Hello! Welcome to L.J. Smith’s first electronic newsletter. These short, quick-read “E-Zines” will be sent to you about every 6 weeks. Our plan is that each one will contain an interesting article relating to stairs in the areas of installation, trends, building codes, industry standards, etc. Still another article might provide some helpful service or selling information. Each issue should include a featured L.J. Smith product, a humorous or inspirational quotation, tips and tricks relating to installing or selling and/or a cartoon featuring “L.J.” Our hope is that you will find the newsletters fun to read and packed with useful information. We will welcome any comments or suggestions you might have about our newsletter. Just send them to bgaligher@ljsmith.net

Thanks!

Your Friends at L.J. Smith, Inc.

Home Improvement Executive, containing quick-read articles on industry news, is published weekly by Executive Media Corporation. The research staff of Executive Media recently conducted category surveys regarding suppliers/brands.

The chart below features the results of the survey of Pro Dealers designed to determine which brands/manufacturers they perceive as driving their business in 2006. This analysis was conducted by surveying purchasing executives at top Pro Dealers located across the United States.

We are proud to report that, of the top Pro Dealers, 66% perceive L.J.Smith as the manufacturer who will drive their business for the Stair Systems category.

The results of this independent survey confirms that L.J. Smith is America’s Preferred Brand. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to remain the leader and innovator, providing our customers with a highly effective selling advantage over those who buy from others!

It is important that stair framers account for the thickness of the finished floor at the bottom and top of each stairway. A slight modification is necessary if the rise of each tread on a stairway was based on vinyl flooring, but the homeowner now wants ¾” hardwood on the first floor. Since residential code allows for 3/8” variance in stair risers, this can easily be remedied.

Add a piece of  ¾” plywood cut to fit the first tread or pad the first step stringer frame using smaller pieces of ¾” plywood. Do the same for the next few steps but use different thicknesses of padding material: for the second step use 5/8” plywood, on the third step use ½” plywood, for the fourth step use 3/8” plywood, add ¼” plywood shims on the fifth step and on the sixth one use 1/8” plywood shims. Although the first six steps vary by 1/8” from one to the next, it will not be noticeable when walking up or down the stairs and it should also meet residential code.