Professional Builder (1993) articles from July 2004

Professional Builder (1993) archives from July 2004

Building for success with SmartSide!
July 1, 2004... More and more big builders are relying on LP to supply innovative building materials like SmartSide siding and trim. Its popularity has truly made SmartSide a hot product across the country. To meet the increased demand of builders and...

The great American housing appetite.(Perspective)
July 1, 2004... Americans love more. We supersize our fastfood orders. We buy jumbo rolls of paper towels and toilet paper in bulk. No matter what income or level of affluence, we shop at warehouse superstores for the deals. Pick your preferred...

Bridgeport Village.(Plans and Projects)(Snitzer Homes, Chicago)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... A new development by Chicago builder Tom Snitzer is bringing a uniquely Chicago character to the near-South Side neighborhood of Bridgeport, birthplace of the Daley mayoral clan. The community, Bridgeport Village, embodies the spirit of Daniel...

The Arbors at Northwood.(Plans and Projects)
July 1, 2004... Although the California market seems like another world, both in sales pace and price of new homes, not just anything sells. Buyers in this high-demand market expect more in design, features, space and flexibility for the exorbitant prices they...

Design sketchbook: dining rooms.(Plans and Projects)
July 1, 2004... First of all, a disclaimer: I don't consider formal dining rooms practical. Having admitted my bias, it seems as though I'm not entirely alone. In working with clients in recent years, more and more homeowners are deciding to forgo the expense...

Lesson on the road to everywhere.(Lessons Learned)(Short Story)
July 1, 2004... What I had optimistically called a travel schedule more aptly resembled a train wreck. Detroit to Los Angeles on Saturday for a client meeting, then Sunday to Tucson, Ariz., to deliver a keynote, back to L.A. on Monday for a conference, then...

Management traits.(The H.R. Dept.)(Human Resources.)
July 1, 2004... Leadership, adaptability and drive--common traits desired in any management hire, be it a superintendent, vice president of sales or division president. Gather a roomful of successful CEOs and the vast majority will agree. But ask them to...

Don't pay too much for land.(Bottom-Line Building)
July 1, 2004... When the housing market gets hot and stays that way for a long time, land appears to be scarce. Builders start to hoard it--bidding up land prices out of fear of diminishing supply. But remember, the profitability of any housing community...

Land development--part I.(Learn)
July 1, 2004... Land development presents many opportunities for builders. It also presents many problems and challenges. This series is designed to help small-volume and custom builders: * understand the land development process and * make an...

Appraising the appraisal process: learn the obstacles to proper valuation so you can more effectively promote innovative products in the homes you build.(Build)
July 1, 2004... Gradual technology changes that reduce construction costs are readily adopted into the mainstream home building industry. But technologies that differ radically from conventional practice--or those that increase a home's first cost--usually...

Frame it fast, frame it strong: a Florida builder says his unique system cuts cycle time and increases strength by embedding a home's framing in the concrete slab, rather than building it on top.(Build)
July 1, 2004... John Rizzotto Sr. seems an unlikely inventor of a steel framing system for homes. Based in Stuart, Fla., he comes from a long line of Sicilian plasterers and is himself trained as a mason. He'd been building block homes--concrete masonry units...

Boomer second-home bonanza: with thousands of baby boomers turning 50 each day, vacation housing is a hot market niche for this--and the next--decade.(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... The leading edge of America's baby boom generation is now in its peak earning years. With all that disposable income and the expenses of raising children in the rearview mirror for many of them, boomer empty nesters are ready to indulge...

Floor me: trends tomorrow's buyers want in flooring materials and styles.(Product Report)
July 1, 2004... Builders, take some advice from Chris Davis, CEO of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA): "Pay attention to the floor," he advises. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Historically, the floor hasn't started the design experience, but it can...

Consumers' preferences vary: different items appeal to different ethnic groups when looking for a home.(News to Use)
July 1, 2004... When it comes to buying a house, what is a good for one family causes another family to look elsewhere. Although differences in opinion are common, the 2003 Consumer Preferences Survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders...

Housing's future bright.(NAHB Opinion)(National Association of Home Builder.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... According to "America's Home Forecast: The Next Decade for Housing and Mortgage Finance," a report by the Homeownership Alliance, the future of housing looks bright. It is likely that more than 70 percent of American families will be homeowners...

Diverse cities attract diverse people.(Psychographics)
July 1, 2004... Building and rebuilding cities is necessary to attract and retain young, creative workers. A panel assembled by the Urban Land Institute discussed the importance of these workers and how they enhance cities economically and culturally. In order...

The show-me house.(Build)
July 1, 2004... Seeing truly is believing. So say builders when it comes to teaching buyers about new building technologies. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Building a demonstration home with labeled products and systems, text and/or graphic signs describing...

On-site sound.(Tools)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Although it won't settle disputes over country western versus rock and roll, the Bosch Power Box (PB 10-CD) covers every other on-site music need. Dubbed the "all-in-one power center" by its manufacturer, Bosch Power Tools and Accessories (a...

Privacy on small lots.(Design)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... As lots get smaller and densities higher, maintaining privacy in homes--some of which are just a few feet apart--escalates in importance. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "It starts with the site plan and architecture," says William H. Kreager,...

Making an entrance.(Doors)(Gearhart Woodworking)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A 2002 study comparing homes with standard six-panel front doors to those with upgraded entry systems--including transoms, sidelights and decorative glass--found the enhanced entry increased the perceived value of the home. NFO WorldGroup,...

A taxing new finance twist?(Manage)(Shared appreciation mortgages)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Shared appreciation mortgages (SAMs), may provide builders with a valuable option on properties that are perceived to be risky investments or when interest rates are climbing, according to accounting giant Grant Thornton International. But be...

Seven ways to win talent war.(Manage)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... International management consulting powerhouse McKinsey & Co. lists the following keys to winning the talent war for gifted young managers, taken from a survey of 6,900 corporate officers, top executives and Gen-X managers in 56 companies....

Merger whispers on wall street.(Expansion)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Analysts and investors are turning up the heat on the big public home builders to maintain their double-digit growth rates, even in the face of expected spikes in interest rates and drops in housing starts. How? Some insiders seem to think...

Laundry goes mainstream.(Sell)(Home Activity Center)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Laundry rooms often are difficult spaces to merchandise in a model home, but new products are making it easier. Keeping abreast of what research says about how today's consumers want to use these spaces also lends a clue. According to Whirlpool...

It starts with sales.(Customer Service)
July 1, 2004... Joe Turner, a customer service consultant for the home building industry, believes a builder's sales department can go a long way toward eliminating "serial construction defects," his term for problems that are repeated in almost every home in...

Mixed use fights fat.(Land)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Builders are stealing obesity headlines since the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in June let slip a report planned for print in August, "Obesity Relationships with Community Design, Physical Activity, and Time Spent in Cars," and...

Conservation strategy pays.(Land)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Waukesha, Wis.-based Bielinski Homes is making some changes, but the builder remains committed to conservation development. The company's low-impact, compact/cluster land strategy maximizes open space, uses natural water management techniques...

Great graphics can help pre-sale at city hall.(Easing Approvals)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Confusion is the enemy of project approvals, but great graphics can be a builder's best friend. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "A small investment in a graphics package upfront may help get an approval from a city in a timely manner," says Joe...

Larry Gruber, CEO of Bielinski Homes, steers into an era of rapid growth and reduced cycle times for greater efficiency.(The Last Word)(Interview)
July 1, 2004... PB: Just a year after joining Bielinski Homes, you were promoted to chief operations officer and now CEO. Bob Brownell moved over to become a co-chairman with founders Harry and Frank Bielinski, and you announced a strategic shift from land...

Affluent America: seeking capital appreciation investments--that means real estate.(The Details)
July 1, 2004... Affluent Americans--those with an average annual household income of $359,000, an average net worth of $2.7 million and average investable assets of $1.5 million--are considerably more positive about the current state of the economy than they...

Making what's old new again.(The Details)
July 1, 2004... Inside a small lumber yard near China's Luliang Mountains, ancient elm logs spread across a wide field. Once part of Ming Dynasty structures, these 400- to 600-year-old timbers are each owned separately and sold as a lot of one. Willie Drake,...

Style underfoot.(The Details)(Monopressocottura, a manufacturing process.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... One of Italy's oldest tile manufacturers introduces to the United States a line of mosaic small format tile that combine the strength and durability required by architectural standards with the beauty and design appeal of its luxurious glass...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2004... The photos for "Island Escape" in the March issue were from Coastal Living magazine.

Natural beauty: Michigan lakeside home fit for empty-nester lifestyle.(The Tour)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... With their children grown, the owners of this custom waterfront residence in Orchard Lake, Mich., seized the opportunity to build the home of their dreams: a 5,509-square-foot, Prairie-style retreat inspired by the rustic, wooded setting in an...

Formal introduction.(Entryway/Home Theater/Wine Cellar)(Legendary Homes)(AKA Architecture)
July 1, 2004... Scottsdale-based, luxury home builder Greg Stanford knows the value of making an exciting entry. For him, a home's foyer "can really be the most important room because this is where first, and last, impressions are made." [ILLUSTRATION...

Ceiling art.(Kitchen)(Paramount Homes)(Kitchen Design JML Sales, Toms River, N.J)
July 1, 2004... 'We consider the ceilings in the homes we build to be actual artwork," says Carolyn Villani, vice president of sales and marketing for Jackson, N.J.-based Paramount Homes. "New homes often have such volume in their ceilings these days that,...

Novel approach.(Great Room/Loft)
July 1, 2004... A bookcase wall serves as the focal point for the great room in this luxury model home by Toll Brothers in Castle Rock, Colo. This intriguing element results when clever design couples with ingenious carpentry to make the improbable work...

Perfectly wright.(Great Room/Dining Room)
July 1, 2004... Builder Dan Buffington will tell you that achieving perfection remains an elusive goal in residential construction, even on the ultra-high-end projects that he and his wife and business partner, Cathy, build in and around Charleston, S.C....

Dual personality.(Master Bath)
July 1, 2004... Complementing the sophisticated elegance that characterizes this Mediterranean-style spec-built luxury home in Naples, Fla., its master bath catches the eye and captures the hearts of south Florida's most discriminating home buyers with...

DCS.(The Products)
July 1, 2004... This 30-inch professional grill features ceramic radiants, stainless steel grilling grates and 9-volt battery ignition, as well as a new lighting system and revamped design. It can be used for a built-in application or comes with a stainless...

Weck.(The Products)
July 1, 2004... Preformed bases for walk-in glass block showers come in either a radius (curved) or 90-degree-angle wall entrance and a choice of left- or right-hand entry. The 50X70-inch shower base has a non-slip surface and is fabricated from a continuous...

Zucchetti.(The Products)
July 1, 2004... Isy shower columns come in three different models designed to allow installation without breaking the walls. Each has a showerhead and hand shower. A thermostatic mixer, composed of a central unit, a lever to control water flow and a lever that...

Style solutions.(The Products)
July 1, 2004... Structural round columns made from fiberglass-reinforced polymer range in height from 6 to 24 feet, with the largest supporting up to 20,000 pounds. Available in non-tapered, tapered and fluted styles, the unfinished columns are nonporous and...

Astracast.(The Products)
July 1, 2004... The Rok and Quartz lines of tone composite sinks now are available in the U.S. Rok, made from 70 percent silica stone and 30 percent acrylic, comes in nine colors. It looks like granite, has a textured feel, is heat resistant up to 536 degrees...

Clark products.(The Products)
July 1, 2004... Iridess doorless shower units combine a preformed acrylic base with a translucent, curved, exterior wall. The 56X72-inch or 60X60-inch footprint allows room for a wide choice of wall, ceiling and hand-held showerheads and body sprays. The wall...

Teragren.(The Products)
July 1, 2004... Teragren introduces bamboo panels and veneers for cabinets, furniture and wall coverings. Furniture and cabinetry panels are available in 1X6-foot and 4X8-foot sizes, and veneers come in 1/8-inch and 1/42-inch thicknesses. Products are offered...

Kolbe & kolbe.(The Products)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Old World Classic double-hung windows are designed for historic applications, featuring ogee lugs and sash blocks that simulate older units, as well as a brass pulley system complete with brass chains and alloyed weights. Custom made for each...