Custom Home articles from November 2005

Custom Home archives from November 2005

Standouts.(Editor's Page)
November 1, 2005... Building custom houses may not be the most difficult business to enter, but it is a very difficult business to stay in and an even tougher one to thrive in. As anyone who's worked in the industry knows, running a successful custom home building...

Justice served: sometimes the system does work.(From the Trenches)
November 1, 2005... John Karlton was not born yesterday. The third-generation builder started in the business when he was 10 years old working on his father's jobsites after school. Once he'd earned a degree from Purdue University in construction management and...

Detail oriented: little things mean a lot.(Customer Service)
November 1, 2005... Whether shopping for a new car, a new home, or a college education, the latest customer service focus is on the importance of an overall buying "experience" that puts the buyer at ease. What can custom builders do to enhance the home-buying...

At your service: communication is key to customer satisfaction.(Case Study)
November 1, 2005... Scenario: Bob always thought he provided excellent customer service. Sure, buyers would have an occasional panic attack when they got the bill for a new change order, but they liked the work he did. So Bob was shocked when he heard third-hand...

Run a tight ship: take control of operating expenses.(Strictly Business)
November 1, 2005... As we approach the end of 2005 it is a good time to begin development of your budget for next year. In developing your budget, take time to challenge your operating expenses. I recommend breaking your operating expenses into four major...

Out of the ordinary: woo clients with a pleasant suprise.(The Top Line)
November 1, 2005... Here's a wonderful marketing tool I recommend to really make an impact with prospective customers: Give them a pleasant surprise. Even experienced home buyers are probably nervous about looking for a new home. And almost all of them are...

Body and soul.(K+B Studio)
November 1, 2005... Over the years, Minneapolis architect Rosemary McMonigal has designed many homes for people with special needs. But the particular concerns that Minneapolis residents Barb and Hans Gasterland brought to her were downright daunting. They wanted...

Hidden help.(K+B Studio)
November 1, 2005... The standard sink fit into the apron of the countertop in Barb and Hans Gasterland's first-floor powder room is a good example of the kinds of design touches that architect Rosemary McMonigal used throughout the house. "When you think...

Handy decor.(K+B Studio/Products)
November 1, 2005... Ginger's ADA-compliant grab bars not only provide safety in the bath, they also add style. Available in designs to match several of the manufacturer's bath fixture and accessory collections, decorative grab bars are constructed from solid...

No-VOC terrazzo.(K+B Studio/Products)
November 1, 2005... IceStone surfacing is made from 75 percent post-consumer recycled glass and 25 percent concrete, pigment, and binding agents, and it has a chemical composition that is 99.5 percent inorganic with no volatile organic compounds, according to the...

Future-proofed: a penthouse with wiring for every whim.(The Digital Home)
November 1, 2005... In a tract-home development, electronics subcontractors have the luxury of designing in a predictable array of audio systems, home networking gear, and maybe a home theater. They offer cookie-cutter packages, and then home buyers either opt in...

Mark your calendar: important upcoming events.(Trend Lines/Events)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... Dec. 5-7, Reinvention 2005, The Next American Home, Coral Gables, Fla. For information call 949.417.1235 or visit www.reinvertionconf.com. * Dec. 7-9, Luxury Kitchen and Bath Collection, Miami Beach, Fla. For information call 972.536.6391 or...

Waiting for the weekend: a South Carolina getaway perfects the low country cottage.(On Site)
November 1, 2005... Builders can be funny. When Monty Jones unlocks the front door of a project he recently built, a weekend house loaded with sweet details, the first thing he wants to show off is an HVAC return. Stick with him for a while, though, and his logic...

2005 Custom Home Pacesetter Awards.
November 1, 2005... On the next 13 pages you'll meet some of the best practitioners in the custom building business: the winners of the 2005 Pacesetter Awards. Co-sponsored by CUSTOM HOME and the NAHB Custom Home Builders Committee, the Pacesetter Awards program...

William Holley: Holley Schink Design Builders, Middleton, Wis.(Products/Great Finds)
November 1, 2005... Holley Schink Design Builders, Middleton, Wis. Instead of installing standard bar or prep sinks in kitchens, custom builder William Holley recently switched to Kohler's stainless steel Undertone Trough sink, which has a distinctive...

Lori Hales: Echelon Custom Homes, Rehoboth Beach, Del.(Products/Great Finds)
November 1, 2005... Echelon Custom Homes, Rehoboth Beach, Del. Most of the houses that Echelon Custom Homes builds are "smart homes" incorporating a variety of home automation systems. For home security, the firm specs Honeywell Security's residential...

Textural clusters.(Products/Fine Finishes)
November 1, 2005... Reminiscent of barnacles growing on the prow of a ship or coral colonies under the sea, Jennifer Prichard's porcelain sculpture work is deeply influenced by nature, repetition, and patterns. Even the pieces that are not nature-inspired are...

Clarity of grain.(Products/Fine Finishes)
November 1, 2005... Wood finisher Bob Chickey uses only natural resins and an array of shellacs from around the world to create custom finishes that enhance--not hide--the natural beauty of wood. His objective, he says, is to achieve total clarity in a finish. A...

Sustainable design.(Products/Cabinetry)
November 1, 2005... Available in a variety of materials including bamboo, Sereno cabinetry features integrated handles, full-extension and silent-close drawers, and specialty door-lift hardware. Berkeley Mills. 510.549.2854. www.berkeleymills.com. Circle 155 ...

Traffic stopper.(Products/Cabinetry)
November 1, 2005... Rhode Island Red, shown on Wilshire doors in maple, is now part of the maker's custom colors offering. The Glamboyant kitchen concept (shown) incorporates the new finish. Plain & Fancy. 800.447.9006. www.plainfancy cabinetry.com. Circle 156 ...

Best dressed.(Products/Cabinetry)
November 1, 2005... Velvet and chrome jewelry and valet trays, shoe and tie racks, a variety of pull-outs, and other accessories are part of the Dressing Suite collection of cabinetry, which is available in all of the maker's door styles and finishes. Wellborn...

Fall colors.(Products/Cabinetry)
November 1, 2005... Saturated cranberry and autumn paint colors are now available on the maker's cabinetry. Both colors can be finished with various enhancements, including light glazing, sand-through, wear marks, checking, splits, pegs, worm holes, and other...

Neo-tradition.(Products/Cabinetry)
November 1, 2005... American Transitions cabinetry features a recessed panel design with wider frames and large rectangular proportions. Available with horizontal or vertical wood grains, the line is constructed of rift-sawn white oak. Wm Ohs. 303.371.6550...

Gleaming seams.(Products/Roofing)
November 1, 2005... Titan standing-seam metal roofing panels, including mechanical seam and snap-lock seam products, are now available in 16- and 20-ounce natural copper. A variety of panel widths and seam heights are available, as well as optional items such as...

New frontiers.(Products/Roofing)
November 1, 2005... Measuring 14 1/2 inches long and 7 1/4 inches wide. Frontier roof tile is a hand-finished Shingle-style clay tile available in three color blends. The titles weigh 1.375 pounds per square and meet Grade criteria for ASTM's C1167 test method....

Salvaged shingles.(Products/Roofing)
November 1, 2005... A wide variety of historical and salvaged clay and slate roof tiles and fittings can be shipped anywhere in the country. New and used roofing slates are also stocked, as well as files that are no longer in production. Tile Roofs Inc....

Visually venting.(Products/Roofing)
November 1, 2005... Providing both, tile space ventilation and a visual accent to the maker s concrete tile roofing, new galvanized steel vented eave risers are available in three styles and two colors. The risers elevate the eave course to the correct height for...

Weightless clay.(Products/Roofing)
November 1, 2005... ProShake Plus roofing tiles, manufactured from a lightweight clay, are available in two cedar-profiled styles: Madera shake and weathered cedar. Weighing 5.95 pounds per square foot. ProShake Plus tiles can be installed on most structures...

Electrical & lighting.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... When you describe the light in a room--bright and cheery, for example, or soft and romantic--you describe the room's mood. That's why it's so important to devote an adequate amount of time to choosing the right lighting products and planning...

Felber Ornamental Plastering Corp.(PERIOD PRODUCTS)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... A recognized name for over 30 years, Felber offers varied styles in stock or custom size and forms. From its 2000-plus models, Felber can provide architectural details including ceiling medallions/ornamentation, cornices, niche caps/units,...

Bathroom exhaust kits.(CUSTOM PRODUCT SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... CFM (Continental Fan Manufacturing) introduces the STRONGEST and QUIETEST method of bathroom ventilation. Remote mounted fans allow for a stronger, more powerful attic mounted fan, to power one or two ceiling mounted grills. This keeps the...

Depend on the consistency of engineered wood.(CUSTOM PRODUCT SHOWCASE)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... TimberStrand[R] LSL is a versatile, engineered lumber option for rim board, headers, beams, columns, studs, stair stringers, treated sill plates, and more. Because of its high-quality structural design, TimberStrand[R] LSL resists twisting,...

Sticks and stones.(Last Detail)
November 1, 2005... A four-story atrium, filled with rocks hand-picked from the rugged mountainside site, bisects this Boulder, Colo., home. The stair that runs through it is the result of homeowners who are engineers and entrepreneurs working with an architect...

New image.(Editor's Notes)
November 1, 2005... For generations, a house set smack in the middle of an open field has been part of our collective image of the American home. It conjures up the old family farm and the pioneer house on the prairie. It speaks to our romantic notions of rugged...

Pool houses.
November 1, 2005... More than a place to put a beer fridge and a shower, a pool house can act as a mini vacation spot. Directing the views away from the main house and focusing across the pool toward distant vistas can create the illusion of a retreat within the...

Light the night: outdoor lighting adds style, saves energy.(In Depth)
November 1, 2005... Exterior lighting has become an integral part of residential landscaping. From uplights to downlights to everything in between, ever-expanding choices of outdoor fixtures can accentuate your clients' dwellings and create sale passages while...

Final tour: when the project is finished, everyone must sign off.(Problem Solved)
November 1, 2005... Before closing the project, home builder and pool builder should put it under a magnifying glass. Check rock work for signs of grout. Make sure tile, decking, and other materials are clean. Run waterfalls and spa spillways to make sure they...

Stepping out: a view from the terrace.
November 1, 2005... People who buy a beachfront site want a house with outdoor rooms that take advantage of the sun and sea. But how to provide outdoor spaces when the beachfront site is just .2 acre and has an average 45-degree slope? With romantic notions of an...

Weathered wood.(Outdoor Products)
November 1, 2005... Oasis Composite Deck and Rail, made from a blend of high-density polyethylene and wood fiber, features natural color variations that are enchanced through weathering, the maker says. Planks are reversible for either a wood-grained or brushed...

It's a Snap.(Outdoor Products)
November 1, 2005... Utilizing the maker's Snap Lock system of labeled templates and precut and labeled bricks, the Portofino Outdoor wood-burning fireplace assembles easily like a puzzle and uses high-temp mortar to grout the bricks. A clean-lined stainless steel...

Outdoor baker.(Outdoor Products)
November 1, 2005... The 26-inch outdoor gas oven utilizes a 20,000-BTU burner and provides natural airflow baking. It can be built into a custom enclosure or combined with a gas grill in the maker's 53-inch grill cart. which has two drawers and a compartment for...

Sit or swim.(Outdoor Products)
November 1, 2005... The SwimEx 500 series swim spa now features two built-in seats and 12 optional spa jets in addition to the water return system that provides a top water speed of 4 1/2 miles per hour, so it can be used as a relaxing spa as well as for swimming...

Remarkable resurfacing.(Backyard Living)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Bring new beauty and durability to plain gray patios, walkways or pool decks with SCOFIELD[R] Texturetop[R]. The colored cementitious topping is available in three grades suited to stamping, stenciling or simply broom finishing concrete...

Versatile imprinted concrete.(Backyard Living)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Freshly placed concrete can mimic more costly materials by using LITHOTEX[R] Pavecmfters[R] imprinting tools or embossing skins. These ate the tools worthy of the name "professional grade", because of the amazing, realistic patterns. ...