Builder articles from January 2004

Builder archives from January 2004

All in the family: our latest show home explores what today's families value in a new home.(Editor's Notes)(Column)
January 1, 2004... WE'VE BURNED UP QUITE A FEW PAGES OVER the years trying to convince you to build homes for non-traditional households--emptynesters, singles, double-income professionals. The compelling evidence that we've always presented is that only 25...

Downsize matters.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... I APPRECIATE THE BIT ON "DOWNSIZING" appliances ("Small World," December, page 82). But a major issue goes unmentioned. The manufacturers you report on are all very expensive. When will U.S. appliance makers realize there is an ever growing...

OSB standards.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... "DEFECTIVE THINKING" (SEPTEMBER, page 136) does a great job of highlighting many of today's construction foibles. Our staff concurs with Alan Mooney and Stan Luhr regarding foundations, ventilation, sheathing installation, and moisture...

Calendar.(Book It)(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... JANUARY 8-10 Cal Spas Expo, Ontario, Calif. More than 600 products from more than 50 vendors will be on display, giving remodelers and builders the chance to see what's available in the home resort product category. Contact:...

Money talks! Builders spent $1 million in some local elections last November, backed it up with organizational know-how, and produced some significant wins.(Political Action)
January 1, 2004... BUILDERS HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF their local political establishments for years, so hearing about builders flexing their political muscle is nothing new, right? Not really. But what's changed is builders' willingness to write...

Family room.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Families in central Florida just found it a little easier to buy a house with room for Grandma. This fall, CTX Mortgage (a Centex Corp. subsidiary) and Fannie Mae introduced "Seniors and Family Together," a pilot program that allows buyers to...

Get listed.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)
January 1, 2004... If you're a production builder, we want to hear from you for our annual BUILDER 100 and "next 100" lists. To request a form, contact Loretta Williams at 202-736-3455 or lwilliams@ hanleywood.com. Surveys are due Feb. 6.

Paradise lost. (land consumption by housing in Massachusetts).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A report by the Massachusetts Audubon Society concludes that residential development represents a growing proportion of land consumption in the state, even though the state has seen little or no growth in single-family housing starts. Between...

Public growth.(Big Deals)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Hovnanian Enterprises just keeps growing its portfolio of builders. In November, the N.J.-based public builder purchased the assets of Windward Homes, a Tampa, Fla., builder that delivered 663 homes for $95 million in revenue in 2002. Terms...

Expansion plans.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Big builder D.R. Horton expects to get even bigger. The Arlington, Texas-based company currently operates in 20 states and 47 markets, but in 2004, it wants to expand to Baltimore; Tampa, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; Bend, Ore.; and McAllen,...

Brain drain.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A recent study by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce found that 50 percent of students graduating college typically leave the state. One of the biggest reasons: They can't afford housing. Between 1990 and 2000, the greater Boston area lost...

Storm surge.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The Blackout of 2003 and Hurricane Isabel's wrath have homeowners looking to get gas-powered generators installed in their new homes. "Residential sales were good even before the blackout," says Mike Carr, manager of marketing communications at...

Defects showdown: construction quality gets scrutinized by the consumer press.(Consumer Reports)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... AT PRESS TIME, CONSUMER Reports magazine, published by Consumers Union (CU), weighed in on the subject of new-home defects with an investigative report in its January issue alleging that as many as 15 percent of new homes built each year have...

Easy does it: John Laing Homes' Web site offers simple--and charming--navigation.(Editor's Internet Pick)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MOST WEB SITE INTROS ARE FLASHY SONG-and-dance numbers that slow down access and frustrate browsers. That's definitely not the case with John Laing Homes' charming introduction, which features simple line drawings of homelike scenes--a cat and...

Village honored.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Times couldn't be better for Village Homes. The Littleton, Colo., company was recently named Builder of the Year by the Colorado Association of Home Builders (CAHB). Village was selected based on its innovative marketing, new product creation,...

Pockets of poverty.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In Durham, N.C., city officials have passed a new-housing impact policy intended to limit the number of new, subsidized units built in poorer areas of the city. They argue that subsidized housing should not be allowed to exceed 25 percent of...

Pressure points: new online tool helps select windows for coastal projects.(Window Works)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... BAYPORT, MINN. -- BASED ANDERSEN WINDOWS SAYS its new Web-based tool will help builders easily find windows and doors that satisfy building code requirements in coastal areas. The tool will be beneficial to builders who have questions but don't...

Measuring moisture: a new study looks at how insulation affects water buildup on basement walls.(Basement Drip)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE CONSORTIUM FOR Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB), part of the DOE's Building America Program, teamed up with Steven Winter Associates, a Norwalk, Conn.--based consulting firm, to look at moisture movement inside...

Crime costs. (US construction sites).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Associated General Contractors of America estimate that theft and vandalism at construction sites total $1 billion every year. According to the NAHB, these losses--many of which go unreported for fear...

Smart growth. (US redevelopment).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The EPA awarded a total of $400,000 in grants to five communities to integrate smart-growth concepts into their local redevelopment efforts. The group, selected from 35 applicants, comprises Allegan, Mich.; Toledo, Ohio; Lancaster County, Pa.;...

Big money: foundation earmarks $50 million to preserve affordable apartments. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation).(Reasonable Rentals)
January 1, 2004... AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN A STEP-child in housing lately, as everyone chases affluent "renters by choice" and would-be homeowners. An initiative recently announced by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation aims to change that....

Web savvy: manufacturers eye virtual showrooms for home buyers and builders.(Virtually There)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE TECH BOOM MAY HAVE GONE BUST, BUT THE reality is that three out of four home buyers use the Web for their purchase. That's why more manufacturers are launching Web-based tools, virtual showrooms, and online catalogs for builders and buyers....

Forced to file? (required incorporation of Florida independent contractors).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... In July, the state of Florida will begin requiring all independent contractors who work in construction to incorporate--or lose their workers' comp exemption. Critics complain about the cost and paperwork involved in filing for corporate...

Stuck in the middle. (median income individuals cannot afford median-priced homes in several US markets).(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Economy.com recently reported that households earning the regional median income cannot afford a median-priced home in 34 of the nation's metropolitan areas. It is especially bad for buyers in California, Boston, New York, Miami, and...

Builders sound off: the latest industry issues survey suggests that insurance woes reach from sea to shining sea.(What Matters Most?)
January 1, 2004... IT'S ENCOURAGING TO DISCOVER THAT THE SAME topics that have worried builders most in the past year have been the ones BUILDER has covered most thoroughly. The NAHB's annual Critical Issues Survey, recently published, shows that defect lawsuits,...

Creative recycling: abandoned shipping containers get new life as live/work housing units.(Inventive Infill)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE GROWING TRADE DEFICIT DOESN'T JUST mean fewer exports of U.S.--made goods; it translates into a huge surplus of shipping containers left at domestic ports. Last year alone, close to a million containers piled up at New Jersey's...

Cause for alarm: millions of old homes may contain asbestos-laced insulation. Discovering it too late can spell disaster for both you and your clients.(Asbestos Warning)
January 1, 2004... A HIGH-STAKES LEGAL STALEMATE has created new health and liability risks for remodelers and infill builders who depend on teardowns to acquire lots. Lawsuits filed against W.R. Grace & Co. have asked that the company provide various...

Opening doors: Fortune Brands buys ThermaTru for $925 million.(Inside Story)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... IN A DEAL EXPECTED TO OPEN DOORS FOR both companies, Fortune Brands snapped up privately held Therma-Tru in November, paying $925 million for the Maumee, Ohio-based door manufacturer. Although slightly pricey compared with other Fortune buys,...

Pointing fingers: how did the nation get into this affordable housing mess?(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A war of words has hit the streets, as builders, lawyers, and housing advocates try to identify the root causes of the housing affordability crisis. One take on the problem points to defect lawsuits. A recent report by The Philadelphia Inquirer...

Sound off.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2004... THE SERIES 3400 QUAD-HUNG ACOUSTIC WINDOW keeps the noise out, says the manufacturer. It is designed with four sashes, multiple chambers, and thick fusion-welded vinyl frames that the company claims help to give the window high thermal...

Dream cast.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2004... DESIGNED FOR A CHILD'S ROOM, THE DREAMZPIRE BUILD-A-LIGHT allows buyers to upgrade the fixture as time goes on, so it can be changed as the child grows older. The three-in-one product consists of a central unit that serves as a regular light, a...

Pure air.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2004... A CLEAN WORK ENVIRONMENT IS A HEALTHY ONE, and you get both with the AP100 Shop Master air purifier. Designed to reduce health concerns associated with wood dust, the purifier moves air at 450 cubic feet per minute and uses a two-stage...

Local color.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2004... VETROSHAPE COLORED GLASS BLOCK ADDS A LITTLE pizzazz to an otherwise plain product. The 7 1/2-inch-square blocks measure 3 inches wide and come in a linear or curved end block or a corner block. The blocks are available in 10 colors including...

Hold fast.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2004... IF YOU USE DELTA MS AND DELTA DRAIN FOUNDATION waterproofing, the new Fast'ners will make life a little easier. The 2 1/2-inch-square plastic product incorporates the same dimple patterns that interlock with the wall membrane. The bright color...

Grate expectations.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2004... GRATE ACCENTS, A MULTI-PART REGISTER SYSTEM, offers health and design benefits to home buyers. The system includes snap-in interchangeable face plates that come in a wide variety of colors and finishes and allow home buyers to match any decor....

Catawba[R] Engineered Wood Siding leads the industry.(Innovation Leader)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Although Catawba[R] Engineered Wood Siding has been manufactured by Georgia-Pacific since the late 1960s, its style and function are truly cutting edge. In fact, GP is so confident in its long-term performance it has extended the warranty to 30...

All for one: this cavalier trio threatens to give the home building industry a taste of their steel.(Revolutionary Plot?)
January 1, 2004... JOSS HUDSON, 31, AND HIS TWO partners, Ken Hensey, 38, and Kurt Hensey, 41, have had enough of wood-framed homes. They talk as if their hoped-for revolution has already come, and that their insulated, steel-framed EcoSteel homes have become the...

Off target? These market researchers say builders haven't yet supplied what aging boomers, whom they call 'nexers,' really want.(Aiming To Please)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... WILLIAM E. BECKER AND ARCHITECT Bill Feinberg, a pair of energetic market researchers based in Teaneck, N.J., think they may have struck gold. Boomer gold. They believe that builders should make a U-turn in their thinking about soon-to-retire...

Keystone walls conquer hillside.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Developers continually face the problem of finding desireable land to build new homes. They search for new and innovative ways to develop the small and difficult sites that remain within major metropolitan areas. The Vernon Hills area of...

Adrenaline rush: a maverick management consultant suggests that by simulating a company turnaround when times are good, you can create unexpected profit centers.(Faking Failure)
January 1, 2004... THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF A CONSTRUCTION company knew his company was successful. "We're doing pretty good, really...." He had said it at least four times that hour. And they were doing well; at least, well enough. But how could his staff...

Step up your standards with Silestone: an integrated, comprehensive and customizable program for your communities.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Silestone[R] is proud to introduce its comprehensive "Step Up Your Standards With Silestone[R]" builder program. Silestone provides a unique program that grants builders the opportunity to offer natural quartz surfaces within the homes they...

Garage options.(First Draft)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Q. How can I achieve a neotraditional look without utilizing alleys? A: WE SEE MORE AND MORE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO KEEP A NEOTRADITIONAL LOOK--NARROW streets, classic designs with hints from the past, varying setbacks--but...

Fun book: Atlanta's sweeping BridgeMill community entices new buyers and honors existing residents with a colorful guide to its lifestyle events.(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
January 1, 2004... IN THE SALES PROCESS, YOU HOPE YOUR AMENITIES help lure people to buy... then hope you didn't waste valuable land on a horseshoe pit and a few tennis courts. At BridgeMill, a diverse, 1,700-acre, 2,510-home community outside of Atlanta,...

Site specific: the Web site for The Promenade Rio Vista in San Diego replicates the vitality of urban living. (California).(Market smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)
January 1, 2004... IF YOU'VE EVER QUESTIONED THE VALUE OF A WEB SITE TO MARKET and promote your project, the success of The Promenade Rio Vista project in San Diego should quell your suspicions. To promote a new image for apartment living as chic instead of...

A model approach: a condo project creates an off-site model home that helps boost presales.(Market Smarts: new marketing and sales techniques with proven results)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... TAKING A PAGE OUT OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY SALES HANDBOOK, Markethouse Lofts in San Jose, Calif., effectively replicated a model home in its retail-level sales center to achieve a respectable sales pace. The developer used a street-level sales...

Changing of the guard: HUD and Freddie Mac each announce new leadership. (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal National Mortgage Corp.)(Vital Signs)
January 1, 2004... TWO NEW LEADERS FOR HOUSING stepped forward in December, one after a long search and the other after an unexpected resignation. The resignation came from HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, who announced he was leaving the Cabinet to run for the...

More control, better communications, and increased productivity--all on schedule: Hyphen Solutions brings schedule management into the 21st century.(Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Today's large homebuilders employ hundreds, perhaps thousands of superintendents in multiple cities and multiple locations. These superintendents, in turn, are each tasked with managing the building schedules of hundreds of suppliers &...

Show stoppers: get a glimpse of the hottest products at IBS 2004. (International Builders Show, Las Vegas, Nevada).(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
January 1, 2004... IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN--THE TIME WHEN the residential building community gathers at the International Builders' Show to talk shop, network, and attend educational seminars. But who are we kidding? The reason most of you are attending the show is...

Wirsbo improves the way the pros heat and plumb the homes they build.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... Uponor Wirsbo would like to congratulate all the winners of the coveted Builder's Choice Design Awards. Their innovation and creativity help to inspire and motivate our industry to improve its techniques, create new visions and produce products...

Wirsbo delivers a hot upgrade that puts safety first with AQUASAFE[TM] fire safety systems.(Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... The AQUASAFE[TM] Fire Safety System from Wirsbo is an upgrade that homeowners won't notice! Its concealed and recessed sprinklers are virtually invisible. But the peace of mind they provide is priceless. An Upgrade That Builders Will Love...

Differentiate yourself with Wirsbo ... and turn options into opportunities.(Special Advertising Section)
January 1, 2004... AQUAPEX[R] PLUMBING FOR LIFE Safe, durable and installation-friendly alternative to copper AQUASAFE[TM] FIRE SAFETY Residential, multi-purpose plumbing and fire sprinkler system RADIANT FLOORS COMFORT HEATING Clean,...

Super show. (2004 International Builders Show, Las Vegas, Nevada).(NAHB Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Imagine hosting all 28 of this season's College Bowl Games at once--with space left to accommodate three-quarters of the professional football games played on any given Sunday. The NAHB could accomplish just such a feat at the 2004...

A great year: the NAHB scored some significant successes in 2003 in a productive and exciting year.(From The President)
January 1, 2004... BY ANY RECKONING, 2003 WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY year for housing. Interest rates dropped to their lowest levels in almost a half century and remained comfortably low through the year. In response, new-home sales topped the million-unit mark--the...

Outlook good: rising interest rates will not depress house prices.(Seiders Economy)
January 1, 2004... EVER SINCE THE STOCK MARKET BEGAN TO UNRAVEL back in 2000, theories of unsustainable bubbles in house prices have littered the financial print and broadcast media. But house prices continued to rise at a healthy pace in virtually all parts of...

Golden oldies.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... According to the 2003 NAHB Builder Survey, many of today's new homes--especially those in active adult communities and seniors apartments--offer aging-in-place features, which facilitate daily activities such as bathing, cooking, and climbing...

Energy boost.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The NAHB commends passage of H.R. 6, the conference report for the Energy Policy Act of 2003. The legislation contains important tax incentives to boost energy efficiency and conservation in the housing market. "We encourage the Senate to...

Awards Show: two awards programs offer companies the chance to improve their business practices.(The NAHB Research Center Corner)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... AT THE 2004 INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS' Show, the NAHB Research Center will recognize winners of its National Housing Quality (NHQ) award and Energy Value Housing Award (EVHA). These award programs require extensive self-examination from companies...

Chart topper.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Sales of new single-family homes, bolstered by favorable mortgage rates and solid house price gains, are expected to top one million units for 2003, even though the seasonally adjusted sales rate dipped slightly in October, the NAHB says. ...

Team player: NAHB president-elect Bobby Rayburn plans to house America's working families by fostering strategic partnerships.(Taking Charge)
January 1, 2004... ASK A BUILDER WHAT HE'S MOST proud of after 33 years in the business, and you'd expect him to point to a massive project where he soothed angry NIMBY hordes, cobbled together nine sources of funds with nothing but a firm handshake, and came out...

Quick-Step.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Quick-Step[R]'s latest innovation has taken the laminate flooring industry to new lengths--three new lengths. The "Elegance" line of laminate features three narrow random length planks that work together to create a more sophisticated and...

Progress lighting.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Progress Lighting extends its Delta[R] Bath Match Series featuring a new partnership with world-renowned architect, designer and icon of style Michael Graves, to offer homeowners the opportunity to accessorize bath and vanity spaces for a...

Fypon, Ltd.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Fypon, Ltd. is introducing the William E. Poole Collection of Molded Millwork[R] at the International Builders' Show. This collection designed specifically for Mr. Poole features a wide range of products including rail and baluster systems,...

Georgia-Pacific DensArmor[TM] Plus.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Unlike paper-faced gypsum board that provides an organic food source for mold, DensArmor[TM] Plus panels from Georgia-Pacific feature inorganic glass mat surfaces based on GP's patented DensTechnology[R]. When tested as manufactured, these...

DuPont[TM] Tyvek[R].(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... There's no doubt about it. DuPont[TM] Tyvek[R] is simply basic to better building. Wrapping a home in a "protective envelope" is a good building practice that helps combat a home's worst enemies: water, moisture and air infiltration. DuPont,...

Masco Contractor Services.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... The Environment For Living[R] Program: Masco Contractor Services (MCS) has become one of the world's leading authorities on Building Science, enabling us to develop the Environments For Living[R] Program to help our construction partners build...

Maze nails.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... The manufacturers of ACQ, CA and ACZA all recommend true hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel fasteners with heir treated wood products. In fact, use of these prescribed fasteners is more important than ever since the new preservatives are...

Georgia-Pacific.(Product Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... Georgia-Pacific has introduced Plytanium[TM] branded plywood products, including Plytanium[TM] Sturd-I-Floor[R], Plytanium[TM] Sheathing, Plytanium[TM] Ply-Bead[R] Panels, Plytanium[TM] Siding, and Plytanium[TM] Sanded Project panels. Made...

Hotsellers: sold out! Fast moving communities.
January 1, 2004... Walk to School West University Court Homes, Tucson, Ariz. WHY IT WORKED: The half-block project incorporates condos, townhomes, and single-family homes into the eclectic architecture of a historic neighborhood on the rebound--an area...

The New American Home 2004: Builder and the NAHB bring the urban loft to the cul-de-sac with a contemporary, eminently flexible house for affluent buyers and their ever-changing lifestyle needs.(National Association of Home Builders)
January 1, 2004... TIME WAS WHEN CUSTOM HOMES WERE JUST THAT: custom. Homeowners, with their architects and builders, prided themselves on being different and distinctive by crafting a home to fit their lifestyles instead of the CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and...

The floor plan: new ways to design.(The New American Home 2004)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... The beauty of the loft is its flexibility and simplicity, presenting a blank slate for a multitude of uses and interior design approaches. Among the major rooms of The New American Home 2004, only the kitchen and master suite have dedicated or...

New ways to live.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... "IT'S IN MY GENES TO MAKE THINGS simple," says architectural consultant W.A. "Lex" van Straten, principal of Food for Buildings in the Netherlands, who brought the loft concept to the project. "For me, less is more, not more is better." ...

New ways to cook.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... CONSISTENT WITH THE LOFT CONCEPT in its layout and space efficiency, the home's galley kitchen offers accessibility and openness to other rooms and the outdoors while also offering lessons in space planning and storage applicable to any housing...

New ways to use space.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... ON ONE OF THE INITIAL ITERATIONS of the floor plan, the large, high-volumed space located a half-level down from the entry and kitchen was labeled the "everything room." Truth is, no one really knew what to call it... which underscores its...

New ways to retreat.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... THOUGH STILL FIRMLY GROUNDED in the loft concept, the upper level presents a transition into more intimacy and privacy. Specifically, the master bedroom resides on this floor, affording the owners a retreat from the wide-open spaces and shared...

New ways to expand footage.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... HEAR THE WORD "BASEMENT" AND images of a light-filled art +gallery, generous walkout patio, and multiple entertainment and personal passion spaces are probably the last to leap to mind. But with lot sizes shrinking--even for seven-figure custom...

New ways to live outdoors.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... UNTIL YOU STEP ONTO THE TERRACES flanking the upper level of TNAH 2004, it's difficult to imagine the value of the outdoor spaces they provide. Thanks in large part to an innovative structural system (see page 180), the terraces enjoy deep,...

New ways to build.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... THE NEW AMERICAN HOME 2004 was pitched to the builder as a concrete home. But the suggestion to use insulated concrete forms (ICFs) was a new wrinkle that required Merlin Contracting & Developing to research whether the foam forms would pass...

New ways to sell.(The New American Home 2004)
January 1, 2004... IF SOME BUILDERS AND SALES PROFESSIONALS view The New American Home 2004 as a tough sell to the mainstream, they're probably right. "This is a custom home, no doubt," says Borsanyi. "It's an edgy house. For production, you'd have to take off...

New ways to collaborate.(The New American Home 2004)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... IN ADDITION TO SHOWCASING NEW IDEAS in suburban single-family design and next-generation building systems and energy efficiency, The New American Home 2004 team exemplified uncommon collaboration from the start. Before signing on for this...

NextGen04 selects Icynene[R] to conserve more than just energy.(Cycle time: trade secrets)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Builders will agree that the two most valuable resources they have are time and money. That's why conventional insulation isn't enough for today's builders and homeowners. Icynene[R] is a proven soft foam insulation that minimizes the impact on...

Land wars: the relentless push by big builders, combined with a regulatory minefield, has forced small builders to skirmish over every scrap of available land.(Industry Overview)
January 1, 2004... OR SMALL BUILDERS IN MANY PARTS OF the United States, the battle to control land has already been lost. The old days of plenty are gone, and big parcels have become almost the exclusive domain of large builders. "A few years ago, there was...

You're not just selling a house. (temperature control and indoor air quality products).(Honeywell)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... You' re creating peace of mind. The complete line of temperature control and indoor air quality products from Honeywell can help you deliver the peace of mind and indoor comfort that your customers are looking for in their new home....

Degrees of success. (Classic Stellar Homes Inc.)(Honeywell)
January 1, 2004... Making a unique product can be a key factor in differentiating you from the competition--especially in a competitive market. One company, Classic Stellar Homes, Inc. has taken this concept to a whole new level. "Our homes have R40...

You're not just selling a house.(Honeywell)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... You're creating peace of mind. When you build to the American Lung Association[R] Health House[R] guidelines, you're making sure your customers have a home that's durable, energy efficient, and has improved indoor air quality. Features...