Builder articles from June 2001

Builder archives from June 2001

Real Time.(Web sites for builders)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Builders are embracing the Internet and creating their own systems and solutions. WHEN REAL COSTS COME IN MORE THAN 10 PERCENT over budgeted specs, Choice Homes automatically generates an e-mail to the project manager with a copy to the...

Calling all Beta Testers for the NEW BUILDER Online.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE the latest rendition of BUILDER Online debuted in January 2000, which organizes the content of BUILDER magazine and other Hanley-Wood publications by subject matter. We've learned a lot since then--drawing from...

BUILDER 100.(100 largest builders in the US)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... BUILDER magazine's latest round-up of the 100 biggest builders in the U.S. is now online, with a searchable, sortable database of the builders, the complete contents of BUILDER'S editorial package, links to the builders' Web sites, SEC filings,...

HOUSING E-mail Weekly.
June 1, 2001... Our electronic newsletter, delivered automatically to your e-mailbox, covers the housing industry and how it is influenced by the Internet.

Daily Products.
June 1, 2001... Our team of product specialists brings you four new products with specs and photos, every weekday.

BUILDER house plans.(with online ordering)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Thousands of house plans, searchable by number of bed rooms and bathrooms, home style, and more--with secure online ordering.

BMAIL.
June 1, 2001... Realistic Expectations WHAT GREAT ADVICE YOU GAVE IN J "Wake-up Call." (Editor's Notes, March, page 21.) I do enjoy your work. VANESSA MARIE HOENIG THOMPSON, CONN. VIA E-MAIL Upgrading Generators I JUST READ...

Banks vs. Brokers.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Banks vying to become new-home brokers. WITH THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND THE Treasury proposing that Congress pass two bills that will allow some banks to enter the real estate business, a war between lobbying superpowers is underway--one that...

Bush Boosts Budget.(George W. Bush's proposed budget for the Housing and Urban Development Department)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... New HUD Secretary Mel Martinez says more Americans will be able to own homes under President Bush's proposed 6.8 percent increase to HUD's budget. The $30.4 billion budget would include a "Renewing the Dream" tax credit to encourage investors...

Coming to Terms.(real estate terms)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... NOVATION: In real estate, a three-party agreement whereby one party is released from a contract or purchase and another one is substituted.

Capital Idea.(housing communities)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Washington metro area's first co-housing community is also a Partnership for Advanced Technology in Housing (PATH) sustainable urban development demonstration project. Members of Takoma Village have worked with PATH and the...

EPS Gets Greener.(expandable polystyrene)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Although extremely efficient insulators, ICFs, SIPs, and other types of foam insulation have one environmental Achilles heel--the pentane "volatized" during the creation of the expandable polystyrene beads use to make the panels. Pentane is...

Entry Call.(Brief Article)
June 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,...

Brownfield Gold.(building on brownfields)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Owners successfully recoup brownfield cleanup costs from polluting industries. HAS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLLUTION FINALLY arrived? It appears so, if a recent San Francisco federal court decision is any indication. The court ruled that the...

Pummeling Pulte.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... NBC "Dateline's" expose on home building warranties targets Pulte. WAS PULTE, THE NA-tion's leading home builder, unfairly singled out in "Dateline's" April 17th report on new-home 10-year insured warranties? Detractors say the report made...

Muslim Loans.(interest-free mortgages)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... American Muslims often have difficulty securing financing. For strict followers of the Islamic faith, the Koran prohibits any type of financial transaction where interest is paid on a debt, Known as "riba," the restriction includes mortgages....

Factory Chic.
June 1, 2001... A century ago, upwardly mobile Americans wanted to live as far away from the factory as possible. Today, with smokestacks gone, they are embracing the country's industrial past. With former industrial buildings now turned cutting-edge lofts...

Green Again.(forestry management at Mount St. Helen, Washington)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Dr. Patrick Moore co-founded Greenpeace, helped stop hydrogen-bomb testing, and saved endangered whales and baby seals. Now he is fighting FOR the forestry industry. Moore compares natural parkland adjacent to 54,000 acres of Weyerhauser-owned...

Low-Flow Lunacy.(U.S. Rep. Joseph Knollenberg's opposition to low-flow toilets)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Like Freddie Krueger, a bill seeking to turn back water-saving plumbing standards has returned from the grave. IN THE FACE OF WORSENING WATER SHORTAGES IN various parts of the nation, U.S. Rep. Joseph Knollenberg's (R-MI) continued effort...

URBAN DESERT?
June 1, 2001... Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman says he hopes to annex the Vegas strip and rebuild the city into "the next great American city." Goodman's vision includes a new downtown arena, a performing arts center, sophisticated urban housing, and a...

HARLEM RENAISSANCE PART II.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2001... Whether former President Clinton opens an office there or not, Harlem is in the midst of a great revival, thanks in great part to Mayor Gulliani's efforts since 1994 to increase property ownership among private citizens. Some Victorian...

POWER SHORTAGE, LINE SHORTAGE.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... For all the warnings of an impending power crisis, many media failed to report that electrical power is undermined by one key weakness: a growing shortage of high-voltage power lines. Strained line capacity will affect more than California,...

SAVING THE SEVEN GABLES.(The House of the Seven Gables)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The House of the Seven Gables, from the novel of the same name, will be the beneficiary of a new $300,000 preservation campaign. The vast and gloomy home built in 1668 in Salem; Mass., is the setting for the literary classic tale of the cursed...

MOUSE TO BAY SPEED TRAIN?(Walt Disney Co.'s opposition to speed train link)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... It seems Florida Gov. Jeb Bush may be in a hot spot--again. A proposed high-speed train is expected to be endorsed by the state's DOT that would link Orlando's airport to tourist stops and theme parks and then stretch to Tampa Bay--but it may...

The Price Is Right.(builder/architect collaboration creates affordable housing)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Value engineering never looked so good, as inexpensive, nostalgic designs spell big success in Nashville, Tenn. IT SOUNDS LIKE A RIDDLE. How CAN BUILDERS deliver charming, well-designed, single-family homes at an affordable price? Well...

Tax Cut Impact.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Housing expected to benefit from deep tax cut. AS CONGRESS DEBATES PRESIDENT BUSH'S proposed $1.6 trillion tax cut, economists are divided as to its impact on housing. "The marriage penalty, estate tax relief, and maybe some marginal...

It Keeps Going & Going.(home building market)
June 1, 2001... Flying in the face of traditional economic theory, home building is doggedly determined to defy conventional wisdom and continue expansion. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HOME BUILDing is a cyclical industry. Whenever the nation's economy begins...

Icy Cool.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... IF SUPERMAN WERE A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE, he'd wear an 'i' on his chest. The 'i' stands for iCEBOX- an Internet-enabled-DVD/CD player-TV-home security monitor-device that does it all without wasting space. Just mount it under a kitchen cabinet...

Fruity Flavors.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... CHILL OUT WITH THESE HOT-COLORED COMPACT REFRIGERATORS. EACH unit offers 1.8 cubic feet of storage including a full-width slide-out cabinet shelf and a shelf inside the door. The refrigerator is equipped with a utility bin tray and a .21...

Color Savior.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THROUGH RAIN, SLEET, AND SNOW, FLOODPRO PROTECTS. Designed to prevent exterior wood discoloration, this clear tannin guard protects the natural look of the wood without covering it up. It can be applied with a garden sprayer, and it dries in...

Level Headed.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... SET YOURSELF STRAIGHT WITH THE PR 15 ROTATING laser level. It's designed for leveling, aligning, and laying out suspended ceilings, drywall, facades, and more. This fully automatic kit features a three-speed control, a Class II laser, and a...

Dawning Door.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES WITH THE AURORA COMPOSITE EXTERIOR DOOR. Filled with a PolyMicro core, the door is cast from a Wood mold for a wood-grain appearance. It's available in 15 designs with additional sidelight choices, multiple glass...

Fold and Go.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... SUMMER'S HERE, SO SHED YOUR GEAR--TRAVEL light with the Palm V portable keyboard. Weighing just eight ounces, this keyboard folds into its own case that's only slightly bigger than the Palm itself. No batteries required, and the keyboard...

High Honors.(Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.'s Leland Brendsel)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Freddie Mac's rapid growth and new programs result in its CEO being named Housing Person of the Year. WITH THE SECONDARY MORTGAGE market expected to net Freddie Mac $1.5 trillion in mortgages this year--the highest amount ever--and several...

Working the Wetlands.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... This Illinois builder/developer erects affordable homes by compensating for wetland restrictions with high-density designs. FOR A COMPANY JUST 10 YEARS OLD, Deer Point Homes Development Corp., of Hainesville, Ill., has quite a track record....

Here to Stay.(traditional neighborhood design(TND) communities appreciate in value)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2001... Contrary to the fears of Realtors, new research shows that homes in TND communities steadily appreciate in value. "WILL, THIS HOME TURN OUT to be a smart purchase when I get ready to resell?" It's a major concern for virtually every home...

Against All Odds.
June 1, 2001... Worsening economy fails to drag down housing starts. HOME BUILDING IS DEFYING CONventional wisdom, logic, and tradition. Instead of leading the economy off an economic cliff, as it has in every recession since World War II, home building is...

Energy Stars.
June 1, 2001... Energy-efficient appliances offer savings to home buyers and can be an easy sale for builders with the right tools. FOR BOB SWAGERTY, PRESIDENT OF Seacoast Builders in North Carolina, there's only so much money to go around when his clients...

At Your Fingertips.
June 1, 2001... New lighting controls incorporate form with function. FOR THE MANUFACTURERS WHO MAKE mounds of traditional white light switches, basic functionality is the main concern. Now, form enters the equation. New lighting controls and dimmers are...

Lumber Agreement Lapses.
June 1, 2001... Quotas that raised home costs by $1,000 are now gone. YEARS OF HARD WORK PAID OFF for the NAHB earlier this spring when the five-year Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) between the United States and Canada was allowed to expire. Under the...

Market Gyrations.
June 1, 2001... Bloom fade from stocks has implications for housing demand. THE INCREDIBLE INCREASES IN stock prices during the latter half of the 1990s provided huge amounts of wealth that fueled consumer spending on a wide range of goods, including...

Home Accessibility.
June 1, 2001... New home brings new freedom. THE HOME BUILDERS Association of Sarasota, Fla., led by Rampart Homes president John King, is donating time and materials to build a wheelchair-accessible home for Paul Salter and his family. ...

Growth Smarts.(Gary Garczynski addresses Senate Smart Growth Task Force forum)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... "You can have a bill and congratulate yourselves for getting it through Congress, if it doesn't have provisions making it practical for a builder like me to do brownfields redevelopment," says Gary Garczynski, a Northern Virginia builder and...

Icons Win.(Del Webb Corp.; Erickson Retirement Communities; GE Appliances; National Investment Center win seniors housing industry awards)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Past NAHB president Bob Mitchell presided over the 2001 Seniors Housing Council's Icons of the Industry Awards given to four companies "for their leadership in developing communities, products, and educational services targeted specifically for...

Fixed, Flaw.(HUD fixes income-eligibility error)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2001... HUD fixed an income-eligibility calculation flaw discovered by NAHB economists. The HUD flaw was in a formula used to determine income ceilings for Section 8 federal housing assistance. Fixing it will lead to thousands of more Americans...

Did You Say Options?(Southdown Homes selling well in Pennsylvania)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2001... Nestled in eastern Pennsylvania, an awesome sales center--showcasing all the options--opens the wallets of active adult buyers. THE DUNWALLIS FLOOR PLAN AT DOWNING FORGE BY THE BRANDYWINE IS creating hefty profits for Southdown Homes in...

Affordability at the Gate.(gated communities in Georgia)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2001... A town that dates back to I8I8 offers a little piece of heaven to its affordability market. DIVORCEES, SINGLE MOMS, FIRST-TIME BUYERS, AND ACTIVE adults are finding an incredible value for their dollar at the Springlake Cove project in...

U-Turn.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... In Washington, well-designed townhomes add prosperity to an area once littered with crack houses. HARRISON SQUARE AT U STREET METRO SITS IN AN AREA OF WASHington that has known despair and destitution but now abounds with prosperity....

LIVING COLOR.
June 1, 2001... Quaint, affordable designs and shades of Norway brighten up a Northwestern town. THE CLUSTERS OF CANDY-COLORED COTTAGES seem right at home in the seaside town of Poulsbo, Wash. The little Norwegian-like fishing town on Bainbridge Island is...

TECHNO COWBOYS.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Going over the cliff with the e-commerce herd is just not on the builder agenda. Big and small builders who grasp "e-conomies" of scale and market promise are taming technology and putting it to work. LOVE IT OR HATE IT, WE CAN'T LIVE...

HOME GROWN: Plain-Jane back-office solution.
June 1, 2001... WHENEVER YOU USE PACKAGED software, you potentially cede elements of running your own company," says Jason Eid, production manager, EID-CO Buildings in Fargo, N.D. "You have to ask: Will you dictate how the system works or will the system...

LEADING THE HERD: Product selection tool prods indecisive buyers.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... HONE YOUR MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND polish your business processes all you want. But the weakest link in home building remains indecisive buyers, whose slow and incomplete product selection can tie up a project in knots. Orren T. Pickell,...

BREAKING THE TRAIL: Customized Interface.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... "OUR GOAL IS TO INTEGRATE BUSIness functions and simplify systems to get all system interfaces to look and work the same to reduce training time and errors," says Mike Rulli, director of information systems for Drees Homes. Rulli, who has...

IT'S ALL IN THE PALM: Surveying tool to speed rehab projects.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THE ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION HELPS novices cross the digital divide and apply technology to speed urban rehabilitation projects. Founded in 1982 by Jim and Parry Rouse, The Enterprise Foundation is a national, nonprofit housing and community...

GATHERING THE HERD: Lucrative industry portal for the go-it-alone builder.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... FOR 16 YEARS, STEVE WEST HAS BEEN building modular homes in Long Island, N.Y. This year he has 35 homes in the pipeline and expects to build 50 by year's end. About four years ago he put up a Web site, (www.modularcenter.com), and it has...

BLAZING THE TRAIL: Virtual sales tool.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... THE MOST LAUDABLE SUCCESS OF RICHmond America's Web site redesign is the sale of a home to first-time home buyers living in Japan. The couple was able to find, tour, finance, and purchase their new home in Arizona completely in the virtual...

ROPING THE WEB: Employee-designed Web site.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... SOMETIMES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK too far for technology solutions. Case in point: Holiday Builders, in Melbourne, Fla., just launched its new Web site created with self-taught, in-house talent. The easy-to-use site provides rich...

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME: Sales tool.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... DALLAS CUSTOM HOME BUILDER, TIMbergreen, is proof you don't have to be big to make your mark online. Six years ago, before registered Web site names were valuable commodities for sale, Timbergreen principal Tom Greico locked up...

CENTERS OF ATTENTION.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... MAKE YOUR SALES CENTER THE PERFECT PLACE TO CLOSE THE DEAL. WHETHER IT'S AN IMPOSING STAND-alone structure, a garage, or even just space set aside in a model, your new-home sales center needs to do two things: showcase the community and...

Follow the Leader.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Award homes try to raise the bar for building technology. WHEN RYAN GREEN GOT HIS JANUARY UTILITY bills, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "The year before, I had two more people living in the house and my gas and electric bills...

Virtual Time.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Wireless service helps contractors track labor costs. THE END-TO-END SOLUTIONS being developed by big housing industry dot-coms aren't the only road to e-business. Some technology companies have decided that a better strategy is to offer...

Tech Transfer.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... New site wants to provide unbiased information on building technology. "JUST THE FACTS." THAT'S how Terre Belt, communications director at the NNHB's Research Center, describes the new Toolbase Web site www.toolbase.org) the center has...

Internet Job Tracker.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Documentation service puts digital progress photos online. MONTROSE, COLO., PLUMBER Charles Adams wanted to get out from under houses yet capitalize on his 23 years in the trades. So he teamed up with Armando Arechiga, an apprentice with a...

Bargain Builder.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Bargain Builder (www.bargainbuilder.com) is an online exchange for excess building materials for small- and medium-sized builders. Rather than selling in bulk, the Raleigh, N.C.--based company buys excess product from manufacturers and...

Designer Media.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The structured wiring system's network connection center consists of a utilitarian box hidden away in a basement or mechanical room. But USTec's new iLAN home networking server has a sleek, modular design that's good enough for a bedroom...

Chemical Warfare.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Think of it as a plague for termites. Introduced into the United States last year by Aventis Environmental Science in Montvale, N.J., Termidor www.termidorhomeowner.com is applied around a home's perimeter, where termites must pass through to...

STAGES OF TERMITE CONTAMINATION.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... * Individual "carrier" termites * Group of infected termites * Termites remaining to be infected in the colony

Roofing & Siding.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Today's roofing & Siding products are built to last longer than ever. Manufacturers are continually improving watertight construction, energy efficiency, fire resistance, and wind and weather resistance. Plus, builders can choose from...

Cutting Shingles With "Shear" Ease.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Shingle Shear, a new tool from Howard Tools, Inc., makes cutting double- and triple-laminated shingles fast, easy and accurate. The shear makes cuts up to 18 inches long in a single chop. Its steel blade can be easily resharpened; the company...

Converting Attic Space Into Conditioned Space.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Today's homeowners need all the space they can get. So why not make attic space usable? North Carolina Foam Industries offers a spray-applied polyurethane foam that can be used to insulate the underside of the roof deck, converting attic space...

Tending to Detail.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Builders can add custom design to the exterior of any home or building with Life-Time Pre-Formed Millwork's architectural enhancements, from RAS Industries. Manufactured so as not to rot, warp, splinter, crack or peel, the product line consists...

Industrial-Strength Cement Sheets.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... If you work on industrial building projects, you know that roofing material must be tough. Profile 6 is a tough product for rough environments, and it's good looking too. Developed by Eternit, Inc., Profile 6 is a corrugated fiber-reinforced...

Durable Fencing and Railing Systems.(Sheerline PVC Fencing System, CableRail aluminum railing systems)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... For fences that meet the highest standards, turn to Sheerline [R] PVC Fencing Systems from L.B. Plastics, Inc. Engineered for easy installation, the fencing systems provide the timeless appeal of traditional fencing combined with the lasting...

Wrought Iron: Strength and Style.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Although wrought iron has long been regarded as an integral decorative building and cultural component of European architecture, for the most part, American architecture has only just begun to recognize and appreciate the beauty and...

Maintenance-Free Deck Products.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... There is no place better than a backyard deck to gather with guests and enjoy a home's exterior surroundings. Superior Plastic Products manufactures 100 percent PVC post and railing systems ideal for your vinyl deck. All installation components...

Gamble House, Pasadena, Calif.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... SOAP SUDS FUNDED THE SYMPHONY IN WOOD THAT BROTHERS Charles Sumner and Henry Mather Greene composed for David Berry Gamble and Mary Huggins Gamble. Turned after the last century, sensuously smooth teak, maple, mahogany Port Orford cedar,...

Only the Best.(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... Looking for the right house plan? Chances are we have it At BUILDER Magazine, we work hard to bring you the very best builder-oriented house plans in the market today. We strive to publish plans from the very best designers in the business,...

Delta[R] Faucet.(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... The new pull-out spray wand from Delta Faucet, available on its Waterfall [R] and Signature [TM] kitchen faucets, is ergonomically designed for ease of operation. It features an enlarged spray pattern, providing a powerful and robust spray. The...

Shingle Shake-Up.(Ambassador Shaker Shingles)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... Ambassador Shaker[TM] Shingles are the world's only tri-laminate shingle. Their 3-dimensional appearance gives a wood shake look, with the same durability as asphalt shingles.

Off The Wall.(Color Systems shelf brackets)(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... Color Systems shelf brackets in 13 fresh designer colors are an easy way to add color anywhere in your new home! Complete kits are available.

DuPont Corian[R].(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... Home buyers are looking for ways to personalize their new home -- before they move in. Corian [R] solid surfaces offer the design flexibility for customized, inviting living spaces that are easy to care for. Authorized Distributors of Corian...

Heatilator[R].(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... Ease of installation just got easier with the addition of two new Novus [R] fireplaces. The depth of these direct vent fireplaces measures 16 inches, allowing for installations where space constraints are an important factor. The option of top...

Masonite Corporation.(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... CraftMaster[R] Door Designs by Masonite, offering beauty and durability, outperform solid pine doors. Available in a variety of styles, sizes and finishes, doors made with CraftMaster designs are on ideal fit with today's trends of painted...

LASCO.(Brief Article)
June 15, 2001... Available in an array of shapes and sizes, our oversized models will easily accommodate two relaxing bathers. Corner installations like the Kayla also offer decorative, efficient use of space. LASCO Bathware offers more features, more power,...