Builder articles from September 2005

Builder archives from September 2005

A closer look: are red-hot condo markets really ready for a collapse? That depends on which market you look at.(Editorial)
September 1, 2005... LOCATED ON A HILLSIDE BESIDE THE CITY AND ITS MArina, San Diego's Little Italy is a delightful place. On this particular perfect summer day; you can hear the sound of an artist grinding metal in a studio across the street from a store that...

Jobsite safety.(B MAIL)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... WHAT A GREAT AND TIMELY ARTICLE BY BUILDER in the July issue ("Working Without a Net," page 108). Thanks to you and your staff for putting safety at the forefront. Many builders and trade contractors don't even think about safety until they are...

Large Atlanta-area development prefers integrity[R].(Tributary At New Manchester)(Integrity Windows and Doors product reach)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2005... Tributary at New Manchester is a new planned community located approximately 14 miles outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Situated on 1,600 acres of land, when complete, Tributary will include 2,500 single-family homes, 3 million sq. ft. of office...

Calendar.(book the ticket)(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... SEPTEMBER 20-21 American Housing Conference, Chicago This is a high-level event targeted to building product manufacturers and their advertising agencies, as well as the country's top builders and remodelers. The day-and-a-half...

Default lines: HUD and KB Home reach record deal on mortgage underwriting violations.(Department of Housing and Urban Development)(KB Home Mortgage Co.)
September 1, 2005... HUD is HOPING THAT THE RECORD $3.2 MILlion regulatory administrative settlement reached with KB Home Mortgage earlier this summer for alleged mortgage underwriting violations will be a warning to other builders that the government will not put...

Finer finishes.(house blend: Trends, tips, coll stuff)(consumer prefer the quality than quantity)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A recent NAHB survey finds that new-home buyers are overwhelmingly opting for higher-quality features rather than more space. When asked to choose between a bigger house with fewer amenities or a smaller house with high-quality products and...

Homeward bound.(house blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(baby boomers survery)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... In a recent survey of 1,802 baby boomers nationwide, nearly half of the respondents expressed a desire to retire no more than three hours away from family. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for Del Webb.

Sunny days.(house blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Housing and Community Development Corp. selected Castle and Cooke)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Housing and Community Development Corp. of Hawaii chose Castle and Cooke to develop a community of 492 affordable units on 20 acres in the Villages of Kapolei. The Los Angeles-based builder, which constructs more than half its homes in...

Project no. 1.(big deals)(Al Hoffman for WCI Communities )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... When Al Hoffman retired from his role as CEO Of Bonita Springs, Fla.-based WCI Communities earlier this year, he BUILDER, "I intend to have a lot of new project." In July, President Bush presented Hoffman. now chairman of WCI's board of...

One for all.(University Neighborhood project)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... San Francisco Bay-area builder Affordable Housing Associates recently opened University Neighborhood, a rental project that the company claims has the first inclusive, affordable, and universally designed residential units in the nation. The...

Flower power.(ecoterrorism )(housing development protest by environmentalists)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... In an unusual form of eco-terrorism, activists allegedly planted an endangered species of wildflower to block a housing development in Santa Rosa, Calif. The state Department of Fish and Game says the flowers, known as Sebastopol meadowfoam,...

Class act.(public schools construction finance management)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Shart developers know how to sweeten an entitlement deal, all the while scoring an "A" for public goodwill. Shea Homes, Centex Corp., and Standard Pacific Corp. have pooled $73 million to build three public schools in RiverPark, a 700-acre...

Tough enough: last year's hurricane season propped up a new panelized home builder.(affordable housing )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... BRIAN BISHOP HAS BEEN BUILDING HOMES IN Florida for more than 20 years, but he'd never been through a hurricane until Charley slammed into the state's southwest side with i45-mph winds last year. "I was dumbfounded by the damage," he says. "It...

Enter the facade police: an Illinois brick ordinance stirs debate: is it neighborhood preservation or exclusionary.(neighbourhood design)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... CITY COUNCILMEMBERS IN Columbia, Ill., are weighing a proposal that would require the exteriors of all new single-family homes built in Monroe County to be 75 percent clad in brick or stone. A vote is expected some time this month. The...

Oregon study.(regulations and research)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... State regulators in Oregon and the state's HBA have called for a study of the relationship between an increase in buyer complaints and defects cases and steep increases in liability insurance. The nine-member task force will include...

Body conscious: California towns take five out of 10 top spots in survey of healthiest cities.(healthy living)(survey )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... CALIFORNIANS MAY HAVE TO CONTEND WITH earthquakes, mudslides, and high housing prices, but they also have some of the healthiest cities in the county a new study reports. San Jose, Calif., was named America's healthiest city in a survey...

Clothes case: Schulte has its design on Web-based closet creations.(internet pick)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THE CLOSET IS A PERPETUAL issue for Americans: Some can't seem to find enough space for their clothes, skis, and camping gear. Cincinnati-based Schulte Corp. has a solution for those caught in a closet conundrum: A Web-based design tool that...

Hometown discount.(house blend: trends, tips, cool stuff)(Affordable Housing Trust Fund)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... This past spring, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the launch of the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund, designed to help city workers--many of whom are required to live in the city--pay for housing costs. The fund will support down...

Dealers' deals: two suppliers have made recent moves to increase their share of the builder market.(supply chain)(mergers and growth)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... THE HOME DEPOT AND BUILDERS FIRST-Source, a top dealer to home builders, have pursued aggressive growth strategies in recent months. The Home Depot, based in Atlanta, looked to jump-start the growth of its Supply division and its ties to...

Go west: major Seattle and L.A. mixed-use projects move forward.(redevelopment)(South Lake Union)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... MASSIVE REDEVELOPMENT projects in Seattle and Los Angeles obtained key approvals recently In Seattle, the city council in June approved a streetcar line from downtown to the South Lake Union area; private property owners along the 2.6-mile line...

Eminent fear: states grapple with eminent domain issue in the wake of the Supreme Court's Kelo decision; builders side with homeowners.(constitutional law)
September 1, 2005... THE SUPREME COURT'S 5-4 RULING last June in Kelo v. City of New London against the homeowners and in favor of the city's plan to condemn 90 acres of waterfront property is one of the most unpopular court decisions in history. "This issue...

Bad dream: HGTV Dream Home winner faces six-figure tax bill.(the straight dope: the whole truth and nothing but the truth)(HGTV Dream Home)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Some dreams make you never want to go to sleep again, like when you owe $600,000 worth of federal gift taxes and more than $30,000 in property taxes. That bill came with the keys to the 2005 HGTV Dream Home, a $1.5 million, 5,000-square-foot...

HUD reforms: feds hold roundtables to seek public comment on real estate laws.(Housing and Urban)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... HUD HELD A SERIES OF INDUSTRY roundtables over the summer on the mortgage rules under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). RESPA became federal law in 1974 to provide consumers with advance disclosures of settlement charges...

Block out.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... NO MATTER HOW WELL YOU SEAL YOUR HOMES, AIR INfiltrates the space around receptacles and light fixtures. EnergyBlock foam insulation is designed to solve that problem. It's molded to fit around standard electrical boxes to help keep energy...

Listen up.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... A WELL-DESIGNED MULTIFAMILY PROJECT DESERVES A hip intercom door panel. This one answers the call. It's made from solid stainless steel and can be recess-mounted so that it's inconspicuous and tamperproof, the company says. Long-life...

Water toy.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... DESIGNER PHILIPPE STARCK IS KNOWN FOR HIS IDIOSYNCRATIC product designs. His latest, the Axor Starck X collection, is no different. Featuring a ceramic-disc cartridge with a joy-stick control, the faucet consists of a stem with an attached flat...

Air ways.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... WITH THE T-FORCE 1000 PORTABLE WORK-BOTTLE AIR SYSTEM, the manufacturer has invented an alternative to loud compressors and long hoses. The lightweight, carbon-fiber-wrapped bottle holds 3,000 pounds of air per square inch and shoots up to 750...

Back to basics.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... SOMETIMES LESS IS DEFINITELY MORE. Minimal in design and execution, Practically Basic wood cabinets are made to order with dovetail drawers and a choice of framed, mortise-and-tenon construction or frameless, Euro-style dowel construction. The...

Round about.(TOP SHELF: THE LATEST AND GREATEST BUILDING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... THIS NEW JIGSAW HANDLE ATTACHment kit transforms nearly any RotoZip spiral saw into a 360-degree cutting tool, the manufacturer says. Ideal for flooring, HVAC, plumbing, or sink installations, the handle attachment eliminates the need to...

Bubble wraps.(cell foam in construction)
September 1, 2005... Q: What are the pros and cons of open-cell and closed-cell foam insulations? And where are the best places to use each? A: BLOWN-IN-PLACE POLYURETHANE foams are a blend of isocyanates and urethane resins that are mixed in a spray nozzle,...

Strength in numbers: the U.S. Census Bureau updates its statistics on the housing industry.(VITAL SIGNS)
September 1, 2005... CHANGES THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU made to the way it classifies residential construction companies helped the 2002 Economic Census data, released at the end of July, reveal several trends in home building. A new set of data has been released...

Great adaptations: as customer demands diversify, manufacturers respond in kind, with larger, quieter, and more durable garage doors.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... ANY MANUFACTURER WITH A FINGER on the pulse of its customers knows that its products must adapt and evolve in order for the company to remain competitive. In other words, you must satisfy your customer base if you want to keep it. This maxim...

High in fiber.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... HIGH IN FIBER: The manufacturer says it's the first to offer fiberglass-clad garage doors. The new doors combine the maintenance and insulation benefits of steel with the look and design flexibility of wood, the company also says. The doors are...

Glass act.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... GLASS ACT: The Avante Collection aluminum-and-glass contemporary garage door is a far cry from traditional units. The product features a 2 1/8-inch-thick aluminum frame that can be custom painted or sealed with a clear, white, or brown finish....

Like a hurricane.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... LIKE A HURRICANE: The Hurricane Frame is the first solid-wood garage door tested to withstand 140 mph winds and impacts and pass Miami-Dade County's strict building codes, says the manufacturer. The door is made with a solid, clear, Douglas fir...

Banner day.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... BANNER DAY: The new Banner Collection garage doors offer enhanced safety features and quieter performance, the manufacturer says, including pinch-resistant sections and polymer hinges with no metal-on-metal moving parts. The doors come in four...

Into infinity.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... INTO INFINITY: Because it's made with an aluminum frame and laminated aluminum panels, the Infinity Classic offers the durability of a synthetic product with the styling of a traditional wood swing door, the company says. It comes standard with...

Security clearance: take a look at some new technologies that can keep track of your equipment and tools.(theft in industry)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... TOOL AND EQUIPMENT THEFT IS A growing concern on construction sites. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, nearly $1 billion is lost each year nationwide due to equipment and tool theft. Moreover, a recent survey by toolmaker DeWalt...

Covert operation.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... COVERT OPERATION: The Titan Equipment Monitoring system can be covertly installed on any piece of construction equipment or vehicle and provides both theft prevention and fleet management. Theft-prevention and GPS location actions are...

Tool tracker.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... TOOL TRACKER: The Safe & Sound tool tracking system secures radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags within Bosch power tools so the tags can't be damaged, removed, or rendered unreadable. The system also includes RFID-compatible ToolWatch SE...

Quick recovery.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... QUICK RECOVERY: Utilizing radio-frequency signals that are activated by police once a stolen-vehicle report is filed, the Ruggedized LoJack system is designed specifically for recovering stolen heavy equipment and is covertly installed. The...

Portable security.(PRODUCTS: PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT)
September 1, 2005... PORTABLE SECURITY: The SITE-LOCK portable wireless alarm system uses five different wireless sensors and an indoor base unit to monitor tools, equipment, and defined jobsite areas. The remote sensors are programmed to protect individual...

Standard time: although builders are still slow to offer home theater and whole-house audio as standard, the industry is heading in that direction. But not without some glitches.(DIGITAL HOME: SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW HOMES)
September 1, 2005... SOME HOME BUILDERS ARE FINALLY starting to move past offering only structured wiring as a standard digital feature, with programs at national and local builders now including home theater and whole-house audio systems in the product mix. ...

New UL marks.(Underwriters Laboratories issues security and signaling marks)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Builders should be aware that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has issued three new security and signaling marks: a signaling mark for fire and safety alarms; a security mark for intrusion detectors, burglar alarms, and access controls; and a...

Endgame.(Home Director home technology company business fall)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Home Director, the home technology company that signed deals over the past few years with numerous big builders--including Centex Corp., KB Home, Lennar Corp., and Toll Brothers--announced last spring that it had ceased operations. The company...

Peachy software.(Sage Software Peachtree )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Sage Software is now shipping a version of Peachtree geared for small builders: Peachtree by Sage Premium Accounting for Construction 2006. Some new features include the ability to track a subcontractor's insurance policy as well as apply labor...

Like a tiger.(VectorWorks 11.5)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Builders who use Macs to run VectorWorks 11.5 will be happy to learn that Nemetschek's latest version of the CAD software is compatible with Apple's new 10.4 Tiger operating system. Nemetschek says Mac users will enjoy faster object selection...

Berry happy: new applications may drive wider acceptance of Blackberrys into the builder market.(TECH TOOLS: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MODERN HOME BUILDER)
September 1, 2005... WIRELESS BLACKBERRY HANDHELDS HAVE become a kind of mania in the business world. The stereotype is of the insatiable "Crackberry" user who can't stop his thumbs from pounding out an endless stream of e-mails. Although Blackberry addicts...

Sealing the deal.(National Association of Home Builders )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The NAHB and Wells Fargo &, Co. are embarking on a three-year relationship that extends and expands an initial package begun in 2004 with title sponsorship of the Housing Market Index and the Housing Opportunity Index. Among the highlights...

A sense of community: the NAHB and the National Housing Endowment have created a new award to celebrate the philanthropy of home builders.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)
September 1, 2005... WE ALL KNOW THAT HOME BUILDERS ARE actively engaged members of their communities. After all, we live in the communities we build. We send our kids to school there, shop there, and enjoy the benefits that a sense of community instills in us,...

ARM wrestling: many adjustable rate mortgages offer benefits to lenders and home buyers. Federal regulators are trying to deal with those that don't.(SEIDERS ECONOMY)
September 1, 2005... SOARING HOUSE PRICES IN MANY AREAS HAVE encouraged the development and use of a variety of ARMs that can stretch the affordability envelope for prospective owner-occupants. That's the good news. On the other side, some ARMs also have provided...

Good habitats.(NAHB BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... In July testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water, Paul Campos, Northern California HBA general counsel and vice president of government affairs, called on Congress to update the...

Are you certified? The NAHB Research Center conducts lab tests and certification programs to bring better products to the housing industry.(THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER CORNER)
September 1, 2005... FOR OVER 40 YEARS, THE NAHB Research Center has helped improve the quality and performance of building products by testing a wide range of materials in its highly specialized laboratory facility. Recently, the Research Center lab has tested...

House work.(NAHB BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed four bills introduced by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.) aimed at easing OSHA burdens on small businesses. The NAHB supports all four bills but highlights two in particular as having a positive...

Hot sellers: sold out! Fast-moving communities.
September 1, 2005... Market Improvement Princeton at Weatherby Place, St. Louis WHY IT WORKED: Returning to the city's reenergized North County, including expansion of a state university campus and new commercial development, the builder hit a growing...

Bold design: garden crossing, a mixed-income project in Boulder, Colo., offers up vibrant homes with contemporary flair.
September 1, 2005... EDGY, CONTEMPORARY, AND VIbrant are all words that describe Garden Crossing, a nifty 55-unit for-sale project on the burgeoning north side of Boulder, Colo. But there s another word, one that's red hot in the housing world these days, that also...

Fast Track 2005: not content to coast along with the housing boom, these builders have opted to take to the open road and speed to the front of the pack. In our seventh annual Fast Track list, we spotlight those who have raced ahead in some of the country's most competitive markets.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... FEW BUILDERS CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE RIDE THE housing market has taken them on during the last decade. At times, it's been almost as if speed limits haven't existed, as low interest rates, buyer demand, and price appreciation have combined to...

Leaders of the pack: a combination of good timing, hard work, and market smarts drove these builders onto the Fast Track.(RMP Properties)
September 1, 2005... ROGER POLLOCK IS MORE CONfident today than he was in 1998. Given his success then, that might be tough to understand. Seven years ago, he was running Portland's top home building company, RMP Properties, closing almost 500 homes and...

Star clusters: cluster communities slice and dice land parcels differently than typical subdivisions, with an eye toward the common good.
September 1, 2005... WITH DEVELOPABLE LAND in increasingly short supply, many a municipality has embraced density simply adjusting its single-family zoning laws to allow bigger homes on smaller lots. Too often, the result is a smattering of cramped castles that...

Is the ride over? The housing boom has climbed beyond heights predicted by even the most daring forecasters. Now, some industry observers are cautioning that a drop is in sight. In a three-part series, Builder examines the strength of the housing market and the factors that could be setting it up for a fall.(HOUSING'S WILD RIDE)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY: "All good things must come to an end." "Everything that goes up must come down." "Nothing lasts forever." Right? For more than a decade, the housing industry has defied those cliches. Year after year, it has...

Haunted houses: a look back at past booms and busts in Texas, New England, and California sheds light on how today's housing market is repeating, and making, history.(HOUSING'S WILD RIDE)
September 1, 2005... TOM NOON REMEMBERS LIKE it was yesterday when California's last housing boom stalled. After unheard-of sales and price growth throughout the 1980s, the state's housing bubble started leaking air in the spring of 1990 and deflated "pretty...

Mod to the max: what's so bad about modular housing? Not much, architects and builders say. You just need to know how to work it.
September 1, 2005... MENTION THE TERM "MODULAR housing" to the average person and one of two things will happen: If you're lucky; you'll get a quizzical look of ignorance; a more common reaction, however, may be one of condescension. In the eyes of the public, the...

Condo mania: if you think building them is different, try selling them.
September 1, 2005... WHEN CONDO MANIA IN FULL TILT, IT'S become evident to builders that the sales process doesn't mirror the process for a suburban. single-family detached neighborhood. From the product and the buyers to the marketing efforts and the phasing of...

Consensual communities: building a cohousing community isn't for the faint of heart. But it does have its reward.
September 1, 2005... NICK MEIMA WAS FEELING INCREASINGLY isolated. "I had a growing sense that as I was working on my house, my yard, my driveway, that I was building a glass wall around my house." The developer and CEO of a large retirement community in Ann Arbor,...

#1 brand leader: Cultured Stone[R] manufactured stone veneer: this brand leader offers curb appeal and style.(manufactured stone)
September 1, 2005... The results of the 2005 BUILDER Brand Use study are in, and once again Owens Coming Cultured Stone[R] veneer has captured the number one ranking in three out of four possible categories for manufactured stone products. Each year, BUILDER...

Why do I give through the homebuilding community foundation?(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... I love to hunt and fish almost as much as I love building homes. Some of my fondest memories are of sharing these passions with my dad. He taught me that along with the sport comes the responsibility to protect it. And like me, hunters across...

What's new on Builder online: we want your opinion.(MISSING LINKS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... IF YOU'VE BEEN TO BUILDER ONLINE lately, you're in good (and large) company: More than 105,000 unique users visited BUILDER Online last month. We have site-tracking software that gives us the raw numbers for visitors, page views, user...

Feel free to contact us Builder[R].(MISSING LINKS)
September 1, 2005... One Thomas Circle, N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: 202-452-0800 Fax: 202-785-1974 URL: www.builderonline.com To Submit: * Letter to the editor: BOYCE THOMPSON, editorial director ...

Builder plans: featuring new plans from the nation's leading designers.
September 1, 2005... A Taste Of Europe With a modern European flavor, this two-story home features plenty of space for family living and well-defined formal rooms. The family room is open to the kitchen and the breakfast room, which has a bay window. The...

Flooring.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2005... Flooring is a key design element in any home, and its functional requirements change from room to room. Fortunately, today's flooring manufacturers offer a wide range of designs and functional features to meet every need. This special section...

South Side, Pittsburgh.(settlements from eastern europe)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... PITTSBURGH'S EVOLUTION FROM "HELL WITH THE LID OFF" to America's "most livable city can be traced in this neighborhood across the Monongahela from the city's downtown. The area closest to the river, called "The Flats," was home to the...