Information
E-Coating
Connext shifted its finishing process from anodizing to e-coating (also called Electrocoating). E-coating is a process that has been in place for many years and is well established in many industries requiring metal protection. For example, the underbodies of most cars are e-coated.
There are several reasons Connext changed:
First, e-coating provides a very consistent and slightly thicker layer of protection on the aluminum. This provides several benefits:
- the finished color (black) will be more consistent and richer
- since the coating is slightly thicker, the chip resistance will be greater
- e-coating provides a very uniform coating across the entire surface
Second, e-coating will provide a finish that provides better corrosion resistance.
Third, e-coating has a lower environmental impact. It is a water based process and has very low waste charges.
Fasteners | Screws
Connext uses a variety of screws to provide the best solution available. In general, screws come from GRK, DeWalt, and Big Timber. Concrete screws are provided when attaching to concrete or stone.
The connectors have been machined to provide flexibility in screw selection. Supply chain issues make this very important. Connectors that can be used for both wood and concrete connections have both a counterbore and countersink. This enables the appropriate screw to be used based on availability. All screws have been reviewed and approved by engineering.
Fire Tower Engineering
Fire Tower Engineering prepared the evaluation of connectors for Connext Post & Beam. You can use these specs with your engineering firms, architects, contractors and building departments. The engineering specs are provided under the “Design and Build” portion of this web site and include the ability to download.
Bringing a modern perspective to a time-honored craft, Fire Tower Engineered Timber is an enterprising firm specializing in the engineering and design of timber structures, including light lumber, heavy and curved timber, timber frame and post & beam structures.
How to Erect a Post & Beam Barn - Fine Homebuilding
This spacious 14-ft. by 20-ft. post-and-beam barn melds traditional barn architecture with modern building methods. And the result is a large timber-frame building that goes up surprisingly fast. The barn features a white-pine frame of rough sawn 6x6 posts, 6x10 beams, and 4x8 rafters. The walls are braced with diagonal 4x5s, and the window openings are framed with 4x4s.
Better Barns Hardware
Looking for old-fashioned style antique barn door hardware for your new barn? Then contact this long-established New England business, another sister company of Connext Post & Beam. Better Barns specializes in various sizes of sliding barn door reproduction hardware, inspired by authentic 19th century design styles.
Team Timber Plans
TEAM TIMBER designs T-REX timber frame plans for professional contractors and DIYers. All plans come with renderings, elevations, construction drawings, timber lists, fastener lists and most importantly single beam drawings making it very easy to cut each member before anything is erected. If you can't find a suitable plan on the Connext PLANS page above, feel free to contact Greg Butkus to discuss your custom design or modifications.
Custom Connectors
In addition to standard T-REX connectors, custom connectors can be fabricated for your unique requirements. The most common customization is for actual size (for instance, 7”x7” or 8”x14”) and diagonal connectors with a custom angle (for example, 6” x 14” with a 33.89 degree angle).
To date over 70 different custom connectors have been created to help meet customer needs. Custom designs are also available for post to base, and you can see options available in the Post to Base section above.
Connext’s objective is to meet your needs. You can expect an up-charge for customization, and fulfilling the order requires an approximate 3-4 week lead time. Call Pete or Laurie anytime to have your questions answered about a custom connector in reference to your unique project.