Builder articles from December 2003

Builder archives from December 2003

Wake-up call: a massive newspaper investigation exposes the weak underbelly of new-home construction. (Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Florida).(Editor's Notes)
December 1, 2003... IMAGINE IF YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER HIRED A BUILDING INSPECTOR and two university professors, had them train 15 engineering students to look for construction defects, and sent them out to study a randomly selected sample of 406 new homes built...

Nice job.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB YOU did regarding North Town Village ("Chicago Hope," June, page 142). You presented this complex concept in a way that was easy to follow, and you eloquently described the innovative approach to replacement housing....

In the zone.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING the workforce housing problem in front of the public ("Workforce Blues," July, page 114). The one area you did not speak enough of was zoning, which is the primary issue here. Where zoning is not...

Pave the way.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I FOUND YOUR OCTOBER ISSUE VERY INTERESTING, especially a small item about permeable pavement ("Dollars & Sense," October, page 244). I work in New Jersey, and here, the jurisdictions consider any nonporous surface, including the...

Policy matters.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I VERY MUCH ENJOYED ALISON RICE'S EXCELLENT article on managing the cost of property and casualty insurance ("Attack of the Killer Insurance Quote," October, page 230). To make it an even dozen, I have a 12th tip that, though it won't reduce...

Calendar.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... 2004 JANUARY 8-10 Cal Spas Expo, Ontario, Calif. More than 600 products from more than 50 vendors will be on display, offering remodelers and builders the opportunity to see what's available in the home resort product category....

Unhealthy situation: builders face health insurance cost increases of 15 percent or more, as a potential remedy for small businesses stalls in the Senate.(Health Care Crisis)
December 1, 2003... RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE HIT builders hard. At best, builders face average annual premium increases of at least 15 percent. The starker reality is that builders are trading off pay raises for health insurance benefits or, worse, need to...

Public outrage. (affordable housing for local teachers, firefighters).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A new study by the National Association of Realtors shows that 62 percent of Americans have deep concerns about whether firefighters, teachers, and others in their communities can afford housing. Fifty-one percent are also worried that their...

Tax move. (Pennsylvania tax reform).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) has released a position paper on local tax reform policy in the wake of the state's attempt to wean itself off using property taxes to fund schools and offset its $500 million--plus budget deficit....

City life. (Toll Brothers acquires Manhattan Building Co.)(Big Deals)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Toll Brothers has gone urban, The luxury builder in October purchased the assets of The Manhattan Building Co., a New Jersey builder that specializes in urban infill. Terms were not disclosed for the deal, which is expected to bring Toll a new...

Case out. (KB Home case).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A federal district judge has dismissed a Texas homeowner's lawsuit against KB Home. Timothy D. Pruitt had sued KB, arguing that an ongoing consent decree prevented KB from using mandatory binding arbitration in its contracts. While the Federal...

Lunar land. (Lunar Realty, Melbourne, Australia, selling lunar property).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Lunar Realty in Melbourne, Australia, is selling one-acre blocks of property on the moon for $40 and 10-acre "lifestyle" blocks for $202. Businessman Paul Jackson bought the Australian rights to sell the land from Nevada-based entrepreneur...

Good works: a Florida builder who lost his son to leukemia hopes to take fundraiser national. (Windward Homes).(House Of Dreams)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WHEN WINDWARD HOMES DECIDED IN 2000 to build a house for charity, the company had no idea how close to home its chosen cause would hit. Six months after employees at the Tampa, Fla.-based builder chose to donate the proceeds to The Leukemia &...

Best estimate: a simple calculator hopes to bring efficiency to brick and mortar usage.(Cost Cutter)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... THE PALMETTO BRICK CO. IN Cheraw, S.C., says it has created a new estimating tool that increases the materials efficiency of brick work and could save builders $300 to $500 per job. "This is a useful tool that will be beneficial to...

Renewed hope. (home ownership for low-moderate income families and minorities).(House blend, trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The First American Corp., a financial and real estate services company based in Santa Ana, Calif., and the Greenlining Institute, a San Francisco coalition of consumer, church, civil rights, and business groups, have joined forces to extend...

High-style affordable: in North Carolina, a contemporary art museum challenges designers to come up with a new housing model. (Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, North Carolina).(Museum News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... AFFORDABLE DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN FORGETTABLE. That's the theory behind a novel affordable housing design competition launched earlier this year by the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Winston-Salem, N.C. The HOME House Project...

Fighting blight. (in Fort Lauderdale, Florida).(House blend, trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Florida developer Lepine, who heads Maison Saint-Antoine, has undertaken an unusual modular project in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He purchased 60 lots over two years and fitted them with affordable, code-approved modular units. Total...

Pre-fab dome: remember your old erector set? Here's the adult version.(Editor's Internet Pick)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WHILE POKING AROUND FOR DRYWALL DETAILS the other day, I delved deep into USG's online support site for its Drywall Suspension System (www.usg.com/Online_Tools/DWSS/ DomeInput.asp). If you're not put off by the words "some assembly required,"...

Behind the statistics: according to the Census, the cheapest U.S. city for homeowners is Flint, Mich. The costliest? Stamford, Conn.(Housing Prices)
December 1, 2003... THE TWO CITIES STAND ON OPPOSITE ends of the spectrum in so many ways. On one side is Flint, Mich., the former General Motors factory town whose struggles were portrayed in filmmaker Michael Moore's "Roger & Me." On the other is Stamford,...

Corrosive lumber? Will alternatives to CCA-treated wood eat away standard metal fasteners? (chromated copper arsenate).(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Next year, lumber that has been pressure treated with CCA (chromated copper arsenate) will be phased out of residential USB. But will replacement materials have the same properties as their predecessor? A recent news bulletin from the NAHB...

Section 8 success: innovative California program helps low-income residents put their voucher dollars toward homeownership. (Northern California Land Trust).(Inside Story)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... FOUR YEARS AGO, JILL DUNNER WAS homeless, making her way as best she could on the streets of Berkeley, Calif. She spent her nights in temporary shelters or on the street before finally securing a room at the Berkeley YMCA. That's also when she...

Hand in glove.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
December 1, 2003... SILVERBACK GLOVES KEEP PARTS CLOSE AT HAND and help increase the efficiency of builders and contractors, the company says. A magnet mounted to the back of each suede cowhide glove holds screws, nails, fasteners, and even heavier items. And the...

Band together.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
December 1, 2003... CUTTING METAL REBAR WITH A HACKSAW IS A tedious process. The X-Band portable band saw will do it up to five times faster, the manufacturer claims. Weighing 8 pounds and measuring 15 inches long, the 18-volt saw has a 21,000 rpm motor that will...

Light tile.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
December 1, 2003... THIS SURFACE-MOUNTED WALL FIXTURE is ideal as a decorative accent in a family room or as path fighting in a hall. The 6-inch tile projects about 3/4 inches and uses a 6-watt LED driver that consumes little energy. Featuring die-cast cover...

Stone face.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
December 1, 2003... ANTIQUE GLAZED BRICK GIVES BUYERS THE chance to customize their fireplace surrounds like never before, the manufacturer says. The lightweight cast limestone surround comes standard, but glazed bricks can be used to dress up the face. Bricks are...

Pal o' mine.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
December 1, 2003... CARPENTER'S PAL IS A MULTI-USE MEASURING DEVICE that does the work of several tools. It helps users determine cutting angles, pitches, and slopes for a variety of tasks, such as building steps and railings, installing sheathing and siding, and...

Ship ahoy.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
December 1, 2003... WITH A NAUTICAL INFLUENCE, THE "VISION panel" is based on the design of a traditional marine porthole. However, these can be used on interior or exterior walls, doors, or cabinetry. Popular in vacation homes, the stainless steel panels come in...

Photo safari: a creative approach encourages realtors to visit the entirety of Vista Lakes. (Orlando, Florida).(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
December 1, 2003... AT NEARLY A THOUSAND ACRES AND WITH 2,300 UNITS OF diverse product types ranging in price from the $130,000s to $400,000s, Vista Lakes in Orlando, Fla., needed a way to get local Realtors educated and excited about the entire project without...

Story time: history comes alive at The Pinehills. (Plymouth, Massachusetts).(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
December 1, 2003... IF YOUR SALES STAFF IS GETTING TIRED OF BLURTING OUT THE same spiel to every couple that comes into the sales center, listen to how the folks at The Pinehills, a 3,000-plus-acre, 2,877-unit master planned community in Plymouth, Mass., solved...

Street sales: a storefront sales gallery draws attention for multiple mid-rise projects nearby. (Western Pacific Housing).(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
December 1, 2003... THE PROBLEM WITH BUILDING MULTIFAMILY IS THAT THE project simply doesn't show well under construction. Driving sales traffic to the jobsite and sitting prospects in a trailer is hardly an effective approach, and waiting until the project is...

Zeroing in on housing: Builder's latest show home, the Ultimate Family Home, is a prototype for self-sustainability.(The Ultimate Home)
December 1, 2003... WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU combine a super-tight, energy-efficient home with a large photovoltaic array and a solar hot water heater? You get a home that produces more energy than it consumes--in theory at least. BUILDER'S latest show home,...

Home for the holidays: national homeownership rate hits new high of 68.4 percent in third quarter as Americans choose to buy their own place.(Vital Signs)
December 1, 2003... LIKE A THERMOMETER MEASURING THE temperature of housing, the national homeownership rate has crept up, up, and up. Late this year, it hit 68.4 percent, a new quarterly high for this important housing statistic, which has climbed more than four...

Captive audience.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... Shown here in the Captiva finish, this closet system offers the benefits of a custom product but at a lower price point. Components are made from 3/4-inch melamine, and a whole host of custom options are available, such as islands, adjustable...

Riding the rails.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... FreedomRail adjustable home storage components offer the benefits of a custom closet but are easy to install and upgrade, the manufacturer says. The system is engineered so it does not have to be attached to or mounted to studs, and once a...

Ultimate champion.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... The Ultimate Wardrobe System comes with everything a closet needs, including glass-front drawers, pullout shelves, seasonal storage boxes. Featuring solid wood and natural wood veneers, the system can be modular or mounted to the wall. Personal...

Suite sensation.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... Warm Cognac is the latest color introduction to the manufacturer's MasterSuite laminate closet system. It includes 96-inch-tall storage towers to accommodate high ceilings, raised panel doors, and various drawer and shelf widths. It also can be...

Clothes store: want to make your home buyers happy? Give them luxurious closets.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... IF YOU BUILD ENTRY-LEVEL HOUSES FOR buyers who prefer value to flash, a run-of-the-mill storage system will be more than adequate. If you're catering to the move-up buyer, however, you better change your strategy. To this group, closet storage...

Garage ahead: these stylish doors could make the front-loaded garage popular again.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... ONE CONSEQUENCE OF THE TRADItional neighborhood design movement is that the front-loaded garage has become a pariah. The garage, critics charge, is an overpowering element on the elevation and an eyesore to passers-by--hence, a preference for...

Weather beater.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... The Centurion line of custom doors can be used in all climates because the non-wood construction eliminates the routine upkeep. Every door has a 2-inch galvanized steel frame with stile/rail joints and is faced with an expanded polyvinyl...

New wood.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... In an effort "'to break out of garage door boredom," the manufacturer has expanded its line of 7100 series Carriage House Doors, The expanded line features designs that are priced more affordably. All doors feature a kiln-dried Hemlock...

River crossing.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... Inspired by custom carriage-house doors, the American Rivers Collection includes four brands with 18 standard sizes, eight decorative design options, and eight window designs. The Vermilion model simulates a one-piece, swing-up door, Columbia...

Renaissance festival.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
December 1, 2003... Offering the durability of steel and the classic carriage-house designs of wood, the Renaissance Collection provides homeowners with a broader choice at a lower price point, the manufacturer says. The doors are made from a Thermacore...

A recognition of Builders using silestone natural quartz in their communities: out with the old. In with the new! (Engineered Homes).(Builder Profile of the Month)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Engineered Homes is the largest production homebuilder in Florida. With an annual production rate of about 350 homes per year spanning in price from $130,000 to the high $500,000 range, Engineered Homes has had a significant impact on the...

Treasury view. (US Treasury).(NAHB Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... As Congress debates the future regulatory oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a statement by a top Treasury official indicating the department's willingness to consider extinguishing the credit line provided to government sponsored...

Legacy builders: home builders should be proud of their contributions this year to both the U.S. economy and the stability their product creates.(From The President)(Column)
December 1, 2003... AS ANOTHER YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE, I THINK it's important to reflect for a moment on housing's vital role in American life and on our contributions as members of the industry that provides the nation's housing. BUILDERS LEAD THE WAY To...

Consolidations: a small number of companies have gained significant market share, thanks to mergers and acquisitions. (homebuilding industry).(Seiders Economy)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... IN JANUARY 2002, ARTHUR ANDERSEN RELEASED a highly publicized paper titled "The Impending Consolidation of the Homebuilding Industry." The paper concluded that, by 2011, the top 20 builders could account for more than three-fourths of new-home...

MexiGo! (Access Mexico project).(NAHB Briefs) (National Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Department of Commerce has awarded $397,899 to the NAHB to help fund Access Mexico, a three-year project to expand the export market in Mexico for U.S. home builders and suppliers. "We're honored to work with the Department of Commerce...

Guess no more.(NAHB Briefs)
December 1, 2003... Providing customers with accurate, timely estimates is a challenge that builders face every day. With EstimatorPro 5.0 builders can complete estimates in as little as 90 minutes, while eliminating "guesstimates," paperwork, and common...

Insurance insight: if you can't find or afford adequate liability insurance, you're not alone.(The NAHB Research Center Corner) (National Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... LIABILITY INSURANCE GIVES BUILDERS coverage for damages resulting from third-party claims such as bodily injury and property damage. In recent years, insurance coverage for builders has become dramatically less available, and builders are...

Nation influx.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The substantial influx of immigrants to this country during the next 10 years will be a major support for housing demand in both rental and for-sale markets, according to NAHB economist Michael Carliner, who reports that about 1.5 million new...

Betting the ranch: in Santa Fe County, N.M., a land planner and developer/builder join forces to make Rancho Viejo a sustainable--and very livable--high-desert community.(includes related article)(Cover Story)
December 1, 2003... IT'S NOT UNUSUAL to hear land planners talk about communities that have dedicated themselves to being good stewards, about local officials and developers working together to preserve precious resources, about building plans that promise to...

Small world: trends in design, technology, and products bring builders and their customers closer together in a big year for housing.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SMALL WAS BEAUTIFUL IN 2003. From petite appliances made for not-so-big homes to narrow houses designed for tight lots, builders looked at limited space and saw big; opportunities. So did buyers, who begged for snug mudrooms and grabbed soaring...

Demand driver: with interest rates at 45-year lows, builders thrived despite war and economic weakness.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)
December 1, 2003... EVEN IN A WOBBLING ECONOMY, FEW CAN RESIST A BARGAIN. And that's what housing became in June, when mortgage rates fell to 5.21 percent on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan for two weeks in a row, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey. Would-be...

Survey says. (hot market for housing).(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... We asked... you answered. This fall BUILDER surveyed 2,000 of you by fax, looking for your thoughts on buyer preferences, hot markets, technologies, and more. You'll find these tidbits scattered throughout this story wherever you See "We...

Country charm: Millcreek, a Pennsylvania smart-growth community, starts up amid rolling bills, horse pastures, and plenty of open land.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... IT'S FITTING THAT THE HUB OF MILLCREEK, AN 87-ACRE RESIDENtial development in Lancaster County, Pa., should be a farmhouse, complete with double-decker porches, rocking chairs, and a general store. Keeping the best of West Lampeter Township's...

Downsizing: small appliances hit the big time.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... FACE IT: SMALL GADGETS ARE COOL. THE SAME CAN BE SAID of the new wave of dishwashers, refrigerators, and ranges. Though kitchen appliances in general are actually getting bigger, to keep pace with the ever-growing American home, in 2003 small...

Wireless living: large developers roll out wireless networks at residences, town centers, and schools in projects that will set the standard for integrating technology within a community.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WIRELESS WILL STILL BE AMONG THE MOST hyped technologies in the year ahead: the only difference in 2004 is that wireless will be more broadly offered as part of a new community. Large urban infill projects will lead the way, Forest City...

Keep it simple: clean design wins out over fussy treatments.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)
December 1, 2003... INCREASINGLY, RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE CAN BE CHARACterized by dual tracks' traditional designs and those that reject tradition. In this duel, designs characterized by simple, straightforward touches stand out. "We're seeing more people...

Premium pressure: builders confront increased insurance costs yet again.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MAKE NO MISTAKE: BUILDERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT INSURANCE. CONCERNS ABOUT THE cost, availability, and deductibles for liability coverage ranked as three of the top five problems for builders, according to the NAHB's 2003 "Critical Issues" survey....

Sandstorm: quartz is the bionic stone that gives granite a run for its money.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... QUARTZ SURFACING IS THE "IT" PRODUCT OF THE MOMENT. NO material is hotter. The engineered stone contains about 93 percent quartz compared to 50 percent for granite. The result is a surface that is durable, non-porous, and stain and heat...

Tall order: even single-family homes are going vertical. (two- and three-story homes).(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SOMETIMES, THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS UP. IN THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER DENSITY, more and more builders are putting up three- and four-story, single-family units. Third-story bonus rooms are a popular option, but even master bedrooms are starting to show...

Tablet tests: frustrated with the small size and poor coverage of handhelds, builders look to the Tablet PC as technology that supers will use in the field. (superintendents).(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BUILDERS HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THE Tablet PC as technology their superintendents and salespeople will actually use. Tablet PCs are smaller than laptops but, with their 10-inch screens, are large enough to comfortably view standard business...

East meets West: a dynamic San Diego infill project gives new life to the traditional row house form. (Rowhomes on F, San Diego, California).(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ROWHOMES ON F HITS ALL THE right buttons. Each of the 17, three-story units, which sold for between $360,000 and $575,000, measures just over 16 feet wide, so the project makes the most of its extremely tight, downtown San Diego site. Because...

Turnkey luxury: Hilltop at Encinitas Ranch delivers production models with custom touches.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... IT'S ALL ABOUT LIFESTYLE AT HILLTOP AT ENCINITAS RANCH, A HIGH-END master planned community in North San Diego County, Calif. Nine floor plans and a number of different elevations from builder Hovnanian Enterprises gave buyers the versatility...

Strategic thinking: builders purchased companies of all sizes in 2003.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... THINK STRATEGY, NOT VOLUME. THAT WAS THE TACTIC OF CHOICE FOR ACQUISITIVE builders this year as they snapped up companies delivering anywhere from 200 to nearly 2,000 homes. Among the chosen were Colony Homes in Atlanta (purchased by KB Home),...

Furniture polish: cabinetry stands out by standing alone.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... EVEN WITH ALL THE SINKS AND APPLIANCES, IT IS GETTING increasingly difficult to distinguish kitchen and bath cabinetry from living room furniture. That's because cabinetry has gone solo--or at least just appears that way. The typical cabinet...

Housing and the hill: Fannie, Freddie, and the Federal Home Loan Banks find themselves in regulatory limbo, thanks to Freddie's accounting woes. (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.)(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... THE NAHB LEADER SIMPLY CAN'T believe Congress' timing. "Of all the times in the world to mess with the housing sector--when it's the only bright spot we've had in the economy," Jerry Howard, NAHB's CEO, says in disbelief. He's referring,...

Sales focus: when times are good anyone can sell, but as the market softens, sales software can help builders sharpen the way they manage documents and sales leads.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MOST BUILDERS HAVE SOME KIND of accounting software, but what's really lacking is organization on the sales side. When business is good, there's less incentive to automate. But if the building economy slows down in 2004, builders can't afford...

Artistic inspiration: a Virginia mixed use development takes its cues from art and literature. (Port Warwick, Newport News, Virginia).(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... DON'T LOOK FOR ANY SHIPS AT PORT WARWICK, A mixed-use development in Newport News, Va. The name given to this former brownfield has a literary, not nautical, pedigree. "When I conceived of the project, I sought to name it after a famous...

Outdoor attention: inspired design ventures outside the home.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST A LAWN AND A few saplings to make a truly livable outdoor space these days. As lots diminish in size, builders and architects are merchandising every inch of the great outdoors with trellises, spas, courtyards,...

Clutter control: the mudroom makes a comeback.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... IT'S EVERYONE'S EXPLODING AMOUNT OF STUFF THAT'S DRIVING the return of the mudroom, a transition space from the outdoors that was once a common feature in homes, especially in colder climates. Lack of space got the mudroom axed from floor...

Efficiency experts: energy-saving is big with conservation-minded buyers.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ENERGY (OR THE PRICE OF IT) IS A HOT topic, which is why homeowners are concerned about the efficiency of their appliances, HVAC systems, and lighting products. Looking to save some bucks, buyers are flocking to Energy Star appliances--those...

On screen: demand for home theaters will stay strong in 2004, as prices on video components and distributed audio systems come down.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, home theaters cost between $30,000 to $50,000, screens and speakers were cumbersome and hard to work with, and distributing audio throughout the house was complicated and expensive. Now, television screens and speakers...

Network research: looking to strengthen the home technology market, builders will team with the Internet Home Alliance and major retailers to study consumer trends.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BUILDERS KNOW THEIR BUYERS WANT HOME NETWORKS, BUT DON'T ALWAYS HAVE AN effective way to sell home technology beyond the fear factor of telling people they need to "futureproof" their homes with structured wiring. Tim Woods, a vice...

Material whirl: colors and textures get all mixed up, especially in the kitchen.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... THE TREND TOWARD COMBINING DIFFERENT colors, materials, and textures has gone full bore, especially in the kitchen, where builders may mix a slate floor, granite countertop, tile backsplash--all juxtaposed against slick stainless steel...

Retrograde: the look of the moment is designs from the past. (home fixtures and faucets from Kohler).(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... YOU'D BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND AN AREA OF POP CULTURE where nostalgia is not the trend (witness the popularity of vintage sports jerseys and Ford's redesigned T-bird convertible). Building products are no different, and 2003 was the tipping...

Mid-century appeal: a hip California project shows that modern design sells. (Whitsett, Studio City, California, multifamily housing).(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WHO SAYS ENTRY-LEVEL, MULTIFAMILY HOUSING HAS TO BE RUN-OF-THE-MILL? Whitsett, a 12-unit condominium project in Studio City, Calif., offered clean modern design and affordable price points--for the Los Angeles area--and the result was a...

Second chances: thirteen more states pass laws giving builders the right to fix defects in new homes.(Hot Trends, Cool Places)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WITH THE INK BARELY DRY ON MANY RIGHT-TO-REPAIR LAWS, IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY how much they will ultimately help builders struggling against construction-defect trends and spiraling insurance costs. But early responses are promising. "We've...

The product you've been searching for may only be a phone call or click away!(Products for your next project: innovative materials that save time and money and look great)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The following pages highlight building materials--both structural and decorative--that offer just what you need for your next project. Each is innovative and when used properly can save time and money over the long term. From windows to faucets...

Lighting controls from Lutron.(Products for your next project: innovative materials that save time and money and look great)
December 1, 2003... Lighting Controls for Residential Applications, is an encompassing new reference binder from Lutron Electronics. It offers specifiers in the residential market and fingertip access to detailed information on the company's ongoing advancements...

New fiberglass doors from Milgard.(Products for your next project: innovative materials that save time and money and look great)
December 1, 2003... Milgard's new fiberglass doors combine superior frame strength and energy efficiency. Both Sliding and French Doors are available in the Ultra[TM] Series, featuring a painted interior, and the WoodClad[TM] Series, offering vertical grain...

Palazzo[TM] Series interior doors.(Products for your next project: innovative materials that save time and money and look great)
December 1, 2003... With the ultimate goal of adding beauty and value to every home, Masonite[R] introduces the new Palazzo[TM] Series Collection. The natural beauty of distinct raised moulding, unique high-definition panel profiles and an exceptionally smooth...

Inclinator residential elevators.(Products for your next project: innovative materials that save time and money and look great)
December 1, 2003... Inclinator continues to lead the residential elevator industry by developing product and installation innovations, providing the most custom features of any manufacturer, offering a parts warranty that no one can beat, and delivering the...

Knauf GREENGUARD[TM]-Certified insulation.(Products for your next project: innovative materials that save time and money and look great)
December 1, 2003... Knauf gives builders the best batts in the industry. And as the first to earn GREENGUARD Certification, Knauf's full line of residential products meets the toughest indoor air quality standards in the industry. Plus, using Knauf shows you care...