Professional Builder (1993) articles from April 2003

Professional Builder (1993) archives from April 2003

Letters.
April 1, 2003... "The circular subdivision must be the culmination of the great traffic engineer's theory that 'three rights make a left'" PAULHORNING CEO Secrets I found Scott Sedam's article "CEO Secrets Revealed" [December 2002] pretty...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2003... In the January 2003 issue, Farr Associates Architecture and Urban Design was misidentified. Images were courtesy of Farr Associates.

Beyond the numbers. (Perspective).
April 1, 2003... This business has no shortage of individuals who believe passionately in an idea and have the strength of character to stand up and defend it when the arrows start flying. This year's GIANT 400 list is populated with companies filled with...

Benchmarking. (Publisher's Letter).
April 1, 2003... Coming to accept that not everything works the way you believe it does is difficult, disturbing and ultimately shoves you into the next phase of your life. You can read hundreds of quotes about how failure delivered famous individuals to great...

Playing catch-up on code changes: NAHB-endorsed International residential Code focuses on simpler, prescriptive specifications rather than a subjective, performance-based approach. (Outfront).(National Association of Home Builders)
April 1, 2003... Building code development involves massive peer reviews and consensus building that takes months if not years. Bu there has been a rapid transformation during the past three years. In 2000, the three independent code-writing organizations...

Obituary.
April 1, 2003... Carole Eichen: Innovator of Model Home Merchandising Just months before she died March 31, interior design and merchandising legend Carole Eichen talked about a major shift coming in the evolution of model home decor. And when Eichen spoke...

Survey for satisfaction. (The-HIR Dept.).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Most builders believe they understand the feelings of customers, employees and vendors through sporadic feedback from sales, management or construction personnel. But this information typically is flawed with personal agendas or small sample...

Don Wilford finds a home on the range. (Off Hours).(ICI Homes)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Until three years ago, ICI Homes division president Don Wilford was plain city folk with a long-held dream of trying life as a cowboy. Today he is getting to be an old hand, planning a fourth visit to a 250,000-acre cattle ranch in Wyoming. ...

Big blue builds home network technology. (Outfront_Build).(IBM offers WebSphere intelligent home technology)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... It has been promised for a long time: affordable, easy-to-use technology that lets homeowners use the Internet to take care of their homes. Now a familiar name in technology intends to make good on the promise. IBM just unveiled WebSphere...

Solar shingles do double duty. (Outfront_Build).(Uni-Solar)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... In answering the question of which trade contractor group is best-suited to install its solar-energy products, Michigan-based Uni-Solar turned to the obvious choice: roofers. In turn, the firm concentrated on creating a new product line...

Now, Southern yellow pine itself reduces costs. (Energy Efficiency).(Enertia Building Systems)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Southern yellow pine has one unique property that other lumber does not: sticky yellow resin. Scientists have known for years that resin stores lots of energy. Usually the resin is extracted from the tree and injected into gypsum board to...

Museum puts windows on display. (Outfront_Design).(National Building Museum's "Picture This: Windows on the American Home" exhibition)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Often called the "eyes" of a house, windows are one of the most architecturally expressive features of a home. A new exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington explores the role windows play in the architecture and culture of the...

The Kissing Nook. (Outfront_Design).(Orren Pickeli Designers and Builders )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... It's hardly big enough for a quick peck, but this cozy spot under the stairs is called the "Kissing Nook" by everyone at Orren Pickeli Designers & Builders in Bannockburn, Ill. The first thing one sees when entering the 4,500-square-foot...

Furniture in the bath. (Storage Solution).(American Standard Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... "Interior decorators and homeowners have done a super job of furnishing other rooms in the house," says American Standard director of design Gary Uhl, "and now they are using more and more furniture in the bath." American Standard's line...

Morgan follows 'Rayco model' to market lead. (Outfront_Manage).(C.P. Morgan Communities)
April 1, 2003... Indianapolis GIANT C.P. Morgan Communities is a testament to the fact that the "Rayco model" still works. By following the management precepts that led Rayco to dominate San Antonio in the early 1990s with a market share consistently above...

Headhunt or not? (Recruiting).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... How can builders recruit talented managers and hang on to them? We put that question to successful builders across the country and touched a nerve when we brought up using management search firms--headhunters. "We pretty much have a...

Presenting options online draws customers. (Outfront_Sell).(Mid-Atlantic Builders Inc.'s online marketing)
April 1, 2003... Mid-Atlantic Builders in Rockville, Md., a self-described portfolio builder, offers a roster of home designs that can be personalized and built with myriad options. Mid-Atlantic sought a way to communicate this strength through its Web site and...

Verify recapture agreements. (Outfront_Land).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... That water and/or sewer main running near the property you want to buy is often a blessing, but trouble could lurk there, too, says Tom Stephani, a builder in Crystal Lake, Ill. Before getting too far along in your pro formas on a parcel,...

Corps, epa are all wet. (NAHB Opinion).(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency wetland laws)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A roadside ditch miles from the nearest body of water larger than a puddle is: A) a breeding ground for mosquitoes; B) a regulated wetland under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency; or C)...

Avoiding home buyer dissatisfaction. (Homeowners Associations).(Associated Asset Management)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Laura Ziff, president of Associated Asset Management, a Phoenix-based real estate management firm whose clients include Richmond American, D.R. Horton and Pulte, advises a beefed-up approach to homeowners associations with these general tips:...

Housing's underdogs live on. (Lessons Learned).(Andersen Corporate Finance's white paper "The Impending Consolidation of the Homebuilding Industry")
April 1, 2003... Everyone loves the story of David and Goliath, save perhaps the likes of Donald Rumsfeld, George Steinbrenner, Shaquille O'Neal or last season's Miami Hurricanes football team. Something resonates in nearly all of us when the underdog...

Job growth worsens; consumer confidence declines; consumer spending slows. (Special Advertising Section: Economic Forecast and Data Report).
April 1, 2003... Housing Starts Housing continues to be the economic engine driving the U.S. economy. This year began with a bang, as builders started construction on more homes in January than in any prior January. Total starts, including single-family...

Should you become a remodeler? (Money Matters).(housing market downturn)
April 1, 2003... The new home sector has shown extraordinary strength as the national economy has mean dered through the past three years. Low mortgage rates have allowed millions of families to enter and move up in the new home market. But an economy that...

Does size really matter? (Numbers Game).
April 1, 2003... For some reason our culture equates size with success. The more homes a company builds, the more successful we assume that company must be. The 12 largest builders in the country, all of whom have publicly traded shares, have grown...

Build with certainTeed, the leader -- offering freedom of choice. (Special Advertising Section Giants Preferred: Vinyl Siding).
April 1, 2003... Certain Teed, the source for quality building materials since 1904, give builders the best of both worlds. Install the leading brand of vinyl siding or the best-performing fiber cement siding on the market. First in Vinyl Siding... ...

America's largest builders prefer Moen faucets. (Special Advertising Section Giants Preferred: Faucets).
April 1, 2003... Moen is the No. 1 brand of faucets in North America and one of the world's largest manufacturers of kitchen and bathroom faucets, tub/shower products and kitchen sinks. Recently, Moen was selected as the preferred faucet brand in a survey of...

The nation's top builders have made their #1 choice for siding clear. (Special Advertising Section Giants Preferred: Siding).
April 1, 2003... When surveyed, they selected James Hardie[R] products 2-to-1 over all other siding materials--including vinyl, wood, brick and stucco. What has given James Hardie the edge? It's a combination of having a superior product and the development of...

Top-Heavy TILT: consolidation is really a tale of 20 behemoths, growing at the expense of builders in the second tier. Market share of the full GIANT 400 actually declined in 2002. .(Cover Story)
April 1, 2003... Housing's GIANTS are different. Different from last year. Different from the rank and file of small builders that still produce most of America's housing. And different from each other in ways that allow us to separate them into...

Create the unique look your homebuyers want with Delta[R]. (Special Advertising Section Giants Preferred: Faucets).
April 1, 2003... As a builder, you're always on the lookout for stylish, unique products that will help give your homebuyers the look they want. Delta Faucet Company is committed to helping you meet those customer demands--introducing the new Botanical Bath...

Where are the giants headed? Industry consolidation is changing the way even the smallest production builders do business, but how far it will go is still open to debate.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2003... The dizzy pace of growth among the public home builders atop PB'S GIANTS rankings affects every builder within reach of their competitive grasp. As the Masters of the Universe dip into smaller, secondary housing markets, they'll touch just...

Therma-Tru: doors that deliver more than just beautiful entryways. (Special Advertising Section Giants Preferred: Exterior Doors).
April 1, 2003... As a builder, you're always looking to add value and customized style to your construction projects. Therma-Tru Doors, the most preferred brand of entry door systems, has the solution -- high-style, high-performance entry door systems that add...

'Tru' beauty doesn't stop at the front door. (Special Advertising Section Giants Preferred: Exterior Doors).
April 1, 2003... Today's home buyers want outdoor spaces that provide comfortable living areas for the entire family. Creating these areas requires more than just a deck and landscaping; it demands stylish patio doors that unite interior and exterior spaces and...

Builders can breath easier using GREENGUARD[TM] certified insulation. (Special Advertising Section Giants Preferred: Insulation).
April 1, 2003... While the economic and environmental benefits of a well-insulated home are indisputable--a better-insulated house reduces energy consumption--increasing energy efficiency can have a downside by transforming that same house into a virtually...

Giant killers: how small local builders in big markets give GIANTS a run for their money. (Manage).
April 1, 2003... The prediction is that home building soon will be dominated by the biggest of the big. The theory goes that the billion-dollar publicly traded companies are on a march toward capturing 50% (and eventually 75%) of all new home completions...

Shape up your derriere: articulation at the rear of a home isn't easy, but it's entirely necessary. Here are some tips to dress up your backsides. (Design).
April 1, 2003... We've all heard it and most likely said it: It takes curb appeal to sell a new home. Front elevations must excite and thus invite the drive-by buyer to stop and explore beyond the front door. There are tried-and-true elements to create...

Wine rooms: for storage and showing off; Perhaps more than any other specialty room, the wine room is making real inroads in new home design. The secret to a good one is the delicate blend of form and function. (Build).
April 1, 2003... Apparently residents as well as visitors drink a lot of wine in Las Vegas. Erika Geiser, vice president of marketing for Vegas-based Christopher Homes, estimates that 99% of the company's custom homes and 25% of its luxury production homes...

Contracts & law: Part III. (Learn).
April 1, 2003... The section of a contract covering what is and is not included describes the scope of work that forms the basis for the cost of construction and your fee. Specifically, it defines the scope by detailing what you will and will not do; indicating...

Miller. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Miller Grip anchorage connectors include models for fall protection that provide safe anchor points when inserted into properly sized and cured concrete holes. One- and two-user models are offered. The line also includes non-fall-protection...

Atlantic bath distributors. (Products).
April 1, 2003... The Beauty Collection is a line of three vanities-Danubio (pictured), Sena and Thamesis--that come with Italian ceramic sinks molded to fit atop the cabinet. Each has a matching mirror with light sconces that comply with UL standards. ...

Gorell windows & doors. (Products).
April 1, 2003... 6000 Series sliding patio doors have been enhanced with an angled keylock to lessen the possibility of scraped fingers and knuckles when locking and unlocking the door. The keylocks have a color-matched, powder-coated finish and die-cast handle...

Georgia-Pacific. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Made of plywood backed by aluminum foil, Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing reflects up to 97% of the sun's radiant heat. Installed foil side down, it can lower attic temperatures by as much as 30 degrees, the company says. It can be used in place...

Kinetico. (Products).
April 1, 2003... At 19 1/2 inches high, 18 inches deep and 8 1/4 inches wide, the 2020c water softener is designed to fit where other water softeners won't. It's specifically designed for use with block or pellet salt. It has a silver metallic finish and a...

Klein tools. (Products).
April 1, 2003... A new line of protective eyewear meets ANSI and OSHA requirements and is CSA-certified, the company says. Features include anti-fog, scratch-resistant and anti-UV lens coatings (all permanently bonded); adjustable temple lengths; and wraparound...

Moen. (Products).
April 1, 2003... AquaSuite and Villeta butler faucets provide a separate line for cold drinking water, allowing homeowners to bypass water-softening systems. Villeta (shown) comes in chrome. AquaSuite, which features traditional lever styling with a high-arc...

CertainTeed. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Boardwalk composite decking and railing now is offered in tan. Made of PVC and recycled natural fibers, Boardwalk has a Class 1 fire rating and installs with ordinary woodworking tools. It can be used for decks, railings, stairs, walkways,...

Weyerhaeuser. (Products).
April 1, 2003... SureFoot laminate flooring is designed with a tongue-and-groove shape for a tight connection without glue. Engineered with a clear resin overlay and a water-resistant core, the flooring resists scratches, stains, cigarette burns and cleaning...

The stanley works. (Products).
April 1, 2003... The pocket-size IntelliSensor stud sensor locates the edges of studs or joists through drywall, plywood and other common materials. An automatic calibration switch enables the user to calibrate the tool to the wall within seconds, the company...

Toto USA. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Rising 35 inches from floor to rim, two new universal-height Promenade pedestal lavatories are 3 inches higher than standard-height lays, so users don't have to bend as far to use them. Choose a 27 1/2 x 22 1/4-inch basin model or the petite...

Boral bricks. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Made for exterior and interior use, Liberty Classic Stone is a manufactured stone product with a 3-inch thickness, the same as traditional brick, so masons can lay it like brick. The product weighs approximately 18 pounds per square foot and...

Pactiv. (Products).
April 1, 2003... GreenGuard RainDrop housewrap has drainage channels to divert bulk water straight down to the base of exterior walls. The channels will not crush even when hard-backed siding is fastened-over the wrap, the company says. The product can be used...

Broan-nutone. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Metro Collection medicine cabinets have all-steel construction, external and internal mirror options, and installation flexibility in 24- and 34-inch heights and 4- and 6-inch depths. Other features include adjustable glass shelves, concealed...

Merillat. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Merillat Classic Lariat cabinetry incorporates a furniture look in a standard cabinetry offering. Features include rope molding and mitered corners. Choose maple (natural or toffee finish) or cherry (in cider or paprika; cider is shown). Lariat...

Franke consumer products. (Products).
April 1, 2003... The contemporary Atlantique vanity has an 18/10 stainless steel Rondo sink set in a teakwood countertop that's protected and waterproofed with a polyester finish. Beneath the countertop is an 18/10 perforated shelf with towel rail. The Rondo...

Samsung. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Ten new Staron solid-surface colors include various textures and patterns to bring an outdoor feel into the home. Shown are (from left) sanded cream, aspen jade, pebble castle and pebble ebony. The other new colors are sanded mocha, aspen mine,...

Kohler. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Designed for the master bath as well as a powder room, the Serif Suite of bathroom fixtures comprises a 5-foot oval bathtub/whirlpool, a self-rimming lavatory and a two-piece toilet. The drop-in acrylic tub/whirlpool features a 21-inch-deep...

Delta faucet. (Products).
April 1, 2003... The Jetted Shower XO takes the original Monitor 1800 Series Jetted Shower and adds an extra outlet for the installation of an additional shower head, hand shower or jet module. A six-position diverter lets the user control multiple outlets in...

Maytag. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Bottom-freezer refrigerators put the fresh-food compartment at eye level. Features include a shelf that rolls up and down to accommodate tall items, and temperature controls that monitor the refrigerator and freezer compartments independently....

Andersen windows. (Products).
April 1, 2003... KML architectural patio doors are sized to complement other Andersen products and also are offered in custom sizes. The aluminum cladding finish meets the AAMA 2605 standard. Choose a pine, oak or maple interior; in-swing or out-swing...

Jeld-Wen. (Products).
April 1, 2003... Cambridge interior molded wood fiber doors are offered in passage and bifold models, in various widths and in heights of 6 feet, 8 inches; 7 feet; and 8 feet. They come smooth-surfaced and pre-primed. With a thickness of 1 3/4 inches, the doors...

Lutron electronics. (Products).
April 1, 2003... GFCI receptacles come in 15 Satin Colors (terra cotta is shown) designed to complete the look of a kitchen or bath. Products in the Satin Colors Collection can match or contrast with furniture, carpeting, walls and decorative objects. All...

2003 Giants professional builder.
April 1, 2003... 2003 Giants Professional Builder 2003 2002 Total Housing Bank Rank Company Name/Location Revenue 1 2 Pulte Homes Inc. / Bloomfield ...