Professional Builder (1993) articles from January 2006

Professional Builder (1993) archives from January 2006

What Makes You So Special?(construction industry branding)
January 1, 2006... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor With hundreds of builders as competitors, what makes your company stand out in the crowd? Builders across the country do a great job at what they do best -- using their skills and expertise in building...

Why Employee Satisfaction?
January 1, 2006... By Bob Piper, The Talon Group Everyone's abuzz about the J.D. Power home builder rankings, and rightfully so. Regardless of your personal stance on the data, more potential home buyers are making it part of their research prior to making...

The Customer Delight Honor Roll.
January 1, 2006... By Scott Sedam Five home builders that get customer satisfaction right. In the December "Lesson's Learned" column, I described how my staff analyzed the results of the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 New-Home Builder Customer...

Selling with Extended Deliveries.
January 1, 2006... By John Rymer Keeping customers happy when instant gratification isn't an option. John Rymer: In today's market, some customers are being asked to wait a year or even longer before they can even move into their home. This...

How They Think.
January 1, 2006... By Bob Sperber, Senior Editor The 17-step process to better public/private development partnerships Builders need to know how buyers think, but there's another set of people -- government officials -- who hold just as much clout in a...

The Next Big Boom.
January 1, 2006... By Bob Sperber, Senior Editor Researchers define 10 megapolitan areas to predict growth through 2040. Move over, metropolitan markets, the megapolitans are coming. Estimating housing needs for 83 million more U.S. residents by 2040,...

The Test Kitchen.
January 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis Chasing surveys instead of satisfaction. Imagine yourself judging a chili cooking contest, with long tables lined with big steaming pots of homemade chili. Given that each pot of chili has been stirred well, you are...

Reading the Tides.
January 1, 2006... By Bob Sperber, Senior Editor Economic indicators builders need to navigate a changing economy. Whoever said a rising tide lifts all boats didn't know boats. All boats, like all building companies, fare very differently in the...

No Man's Land.
January 1, 2006... Article by Matthew Power, Contributing Senior Editor Less than a mile from the nearly recovered French Quarter of New Orleans, snakes sleep under moldy carpets, and a foul wind whistles through the missing window panes of abandoned homes....

Inflating Material Prices.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor According to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), in the past two years, construction costs appear to be rising faster than the general rate of inflation. Heavy construction in the U.S. and...

EPA Raises the Bar, Lowers Utility Bills.(Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor NAHB says builders need more time to make the adjustment Builders will have to significantly increase the energy efficiency of their homes to meet new Energy Star requirements scheduled to take effect...

SilverStar Communities.
January 1, 2006... Bill Miller, Partner, Reno, NV Vanguard Manabloc Plumbing Manifold System Bill Miller www.vanguardpipe.com The patented Manabloc water distribution system utilizes a central, modular manifold and PEX hot and cold piping...

Wood vs. Engineered Lumber.
January 1, 2006... By Kevin Russelburg, Contributing Editor Wood or Engineered Lumber? In this new column, we take a look at the pros and cons of wood versus engineered lumber. For years, builders have used traditional lumber to build homes; however,...

Going Automated.
January 1, 2006... By Marcia Jedd, Contributing Editor From basic home theater to whole-house lighting and security, builders can find opportunity in automated homes. Imagine having complete access to your iPod tunes and favorite satellite radio shows...

Rising Tides.
January 1, 2006... By Scott T. Shepherd, PATH Partners Flood-resistant materials help defend against storm surge Katrina. Rita. Wilma. The hurricanes of 2005 dramatically illustrate the importance of building durable, disaster-resistant homes. As...

Discount Houses.
January 1, 2006... By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director Welcome to the end of no-haggle pricing. The last couple of years builder model homes have been like Carmax or Saturn lots. Buyers show up. Salespeople quote a price. Everybody agrees. No haggle. No...

Urban loft living done right.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Addressing space constraint, affordability and mixed-use, Artisan Homes' Lofts on Central makes it all happen. Eric Brown of Artisan Homes took a sketch on a napkin for developing loft living in...

Desert materials create best amenity.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Toll Brothers set out to build a community center to serve as a gathering place for weddings, anniversaries, meetings, classes and other activities at its master-planned community Aviano at Desert Ridge....

Neighboring smart growth.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor This old naval base evolved into a mixed-use, large-scale master planned community by carefully weaving the redeveloped portion with existing neighborhoods surrounding the old naval base. Creating a...

Restoring a neighborhood.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Built around an existing neighborhood, University Park is an 8.5-acre redevelopment project located in historic downtown Palo Alto. SummerHill Homes built two condominium buildings and as well as...

Infill luxury condominiums.(Woodmark at University Park)(Vance Brown)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Enticing to move-down buyers, Woodmark luxury condominiums at University Park were designed to fill the strong demand for a carefree and convenient home setting within walking distance of the partially...

Mediterranean courtyard community.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Sea Cove at The Waterfront creates ambience, diversity and function in high-density form by recalling the nostalgic charm of Pasadena's 1920s courtyard communities with a flare of Mediterranean...

Private attached living.(Park Villas at Silverleaf)(CSE and Associates)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor A series of pocket parks surround each attached home at Silverleaf, creating a sense of privacy. The rear-loaded garages give creative opportunity to vary the massing of the front elevations, allowing the...

Craving textural interest.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Working within the constraints of the 75-foot-wide lot and 10-foot front and side setback requirements, Witt Construction created a home layered with textural interest and the space the client craved. The...

Blending common materials.(The Browning Residence)(Schmid and Rhodes Construction Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Built within a well-established neighborhood dating back to the Depression, this custom-built home was designed for a client with the need to entertain casually. Commonly used materials like stone and cedar...

Flipped ocean view.(Home Is Where the View Is)(Buffington Homes, L.P.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Set along the oceanfront, this shingle-styled custom home is a flipped plan, where the main living and entertaining occurs on the second floor. The client chose this layout to view the breakers on the...

Carefree condo lifestyle.(Eaton Court)(Norfolk Homes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, this Eastlake home is designed with structural simplicity and efficient use of space. The low-profile elevation is constructed with maintenance-free materials such...

Farmhouse meets Tuscan.(Cypress)(Taylor Woodrow Homes Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Robert Hidey Architects capture an awareness of centuries old, multigenerational homes by incorporating authentic materials and a variety of textures including natural stone; tumbled brick; clay tiles with...

Creating housing lofts.(Midtown Lofts)(Kraus-Anderson Construction Co.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Fronting on the newly refurbished Midtown Greenway bike trail in Minneapolis, these lofts provided new housing and gave a new look to this former industrial site. The units have north and south exposure,...

Bigger isn't better.(9 Chuckanut)(Thompson Custom Homes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Unlike the standard Texas motto "bigger is better," the focus for this custom home in Houston was standing the test of time and weathering beautifully. Thompson Custom Homes achieved an understated,...

Century old meets new.(Running Elk Ranch)(Schlauch Bottcher Construction)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Incorporating a century old square-log building as the design crux, this spec ranch meets modern times with its upgrade to a home theater system and automated lighting among other modern amenities. Still,...

Pacific outdoor space.(Verandahs at Silverleaf)(Camelot Homes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor This home focuses on outdoor living space in Spanish colonial style by presenting a discrete loggia tucked inside a deep barrel arch and centered on rounded French doors at the front of the home. The lots...

Single Family.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Single-Family Detached Home, 1,801 to 2,400 sq. ft. Project Name: Soleil Location: San Diego, Calif. Designer/Architect: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects, Newport Beach, Calif. ...

Attached.(3rd Avenue Lofts)(Trillium)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Attached Home 20 units per acre and over Project Name: 3rd Avenue Lofts Location: Scottsdale, Ariz. Designer/Architect: McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc., Irvine, Calif....

One-of-a-Kind.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home (Built for a Client) up to & including 4,000 sq. ft. Project Name: Black Hammock Location: Oviedo, Fla. Designer/Architect: Bloodgood Sharp Buster...

Rental.(The Ashton)(Lofts on Post Oak)(The Hanover Company)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Rental Development 5 units and over Project Name: The Ashton Location: Dallas, Texas Designer/Architect: Gromatzky Dupree & Associates, Dallas, Texas Builder: The Hanover...

Smart Growth.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Urban Smart Growth Neighborhood/Community Project Name: West River Commons Location: Minneapolis, Minn. Designer/Architect: DJR Architects, Minneapolis, Minn. Builder:...

Interior.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Kitchen in a Home up to 3,00 sq. ft. Project Name: Reunion Resort & Club Location: Orlando, Fla. Designer/Architect: The Evans Group, Orlando, Fla. Builder: Bel-Aire Homes,...

Comfort meets livability.(Mirada at Estuary)(London Bay Homes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor A sense of comfort and livability infuse this two-story home with its cozy outdoor fireplaces and casual living areas. The inside seems to spill into the open-air pool courtyard through a series of arches....

Single Family.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Single-Family Detached Home, under 1,500 sq. ft. Project Name: Woodlands of Athens Location: Athens, Ga. Designer/Architect: Armentrout, Roebuck & Matheny, Athens, Ga. ...

One-of-a-Kind.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home (Built for a Client) 4,001 to 6,500 sq. ft. Project Name: The Defelice Residence Location: Irvine, Calif. Designer/Architect: Bassenian/Lagoni...

Rental.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Rental Development 5 units and over Project Name: Botanica on Green Location: Denver, Colo. Designer/Architect: Thomas P. Cox: Architects, Inc., Irvine, Calif. Builder:...

Community.(Chatham Square)(Eakin/Youngentob Associates)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Neighborhood 151 units and over Project Name: Chatham Square Location: Alexandria, Va. Designer/Architect: Lessard Group, Vienna, Va. Builder: Eakin/Youngentob Associates,...

Smart Growth.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Smart Growth Community up to and including 150 units Project Name: Waterstreet Brownstones & Vinestreet Lofts Location: Des Moines, Iowa Designer/Architect: Swenson Graham...

HUD.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence Project Name: Sandtown Winchester Square II/III Location: Baltimore, Md. Designer/Architect: Donald B. Ratcliffe & Associates, Stevenson, Md....

Attached.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Attached Home up to and including 8 units per acre Project Name: Castellina Location: Ladera Ranch, Calif. Designer/Architect: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects, Newport Beach, Calif....

Affordable.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Affordable Home (both detached and attached) Project Name: Walnut Grove Location: Walnut, Calif. Designer/Architect: McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc., Irvine, Calif. ...

Interior.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Kitchen in a Home 5,001 sq. ft. and over Project Name: Grandview at The Palisades Location: Charlotte, N.C. Designer/Architect: Residential Architect, David Misenheimer,...

Affordable urban housing.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Affordable carriage homes and townhouses mix within this colorful and environmentally conscious, urban neighborhood in this new area of North Boulder. Integral to the design are green building and E-Star...

Contemporary southwest styling.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor A perfect blend of wood, stone, glass and metal create a contemporary southwest styling for this one-of-a-kind custom built home. The pentagon shaped beams made of treated sheet metal line and define the...

Great kitchen functionality.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Category: Best Kitchen in a Home -- 5,001 sq. ft. and over Project Name: The Browning Residence Location: Knoxville, Tenn. Designer/Architect: Bill Andrews Architects, Knoxville, Tenn. ...

Separate & common spaces.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor In this master bathroom, separate his and her spaces unite with a common space in the walk-in shower. Inspired by an antique server, her vanity contains a marble slab counter with a mosaic backsplash....

Multipurpose center.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor The Club at The Crossing delivers a comfortable residential environment. This detached, two-story, craftsman-style structure serves as a multipurpose recreation and service center for residents of Meridian...

Luxurious amenity.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Young professionals and high-earning individuals wanted the luxuries and excitement of a downtown location, which this community provided with a high-end recreational facility. "The intent for the lobby...

Reaching Move-Up Buyers.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor This plan sells well in Charles Town, W.V., but before the builder begins production of this same home in Loudoun County, Va., it would like to enhance a few weak spots. The problem with plan ...

Beauty, Brains and Brawn -- Today's Kitchens Have it All.
January 1, 2006... By Ann Matesi, Contributing Editor Design trends and products for kitchens in 2006 offer new home buyers high-tech appliances and tough, low-maintenance finishes as well as create a space that is always open for entertaining No matter...

Together for the Common Good.(Cohousing)
January 1, 2006... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Cohousing offers communal living without the ideology. Communes conjure up notions of sharing common spaces, resources and socio-political interests with a similar group of cohabitants. But...

KB and Stewart Form Collaboration.(Stewart Living Omnimedia)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor KB Home and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced a joint collaboration on the design of new homes. The first community designed by the two will take place in Cary, N.C. and will feature approximately...

Group Service.(Builder Sourcing)
January 1, 2006... By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director Builder Sourcing hopes to capitalize on increased interest in builder buyer groups. Builder Sourcing touts itself as the "Next New National Home Builder." For a business that is not strictly a...

Flooring.
January 1, 2006... By Rhonda Jackson Junckers Rhonda Jackson Junckers adds Nordic Ash Wide Board to its wide board series of flooring. The Nordic Ash coloring is a result of white-washing dark ash, wide board flooring. This process gives the Nordic...

Best in American Living Awards.
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Flipped ocean view PLATINUM >One-of-a-Kind Custom Home Set along the Atlantic oceanfront, this shingle-styled custom home is a "flipped" plan where the main living and entertaining occurs on the...

Attention Grabbers.(construction the major part)
January 1, 2006... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Research, referrals and resourcefulness help custom builders market on a shoestring budget. Custom builders are typically small builders, and budgets for expenses like marketing tend to be equally...

Winning Ingredients.(customer relation plays the role)
January 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor 2005's NRS custom home winners provide their recipes for success when it comes to customer satisfaction If successful custom home building was a recipe, the ingredient list would be one part skilled...

Spanish Gold.
January 1, 2006... By Ann Matesi, Contributing Editor Destination entry reveals a classic California treasure in dramatic fashion. A porte cochere sets the stage for this southern California custom residence's grand entrance, withholding the view of the...

Details of Award Winning Homes.
January 1, 2006... By Jennifer Block Martin, Contributing Editor Today's custom homebuyers are after more outdoor spaces, defined rooms and two of everything. After reviewing hundreds of entrants for the 2005 Best in American Living Awards, this year's...

A Service Business.(Column)
January 1, 2006... By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director When I was in college, I worked during the summers at Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico. Living in the Sangre de Christo Mountains was a pure joy. The only thing that spoiled it was that...

Blair Custom Homes.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
January 1, 2006... John Blair, President, Bethlehem, Penn. Kirkstone www.kirkstone.com Kirkstone began quarrying its unique green slate in the north of England 55 years ago. The company offers Kirkstone Sea Green, a rich dark-green slate with...

Computer Age meets Ice Age.(refrigerator in steel door)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Staff Sub-Zero has a new professional refrigerator, the PRO 48. PRO 48 is a large capacity refrigerator measuring 18.4 cubic feet for the refrigerator and 11.4 cubic feet for the freezer. This refrigerator comes in two models: Model...

Glass That Can Weather the Storm.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Staff Therma-Tru has a new Impact Rated Glass for its Slim-Line Patio Door Systems. This laminated, tempered Low-E glass has a DP-50 water, structural and windborne debris rating on units up to 8 x 9-feet. These units can structurally...

Right Angle Showers.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Staff Kohler has introduced its WaterTile Shower Sprays. The two model options -- Watertile bodysprays and the WaterTile showerheads -- are ideal for custom configurations. They can be installed at any angle on the walls or ceiling. The...

Out of the Woods.(fireplace by Lennoz\x)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Staff The Villa Vista by Lennox is an EPAII approved wood-burning fireplace. This fireplace has a 70,000 BTU catalytic combustion burner and heats up to 2500 square feet. It operates at 72 percent heating efficiency and can be connected to...

Stony Veneers/Boxed In.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Staff Owens Corning has introduced Cultured Stone Electrical Box Stones. This cultured stone application is designed to surround standard extension boxes for wall-mounted light fixtures and receptacles. It comes with pre-formed holes to...

Rangeless Cooking.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Staff Viking now offers its Pro Sealed Burner System with its Professional series all gas, dual fuel and gas self-clean ranges and rangetops. The VariSimmer-to-High (VSH) technology has a full range of BTUs on every burner up to 15,000...

Cool Comforts.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Staff KitchenAid's double drawer refrigerator is ideal for rooms outside of the kitchen. The refrigerator drawer fits a standard 27-inch cabinet opening. Each drawer has independent cooling with a temperature range from 34-45* F. The cool...