Federal Brace has a Dealer Locator! :)

Do you love our solid supports but you'd rather deal with someone directly than buy on-line? No problem. Federal Brace has a growing list of dealers across the United States and Canada that you can deal with.

And now they are easy to find with Google Maps on our website. Check us out at the The Dealer Distributor and Dealer Page.

Please suggest us to your favorite cabinet or kitchen shop so that they may join our Dealer Program. Don't worry, you can still reach us directly at sales@federalbrace.com or call us at #877-353-8899.

Also, if you are a dealer and you are interested in being focused in one of our blogs, please contact me directly at: skendall@federalbrace.com. Thank you!

Thankful for US Steel

US Steel has been instrumental to the world’s industrial economy since 1850. Before that decade, steel was too expensive to produce and was only used where nothing else would do. It is great for projects that require high strength and durability. It is less expensive than aluminum, titanium and other metals with a high strength to weight ratio. It is great for projects that require high electrical or conductivity or that require high resistance to corrosion.

By 1900’s the U.S. was the largest producer and also the lowest cost producer, output had tripled since 1890 and customers benefited the most. Productivity-enhancing technology encouraged faster and faster rates of investment in new plants. In the United States the central figure was Andrew Carnegie, who made Pittsburgh the center of the industry. He sold his operations to US Steel, Inc. in 1901. That company went on to become the dominant steel corporation for decades to come.

During the 70’ s US Steel could no longer compete with low-wage producers. Imports and mini-mills undercut the industry. After decades of losing out to foreign investments, US Steel, Inc reemerged in 2002 with plants in three American locations, over taking mass producers in Japan, China and India.

As a leader in the increasingly competitive global steel industry, the United States Steel Corporation is dedicated to delivering high-quality products to customers and building value for all of their stakeholders, funding American made steel and American made parts which benefit Americans.

At Federal Brace and Short Run Pro we wanted to take a minute and relive the benefits and history of American made US Steel and the comeback story that is currently ongoing. Steel is the backbone of both companies and this country. You can rest assured that we are using American made US Steel and will continue to make US Steel parts.

Federal Brace, A company on the move.

This week I’ve chosen to recount the incredible year Federal Brace has had bringing their customers Beautifully Crafted, Confident Supports. They have doubled their countertop bracket line by announcing the release of ten new styles. These fresh new countertop bracket designs augment the large selection of countertop supports already available under the Federal Brace brand.

The company’s new Enterprise Support, Foremont Support, and Perrine Decorative Support styles are part of the new countertop mounted support line. The use of these brackets within this application type is to support an elevated bar directly from the lower countertop level. The brackets are mounted directly to the sub-counter and elevated on a counter or a bar on support plates at the top of the bracket.

Federal Brace announced the Bracket Backer ™, a designing enhancement with backer board trim that protects soft wall material behind brackets in heavy weight applications. This product is designed to prevent sheetrock flexing or crushing of soft wallboard materials.

They provide free video guides and tips regarding countertop and countertop bracket installations. These videos feature trained professionals using various support styles and types in many different applications. They create these videos for the benefit of their customers so they may gain knowledge of the countertop installation process and to see their countertop supports in action.

Federal Brace is no longer just a kitchen countertop support company. To finish out a year of expansive growth, the company is introducing a full line of sixteen shelf brackets. These new offering will include designs from Federal Brace’s most popular countertop support models. Now customers can match their countertop supports with decorative shelf brackets elsewhere in the home.

The Brunswick style support was featured for The KBIS’s Best In Show, in Chicago, where it garnered much interest and positive comments related to both its strength and style. At the IWF show, in Atlanta, wood workers marveled at the craftsmanship of the brackets and showered Federal Brace with positive comments.

When it comes to the customers’ needs, their needs are their number one focus and the driving force of their business. To meet the needs of the consumers they have expanded their offices and added more personal. They have added more dealers and distributors throughout the continental United States. Federal Brace has helped thousands of homeowners with countertop support solutions and is steadfast in supplying Beautifully Crafted, Confident Supports for America. Onto 2011!

Designer Spotlight: RBS Kitchen Design Center

In Racine, Wisconsin the RBS Kitchen Design Center has been offering quality kitchen and bath remodeling, lighting ideas, storage and design solutions for over fifteen years. Our Designer Spotlight for December has come to Racine.

RBS has a large showroom showcasing a wide selection of granite, hardware, flooring, and tile. To display the countertops, the Kitchen Design Center recently contacted our Sales Manager, Broc Siefert, about an order for Brunswick and Oxford countertop braces. “Having recently installed them into our showroom. My fabricators stated how fabulous they are. ‘WOW!’ is what they told me,” says Owner, Mark Barnhill. Mark continues, “ This product lends itself to granite, quartz or stone applications. The product blew us away when we saw it at a Kitchen and Bath Show last year. Brass is so passé. They come in enough shapes -it’s contemporary and simple.”

For RBS, their specialty is kitchen and bath solutions, they have the resources and expertise to take your project from drawing to completion. They offer their customers a professional design staff, experienced installers, expert project management and plumbing and electrical by licensed professionals. We look forward to many years of service with a company such as RBS Kitchen Design Center, and in this article we are proud to focus on them, one of our designers.

If you are in the Racine area and you need a quality kitchen and bath design for your new residence, or are looking for a remodel job so your kitchen or bath looks like brand new, please contact Mark Barnhill at RBS Kitchen Design. Mark concludes, “ The neutral necessity of steel makes it applicable on the frameless or hidden countertop bracket. This is a quality product and we’re happy to do business with Federal Brace.”

RBS Kitchen Design Center

2310 on South Green Bay Road

Racine, Wisconsin 53406

(262) 554-2400

http://www.rbskitchen.com/

Like RBS, we believe in beautifully crafted, confident support.

There is no comparison: Box-Store Brackets V.S. Federal Brace

This one is for the customers that are thinking of buying the local hardware store or large box company support brackets, so I’m posting this on both blog sites at Federal Brace. Before you buy consider this comparison:

First of all, when you are picking between the two types of different brackets you’ll notice a considerable weight difference. The Federal Brace countertop support is made out of one-quarter inch steel, and the standard box bracket is made out of a material not even as half as thick. The Federal Brace countertop mount is a wider dimension than the local hardware corbel. The material size and dimensional difference between the Federal Brace and the box store bracket means that Federal Brace has a stronger bracket that will hold up your shelves and countertops better.

Federal Brace gives you a choice and a benefit in the brushed nickel finish that matches common stainless kitchen countertop appliances. They provide the stainless steel option, knowing that some customers are willing to pay for a certain type of look.

You will notice that the Federal Brace bracket has less dings in it than the store bought corbel, because of the care involved in the finish of the brackets. Also, the box store bracket may have the evidence of a long trip – being loaded and offloaded from cargo ships from foreign lands. Federal Brace brackets will come to your doorstep, individually packaged in boxes that are designed to secure your product during shipping. You can go pick out your box store bracket from a bin that looks like the old game “A Barrel of Monkeys.”

You dig a little deeper and you see that Federal Brace has carefully designed countertop brackets with no weld elements on the face of the bracket. The bracket is constructed with plug welding which gives a flawless finish on the face of the bracket. Not only are these super-strong brackets, but also they enhance the look of the countertop they are supporting.

Some may point out that the price comparison needs to be made. That’s fine with us. Our brackets are priced higher than the box store brackets – for the exact reasons listed above. As the old adage goes “you get what you pay for.” In this instance, you get a better looking, better made, stronger and safer support bracket for the investment you didn’t skimp on – your countertops. Go with Federal Brace countertop supports when your countertops matter. ~ www.federalbrace.com

The Three Favs.

The three most popular countertop bracket designs at Federal Brace have the customer’s interest in mind. This week I’ll be focusing on the Brunswick, Freedom and Liberty countertop braces.

The Brunswick is the one that started the Federal Brace line. It’s the original. The customer wanted to alleviate knocking their knees on their braces. “Everything about our company is finding a solution to the customer’s problems,” says CEO and President, Scott Toal, “The Brunswick provides the customer with a bracket that has the strength of a gusseted bracket and can hold a substantial over hang, but limits the possibility of knee- knocking.” The angle of the gusset on the Brunswick bracket bends toward the interior angle, which allows for more space in front so your knees can swing freely. It gives a nice elegant euro-style design. Check out the Brunswick Countertop Support product page here (link).

The Freedom comes from the customer’s desire to have a countertop that appears unsupported. It offers the maximum area underneath the counter without interfering with objects under the counter. The Freedom Countertop Bracket gives support for an overhang with essentially no viewable gusset. Scott continues, “The Freedom is limited in application due to deflection or bending in the bracket. So it is an excellent solution when the unsupported counter area is under 20 out from the support structure. We really suggest not using the Freedom on applications larger.” People use them on island extensions and certain knee wall applications. While these type of brackets are not new, Federal Brace’s offering has matched material thickness, bracket dimensions and placement of the fastener holes to create a modern design with strength. Check out the Freedom Countertop Bracket product page here (link).

The Liberty Countertop Support was designed well after the Freedom. “Some customers do not have the surface area to put a bracket flange down their supporting wall,” Scott explains, “Maybe they have a cabinet opening in the way. Maybe the material was already on the wall-board and they do not want to have a bracket with a down flange.” Federal Brace developed the Liberty bracket, or Liberty Plate, for such situations. It is very similar to a Freedom bracket in its carrying capacity. In order to install the Liberty style brackets the customer will need access to the top of their supporting wall. Like the Freedom bracket, the Liberty is not made over twenty inches due practical deflection. Check out the Liberty Countertop Plate product page here (link).

Three stunning brackets manufactured at Federal Brace. The Brunswick, Freedom and Liberty brackets were all created with the customer's needs in mind. Federal Brace believes in Beautifully Crafted, Confident Supports. ~ SK

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Designer Spotlight: BREWER CABINETS

Brewer Cabinets has been providing cabinetry in the Birmingham metro area for over 30 years. Starting as a custom shop in the owners’ basement, it grew quickly as word of mouth spread about their attention to detail and dependable service. In the world of cabinetry design there has been a gradual shift to factory cabinets, giving the company a wider selection, enduring finishes, and more dependable lead times. While the focus of the company has always been on residential construction, there has been a shift from strictly new construction to servicing remodeling jobs.

A family run business with over thirty years of experience, Jason Brewer, Vice-President of Operations says, “ Our product line carries everything from Timex to Rolex. We do kitchens from $3,000 dollar jobs to $50,000 jobs to $100,000 jobs.” People work with Brewer Cabinets when they want quality and affordable prices. They have an expansive showroom displaying their quality wood cabinets, kitchen countertops, appliances and granite countertops. Jason continues, “The Federal Brace product is more of a use to us, as a designer, on granite countertop jobs where a sturdy bracket is needed.”

When installers see our braces’ sturdiness they are amazed by the craftsmanship of the Federal Brace products. At Federal Brace we have supplied Brewer Cabinets with multiple Freedom hidden countertop brackets in cold rolled steel and stainless steel. People want a sturdy brace that’s unobtrusive, they want to know it won’t bend, it has to hold granite, and they want it to blend with their modern kitchen design.

We look forward to many years of service with a company such as Brewer Cabinets and in this article we are proud to focus on one of our outstanding design customers. If you are in the Birmingham area and you need quality kitchen designs for your new residence, or you’re looking for a remodel job so your kitchen looks like brand new, please contact Jason Brewer at Brewer Cabinets.

Brewer Cabinets

1 West Park Drive,

Birmingham, AL 35211

(205) 942-4000

http://www.brewercabinets.com/

Like us they believe in Beautifully Crafted, Confident Support.