| Author |
Message |
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid
Post Number: 86
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 24, 2015 - 06:36 am: |    |
When I tried to explain to a building product manufacturer that its website was not well organized for architectural product selection and specification, the firm challenged me to provide examples of websites that do it well.
What building product websites do you feel are good examples?
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru |
Colin Gilboy
Senior Member
Username: colin
Post Number: 414
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, October 24, 2015 - 09:55 am: | |
I would lead the manufacturer to the 4specs WebFormat proposal:
http://www.4specs.com/webformat/
Plus the suggested articles.
One of the biggest problems I see with a manufacturer's website is I cannot figure out what their products do - they have them by name or model number and no classification that tracks the MasterFormat numbers.
A recent example was in the concrete area - I had lots of model numbers and some descriptions and no way to classify them other than general concrete chemicals.
A second problem is a web designer or search engine optimizer that wants a pretty website that works on an iPhone and does not grasp that the decision maker on most products is the specifier (through their master specs and knowledge) or the project architect (who hates specs, does not know the products and is working with MasterSpec or BSD SpecLink) and is working on a multiple 22"+ screens computer.
Just my ranting this morning.
Colin Gilboy
Publisher, 4specs.com
435.200.5775 - Utah
800.369.8008 |
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski
Post Number: 2043
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 24, 2015 - 12:23 pm: | |
Armstrong has been a good site- well organized and easy to navigate. |
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid
Post Number: 87
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2015 - 02:56 am: | |
Colin - Thanks for reminding me about WebFormat.
Lynn - I agree that the Armstrong site does an excellent job -- if I know what product I am looking for. But I find it difficult to navigate if I don't know what product I need. I guess that's why they have the chat room and toll free phone number.
What other sites can you recommend.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru |
J. Peter Jordan
Senior Member
Username: jpjordan
Post Number: 872
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2015 - 11:12 am: | |
As an independent specifier, I am usually looking for product information on stuff selected by my clients. I am seldom looking for product selection tools. I do use Oldcastle BE Glasselect web tool as well as the MPI website.
I echo Michael's comment on Lynn's endorsement of the Armstrong website. I also like the Firestone Building Products website, but again, I only use it when I know what roofing system I will be using. |
Liz O'Sullivan
Senior Member
Username: liz_osullivan
Post Number: 199
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Sunday, October 25, 2015 - 07:50 pm: | |
Construction Specialties, c-sgroup.com, has a pretty useful website. |
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat
Post Number: 679
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 26, 2015 - 10:18 am: | |
Arcadia, Inc. also has a good website. |
Scott Piper
Senior Member
Username: spiper
Post Number: 26
Registered: 08-2014
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 - 11:17 am: | |
Hilti - Firestop Design Center
very easy to find the system you need. |
Steven T. Lawrey, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: lawrey
Post Number: 95
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 04, 2015 - 11:24 pm: | |
Pecora; everything is accessible within a couple clicks from the homepage. |
Dale Hurttgam, NCARB, AIA,LEED AP, CSI
Senior Member
Username: dwhurttgam
Post Number: 124
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, December 18, 2015 - 12:13 pm: | |
Liz noted the C/S website. I have found them to be responsive to comments regarding their site.
3 or 4 years back (? time frame), they revamped their website, and I found it not to be very intuitive as to how to get detailed product info.
I sent them a comment about it and in a couple of days the website was adjusted to be more user friendly in this regard.
Over the years I have sent comments to various manufacturers re: their sites and a number of them have been responsive - or followed up with me directly re: my comments.
I don't always take the time to do this, but we would probably all benefit from it if we all made a point to do this.
My pet complaint is that some of them still require you to register with them to get detailed info or to download guide specs. |
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski
Post Number: 2053
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 18, 2015 - 03:29 pm: | |
Dale, that's why Colin and I created the "No Registration" buttons that were given out at CONSTRUCT. Even manufacturer's reps were asking for one!
And yes, we should all take the time to notify manufacturers of both good and bad websites and features on them. How else will they learn? |
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