Professional Builder (1993) articles from August 2004

Professional Builder (1993) archives from August 2004

Zoned out.(Perspective)(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... At a recent meeting of the residential neighborhood Development council of the urban land institute, members broke into small roundtables to debate the weighty subject of crafting a great neighborhood. Questions considered include: * Is...

Austin City Lofts.(renovation Projects)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... It took some imagination to envision a hot, upscale fill property on a former used-car lot near a trash-strewn creek bed. But CLB Partners, already having succeeded with urban infill projects in its hometown of Dallas and in Houston, found such...

Founders Mill.(Plans and Projects)
August 1, 2004... This infill townhouse development in suburban Atlanta is a classic example of how to turn an underutilized site into prime residential real estate. Located on a 1.293-acre former parking lot, across the street from 19th century mill buildings...

Design sketchbook: designing for privacy; Find ways to create secluded retreats and hallway buffer zones to give a home character as well as livability.(Plans and Projects)
August 1, 2004... Homeowners embrace open floor plans, yet desire privacy. Delivering the former often means overlooking the latter. Since many design professionals consider hallways wasted space, floor plans often lack the elements of basic privacy. Recently,...

Diary of a builder.(Lessons Learned)
August 1, 2004... Saturday: The Appalachian Service Project (ASP)--on my mind for months, and I'm still not ready. What to bring? Hammers, pry-bars, plumbing tools, electrical kit, hand saws, circular saw, 18V kit with extra batteries, hammer drill, extension...

Smooth sailing.(Customer Satisfaction)
August 1, 2004... Customer satisfaction is a process of matching expectations to delivery. Making smooth transitions from one department to the next is one of the most powerful strategies for exceeding expectations and impacting a customer's long-term...

Land development -- Part II.(Learn)
August 1, 2004... In last month's "Learn" article, we discussed the pros and cons of small-volume and custom builders getting into land development. This article will discuss how to find and evaluate a parcel of property that will suit your needs. Before...

Choosing insulation: what you need to know to enhance its performance.(Build)
August 1, 2004... Heating and cooling account for 50 percent to 70 percent of the energy used in the average American home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Good insulation not only can minimize these costs for your home buyers, it also can make...

Infill opportunity: a need for housing, pride in historic downtown and proximity to entertainment are among the reasons these projects are becoming popular.
August 1, 2004... Like the new teeth in a young child's smile, infill projects are springing up to span the gaps of passed-over suburban parcels, deserted industrial sites and the historic cores of America's cities. Opportunities are fueled by households and...

Tool talk: today's tools to drive builders' bottom-line results.(ProductReport)
August 1, 2004... Builder Gary Striegler, of Striegler and Associates Inc., says the one tool he simply couldn't live without is his nail gun. Striegler remembers his early days in the business when he had to drive finish nails by hand. He was reluctant to try a...

Nuheat.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Radiant heating mats in 220-volt units allow homeowners to use one circuit to cover twice as much floor space as a 110-volt mat. The mats use the same voltage as pre-existing baseboard heaters and eliminate the need for extra wiring. A...

Rheem.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Pronto! series water heaters are on-demand, tankless gas water heaters. The energy-saving units, such as the RTG-42PV, have no standing pilot light or no storage tank. The RTG-42PV delivers up to 4.2 gallons of 100 degree F to 140 degree F...

Toto.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Toto adds faucetry to its product line with three polished chrome designs that extend its bath collections--Baldwin, Mercer and Nexus. The Baldwin collection, which features lever handles with porcelain accents, includes a lavatory faucet...

OmegaFlex.(Products)
August 1, 2004... TracPipe PS-II flexible gas piping is designed for use in various applications, including under slabs where sleeved and vented piping is required by code. The stainless steel product, which is enclosed within a fully vented polyethylene sleeve...

Merillat.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Spring Valley cabinetry, part of the Merillat Classic line, now comes in cherry. Shown in the paprika finish, it's also available with a cider finish. Like the rest of the Classic line, Spring Valley comes in square and arched door styles....

State water heaters.(Products)
August 1, 2004... A new line of gas and electric residential water heaters comply with 2004 National Appliance Energy Conservation Act efficiency standards. As part of the launch, the Premier gas and electric models now include Blue Diamond glass coating and...

Fujitsu general America.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Halcyon IAQ ductless, minisplit systems use plasma ionization and electrostatic filtration to neutralize and remove airborne irritants, odors and allergens. Four 12-SEER models are available: 18,000- and 24,000-Btu cooling systems and 18,000-...

Yorktowne.(Products)
August 1, 2004... A full-overlay, solid maple door style called Kingfield has been added to the Signature Collection. Kingfield features an ogee-shaped, solid maple raised center panel in a mitered doorframe with a double-beaded accent. It is available in 12...

Fire sprinklers save lives: and benefit builders and consumers, according to new educational campaign launched by the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.
August 1, 2004... Fires kill more people in the United States each year than all natural disasters combined, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Approximately 80 percent of all fire-related deaths occur in the home; however, only 2 percent of...

NAHB supports states and hot building issues.(Legal)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The National Association of Home Builders Legal Action Fund supports state and local associations and builders in lawsuits involving matters of significance to the housing industry. From 1994 to 2003, the NAHB made 204 grants, totalling $2...

Work Force Housing Awards.(NAHB Opinion)
August 1, 2004... Millions of working families are forced to look for housing 50 miles or more from their jobs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To recognize outstanding examples of work force housing communities and to encourage builders, developers and others...

Spray-in fiberglass saves time, energy.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... In response to market demands for spray-in insulation products, which offer increased energy efficiency because they fill gaps better than batt insulation, Johns-Manville has introduced a new type of spray-in fiberglass insulation. ...

PATH's home of the future.(Concept Home)(Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Imagine being able to build a home in 20 days. Or add extra rooms and space to any house by simply moving walls. The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing has created a Concept Home model that could make these ideas a reality. ...

The writing's on the door.(NewstoUse_Design)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... For a couple of years, clever new home merchandisers and custom builders have been painting with chalkboard paint to transform a wall or other surface into a useable chalkboard for kids. Drawing on the popularity of the idea, Simpson Door Co....

In the mix: hardwoods.(construction of home cabinets)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... More and more people are choosing to follow their own individual preferences when it comes to their homes. Mixing different hardwoods creates a unique, custom look in the kitchen or bathroom. Matching is no longer the only option. ...

Vanities getting taller.(Bathrooms)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Bathroom vanities are becoming taller for users' comfort. "We're realizing that we have to bend down to interact with the basin," says Diana Schrage, interior designer for the Kohler Design Center. Many builders are now installing bathroom...

Trouble bubble ... or not?(housing prices on the rise)
August 1, 2004... There's a debate raging among U.S. economists as to whether the rapid run-up in housing prices in many markets across the country constitutes an investment bubble that could soon burst, with long-range repercussions on builders' ability to sell...

Confirming some bubbles?(speculative buyers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... If speculative buyers contribute to the formation of pricing bubbles, this is not good news: In the July 14th Wall Street Journal an article by Queena Sook Kim seems to confirm speculation is on the rise in a number of markets. Some large...

All grown up; ready to buy.(construction targetting baby boomers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Generation Xers are all grown up, with the category's first borns turning 40 next year. Once called the "slacker generation," they now have families of their own and represent a strong market for today's builders. That was the message from...

Outshining the competition.(NewstoUse_Sell)
August 1, 2004... Builders at St. Johns Forest, a Taylor Woodrow community in Jacksonville, Fla., invited prospects on their interest list to preview their new gated community, St. Johns Forest, via a unique invitation. Dubbed a "Muddy Boots" event to highlight...

Crisis communications 101.(Media Management)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Would you know what to do if a reporter and camera crew showed up on your construction site? That was one of the questions Maxine McBride, president of Clockwork Marketing in Jacksonville, Fla., posed while addressing the members of the...

Burgeoning Baja.(NewstoUse_Land)
August 1, 2004... Loreto Bay Co., of Scottsdale, Ariz., is proving that U.S. builders can gain new ground in Mexico. The Villages of Loreto Bay, under way in Mexico's Baja California Sur, is a 6,000-home, mixed-use plan on 3 miles of untouched coastline, part of...

Vacuum overcomes gravity wastewater glitches.(NewstoUse_Land)
August 1, 2004... Installing conventional gravity-based wastewater lines may not be practical where the the land's grade is too low, the groundwater table too high (especially in coastal areas) or where rock or utility lines obstruct excavation. A vacuum...

Why will builders vote for impact fees?(Legislation)(Will County)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... In a booming residential construction corridor southwest of Chicago, builders voted to support higher impact fees. Subsequently, the Will County (Illinois) Board in mid-July passed the initiative, which will increase construction permits in the...

Builder Sarah Peck moved from running a big greenfield company to a small virtual organization dedicated to infill. She relishes wearing the white hat.(The Last Word)(Progressive Housing Ventures)(Interview)
August 1, 2004... PB: Is managing Progressive Housing Ventures different from managing Rouse Chamberlin Homes? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SP: At Rouse Chamberlin Homes, I faced the classic dilemma--running a big company took time away from my young...

Rural areas on the rise in the east.(Market Snapshots)
August 1, 2004... It is not often that a rural area rises from obscurity to become one of the 50 largest housing markets in the country, but that is what is happening on the outskirts of Washington. Thirteen of the top 20 builders in the country, and a...

The outside talent trend.(Feature)(Residential construction)(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... Home builders have been defying the economy and thriving to unforeseen levels of top-line and bottom-line results. This electrifying growth is beginning to create concern about the supply of exceptional talent. If it isn't coming from within...

Retailers rising: privately owned Giant builders, competing with Home Depot and Lowe's in high-profile retail "design centers," expand a new advantage of bigness.
August 1, 2004... Public GIANTS such as Hovnanian Enterprises and KB Home are expanding their commitment to retailing options and upgrades through design centers. But the most interesting innovations in this emerging area of builder operations may be on the...

Where's a nexer to go? In Part 2, nexers share what community plans and new home features motivate them to move.(Analysis)
August 1, 2004... A few years ago, we began to see a change in the active-adult market. The nexers (leading-edge baby boomers) were turning 50, and their attitudes and lifestyle were clearly different from the active adults that came before them. In order to...

Risk management: risk management starts and ends with quality.(Process Improvement Report)
August 1, 2004... 'The prime assets of a builder are land, a bag of money, a Rolodex and a telephone," says George Casey, president of the Mid-Atlantic division of Arvida. "Everything else we contract out and rely on others' expertise to mitigate our risk." ...