Builder articles from February 2004

Builder archives from February 2004

Image is everything: the best new-home communities evoke a refreshing image.(Editor's Notes)(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... EVERY YEAR, AS I SIT THROUGH THE COLOSSALLY INSPIRING slide show that is the National Sales and Marketing Awards, I'm struck by the same thing-how often houses don't even appear in the best advertising and marketing material. Instead, you...

Calendar.(Book It)(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... FEBRUARY 16-20 World of Concrete 2004, Orlando, Fla. Experience the energy and innovation of 60,000 industry professionals and 1,500 exhibiting companies. Contact: 866-962-7469 or www.worldofconcrete.com. 17-19 A/E/C...

Myths and mortgages.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I AM AMAZED THAT THE BUILDING community has not seen the connection between the mythology of homeownership and wealth-building in America and the current housing crisis. It would seem that the myth of owning one's own home--as laudable a goal...

Family love.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... ALISON RICE'S "FAMILY VALUES" FEATURE (November, page 140) touched on some pertinent reasons that explained why it is a pure joy to work for builders such as The Drees Co. A great part of the "honesty and integrity" resides in how...

Fine job.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SUCH A fine article on our community ("Betting the Ranch," December, page 76). My phone has been ringing off the hook from friends back in Phoenix wondering, "Is that you?" You certainly captured the essence of Rancho...

Callback.(B Mail)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2004... THE CORRECT TITLE OF SARAH SUSANKA'S book is Home by Design: Transforming Your House into Home.

Snob appeal: new Illinois law gives builders a second chance to win approval for affordable projects rejected by local officials.(Affordable Alternative)
February 1, 2004... SHELDON BASKIN KNEW WHAT HE WANTED to build on the site of an old convent. The Chicago-area builder and developer planned to rehab the convent structure, converting it into a mix of affordable, market-rate, and elderly housing for buyers and...

Forest fight.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A recent report by the American Lands Alliance questions the environmental legitimacy of the American Forest & Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The report documents "glaring differences between what the timber industry...

A woman's touch.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A recent survey of 5,486 prospective buyers by American Home Guides found that more than 60 percent of the survey's respondents were women, 73 percent of whom were under 45 years old. The survey says the typical online home buyer is a 26-to...

Holiday shopping.(Big Deals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Builders kept their New Year's resolutions to grow with a handful of holiday acquisitions. KB Home now builds in South Carolina, thanks to the purchase of Palmetto Traditional Homes, which closed 570 homes for $90 million in 2003. Standard...

Light years.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(GE Global Research )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... GE Global Research says that its breakthrough in a new lighting technology has the potential to be more energy efficient and to revolutionize lighting design, while producing the same performance as traditional light sources. The new technology...

High Life.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Here's what $22 million will get you at 1435 N. Astor St. on Chicago's historic Gold Coast: a fully renovated 20,000-square-foot, 20-plus-room, 19th-century mansion with 13 fireplaces, a sky-lit ballroom, and a garden-level spa featuring a...

Gypsum knockoff?(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific filed a patent infringement lawsuit on Sept. 25 of last year in Delaware, alleging that a British-owned company, BPB America, illegally "borrows" patented technology used in the company's "Dens" line of interior...

Vinyl analysis: do Chinese components threaten the vinyl window industry?(Import War)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL MANUFACTURERS Association (AAMA) and the Vinyl Institute are concerned that the recent influx of low-priced Chinese window components threatens to disrupt the U.S. vinyl window market. (China does not send fully...

House hunt: GPS modernizes house shopping.(Editor's Internet Pick)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... TWO FORMER REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS HAVE found a way to use satellite global positioning system (GPS) technology to take house hunting one step further. The system, Smarter Agent, uses the Internet and the location technology of a cell phone or...

All-star salute.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Naval Facilities Engineering Command was one of five winners of the EPRs 2003 National Smart Growth Achievement Awards. The EPA recognized the Village at Naval Training Center, a San Diego community that reuses a portion of a decommissioned...

Success story.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Timothy Eller, president and COO of Centex Corp., will take top spot at the Dallas-based construction giant this spring. The company announced in January that chairman and CE0 Laurence Hirsch would retire March 31, Centex's fiscal year end....

Bay program ripples: a joint program aims to curb pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.(Watershed Plan)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE BUILDERS FOR THE BAY PROGRAM, WHICH will bring together environmental scientists, public officials, and builders for a series of i2 site-planning roundtables in Chesapeake Bay watershed communities, is making some headway. The program,...

Instant castle: this affordable stone wall covering allows clients to indulge their gothic fantasies.(Cost Cutter)( Modulo)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... MAYBE THE FRENCH ARE STILL TRYING TO get even for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's snide comments about Old Europe's irrelevance. They know that we upstart colonists in the States are fascinated with 300-year-old, stone-clad homes found...

Stormy weather: new stormwater regulations in New Jersey are seen as a back door for Gov. James E. McGreevey to enact anti-development policies.(Environmental Regulations)
February 1, 2004... BUILDERS IN NEW JERSEY MAY NEVER see eye to eye with Gov. James E. McGreevey. The latest round of the industry's ongoing battle over development issues with the administration started in January when the state's Department of Environmental...

Power of association: public builders establish group to tell their business story.(Inside Story)
February 1, 2004... IN A BID TO SHAKE THEIR CYCLICAL REPUTATION, a handful of public builders have revived a nonprofit group initially established in 2000--the Public Home Building Council of America (PHBCA)--with a broader membership and message. Thirteen...

Variety show: in Springville, Utah, a new zoning code has builders counting to 10.(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... "The same floor plan and elevation may not be used within any grouping of 10 lots as illustrated below." Those 19 words in a 192-page document are causing some consternation in Springville, Utah, which last summer adopted a new zoning code....

Let's danze.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... IT'S HARD TO FIND A STYLISH FAUCET AT A REASONABLE PRICE POINT. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS, however, that its new line of faucets offers fresh designs, a variety of finishes, and attractive prices. This sleek, wall-mount pot finer is made from brass...

Fold tight.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... IF YOU HAVE EVER TRIED STORING YOUR CAULKING GUN in a toolbox, yon know that it is nearly impossible to do--unless you have this folding gun. The gun features a trigger that collapses so it stores easily, even in a standard toolbox. Made from...

Deep impact.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU need a little more, this deep saddle box offers an additional 4 cubic feet of storage over standard-sized boxes. Dual gas springs and a one-touch latch system allow the cover to be opened with one hand. Designed to be...

Glass house.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... IF YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE STATUS quo, then ceramic tile is a tried and true product that meets most demands. If you want to add a little shimmy to your shacks, however, glass is a perfect choice. Haiku tiles feature subtle textures and patterns...

Flex time.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... REPETITIVE FLOOR AND OVERHEAD FASTENING CAN BE A pain in the neck--or the back or the knees. While there are products that can make either one of those jobs easier, the SD2500 is flexible enough to do both. The tool can be used alone for floor...

Pump it up.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... CONSTRUCTED OF CAST IRON, THE BISP50 SUMP PUMP SYSTEM serves as a home's primary and backup system. The unit's controller manages all the power requirements, communication, and control needs of the system. A remote display unit can be mounted...

Watching WaMu: a major mortgage lender says business is down and cuts thousands of jobs.(Vital Signs)(Washington Mutual)
February 1, 2004... WHEN WASHINGTON MUTUAL, the country's second largest mortgage lender, cut its earnings projections for 2003 and 2004, the news sent stocks down for home builders and mortgage banks alike. Did the December announcement from Wampum, as the...

Window wares: product advances and improved performance make vinyl windows a sizzling item.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
February 1, 2004... OF ALL THE WINDOW MATERIALS available on the market, vinyl is the hottest. Vinyl was typically considered a material for the renovation and remodeling market, but that is no longer the case. "The vinyl window market continues to grow,...

Bionic wood: no longer a basic panel, OSB offers builders specialized solutions.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)(Oriented Strand Board)
February 1, 2004... DESPITE RECENT PRICE FLUCTUAtions, oriented strand board (OSB) is on a great run. The numbers don't lie: North American OSB production in 1980 was 751 million square feet per year; as of year ending 2002, the number has grown to 22 billion...

Look ahead.(NAHB Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders Research Foundation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Coming off one of the housing market's best years in history in 2003, the nation's home builders expect to stay just as busy this year as rock-solid market fundamentals continue to bolster demand for new homes and apartments nationwide. ...

Plan of action: the NAHB will this year rededicate itself to meeting the housing needs of America's families.(From The President)(National Association of Home Builders)
February 1, 2004... WITH ITS HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING AND a homeownership rate of more than 68 percent, the United States is unquestionably the best-housed nation on earth. But even though our nation has made great progress over the past five decades in attaining...

The producers: the productivity-driven economic expansion is good for housing.(Seiders Economyas)
February 1, 2004... THE CURRENT ECONOMIC RECOVERY OFFICIALLY began in November 200l, and the recovery process has involved respectable growth in economic output (real GDP). But the recovery has had some deeply troubling aspects as well, with widely different...

Back again.(NAHB Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders Research Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Texas Gov. Rick Perry has reappointed former NAHB president Kent Conine to the Governing Board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). The agency provides a range of financial and educational resources to help develop...

Design trends.(NAHB Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders Research Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Based on interviews with builders and architects, the NAHB projects a number of interesting design trends in new homes over the coming year. For example: Buyers of new homes are demanding large kitchens adjacent to family rooms, with the...

Home win: the 2004 EVHA winners offer innovation and insight.(The NAHB Research Center Corner)(Energy Value Housing Awards)
February 1, 2004... EACH YEAR, THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER hosts the Energy Value Housing Awards (EVHA) dinner ceremony at the International Builders' Show. The EVHA program honors builders who voluntarily integrate energy efficiency into the design, construction,...

Fed report.(NAHB Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders Research Foundation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The NAHB has questioned a study by Wayne Passmore, a staff member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, on the implicit subsidy and value of housing-related, government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). "Like many...

The right address.(Hot seller: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Eton Street Station, Birmingham, Mich. WHY IT WORKED: Creative development in the heart of an older, high-status suburb promises "old-fashioned downtown living" in up-to-date new homes. * Low-maintenance townhomes in a high-status...

You're the top.(Hot seller: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Peaks, Coronado Ranch, Las Vegas. WHY IT WORKED: Low price point, multiple floor plans, and desert amenities are attracting first-time buyers to this high-density, mini--master planned community in fast-growing southwest Las Vegas. ...

Gates are great.(Hot seller: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Pinecrest, Seven Oaks, Pasco County, Fla. WHY IT WORKED: Gated community in fast-growing area north of Tampa, Fla., is attracting move-up buyers from across the county line to lower tax Pasco County. * Development north of Tampa is...

Local color: five custom projects show the range of architectural styles--from craftsman to cottage to carpenter gothic--that are right at home anywhere in the United States.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... THE LAST 20 YEARS HAVE SEEN THE LINES BLUR somewhat when it comes to regional architectural styles. Home buyers are as likely to purchase a Spanish-style stucco home in southern Florida as they are in southern Illinois. But here's a look at...

Modern masters: all of these talented artisans have allowed their artistic muse the freedom to make them successful.
February 1, 2004... IS THE AGE OF THE artist-craftsman coming to an end? Maybe not, judging by the skill and passion of these seven talented and successful artisans. They share many traits in common--their passion about their work, their insistence on perfection,...

Builders with a cause: Hearthstone winners work for affordable housing and builder education.
February 1, 2004... AS HOME PRICES HAVE SOARED, AFFORDABLE housing has become a hot topic. But no one has to sell the recipients of this year's Hearthstone BUILDER Lifetime Public Service Awards on the need for reasonably priced shelter. For years, David K....

Full out: the Nationals winners give it everything they've got to wow prospective buyers.(National Association of Home Builders of the United States)
February 1, 2004... HOME BUYERS WANT IT ALL--A GREAT LOCATION, wonderful floor plans, a sense of neighborhood and belonging, and a flail array of amenities and upgrades. In an attractive market for financing, buyers generally have been willing to pay for a higher...

Service tech: an integrated software solution helps Hawaii builder sharpen customer service.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
February 1, 2004... IT'S FINE FOR BUILDERS TO DEPLOY TECHNOLOgy to help them plan for when the market slows down in a year or two. But what about technology that lets builders work more efficiently through the boom? Larry Abney, director of construction at...

Homework.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Echelon Corp. is making some headway in the residential sector with its automated LonWorks platform. Until now, LonWorks has mostly been deployed in commercial buildings and some multifamily projects. Through an arrangement with heating and...

Enhanced vector.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Nemetschek North America, makers of CAD software VectorWorks, has released an upgraded 10.5.1 version of its entire VectorWorks product line. The new version promises improvements in speed and stability and is compatible with Apple's latest...

Web progress: survey shows that builders are using Web applications for more than just marketing brochures.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INDUSTRY IS NOtorious for being a technology backwater, but a recent BUILDER survey on sales automation software indicates that the tide may be turning. Roughly 90 percent of those surveyed say their sales centers...

Price cut.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... An increase in sales volume has made it possible for Home Automation Inc. to reduce the price of its Omni Console keypad by 15 percent to $141. The new console it introduced at the International Builders' Show last month features an updated...

All in one.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Builder Management Technology has released a version of its scheduling product that integrates with Timberline's accounts payable and job costing applications. The product is geared for smaller builders who don't need BuilderMT's full Office...

Linux saves big money: Maronda Homes uses Linux to save thousands of dollars in desktop license fees and server maintenance costs.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
February 1, 2004... MARONDA HOMES MADE A TECHNOLOGY decision few builders would ever dare make: The home builder bet its computing future on Linux. For the uninitiated, Linux is an alternative operating system commonly referred to as "open source" that's...

Security alert! The constant threat of worms, viruses, and spyware hacks has builders wondering where to turn. Start your security program by following these eight steps.
February 1, 2004... IF YOU THINK A TROJAN HORSE IS THE mascot of the University of Southern California's football team or Klez is Jewish folk music, it's time to focus on information technology (IT) security. Builders are not immune to the threats posed by the...

What's new on Builder Online: Builder business update.(Missing Links)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ANOTHER BUILDERS' SHOW IS BEHIND us--but the home building news, new products, and industry announcements will continue to come fast and furious in 2004. You can keep track of the important developments in home building-with our free, newly...

Country emphasis.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Twin matching gables set behind the wraparound porch of this three-bedroom home emphasize its country feel. A formal dining room and a study open to the foyer from the left and right. A hearth-warmed family room sits directly ahead from the...

Pampering master bath.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400002 FIRST FLOOR: 947 sq. ft. SECOND FLOOR: 981 sq. ft. TOTAL: 1,928 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 4 BATHS: 2 1/2 DIMENSIONS: 41'-0" x 39'-4" FOUNDATION: Crawlspace, Basement PRICE CODE: B [ILLUSTRATION...

Compact country.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400003 FIRST FLOOR: 603 sq. ft. SECOND FLOOR: 694 sq. ft. TOTAL: 1,297 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 3 BATHS: DIMENSIONS: 42'-0" x 43'-0" PRICE CORE: C [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sunny breakfast nook.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400004 FIRST FLOOR: 1,650 sq. ft. SECOND FLOOR: 1,038 sq. ft. TOTAL: 2,688 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 4 BATHS: 3 1/2 DIMENSIONS: 50'-0" x 60'-0" PRICE CODE: D [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Simply perfect.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400005 FIRST FLOOR: 747 sq. ft. SECOND FLOOR: 752 sq. ft. TOTAL: 1,499 sq. ft. BONUS SPACE: 251 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 3 BATHS: 2 1/2 DIMENSIONS: 41'-8" x 42'-4" PRICE CODE: C [ILLUSTRATION...

Vaulted family room.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400006 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,769 BEDROOMS: 3 BATHS: 2 DIMENSIONS: 62'-0" x 51'-8" FOUNDATION: Crawlspace, Basement PRICE CODE: B [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Galley kitchen.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400007 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,486 BONUS SPACE: 341 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 3 BATHS: 2 DIMENSIONS: 52'-3" x 46'-I0" PRICE CODE: B [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Cathedral ceiling.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400008 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,660 BONUS SPACE: 374 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 3 BATHS: 2 DIMENSIONS: 65'-4" x 48'-8" PRICE CODE: C

Bedroom/office option.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400009 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,161 BONUS SPACE: 279 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 4 BATHS: 3 DIMENSIONS: 57'-0" x 66'-0" FOUNDATION: Crawlspace, Basement PRICE CODE: C

Fine four-bedroom plan.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400010 FIRST FLOOR: 2,047 sq. ft. SECOND FLOOR: 540 sq. ft. TOTAL: 2,587 sq. ft. BONUS SPACE: 278 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 4 BATHS: 3 DIMENSIONS: 60'-0" x 56'-0" FOUNDATION: Crawlspace, Basement ...

Star power.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400011 FIRST FLOOR: 1,297 sq. ft. SECOND FLOOR: 558 sq. ft. TOTAL: 1,855 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 4 BATHS: 2 1/2 DIMENSIONS: 52'-0" x 45'-4" PRICE CODE: B

Well-planned interior.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400012 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,996 BONUS SPACE: 258 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 4 BATHS: 3 DIMENSIONS: 60'-0" x 47'-6" FOUNDATION: Crawlspace, Basement PRICE CODE: B

Imperial facade.(Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAN: HWB4400013 FIRST FLOOR: 2,112 sq. ft. SECOND FLOOR: 982 sq. ft. TOTAL: 3,094 sq. ft. BEDROOMS: 4 BATHS: 3 1/2 DIMENSIONS: 67'-1" x 65'-10" PRICE CODE: SQI

Old Floresta, Boca Raton, Fla.(Walk Through)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... IN 1925, AFTER HELPING TURN PALM BEACH INTO A PLAYGROUND for high society, architect Addison Mizner set his sights on tiny Boca Raton. There, he planned to create a resort community from scratch, complete with golf courses, polo grounds,...