Builder articles from July 2001

Builder archives from July 2001

Magic Touch.(customer service)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... When it comes to customer service, there's no middle ground--it's either extraordinary or it's awful. CUSTOMERS EITHER HAVE A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE BUYing homes from you, or they have a terrible one. When they have a great experience, it's...

BMAIL.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Shutter Security I READ WITH GREAT INTEREST DAVID ANDERSON'S commentary, "Mind Over Muscle." (May, page 91). I was surprised that there was no mention of a very obvious and successful deterrent to house break-ins: rolling shutters. In...

Metropolis Now.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... While the flight to buy in the 'burbs continues, a growing cohort of homeowners are calling downtown home. THE TREND FORECASTERS WERE RIGHT. Predictions of an urban resurgence from demographic prophets are unfolding as truth, according to...

Recruiting Minorities.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... A recruitment initiative to increase minority representation in the real estate finance industry is underway by the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA) and Freddie Mac. Called the "Path to Diversity," the program promotes internship...

Farm Friendly.(land conservation in Florida)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... This sprang, Florida farmers and environmentalists acknowledged a common threat: developers with deep pockets. Working in conjunction, they convinced state legislators to adopt the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, which gives the...

Opinions Wanted.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT) in Tucson, Ariz., wants your opinion about potential "regulatory barriers to more sustainable building and development." Builders, architects, building officials, landscape...

Creative Challenge.(architectural markets)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... During her presentation at the American Institute of Architects convention in May, award-winning architect and author Sarah Susanka spoke of the "Cultural Creatives," a large group of consumers alienated by the limited choices in the new-home...

Gated Orchard.(housing developers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Beazer Homes, Coventry Homes, and Newmark Homes have announced development plans for Orchard Lakes, a 240-acre, $182 million development in Fort Bend County, Texas. Planned for 455 single-family homes and 1,500 residents, Orchard Lakes will be...

Dust Devils.(preventing silicosis)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... It may be the most deadly threat to the long-term health of your workers, yet few workers take adequate precautions against silicosis. ASBESTOS AND LEAD POISONING GET MOST OF the negative press these days, but silicosis--a lung condition...

Pulte Buys Again.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... On the same day it announces its Del Webb purchase, Pulte buys Westrum Development for a reported $100 million. ON MAY 1, THE SAME DAY IT announced it had purchased Del Webb, Pulte Corp. also bought Philadelphia-area home builder Westrum...

Entry Call.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... BUILDER and the NAHB recognize the best builders in our annual America's Best Builder awards. The program honors builders based on achievements in finance/operations, customer service/quality, community/industry service, design/construction,...

You Don't Call, You Don't Write.(managing online services)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Builders want sales, but many don't follow up potential hot leads. Following an informal BUILDER magazine survey of more than 40 home builder Web sites during January 2001, we found a number of marketing "don'ts." Here are some of our results:...

How Does Your Rooftop Grow?(rooftop gardens)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Gardens in the sky could be the answer to vanishing urban green space. IMAGINE A SERENE GARDEN GETAWAY RIGHT IN the middle of a bustling metropolis. It sounds nice, but as every square foot of inner and edge cities is gobbled up, open...

DETROIT RENAISSANCE.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... A new $90 million mixed-use plan in Detroit got its preliminary approval. Scripps Park Associates received the OK to rezone a large residential property called The Jeffries into a mixed-use project at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Gibson...

MORE SCANDAL FOR 'FRISCO.(San Francisco Housing Authority)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... For nearly three years San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown defended Ronnie Davis, friend and housing authority director for the city whose critics accused him of poor management and suspect financial dealings. But he said nothing when HUD...

MORE POWER FOR NORTH CAROLINA.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... A new $300 million power plant in Ridgeville, N.C., west of Hilton Head, S.C., and 160 miles south of Charlotte could bring a boom. Once strictly timber country, experts are predicting a lot more development interests.

"FALSE WIRELESS" CRACKDOWN.(Microsoft Corp. and Hewlett Packard Co.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Federal Trade Commission recently settled claims against Microsoft and Hewlett Packard after the FTC declared that their ads for wireless personal digital assistant devices (PDA) gave the wrong ideas about what the devices can do. Both...

Energy Calc.(energy usage calculator)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Builders and concerned consumers can click online to calculate energy use. The Atlanta Gas Light Co. (www.energydepot.com/aglc/appcalc/calc06l9/index.html) Pacific Gas and Electric (www.pge.com/003_save_energy/003b_bus/003bld2 a_cal/), and...

Gathering Force.(business growth)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... No laurel resting -- top builders pow-wow and play "What's your BHAG!" GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT," SAID Author Jim Collins as he exhorted the biggest builders to "build something worthy of lasting" by developing "BHAGs--Big Hairy...

Plan? What Plan?(occupational safety)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... A new study suggests that many home building companies pay scant attention to fall protection. AFTER ANALYZING MORE THAN 400 ACCIDENTS involving falls from nine years of OSHA reports, and interviewing 37 Florida building companies,...

Home on the Range.(Homestore.com)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Homestore shrugs off detractors and $9 million loss on failed start-up and expands further into home building dot-com realm. HOMESTORE OFFICIALS ARE ROAMING about the country reassuring investors after announcing it was taking up to a $9...

Wet and Wild.(building on wetlands)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Wetland rules may be relaxed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed easing year-old rules designed to control development around wetlands in a move being hailed by builders. The Corps' recent announcement has not met with such...

Add Vise.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... WHETHER IT'S A WORKBENCH, TRUCK-BED, OR JOBsite, the portable Quick-Vise mounts on any sturdy surface. Once its base is mounted, the vise slides overtop and locks into place. Made from glass-filled nylon, the 3 1/2-pound system is light enough...

Radiant Radiator.(Solaris Radiator Panel)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... THE SOLARIS GLASS RADIATOR PANEL MOUNTS TO THE WALL AND ADDS A TOUCH of class and warmth to the home. The system consists of two glass plates mounted together for heat diffusion. A metallic layer coats the entire surface area of the base glass...

Steel Away.(soaking tub)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... PART OF THE COMPANY'S NEO-METRO COLLECTION, THE SOHO-BATH is a One-piece, double-wall, deep soaking tub manufactured from heavy-gauge stainless steel. With an interior that is 38-inches deep by 42-inches wide, the insulated tub features a...

Quick Corners.(leaf molding)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... WHO SAID YOU HAD TO CUT CORNERS WHEN INSTALLING DECORATIVE trim? With the Acanthus Leaf miterless corner system, installation is easy. The urethane corner piece requires no cutting and is installed with non-corrosive fasteners and...

Cable Enabler.(strapgun anchoring-tool)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... SCOTT MILANO PIN DOWN THE COMPETITION WITH THE STRAPGUN--AN ANCHORING tool designed to anchor 12/2 and 14/2 non-metallic sheathed cable with one hand. A guide system positions the insulated PowerFast strap over the cable, eliminating the...

Look Ma, No Hands!(electronic faucets)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... TAKE A HANDS--OFF APPROACH WITH THE E-FLOW ELECTRONIC LAVATORY faucet. Designed for residential use, the faucet features a high-arc spout and a waterproof electronic control board that manages water flow. Four "AA" batteries power the faucet...

Mint Condition.(Gotham Organization)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... In New York, The Gotham Organization tapped new urban dwellers with coasters at local pubs. And the leads came pouring in. NEED A "BUZZ" FROM THE LOCALS BEFORE YOU open? Start a name recognition campaign in the local 'hood. To build...

Take It Outside.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Outdoor living rooms may be the newest rage in bonus spaces. Just ask London Bay Homes whose furnished models showcase the best of lanai living and sell furnished. TEEN LOFTS, HOME THEATERS, WINE CELLARS--THESE INSIDE bonus spaces are well...

Golden Olden Days.(marketing of development communities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Selling new communities sometimes means pointing to the past. LESS TALK ABOUT BUILDERS AND SITES. THAT PROVED TO BE the sweet seduction for luxury move-up buyers at Moceri Cos.' Stonewater community in Northville, Mich. The 41-home...

Long Time Coming.(construction in Detroit, Michigan)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Largest project in a once sleepy suburban Detroit towns' history was nearly derailed by environmental rules. THEY CALL IT NOVI BECAUSE IT WAS the Number six train stop. In the 1800s, the station manager fancifully painted No. VI on the sign...

BEYOND BRAVADO.(safety management)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Adopting and applying a few simple safety measures can greatly reduce the risk of crippling or fatal falls on the jobsite. A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDY FOUND THAT MANY RESIdential builders have no fall safety plan in place. Perhaps...

The "R" Word.(recession)(Column)
July 1, 2001... Preparing your business for a possible downturn means buttressing relationships, investing money in marketing, and focusing on the future. WALL STREET; PAMPLONA, SPAIN; and the NBA all have something in common. At least for the present...

Multiple Choice.(floor plans for active adults)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... GARY SNIDER Q: What are the best types of floor plans for active adults? A: ACTIVE ADULTS ARE NOT A MONOLITHIC TARGET MARKET. As WITH ANY GROUP, THERE ARE MANY LAYERS, ALL with various lifestyle needs. However, there are a few general...

When the Levee Breaks.(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Home building plugging recession dike. AFTER FIVE HALF-PERCENTAGE-POINT rate cuts this year--the most aggressive actions by the U.S. Federal Reserve Boar in almost 19 years--the only major healthy component of the U.S. economy remains the...

In the Zone.
July 1, 2001... Installing zoned heating and cooling systems boosts comfort and efficiency. THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE FOR everything. But when the first-floor thermostat sets the temperature for the second-floor bedroom on a hot and humid July evening,...

ZONE IN.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Aprilaire 6404 zone control panel controls single- and multi-stage heating and cooling systems with a microprocessor that adjusts the flow of air. Shown with the company's rectangular and round dampers, the control panel allows for two-,...

COMFORT CONTROL.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Comfort Zone II zoning system can accommodate up to eight zones. Featuring the company's Smart Recovery option, the system starts conditioning the air ahead of schedule to make sure each zone reaches its set temperature on time. Also the...

REMOTE ACCESS.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Networked Zoning system allows users to dial in from a telephone and control it with voice prompts. The system can also dial out up to three numbers to notify the contractor and users if a problem has occurred. Featuring one programmable...

SMART SYSTEM.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Capable of delivering up to six independent temperature control zones, the ZC6R zone control system works with standard or heat pump systems. Once connected to the main panel, each zone's thermostat acts as a master control. Users can gain...

The Lush Life.(luxury kitchen appliances)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... High-end kitchen appliances sizzle in luxury home markets. FOR BILL DAVIDSON, PRESIDENT OF Davidson Communities in San Diego, the successful advertising campaigns launched by luxury appliance manufacturers like Sub-Zero and Viking have made...

THRILL GRILL.
July 1, 2001... The T Series incorporates features including stainless steel construction, 25,000 BTU stainless steel grill burners, heavy-duty porcelainized cooking grids, and the largest cooking surface in the upper-end grill market. A rotisserie system and...

HIDDEN RICHES.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Incorporating both upright units and two-drawer base units, the 700 TR series refrigeration system is completely integrated with the home's decor. Temperature is maintained to plus or minus I degree, and the system adapts to the usage patterns...

NOW YOUR COOKIN.(gas cooktop)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2001... The Architect Series' Pro Line gas cooktop is available in 36-inch and 48-inch models. The smaller model features six sealed burners while the larger model features eight. Providing up to 15,000 BTUs of output, both models have cast iron, full...

WARM UP.
July 1, 2001... The Integrated warming oven allows buyers to conceal the warming oven drawer in the same cabinetry as the rest of the kitchen. Available in 24-inch and 27-inch chassis, the oven comes with a full-extension drawer, 4-hour timer, and a manual...

Energy Mantra.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... "Homes built today are 100 percent more energy efficient than homes built in the 1970s: Voluntary programs make it easy for builders to promote conservation to home buyers, and new housing-construction materials help save on energy use," says...

Target Membership Day.(National Association of Home Builders of the United States)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Goal is for 500 associations to report 6,000 new members. THINGS ARE HEATING UP FOR home builders this summer. Our efforts on Capitol Hill to push affordable housing, regulatory streamlining, and favorable housing finance agendas are...

Revisit ARMs.(Adjustable rate mortgages)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Adjustable-rate mortgages absorb shock in an uncertain economic environment. ADJUSTABLE-RATE HOME MORTGAGES (ARMs) nearly exited the scene in the early months of this year. At that time, the cost of fixed-rate mortgages had slipped below 7...

Census Records.(population and housing)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... The total U.S. population is 281,421,906, a record-breaking increase of 32.7 million people; the largest 10-year population increase in U.S. history. The increase even exceeds that of the baby boom era. Nationally, there are 115,904,641...

Boom Beats.(baby boom generation)(National Association of Home Builders of the United States)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... "Boomers aren't redefining age; they are redefining youth" said Barbara Caplan, keynote speaker at the NAHB's Senior Housing Symposium 2001: Building for Boomers and Beyond, held in Phoenix this past April. Caplan, a partner at the...

Homeless Haven.(East County Transitional Family Center in Antioch, California)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Transitional center helps families. MAY 30TH WAS THE RIBBON cutting ceremony opening the doors for the East County Transitional Family Center in Antioch, Calif. The center is a 100-bed facility, where homeless families can rebuild their...

Best Return.(United States. Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight)(Housing Price Index)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight recently released its Housing Price Index for the first quarter of 2001. Included in this index is a chart that reports on the percentage of change in house prices since 1980. Overall, the...

Around the Bend.(The Parks at Broken Top, Bend, Oregon)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Towering Ponderosa Pines and scenic views of the Cascade Mountains are mesmerizing home buyers in central Oregon. THE PARKS AT BROKEN TOP, LOCATED IN BEND, ORE., IS ATTRACTING YOUNG professionals and empty-nesters alike. The neo-traditional...

Park Place.(Piedmont Park condominium complex, Atlanta, Georgia)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... An urban infill project becomes the hottest condo venture for midtown Atlanta. THE WILBURN HOUSE IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA HAS BECOME A RED-HOT DRAW for the condo market. "It's the only for-sale property directly on Piedmont Park," says David...

A Philadelphia Story.(housing development)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... A former industrial site is a hot property for single-family homes in the city of brotherly love. IN PHILADELPHIA, TEACHERS, FIREMEN, AND CITY WORKERS ARE required to live inside the city limits. Westrum Development's single-family...

PLANS ONLINIE.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... WWW.EPLANS.COM provides builders and homeowners a simple, easily accessible way to streamline one of the most challenging stages of building a home: choosing a house plan. By providing fast and easy-to-navigate options, the process of selecting...

FIELD OF DREAMS.(Surland Construction project information)
July 1, 2001... A mix of conventional and new urbanist planning stirs up a market and exceeds a builder's expectations. Now it's a whole new ballgame. SIXTY MILES EAST OF SAN FRANCISCO, OVER WINDMILL TOPPED ROLLING HILLS, LIES CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL Valley....

WHERE'S THE WOW?(construction industry customer service techniques)
July 1, 2001... IT'S HIGH TIME BUILDERS PUT THE WOW BACK IN CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE BUILDING INDUSTRY JUST SAILED THROUGH 10 years of prosperity, during which builders--yanked along by an insatiable home-buying public -- donned blinders and frenetically...

Hurd Millwork Company.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Enhance home comfort and energy efficiency with Hurd wood, clad or vinyl windows and patio doors. Hurd offers a wide selection of high performance glass options that protect against solar heat gain, cold temperatures, excessive outside noise...

Therma-Tru Doors.(brief website information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Shopping for exterior doors? Explore www.thermatru.com--it's worth the visit. Get the straightforward, useful information you are looking for, including the industry's only interactive door designer, online catalog, technical information,...

Sierra Pacific Windows.(window products information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Sierra Pacific Windows knows what value means for today's builders. Value means on-time delivery. Value means NFRC certification for top-of-the-line energy efficiency. Value means eight standard colors, seven semi-standard colors and virtually...

Marvin Windows and Doors.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The new brochure from Marvin Windows and Doors details the Wood and Clad Ultimate Double Hung's features with product information, sizes, and beautiful photography. Marvin's Ultimate Double Hung windows are classically styled, inside and out....

Simpson Door Company.(new product introduction)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Simpson Door Company is pleased to announce the introduction of a classic new door line: the Craftsman Collection. Inspired by Craftsman architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright's signature design style, the Craftsman Collection features...

Harvey Windows and Doors.(company product information)(Product Information)
July 1, 2001... The Harvey Vicon2000 vinyl new construction window offers more features, options and advantages than any other window on the market. A built-in J-channel pocket allows an easier and cleaner looking installation, a 1/2" channel around the inside...

Plastpro-Distinction Fiberglass Doors.(brief product information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Plastpro-Distinction Fiberglass Doors feature composite edges that won't rot or splinter like wood, deep embossed-panel traditional wood door design, and a limited lifetime warranty. They are available in oak woodgrain and paint-grade smooth...

Masonite.(CraftMaster door products information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The new Coventry[R] Smooth 8-foot design, from CraftMaster[R] Door Designs by Masonite, lends charm to any decor. With its simple, linear face, Coventry adds a handsome, stately look to every room. With the widest range of raised panel interior...

Phoenix Door.(company product development)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Phoenix Door Manufacturing Co. has developed a unique stain grade True Divided Lite Raised Moulding French door with dramatic diamond-point joinery. The door combines sandwich core construction with unique raised barring that eliminates...

Silver Line Windows.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Silver Line has developed The Series 2900 single hung to satisfy the various needs of architects, builders and homeowners. This low maintenance window offers numerous features that result in superior performance, easy installation and a...

Morgan.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Choose Morgan[R] for the best in genuine oak and pine wood stile and rail doors. With a century-old reputation for quality, Morgan offers ten times more exterior designs and three times more interior designs than many other manufacturers.

Windsor Windows & Doors.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Windsor Windows & Doors introduces the first and only easy-tilt double hung with a hinged-back compression jambliner system. This exclusive system makes the Pinnacle Series wood double hung easier to install, require less callbacks and maintain...

VELUX.(skylight product information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The VELUX[R] new Model VSE[TM] Venting Skylight Electric provides homeowners one button access to light and air, and builders with the ease of one box, one purchase, one wire installation. A single hard-wire connection designed for standard...

Champion Doors.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Quality doors at affordable prices. Unlimited designs! Fast delivery! We offer innovative manufacturing techniques and custom capabilities. Our doors are finely crafted interior and exterior solid core wood doors. Champion Doors are made from a...

Norco.(patio doors)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... For those who love the look of a patio door with an arched transom, Norco's new Segment Head line of patio doors offers the same look in a single unit. Available as a Single or French door. In-swing or out-swing. Clad, primed or natural wood...

Weather Shield.(thermal glass)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Weather Shield Legacy Series[TM], with ThermoGold[TM] glass, includes a variety of tilt double-hung, casement, and direct-set aluminum-clad wood windows constructed with improved sightlines, high resistance to strong weather, and greater...

Superseal.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The Superseal Series 1850 new construction double-hung windows provide the quality and features typically found in higher-end windows at an affordable price. A block and tackle system and continuous integral lift rail ensure smooth, consistent...

Milgard Windows.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Milgard Windows introduces the Quiet Line[TM] window, the perfect solution for builders and architects looking for ways to significantly reduce outside noise in homes in high impact areas such as airports or freeways. These windows achieve some...

Pella.(window systems)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... One of the toughest decisions homeowners face is whether to remodel or move--a decision influenced by the amount of financial investment. The Pella Precision Fit Replacement Window System is a cost-effective solution. A full unit with a wood...

HARD CORE.(steel-core insulated paneling)
July 1, 2001... THE RAPID PROCESS OF ERECTING THIS NEW PRE-CUT, STEEL-CORE INSULATED PANEL SYSTEM MAKES OTHER TRADES LOOK SLOW. IN SANDPOINT, IDAHO, AT THE EDGE OF PEND Oreille Lake, the 13th largest body of fresh water on thc planet, a new kind of house...

High Touch.
July 1, 2001... A North Carolina development sells the softer side of technology. TECHNOLOGY IS LIKE ANY OTHER PRODUCT: IF you want buyers to pay a premium for it, you need to make them feel like they need it. One way to do this is to wrap it in a...

A Technology to Watch.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Broadband home security may be the next best thing to being there. MOST BUILDERS DON'T OUTFIT THEIR homes with monitored security cameras. But, now a two-year-old Austin, Texas, company called @Security Broadband Corp. (www.atsecurity.net)...

Layman's Terms.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Don't let the consumer" in its title fool you: the Consumer Electronics Association's page has links to information that could prove useful to pros as well--especially those who need to explain home technology to their clients. One set of pages...

Pass the Popcorn.(home entertainment systems)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Owens Corning's now Visionaire FX is a miniature movie theater. It includes wall and ceiling treatments, a 4-foot by 6-foot screen, a projection system, theater-style chairs, and high-end electronics like JBL and Harmon Kardon. The theater can...

Your Name Here.(labeling equipment)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... your own branded structured wiring package? Advanced Solution Home (www.advancedsolutionhome.com), a division of the Phoenix-based APS energy services offers builders private labeling, local advertising, and hands-on training for sales and...