Builder articles from August 2004

Builder archives from August 2004

A different kind of theft: builders need to learn the best ways to find and keep their employees or risk losing them to their competition.(Editor's Notes)
August 1, 2004... EVERY YEAR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONSTRUCTION MAterials are stolen from jobsites, often in the dead of night with no one looking. But the most significant thefts occur in broad daylight with management looking on: the pilfering of employees by...

Design opportunity.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... AN ARTICLE ABOUT DESIGN APPEARED IN the magazine Fast Company ("Masters of Design," June 2004). The article talks about how design has driven business, particularly how commodity products such as cars and computers are distinguished by smart...

Callback.(B Mail)(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2004... WE MISTAKENLY USED THE WRONG photo for Panasonic's WhisperFit Lite ("Products," June, page 86). This is the correct photo. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Calendar.(Book It)(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... AUGUST 24-26 Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association Committee Meeting Series, Kansas City, Mo. Task forces update projects and activities, implement new programming, and discuss association priorities, activities, and...

Changes in attitude: realtors' survey reports Americans now support affordable housing in their communities--but can we break from our NIMBY past?(New Neighbors)
August 1, 2004... THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS SQUEEZING working-class families in the nation's largest metropolitan areas may finally be diffusing some of the NIMBY sentiment that led many communities to oppose building housing for low- and moderate-income...

Dream catcher.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... State and local governments will soon receive their share of the $161.5 million set aside for the federal American Dream Downpayment Initiative, which aims to help first-time buyers achieve homeownership. HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson believes...

Worker crackdown.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Builders who knowingly hire illegal aliens would have faced losing their state license and local permits under a bill presented in the Louisiana State Senate this session. SB 771 required contractors and trade builders to file an affidavit...

Hidden treasure.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
August 1, 2004... The 10 biggest U.S. metropolitan areas include undervalued communities that possess the desirable traits of a major city without the high price tag. Those communities included Scotch Plains, N.J., Silver Spring, Md., Havertown, Pa., Sharon,...

Activist builders?(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... When President Bush attended the G8 Summit on Sea Island, off the coast of Brunswick, Ga., in mid-June, a group of about 75 activists tried a new form of protest-helping to clean up and refurbish abandoned homes for young mothers and their...

China bound.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Home Depot is making plans to open stores in China. The Atlanta-based home-improvement chain recently named Bill E. Patterson to the new position of president of Home Depot Asia. Until now, The Home Depot's international expansion has been...

Habitat hope: the Reids move into their new Habitat house with a bright future ahead of them.(Home Sweet Home)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... THROUGH ITS GLOBAL NETWORK OF CHAPTER organizations, Habitat for Humanity International has built more than 150,000 homes in 3,000 communities worldwide since 1976. For Matthew and Carrie Reid in Boise, Idaho, however, their 1,050-square-foot'...

Fannie falters: news that Fannie Mae lost equity in the first quarter fuels calls for stricter regulation of the giant lender.(Too Much Clout?)
August 1, 2004... THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES AT FANNIE MAE, THE giant, federally chartered mortgage lender, must often feel like a rich caravan of merchants surrounded by brigands. One false step, and they'll be strung up with a noose of red tape and stripped of their...

Coming home.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
August 1, 2004... One potential labor source for builders looking for good people is the Helmets to Hardhats program administered by the Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment, and Veterans Employment. The program seeks to supply former military personnel...

Trust survives.(House Blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... After a great deal of wrangling with housing interests, Florida Guy. Jeb Bush finally reauthorized the state and local Affordable Housing Trust Funds. Reauthorization of the trust funds means the program will survive at least four more years....

Techno-Realtors.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... If you've ever wondered if all Realtors have cell phones surgically attached to their ears, you may not be far off. According to the 2004 National Association of Realtors Technology Impact Survey report, 95 percent of Realtors use a mobile...

Future ride: we try out the first-ever hybrid pickup truck.(Truck Pull)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... "THAT'S A HYBRID?" THE PARKING ATTENDANT had a tone of awe in his voice when I picked up the new 2005 GMC Sierra for a test drive in Boston. The Sierra and its twin Chevy Silverado are the first full-size hybrid pickups. GM hopes builders will...

Trickle down backlash: new research shows that communities with a wide income gap create higher home prices at every level.(Inflated Home Prices)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... LAST MONTH, WE REPORTED ON THE DEEPENING divide between affluent home buyers and those who can t afford the price of a new home. A new report shows how this economic inequity hurts individuals. Cornell University professor Robert Frank studied...

Alaska land grab.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Even cities in the largest state have land issues. Jim Jackson, president of the Anchorage HBA, predicts a large decline in new-home construction over the next two years, primarily because of dwindling land resources in Anchorage, Alaska. The...

Blitz build: in South Central Los Angeles, cameras follow the progress of a six-day "Extreme Makeover.".(Reality Show)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1989, HOMEAID America has pulled together countless teams of builders and trade partners to put up shelter projects for the homeless. But a recent request for help left even the unflappable Mike Lennon, president of...

Energy miser: Oak Ridge remits show cost benefits of energy efficiency.(Cost Cutter)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... THE STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANEL ASSOCIation (SIPA) cites recent Oak Ridge National Laboratory results as evidence that SIPs can help homeowners cut energy costs. The lab's results from a research house in Tennessee show that the house's total...

Ridge Vent ventilation that improves your bottom line.(Special Advertising Section)
August 1, 2004... Trimline Ridge Vents provide superior roof ventilation by creating a balanced system that continuously releases hot, moist attic air while drawing fresh air through soffit vents. A balanced, continuous ventilation system increases a home's...

Portfolio management: homeowners block growth to boost their own property values.(Housing Roadblocks)
August 1, 2004... YEARS AGO, THE FINANCIAL INTERestS of business owners drove much of the decision making at the local government level. Now, homeowners are the dominant force and have become very adept at using the political process to enhance the worth of...

Reduce risk: builders hope shorter home warranties will prove attractive to insurers.(Inside Story)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... OBTAINING GENERAL LIABILITY INsurance is rapidly moving to the forefront of builders' concerns. NAHB president Bobby Rayburn recently announced a partnership with a global risk management consulting firm "to create a comprehensive profile of...

Aloha, builders: Hawaii bounces back with a pent-up demand for housing.(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)
August 1, 2004... It looks as if Hawaii is losing its status as the best kept secret in the housing industry. Back in the late '90s, when mainland builders were going through an economic expansion, Hawaii was still bottoming out in the recession. "For so many...

Sticks n' stuff.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
August 1, 2004... KNOWN FOR MODERN STAINLESS STEEL AND COPPER bath fixtures, the manufacturer has introduced a new Japanese soaking tub that features bamboo in its design. The tub is made of stainless steel and has a low bench seat. The skirt is fabricated with...

Stone wall.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
August 1, 2004... FOR THOSE HOME BUYERS WHO WANT A STYLISH ACCENT ON THE wall or hearth, these panels fit the bill. Made from lightweight fiberglass-reinforced cement, the panels measure 18 by 32 inches and weigh only 4 pounds per square foot. They can be...

Childproof.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
August 1, 2004... ABOUT 1,300 CHILDREN ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED EACH YEAR when they insert objects into electrical outlets. These tamper-resistant receptacles, however, can solve that problem. The units include an automatic shutter system that prevents objects from...

Saving grace.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
August 1, 2004... IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHEMICALS in treated lumber, one manufacturer claims to have an answer. Designed for below-ground post application, Postsaver is a nontoxic barrier that protects lumber from moisture and wood-destroying organisms,...

Efficiency expert.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
August 1, 2004... VERY DRYWALL INSTALLER COULD USE A LITTLE EXTRA help. The SpeedRocker offers it. The three-in-one multipurpose tool is a combination knife, saw, and rasp. It also has a tape measure slot that allows the user to read the tape, score, and cut...

Free range.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
August 1, 2004... XTRONIC CONVECTION RANGE IS PART OF THE company's brand-new full line of appliances. The range has a low profile for a built-in look that is flush with cabinets, a 4.6-cubic-foot oven with a 25-inch-wide opening, and a self-cleaning oven...

New Jersey-based builder finds distributor makes a world of difference. (Builder of the month profile: Silestone[R] by Cosentino recognizes U.S. Home Corporation (New Jersey Region)).
August 1, 2004... U.S. Home Corporation has been in business since 1954. Now a member of the Lennar family of builders, U.S. Home Corporation operates in 17 states across the nation, building more then 35,000 homes per year. But even a large company like...

Topographical challenges.(First Draft)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Q: It seems the only lots available in our area are challenging topographically--and expensive. Conventional home plans don't seem to maximize the potential of these lots. How can I make the most of a challenging lot? A: IN MANY MARKETS,...

Mortgage minded: home buyers aren't scared off by the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in four years.(Vital Signs)
August 1, 2004... THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD RAISED its target for the federal funds rate a quarter of a point, but its action did not lessen home buyers' enthusiasm. Economists and builders predict that the industry will continue along its strong path through...

Quiet nights.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... QUIET NIGHTS: The manufacturer says the QT Series of bath ventilation fails features sone ratings up to 40 percent lower than the industry average, making QT the quietest units on the market. The units have sone ratings from 0.3 to 1.4, offer...

Sounds of silence.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... SOUNDS OF SILENCE: The manufacturer says Whisper-Warm is a low energy-consumption fan that offers quiet operation. The fan combines ventilation, beat, light, and night light in one unit. It has a sone rating of 1.1 and moves 110 cfm. It is also...

Fan fare: newly noiseless and efficient, ventilation fans are more important than ever.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... MOST OF YOU REMEMBER THE bad old days when you outfitted your bathrooms with the cheapest ventilation fan you could get your hands on. The fans made as much noise as a DC-9 and were ineffective at pulling moisture out of a steamy bath. ...

Low profile.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... LOW PROFILE: Part of the Deluxe Quiet fan/light combination unit, the AKIOOLSL is rated at 100 cfm and 0.8 sones. The Energy Star-rated product uses two 13-watt compact fluorescent bulbs, has a contoured low-profile grille with a moonstone...

Central air.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... CENTRAL AIR: The UQS series of ventilators comes in four sizes and features galvanized steel housing and a continuous duty motor. Using a control, buyers have the ability to match airflow to the actual requirement, and speed control can be set...

Light up.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... LIGHT UP: This in-line, remote-mounted exhaust fan and the VLC-64 Vent Light can be used in two separate rooms for quiet. efficient ventilation, time company says. Listed for use in a steam shower or a hot tub, the unit has a small-scale....

Power play: manufacturers seek ways to give tools more muscle.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... ABSOLUTE POWER MAY CORRUPT ABsolutely in politics, but few things are as sweet as a tool that gives you more power and performance. Manufacturers have been successful in increasing their tools' muscle, but they are still finding ways to add...

Energy cycle.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... ENERGY CYCLE: Weighing in at 4.9 pounds, the RN46 roofing nailer delivers 410 inch per pound of power, giving the highest power-to-weight ratio of any roofing nailer, the manufacturer claims. It has a lockout feature that prevents the tool from...

Pro series.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... PRO SERIES: This recent line of cordless finish nailers marks the manufacturer's entry into the category. Made up of eight products, the XRP tools feature extended run times and professional-grade power, the company says. The 1 1/4- to 2...

Grip this.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... GRIP THIS: The PowerMaster Plus nailer has been upgraded. Weighing 8.4 pounds, the 30-degree framing nailer drives 2- to 3 1/2-inch nails through engineered lumber with ease and has 10 percent more power per pound than competitive models, the...

Light weight.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
August 1, 2004... LIGHT WEIGHT: The new 41XP finish nailer is 10 percent lighter than its predecessor and has a 15 percent increase in power. It can drive bright and galvanized 15gauge finish nails from 1 1/4 to 2 inches into the hardest wood but also can be...

Setting goals.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... In an effort to boost the homeownership rate among underserved populations, the NAHB is endorsing measures to strengthen Freddie Mac's and Fannie Mae's housing goals. The agency wants to ensure that the financial lenders work assiduously to...

Favorable forecast: study finds that increased housing starts will help national economy.(From The President)
August 1, 2004... ALTHOUGH MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES ARE trending upward, the long-term outlook for housing is very good. We should see an average of 1.8 million housing starts (not including manufactured or HUD-code homes) annually over the next decade, according...

Under control: builders maintain quality control in a hot housing market.(Seiders Economy)
August 1, 2004... THE NAHB RECENTLY CONDUCTED A NATIONwide survey of about 300 single-family builders to track changes in callback experience and builder perspectives on the construction labor market. We found that the nation's home builders were able to...

Popular demand.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Suburban areas proximate to metropolitan markets are where 55- to 74-year-olds are most likely to buy a home, according to a recent analysis of 2000 U.S. Census data by the NAHB, and these residential districts are the center of building...

Safety first: seminars promote nontoxic workplaces and on-the-job safety.(The NAHB Research Center Corner)
August 1, 2004... HOME BUILDING CAN BE A DANGEROUS business--risks on a jobsite range from electrical shock to being struck by hazards and falls from overhead. One of the most important tools that a builder can give to employees is adequate on-the-job training...

Easy money.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The NAHB Women's Council, in conjunction with the National Housing Endowment, awarded scholarships to three college students committed to the building industry and their academics. The scholarships encourage young people to continue their...

Fully loaded: Davidson at Santaluz, San Diego.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... WHY IT WORKED: Interior architecture is what appealed to this project's target market of move-up families and empty-nesters. Hot-button features include such extras as a crafts/homework/project room in Plan 2 and a downstairs "casita" suite...

Urban renewal: Grant Park, Minneapolis.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... WHY IT WORKED: Located on what once was a vacant parking lot surrounded by single room occupancies and Section 8 housing, Grant Park shows that the right product targeted to the right market can work despite what could have been overwhelming...

Know your customer: Mission Creek, San Antonio.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... WHY IT WORKED: Strong demand by middle-class Hispanic families who wanted to stay on the south side of town but move to larger homes with more flexible plans. * Independent research based on home sales and feedback to sales counselors in...

The X Factor files: for your eyes only: make your company the place people want to work--and you'll never look back.(Trade Secrets)
August 1, 2004... COMPANIES ARE FOREVER SEARCHING FOR their X Factor, an exponential advantage that puts them at least two times ahead of the competition. For many builders, finding their X Factor ties in how well the company can find, keep, and manage its...

Silver Line Windows has mastered the science of cycle time.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... The cliche "Time is Money" has never been more true than it is in today's competitive business environment. The employees of Silver Line Windows know just how valuable your time is and are committed to helping you improve your cycle time. Our...

Hot times in the city: three hew projects show why downtown living is all the rage.
August 1, 2004... SUDDENLY, IT SEEMS, URBAN REnewal is everywhere. Not the kind of mindless urban construction that took hold back in the 1960s, when whole neighborhoods were razed in favor of bland, boring apartments. This century's downtown dynamic is much...

Reviving history.(Special How-To Feature)
August 1, 2004... Before World War II, those who designed and built neighborhoods had vast knowledge of what constituted great community design, from street layout to noise control to the appropriate size and location of local stores. But that accumulated...

Improve your cycle times with Fypon[R] brand products ... The best lead times in the industry.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Committed to providing the industry with the fastest delivery possible of decorative millwork, Fypon, Ltd. offers Next Day/Next Truck shipments on their FX items. With the best lead times in the industry, dedicated trucks and new and innovative...

Prickly alliance: conflicts between builder salespeople and real estate agents arise from differences in outlook and interests. But for many builders, Realtors are the strongest link to consumers.
August 1, 2004... THE BUILDER/REALTOR RELATIONSHIP IS A NATURAL ALliance, but it can be a prickly one, too. Many Realtors prefer the cash-and-carry-on convenience of selling existing homes rather than having to wait five to eight months for their commission...

Automatic fix: California builder says IBM's automated management tools let information technology staff make service calls three times faster.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(International Business Machines Corp)
August 1, 2004... COMPUTER SCIENTISTS LOOK FORWARD TO A time when routine system management tasks such as adding memory or allocating disk space are automated. The need for increased automation is clear, since the rise of the Internet and computer networks has...

Across lines.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Nextel recently expanded its Direct Connect walkie-talkie feature between the United States and Brazil, Argentina, and Peru, as well as between the United States and Canada. The telecom provider will add Direct Connect service between the...

Vision quest.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Builders looking to make life easier for their home buyers should take a look at Honeywell's new VisionPRO touch-screen programmable thermostat. Rather than clumsily leafing through the owner's manual, VisionPRO guides homeowners through the...

Smart move: SBC builds partnerships to deliver telecom services on time to new communities.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... THROUGH ITS SMARTMOVES PROGRAM, TELEcom company SBC Communications has been forging partnerships with home builders to ensure that the right networking and communications infrastructure is in place when homeowners move in. SBC also works with...

Big winner.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... PeopleSoft scored a big win earlier this year by convincing Hovnanian Enterprises to deploy its full line of back-office and enterprise management software. Hovnanian, which is No. 9 on the BUILDER 100 list this year, opted for PeopleSoft after...

Easy intercom.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Greyfox Systems looks to change the way homeowners think about intercom systems with its new Intercom Module that runs over Category-5 wiring, the most common network cabling. The new module has a modern, less clunky look that can fit into a...

Building strong relations: Brookfield Homes uses customer relationship management software to make life easier for its salespeople and customers.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
August 1, 2004... CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM) software from Latista Technologies is helping the Washington Business Group of Brookfield Homes in Fairfax, Va., integrate its sales leads and use an extranet to improve communications with customers...

Unplugged: the push to deliver the digital home is on, but only a small percentage of home builders have figured out how to make money on home technology.
August 1, 2004... MOMENTUM IS BUILDING FOR THE DIGITAL home. Led by technology bellwether Intel, which projects a PC-centric image of the digital home that features interconnected PCs and laptops, handhelds, digital video recorders, and video cameras, techies...

What's new on BUILDER Online: a wealth of special features.(Missing Links)
August 1, 2004... OUR MOST POPULAR FEATURES ON BUILDER Online--as indicated by our logs of user activity--are current articles from BUILDER and BIG BUILDER magazines and our daily news feed providing breaking news about the home building industry. But there are...

Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers.
August 1, 2004... Kitchen/ Family Room Combo This European stucco home is a well-designed one-story villa. Turrets top identical bayed rooms that are enclosed behind double doors just off the entry. An efficiently laid-out kitchen is uniquely designed with...

Going beyond the basics: panel manufacturer helps builders grow their business.
August 1, 2004... The unprecedented demand for new housing and extensive remodeling projects in recent years has greatly increased business for builders, but a big challenge in this market has been pervasive labor shortages. That's one reason many traditional...

Insulation and HVAC.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... When heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are working well, it's easy to take them for granted. But if something in the system breaks down, things can get pretty unbearable. That's why it's important to give homeowners solid,...

Virginia-Highland, Atlanta.(Walk Through)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... IN 1890, THE FIRST PROJECT OF THE NEWLY FORMED ATLANTA Street Railway Co., the Nine Mile Trolley, opened up acres of farmland to suburban development. One of the neighborhoods that arose along the trolley line was Virginia-Highland, so-called...