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The introduction of gang nail plates revolutionized residential construction in several ways. By facilitating the use of trusses, builders could use smaller pieces of wood to span greater distances without requiring internal support walls. This not only reduced lumber usage by approximately 25% but also diminished construction time by nearly half, enabling homes to be completed weeks ahead of schedule.
Durate's invention quickly gained traction, and by the early 1960s, the gang nail plate was incorporated into building codes across the United States. By the 1970s, the use of pre-manufactured trusses became the standard in suburban construction—a pivotal shift that dramatically affected home design and functionality.