Builder articles from January 2005

Builder archives from January 2005

Building champions: now's the time to build a checklist of key objectives for your company in 2005.(Editor's Notes)(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... THE NEW YEAR HAS BEGUN. IT'S SUPER BOWL SEASON. Everyone's focused on setting new goals. Many of us will watch the two best teams in football fight it out for the national championship. What better time to have an energizing talk with your home...

Builders' choice.(BMail)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I FOUND YOUR ARTICLE ON ORIENTED strand board (OSB) versus plywood ("Panel Paris" November 2004, page 146) to be quite interesting. Our research suggests that while builders generally perceive plywood as being technically superior to OSB along...

Get to know continuous cast acrylic: easy cleaning and durability make homeowners happy and increase referrals, making more and more contractors want to ...(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... How do contractors please today's customers and increase referrals? When it comes to the bathroom, more and more, the answer is continuous cast acrylic. Recent research identifies two key items that can make homeowners most happy: First,...

Calendar.(Book It)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... JANUARY 13-16 The International Builders' Show. Orlando, Fla. The International Builders' Show is the home building industry's premier event, bringing together leading builders and suppliers. More than 1,600 manufacturers will...

A hammer and a helping hand: habitat Home Builders Blitz 2006 to add 1,00 decent homes in a week.(Habitat Build Blitz)
January 1, 2005... BUILDERS NATIONWIDE HAVE THE OPPORTUNIty to do what they do best, while improving their communities and building strong relationships with employees and trade partners, with the first-ever national Habitat for Humanity Home Builders Blitz. ...

Farewell, Fannie.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Mired in an accounting scandal, Fannie Mac's board of directors ousted chairman and CEO Franklin Raines and Timothy Howard, the financial giant's CFO, on Dec. 21. The announcements of Raines' early retirement and Howard's resignation came days...

Cool down.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(real estates)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Late last year, Lennar reported that it may have to delay until fiscal 2005 the delivery of about 600 homes that were promised for last year. The company attributed the delay to hurricanes in Florida and a cooling housing market in areas such...

Land grab.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of Kelo vs. City of New London, a Connecticut property rights case that could have a broad effect on governments' ability to seize property and transfer it to another private owner. The Fifth...

Nesting instinct.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Online real estate lending and real estate exchange LendingTree recently purchased iNest (www.iNest.com), an online new-home marketplace that features homes from 500 builders in 20 of the country's top home building states. Terms of the...

Free-for-all: Lowe's hopes to lure builders to its Web site with nifty calculators and other clever online tools.(Internet Pick)(www.fieldmanual.com)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LOWE'S COS., LIKE THE HOME DEPOT, HAS been making a push to win a bigger share of professional builders and contractors. In line with that purpose, it has developed a Web site called "For Pros Resource Center" (www.fieldmanual.com). It's a...

Infill bill.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation in early October that the California BIA says could possibly free up the majority of the state's 90,000 to 100,000 brownfield sites for development. The bill says builders are free from...

New lease.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Builders looking to spur buying among first-time new-h0me buyers may want to try the Owner Lease Program from Move-Up America. The program lets homeowners with an existing home purchase a new home from a participating builder while keeping...

Aiming high: HUD issues a new rule requiring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase their mortgage funding for lower-income home buyers.(Regulation Update)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BEGINNING JAN. 1, FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE Mac must increase their purchases of mortgages for low- and moderate-income families and within underserved communities, according to a rule issued by HUD last November. HUD has set such goals since...

Drive train: a new virtual storage space helps builders save space and money.(Cost Cutter)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE COMPUTER HAS MADE life easier for architects. builders, mad contractors who send and save files and images. The necessary hardware and storage space can get pricey, however. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Xdrive offers a solution: an...

Refi help.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Fannie Mae)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Fannie Mae's Smart Commute Initiative to help home buyers live near public transportation has been expanded to include homeowners who are refinancing their mortgages. The program adds up to $250 to a buyer's monthly qualifying income and gives...

Virtual realty.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Government Accountability Office)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The House Financial Services Committee--which oversees the housing industry for the U.S. House of Representatives--requested in November that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review how information technology and electronic commerce...

Law upheld: Colorado defeats ballot measure that would have dismantled NOR law.(NOR Stays In Effect)(Colorado Association of Home Builders)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... VOTERS IN COLORADO defeated Amendment 34 on Nov. 2, a measure that would have derailed the Notice and Opportunity to Repair (NOR) law that went into effect state-wide in April 2003 when the Colorado legislature passed House Bill 1161. Rob...

Ahead of the curve: new research emphasizes anticipating customer needs instead of what they say they want.(Market Research Study)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BUILDERS HAVE BECOME very savvy at surveying customers to find out what they want in a home. But a new study suggests that the most successful companies go beyond listening to what customers say they want and instead anticipate their needs...

Dream house.(Good Deeds)(Mayberry Homes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Mayberry Homes of DeWitt, Mich., raised more than $573,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by selling $100 raffle tickets for a 2,500-square-foot house, built with donated materials and labor from employees, trade contractors, and...

Charity at home: an architectural firm uses an internal competition to do pro bono work for kids.(Philanthropic Pursuits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... EVERY YEAR, DES MOINES, Iowa-based Bloodgood Sharp Buster Architects & Planners (BSB) holds an internal design contest among its offices across the country. Used as a way to foster healthy competition, the event has new meaning this year....

Phone home: new technology allows homeowners to play Big Brother and monitor their home through a cellphone connection.(All Seeing Eyes)
January 1, 2005... HERE'S HOWTHE CABLE INDUSTRY GOT INTERESTed in home electronics--especially remote video monitoring. First, it has about 29 million people already hooked up to broadband cable. Can you say "test market"? But it (like virtually every other...

Green houses.(Good Deeds)(Enterprise Social Investment Corp. and Natural Resources Defense Council)
January 1, 2005... In an effort to make homes green and affordable, The Enterprise Foundation/Enterprise Social Investment Corp. and the Natural Resources Defense Council have launched the Green Communities Initiative to create 8,500 affordable green homes by...

What a gas.(Real estate industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The HBA of Greater St. Louis last fall showcased a revitalized Gaslight Square district during Citirama, a two-week event that displayed new single-family homes, condominiums, and townhouses. Prices for new homes range from $175,000 to...

Life-cycle revisited: a new study confirms that most waste by-products emissions occur while manufacturing building materials, not during the construction process.(Long View)
January 1, 2005... A NEW STUDY BYTHE CONSORTIUM FOR RESEARCH on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM) confirms what building wonks have been saying for years: The choice of building material results in very different effects on air quality, solid waste, and...

Fiber hits home: expect more builders to tout home technology packages that offer voice, high-speed Internet access, and video as a way to stay competitive.(Residential Telecom)
January 1, 2005... A STRING OF EVENTS DURING THE SECond half of 2004 created a hopeful climate that led home technology partisans to believe that 2005 is the year more builders and developers will start marketing home technology as a mainstream product. ...

Going private: Houston takes steps to speed up the permitting and inspection process.(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)(Greater Houston Builders Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... An ordinance proposed years ago by the Greater Houston Builders Association is set to take effect early this year. The city is giving single-family home builders the option to hire independent inspectors to conduct plan reviews and building...

Housing by the holy: churches have joined the housing boom as for-profit developers, but most pay greatly reduced taxes.(Inside Story)
January 1, 2005... WHEN DOES AN ORGANIZED RELIgion cross the line from sacred to secular? That prickly question has become not only a national debate but one that concerns local communities as well. For example, the Associated Press reported recently that in...

Trimline Ridge Vent is a good value! Trimline Ridge Vent offer quality performance, great appearance and quick installation.(Special Advertising Section)
January 1, 2005... Trimline 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 home's...

Orient Express.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2005... THE ASIAN-INFLUENCED MINI NIKKO VANITY WILL add a contemporary feel to your baths. Measuring 27 inches wide and 24 inches deep, the vanity has storage space below and comes with three door inserts to choose from, including rice paper, rattan,...

Cone head.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2005... THE FI FAUCET IS ONE OF THE FRESHEST DEsigns to come along in recent memory. Based on the geometry of the cone, FI has a wide base and spindle-like handles. It has a newly developed cartridge that consists of a clockwork- type gear movement...

In a flash.(Top Shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2005... WHETHER A HOUSE IS AT THE SEAside or in a suburb, window flashing is important to prevent moisture intrusion. With this in mind, the manufacturer has introduced FlashMaster, a self-adhered flexible flashing that is applied around windows and...

Float on.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2005... INSTALLING BAMBOO FLOORS IS now as easy as a click thanks to Studio, the first wide-plank bamboo floating floor with a self-locking feature that requires no glue, according to the manufacturer. Highly sustainable and renewable, the bamboo floor...

Flip off.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2005... ANYONE WHO'S WORKED ON A STEPLADDER KNOWS THAT IT OFFERS VERY little storage space. Flip Tray, the manufacturer says, transforms an ordinary stepladder into a workstation. The accessory attaches to the top of the stepladder and has specialized...

Find and seek.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
January 1, 2005... A STUD SENSOR IS A GOOD FRIEND TO HAVE IN A TOOL-box. And a stud sensor that can locate the center and edges of a stud, find copper up to 1 1/2 inches deep, and find rebar in concrete up to 3 inches deep is even better. That's exactly what the...

Paradigm shifter: New Jersey builder sharpens the cutting edge of custom home building.(Solar houses)
January 1, 2005... LYLE RAWLINGS IS PUSHING THE CUStom home building envelope. Take, for instance, the six integrated solar homes he recently built in Atlantic City, N.J.'s Millennia Square neighborhood. Advanced design and technologies make them extreme energy...

More control, better communications, and increased productivity--all on schedule: Hyphen Solutions brings schedule management into the 21st century.(Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... 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 &...

Who you gonna call? Before the ghosts had time to settle into Chicago's Residences at RiverBend, a crisis development team rushed in to breathe life into the dying project.(Radco Cos cares abandoned houses)
January 1, 2005... A BANKRUPT DEVELOPMENT. LIENS AND lawsuits. Furious homeowners. Few developers would volunteer to wade into this mess, but that was the challenge with a luxury high-rise condominium project in Chicago's Fulton River District. The Residences at...

Out of reach: exclusionary zoning and land-use practices in the name of smart growth add fuel to the fire of the affordable housing crisis.(The New Segragation)
January 1, 2005... THERE'S A HOUSING CRISIS PERCOlating in cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the country. It's hidden behind the euphoria of extremely favorable mortgage rates and beneath the robust housing market and the highest percentage of homeownership...

Gibraltar Building Products: offering high quality, manufactured steel products from the ground up.(Special Advertising Section)
January 1, 2005... Gibraltar Building Products Group is an industry leader in high-quality metal building products and accessories. The flagship of Gibraltar Industries, Inc., Gibraltar Building Products Group is composed of 10 separate companies that...

Development 101.(First Draft)
January 1, 2005... Q. I've built single-family detached homes for my entire career but have had a long-standing dream of transitioning into residential development. Unfortunately, I don't have the funds for a large subdivision. Any thoughts on how I could move...

Reuse replica: the Landings at Harborside transforms an abandoned naval training center into a streetscape of the project's new urban concept.(Market smarts: new marketng and sales techniques with proven results)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... JOKE IF YOU WANT ABOUT NEW JERSEY, BUT WHEN IT COMES to selling high-density waterfront housing, few can match the Landings at Harborside in Perth Amboy. The first phase of 78 homes of the project's 2,100-unit master plan sold out in 10 days,...

Big Island idea: a series of direct mail postcards makes a big impression on vacation buyers for Kahakai Estates.(Market smarts: new marketng and sales techniques with proven results)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... DESPITE A WHITE-HOT MARKET, THE SECOND-HOME LANDscape on Hawaii's Big Island is pretty competitive. To make its Kahakai Estates project stand out Honolulu-based Stanford Carr Development offered 98 one-acre, home sites (two-thirds of which were...

Winning ticket: a lottery helps Crosswinds Communities sell out The Sanctuary and enables evenflow production through tbe project's completion.(Market smarts: new marketng and sales techniques with proven results)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... TWO YEARS INTO DEVELOPMENT OF THE SANCTUARY, A 727-acre, 774-unit master planned community near Orlando, Fla., and 67 homes away from completion, developer Crosswinds Communities had an enviable problem: a lead list of about 2,000 people. To...

Price adjustments: Signs point to decreasing costs and increasing availability of building materials in 2005.(Vital Signs)
January 1, 2005... AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF NON-stop price increases for building materials, some relief may be on the way Economists predict that the anticipated slight drop in housing activity and greater availability of high-demand materials will be enough to...

Show place: Before you hit the IBS show floor, take a sneak peek at some of this year's hottest new products.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)(International builders show)
January 1, 2005... THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS' SHOW can overwhelm even the most seasoned trade show attendee. That's why each January we pull together a collection of the best products on the exhibition floor--ones you should be sure to see. The 20 products...

Lab work: consulting group teams with MIT to build research lab for home technologies.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)
January 1, 2005... RESEARCHERS FROM THE MASSACHUsetts Institute of Technology and consulting group TIAX combined to build PlaceLab, a 900-square-foot research facility/condominium where new housing technologies and design concepts can be tested and evaluated. ...

Picture this.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Nextel recently introduced the i860, a picture phone that also supports the company's Direct Connect push-to-talk walkie-talkie service. The i860 features Multimedia Messaging, which lets users exchange text, images, and audio in three ways:...

Field control.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Back-office software vendor Builder MT has developed Builder MT Field Management software so builders can run scheduling, auto pay, document collaboration, warranty checklists, and punch lists on a wireless Tablet PC. The software maker will be...

Integrator advance: Home-tech group works to advance the profile of home integrators.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)
January 1, 2005... HOME-TECH CONSORTIUM THE INTERNET Home Alliance recently launched the Home Integrator Initiative, an industry-wide effort to promote the need for certified home integrators and a common set of technology standards. "We've gone from...

Double the strength.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ginni Designs, best known as the inventor of the Hide-Away-Home-Theater, has released the GDI MESA Double T, a new table mount designed to hold any flat-panel display and three front speakers. The Double T's extendable arms have an adjustable...

NextGen control.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Home Director has entered a joint agreement with HomeLogic to develop a next-generation version of Home Director's ControlPoint home automation system. The new product will let homeowners control up to six subsystems via a standard Web browser,...

FAST forward: the new, 2.0 version of Pocket FAST plays well with new users.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... FAST WENT THROUGH SO MANY MANAGEment changes in the past few years that it's nice to finally see the company making some development headway. The enterprise, resource, and planning software maker received some positive reviews on the 2.0...

Think it through: use this list of tips to make smarter software selections.(Tech tools: technology for the smart building business)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... NOW THAT BUSINESS YEAR 2005 IS IN FULL swing, the odds are pretty strong that many builders will be in the market for some new software or other technology systems. Here are some tips for making sure this year's software doesn't become next...

Silestone sells homes for Transeastern in hot Florida market.(Builder of the Month Profile)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... Silestone[R] By Cosentino Recognizes Transeartern Homes (Florida) Right now, Florida real estate is as hot as the weather: "It's not uncommon to sell out 50 percent of our communities within the first weekend they are opened," says Neil...

Aging in place.(National Association of Home Builders )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The NAHB is promoting aging-in-place features--elements in a residence that enable consumers to grow older comfortably in that space--in new and existing homes. The organization's Remodelors Council, Seniors Housing Council, and Research Center...

A bright future: better economic and financing conditions will help the housing market stay on track in 2005.(From The President)
January 1, 2005... AFTER THE HOUSING MARKETS PHENOMENAL performance in 2004, it's natural to wonder if the streak will continue as we move into the second half of the decade. The NAHB anticipates that activity in our booming housing industry will hold up...

Taking stock: last year's inventory of unsold homes might call for different sales strategies in 2005.(Unsold houses demand strategies)
January 1, 2005... THE NATION'S HOME BUILDERS OPERATED IN a very favorable economic and financial market environment in 2004, and home sales and single-family housing starts soared to record levels. But inventories of unsold homes moved up during the year as...

Systems' best.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The NAHB's Building Systems Council (BSC) in November announced the winners of its 2004 Excellence in Marketing and Home Design Awards honoring the best of systems-built housing. The awards recognize topnotch marketing materials, model homes,...

Certified expansion: the NAHB's Certified Builder program increases efficiency and consistency in building practices.(The NAHB Research Center Corner)(National Association of Home Builders Research Foundation)
January 1, 2005... THE NAHB RESEARCH Center is celebrating the nationwide rollout of its National Housing Quality (NHQ) Certified Builder program at this year's International Builders' Show. The center piloted the program for more than a year and is now helping...

Jobs boost.(NAHB Briefs)
January 1, 2005... Though some of the country's job markets continue to be weak, 18 states, including California, Georgia, Texas, and Minnesota, have surpassed their prerecession employment peaks--and others are in a position to catch up soon, which bodes well...

The polisher: incoming president Dave Wilson plans to cherry-pick the best benefits the NAHB has and make them shine.(Changing Of The Guard)
January 1, 2005... "WE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF the products you buy We make a lot of the products you buy better," says the slogan for the well-known BASF television ad campaign. With a little retooling, that motto works perfectly for the NAHB's incoming president,...

CertainTeed's Insulation Group: Helping builders tackle the moisture issue in homes.(National Council Of The Housing Industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Moisture problems in a home and the risk of callbacks and liability concerns are something no builder wants to experience. CertainTeed Corporation's Insulation Group is helping builders tackle this issue with a new product called MemBrain[TM]....

David Borenstein Architects/Builders: New York builder picks Integrity[R] an a New York minute.(Integrity Celebrates Its Red Diamond Achievers)
January 1, 2005... David Borenstein Architects/Builders is a small but diverse design/build firm located just north of New York City. Their "we do it all" philosophy is more than a slogan--it's a fact! From design and construction, to electrical work, to plumbing...

Solid success.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(single family homes at Falls Run)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Solid Success Falls Run, Fredericksburg, Va. WHY IT WORKED: When Falls Run, an active adult community outside Washington, opened in February 2002, it was a case of right time, right location. It appeals to those 55 and older who want a...

Multiple personalities.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(manors at Grand Pointe Meadows)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Multiple Personalities Grand Pointe Meadows, West Dundee, Ill. WHY IT WORKED: The attached manor homes at Grand Pointe Meadows attracted buyers by providing them with unique designs at a reasonable base price, while capitalizing on the...

Happy trails.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities)(Mill Creek at StoneBridge Estates )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Happy Trails: Mill Creek at StoneBridge Estates, San Diego WHY IT WORKED: Research conducted with local home buyers revealed demand for move-up homes with more amenities, such as the 16 miles of hiking trails that connect with a...

Water world.(Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities; The Villages on Mount Hope Bay, Tiverton, R.I. housing development)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Water World The Villages on Mount Hope Bay, Tiverton, R.I. WHY IT WORKED: You could say that The Villages on Mount Hope Bay makes the best of its waterfront surroundings. By providing active adults with spectacular views, extensive...

The New American Home 2005.
January 1, 2005... DON'T BE FOOLED: THIS IS A COMPLETELY NEW 6,200-SQUARE-FOOT HOME--the 2nd in a series sponsored by BUILDER and the NAHB's Supplier 100. But the design of this year's showhome suggests a dwelling that started out as a humble three-bedroom,...

FeelSafe[TM] line from Hurd provides coastal protection bar none.(Hurd Millwork Company Inc.)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2005... While Hurd's FeelSafe line of windows and patio doors are specifically designed for coastal regions, homeowners living near golf courses or other areas affected by flying debris will benefit from their incredible strength. Their tough...

A design plan suitable for all ages--and weather conditions!(The New American Home 2005)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The New American Home[R] (TNAH), on display at the 2005 International Builders' Show, demonstrates how superior building performance can be incorporated into any design plan to deliver benefits homeowners want--from building durability to...

Builder AV offers complete home electronic solutions.(Product Spotlight)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Stampede, a premier distributor of home electronics, is launching Builder AV, a program designed for North American homebuilders. Now builders can earn the margins that were previously available only to retail electronics stores and installers....

Off limits: zoning is one of the powerful tools that municipalities wield to control where homes get built. It also lead to sprawl, rising prices, and a lack of affordable housing that builders and developers invariably get blamed for.
January 1, 2005... BROOKFIELD SAN DIEGO Builders has initiated five master planned communities in the past five years. Those projects should carry this division of Del Mar, Calif.-based Brookfield Homes through to 2008. But the division hasn't bought land in two...

Degrees of success.(Special Advertising Section)
January 1, 2005... You might remember Fuad Reveiz as "Fuadomatic," the superb kicker for the Minnesota Vikings. But today Reveiz is scoring in the indoor air quality field as the builder behind the Willows At Hardin Valley subdivision in Knoxville, Tennessee. The...

Less is more: take three very tight lots, three distinct buyer profiles, and strict architectural guidelines, and give them to three world-class architects. What do you get? Three small servings of perfection.(New Urban Challenge)
January 1, 2005... LIKE MANY PROJECTS OF MASSIVE scope, the New Urban Challenge sounded deceptively simple at its inception: design and build a 2,300-square-foot house to mirror the square footage of the average new house built in America. Put it on aught lot in...

Against the wind: the New Urban Challenge team overcomes an unprecedented weather challenge.(New Urban Challenge)(Hurricane Charley, 2004)
January 1, 2005... It is a safe bet that Bill Wood will never name a child Charley, Frances, Ivan, or Jeanne. The onsite supervisor of the New Urban Challenge for builder David Weekley Homes, Wood had a tight schedule before an unprecedented four hurricanes hit...

Welcome home: a living room-sized front porch and a backyard splash-fest are just the beginning of a home tailor-made for families.(An answer to new urban challenge from Geoffrey Mouen Architects)
January 1, 2005... The Classic Residence Architect: Geoffrey Mouen, Geoffrey Mouen Architects, Celebration, Fla. GEOFFREY MOUEN DOES not hesitate to name what he likes best about his Classic Residence. "The greatest thing about my house is the front...

Hard rock.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... HARD ROCK: Many of the countertops throughout the homes may look like granite or stone, but they are neither. The quartz-based tops are from Silestone. Made from 93 percent quartz, Silestone is highly resistant to scratches, scorches, and...

Steel and glass.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... STEEL AND GLASS: The houses drew on some of the hottest materials of the moment--glass and stainless steel from Crossville. The baths in the Classic house feature Illuminessence Prism Glass, a durable mosaic tile that refracts and reflects...

Provident beginnings.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... PROVIDENT BEGINNINGS: New to Delta's Brizo line, Providence faucets and accessories offer a clean design. This pared-down look goes well with the baths in the Classic house. The woman's side of the master bath, for example, has the Providence...

In the closet.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... IN THE CLOSET: Melamine closet shelving from Rubbermaid Home Products provides a place for everything in the house. In the Classic's his-and-hers closets, for example, the system features shelving and vertical support panels made from 3/4-inch...

Door ways.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... DOORWAYS: Instead of boring flat-panel, hollow-core doors, the houses use a variety of raised-panel Douglas fir and hardboard doors from Simpson Door Co. The Douglas fir doors are 1 3/8 inches thick and feature hip-raised panel construction....

Wash 'n wear.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... WASH 'N WEAR: When it's time to do laundry, family members in the Classic Residence will have a host of laundry products from Whirlpool Corp. at their disposal. They will be able to wash 16 pairs of jeans in a single load in the Duet washer and...

Power play.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... POWER PLAY: The homes are outfitted with a variety of Eaton electric products, but the most noteworthy item is the Cutler Hammer automatic generator in the Classic house. The automatic home standby generator gives homeowners assurance that the...

That's a wrap.(fine Details)
January 1, 2005... THAT'S A WRAP: To help these houses stand up to Florida storms, all three are wrapped with DuPont Tyvek's HomeWrap, StuccoWrap, FlexWrap, and StraightFlash to combat water, moisture, and air infiltration. HomeWrap is used under all exterior...