Some people are talking about adding American jobs to boost our economy, yet one man in Bozeman, Montana is doing something about it. Anders Lewendal is putting his ideas into action by building a house using products that were made exclusively in the USA.
Lewendal shows it’s possible, with some tenacity, to find USA sources for an entire home construction project. He even recalls the states where most of the products were manufactured. Lewendal found the process to be worthwhile even though there were some lessons learned along the way.
American made products are priced competitively
For the most part, American made products were no more expensive than imported supplies. For instance, a box of nails cost an extra $5 and steel products were $146 more per bundle. Surprisingly, the final costs to build an American made home is only 1 to 2 percent higher than that of standard construction.
Products made in the USA are reasonably available
Lewendal found very few challenges along the way with availability. However, when constructing the foundation, he found there were no J-bolts, bonded steel tension rods, readily available within the parameters. Determined to complete the house using only USA products, Lewendal purchased the raw materials, and then hired a local machinist to manufacture the necessary tie bolts.
As a result of Lewendal’s project, he believes American made products are more available and less costly than previously thought. He says “…if every builder bought just 5 percent more American materials it would create 220,000 jobs.” More importantly, this would provide an instant boost for small business owners, manufacturers, builders and home remodelling services. This is perhaps the best jobs program idea that keeps Americans employed and productive.
To learn more about Lewendal’s American made home, go to the ABC News article , the list of American made products, or preview the news video.
List of American Made Products
- Windows – Amsco Windows, UT
- J bolts/foundation – S.C. Prototypes, MT
- J bolts/foundation/stock Pacific Steel, UT
- Gorilla Duct tape The Gorilla Glue Co, OH
- 4″ perforated pipe, radon Northern Pipe Co., ND
- 4″ pvc fittings GPK, ND
- pvc glue Oatey, OH
- 8d ring shank nails True Spec, CA
- 16d sinkers Griptite, WI
- 1/2″ foundation nuts CAT, IL
- gun nails Maze, IL
- damp proofing Mulseal/Tremco, OH
- Rebar Nucor, UT
- Concrete CMI, MT
- Concrete Portland Ash Grove, MT
- Concrete aggregate CMC. Beglade, MT
- Concrete sand CMC. Beglade, MT
- Hangers, straps, H clips Simpson Strong-Tie, CA
- TJI’s I-Level Truss Joist, OR
- 2×4′s and 2×6′s RY Lumber, MT
- Plywood Potlatch, ID
- 2×4′s and 2×6′s F.H. Stoltze, MT
- 2×4′s and 2×6′s Idaho Forest, ID
- PL 400 sub floor adhesive Loctite, CT
- MiraTEC fascia CMI Corp, PA
- treated plate McFarland Cascade, WA
- T braces/framing Appleton Supply, WI
- sill seal Reflectix, IN
- powder actuated pins TW Ramset/Redhead, IL
- foam board Dow, IL
- Spray paint Rustoleum, IL
- Spray insulation JM Corbond MT, TX
- Screws Por Pac, CO, CT
- Wire joint Thomas & Betts, TN
- Spray paint ACE, IL
- paint Sherwin Williams, OH
- Window foam Touch n Seal, MO
- Caulking White Lightning, OH
- Plastic elect. Straps Handy Straps, WI
- meter base Eaton/Cutler Hammer, PA
- electric panel Eaton/Cutler Hammer, PA
- Breakers Eaton/Cutler Hammer, PA
- PVC pipe/fittings Ridgeline Pipe, OR
- 2″ Romex connectors Bridgeport, CT
- Boxes Allied, OH
- Wire-service, romex Southwire GAstaples Sturgeon Bay, WI
- 4/0 SER straps Sturgeon Bay, WI
- Telephone wire 3M, MN
- wire connectors/crimp sleevesIdeal, IL
- wire staples Sturgeon Bay, WI
- Furnace disconnect Eaton/Cutler Hammer, PA
- recessed cans Juno/Schneider Electric, IL
- recycled glass Livingston Landfill, MT
- Furnace Trane, TX
- Cooling Coil Trane, TX
- HRV Trane, TX
- Air Cleaner Trane, TX
- Zoning/Thermostats Trane, TX
- Ductwork Norwesco, WA
- Screws Brynolf Manufacturing, IL
- PVC Cresline-Northwest, WA
- Condensate Trap Airtec, MA
- Registers/Grilles Hart & Cooley, MI
- Allthread Rod Chicago Hardware, IL
- Pipe Brackets C&S Manufacturing, WI
- Conensate Pump Franklin Electric, IN
- Unistrut Cooper B-Line, IL
- Flexible Duct Atco, TX
- Duct Sealant Hardcast, TX
- Flex Duct Straps Source 1, OK
- PVC Glue/Primer Oatey, OH
- Thermostat Wire Honeywell, MS
- Exhaust Fans Broan, WI
- Concentric Vent Source 1, OK
- Exhaust Hoods Broan, WI
- Nuts/ Washers Perine Danforth, WA
- Dryer Box In O Vate Tech, FL
- Duct Liner Johns Manville, CO
- Duct Liner Pins Hardcast ,TX
- Allthread Anchors ITW Buildex, IL
- Ductstrap Colombia Man, WA
- Manual Dampers Norwesco, WA
- Sill Sealer Reflectix, Inc., IN
- PVC Primer and Cement Oatey, OH
- PVC Pipe Cresline-Northwest, WA
- Pex Pipe Viega, KS
- Kitchen Sink Moen, PA
- Kitchen Faucet Moen, NC
- Kitchen Basket strainer Dearborn Brass, TX
- Kitchen disposer In-Sink-Erator, WI
- Bathroom Pedestal Lav Mansfield, IL
- Bathroom Lav faucet Moen, NC
- Bathroom Lav sink Mansfield, IL
- Bathroom toilets Mansfield, IL
- Bathroom toilet seats Kohler, AR
- Master Shower Aquaglass, OR
- Master shower valve Moen, NC
- Master shower trim Moen, NC
- Master soaker tub Aquaglass, OR
- Master soaker tub trim Moen, NC
- Master soaker tub valve Moen, NC
- Bathtub waste and overflow Watco, MO
- Full Bath tub/shower Aquaglass, OR
- Full Bath tub/shower trim Moen, NC
- Full Bath tub/shower valve Moen, NC
- Water Heater Bradford White, PA
- Pex Fittings Zurn, TX
- PVC Fittings Sioux Chief, MO
- Hangers/pipe insulators Sioux Chief, MO
- Roof Jack Oatey, OH
- Plumber Putty Hercules, NJ
- Wax rings Hercules, NJ
- Thread Dope Hercules, NJ
- Plumber tape Smith/Cooper, CA
- Black pipe RJB Wholesale, Inc, WA
- Black pipe fittings Anvil International, NV
- Gastite pipe and fittings Gastite, MA
- Soulder Flux Rectorseal, TX
- Soulder Exeon Inc., IL
- Copper Pipe Cerro Flow Products Inc., MO
- Copper fittings Elkhart Products Corp., IL
- Backflow preventor/PRV Watts, ME
- Expansion Tank Amtrol, RI
- Hose bibs Woodford, CO