Professional Builder (1993) articles from June 2008

Professional Builder (1993) archives from June 2008

Best Doors.(Jeld-Wen intoduced folding door)(Marvin introduced All-Ultrex Sliding Patio Door)(Wayne Dalton introduce Z-Wave)
June 1, 2008... Staff A recent Jeld-Wen study confirms just how important exterior doors are to hooking new owners. Real-estate agents said that 82 percent have had potential buyers decline to look inside a home based on its exterior. But this Jeld-Wen...

100 Best New Products.(Cost cutting by housing developers)(Editorial)
June 1, 2008... Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director If you work for a builder today, you are focused on controlling or cutting costs. The person who is probably feeling the most pressure, though, is the purchasing manager. Slashing nickels, dimes and even...

Exteriors.(Atlas Roofing Corp. introduced StormMaster Slate shingle line)(Kwikset introduced SmartKey)(Eldorado Stone L.L.C. introduced siding panel)
June 1, 2008... Staff Your homes need to stay a step ahead of cookie-cutter design trends and have to look sharp enough to get potential buyers in the door. But builders need to keep pace with newer energy-efficient products around the building envelope...

Best Interiors.(Armstrong Floor Products introduced StrataMax)(Electrolux AB introduced Electric ovens)(Everpure Inc. introduced Hot & Chilled Water Appliance)
June 1, 2008... Staff According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the NAHB, smaller houses and changing lifestyles mean ceilings are rising and formal living rooms are disappearing, replaced by great rooms opening to a kitchen or a smaller room, such as a...

Best Mechanical & Electrical.(Fantech introduced Ventech Controls)(Panasonic introduced WhisperComfort Energy Recovery Ventilator)(Johnson Controls Inc. introduced Hybrid Electronic Air Cleaner)
June 1, 2008... Staff Homeowners want control of their home and are getting it thanks to home automation. The ERV, made by Panasonic and shown here, has several models for automation applications; there are more powerful units for whole-house operation,...

Best Millwork & Molding.(MillTech introduced Polyvinyl chloride pipes)(Coffman Stairs introduced Lite-Iron series)(Visador introduced Polyvinyl chloride pipes)
June 1, 2008... Staff The easy-to-install and maintain PVC millwork and molding pieces have been a boon to home builders and remodelers alike. "Our business has always been mostly about new construction, but now we're finding more and more customers who...

Best Paints, Caulks & Sealants.(ICI Paints introduced Freshaire Choice Paint)(Sherwin-Williams Co. introduced MoistureGuard paints)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Staff If you're not using zero-VOC paint or other eco-friendly alternatives, you're missing out on capturing a large chunk of the population who need (rather than just want) non-toxic formulas on their walls. The Freshaire Choice Paint,...

Best Software.(Quantum Software Solutions introduced The Pocket VirtualBoss)(BuilderMT introduced Business Process Management software)(Cadsoft intoduced Envisioneer 4.5)
June 1, 2008... Staff Want to take on more profitable jobs, track your loans, speed up estimates, pay vendors and manage subcontracts better? You're going to need a new set of killer apps, or the competition will leave you in its high-tech dust. The...

Best Structural, Insulation & Housewrap.(Simpson Strong-Tie introduced U-shaped hip/jack hanger)(Georgia-Pacific Corp. introduced Oriented strand board)
June 1, 2008... Staff Like the latest structural, insulation and housewrap products to hit the market, Simpson Strong-Tie's THJU U-shaped hip/jack hanger, shown here, focuses on structural integrity and offers new and more efficient ways to approach the...

Best Construction Equipment & Tools.(Milwaukee Tool and Equipment Co. introduced Super Sawzall Reciprocating)(Ridgid Tool Co. introduced 12-volt Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver)(Paslode Corp. introduced 16-gauge Pneumatic Angled Finish Nailer )
June 1, 2008... Staff There's nothing like the gleam in subcontractors' eyes when you hand a new power tool to them - they're kids all over again. And now we have an old friend who's come back to play: Milwaukee Tools' Super Sawzall Reciprocating Saw....

Best Windows.(Peachtree Doors and Windows Inc. introduced Lite Glass window)(Simonton Windows intoduced 600 Brickmould Series)(Marvin Windows and Doors intriduced casement and awning windows )
June 1, 2008... Staff Windows are the proverbial black holes of energy loss during both cold and hot seasons. Wood composites, vinyl and fiberglass frames reduce temperature loss (or gain) and insulate the home. Because of these improvements,...

CEO of the Year.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Chief executive officers)(Wall Homes inc. Chief executive officers Steve Wall got the award)
June 10, 2008... By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director By directing his new business through a tough market, Steve Wall of Wall Homes gets our nod as the CEO of the Year. If you've never been through a business start-up, you have no idea of the...

Back to Market Basics.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
June 10, 2008... By John Burns and Chris Porter, John Burns Real Estate Consulting Understanding whether your market makes the grade can tip you off to the housing recovery. With home prices continuing to fall at a rapid rate, everyone wants to know...

News & Moves.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Pringle Development appointed Steve Nordstrom)(United State.Green Building Council appointed Nate Kredich)(California giant Shea Homes)
June 10, 2008... By Jennifer Powell, Staff Writer Pringle Gets a New CEO Steve Nordstrom has been hired to join Pringle Development as president and CEO. He has been in home building operations for more than 20 years beginning in 1988 at Jim Walter...

Land Values Still Dropping.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Editorial)
June 10, 2008... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor, Business Southern California's woes continue to hit some of the largest home builders. Many of the largest home builders lost their shirts in the last couple of years on investments in Southern California's...

News & Moves.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
June 23, 2008... By Jennifer Powell, Staff Writer A Fix on Down Payment Policy? Fannie Mae has a new plan to fix the broken housing industry. The move aims to replace a more restricted policy on down payments adopted last December. This time, instead...

Know Your Customer's Critical Path to Buying.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
June 23, 2008... Rick Heaston, R.A. Heaston and Co. Home buyers have different needs at different points in the sales process. This first part of a two-part series examines just that. Fortune companies do things differently. And that's especially true...

Don't rely on bank financing!(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
June 23, 2008... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor, Business The term 'qualified special purpose entities' is a mouthful, but an important one, Bill writes in his blog, Ear to the Ground. I had a conversation this week with David Drees, president of Fort...

Leverage for Success.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Personal account)
June 23, 2008... By David Grunwald, American Sunrise Communities Collaborate public, private and non-profit resources to make affordable housing solutions a reality. In 2006, I left my position as the CEO of L.A. Family Housing to form the national...

The Land Dilemma.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Editorial)
June 23, 2008... By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor Grim times leave home builders facing a big question: Is it time to buy or sell land? With all of the difficulties facing the industry in this business climate, one of the most vexing is what to do...