washington Dealer Sales Manager
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Beauty and Versatility of Architectural Slab Pavers
Architectural slab pavers, known more commonly as “slabs”, have become a very popular hardscape product in the Northwest. Designers, contractors and homeowners alike have come to realize how versatile and esthetically pleasing they can be in both residential and commercial applications. Slabs come in different textures, colors and sizes, and can be installed in different ways, so it’s easy to see why they have become so popular.
Mutual Materials has three distinct slab textures to choose from:
Installing slabs can be done in two distinct ways: sand set and pedestal set. Sand set slabs are more common in residential projects like patios and paths. They are basically installed the same way as sand set interlocking concrete pavers; using a compacted base of crushed rock and a layer of bedding sand. Pedestal set slabs are more common in roof-deck and raised patio applications. These projects use slabs that are laid on pedestals to achieve a certain height requirement, or to allow access to utilities underneath the deck surface.
If you would like to learn more about Mutual Materials’ architectural slab products, or would like to find a qualified contractor for your project please visit us at our website www.mutualmaterials.com. Good luck with your project!
Sincerely,
Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager
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