Builder articles from November 2004

Builder archives from November 2004

Rising tide: customers get way more attention today than they used to.(Editor's Notes)
November 1, 2004... AFTER ONE BUILDER REPORTED THAT HE GAVE BUYERS A roll of toilet paper at move in, another said she rewarded them with an entire gift basket that included not only toilet paper but a toothbrush, soap, and coffee as well. That's nothing, said a...

Calendar.(Book It)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... NOVEMBER 9-11 BIG BUILDER '04, Las Vegas BIG BUILDER '04 targets key decision-makers at the top 1,000 U.S. home building firms. This management symposium is an opportunity for elite, hands-on decision makers in top building...

Special housing.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT PIECE on disabled veterans and the special housing they cannot find or afford ("Homeless Heroes," September, page 156). Matthew Power's reporting was clear, even-handed, and very informative. I hope this story will...

Equal billing.(B Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... WHILE I AM BOTH FLATTERED AND honored that you chose to highlight our company for Fast Track 2004 ("Breakout Success," September, page 121), I am disappointed that you failed to mention that I have a business partner and the significant...

Callbacks.(B Mail)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... THE CORRECT PROJECT CREDITS FOR the architect and interior designer at Cedar Rose at Windingwalk ("Hotsellers," September, page 103) are, respectively: Lorimer-Hayes Architects, San Diego and Chameleon Design, Costa Mesa, Calif. THE LEAD...

A new beginning developers eye opportunities to buy trailer parks destroyed by Charley.(Hurricane Aftermath)
November 1, 2004... WITHIN DAYS AFTER HURRICANE CHARLEY devastated Southwest Florida in August, signs began appearing all along U.S. 41, the main drag through Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, from investors offering to buy properties at pre-hurricane values. ...

Fungus finders.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Authorities in a Howard County, Md., circuit court recently turned to a chocolate Labrador--mix named Barney to solve a puzzle. Except Barney's case wasn't a crime: He helped them find mold lurking in the walls of the courthouse. Barney is one...

Rising costs.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The NAHB estimates that building a new home will cost $5,000 to $7,000 more starting this fall, due to the nationwide shortages of cement and other building materials such as steel frames, insulation, and gypsum wallboard. The median cost of...

Larger share.(Big Deals)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... National builders moved to shore up their market share in both Washington and Jacksonville, Fla., at the end of summer. Hovanian Enterprises bought McLean, Va.-based Rocky Gorge Homes for an undisclosed amount of cash. Last year, Rocky Gorge...

Fast builders.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Yet another testimonial to the rising prominence of home builders during the housing boom is Fortune magazine's recent naming of six builders to its list of the nation's fastest-growing companies. Hovnanian Enterprises is 12th, followed by...

Lights, camera, training! Top sales pros share their secrets in weekly video series.(Editor's Internet Pick)
November 1, 2004... TRAINING IS IMPORTANT, but sometimes, the last thing new-home sales pro leave the office to go to a seminar. Plus, by the time they get back, they've forgotten much of what was covered. In September, real estate marketing strategist John...

Bigger is better.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A J.D, Power and Associates poll ranked Pulte, one of the nation's biggest residential builders, No. 1 in customer satisfaction. The Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based builder also ranked No. 1 in 14 of the 25 U.S. housing markets. Dallas-based...

Hands-on fiction.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Can carpentry and home renovation serve as a metaphor for rebuilding your life? That's the premise of Mark Clement's new novel, The Carpenter's Notebook. Clement, a first-time novelist and a fellow editor at Hanley Wood, hopes the book will...

Playing by the rules: a new HUD rule means major funding and operational changes for state and local public housing agencies.(Eye On Government)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BIG CHANGES ARE UNDER WAY AT THE NATION'S 3,100 public housing agencies. A new rule is changing both the criteria by which they receive money and how they operate. Under a 30-year-old formula, housing agencies received an operating subsidy...

Class B is in.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(converting office buildings to housing)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... More owners of Class B office buildings in Boston are touting their properties as the ideal investment for developers looking for residential conversion opportunities. A glut of office space and a need for more housing have created an...

Gay havens.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(A Santa Fe, N.M)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A Santa Fe, N.M., developer hopes to create what may be the first openly gay retirement community, aimed at the special needs and interests of gay men and lesbians. Rainbow Vision Santa Fe closed on a 12.7-acre parcel in the Santa Fe City...

Inventory control.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Maryland is taking a look at its real estate holdings and is thinking about selling some of its parcels. Earlier this year, the state hired Addison, Texas, real estate advisors Staubach Co. to catalog its assets and make suggestions on what to...

Built for life: home sprinkler group aims to teach builders about home sprinkler systems.(Fire Safety)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A FIRE INDUSTRY COALITION IS USING A $600,000 grant from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to educate the home building industry on how installing fire sprinklers in new homes can reduce fire deaths. The program, "Built...

Green money: a new study challenges the cost assumptions of sustainable building.(Sustainable Building)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AN INTERNATIONAL CONstruction consulting film has released a report challenging the long-held belief that sustainable building costs significantly more than traditional construction. "When you calculate the statistics for buildings of...

Habitat, 565+; Charley, 2.(House blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In 1992, Habitat for Humanity made international headlines when all of its houses in the path of Hurricane Andrew survived the storm. When Hurricane Charley hit Southwest Florida on Aug. 13, Habitat houses once again held up against the deluge....

Safety blowout: as OSHA moves to improve Florida's lousy worker safety record, hurricanes complicate the problem.(OSHA Amnesty)(Occupational Safety & Health Administration )
November 1, 2004... WITH THOUSANDS OF ROOFS TO REPLACE, foundations to pour, and windows to set, worker safety may be the last thing on the minds of Florida builders and subcontractors. But it shouldn't be. Before the hurricanes struck this fall, the state had...

Property pioneers: struggling to find affordable lots for single-family homes, Habitat for Humanity affiliates turn to alternative land deals.(Land Development)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR land grab. Habitat for Humanity of the West Valley, located northeast of Phoenix, was poised earlier this year to buy a 10-acre parcel of land--several years' worth of inventory--for about $600,000. Then, a larger...

Blowing bubbles: it seems everyone's talking about the chance that we're on the brink of a bursting housing bubble. But is it just a lot of hot air?(Housing Fundamentals)
November 1, 2004... IF YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH HOME BUILDing, then chances are good you've been quizzed recently about the newest hot topic: Are we on the verge of a housing bubble pop? In September, Fortune said so, citing data that show housing prices increases...

Mansion tax: the Big Apple bites back with its new revenue raiser.(The straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Residents of New York City may be excited to see their home values pass the $1 million mark, but the buyers of these big-ticket digs are crying foul. They've been nailed by a new state-ordered "mansion tax." Essentially, the 1 percent tax is...

Bush honors the NAHB during stop in Ohio: the president makes major campaign speech on the economy at fall meeting.(Inside Story)(National Association of Home Builders)
November 1, 2004... AT THIS WRITING, THE PRESIDENTIAL election was still too close to call, but there is one thing that is certain: The NAHB may never have a more defining political moment than the speech President Bush delivered at this year's fall board of...

Look, ma, no hands!(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
November 1, 2004... WANT TO BRING THE CONVENIENCE OF A HANDS-FREE FAUCET to your homes? Try Solis, an electronic solar-powered faucet that operates by ambient lighting. It has an integrated storage cell that transforms light from any source into electrical energy...

Top drawer.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
November 1, 2004... WHEN SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM, THIS DISHWASHER-IN-A-DRAWER comes in handy The unit features independently operated drawers that enable two loads to be washed simultaneously at different settings. Smaller loads can be washed with less water and...

Strike zone.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
November 1, 2004... THE BASIC CHISEL HAS BEEN the same for years. Now, Hard Cap attempts to change all that. This hand tool is outfitted with an oil-resistant cushioned grip and an unbreakable polymer cap, and it is safer, more accurate, and more comfortable than...

Playing the angles.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
November 1, 2004... YOU MAY BE A SERIOUS tool user, but you probably do not have a right-angled impact driver in your toolbox. That's because this manufacturer says its driver is the first of its kind. Made with a die-cast gearbox and a 2,150-rpm motor, the...

Water world.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
November 1, 2004... LAWNS NEED TO BE WATERED, BUT THESE DAYS HOME BUYERS also need to conserve water whenever possible. The manufacturer of the irriGuard system says its product is the answer to this problem. Designed to work with existing sprinkler systems, the...

Clay's anatomy.(Top shelf: the latest and greatest building products)
November 1, 2004... IF GYPSUM ISN'T YOUR THING, TRY THIS NEW, CLAY-BASED plaster. Able to produce looks that need no paint, the 100 percent natural product is made from a combination of clays, aggregates, and natural pigments. In addition to being "green," the...

Earth bound: this year's trio of New Urban Challenge homes has proven its wind-resistant brawn can co-exist with livability and beauty.(Improving On Tradition)
November 1, 2004... WHO COULD HAVE KNOWN THAT this year's 2005 New Urban Challenge (NUC) show home project, co-sponsored by Home and BUILDER magazines, would be wind tested so soon? The three homes, nearing completion in Baldwin Park, Fla., a savvy new mixed-use...

Under fire: a harsh report about its accounting practices puts Fannie Mae in the hot seat.(Vital Signs)
November 1, 2004... IT COULD BE A LONG WINTER FOR FANNIE Mae. In late September, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO), Fannie's government regulator, issued a report of its findings to date in a special examination investigating the company's...

Silestone has big impact for small builder.(Builder Of The Month Profile)(Thorson Homes, Inc)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Silestone[R] By Cosentino Recognizes Thorson Homes, Inc. (Twin Cities Region) Custom builder Thorson Homes, Inc., a small builder that has served the Twin Cities region for the past 25 years, is thoroughly convinced of the value Silestone...

Carved up.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... CARVED UP: The Router Carved line of doors lets home buyers choose personalized images, names, cartoon characters, and other designs to be carved directly into the panels. A collection of 70 standard designs also is available. Made from solid...

Solid standing.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... SOLID STANDING: This new line of doors features a raised-panel design on one side and a mirror on the other. The doors are constructed with a solid core that closely duplicates the feel of a solid wood door while adding good sound-deadening...

Open up: interior doors don't have to be boring. New, more affordable products can dress up any room.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TOOK a hard look at an interior door in the average home? You may not recall, which wouldn't be surprising. Many interior doors are, at best, mediocre and, at worst, quite unattractive and inappropriate for the house...

Glass action.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... GLASS ACTION: Designer Series glass-panel interior doors include a model that allows light penetration but preserves privacy. The doors are made from engineered lumber stiles and rails and are covered with select-grade veneers in stained pine...

Wood mode.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... WOOD MODE: Authentic Designs doors are intended to help builders and home buyers choose the door that is most appropriate to the architecture of the house. Available in styles from Arts & Crafts to Victorian and in different panel...

Smart profiles.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... SMART PROFILES: Palazzo Series doors feature distinct raised molding profiles. The company says the doors offer the weight, feel, and look of solid wood units without the associated cost, cracking, shrinking, and swelling. The doors come in two...

Quiet elegance: though they often go unnoticed, shutters contribute to a home's visual statement.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... OCCASIONALLY, ARCHITECTURAL ELEments that once served a functional purpose become superfluous features that exist only for aesthetic appeal. Like exterior window shutters. Used in the past to block sunlight and provide protection from...

Trouble free.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... TROUBLE FREE: This architectural polyurethane shutter is a durable, low-maintenance alternative to wood, the company says. Manufactured from high-density polymer, the product is easier to install than wood units and will not rot, splinter, or...

Wood work.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... WOOD WORK: This new family of exterior window shutters is made of solid African mahogany, and it features wrought iron, copper, and pewter hardware. The line's 10 models span a wide assortment of design themes, from conservative to avant-garde,...

Vintage appeal.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... VINTAGE APPEAL: The Vintage Shutter collection features an open louvered or a traditional raised-panel styling with an authentic wood-grain texture. Made from vinyl, the product will not rot, warp, split, or twist, and it is virtually...

Westward ho.(Products: products and tools every builder should know about)
November 1, 2004... WESTWARD HO: This premium line of wood shutters is made from Western red cedar and features mortise-and-tenon joinery. The pieces, available in louvered and board-and-batten styles, can be ordered with additional designs, including cutouts,...

Green houses.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The NAHB invites home builders, remodelers, developers, nonprofits, and all those involved with green building efforts to submit entries to its 2005 National Green Building Awards, which recognize individuals, companies, and organizations that...

Clean slate.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The NAHB supports the EPA's proposed regulation to encourage the redevelopment of more than 750,000 brownfield sites across the country. The proposition spells out how builders, developers, and others can obtain federal liability protections...

Valiant effort: finding solutions for the nation's workforce housing problem is imperative.(From The President)(HousingAmerica Workforce)(National Association of Home Builders )
November 1, 2004... THE NAHB HAS FOCUSED MUCH OF ITS ATtention this year on workforce housing. Despite favorable market conditions, millions of working families are unable to purchase or rent a decent home in or close to the communities where they work. Many...

On the rise: resurgent house prices resurrect "bubble" charges.(Seiders Economy)
November 1, 2004... HOUSE PRICE GROWTH ACCELERATED AS THE economy surged to a cyclical peak in 2001 and then subsided through the fall of last year. But prices have spurted since then, resurrecting strident charges of price bubbles in U.S. housing markets. ...

Studies show.(NAHB Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... According to a new study by the NAHB, the idea that multifamily housing puts an unwarranted burden on local schools is not true. Concerns that new apartment construction will result in overcrowded neighborhood schools are groundless. The...

Building momentum: builders rewarded for achievements in quality standards.(The NAHB Research Center Corner)
November 1, 2004... THE HOME BUILDING INDUSTRY'S FOCUS ON quality assurance and customer satisfaction has gained momentum in 2004, due in large part to industry participation and leadership in the NAHB Research Center's National Housing Quality (NHQ) program. In...

Wood rules.(NAHB Briefs)(North American Free Trade Agreement )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel decision clears the way for removing onerous tariffs on Canadian timber. NAFTA ruled that Canadian imports pose no financial threat to U.S. commerce. The verdict is significant because if the...

Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities.
November 1, 2004... * High Demand Marisol, San Bruno, Calif. WHY IT WORKED: Marisol meets pent-up demand for one- and two-story, single-family homes on conventional lots. It's only the second development of this type in the area in 20 years. * When...

Worth the wait: after years in the entitlement process, San Diego County's La Costa Oaks master planned community's time has finally come.
November 1, 2004... CAN DIRT BE WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD? It's certainly starting to seem that way in San Diego County. And just as hard to acquire, too. It's been nine years since Fred Arbuckle, president of Morrow Development, became involved in the Villages...

Future opportunities: the Web, robotics, sensors, and energy-efficient building materials and products will make life more interesting for home builders in the years ahead as land scarcity drives builders toward more infill projects and environmentally friendly communities.
November 1, 2004... THE FUTURE IS AS EXHILARATING AS IT IS frightening. In a few short years, builders will offer bathrooms with Internet connections built into the mirrors, letting homeowners check the weather and plan their day before they leave for work in the...

Find your niche: the best projects break out of the mold and live happily on the edge.(Design)
November 1, 2004... IF YOU'RE DESIGNING OR BUILDing homes with an eye to the future, start looking for a niche. Pay particular attention if your current focus is churning out vast numbers of attached townhomes on acres of former cornfields or putting up...

Future tense: they may not be space-aged, but building products should make steady advances that make life easier--and cooler.(Building Products)
November 1, 2004... UNLESS A MANUFACTURer pulls a huge surprise out of the hat, the year will end and once again we will not see practical futuristic building products--you know, "Jetsons" type stuff. And don't expect to see these gizmos anytime soon. True, we now...

Robo builder: a California scientist says he'll build a house with a robot in a single day.(Builder Tech)
November 1, 2004... TECHNOLOGY PUNDIT Robert X. Cringley once wrote that the top 1 percent of the country's brainpower drove the boom. Sometimes it just takes the determination of a single person to move an industry forward. Behrokh Khoshnevis, a professor at...

Their piece of the pie: the continuing struggle for land means small- and mid-sized builders must turn to new strategies to compete for ground in the future.(Small Builder Strategies)
November 1, 2004... IF THERE WERE A PIE CHART depicting how the heads of small- and mid-sized builders spend their time, it would reveal a clear trend: These builders are devoting more of their time to finding and developing land. "Land will be the most...

The dragon awakens: rapid growth in global markets could make some US. building-products and materials even more volatile.(Building Materials)
November 1, 2004... THE LAST COUPLE YEARS have seen price hikes in almost every material and product you use. Not slow, progressive increases, but the kind that make your hand shake when you sign the purchase order. Plywood and oriented strand board, for example,...

Web evolution: builders will look to technology to build relationships with prospects and buyers.(Sales And Marketing)
November 1, 2004... COMMUNICATION TOOLS have become even more vital as builders learn more about the high value buyers place on customer service and their relationships with the builders' staff. The Web already is being used as a tool to simplify design center...

Design dynamics: the concepts of good design permeate today's society, from Michael Graves' picture frames at target to Mercedes Benzes priced for the mass market. But are consumers demanding more design in their homes, too? More important, will they pay for it?
November 1, 2004... EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE good taste, it seems. The masses have caught on to Michael Graves, snatching his housewares off Target's shelves as soon as they're stocked. Couples who used to drive Fords and Oldsmobiles are trading them in for Mercedes...

Sold! Now what? Builders gain valuable skills while waiting out their non-compete clause.
November 1, 2004... WHAT DOES A BUILDER DO AFTER he's sold his company to a big builder? Three guesses, and the first two don't count. Answer: He builds houses. Well, not at first. A seller typically spends some time working for the new owner, signs a...

Panel parity: is plywood better than oriented strand board or is OSB the better bet? The answer, surprisingly, is yes and no to both questions.
November 1, 2004... IN A BUILDING TRADE CHAT room last year, a contractor in Chicago posed a question: "What are your guys' thoughts?" began the query of... let's call him Mr. No Clue. We pretty much hate OSB, No Clue continued. "We've found it to have problems...

You've got questions about the benefits of building healthy homes. Here are the answers.(Special Advertising Section)
November 1, 2004... Like most market-savvy builders, Chuck Miller likes to give homebuyers plenty of choices as they envision their upscale homes to accommodate their lifestyle needs and personal tastes... except when it comes to energy efficiency and indoor air...

Degrees of success.(Reveiz & Company--Knoxville)
November 1, 2004... "It's really not hard to build a Health House[R]. You just need to get the right products and pay attention to what you're doing." --Fuad Reveiz, President, Reveiz & Company You might remember Fund Reveiz as "Fuadomatic," the superb...

Address mold up front and strengthen your reputation.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Reputation is arguably one of the most important assets a builder can have. That's what many homeowners look for when identifying the right company for their construction needs. Therefore, building a good reputation should always be a priority...

CertainTeed: helping you build healthier, more environmentally responsible homes.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... At CertainTeed, we care about the environment with the products we produce for you and your homebuyers. A well-insulated home limits energy consumption, which, in turn, reduces carbon dioxide pollution that is produced during the burning of...

XPSA delivers performance across the board.(Special Advertising Section)
November 1, 2004... Builders, architects and code officials alike are constantly looking for ways to adopt practices that lead to energy-efficient, moisture resistant, environment-friendly buildings. The building's envelope is the first and best opportunity to...

Fair share: Microsoft SharePoint makes collaboration over the Web affordable to small and mid-sized builders.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
November 1, 2004... A FEW YEARS AGO, LARGER HOME BUILDERS paid consultants more than $100,000 to have project-specific Web sites built for them so they could interact with subs, suppliers, and buyers online. Next, a slew of service providers such as Intranets.com...

GE's secure.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
November 1, 2004... GE Security is touting the GE Builder Program, a turnkey home automation marketing plan that starts with structured wiring and moves into jobsite protection and security as well as entertainment options such as whole-house audio and video....

HBA special.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
November 1, 2004... In exchange for the opportunity to introduce its software to builders, BeHomeWise is offering its lead management service for a nominal cost to HBAs for use at local Parade of Homes and Home Show events. The HBAs will, in turn, direct buyers to...

Improved connection: web-based wireless applications help builders improve communications among buyers, employees, and subs.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... NEXTEL NOW OFFERS CORRIGO'S WARRANTY management and punch-fist applications on Nextel's BlackBerry 7510 smartphone. David Popler, Corrigo's vice president of business development, says the main application Corrigo offers is its warranty...

Web option.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
November 1, 2004... Corecon Technologies of Huntington Beach, Calif., last month released Corecen 4.0, Web-based software geared for contractors and small builders that features estimating, job costing, and project management. Home builders will appreciate Corecon...

All Ethernet.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
November 1, 2004... The new processors for Lutron's HomeWorks lighting systems all support Ethernet, the most common networking technology. Lutron says the Ethernet connection offers significant upload speeds as well as the ability for the installer to program a...

Barrier free: new WiFi gear is making wireless possible at remote jobsites.(Builder tech: new gadgets, new systems, new future)
November 1, 2004... THE RISE OF AFFORDABLE WIRELESS FIDELITY (WiFi) routers and access points is removing long-standing barriers to wireless access at jobsites, sales offices, and model homes and opening up new possibilities for wireless communities. Today,...

Ray of light: use these tips to meet the needs of your lighting-savvy customers.
November 1, 2004... A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN BUILDERS AND lighting vendors tried to talk lighting, prospective home buyers often assumed it had something to do with smart homes and the Internet, and the conversation stopped. Many buyers preferred to add on a backyard...

What's new on Builder online: expanded e-mail newsletter.(Missing Links)
November 1, 2004... WE PUBLISH NEW ARTICLES ON BUILDer Online and our other Web sites every day--and, of course, we're happy to have you check in each day to find fresh news to help you run your home building businesses efficiently and profitably But there's...

Welcome years of reliability into your homes.(Special Advertising Section)
November 1, 2004... JELD-WEN VINYL WINDOWS, WEN-LOCK[TM] Our exclusive WEN-LOCK automatic locking system is available on all JELD-WEN Vinyl slider and single-hung windows. The WEN-LOCK has exceeded all forced-entry tests, and it has a visible latch indicator...

Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers.
November 1, 2004... Perfect for Long, Narrow Lots Perfect for narrow, long lots, this home evokes images of quaint villages that dot the New England coastline. This home lives larger than its modest square footage; the open floor plan provides room definition...

Stairs, molding, and millwork.(Special Advertising Section)
November 1, 2004... The fine details of a home should add up to a cohesive beauty that makes it stand apart from the rest. The details can be found in the shape and design of the stairway, or in the molding and millwork that give a room its distinct style. When...

Choosing concrete for residential construction: a building material with a solid history.(Special Advertising Section)
November 1, 2004... Concrete is not a new material. It's been around for centuries. The proof of its strength and versatility can be found throughout the world--think of the Pantheon and the Coliseum in Rome. But concrete for residential construction has...

Evanston, Ill.(Walk Through)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... STUDENTS TAKING HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE CLASSES AT Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., could use the surrounding neighborhoods as a study guide for the identification of different architectural styles. On a single street they might find...