Builder articles from March 2002

Builder archives from March 2002

Beating the odds: It was a tough year, but the housing industry rose to the challenge.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 1, 2002... HOME BUILDING CERTAINLY HAS ITS SHARE OF FRUStrations -- the endless scheduling uncertainties, the big financial risks, the customer service nightmares. But you'd be hard pressed to think of a better business to be in during the last 15 months....

Bmail.
March 1, 2002... On Target YOU ALWAYS READ COMMENTS IN MAGAzines from people who write in about how they were blown away with the magazine's ideas and concepts. This is how I felt after reading "Homelink" (January, page 116). The ideas in this home are...

All dried up: Lack of water may turn off the growth spigot. (Growth Drought).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... NEWHALL RANCH, PLANNED HOME FOR 70,000 Californians, may have dried up on the vine. Across the country, Groveland, Fla.'s partial annexation of Green Swamp for homes, a grocery store, pharmacy, and doctors' offices has been challenged by...

Tools: on the cheap. (Trends, Tips, Cool Stuff).(online auctions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Looking for a way to get more for your dollar on tool purchases? Take a look at online auctions. On eBay, for example, you can save 10 percent to 20 percent on new or refurbished name brands. Visit BUILDER'S Web site at www.builderonline.com...

O'Brien rules. (Trends, Tips, Cool Stuff).(Mark J. O'Brien heads Pulte Homes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Mark J. O'Brien officially took the reins as president and CEO of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.- based Pulte Homes, the nation's largest home builder. O'Brien succeeded chairman and CEO Robert K. Burgess, who retired effective Dec. 31, 2Q01. When...

Fast Track: Call for entries. (Trends, Tips, Cool Stuff).
March 1, 2002... Are you a fast-growing powerhouse? If so, you need to be on our fourth annual Fast Track list of the nation's fastest-growing companies. Published in September, this compilation is the most consulted list of companies to watch! Survey...

Coming to terms. (Trends, Tips, Cool Stuff).
March 1, 2002... NASDAQED: Used to declare that something has tanked--swiftly and surely (like the NASDAQ did recently),... That community was great on the boards, but it Nasdaqed when developers couldn't prove the area had a sustainable water supply."

Banks blocked. (Trends, Tips, Cool Stuff).(from real estate sales)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Three Congressmen introduced legislation to block banks from entering real estate sales, stating that Congress never intended it as an option when it passed the GrammLeach-Bliley Act in '99. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Paul E. Kanjorski (D-Pa.),...

AIA Honors. (Trends, Tips, Cool Stuff).(American Institute of Architects)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... There were several exemplary residential projects among the 34 American Institute of Architects 2002 Honor Awards winners. SEE THROUGH: A wall of glass provides a glimpse into the Rachofsky House. Richard Meier & Partners' Rachofsky...

Added expense. (Trends, Tips, Cool Stuff).(Growth Management Act increases house costs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Washington-state study "Smart Growth and Housing Affordability." adds to the growing body of evidence that growth management does add to housing costs. The study concluded that the state's Growth Management Act added more than $800 a year...

Hamptons high design: an all-star team of architects collaborates on a unique new community. (New Community).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WHAT IF A GROUP OF A-LIST INTERNATIONAL architects got together, and each designed a home in a speculative subdivision? Well, New York developer Harry J. Brown Jr. and architect Richard Meier assembled such a team to build The Houses at...

Punch list: Builder's editors pick the best, worst, and most intriguing housing-related news. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * TWIN CITIES SOFTEN: Minneapolis' multifamily market is seeing prices soften and vacancies on rentals rise according to real estate watch group United Properties' recent report. Despite the dip, construction continues on more than 10,000 new...

Wind walker: Builder editors surf the Net for the coolest new products and materials. (Editors' Internet Pick).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... CEILING FANS HAVE BECOME A MAINSTAY OF virtually every new home. But not all fans are created equal. In fact, according to some research, inefficient fans can produce so much heat from their motors that they can cause household A/C to cycle...

Document the details: Change orders and on-site costs can be reduced with better documentation and more communication. (Cost Cutter).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... CUSTOMER CHANGES DRIVING YOUR SUBS NUTS? There's a better way says Michelle Horstemeyer, a builder for Atlanta's John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods. "Builders make the mistake of not fully documenting what they are building--before the first...

From here to eternity: Top builders post fourth-quarter earnings growth of 28 percent on average as the housing industry roars into 2002. (Year - End Review).
March 1, 2002... WITH THE ECONOMY EXPANDING at 0.2 percent and fourth-quarter earnings growth of nearly 28 percent projected by Raymond James & Associates for six of the top 12 largest home builders--Pulte, Centex, Lennar, Ryland, Toll Brothers, and...

Air apparent. (The Latest and Greatest Building Products). www.senco.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... YOU NEED AIR, BUT THIS AIR-Free 41 finish nailer doesn't. Instead, it uses an internal drive mechanism, replacing cordless pneumatic, battery-powered numbers. The tool is ideal for users who want to move around a jobsite without dragging cords,...

Industrial revolution. (The Latest and Greatest Building Products). www.modernfan.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... THE INDUSTRY FAN CREATES A MODERN, INDUSTRIAL looking interior and gives home buyers a viable alternative to air conditioning. Made from heavy gauge steel stamping, Industry comes in a galvanized steel finish with white blades or in a faux...

Deck down. (The Latest and Greatest Building Products). www.xtendex.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... X TENDEX COMPOSITE DECKING ELIMINATES THE MAINTEnance associated with wood decking because the product is made from polyethylene and natural cellulose fibers. This means it will not rot, warp, or splinter, and it doesn't require painting or...

Vinyl call. (The Latest and Greatest Building Products).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TRADITIONAL VINYL TILES USED TO BE UNEXCITING. THIS COLLECTION of luxury vinyl tiles embraces modern hues--from marble and terrazzo to brushed metal and cork. Each asbestos-free tile is made from solid vinyl with 35 percent recycled content....

Two for one. (The Latest and Greatest Building Products). www.allwaytools.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... TWO TOOLS ARE BETTER THAN ONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN it's a dual purpose product such as this multi-task tape knife. It allows users to handle a variety of tasks, such as dimpling a drywall nail or tightening a screw. The knife is made from tempered...

Seal off. (The Latest and Greatest Building Products).
March 1, 2002... PROPERLY INSULATING AROUND WINDOWS AND DOORS CAN BE tricky business. But R-U Seal all-in-one vapor barrier, thermal insulation, and weather strip makes the job easier. Simply cut the number of sections you need from the roll to fit die window...

Power lunch: Spending quality time with your trades can pay dividends. (Business Break).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU took a subcontractor to lunch? Did you talk about something other than price? Improved communication between a builder and his or her trade partners offers the fastest and best opportunity to improve profits. Many of...

The Other Bubble? the debate on whether housing could falter heats up. (Vital Signs).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... IN AN AMAZING RUN, THE U.S. REAL EState market roared through the twin deflatorss of recession and large wealth losses caused by declining equity values. Home builders, quiet following Sept. 11, have quickly found their collective voice as 2002...

Housing supports. (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... A new report issued shows housing accounts for about 14 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product, or about one out of every seven dollars spent in the United States each year. "New-housing construction and remodeling are powerful drivers...

Allies unite. (NAHB Briefs).(National Association of Home Builders lobbies for housing tax credit)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The NAHB is among the 26 housing and community development groups of the Community Homeownership Credit Coalition pushing for enactment of a federal homeownership tax credit to increase the quantity of affordable housing. Designed to help...

Streamline permitting: Wetland goal--re-institute efficient regulatory framework. (From the President).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... REGULATORY CHANGES FOR WETlands development activities recently announced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) are disappointingly inadequate. They largely mirror existing National Wetland Programs (NWPs) and will bring only marginal...

Profits outpace average: Despite recession, home builders perform well. (Seiders Economy).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... LAST YEAR WAS A DREADFUL YEAR for the U.S. stock market and corporate earnings. However, earnings and stock valuations for publicly traded home builders performed quite well, reflecting some gains in market share as well as growth in net profit...

Homes high. (NAHB Briefs).(increase in sales)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The market for new homes ended the year on a high note, with a 5.7 percent increase to a 946,000-unit rate in December," says Bruce Smith, former NAHB president. "That's the fastest sales pace since March 2001 and signifies a complete rebound...

Fish tale. (NAHB Briefs).(protecting fish habitat)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The NAHB is disappointed in the final regulations issued in January by the National Marine Fisheries Service for protecting habitat of commercial fish species. "The new regulations fail to address the concerns of home builders whose...

Safe haven: New center houses threatened families. (Home Builders Care Corner).(East County Family Transitional Center)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... THE HBA OF NORTHERN California recently completed construction of the East County Family Transitional Center. The center offers a safe haven for hundreds of families, often abandoned women with children or victims of abuse who would otherwise...

Hearts of gold: These builders give their time, money, and love--and inspire the rest of us to do likewise. (Hearthstone Builder Lifetime Public Service Award).(John Wieland, Bernard Drueding)
March 1, 2002... WE'D PROBABLY ALL BE SURPRISED TO KNOW just how many home builders have a lifelong commitment to community service. But two builders in particular have shown incredible dedication to improving the lives of the less fortunate. Making a...

Urban renewal: Since Phoenix has few aged industrial gems-in-the-rough to renovate into urban housing, Artisan Homes is starting from scratch with newly built loft living.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BUILDER ERIC BROWN IS A SELF-DESCRIBED maverick who thought "that in a city of more than two million there ought to be 40 who would want something different." He was more than right. Brown, president of Artisan Homes, has found far more...

Lasting impressions: What homes have had the most influence on builders and architects? Our first annual reader's choice survey finds out. (Reader's Choice).
March 1, 2002... GREAT HOUSES CAN MAKE A VIVID and lasting impression. And it may be memorability--an artfully executed detail, an inspirational view, or a treasured floor plan-that distinguishes the merely good from great architecture. We hear this all...

Torch bearers.(National Sales and Marketing Awards)
March 1, 2002... REPRESENTING WINNERS FROM COAST TO COAST, THE FLICKERING flame of the National Sales and Marketing Awards heralds the arrival of the creme de la creme of 2001's marketing and sales campaigns. Celebrating the best that new--home builders have to...

The great escape: These five hot trends in kitchen and bath products can help you sell big in the new era of home as sanctuary.
March 1, 2002... AMERICANS, ALREADY BOGGED DOWN BY hectic schedules, are facing ever more emotional challenges. The dulling economy and concerns about security have homeowners Looking for an escape route, and many are turning to their homes for safety, comfort,...

Build a competitive tech plan: Define your objective. (Builder Technology Conference).
March 1, 2002... Make no mistake, savvy builders have seized on technology to create operational advantage in the marketplace. They have capitalized on widely available and home-grown tech tools to increase sales, lower operating CostS, and raise profit margins...

Mid-market tech: New companies could make home tech easier for production builders. (Builder Tech).
March 1, 2002... WHILE HOME SYSTEMS INSTALLERS HAVE been around for years, most work with high-end custom builders. Now, home technology subcontractors who cater to the middle-market production builder are on the scene. They will install a base-wiring package...

Never too late. (The Latest and Greatest Tech Products).
March 1, 2002... WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LAST YEAR'S customer calls to ask about a home network? One option would be to recommend the Digital Closet, a wiring hub designed for existing homes. It comes with either a cable or DSL modem, and a router that sends incoming...

Network blocks. (The Latest and Greatest Tech Products).
March 1, 2002... THINK LEGOS. THE TRIO IS the first fully modular structured wiring hub, which makes it easy for the homeowner to add capacity after you leave. A surface-mounted, expandable bracket is small enough (4 1/2 'A inches wide by 11 1/2 inches high) to...

Hear me out. (The Latest and Greatest Tech Products).
March 1, 2002... ARE YOUR CREWS SPREAD OUT OVER A large development? The palm-sized ProTalk XLS radio gives them the robust signal of UHF radio, which can easily penetrate buildings, along with user-friendly features usually found in consumer models, such as a...

Lead management: Automating the process can keep Internet leads from getting away. (Workings).(eCalton automates process for Engle Homes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BUILDERS ARE STILL LEARNING HOW to deal with Internet leads. As recently as last year, for instance, many of the leads Boca Raton, Fla.-based Engle Homes was getting from online referral services like American Home Guides and Homebuilder.com...

Plains online. (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... 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...

Retooling Builder Online. (Missing Links).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... WE KNEW FROM THE START THE REvamped BUILDER Online would be a perpetual work-in-progress. It's one of the advantages of Internet journalism: You can tweak and fine-tune quickly as your audience reacts to the offerings. Which is to say, if...

Traditional triumph. (Builder Plans).(farmhouse)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... This traditional farmhouse uses siding and stone for a stylish facade. The two-story foyer introduces the dining room on the left and the vaulted family room to the rear. With built-ins and a fireplace, the family room is a cozy space for...

A touch of Arts and Crafts. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... This enchanting design offers a touch of Arts and Crafts with porch details and an accent window. The spacious family room is warmed by a massive hearth. The master bedroom features a tray ceiling, rear-porch access, a whirlpool tub, and His...

Townhome silhouette. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... This home boasts a townhouse silhouette with a country-style facade--ideal for a narrow lot. Massive columns anchor a full porch to the New England-style elevation. Inside, the formal dining room opens from the two-story foyer. The island...

Victorian touches. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Precious Victorian accents highlight this outstanding design. An open dining room and spacious great room enjoy stepped ceilings. The kitchen acts as the hub of the house, convenient to all areas, and features a walk-in pantry. The master suite...

Farmhouse favorite. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Horizontal clapboard siding, varying roof planes, and finely detailed window treatments set a delightful tone for this farmhouse favorite. The U-shaped island kitchen serves the formal dining room, which enjoys a bay window and leads to an...

Nostalgic country. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Shingles and open gables accentuate this familiar and loved country home. Inside, the split bedrooms provide seclusion for the master suite. Featuring a grand bath and a walk-in closet, the master suite also enjoys a stepped ceiling. Open great...

Country flair. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Many windows, lap siding, and a covered porch give this elevation a country welcome. The formal dining room with hutch space is conveniently located near the island kitchen. Highlighting the spacious great room are a raised-hearth fireplace, a...

Detailed facade. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Don't let the bricks and classic columns fool you--this is one home that's fully prepared for the new age. A spacious great room offers an entertainment center a massive fireplace, and, best of all, access to a private side patio. Casual dining...

Window display. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Thick columns supporting the porch, plenty of multi-paned windows, and a turret create a lovely country retreat. A large family room opens from the covered porch, complete with a warming fireplace. The master suite features a walk-in closet....

Front-facing den. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... This attractive design combines traditional charm with a very livable floor plan. The family room, featuring a fireplace, opens to the nearby kitchen and breakfast nook. A den, or home office, is well situated inside the front entrance. The...

Pillared perfection. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Double pillars are offset from the front door of this home and introduce a porch that leads to the den. Living areas center on the casual life and include a great room, with a fireplace, that opens directly to the dining room. The master suite...

Alterna[R]. (The Builder's Journal). www.alternadoors.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The industry's first fusion-crafted exterior wood composite door. Alterna by Door Craft [R] provides the best of wood, steel and fiberglass without the drawbacks. A beautiful entrance door with proven performance. It won't dent or split and...

Impression[TM] Mirror door by DoorCraft[R]. (The Builder's Journal) www.doorcraftdoors.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Impression Mirror door from DoorCraft adds beauty and dimension to any room. The Impression Mirror door is ideal fur use in a bedroom, bathroom or closet. Applications include sliding pocket door, sliding bypass unit, or swinging passage doors....

IWP[R]. (The Builder's Journal). www.iwpdoor.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Aurora, the worlds finest composite doors. Beautiful doors specifically engineered to withstand the harshest elements. The Aurora line is an excellent value, designed to reflect all of the beauty, texture and weight of a premium hardwood door...

Morgan[R] Choose. (The Builder's Journal). www,morgandoors.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Morgan for the best in genuine oak, merantimahogany, 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...

Norco[R] Radius Head Clad Wood Patio Door. (The Builder's Journal). www.norcowindows.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Norco patio door line now includes a radius head patio door and a half-panel clad patio door. For those who love the look of a patio door with arched transom. The sophisticated designs combine the look of bygone elegance with modern...

Caradco[R] SmartFit[TM] Clad Wood Double-Hung Window. (The Builder's Journal).
March 1, 2002... An affordable, high-quality builder's window engineered to your requests. Tilt-in removable top and bottom sash; Aluminum clad exteriors in 3 colors; High-performance Argon-filled LoE2[R] Natural wood interiors or pro-painted white are only a...

Nord[R]. (The Builder's Journal).
March 1, 2002... Nord[R], known for intricate detail, dramatic designs and unparalleled selections that demonstrate wood's beauty. The Nerd offering includes fir, meranti-mahogany, as well as hemlock. Products include exterior, 8'0" and interior doors,...

Pozzi[R] Precision. (The Builder's Journal) www.pozzi.com.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Double-Hung Building on the artful and innovative designs that have distinguished its products for the past 34 years, Pozzi Wood Windows [R] is pleased to introduce the Precision Double-Hung Window. This is an enhanced product that delivers the...

Summit[R] Series 9000 MagnaFrame[TM]. (The Builder's Journal).
March 1, 2002... The Summit 9000 Series is a new, vinyl, wide profile, architecturally designed window, offered as single-hung, double-hung, slider or custom fired. With the benefits of vinyl and wood in one, the Series 9000 is low maintenance, energy efficient...

DoorCraft[R] Exterior Steel doors. (The Builder's Journal).
March 1, 2002... You'll find wood or steel edge options along with 24- and 25-gauge galvanized steel faces that are ready for a variety of finishes, or ready to install with no finishing required. These rugged, rustproof and energy-efficient quality doors are...

The IWP[R] Estate[TM] Collection. (The Builder's Journal).
March 1, 2002... This new door line from IWP is beautifully handcrafted, built with old-world craftmanship for new world architecture. These beautifully aged wooden doors match any architectural style. The IWP Estate Collection includes 30 dour designs built...

Caradco[R] Tradition Plus Casement Window. (The Builder's Journal).
March 1, 2002... The Tradition Plus line of clad casement windows from Caradco are designed to he more appealing in terms of energy efficiency and beauty. Aluminum cladding on the sash is mitered for a more visually pleasing appearance and enhanced performance....

Kitchen & Bath. (Special Advertising Section).
March 1, 2002... With many people renewing their commitment to quality time at home with family and friends, kitchens and baths -- already two of the most popular roams in the home -- will be in use more than ever. These two roams are the heart of the home, the...

Flooring. (Special Advertising Section).
March 1, 2002... The type of flooring chosen for a room can dramatically affect its look and function. That's why flooring decisions are important to homeowners and builders. Many homeowners focus on the visual aspects of flooring, opting for the timeless...

Newpoint, Beaufort, S.C. (Walk Through).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A LOW-COUNTRY ISLAND NECKLACE SHELTERS HISTORIC Beaufort, S.C., from the Atlantic. A decade ago, developers Vince Graham and Bob Turner found bucolic Lady's Island perfect for Newpoint, their 54-acre neighborhood: 127 residential narrow lots...

New frontiers: Winning strategies for hot new markets; Every company needs to be on the cutting edge of new market opportunities, especially given today's economic challenges. But no one should go out to the edge alone. (Builder Marketing Conference).
March 1, 2002... That's why we offer the BUILDER Marketing Conference. This is the best place to hear from builders who have pioneered new markets for active adult, suburban infill, in-town, and other alternatives to conventional home building. These are the...

Traditional Styling. (Builder Plans).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Traditional styling and refined country flair make this home ideal for new or older neighborhoods. The open and flowing layout has the sun room, family room, breakfast area, and kitchen graciously grouped together. A see-through fireplace...

Shutters Add Charm. (Builder Plans).(traditional home)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Siding and shutters add a charming country style to this traditional home. The family room is flanked by the kitchen! breakfast area and a bedroom that doubles as a den. Upstairs, four bedrooms overlook the family room and foyer. Please specify...