Builder articles from February 2002

Builder archives from February 2002

Yogi on housing: The timeless wisdom of this Hall-of-Famer says a lot about today's housing market. (Editor's Notes).(former New York Mets, Yankees manager Yogi Berra)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 1, 2002... MANY PEOPLE LOOK TO ECONOMISTS FOR ANSWERS in trying times like this. I find myself looking to that great sage Yogi Berra, the former manager of the New York Mets and Yankees, whose comments would seem to provide powerful insight into the...

Calendar. (Book it).
February 1, 2002... MAY 9-11 BUILDER 100, Scottsdale, Ariz. This invitation-only event gathers the top executives from the country's 100 largest builders. Experts from inside and outside the industry will present their solutions to some of the...

Tune-up time: Business gurus urge builders to exploit uncertain economic times with niche targeting and service diversification. (Diversify to Survive).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... JOHN SCHLEIMER, AN INDUSTRY CONSULTANT with Market Perspectives in Roseville, Calif., and former president of the NAHB's Institute of Residential Marketing, has seen a lot of builders come and go. When the economy dips, he says, the ones who...

Thermal test. (House Blend).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... The Portland Cement Association, in conjunction with the Concrete Foundation Association, has released Thermal Mass Comparison of Wall Systems (#CD 026), which proves that insulation and concrete combine well to save energy. Laboratories tested...

Midtown makeover. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Before leaving office, former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiiani unveiled a new blueprint for revitalizing Manhattan's midtown section. Labeled Far West Midtown, the plan is a call to invigorate a 59-squareblock zone from midtown to the Hudson...

Housing prices rise. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight reports that the largest increases in home prices over the past five years were in: Massachusetts, 64.7 percent; the District of Columbia, 60.9 percent; New Hampshire, 59.0 percent; California,...

Belt-Tightening rules. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Industry consultant John Schleimer identifies three essential first steps to take to protect your assets. 1. GET RID OF INVENTORY. "Nothing can kill you faster than unsold inventory, especially at the high end of the market." 2....

Coming to terms. (House Blend).("megalopolis")(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... MEGALOPOLIS: Term for urban sprawl from the word metropolis; situations where the expansion of several cities in a particular area creates one continuous city (i.e. The corridor between Boston and Washington), even if the different parts retain...

Automated estimates. (House Blend).(Residential Estimator 7 software)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Marketed as an easy-to-use, step-by-step interface, Residential Estimator 7 software covers single-family and low-rise, multifamily dwellings, along with townhouses and duplexes. To use it, you either choose an existing floor plan, or customize...

I Spy: Buyers watch their new homes being built at password-protected web site. (The Long View).(www.mydwhome.com)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES' NEW-HOME BUYERS can scrutinize their homes under construction and show them off to family and friends, no matter where they are. The key is the password-protected Web site www.mydwhome.com, launched in November 2001....

Bullet-Proof structures: Disaster-proof houses are using the same material that protects police officers. It also mitigated terrorist damage at the Pentagon. (Editor's Internet Pick).(Millibar from New Necessities)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... MILLIBAR'S KEVLAR PROTECTS BUILDINGS from most natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Millibar, developed by New Necessities of Gainesville, Ga., is a high-wind, severe-storm, and seismic structural reinforcement...

Box store blues. (House Blend).(effect of megastores on property value)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Not all urban villages are created equal. According to David Lereah, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, home buyers who choose to live near shopping and amenities may not have 40,000-square-foot box stores in mind. In...

Affordable loans: Multifamily loan limits and affordable housing mortgages increased. (Spurring Growth).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... HOME BUILDERS ARE EXPECTED TO BENEFIT from the recently approved 2002 VA and HUD financing, which creates hybrid loans that should enable an estimated backlog of 40,000 home buyers to qualify for mortgages. The new law also includes a 25...

Future market? (House Blend).(Australian economy up)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... While most industrialized nations are bracing for a recession, things are up Down Under as Australia has one of the world's fastest growing economies. A gross domestic product gain of over 4 percent in the third quarter of last year was due, in...

Best in snow: Frost-protected foundations offer big savings on materials and labor. (Cost Cutter).(frost protected shallow foundations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... BY NOW, MOST BUILDERS HAVE heard of frost protected shallow foundations (FPSF). The recent publication of standards in the International Residential Code (see R403.3) makes the systems even more attractive. Just how much money can a builder...

"Nu" affordable homes. (House Blend).(Lennar Corp.'s NuHome division builds affordable housing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Noting the "tremendous demand for affordable product," Lennar Corp. COO Robert Strudler is busy overseeing the introduction of Lennar's NuHome division across Texas. NuHome builds houses that sell for about $100,000. To keep prices down,...

It's da bomb. (House Blend).(KB Home Corp. in negligence lawsuit)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Sixty-four homeowners have filed a lawsuit in State District Court in Tarrant County, Texas, against KB Home and its affiliates for not disclosing that the Southridge Hills subdivision was built on the site of a former military bombing practice...

High water mark: A streamlined new community sets sail in Miami Beach. (TND with a Twist).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... FLORIDA HAS LONG BEEN A LEADER IN TRADItional Neighborhood Development, and now Miami's Dacra Development Corp. is proving that New Urbanism doesn't have to be all gingerbread and front porches. Aqua, a new community on 8 1/2 acres at the...

Punch list.(housing-related news)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... BUILDER'S editors pick the best, worst, and most intriguing housing-related news. PROPHETS OF GLOOM: Shame on those real estate pundits who predict the end of American urban life following Sept. 11, says the San Francisco Chronicle....

Hard times. (House Blend).(Atlanta bankruptcies on the increase)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... More than 2,200 businesses and consumers filed for bankruptcy protection in the metro Atlanta area in November 2001, compared to 1,753 in the same month in 2000. This is a 29 percent increase over last year.

Not just cars. (House Blend).(General Motors Corp. Tech Center complex plans downtown area)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... GM Corp. is accepting design proposals for a new mixed-use residential and retail area to create a downtown across from its vast Warren, Mich., Tech Center complex. GM owns a 312-acre parcel and plans on partnering with a developer to create a...

Trial by Error: Lennar Homes learned a hard lesson in Florida, when its choice of a pest control contractor came back to bite it. (Exterminator Blues).(Ace Professional Pest Control)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A CLASS ACTION TERMITE CASE FILED BACK IN 1998 and long since settled still haunts LENNAR HOMES. As recently as November 2001, documents were filed asking for enforcement of the court-sanctioned settlement. "There's just no way to satisfy every...

Looking at longevity: A group of scientists has begun to compare the total environmental impact of building materials. (Circle of Life).(Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. A GROUP OF 15 scientists calling themselves the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM) has begun to forge a "Life Cycle Assessment" of the environmental performance of wood and alternative...

So happy together: Aging owners and the current economic downturn, plus large cash portfolios and resurgent stock prices, equals mergers. (Consolidation Considerations).(Lennar Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... WITH $824 MILLION IN CASH and an untapped $1 billion revolver, Lennar is cocked and ready to complete the next major acquisition in the home building industry, say Wall Street investment bankers. "Who will they buy? Well, it's no secret all...

Net gainers: HomeSphere buys BuilderWorks and joins forces with BuildTopia and BuilderFinish. (Inside Story).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... DENVER-BASED HOMESPHERE ANNOUNCed Jan. 9 it has worked three separate deals that will provide home builders with a complete front- and back-office software system. The package will wrap either BuildSoft or BuilderWorks, back-office accounting...

Stick-Built heaven: Sales, stock prices, order backlogs, and forecasts are all up for stick-built housing. (Inside Story).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... WITH NATIONAL HOUSING DATA through November of last year confirming the market's resiliency, John Stanley, home building analyst for UBS Warburg, believes that single-family starts, permits, and sales are "on pace for full-year gains to record...

Homestore hell: Once thriving Homestore falls on hard times. (The Straight Dope - The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Last June, Alan Merrill was saying there were only three numbers that mattered when it came to talking about Homestore.com: "We have $500 million in revenues, $400 million in cash on hand, and a market capitalization of $3 billion. When I bring...

Get a grip. (Top Shelf).(Bodygrip router)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THE BODYGRIP 1 3/4 MAX HP ROUTER INCLUDES SOFT-GRIP HANDLES AND an adjustable hook-and-loop strap around the router body to give users more control and comfort. A linear height adjustment system provides precise coarse adjustments within 1/8...

Simply red. (Top Shelf).(glass snifter pendant light from W.A.C. Lighting)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... STOP TRAFFIC IN THE KITCHE. THE GLASS SNIFTER pendant light features a snifter-shaped glass shade surrounding an inner white globe. The pendant measures 8 inches in diameter by 10 1/2-inches long and is available in red, blue, and amber. It can...

Out of pocket. (Top Shelf).
February 1, 2002... UNLIKE TRADITIONAL UNITS, THE SLIDING POCKET DOOR LOCK INSTALLS with a standard 2 1/8-inch lockset boring, which eliminates the need to notch the door and saves about five minutes of installation time. The hardware comes in bright brass,...

Silent light. (Top Shelf).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... UNLIKE FOOTBALL FANS, BATHROOM FANS don't always have to be loud and conspicuous. The Whisper Warm FV-II VHLI fan combines Energy Star-rated ventilation and super-quiet operation with an HVI-certified sound level of I.O. sones. The unit's...

Slap leather. (Top Shelf).
February 1, 2002... NO LONGER RESERVED FOR MOTORCYCLE jackets and hip pants, leather turns these tiles into a fashion statement. Casa Domani tiles are suitable for flooring or wall applications and come in four standard colors; black, cognac, bordeaux, and...

Bubble over. (Top Shelf).
February 1, 2002... AIR PORTALS ALONG THE BOTTOM OF CHAMPAGNE BUBBLER BATH-tubes generate thousands of warm bubbles that envelop the bather. Users can choose from three settings-constant bubble, wave mode, and pulse mode-and a range of speeds. Seven styles are...

How-to better block: The durability of a home built with concrete block depends on close attention to these key details.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... WHO KNEW? AT THE RECENT MEETING OF THE NATIONAL CONCRETE Masonry Association (NCMA) in Baltimore, the guys (and they're pretty much all guys) who make concrete blocks voiced their frustration about selling their time-honored system to home...

Power shift: Ready to hand over control of your development to a homeowners association? Be smart--cover your assets. (Passing the Torch).(tips on management of homeowners' association for a new community)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ONE OF THE BIGGEST LIABILITIES for a developer or home builder is the business of managing the homeowners association for a new community. And in this day and age of rampant construction defect lawsuits, builders must do everything possible...

Root causes: Shifting demographics and lifestyles have created the current dip in housing. (Ask Isaac).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THE SLACKENING DEMAND FOR housing was cast years ago by declining birth rates, a decrease in family formations, changing regional migration patterns, and a liberal immigration policy, not because of the recent terrorist activity. The issue...

Goodman builder program--a formula for success. (2001 Builder's Choice).(Goodman Manufacturing Company L.P.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... We believe Goodman Manufacturing offers the BESTWALUE in the HVAC Industry! Bui1ders agree. We now do business with twenty-four of the, largest twenty-five builders in he U.S. Thirty-nine of the U.S. fifty. And sixty-three of the top 100. ...

Starting strong: Popping permits, rising single-family starts, and surging confidence start the year. (Vital Sings).(house construction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... WHILE FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRman Alan Greenspan did his best last month to warn Americans that the recent economic recovery could yet sour, the housing industry continued to rally as it began the year with steady increases. Warmer than usual...

Energy and environmental advances increasing construction. (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... More durable roof coverings such as steel and fiber-cement reduce the frequency at which a new roof is needed. Windows now have insulating glass and low-E glass to keep homes more comfortable and energy efficient. Vinyl siding and...

Innovative land development and site design characterize green building. (Special Advertising Section).(environmentally friendly housing developments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In addition to the advances in home construction shown in the illustration, one of the most important aspects of green building is its emphasis on making the best possible use of a site and preserving its most important and unique features....

The PATH to the future. (Special Advertising Section).(Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The NAHB Research Center and NAHB are extensively involved in the PATH (Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) program, an industry/government partnership designed to achieve dramatic improvements in housing performance in the coming...

Green building -- The most exciting and significant development in home building in the past three decades--is nothing less than a quiet revolution in the way that new homes and communities are planned and constructed. (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Broadly defined as building new homes in a manner that conserves resources, green building can include numerous elements affecting virtually every aspect of construction. Most often, it involves one or more of the following: * Land...

Green building puts balance sheets in the black. (Special Advertising Section).(Whirlpool sponsors market research report)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The green building trend has been dubbed the "quiet revolution" because its popularity and growth has been based largely on voluntary measures enacted by the building industry all across the country. A combination of rising materials costs,...

Cabinet member. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Designed with early-20th-century styling, the Fairhaven framed cabinet is made from aluminum with classic crown and foot moldings. The beaded door features a 1/2-inch beveled mirror and a chrome oval knob. Each cabinet measures 34 inches by 26...

Composite corners. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Engineered to withstand weather and climate conditions, Royal Wood outside and inside corner trim offers builders and remodelers an easy-to-install alternative wood corner, the company claims. The product is a wood/plastic composite that...

Force fed. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Ingenium is a gravity-fed, siphon-jet toilet flushing system engineered to deliver the performance of a commercialgrade toilet to a residential setting. The force of water dropping from the tank is channeled through rim holes and a...

Extended play. (Products).
February 1, 2002... XTEND reciprocating saw blades feature Micro Edge technology, which is a progressive tooth design combined with a micro-thin kerf. The design affords less drag and resistance than standard saw blades, and the result, the maker says, is a more...

Show stoppers: Here's a sneak peek at some of the hoottest products being unveiled at this year's International Builders' Show. (Products).
February 1, 2002... PSST... WANNA GET A LOOK AT SOME new products before anyone else? We've assembled some of the most promising here for our readers. The rest of the world will have to stomp the 600,000 square feet of the International Builders' Show floor to...

Cold fusion. (Products).
February 1, 2002... The Polara 30-inch refrigerator/range allows home-owners to refrigerate and bake meals all within one unit. Equipped with four programming options, the Polara sets cool and cook start and stop times for up to 24 hours. The compressor, which...

Curved appeal. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Curved radius acrylic block walls, which are available in a variety of arcs and sizes, can be used for room dividers, bar units, showers, and partitions. The product is constructed of 6- or 8-inch acrylic blocks in an angled frame. Shapes...

Stellar stone. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Solar and Stellar Aurora indoor/outdoor porcelain stone tiles are available in two finishes--a slip-resistant outdoor finish and a smoother, easier-to-clean, indoor finish. The tiles may be specified in 12-inch-by-12-inch and 18-inch-by-18-inch...

Tongue and groove. (Products).
February 1, 2002... G-P Plus Plywood Sturd-I-Floor features the APA Quick-Fit tongue and groove design. The plywood also features a fully sanded face that provides a smooth surface for floor coverings. According to the maker, flooring products such as vinyl tile,...

Night light. (Products).
February 1, 2002... As part of the NightScene collection, P5270 path lights are constructed of solid copper and detailed with ribbed glass shades. The lights are designed to add aesthetic appeal to walkways and gardens during evening hours. Circle no. 115.

Adorned door. (Products).
February 1, 2002... This redesigned Weather Shield 1 3/4 inch-thick wood hinged patio door is available in multiple heights up to 10 feet. The door features European-designed. 4-inch hinges for easy installation and adjustments as well as a handle-activated...

Quick fitted. (Products).
February 1, 2002... EasyFit fiberglass insulation batts feature vertical perforations that allow installers to custom fit non-standard-width wall cavities. Instead of cutting the batts with a utility knife, the installer can easily separate them by hand for...

Techno tape. (Products).
February 1, 2002... This digital line tape measures more than 300 feet, which is longer than standard fiberglass tapes, the maker claims. Equipped with a biodegradable line, the tape features a digital readout, memory storage, and a bi-material grip. The product...

Tokyo tub. (Products).
February 1, 2002... The Onzen bath, which is made of gel coat, resembles a Japanese soaking tub. It features a simplistic design and deep soaking well. The tub, which is spacious enough to fully submerge the bather, is available in white as well as a variety of...

Top dog. (Products).
February 1, 2002... According to the manufacturer, this top-handle, worm-drive circular saw is the first of its kind. Model 1678 features a 3-hp, 15-amp motor for unbridled power and smooth cutting. To help improve cut line visibility, the blade is mounted on the...

Quick corner. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Ten miterless corner systems and matching divider blocks are available in a variety of styles including crown Florentine, egg and dart, and dentil garland. Like regular wood millwork, installation entails the use of nails and a millwork...

Powered up. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Featuring Honda's premium II-hp OHV GX engine, the 6,000-watt, DG6000 heavy-duty gas generator is built for contractors and the professional work site. The air intake, choke, and carburetor systems allow for easy starting regardless of air...

Ice blocks. (Products).
February 1, 2002... The company has introduced seven additional IceScapes patterns and sizes to its line of glass block windows. Patterns include square, triangular, hexagonal, and curved designs. According to the firm, each pattern is ideal for zero-lot line...

Wall to wall. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Wall Surfaces, a surfacing product designed for vertical applications in the bathroom, is made from 3-mm acrylic slabs and is similar to Corian. According to the maker, the renewable surface resists mold, mildew, and stains. The company...

Shake it up. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Portsmouth shake vinyl cladding features deep, rustic split cedar grain on its face as well as the area under the profile edge. For durability, reinforced nail slots and perimeter locks, combined with a .1-inch thickness, make the product...

Warm front: Insulated vinyl siding makes a reliable product more beneficial. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... VINYL SIDING ALREADY OFFERS HOME buyers a good-looking, low-maintenance product (which continues to improve), an array of color selections, and rugged nail hems. Recently, several manufacturers have added yet another appealing feature--a foam...

Tough stuff. (Products).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... InsulSiding insulated vinyl siding panels offer an R-value of 4.3 and provide 300 percent more impact resistance than traditional panels. The product comes in a double 4-inch panel or a Dutch lap 4[1/2]-inch panel in 10 colors. Insulated corner...

Back it up. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Polar Wall Plus combines a solid vinyl panel with a foam laminated backing, providing up to 300 percent more rigidity than unreinforced panels. The siding features a 3/4-inch butt, a rolled-over nail hem, and a locking system that withstands...

Solid as a Rock. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... CraneBoard Solid Core siding offers the look of cedar along with 300 percent more impact resistance and 45 percent more noise reduction compared to traditional vinyl siding. The siding offers an R-value of 4 and comes in 18-inch-wide panels....

Window of opportunity: Composite windows pack a high-performance punch. (Products).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... LIKE MANY BUILDING PRODUCT CATEgories, window manufacturers are pumping out composite units that combine great performance and authentic looks. Composite windows boast a balance of materials with low maintenance, moisture resistance, and energy...

Prime time view. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Constructed of 100 percent cellular composite, this PrimeCel window combines the look of a traditional wood window without the rotting, the durability of a composite, and the design flexibility of three different exterior profiles. The window...

The vinyl frontier. (Products).
February 1, 2002... Made of cellular vinyl, this window offers the texture and appearance of pine with the ease of a maintenance-free unit. According to the firm, the unit insulates 50 percent more than wood and 200 percent more than hollow vinyl. The interior...

Composite sketch. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Image composite windows combine a solid vinyl composite sash and an aluminum-clad frame, which allows for easy installation, reliable thermal performance, and low maintenance, says the maker. The windows come with colonial white or driftwood...

Wood look. (Products).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Made with vertical grain Douglas fir on the inside and fiberglass on the outside, WoodClad composite windows offer enhanced durability, thermal performance, and low maintenance, the firm says. Window exteriors feature the look of wood and...

Brown out. (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Though the NAHB appreciates Congress' efforts to address brownfields in legislation passed in mid-December, it is "disappointed that the House and Senate didn't go further." H.R. 2869 will bring modest but not meaningful reform. For...

AARP keynotes. (NAHB Briefs).(National Association of Home Builders of the United States, 2002 Seniors Housing Symposium)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... William D. Novelli, AARP's executive director, will be the keynote speaker for the 2002 Seniors Housing Symposium, "Building for Boomers & Beyond," to be held at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla., May 1-3. The annual symposium,...

Build awareness: It's important to make the public aware of housing's national importance. (From the President).(of National Association of Home Builders of the United States)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 1, 2002... As I WRITE MY FIRST ARTICLE AS the president of the NAHB, I can't help but reflect, especially in these fluid times, about how important housing is to this nation. We in the housing industry realize that housing drives the economy, strengthens...

Cyclical mold broken: What happened to the housing cycle? It's different but not dead. (Seiders Economy).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... HOUSING TYPICALLY HAS BEEN THE most volatile sector of the U.S. economy, leading the overall economy into recessions and losing an inordinate amount of ground during cyclical contractions. The United States fell into recession last March and...

China focus. (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... More than 450 building industry professionals attended the second NAHB International Housing Conference held at the Shanghai International Trade Center. "World Focus on Housing: China," was held in conjunction with the Building Shanghai...

Firefighters awarded: Volunteer firefighters' selfless rescue labors attract generous donations. (Home Builders Care Corner).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... IN NOVEMBER 2001, THE Somerset County Builders Association, the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA), and the NAHB presented eight volunteer fire departments in Somerset County, Pa., each with a $10,000 check. The donations were to...

Add up!. (NAHB Briefs).
February 1, 2002... A new product available from www.builderbooks.com, AccountingPRO, helps home builders set up a series of templates specific to home building that work with the popular accounting software program QuickBooks Pro. AccountingPRO helps...

Steady at the helm: Been there, done that. Gary Garczynski has navigated several business cycles and has experience in nearly every aspect of construction. (The Interview).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO lead you through troubled waters, Gary Garczynski is your man. For the next year, Garczynski will be the NAHB's president and have the task of guiding the association and its members through these uncertain...

Plantation Island: The New American home 2002.
February 1, 2002... THE TRADITION OF INNOVATION Continues with The New American Home 2002: a move-up plantation-style cottage with colorful Caribbean appeal. Inspired by the low-country havens of Georgia, the home is designed to appeal to both move-up families and...

Stone crown. (Product Spotlight).
February 1, 2002... Cultured Stone, a manufactured stone product, was installed in various portions of the home's exterior. The front porch of the house features European castle stone in "chardonnay," while the rear is clad with Watertable molded rock in taupe....

Miles of tiles. (Product Spotlight).
February 1, 2002... Ann Sacks (a division of Kohler) provided a unique set of cast concrete tiles for the kitchon, the secondary entrance, and the laundry room. "The tiles look like wood pickets with limestone inserts," explains builder Michelle Horstemeyer. In...

Burns bright. (Product Spotlight).
February 1, 2002... Heat-N-Glo's Crescent direct-vent fire-replace is featured in the keeping room and master suite. "The Crescent model is actually designed for kitchens," says Rob Stay of Hearth Technologies, parent company of Heat-N-Glo, "but it makes a great...