Builder articles from March 2003

Builder archives from March 2003

Tough questions: what draws people to new homes? Is it the quality of construction or the desire to escape maintenance? (Editor's Note).
March 1, 2003... LIKE MANY PEOPLE, I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THE FIRST home my wife and I bought. I wistfully remember the day several neighbors helped me build a huge play structure out of treated lumber in the backyard. I remember pleasant summer evenings with...

Bmail.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... TND Resource WE RECENTLY FINISHED OUR CHARRETTE with Jeff Speck/DPZ here in Durango, Colo., for a 2,500 du development, to be constructed with our new $76 million regional hospital. Calthorpe Associates are also doing another TND (850 du)...

Callbacks.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... DUE TO AN INADVERTENT ERROR IN "Top Shelf' (January, page 76), the price shown for Windsor One's Colonial Revival Crown molding was only for one piece, it should have been $3.55 to $4.15 per lineal foot for the build-up. In "Hot Sellers"...

States tackle sprawl: failure of townships and counties to address sprawl has some state governments assuming control of growth planning. (House Blend).
March 1, 2003... LIKE MARYLAND'S FORMER GOVERNOR, PARRIS Glendening, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey has grabbed the sprawl bull by the horns. In New Jersey, he says, most of the biggest problems people face come back to one root cause. "It is time to...

Wrong tax. (House Blend).(HBA of Connecticut is vigorously opposing the doubling of the State's conveyance tax )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The HBA of Connecticut is vigorously opposing the doubling of the State's conveyance tax to offset the state's budget deficit. The state is $650,000 in debt this fiscal year and projects a $1.5 billion shortfall for fiscal 2004. Under the...

S.C. style. (Big Deals).(Lennar Corp. acquires Seppala Homes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... In its first acquisition of the year, Miami--based Lennar Corp. in January purchased South Carolina--based Seppala Homes, which closed roughly 400 homes in 2002. Terms were not disclosed for the cash deal.

Industry loss. (House Blend).(Masco Corp. president and COO Ray Kennedy dies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Ray Kennedy, one of the most admired executives in the industry, died unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack in early February. Kennedy, 60, was president and COO of Masco Corp., a $10 billion manufacturer and installer of building products...

Three in one. (House Blend).(BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI merge)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Three model-code organizations officially merged in a formal signing ceremony at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 21. BOCA, ICBO, and SBCCI had already founded the International Code Council (ICC) in 1994, ICC developed the...

Second homes. (House Blend).(results of a study by the National Association of Realtors)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A new study by the National Association of Realtors has some surprising news about second homes. There are a total of roughly seven million second homes, about twice as many as previously thought. Vacation homes represent about 6 percent of all...

Pike Creek Valley, Del.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... PIKE CREEK VALLEY IS A LANDMARK AND LEGACY. WRITER Henry Snelling opines that it is "as much a state of mid as neighborhood." In the 1960s, third-generation builder Leon N. Weiner and a consortium of developers bought 1,100 acres traversed by...

Taxing situation: California city imposes new tax to offset growth and budget cuts. (Revenue Strategies).(Elk Grove, California)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... FACED WITH EXPLOSIVE POPULATION GROWTH and the threat of state aid cuts due to California's multibillion-dollar budget deficit, the city of Elk Grove has added two new taxes totaling 3275 to the annual tax bill of new homeowners. The new taxes,...

Power of 'we': Virginia builder finds unexpected savings as a result of team-based customer service. (Cost Cutter).(Renaissance Homes is the builder)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... AS A BUILDER OF EXECUTIVE AND ESTATE HOMES in the Washington area, Renaissance Homes knows the importance of customer satisfaction. But it wasn't until the Reston, Va.--based company switched to a ream-based approach that it discovered the...

Roll out the carpet. (House Blend).(International Design Guild sets standards for budgeting for carpet in the home for the year 2003)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... The International Design Guild in Manchester, N.H., has set standards for budgeting for carpet in the home for the year 2003. FOR THE MONEY 2003 standards for budgeting carpet Value of Per square home foot ...

Fantasy denied. (House Blend).(Historic preservation board of Delray Beach, Florida, opposes Frank McKinney's air conditioned treehouse )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... When Delray Beach, Fla.-based developer Frank McKinney erected a 23-foot-high treehouse on his property, he thought he was fulfilling a boyhood dream. But the city's historic preservation board didn't agree. They unanimously voted that the...

EPA guidance? (House Blend).(Army Corps of Engineers are involved in new guidelines concerning isolated wetlands)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The federal EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers now want field staff to contact headquarters in Washington before issuing a permit in isolated wetlands. The new guidelines were issued as a follow-up to a 2001 Supreme Court decision that limited...

Long suffering: a new report finds that citizens on Native American lands spend too much of their income on poor-quality housing. (Shelter Wanted).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... GROUP OF RESEARCHERS FROM THE NONPROF-it Housing Assistance Council (HAC) in Washington have more bad news about housing conditions on Native American lands. Taking the Ogllala Lakota Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota as their...

Tool time: information, service, and e-commerce links make Bosch's site sticky. (Editor's Internet Pick).(Bosch Tool Co. has redesigned its Web site)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... THE BOSCH TOOL CO. HAS REDESIGNED ITS Web site (www.boschtools.com), adding three new "community pages" and improving its home page. The site offers virtual tool demonstrations and links to other. Web sites. It contains woodworking industry...

Dented damages: Texas judge dramatically reduces notorious $32 million mold award. (Verdict Reduced).
March 1, 2003... MOLD HYSTERIA TOOK A HIT IN DECEMBER, when a Texas appeals court judge sliced a jury's news-making $32 million award to a homeowner for mold and water damage. The state's Third District Court of Appeals, saying that there was "no evidence"...

Builders file lawsuit: Mississippi builders say impact fees are illegal taxes. (Impact Fees).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... THE HBA OF MISSISSIPPI RECENTLY FILED A lawsuit against the seaside city of Ocean Springs, claiming that impact fees the city passed in January are illegal taxes. Developers and planners say the case will be watched closely statewide because if...

Boxed in. (Top Shelf).
March 1, 2003... THE ACCUMULATION OF COMBUSTIBLE LINT IN THE BENDS and crimps of exhaust ductwork behind dryers is the third leading cause of fire. The Dryerbox was invented as a solution. Its recessed design allows the dryer to be pushed back against the wall...

Stone wall. (Top Shelf).
March 1, 2003... LIBERTY CLASSIC STONE IS A LIGHTWEIGHT MANUFACTURED PRODUCT that has a 3-inch thickness so it can be laid by masons in the same manner as real bricks. The molded product replicates the shape, texture, and color of real stone and can be used in...

Painter's pal. (Top Shelf).
March 1, 2003... THE MAKER OF PAINTER'S PUTTY '53' says the product is designed for the special needs of professional painters. Made from a blend of oils and fillers, it will stick to projects and not hands. The putty does not contain or need any water to stay...

Child's play. (Top Shelf).
March 1, 2003... KIDS ARE PEOPLE TOO, SO WHY NOT GIVE THEM the grown-up goods? This creative child's bathroom line includes lavatory faucets, Roman tub set, tub and shower set with pressure balance single-lever controls, and hand shower set and slide bars. All...

On the grid. (Top Shelf).
March 1, 2003... THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS FLOORING PRODUCT SAYS THAT IT CAN REDUCE your sub-flooring installation time by more than 20 percent. That's because the AdvanTech VIP+ flooring features a grid printed directly on the surface that serves as a guide for...

Light show. (Top Shelf).
March 1, 2003... THIS FLASHLIGHT USES AN LED INSTEAD of a conventional bulb and generates five minutes of light after it has been shaken for 15 to 30 seconds. As a result, it never needs bulbs or batteries. Measuring II 1/2 inches long, the waterproof...

Party on: Rivermark's grand-opening event brought 10,000 potential buyers and jump-started sales. (Market Smarts).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... THE 152-ACRE RIVERMARK IN SANTA CLARA, Calif., is part of a 225-acre master plan campus anchored by Sun Microsystems. The community's grand opening on June 29, 2002, was a two-day, fun-filled event with an on-site budget of $150,000. Food...

Inside the box: direct mail campaign employed polished-wood cases inviting million dollar--plus buyers to call Suwannee, Ga., home. (Market Smarts).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... MAKE IT SPECIAL, CREATE SOME URGENCY AND THEY WILL buy. At Least that was the idea with beautiful boxes sent to carefully targeted affluent buyers that treated lot sales as if they were rare jewels to be carefully acquired. And it worked....

Closer than you think: picnic in the park lured brokers to Stonehouse in Toano, Va., to spur broker sales and overcome objections that Stonehouse is too far away. (Market Smarts).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... THOUGH RANKED As ONE OF THE BEST COMMUNITIES IN THE South by Living Southern Style magazine, Stonehouse was experiencing slow sales. Brokers weren't participating in community sales that targeted locals as well as Mid-Atlantic active adults....

Cost-cutting teardowns: new research shows how clever use of demolition materials can greatly defray infill costs, at the same time easing environmental impacts. (How-To).
March 1, 2003... AS URBAN INFILL CONSTRUCTION BECOMES EVER MORE DESIRABLE, many builders fear the "hidden" costs associated with demolishing and trucking away old factories, warehouses, or derelict housing. According to Amy Bauman, founder of greenGoat, a...

Going strong: largest public builders' deliveries hover around the 30,000 mark. (Vital Signs).(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2003... IN YET ANOTHER BOOM YEAR, BIG builders best themselves again. Pulte Homes leads the 2002 pack in overall closings, building a total of 36,450 homes, 28,903 of them in the United States and 7,547 in other countries, according to fiscal-year...

CertainTeed offers a variety of programs for "green" homes. (Special Advertising Section: Conference Sponsor Company Profile).(Company Profile)(Advertisement)
March 1, 2003... CertainTeed is committed to help builders construct more energy-efficient and comfortable houses that save money and valuable resources. The company achieves this goal through its participation in a number of programs, including: the...

Green building builds a better environment. (Special Advertising Section).
March 1, 2003... In 1991, Austin, TX was the only residential green building program in the United States. Today, the NAHB Research Center tracks 24 operating or developing programs nationally. Between the years 1990 and 2001, there were approximately 18,800...

The National Green Building Conference and awards. (Special Advertising Section).
March 1, 2003... March 30 - April 1, 2003 Marriott Waterfront, Baltimore Sponsored by the NAHB Research Center, the National Green Building Conference is the only national event targeted to the mainstream residential building industry. Conference attendees...

Conference At-A-Glance. (Special Advertising Section).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Conference At-A-Glance Here's a look at the complete conference program... DATE TIME SESSION Sunday, 8:00AM - 6:00PM Registration/Information Open March 30 10:00AM - 3:00PM ...

Hip hip hooray: steal these trends, and your buyers will get products that help them stand out in a crowd.
March 1, 2003... MUCH LIKE OPINION POLLS, Trying to figure out what home buyers want is an inexact Science. Take a look at what's flying off the shelves in design centers, however, and the picture becomes clearer. Yes, more than ever, people lead hectic...

Call for secondary market: the secondary market for home mortgages is successful. Why not a similar program for land acquisition, development, and construction? (From the President).
March 1, 2003... THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE PRESENCE OF a strong secondary mortgage market has revolutionized home financing. And as anyone who was active in the housing market prior to the emergence and growth of the secondary mortgage market can tell you,...

Record breaker. (NAHB Briefs).(International Builders' Show gets record-breaking attendance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Though early estimates for the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas were 80,000, the final count was a record-breaking attendance of 92064. The NAHB/NCHI's New American Home also beat all previous attendance records for an off-site...

Bob's Blueprint. (NAHB Briefs).(HIT Entertainment, distributor of "Bob the Builder," is a cosponsor of the "Blueprints for Home Safety" program)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Unintentional injury is the No. 1 killer of America's children: more than 4.5 million children are injured in their homes every day. The NAHB and HIT Entertainment, the company that distributes the children's television show "Bob the Builder,"...

Report questioned. (NAHB Briefs).(Financial Service Roundtable recommendations are questioned)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The NAHB expressed serious concerns about recommendations published in January by the Financial Services Roundtable that it feels could seriously hamper the ability of the housing government sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie...

Fiscal stimulus: a look at the fiscal proposals unveiled by the Bush administration and the Democratic leadership. (Seiders Economy).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... THE U.S. ECONOMY WAS ESSENTIALLY dead in the water as 2002 ended, and uncertainties about 2003 were heightened by the situations in Iraq, North Korea, and Venezuela. But new fiscal policy stimulus apparently will be added to the economic...

Smart aging wins: students win awards designing for those who want to "age in place". (The NAHB Research Center Corner).(National Center For Seniors' Housing Research announce award winners)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... IN JANUARY, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR Seniors' Housing Research (NCSHR) announced the winners of its third annual national student design competition, "Aging in Place: An Open Design Competition for Students." The NCSHR is a cooperative effort...

Go exports. (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... On Jan. 23, Linda Conlin, assistant secretary of commerce for trade development with the Commerce Department, and Gary Garczynski, 2002 NAHB president, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for a public/private...

Red tape removed. (NAHB Briefs).(FHA no longer requires approval of an entire Planned Unit Development to get mortgage insurance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... As of Jan. 22, FHA no longer requires approval of an entire Planned Unit Development as a precondition for placing FHA mortgage insurance on a dwelling located within the development. The NAHB applauded HUD's change in policy, saying it will...

Hot sellers.(Building projects are discussed)
March 1, 2003... A Linked to the Links Riverview Estates, Forks Township, Pa. WHY IT WORKED: Buyers flocked to this project for its unique designs, proximity to a golf course, and attractive pricing. * The project was targeted to first- and...

Front porch news: the Herculean efforts of city planners turn a Northern California brownfield into an inviting a place to live.(Hercules, CA, fixes itself up)
March 1, 2003... UNTIL RECENTLY, THERE weren't a lot of reasons to get off Highway 80 at Hercules, Calif. In fact, many San Franciscans probably aren't familiar with the little town, which is on the Bay side 16 miles north of Oakland. But a forward-thinking...

The 2003 watermark awards: builder's first kitchen and bath contest makes a big splash.
March 1, 2003... JUST AS A WATERMARK INDICATES A FINE PIECE of paper, made from the finest materials with exquisite craftsmanship, our new contest recognizes the best in kitchens and baths. The winners were chosen from production homes, custom homes, and...

Urban adventure: faced with a dwindling supply of land, builders large and small make urban infill work for them.
March 1, 2003... WITH ITS HIP REPUtation and resource efficient sensibility, urban represents one of the solutions to the land and resource crunch that we at BUILDER covered in our January issue ("Material World," page 272). But as smart an answer as infill...

The main attraction: what draws buyers to new homes? Is it that you build a better home than the builder down the street? No, it's not.
March 1, 2003... Second in a three-part series examining what motivates new-home buyers vs. what builders and contractors think motivates them. BUILDERS CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES. They want to tell you in intricate detail how they build a better home than the...

Next in line: if you want your family business to survive past the founding generation, start your succession planning now.
March 1, 2003... TED BOSGRAAF ALWAYS EXPECTED to leave his company to his children. "I told my kids over time that the year I turned 65, I would be selling the business to them," says Bosgraaf who founded Holland, Mich.-based Bosgraaf Builders with his son...

Tower of power: wireless backbone saves Shea Homes thousands in telecom costs. (Builder Tech).
March 1, 2003... ONE OF THE GREAT CHALLENGES BUILDERS face on any new project is how to set up data communications at a site where none exist. For its 444-unit Scripps Ranch project last year, the San Diego division of Shea Homes built a wireless backbone...

Quick support. (Builder Tech).(Intuit adds list of 22 third-party applications for construction that integrate with QuickBooks)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Intuit added to its Quick-Books Solutions Market-place recently by developing a list of 22 third-party applications for construction that integrate with QuickBooks. Builders can learn more by logging on to marketplace. intuit.com and clicking...

The right touch. (Builder Tech).
March 1, 2003... Home Automation Inc. will ship its new Omni-Touch touchscreen interface later this month for the company's Omni line of integrated security and home controllers. OmniTouch recently won the CES Innovations 2003 Award in the Integrated Home...

EZ does it: collaboration software lets builders hold long-distance meetings. (Builder Tech).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... TIRED OF YOUR JOB SLOWING DOWN BE-cause your engineer is in one place, your project superintendent another, and you need to meet with both together? One solution is eZ 3, formerly eZmeeting, from Sigma Design, which lets managers at the main...

A web win. (Builder Tech).
March 1, 2003... The Internet is now equal to newspapers as an information source for new-home shoppers in the Washington metro area, according to BeHomeWise. The lead management company asked 19,000 shoppers during the last two quarters of 2002 which sources...

Well funded. (Builder Tech).(BuildLinks)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... BuildLinks, a Web-based customer management tool that lets builders and customers use an electronic calendar to manage options and selections, recently secured $2 million in second-round funding. The funding was received from Southeast...

One-way ticket: MISG offers single integrated solution for builders. (Builder Tech).
March 1, 2003... BACK IN 1999, MARONDA HOMES RAN A legacy accounting, job costing, and estimating package from MISG Software Solutions that was essentially an old-fashioned IBM AS/400 green screen application. Now, Maronda uses HomeSoft, MISG's updated system...

E-commerce gets real: online relationships between builders and suppliers are finally catching up with the rest of the world. Here's how it's working for one company.
March 1, 2003... TWO YEARS AGO, THE NOTION OF BUILDing suppliers using e-commerce with their customers was mostly talk and hype. Today, it's saving builders time and money and providing dealers with loyal customers. One of the best examples of where this...

What's new at BUILDER Online: join the BUILDER Online advisory panel. (Missing Links).
March 1, 2003... AS REPORTED LAST MONTH, WE CONducted a focus group on BUILDER Online at January's 2003 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. Building industry pros from across the country weighed in with comments on BUILDER Online. Their opinions will...

Builder plans.
March 1, 2003... FEATURING NEW PLANS FROM THE NATION'S LEADING DESIGNERS Double Porches A simplified country facade suits the easy layout of this plan. Formal rooms flank the foyer; the family room, kitchen and breakfast nook will be the hub of casual...

The complete package: here, in one place, is everything you need to profit from house plans.(Brief Article)
March 15, 2003... You are holding in your hands the biggest issue devoted to house plans that we've ever published. It contains a record 1,000 house plans, 250 more than last year, and all of them very buildable. But that's not all that's special about this...

Homebuyers go where they feel most comfortable.
March 15, 2003... Homebuyers choose builders they trust and feel have their best interests in mind. And nothing shows that better than offering them the innovative total system approach from Carrier. The Carrier system approach allows you to deliver the optimum...

Hooked up: it pays to think through high-tech options before construction starts.
March 15, 2003... The futuristic scenarios are endless. You're low on milk; your refrigerator knows it and sends a signal to an online store ordering a half-gallon to be delivered in the morning. The filter in your furnace is due to be replaced--a flag goes into...

Instead of one or two new options, eagle introduces five new innovations.(new products from Eagle Window and Door Inc)
March 15, 2003... Eagle is proud to introduce five significant new ideas that can help your homes stand out. Two advanced blind systems. Eagle's between-insulated-glass blinds for doors and rectangular auxiliary windows are securely sealed in a...

The green machine: including "earth-friendly" building products in a new home is simple and cost-effective.
March 15, 2003... To some people, the phrase "earth-friendly home" still conjures visions of solar panels bolted to a roof, a massive windmill Out back, and exterior walls made of recycled tires. But today, as most builders know, the reality is nowhere near that...

Get more--for less: put extra thought into planning an energy-efficient home now and watch the savings grow later!(Column)
March 15, 2003... When dreaming of a new home, most people conjure up images of gabled dormers, wrap-around porches, elegant foyers, and a grand master bath replete with luxurious amenities. They don't think first of tightly sealed air ducts, well-packed...

Designer profiles: take a look at some of builder's top-notch designers.(brief looks at numerous architectural firms)
March 15, 2003... Home Design Services Home Design Services, established by CEO Jim Zirkel in 1971, is a full service architectural firm, located in Orlando and Jacksonville, serving Florida coast to coast. Luxury homes to production housing are his forte,...

Featured home plans.
March 15, 2003... Plan: HWM082008 Total: 2,687 sq. ft. 1st floor: 1,928 sq. ft. 2nd floor: 759 sq. ft. Bonus: 330 sq. ft. Dimensions: 58'-0" x 51'-0" Foundation: Basement, Crawlspace Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3 Price Code: D...

Carrier. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).
March 15, 2003... The WeatherMaker[R] Two-Speed Air Conditioner with Puron[R] refrigerant will keep your customers cool all summer long while providing maximum efficiency. In addition, Carrier has incorporated its exclusive Silencer System into the design. The...

Royal Crown Limited's Deck Lok[TM] vinyl decking system. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... Royal Crown Limited's Deck Lok Systems[TM] have several unique features, including a patent-pending snap connection system, variegated surface with wood grain appearance, and UV inhibitor. They feature different colors on each side of the deck...

EON. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... eon[R] is a remarkable alternative decking system that provides the beauty and feel of natural wood. By virtually removing the inevitable splitting, fading, cracking and warping, eon[R] has clearly distinguished itself as the finest and most...

Eagle Window & Door, Inc. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... Introducing the new EAGLE B-Tilt Double-Hung Window. It's incredibly easy to operate. Just turn both lock levers and the mechanism releases, allowing the sash to tilt inward. After cleaning, simply push back into place with one hand. Wood and...

Bilco. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... Add living space, comfort and value to your homes. ScapeWEL[R] window wells turn ordinary basements into added saleable square footage by adding light, ventilation, and code-compliant emergency egress. Constructed of high-density Polyethylene,...

Certainteed. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).
March 15, 2003... CertainTeed Siding--the leader in Choices! Select the industry's number one vinyl siding brand, CertainTeed, first in colors, versatility and performance. Or pick CertainTeed WeatherBoards FiberCement Siding, the best-performing fiber cement...

Fantech. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... Fantech introduces a new line of residential Heat Recovery and Energy Recovery Ventilators to improve indoor air quality in tightly built homes. These high performance, low maintenance units are easy to operate with attractive multi-function...

The GEODECK[TM] Deck & Railing System. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... With three board profiles in three beautiful colors, exceptional durability and weatherability; and a 20-year limited warranty, GEODECK is the top choice for a great-looking deck that's virtually maintenance free! Kadant Com-posites Inc. Toll...

Masonite International Corporation. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... With the ultimate goal of adding beauty and value to every home, Masonite [R] introduces the new Palazzo [TM] Series Collection. The distinct raised mouldings, unique high-definition panel profiles and an exceptionally smooth surface make the...

Simonton windows. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... Builders can now select top-quality vinyl windows and patio doors in the Simonton ProFinish[R] Master, Simonton ProFinish[R] Contractor and the Simonton ProFinish[R] Builder series product lines. Windows feature 34-inch insulating glass for...

Hurd windows. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... Builders have even more options to create energy-efficient homes with Hurd's newly redesigned casement and awning windows. The windows include a sash that is built to the most stringent American Architectural Manufacturing Association (AAMA)...

Silestone. (Special Advertising Section: Hot New Products).(Advertisement)
March 15, 2003... Silestone is the natural quartz surface that offers builders, designers and consumers alike the answer they seek for their surfacing needs. Silestone is highly scratch resistant and highly stain resistant. Does not need sealing and is available...

Gallery of homes.
March 15, 2003... Plan: HWM08005 Total: 4,186 sq. ft. 1st floor: 1,883 sq. ft. 2nd floor: 2,303 sq. ft. 3rd floor: 250 sq. ft. Dimensions: 46'-2" x 71'-2" Foundation: Crawlspace Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 3 1/2 Price Code: F ...

Best-selling one-story homes.
March 15, 2003... Plan: HWM080033 Total: 2,590 sq. ft. Dimensions: 73-6" x 64-10" Foundation: Slab Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3 1/2 Price Code: D [c]Fillmore Dsign Group With a solid exterior of rough cedar and stone, this new French...

Best-selling two-story homes.
March 15, 2003... Plan: HWM080069 Total: 2,791 sq. ft. 1st floor: 1,624 sq. ft. 2nd floor: 1,167 sq. ft. Dimensions: 55'-0" x 68'-0" Foundation: Slab Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3 Price Code: D [c] Home Design Services, Inc. ...

Narrow-lot homes.(home plans detailed by firm)
March 15, 2003... Plan: HWM080099 Total: 1,976 sq.ft. 1st floor: 924 sq.ft. 2nd floor: 1,052 sq.ft. Dimensions: 44'-8" x 36'-0" Foundation: Basement Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 21/2 Price Code: B [c]Drimmond Designs, Inc. ...

First-level master suites.(home plans detailed by firm)
March 15, 2003... Plan: HWM080120 Total: 2,700 sq. ft. 1st floor: 1,900 sq. ft. 2nd floor: 800 sq. ft. Dimensions: 63'-0" x 51'-0" Foundation: Walkout Basement Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 2 1/2 Price Code: D [c]Stephen Fuller,...