Builder articles from August 2005

Builder archives from August 2005

Beauty lessons: it takes a lot of diverse talents, working in harmony, to create a great-looking house.(EDITOR'S NOTES)(factors that help to create beautiful houses)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... BEAUTY, WE'VE ALL BEEN TOLD SINCE CHILDHOOD, IS in the eye of the beholder. Thus everyone is entitled to an opinion on the quality of residential architecture, from hard-boiled journalists, to soccer parents driving through a new-home community...

Integrity saves time for this Indiana builder.(JTC Homebuilders)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... John Cummings and his partners Tom and Ted Crum have been building custom homes and condominiums together in the Lafayette-area for the last ten years. John met his partners while working for their father in their family's masonry business. ...

Calendar.(BOOK IT)(JOURNAL Or LIGHT CONSTRUCTION, REMODELING, and TOOLS OF THE TRADE)(American Housing Conference)(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... SEPTEMBER 13-16 JLCLIVE, Chicago As the established leader in live, hands-on construction education, this residential construction show is the perfect showcase for the high-growth residential construction market. Action-packed...

Steady ahead? Annual Harvard University study reaffirms housing's strength but warns of affordability concerns.(INDUSTRY PROJECTIONS)(HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S CENTER for Housing Studies )(The State of the Nation's Housing 2005)
August 1, 2005... HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S JOINT CENTER FOR Housing Studies set its annual report, "The State of the Nation's Housing 2005," against the now-familiar backdrop of another record-shattering year for the housing industry. The authors, however, laced the...

EXPO's exit.(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)
August 1, 2005... As part of its first quarter earnings report, The Home Depot announced plans to close 15 of its EXPO Design Center stores, The home decor chain incurred $20 million in expenses related to inventory markdowns during the first quarter. Five more...

In the Hunt.(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(Redstone Arsenal may gain jobs due to defense department reshuffle)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Nationally, most of the news around the latest round of base closings has been negative, as communities from New England to California cope with the potential economic dislocation of a base closing. Things may be different for Huntsville, Ala.,...

On the cheap.(HOUSE BLEND)(San Antonio's unusual Showcase of Homes.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The town of San Antonio recently held an unusual Showcase of Homes. Unlike the familiar luxury product found in Parade of Homes, this one featured 13 single-family, affordable homes, part of a subdivision designed by college students. The city...

Florida trend.(BIG DEALS)(Toll Brothers Inc. purchases Landstar Homes in Orlando)(Technical Olympics USA Inc. purchases Transeastern Homes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Public builders moved further into Florida in June. Toll Brothers purchased Landstar Homes in Orlando, which closed 471 homes for $115 million in revenue in 2004. The acquisition gives Toll control of 2,500 lots in Central Florida....

Green pages.(HOUSE BLEND)(Ecotone Publishing Co. launches Who's Green a directory)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Kansas City, Mo.-based Ecotone Publishing has launched what it says is the first-of-its-kind directory designed to serve as a resource book for locating firms, organizations, and institutions that are participating in the growth of green...

California steamin'.(HOUSE BLEND)(rankings of the hottest vacation-home markets in California)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In terms of price appreciation, 14 of the hottest 25 vacation-home markets are in California, according to The Wall Street Journal Topping the list was Oceanside, where the median price of a vacation home was $509,000, with a 161.6 percent...

Deere home: builder forms co-branding partnership with lawn care manufacturer.(LANDSCAPE DEAL)(Lawrence Homes ties up with Deere & Co. to build John Deere Signature Community)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... IN A HOT HOUSING MARKET, BUILDER must find ways to stay ahead of the pack. Raleigh, N.C.-based St. Lawrence Homes has launched a program to do just that. The company has partnered with Moline, Ill.-based lawn care manufacturer John Deere to...

True value: could inflated appraisals be setting lenders and home buyers up for a fall?(OVER-INFLATED)
August 1, 2005... WHILE IT'S DIFFICULT to prove in a housing market with the extreme home-price appreciation seen during the last several years, appraisal inflation is adding to home buyers' and mortgage lenders' risk, according to industry watchers. Most...

City slickers.(HOUSE BLEND)(urban population-growth)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Humankind is fast becoming an urban species, according to the United Nations. Whereas only 14 percent of the world's population lived in cities in 1900, that number climbed to 47 percent by the end of the 20th century. Tokyo, Bombay, and New...

Viva Hispanics.(HOUSE BLEND)(Builder Homesite Inc. launches a website in Spanish for Hispanic Americans)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Builder Homesite, a consortium of 35 of the industry's largest home builders, now reports that more than 1,500 new-home communities are listed on Casasnuevasaqui.com, a Web site of new-home listings in Spanish. The company underscored the need...

C-level power.(HOUSE BLEND)(senior executives believe chief marketing officer is most powerful after Chief Executive Officer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Senior executives buy into the idea that information is power. At least, that's what a recent survey by the Association of Executive Search Consultants indicates. Of 497 top executives polled, 38 percent said the chief marketing officer is the...

On the edge: the rising foreclosure rates during a real estate boom are cause for concern.(MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... INDUSTRY EXPERTS ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON the volatile foreclosure market, hoping that the high numbers being reported aren't a sign of future troubles. For the month of March, Florida-based Foreclosure.com reported a 50 percent increase in...

Urban exports: brownstones are a hot commodity in such places as Houston and Indianapolis. They may be headed for your neighborhood as well.(HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING)(brownstone is being used extensively in construction)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... MODERN INCARNATIONS OF the Northeastern brownstone are popping up in unlikely markets faster than mushrooms after a downpour. Houston-based builder/developer Hahnfeld Witmer Davis is using the venerable housing type to promote pedestrianism...

Room to grow.(GOOD DEEDS)(Royce Builders comes to the aid of a family )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Houston-based Royce Builders has come to the aid of a young family whose size more than doubled after the arrival of identical quadruplets. The builder joined with four other Houston businesses to give the family a new house, furniture, and a...

Colorado clout: veto of workers' comp legislation by the governor seen as big win for Colorado builders.(STATE GOVERNMENT)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... BUILDERS IN COLORADO benefited from the prolific veto pen of Republican Gov. Bill Owens when he nixed a bill that builders say unfairly required independent contractors to carry workers' comp insurance. Existing law requires general...

Double whammy: housing and transportation consume up to two-thirds of income for working families.(HOUSING COSTS)
August 1, 2005... WORKING FAMILIES THAT SPEND MORE THAN half of their paychecks on close-in housing already have it tough. But a new report from the Center for Housing Policy, the research arm of the National Housing Conference, finds that housing and...

Repair in progress: the NAHB's push to pass notice and opportunity to repair laws nationally is starting to curb defect lawsuits in many states, but it will take another year or two before we know if it's really working.(LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS)(notice and opportunity to repair laws curb liability insurance premiums caused by excessive lawsuits )
August 1, 2005... THE NAHB's METHODICAL, STATE-by-state approach to solving the general liability insurance crisis by passing notice and opportunity to repair (NOR) laws nationwide is starting to make headway. As of June, a full z6 states had NOR laws on the...

Trimline Ridge Vents set users apart from competition: quality performance, great appearance and quick installation.(Special Advertising Section)(Cooper Mountain Roofing Inc.'s Trimline[R] Ridge Vents)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Trimline[R] Ridge Vents provide superior ventilation by creating a balanced system that continuously releases hot, moist attic air while drawing fresh air through soffit vents. Creating a balanced, continuous ventilation system increases a...

Stain-free.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... COMPOSITE DECKING IS A FAIRLY YOUNG CATegory and, as such, is still evolving. The manufacturer of CorrectDeck CX says the product is just another step in that progress. Because it has been treated with SafeGuard, the product resists grease...

Playing the angles.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... PROSITE PROTRACTOR IS DESIGNED TO TAKE ERROR-PRONE CALCULATIONS OUT OF MITER CUTS, the company says. The red arrow and scale show the angle for a miter joint, while the black arrow and scale provide the angle. All you do is set your saw to the...

Inner space.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... LOOKING FOR A REAL COMMERCIAL-style refrigerator? Look no further than the PRO 48. This stainless steel product offers 18.4 cubic feet of refrigerator space and 11.4 cubic feet of freezer storage. It has a dual refrigeration system, a Sabbath...

Shades of green.(TOP SHELF)
August 1, 2005... DAVID IO IS DESIGNED WITH THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM OF COMPLEXITY. AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF styles, the fixture's simple drum-shaped shade is made from Knoll Textiles' Imago resin panels, which encapsulate fabric. The material, the manufacturer...

Resin and steel.(TOP SHELF)
August 1, 2005... THE EBB CONSOLE AND RESIN countertop kicks bath fixtures into an entirely different realm. Made from 16-gauge stainless steel, the console measures 38 inches and has two storage areas. A colored resin deck completes the look. It can be...

Commercial break.(TOP SHELF)
August 1, 2005... THE ONLY WAY TO GET MORE COMMERCIAL THAN THIS WASHER and dryer is to visit a laundromat. Offering 3.8 cubic feet of capacity the washer has 11 cycles, up to 1,200 RPM spin speed, and a 1,000-watt water heater. The dryer offers 7.5 cubic feet of...

For-sale fears: increasing spec-homes inventory attracts attention.(VITAL SIGNS)(SPEC HOMES are on the rise)
August 1, 2005... THE NUMBER OF SPEC HOMES--those builders start, and sometimes finish, before selling them--is rising. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's new-home sales data, the total number of homes for sale in May hit 439,000, 15.8 percent higher than a...

GP's got your back--and your tile backer board!(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(International Residential Code allows the use of glass mat gypsum)(Georgia-Pacific Corp. introduces DensShield[R], a tile backer board)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... The news is out... as of January 1, 2006, the IRC (International Residential Code) will prohibit the use of paper-faced greenboard as an approved tile backer substrate for shower and tub areas. However, the revised code does allow for the use...

Maximum output: how much power is enough for your cordless tools?(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)(Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. introduces the V28 battery)(questions about the amount of power needed for a battery are raised)
August 1, 2005... REMEMBER WHEN DEWALT'S 14.4-VOLT nickel-cadmium (NiCd) platform was something to get excited about? Of course you don't. That was a lifetime ago--11 years to be exact. The industry has moved on, and Brookfield, Wis.-based Milwaukee Electric...

Good drivers.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
August 1, 2005... GOOD DRIVERS: The XRP cordless hammer drill/drivers are a perfect blend of performance, run time, and durability enhancements, the manufacturer says. The 18-volt tool features 500 inch pounds of torque, a three-speed transmission, and a newly...

Spin control.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
August 1, 2005... SPIN CONTROL: Stressing ergonomics and ease of use, the WORX line of tools includes this circular saw with revolver fluid motion--a feature the company says allows users 60 degrees of rotation when cutting. It gives them the best possible...

Power play.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
August 1, 2005... POWER PLAY: The 0719 Sawzall reciprocating saw uses the new 28-volt lithium-ion battery pack that weighs less than an 18-volt yet delivers twice the run time, the manufacturer says. The tool has a variable speed trigger with two-speed range:...

Cool it.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
August 1, 2005... COOL IT: BLUECORE is a new NiCd battery technology that provides up to 50 percent more life, the company says. Because heat buildup is the main culprit in reduced battery life, the product integrates rods that absorb the heat and dissipate it...

Pro circuit.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
August 1, 2005... PRO CIRCUIT: The Hitachi DV18DMR is a new 18-volt cordless hammer drill that delivers 550 inch pounds of torque. Designed for professionals, the unit has a two-piece, rare-earth magnet motor for reliable power and an air circulation feature...

Dry spot: skipping basement waterproofing can leave you and your buyers all wet.(PRODUCTS)(Tremco Inc. introduces an above-grade system for waterproofing)(HouseGuard introcuces its product as a complete waterproofing system)
August 1, 2005... HERE'S A SCARY THOUGHT: REYnoldsburg, Ohio-based Tremco Barrier Solutions estimates that of the nearly 480,000 houses that were built with basements last year, only a third of them were waterproofed. Bad news for those home buyers who got a...

Bright horizons.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... BRIGHT HORIZONS: Specifically targeted at the exposed foundation wall above grade, Horizon Foundation Finishing System includes an insulated system, a two-part coating system, and a finish coating to protect the wall. It eliminates the need for...

Guard duty.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... GUARD DUTY: The HouseGuard basement waterproofing system starts with a coating of Tru-Dry polymer membrane and then incorporates a Dow Styrofoam board that insulates the wall. A J-drain helps move water away. Unlike other systems, the company...

Flex offense.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... FLEX OFFENSE: Mar-Flex 5000 is the manufacturer's extensive waterproofing system. It features a tough polymer coating that will not become brittle or lose flexibility, the company says. It can be used with a variety of drainage boards to...

Delta force.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... DELTA FORCE: A modification of the manufacturer's Delta-MS foundation waterproofing system, MS Clear is a translucent dimple sheet made for insulated concrete form foundations. Because builders will not have to locate web markings or attachment...

Got stormwater? Install CULTEC!(Cycle Time: Trade Secrets)(CULTEC, Inc. introduces plastic chambers for underground stormwater and wastewater detention)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... Quick And Easy Stormwater BMP Solutions Quality Products At Competitive Pricing CULTEC, Inc., was the first company in the U.S. to introduce a high quality, corrugated arch shaped large capacity HDPE chamber to the stormwater industry! ...

The future is now: a voice command system with an integrated PC-based media server takes home technology up a notch.(DIGITAL HOME: SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW HOMES)(Honeywell/DigitalDeck system latest voice recognition software)
August 1, 2005... A FAMILY OF FOUR DECIDES TO SPEND the first night in their new home watching a movie. After dinner, they retreat to the entertainment room to try out the new media server and voice command system from Honeywell and its partner, software maker...

More wireless.(DIGITAL HOME)(Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) chips are noe used in wireless products)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Builders looking to install wireless routers in their new homes or looking for increased coverage and throughput in the office may want to start looking at products with chips based on Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology. The new...

Sounds good.(DIGITAL HOME)(Russound's marketing program)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Multiroom audio provider Russound has stepped up its builder program in the past year. For starters, it hired John Sexton last fall as the company's new business development manager. Sexton says Russound's marketing message will focus less on...

Wired for sound: CEA releases new audio standard geared for home builders.(DIGITAL HOME)
August 1, 2005... THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ASSOCIAtion (CEA) is wired for sound with a new multiroom audio cabling standard for residential construction that clearly details specifications for multiroom audio. Walt Zerbe, product manager of audio at OnQ...

New app.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)(Sage Software Inc. releases Document Management, an accounting software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Builders looking to get control of their documents may take note that Sage Software, formerly Best Software, is now shipping Document Management, a new Timberline Office application that offers fully integrated document control. This includes...

Web plus.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)(Netfinity Inc develops Builder Plus, software tools that help marketing homes on the web)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Internet development company Netfinity has created Builder Plus, a set of tools designed to help builders market new homes on the Web more effectively. The system lets Web site visitors take virtual tours of the homes before they visit the...

Microsoft moves in: the software giant aims to make its new Solomon accounting system a player in the home building market.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)(Cardamel Consulting Inc releases Microsoft's Solomon accounting system)
August 1, 2005... THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM FOR YEARS WAS that Microsoft Corp. owned the desktop and not much else. But builders evaluating new Microsoft products should keep in mind that the company has a way of staking its claim, sticking it out, and dominating...

Just the fax.(NAHB BRIEFS)(Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 becomes a law)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... On July 9, President Bush signed the Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 into law. Among other things, the new legislation establishes an "existing business relationship" exception to the general rule against unsolicited fax communications. This is...

Building minds.(NAHB BRIEFS)(National Association of Home Builders releases Building Homes of Our Own 2.0 a software program for school kids)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The NAHB has released version 2.0 of "Building Homes of Our Own," a software program that allows middle school and high school students to experience every step of the home building process. From selecting a location and obtaining permits to...

Worked up about housing: for millions, having a home means paying too much or commuting too far. The Innovation in Workforce Housing Awards might help change that.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)
August 1, 2005... GIVEN CONSISTENTLY LOW INTEREST RATES and a vibrant housing market, it might appear that virtually anyone can share in the good times and purchase a home or find rental housing that meets his or her needs. Unfortunately; this is not the...

Dread wrong: yes, the housing industry has had an incredible run, but those who say it will sink the economy don't understand the new paradigm.(SEIDERS ECONOMY)
August 1, 2005... THE ECONOMIC EXPANSION THAT BEGAN IN LATE 2001 is still proceeding at a solid pace, and the housing sector is still one of the brightest stars in the economic sky. But housing is more and more being viewed as a threat to the economy, a...

News you can use.(NAHB BRIEFS)(National Association of Home Builders launches a website)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... To provide the public and investors with the most current and trustworthy information on the housing market, the NAHB has launched Housing Facts, Figures and Trends (www.nahb .org/fft), a comprehensive online source for industry intelligence...

Green light: voluntary guidelines set to take environmentally friendly building to the mainstream housing market.(THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER CORNER)
August 1, 2005... THE NAHB HAS FINALIZED a set of voluntary Green Home Building Guidelines in an effort to move environmentally friendly home building concepts further into the mainstream housing marketplace. Announced at the 2005 International Builders' Show,...

Passing storm.(NAHB BRIEFS)(Construction General Permit does not violate the Clean Water Act)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A June decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit rejected a challenge to the Construction General Permit (CGP), which regulates stormwater discharges during the home building process. The three-judge panel ruled unanimously that...

Infill Value.(HOT SELLERS: SOLD OUT! FAST-MOVING COMMUNITIES)(Kilbourn Court)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... * Infill Value Kilbourn Court, Chicago WHY IT WORKED: Tapping demand for new construction in an established Northwest Chicago neighborhood poised for growth, Kilbourn Court provides families and couples with modern amenities, close...

Triple Threat.(HOT SELLERS: SOLD OUT! FAST-MOVING COMMUNITIES)(single-family neighborhoods in california)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... * Triple Threat The Casas, Oxnard, Calif. WHY IT WORKED: Offering three single-family neighborhoods in this farming community up the coast from Los Angeles, The Casas--Bonita, Dulce (shown here), and Loma--sold out as soon as they were...

Bonus Baby.(HOT SELLERS: SOLD OUT! FAST-MOVING COMMUNITIES)(Bonus Baby Weston Manor )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... * Bonus Baby Weston Manor at Grand Hampton, Tampa, Fla. WHY IT WORKED: A more sophisticated design inside and out set this project, and specifically the Brookland model, apart in the Tampa market. A gated entrance and resort-style amenities...

Simply irresistible: builder's greatest hits for building and selling homes that buyers can't pass up. To compete as a builder, you have to get a buyer's attention--and keep him tuned in to what you have to offer. Skip a beat or get stuck in a rut, and he'll be tempted to change his tune. How do make your biggest fan? You need to be ...(Brief Article)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... IT'S TIME TO CRANK UP THE VOLUME. THIS YEAR'S Trade Secrets focuses on how new homes can become more competitive, stand out from the crowd, and be simply irresistible. Interspersed with some hopefully forgivable, cheesy music metaphors will be...

Walk this way: dedication to open space and buyer preferences contributes to strong site plans.(SITE DESIGN)
August 1, 2005... GOOD SITE PLANNERS WALK A lot. They eye parcels of land from every angle, inside and outside their boundaries, before ever picking up a pencil. They pace hills or city blocks five, six, or 10 times before settling on a concept. They look for...

Blinded me with science: selling the quality of your home's construction techniques, energy efficiency, and durability takes less effort than you think--and can pay off in reputation.(CONSTRUCTION)
August 1, 2005... IF YOU HAPPEN TO SHELL OUT $75 to get your hands on the 2004 National Association of Realtors home buyer profile, you might be disappointed--but probably not surprised. After scanning its 30 pages, you come away thinking today's buyers are...

Any way you want it: today's high-end home buyers want personalized design features that soothe the psyche, promote togetherness, and build sanity into everyday life.(HOME DESIGN)
August 1, 2005... THERE WAS A TIME WHEN 9-foot ceilings and walk-in closets were the stuff that luxury upgrades were made of. That was before the housing market went on steroids and super-sized homes with cathedral ceilings and three-car garage-mahals became the...

Sweet dreams (are made or this): want to add wow to your houses? Carefully planned details and strategic product selections can do the trick.(PRODUCTS)
August 1, 2005... THE GREAT MODERNIST ARCHITECT Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is credited with delivering the uber-famous dictum "less is more." But what does that really mean? It certainly isn't a directive to build houses with less detail, less thought, and less...

I want my MTV (and DVD and DSL): home technology today is about blending in with the lifestyles of Gen X and Gen Y.(HOME TECHNOLOGY)
August 1, 2005... BUILDERS WHO THINK THEY are creating homes just for baby boomers should take a closer look: A new report on Census information from the NAHB says that 55 percent of new-home buyers were born after i965. Younger buyers prefer new homes. The...

She's got the look: telling a story is the starting point for selling a dream.(MODEL MERCHANDISING)
August 1, 2005... CHAD AND JAN WILSON HAVE been married for 16 years. They were college sweethearts. He's an electrical engineer; she's a marketing executive. Chad's passion is cooking, and he loves to try out new recipes when their alumni club gets together to...

Green machine: part 3: builders make green work by making tough choices: combine environmental commitment with a sun-washed location, skilled tradespeople, and plenty of demand from buyers with deep pockets, and you have the makings of an exemplary green community.(Special Report: GREEN BUILDING UPDATE)
August 1, 2005... A NEW COMMUNITY IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE, Alys Beach, is breaking new ground, both literally and figuratively. Scott Henson, general manger, and his company Wave Construction, owned by EBSCO Industries of Birmingham, Ala., are creating a...

Burning issues: jobsite arson doesn't keep most builders awake at night, but maybe it should. Environmental radicals haven't stopped their attacks on new-home construction.
August 1, 2005... DAWN WAS BREAKING ON A mid-April morning when fire and rescue teams responded to a call that a house under construction by a local builder in Sammamish, Wash., was burning. The blaze turned out to be nothing out of the ordinary, causing damage...

Security guards and surveillance equipment can only do so much to deter jobsite intrusion. The best defense might be to involve homeowners.(Camguard Systems)
August 1, 2005... Last December. police found undetonated firebombs at JTS Communities' construction sites in Lincoln, Calif. Larry Marshburn, the builder's risk management and safety director, wouldn't comment about what, if any, security was in place before or...

Stellar sales strategies: want to sell like the stars? Learn what the individual winners of The Nationals are doing to be among the top new-home sales professionals in the business.
August 1, 2005... RECEIVING AN INDIVIDUAL AWARD AT The Nationals is a career-defining achievement for a new-home sales professional, whether the recognition is national or regional. Each year, only a handful of sales pros are chosen for the honor. So it...

What's new on Builder Online: midsummer updates.(MISSING LINKS)
August 1, 2005... WE'RE DEEP IN THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, and you all are doing what you do best: building houses for America. It's good times for home builders--and we're doing our part by adding to the BUILDER Online features home builders have come to depend...

Insulation and HVAC.(Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)(American ALDES Ventilation Corp)
August 1, 2005... Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems represent one of the most crucial elements in a home in terms of comfort and ease of living. Advanced technology has made these systems more efficient and effective, but if something breaks...

Round for a reason: panel manufacturer's unique design provides hurricane protection.(Deltec Homes )
August 1, 2005... A prefabricated round home that seems to be hurricane proof has received a great deal of attention recently--because all of these homes in hurricane-ravaged areas have survived with either no damage or just minor cosmetic damage. "This...

Windows & doors.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2005... It goes without saying that the windows and doors on today's market offer an almost limitless variety of design elements to fit any home style. But today's window and door manufacturers have achieved new heights in technology and performance...

Garden District, New Orleans.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... THE GARDEN DISTRICT OF NEW ORLEANS BEGAN WITH THE end of a marriage. Madame Livaudais, who received the family's sugar plantation as part of her divorce settlement, sold it and returned to France to live. Entrepreneurial developers laid the...