Builder articles from February 2006

Builder archives from February 2006

Pause for a cause: once again we recognize the builders who inspire us through their charitable endeavors.(Editorial)
February 1, 2006... AS THE BUSINESS PRESS REPORTS ON HOME BUILDING executives taking home some of the biggest salaries in all of American business or buying lavish homes on the coast, it's refreshing to reflect on the achievements of the winners of this year's...

Calendar.(for construction industry)(Calendar)
February 1, 2006... FEBRUARY 14-16 International Roofing Expo, Las Vegas The International Roofing Expo is the must-attend event for commercial, residential, and metal roofing professionals to stay abreast of market directions, trends, and...

Post-hurricane industry aid.(construction industry disaster aid)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Many industry businesses have been helping in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane season: * Ball Homes will donate the proceeds from the January auction of two newly built Kentucky homes to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. * David...

Customer satisfaction: J.D. Power conducts its first satisfaction study of major home appliances.
February 1, 2006... THE GLOBAL MARKETING INFORMATION SERVices Firm J.D. Power and Associates is widely known for its analyses and ranki of automobiles and home builders, but now the Westlake Village, Calif.-based company has turned its sights on major appliances....

The eyes have it.(HOUSE BLEND: TRENDS, TIPS, COOL STUFF)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Looking for land? Six thousand pairs of eyes are better than a dozen. At least, that's the thinking at Horsham, Pa.-based Toll Brothers. Among its employee perks, the big builder offers a bonus incentive for lay staff who scout out prime...

Payment protector.(Department of Housing and Urban Development to pay the mortgages)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... HUD announced in December that it will pay the mortgages of some of the Gulf Coast hurricanes' victims for up to 12 months, as those homeowners return to repair their homes and find jobs. Eligible borrowers must own homes insured by the FHA...

Job training.(by United States. Department of Labor)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Florida started a $6 million program, Florida reBuilds, to train construction workers after a state-wide survey revealed nearly 14,000 job vacancies in the industry. The push to recruit and train carpenters, electricians, and roofers comes as a...

Pricey neighbors.(at Monroe, North Carolina)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Home builders in the Charlotte, N.C., area maintain that a neighborhood design program in Monroe, N.C., that has specific parameters for builders drives up the cost of new housing. The program in Monroe's Winchester community requires every new...

Green paint.(ICI Paints and Larry Porcellato honored)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... ICI Paints (brand name: Glidden) and its CEO, Larry Porcellato, received an "enlightened product" commendation from the New York Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association. The company was lauded for its leadership in the...

Price hike.(by American Woodmark Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... American Woodmark Corp. has announced it will cut staff and raise prices on some products to combat continued weak financial performance. Shares of the Winchester, Va.-based company, which makes the Timberlake line of cabinets, fell 15.5...

Winning application: New Mexico picks up an award for its Web-based permitting system.
February 1, 2006... NEW MEXICO'S ELECTRONIC permitting system has sped up the construction process for thousands of contractors across the state, a success the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies recently recognized by awarding the state's...

Priced out: a suit in Texas tests bow far zoning that hikes prices can go before it breaks fair housing laws.(construction law)
February 1, 2006... WHEN IS A ZONING CHANGE DISCRIMINATORY? The city of Kyle, Texas, 20 miles south of Austin, is about to find out. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), along with the HBA of Greater Austin and the NAHB, filed...

Model reuse.(GOOD DEEDS)
February 1, 2006... After Avatar Properties dismantled the 13 homes in its original model home park in the active adult community Solivita in Poinciana, Fla., it opted to donate all of the materials to Habitat for Humanity's Home Store in Orlando, Fla. The gift...

Ho, ho, hoo-ah!(GOOD DEEDS)
February 1, 2006... Three dozen wounded Marines got to spend the holidays with their families, thanks to an $18,000 donation from the employees of Carlsbad, Calif.-based Barratt American. The funds were raised in just one week and included a matching contribution...

Master planned masterpieces: art reflects history in a sustainable, mixed-use community.(commercial buildings construction)
February 1, 2006... PUBLIC ART MAKES THE LANDSCAPE MORE PLEASing to the eye, but it can also make a telling statement about the shared values of a neighborhood and its residents. In Stapleton, the famed urban redevelopment of the old Denver airport, green ethics...

Job site: a contractors group and a military placement agency create a resource for veterans.(websites launched)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND Contractors (ABC) and the military placement agency Orion International recently launched www.veterans buildamerica.org, a new interactive site that links military veterans with available positions in the construction...

Really extreme makeover.(television advertising)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Iraqi television station Al-Sharqiya has a hit on its hands with Labor and Materials, its version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Of course, it has adapted the concept to match its target audience. Instead of replacing a house for a family...

Mind the gap.(Department of Housing & Urban Development on minimum wage)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... So much for HUD's federal affordability standard, which estimates that housing costs should eat up no more than 30 percent of household income. Using that formula, a worker putting in 40 hours per week at minimum wage cannot currently afford...

Compact is cheaper: researchers attach a dollar cost to sprawl.(economic aspects)
February 1, 2006... URBAN SPRAWL COSTS AMERICANS $34 MILLION a day, according to a new book that reports on a 10-year study into the economic costs of spreading out. Additionally, another new study debunks a common statement that policies to control sprawl drive...

Alluring incentives: some builders are offering discounts, while most regions respond to a softer housing market by holding the line on price increases.(housing development)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... BUILDERS IN THE SACRAMENto, Calif., region are responding to the softer housing market by offering buyers enticing incentives to close deals, a move that industry analysts say could spread to other locations across the country. Greg...

Workers' comp wakeup: an Alabama judge awards an illegal Hispanic 17-year-old benefits for life.(compensation in construction industry)
February 1, 2006... A JUDGE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALA., has ruled that home builder Henry Lambert Construction must pay workers' compensation benefits for life to an illegal Hispanic worker who is now partially paralyzed from a March 2004 fall. He was 17 at the...

Struck down: Texas' high court rules against the state's use of property taxes to fund education.(taxation for schools)
February 1, 2006... LAST NOVEMBER, THE TEXAS SUPREME Court ruled that the state's local property tax system, which pays for about 60 percent of the bill to operate its public schools, amounts to an unconstitutional statewide property tax. It gave the legislature a...

Car wars: an Indiana TND faces facts: drive-through retail is an American tradition.(services)
February 1, 2006... The Village of West Clay, one of the Midwest's most celebrated experiments in New Urbanism, may be proof positive that commercial zones are easier to change than citizen comfort zones. Brenwick Development, creator of the 686-acre...

French connection.
February 1, 2006... THE [ICE.sub.2]O--A 25-CUBIC-FOOT, FRENCH DOOR, BOTTOM-MOUNT refrigerator--brings together the best attributes of side-by-side and top-mount units. It offers full-width shelves, easy access to ice and water, and a design that puts everyday...

Get a grip.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2006... THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THIS NEW NYLON ROOF SHEATHING clip is a dramatic improvement over steel versions because it is faster and easier to install. In fact, the company says, it should save about 1.5 man-hours on a 2,200-square-foot home. The...

Hit the gas.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2006... THE NR90GC GAS-POWERED FRAMING NAILER IS A CORDLESS ALTERNATIVE TO PNEUMATIC VERSIONS, the manufacturer says. Using an interchangeable 7.2-volt nickel-cadmium battery and fuel rod, the tool drives up to two nails per second and over 4,000 nails...

Cut up.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2006... MAKING CUTS IN FIBERGLASS INSULATION REQUIRES SOME SKILL AND A GOOD tool to handle the job. The manufacturer says its new Insul-Knife solves at least the second of these problems. The multi purpose tool looks like a saw but performs like a...

On the level.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2006... ANYTHING TO MAKE WORK EASIER AND MORE ACCURATE IS ALWAYS WELCOME. THE X3 Laser Level does both, the manufacturer says. It has a knob that allows users to move the laser line up and down for precise placement and three bubble vials to ensure a...

Water breaker.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
February 1, 2006... PLUMBING FAILURES AND LEAKS USUALLY happen unexpectedly and can cause severe damage. FloLogic System 3.0, the manufacturer says, uses a flow sensor coupled with a user interface to minimize or prevent the damages caused by such events. The unit...

Make bonus rooms comfy.(services )
February 1, 2006... Q: Some customers complain that their bonus room above the garage is either too hot or too cold. We've started putting in bigger HVAC systems, but the complaints still come in. In very case, the ceiling, the knee walls, and the floor are well...

Alternate elevations.(FIRST DRAFT)
February 1, 2006... Q: I'm building in several communities where I face look-alike ordinances. How can I get enough variety in my elevations to meet the ordinance requirements without having to create additional floor plans? A: THERE ARE SMALLER CHANGES ONE...

Reunion revival: to spur traffic and create local awareness, builders at Reunion in Denver got together for an effective giveaway program.(housing developers)
February 1, 2006... ALONG DENVER'S COMPETITIVE 104TH Avenue corridor, the five builders at Reunion wanted to distinguish the extent of their master plan's amenities among a sea of subdivisions. But instead of matching the deep price discounts offered by...

Spot on: a series of television ads helps D.R. Horton's Austin, Texas, office celebrate 45 years in the market and move 500 homes by the end of the fiscal year.(television advertising)
February 1, 2006... TO COMMEMORATE THE LASTING IMPACT OF FORT WORTH, Texas-based D.R. Horton's 45th anniversary in the Austin market and to spur sales before closing the books on 2005, the builder signed off on a trio of clever television spots. Each ad was...

Remote responses: Bosgraaf Homes applied a higher level of technology to the focus group concept to refine plans and elevations for a new project in a new market.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... FOR A NEW COMMUNITY IN A NEW MARKET, MICHIGAN builder Mike Bosgraaf wanted to up the ante. Gathering representatives from his own company, the architectural firm, the market researcher, and the developer, Bosgraaf teamed with the local office...

A word of warning: federal banking regulators caution lenders of nontraditional mortgages.(banking regulations)
February 1, 2006... AFTER HINTING ABOUT NEW RULES for months, on Dec. 27 federal banking regulators issued proposed guidance about nontraditional mortgages to lenders. The suggested rules--which won't go into effect until a 60-day comment period closes on Feb. 27...

Low volume.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Supress drywall products are engineered to absorb noise in places such as common areas, children's rooms, home theaters, and music rooms. The manufacturer says the product scores and snaps like regular wallboard and is available in standard...

Humidity control.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... The manufacturer says its Humitek gypsum panel is the first moisture- and mold-resistant wallboard that is installed and finished in a traditional manner without the need for skim coating or other steps that require extra labor. Identified by...

Dry goods: Gypsum wallboard manufacturers look to new products and innovations for even more market gain.(building materials)
February 1, 2006... GENERALLY SPEAKING, MARKET DOMination doesn't last for long: At some point, competition eats away share or growth simply slows. Unless you're a gypsum wallboard manufacturer, that is. Though the wallboard industry does not track usage in new...

Stretch out.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Stretch54 gypsum wallboard is almost 6 inches wider than standard 48 1/2-inch gypsum wallboard panels, which makes it much easier to create 9-foot-high walls. Because the board covers more space, installers can hang walls faster and have fewer...

Great wall.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Protecta AR 100 abuse-resistant drywall product features a fiberglass-enhanced, high-density gypsum core and a reinforced, heavy face paper that the manufacturer says guards against impact, indentation, and surface abrasion. Designed for use in...

Armor all.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Unlike traditional wallboard, DensArmor Plus interior panels feature a gypsum core with coated glass-mat facings that provide protection from incidental moisture and resistance to mold growth. The core is also reinforced with inorganic glass...

Premium fakes: synthetic slates and shakes offer performance with the look and Feel of the real thing.(commercial buildings)
February 1, 2006... IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING A TRADITIONAL-looking roofing alternative to asphalt shingle, you might want to check out synthetic products that simulate the appearance and texture of slate and wood shakes. Synthetic slates and shakes are...

Shake down.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Made from a polymer-based composite. Lamarite Shake Composite Shingles mimic natural wood shakes with deep grain patterns. The Class 4 impact-resistant shakes, which come in widths of 5, 7, and 12 inches, are available in two colors with...

Rough impression.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Modeled from actual slate pieces but made of a polymer blend, DaVinci Slate roofing shingles feature a coarse surface with a cleft appearance and rough edges with a layered look. The Class 4 impact-resistant and Class A fire-resistant shingles...

Textured effect.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Featuring variegated textures, edgings, and colorings to provide a more natural appearance, Max Shake polymer-based roofing shingles measure 18 inches wide but give the look of random-width shakes. Exposure lines assist in placing the shakes to...

Tough slate.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
February 1, 2006... Manufactured from a polymer compound using impact modifiers, Dura Slate roofing tiles look like slate, but install easily without the structural requirements of slate. Dura Slate will not dent, chip, or spall, the maker says, and it offers UL...

Pulte's big play: new deal solidifies the big builder's status as the leader in offering bundled services to home buyers.(technology in hosuing development)
February 1, 2006... BY SIGNING A MARKETING AGREEment with BellSouth last fall, Pulte Homes now has contracts in place that let the builder offer bundled communications packages to its home buyers across the nation. Pulte builds in 28 states and more than 50...

Digital switch.(home owners preference)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... A report commissioned by Lennar Communications Ventures, a division of Lennar Corp., found that 47 percent of Lennar's new homeowners switched their Internet service provider when they moved, as opposed to the 21 percent of the general public...

Upgraded panel.(DIGITAL HOME: SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW HOMES)
February 1, 2006... Eaton Corp. has revamped its Cutler-Hammer structured wiring panel to accommodate new digital technologies such as home networks and digital audio. The old, 6-inch panels have been replaced by 12-inch panels that offer the extra space needed...

Crestron's sweet music: noted home-control vendor targets production home builders.(audio services)
February 1, 2006... MUSICIANS KNOW THAT ADAGIO MEANS to play music at a slow, leisurely pace. Well, that's the concept behind Crestron Electronics' Adagio program, which looks to start home buyers off with an affordable distributed audio system and then add...

Good accounts.(office suite from Sage Software Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Sage Software has a new version of its Sage Timberline Office suite that has at least three features that will attract builders. First, builders can now launch specific tasks such as general ledger, cash management, and payroll without having...

3-D Adobe.(Adobe Systems Inc. introduces Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0)
February 1, 2006... Adobe, best known for its portable document format (PDF), the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, and popular programs such as Adobe Photoshop, is now shipping a 3-D version of Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0. The software lets builders convert CAD files...

See it now: a new visual tool lets home buyers make selections online in 3-D.(building software)
February 1, 2006... FOR YEARS, HOME BUILDERS HAVE BEEN LOOKing for a reliable software tool that would let home buyers view home plans and models and select options in 3-D and then integrate with a builder's back-office system. BuilderMT, which partners with...

Easy draw: the new VectorWorks requires much less manual rekeying than earlier versions.(builder's hardware)
February 1, 2006... HERE'S WHAT BUILDERS NEED TO KNOW about VectorWorks Architect Version 12, the latest release from Nemetschek North America: 3-D modeling requires much less manual work, the design objects are easier to manipulate, and the rendering features let...

Buy the book.(services)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... BuilderBooks.com, the NAHB's bookstore, has recently published a new book, Warranties for Builders and Remodelers, and new editions of two other books, Estimating Home Construction Costs and Home Builder Contracts & Construction Management...

No hill of beans: as the 109th Congress enters its second session, the NAHB is ready to work on certain important issues.(regulations in construction industry)
February 1, 2006... ONE OF THE NAHB's MOST IMPORTANT REsponsibilities is protecting its members' interests when laws are enacted and policy is set. To this end, we will focus our energy on several legislative priorities as the second session of the 109th Congress...

Forecast: Sunny: the NAHB's newest long-term outlook shows a record level for housing production through 2014.(SEIDERS ECONOMY)
February 1, 2006... THE PERFORMANCE OF HOUSING MARKETS IN THE short term is heavily influenced by economic and financial market factors that drive housing demand upward or downward over the course of business cycles. But over the long term, the average level of...

Get the lead out.(regulations in construction industry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... In late December the EPA proposed a new rule governing lead-based paint in the remodeling industry. The rule, which applies to contractors working in homes built before 1978, changes practices regarding training, licensing, and insurance, the...

Seal of approval: the Research Center's new certification program for OSB products is based on ISO 9000 principles.(THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER CORNER)
February 1, 2006... AT LAST MONTH'S INTERNAtional Builders' Show, the NAHB Research Center announced the rollout of its new Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Product Certification Program. An extension of the Research Center's existing building product testing and...

Back to school.(National Association of Home Builders of the United States)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Throughout the month of February, the NAHB's University of Housing is offering incentives to affiliated HBAs to conduct continuing education classes that count toward an NAHB professional designation. Find out more by visiting www.nahb.org...

Car pool.(from General Motors Corp. to General Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Through Jan. 3, 2007, NAHB members can buy or lease a new 2005, 2006, or 2007 model-year GM auto and receive a $500 rebate. All GM brands--Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn--are included in the offer, but not...

Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities.(reports)
February 1, 2006... Dramatic Details Wellington Villas at Worman's Mill, Frederick, Md. WHY IT WORKED: Empty-nesters love the dramatic interior spaces, the first-floor master suites, and an innovative front elevation, not to mention zero exterior...

Second nature: four custom dwellings take their design cues from Mother Earth and feel right at home in their surroundings.
February 1, 2006... IT'S ONE THING TO TAKE AN OFF-THE-shelf floor plan and plug it into 'Anywhere, U.S.A." It's quite another to walk a parcel of land, take in the topography, vegetation, wildlife, and weather and then craft a unique dwelling for a singular spot....

SafeGuard[TM] your home against the elements ... and remain calm before and after the storm.(BEST OF SHOW PRODUCT: Silver Line Windows)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2006... The SafeGuard[TM] Impact Resistant product line is designed specially for coastal areas, and offers superior protection from high velocity wind and airborne debris resulting from hurricanes and tropical storms. Specifically engineered to guard...

Hometown heroes: this year's winners prove you don't have to stray from your backyard to make a difference.(services)
February 1, 2006... SOME PEOPLE MAKE IT A POINT TO AVOID their high school reunions, but not this year's winners. Amid countless other charitable and business obligations, both Ralph Drees and David Showers remain involved with their hometown alma maters, leading...

Untangling the trade mess: import taxes on Canadian softwood raise the price by 20 percent. Do U.S. sawmills really need the protection?(price and rates of building materials)
February 1, 2006... IN 2004, CANADIAN COMPANIES EARNED about $5.7 billion (U.S.) selling softwood into the United States. American consumers of framing lumber and wood siding spent about $7 billion to purchase that same lumber. The difference, approximately $1.3...

Mixed reception: Sprint Nextel may have a considerable base of home builders to work with, but the new, merged company will have to stay sharp if it wants to keep builders in the fold.
February 1, 2006... A FEW YEARS AGO, IT WAS just about a given that Nextel had the home builder communications market locked up. The company was such a profound force in the industry that every year at the International Builders' Show, attendees would complain...

Trimline ridge vents lead to profitability for users: fast installation, good looks and proven performance.(vents)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2006... 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...

Basic training: since 1941, the U.S. Navy Seabees have been a training ground for builders.
February 1, 2006... THE COMMERCIAL ICE PLANT arrived ready to assemble in Chu Lai. Vietnam. from Japan in the summer of" 1968 with virtually no instructions, but that had never stopped U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 8 before. The plant would churn out...

What's new on Builder online: find a job, list a job.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... AS THE HOUSING MARKET COOLS DOWN HEADING INTO 2006, it's more important than ever for builders to find qualified applicants to fill open job positions. A new feature on BUILDER Online makes it easier to do just that--and for job seekers to find...

Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers.
February 1, 2006... Attractive Brick Facade An abundance of windows and an attractive brick facade enhance the exterior of this traditional two-story home. Inside, a study and formal dining room flank the two-story foyer. Fireplaces warm both the great room...

Landscaping, decking, and room enclosures.(building materials)
February 1, 2006... A HOME'S EXTERIOR BEAUTY IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR OWNERS AND BUYERS ALIKE. FOR BUYERS, A HOME'S EXTERNAL APPEAL CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE PURCHASING DECISION. AND EXISTING OWNERS ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THE BEAUTY OF THEIR PROPERTY...

Queen Anne Hill, Seattle.(WALK THROUGH)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... FOR MANY OF US, A MIND'S EYE PICTURE OF SEATTLE IS A panoramic shot that includes the Space Needle, framed by skyscrapers, with marvelous Mount Rainier in the distance. If captured by camera, that picture would be taken from Queen Anne Hill,...