Kevin O’Keefe has seen his share of building products come and go over the last 30 years.
Take door systems, for example. He knows pre-hangers, contractors, installers and home builders often greet claims of breakthrough innovation with skepticism and caution.
That’s why O’Keefe, a veteran manufacturers’ rep, is surprised by the wide acceptance one product now commands in his mid-Atlantic new home construction market. At least three top production builders from the 2024 Builders 100 rankings along with scores of regional and local builders now spec the industry’s first and only replaceable deck sill.
“About one-third of all the door systems in our territory now include a replaceable deck sill,” O’Keefe reports. “That kind of thumbs up isn’t typical in this industry. Most pre-hangers, contractors and installers take a wait-and-see approach on new products.”
O’Keefe believes the big shift is explained by several reasons, including the obvious one: The convenience and necessity of replacing a component that absorbs a horrific pounding during construction.
Pro Problem Solver
Protective doorway shields like stout cardboard or plywood work well but aren’t perfect. Dings, scrapes, gouges and scratches from dropped hammers, wrenches, drywall panels, cabinets and fireplace bricks are nearly inevitable. Add overspray, dripped paint, oxidization and weathering and it’s easy to see why a deck sill can be a major sore spot before hand over.
“More and more folks in our market now spec a replaceable deck sill. It’s a huge problem solver in the field. Pre-hangers were quick to jump on it. It’s on a steep growth curve,” O’Keefe says.
The industry veteran believes pro acceptance is also explained by:
- Practicality. With nothing more than the tools in a contractor’s belt, replacing a damaged sill is now a snap. This video shows how it’s done in a minute or less. Compare that with the half-day or more old school sill removal and replacement requires, says home building authority Matt Risinger.
- Value. O’Keefe acknowledges a replaceable deck sill costs a few bucks more. The modest dollar difference is generously offset by savings in contractor time and trouble. “It’s like a super cheap insurance policy for sills,” O’Keefe notes.
- Trust. “It’s an Endura product,” he says, referring to Replaceable Deck Sill (RDS for short), the patented assembly from building products manufacturer, Endura. “Endura has a reputation for thorough reliability and performance testing. A builder’s field service staff will definitely welcome this product.”
If you’re familiar with RDS, you know the value it represents to production builders and custom builders. If you’re new to RDS, it may be time to consider stocking it. There’s nothing like it in the industry, O’Keefe says, and word of mouth is strong.
“Many of the pros I speak with say ‘I can’t believe this is available’ or ‘Why didn’t I know about this sooner?,’” O’Keefe says. “The value is obvious. We’re not projecting full adoption in our market. No product ever achieves that.
“But I can say we’re on track for 60% market penetration, maybe even higher. RDS is a winner and long overdue.”
Learn more about the construction industry’s only replaceable deck sill, now available to pre-hangers, contractors and installers.
