Builder articles from May 2001

Builder archives from May 2001

A Job Well Done.(top 100 builders)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Although the market slowed somewhat last year, it was still a great year for the top 100 builders. THEIR BANDIT SIGNS CLOG MAJOR INTERSECTIONS. Their ads monopolize the real estate section of the newspaper. Their spots run on radio and...

BMAIL.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2001... Suggestion Box I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO more articles on steel stud home construction. I am building a new home using this type of construction and love it. I am finding that more and more homes are being built with it and would...

Clarification.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2001... I APPRECIATE YOUR COVERAGE OF COHEN Brothers Homes' new-home building technology (March, page 179). The article gave an excellent overview of our comprehensive Residential Building System. However, the statement that our patent is on the...

Sprawl Dies of Thirst.(water shortage impacts building)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Lack of available water threatens to confine development to metro regions of booming areas. PROSPECTS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT ARE DRYing up in Douglas County Colo. Los Angeles has run out of both water and land. Residents of Dodge City Kan.,...

M.D.C. Expands.(acquires K E and G Homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... In January, M.D.C. Holdings, under its subsidiary Richmond American Homes, claimed another title, largest Tucson, Ariz., builder, after acquisition of the home building assets of KE&G Homes. Richmond American picked up some 425 lets end 60...

Coming to Terms.(unearned increment defined)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... UNEARNED INCREMENT: an increase in value to land, home, or properties unrelated to effort on the part of the owner; often due to an increase in area population.

Housing Gen-X.(Generation X home ownership)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Hanley-Wood, LLC's nationwide Internet survey shows Gen-Xers are ready for homeownership. Once called slackers, these computer savvy Gen-Xers are all grown up. Hanley-Wood, publisher of BUILDER, caught the pulse of this vibrant, often...

New Partners.(Hanley-Wood, National Spa and Pool Institute)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... In a joint statement, Hanley-Wood, LLC, publisher of BUILDER and the leading B2B information provider for residential housing industry, and the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI) announced that they are entering a long-term partnership....

Thanks a Latte.(builder uses coffee mug as sales promotion)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... That's what Sonoma Villero's marketing team says to prospective buyers when it hands them complementary coffee cups emblazoned with the project's name and logo. In Seattle, where coffee is king, an insulated java mug is something customers are...

PUNCH LIST.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... BUILDER'S editors pick the best, worst, and most intriguing housing-related news. GRAVE SITUATION: Another nail was pounded into the coffin of affordable housing when Clearfield, Utah, increased the required completed floor area in...

Return of the Corporate Raiders?(building industry consolidation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Unwanted takeover attempts at Del Webb and Willamette could be forerunner of things to come. THE RECENT UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTED takeover of Del Webb and the ongoing all-out battle for Willamette Industries have builders and Wall Street...

Del Webb Bounces Back.(Del Webb Communities Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Having thrown off an unwanted suitor, Del Webb's earnings surge. HAVING BRUSHED 0FF THE UN-wanted takeover attempt led by development company J.F. Shea, Del Webb instituted a new management plan that seems to already be paying dividends....

THE STRAIGHT DOPE THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.(housing costs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Bad Times "Depression" continues in manufactured housing. Strong sales of site-built homes and increasing prices of manufactured housing are identified by The Meyers Group as causes for the third consecutive month of decline for...

Extension Granted.(sharper saw blades)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... LONG LIVE THE BATTERY. IHE XTEND SAW BLADE COMBINES SCALPEL SHARP TEETH with a micro thin kerf to prolong the battery life of your cordless saw. With less drag and resistance, this blade cuts 40 percent more per charge when compared to...

Lively Lights.(glass lamp shades)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... SMALL THREADS OF CRYSTAL CLEAR GLASS are woven around the Nest's blown glass shade to create a rich texture. The standard incandescent pendant is 4 1/2-inches wide and 7-inches high. The Nest is also available in a sconce that is 8-inches wide...

Unplugged.(nailers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... CHARGED WITH A 20.4-VOLT NICAD BATTERY PACK AND 650 WAITS OF POWER, THIS cordless roofing nailer gets the job done with no strings attached. The housing is molded from glass-filled nylon, and the DC motor features replaceable brushes. The...

Main Vein.(flow sensor)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... WHAT PREVENTS A TIDAL WAVE, keeps a home safe, and is smaller than a baby? The FloLogic System--a device that detects broken pipes or cracked water lines in a home. The system, which consists of a flow sensor, a valve installed in the home's...

Fade Evader.
May 1, 2001... LIKE A GREAT PAINTING, THE NORMAN ROCKWELL COLLECTION OF COLORGUARD VINYL SIDING will make a lasting impression--it's backed by a 25-year fade resistant limited warranty. The siding features the ChromaLock system; an acrylic and vinyl...

Deep Plunge.(bathtub)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... FILL IT TO THE RIM. SOK IS A BATHTUB SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS WATER TO FLOW OVER THE EDGE thanks to an inner and an outer tub. The 75-inch-long inner tub has a 24 1/2-inch-deep basin where water remains at a constant height and temperature. A 1.5 kW...

Small Wonders.(housing developer Crescent Heights Investments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Crescent Heights makes a big deal about small spaces. SMALL IS BIG--WHEN MERCHANDISED WELL. Crescent Heights Investments proved that maxim at its new CityFront Terrace multi family development on San Diego's harbor. The San Diego...

Cookin' Up Sales.(Centex Homes Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Seattle-area Realtors and brokers ate up Centex Homes' "Value Meals." MONEY AND FOOD. THERE MAY BE NOTHING MORE APPEALING to your local real estate community. With that in mind, Centex Homes in Bellevue, Wash., launched a brand-name...

And They're Off!(marketing event has horse racing theme)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... A horse race-themed event generated lots of interest for Ashton Woods' communities. DALLAS-BASED ASHTON WOODS HOMES STAGED A KICK-off party at Lone Star Park, a local horse racing track, to convince area brokers and Realtors that its II...

Out of Phase.(selling homes)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Buyers want sites with trees and access to a community pool, yet fewer pricey upgrades. How come nobody told the builder? ON A FARM FIELD ON THE NORTHERN fringe of Kansas City, Mo., 24 new homes, most of them buttoned up ready for...

HOW-TO LOCK & LOAD.(proper installation of I-joists)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Applying a few key principles to I-joist installations means never having to say you're sorry. LET'S SKIP THE INTRODUCTIONS. YOU KNOW WHAT AN ENGINEERED I-joist is, and what it's used for. Chances are, you have strong opinions one way or...

Mind Over Muscle.(building safety, security features into home design)
May 1, 2001... Security-conscious home design can reduce crime, but the key lies in reducing opportunities, not building fortresses. WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WORD home, what concepts come to mind? Probably words like safe or secure popped into your head. A...

Fitting In.(appropriate infill housing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Q: How can I maximize the development potential of a difficult site located within an existing neighborhood? A: THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR BUILDERS AND developers seeking to work within established neighborhoods. Potential high...

A Tale of Two Economies.(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2001... It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. FOR DECADES, THE HOME BUILDING industry has run in cycles that typically correspond in reverse of the rise and fall of mortgage interest rates. No longer. Rates in the past two months...

Where's the Glue?(glueless laminate flooring)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Glueless laminates hit the floor; pulling the glue out from under traditional laminate flooring. ANYONE WHO HAS EVER LAID A GLUED laminate floor knows that it can be frustrating. Hundreds of planks, messy glue--never mind the waiting--can...

Stamp It.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Stamped concrete mixes things up. WET CONCRETE IS IMPRESSION-able. Children write in it, dogs leave footprints in it, and now contractors are getting in on the fun--they're stamping it. Stamped concrete is a cast-in-place alternative...

CLOSE ISN'T IN OUR VOCABULARY.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... ROBOSQUARE The instant 100' reference. Every day there are a dozen times when you need to check a line, a square, a grade... but setting up the tripod or stringing a line isn't quite worth the effort. Answer: RoboSquare. Its three beams...

Accessibility Codes.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... On January 24th, HUD officially endorsed "Code Requirements for Housing Accessibility" (CRHA)--a new building code clarifying the federal Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines. The International Code Council (ICC) is publishing CRHA, which was...

Midland Homes.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Affordability is up roughly a percentage point, and the nation's mid-section generally continues to be the most affordable region. Des Moines, Iowa, gained the title "the nation's most affordable housing market" in the final quarter of 2000,...

Multifamily Trends.(Daniel P. Epstein of ConAm Group speaks at Multifamily Trends Conference)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... "Even if the economy goes into recession, we won't see the kind of trouble in the multifamily marketplace that characterized the recession of the early 1990s," says Daniel P. Epstein, chairman and CEO of The ConAm Group of Cos., owners and...

Growing Greener.(environmentally friendly home building practices)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Quiet revolution is largely market driven and voluntary. GREEN BUILDING, ONE OF THE most exciting and significant developments in home building in the past three decades, is nothing less than a quiet revolution in the way that new homes and...

Labor Shortage Lessens.(National Association of Home Builders of the United States survey)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... Easing of labor shortage helps with completion time and callbacks. SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGES HAVE plagued home builders for several years. Now that economic growth has slowed and the levels of housing production have come off the highs of...

Click on Care.(Home Builders Care web site)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Dedicated Web site tells Home Builders Care story. AFTER A YEAR IN WHICH the NAHB catalogued more than 700 Home Builders Care projects, the award-winning nationwide campaign has a Web home of its own at HomeBuildersCare.org. Home...

CRUISE CONTROL.(Avatar Properties Inc.'s SoliVita active adult development)
May 1, 2001... With a focus on lifestyle, Avatar's maiden voyage into active adult building makes a big splash. IMAGE A PLACE WHERE DINING, DANCING, MOVIES, EXERCISE CLASSES AND BALMY weather area a part of everyday life. Sound like a tropical resort or...

PIONEERS OF PRODUCTION HOME BUILDING.(history of United States home building)
May 1, 2001... Today, home builders struggle with no-growth initiatives, escalating land prices, labor shortages, and splintered market share. At this juncture in our industry's history, BUILDER thought it prudent to study home building's past innovators to...

THE ROAD AHEAD.(forecasting the future of the home building industry)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... What's in store for the home building industry? According to these prognosticators, it's deja vu all over again. WITH AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN forecast by some Wall Street investment analysts, many home builders are concerned we're headed for a...

INDUSTRY CHUGS ALONG.(analyzing and forecasting the home building industry)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... After another near record year, home building is expected to dip in 2001 and then regroup in 2002. AFTER A SLIGHT DIP THIS YEAR, THE HOME BUILDING INDUSTRY IS EXPECTED to regroup and begin setting new records in 2002, according to industry...

BUILDER 100.(top 100 home builders in U.S.A)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... TOP 100 RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS ('99 rank) 1 PULTE CORP. [p] 33 Bloomfield Hills Pkwy. (1) Robert K. Burgess Suite 200 Bloomfield Hills,...

The 2000 Gross Revenue Ranking.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The 2000 Gross Revenue Ranking RANK COMPANY CROSS REVENUE [*] 2 CENTEX CORP. $6,387 4 LENNAR CORP. ...

The 2000 Alphabetical Listings.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The 2000 Alphabetical Listings COMPANY 2000 RANK ALH HOLDINGS 54 ALL AMERICAN HOMES 27 AMERICAN...

The 2000 Next 100.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The 2000 Next 100 RANK COMPANY CLOSINGS GROSS REVENUE [*] 101 IVORY HOMES 514 $109 102 HILLS...

The 2000 Top 20 Manufactured Home Builders.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The 2000 Top 20 Manufactured Home Builders BANK COMPANY 2000 CHANGE IN SHIPMENTS SHIPMENTS ...

TRAILERS NO MORE.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Begun as temporary housing for World War II GIs, manufactured houses now rival stick built in the looks department. IT ALL STARTED IN AMERICA IN 1920. It spread to Russia this year. Russians don't know what to make of it. What is it?...

BOOM TIMES AHEAD?(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... The multifamily industry has come a long way--and shows no sign of stopping. THERE ALWAYS HAS BEEN SOME FORM of multifamily housing. Cave dwellers in New Mexico burrowed multiple cave residences that from the outside resembled...

Local LEADERS.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... THE TOP 10 BUILDERS IN THE TOP 50 MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUILDER goes 10 (rather than five) deep into each of the top 50 markets in the United States. Not only do we provide a better picture of...

THE GATHERING STORM.
May 1, 2001... INDUSTRY LEADERS SEE E-BUSINESS AS A LOOMING TIDAL WAVE. THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED WILL BE CARRIED TO NEW HEIGHTS, THOSE WHO AREN'T COULD BE SWEPT AWAY. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, BUILDER HAS HEADLINED THE NOTION that using the Internet...

Building the Wired Community.
May 1, 2001... Here's what you'd see if you had a crystal ball to gaze into. You'd see people monitoring their homes' heating and cooling and security systems--from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. You'd see someone using a networked oven to...

Profiting from Dynamic Demographics.
May 1, 2001... The Future Has Arrived. It Sneaked In While We Were Trying to Forecast It. More Americans than ever own computers. Even conservative estimates--like those provided in a report issued by the U.S. Commerce Department's National...

Generating New Revenue Streams.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Get Connected--to a New Profit Opportunity. It's not often that a builder or developer is presented with a whole new profit opportunity, because it's not often that there's a fundamental change in the role a house plays in the lives of its...

Creating Long Term Customer Relationships.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2001... In a Society That's Living at Internet Speed, Opportunity Doesn't Knock. It Beeps. One of the key benefits, for builders and developers, of working in partnership with LightSource is that it provides an opportunity for you to continue...

SINS OF THE FARMERS.
May 1, 2001... AS NEW HOUSING ENCROACHES ON TRADITIONAL FARMLAND, MANY BUILDERS HAVE COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE DARKER SIDE OF AMERICA'S AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE. WHEN MICHAEL KANE, A DEVELOPER IN SOUTHERN Maine, looked into purchasing a few dozen acres of...

Head of the Class.
May 1, 2001... Home electronics give big builders an edge. N A BID TO DIFFERENTIATE THEIR PRODUCT FROM COMpetitors, home builders have tried everything from revamping their model homes to adding new elevations to debuting new materials and options. Now,...

Digitize.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Future proof your business. HOME BUILDERS ARE BOMBARDED WITH consumer demands to wire new homes for the coming broadband revolution-- that is, to give them the ability to hook up computers, home automation equipment, and Internet-enabled...

Risk Primer.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The fact that some insurers have stopped writing liability policies for residential builders should make builders think seriously about minimizing their risk exposure. While much of www.c-risk.com is a marketing tool for Denver-based C-Risk...

Cool & Connected.(GE Appliances)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Networked refrigerators are growing closer to reality. At last year's Builders' show, GE Appliances showed a prototype, Internet-enabled refrigerator with a Web pad, a bar-code scanner, and a phone jack. This year, they eliminated the Web pad...

Basement Whisperer.(Varadigm Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Modulating furnaces use less electricity and cause fewer drafts than two-stage models, but their high cost has made them rare in homes. Now that may be on the verge of changing. Armed with 20 patents earned from 10 years of research and...

Easy Networks.(Home Director Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... New software takes home networking to the next step. PRODUCTS ARE ABOUT TO appear that will give homeowners the full benefit of home networks without making their lives more complicated. Two of these-Home ControlPoint, from the Morrisville,...

Solar Trendsetter.(Shea Homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Shea's San Diego division tries PV as a standard feature. EVERY PROBLEM CARRIES THE SEED OF opportunity. So, given the fact that electric rates in San Diego tripled last year, Shea Homes' recent announcement that its San Diego division...

www.heatilator.com.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Heatilator has released a new Web site that is geared toward builders, remodelers, and architects interested in fireplaces. The site offers brief specification summaries, a searchable product database, and a builder spotlight section, which...

www.nrca.net.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has relaunched its Web Site. New features include up-to-date industry news, an enhanced government relations section, NRCA's Buyer's Guide, and a comprehensive calendar of industry events.

www.shakertown.com.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Shakertown, a manufacturer of Western Red Cedar shingles and siding panels, offers free hatch patterns for all its product lines that can be downloaded from its Web site. These patterns are designed to import easily into AutoCAD R-14 and...

www.superioraluminum.com.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Super Aluminum announces the relaunch of its Web site. The new site allows customers to view and specify the company's three main product lines-columns, railings, and fences. The site also features a special section for construction...

www.tycoadhesives.com.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Visitors to Tyco Adhesives new Web site will be able to access and order its line of tapes, adhesives, and corrosion protection products. The product selection guide allows customers to search for specific products; the transaction center...

Alterna[R].(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Alterna[R] The industry's first fusion-crafted exterior wood door. Alterna by DoorCraft [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...

DoorCraft[R].(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Impression Mirror door by DoorCraft[R] Impression Mirror door from DoorCraft [R] adds beauty and dimension to any room. The Impression Mirror door is ideal for use in a bedroom, bathroom or closet. Applications include sliding pocket door,...

Aurora.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... International Wood Products[R] introduces Aurora, the world's finest composite doors. Beautiful doors specifically engineered to withstand the harshest of elements. The new Aurora line is an excellent value, designed to reflect all of the...

Morgan[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Morgan[R] Choose Morgan 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...

Norco[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Norco[R] Radius Head Clad Wood Patio Door The Norco patio door line now includes a new radius head patio door and a half-panel clad patio door. For those who love the loot of a patio door with arched transom. The sophisticated designs combine...

Caradco[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Caradco[R] SmartFit[TM] Introducing the Caradco SmartFit clad wood double-hung window. With full-tilt value! An affordable, high-quality builder's window engineered to your requests, Tilt-in removable top and bottom sash, [LoE.sup.2][R] glass,...

Nord[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Nord[R] Known for intricate detail, dramatic designs and unparalleled selections that demonstrate wood's beauty, the Nerd offering includes Fir as well as Hemlock. Products include exteriors, 8'0", interiors, sidelights, transoms, French doers...

Pozzi[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Pozzi[R] Clad Wood Raised Panel Patio Doors Pozzi has created a unique, clad wood exterior swinging patio door. With a style typical of Colonial or Americana, this versatile door is available in single or double swing. Interior and exterior...

Summit[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Summit[R] Series 9000 MagnaFramo [TM] The Summit 9000 Series is a new, vinyl, wide profile, architecturally designed window, offered as single-hung, double-hung, slider or custom fixed. With the benefits of vinyl and wood in one, the Series...

DoorCraft[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... DoorCraft[R] Exterior Steel doors You'll find wand 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...

International Wood Products[R].(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... International Wood Products[R] introduces the IWP Estate [TM] Collection This now door line from IWP is beautifully handcrafted, built with old-world craftmanship for new-world architecture. These aged and beautiful doors match any...

Pozzi[R] Clad Wood.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2001... Pozzi[R] Clad Wood Radios Patio Doors Aluminum clad wood exteriors feature an extruded frame and stretch form panel. This means the arch of our Pozzi radios patio doors, whether clear, primed or aluminum clad, is a remarkably clean, extremely...

Stairs, Molding & MILLWORK.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Whether you are building production or custom homes, details matter. They are the little things, the accents, that will set your homes apart from the competition. Just like landscaping increases the value of a property from the outside, finely...

Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Md.
May 1, 2001... POST-SEASIDE, FLA.-BASED ANDRES DUANY AND ELIZABETH Plater-Zyberk sculpted a soulful suburban enclave beloved by residents with hateful commutes. Founder Joseph Alfandre's social architecture--arts fostering life-long learning; every generation...

Rock Solid.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Portland Cement Association's show home offers an up-close look at the latest in concrete home building. THE 6,383-SQUARE-FOOT SAFE HAVEN SHOW home looks like any other traditional residence in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood. But...

Pure Platinum.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2001... Del Webb makes it onto Forbes' Platinum List. DEL WEBB, THE NATION'S LEADING BUILDER of active adult communities for people 55 and older, was recently named by Forbes magazine to its Platinum List as one of America's "400 corporate...