Professional Builder (1993) articles from November 2004

Professional Builder (1993) archives from November 2004

Transactions or relationships?(PERSPECTIVE)(residential construction)
November 1, 2004... So which is it? Is home building a transaction environment or a relationship business? Talk to a lot of new home buyers and they make clear it's a totally transaction business. Each week letters arrive in the PB office from buyers certain...

Get surreal! Southern California points the nation's builders toward a return to contemporary architecture with this hot-selling masterpiece by Centex Homes.(Plans & Projects)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2004... Earlier this fall, best-selling author Seth Godin urged his builder audience at PB's annual Benchmark conference to sell "purple cows"--housing products that immediately differentiate themselves from all others in the marketplace. He must have...

Attainable luxury on the waterfront: fractional mortgages at LeBear Luxury Residential Club and Spa bring a slice of the good life to Michigan vacation home buyers.(Plans & Projects)
November 1, 2004... The northern half of Michigan's lower peninsula lakeshore is lined with beaches, resorts and development opportunities. But along the 35-mile stretch of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, most of 71,000 acres is federally protected. How to...

A tale of two Elizabeths.(LESSONS LEARNED)(construction industry)
November 1, 2004... The Project. 10:00 A.M. Beth, in her 4-year-old Cadillac slowly turns into Fairfield Glen, passes the entrance monument, cruises by the models and down the paved streets of phase one. Entering phase two, the pavement drops a couple of inches...

Part two ... exit strategy.(THE H.R. DEPT.)
November 1, 2004... To recap the highlights from last month: You have built a successful organization, but now find your desire to continue managing the daily operations waning. Your options are: Having a successor in place enhances both options. If you decide...

Green building goes to work.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... New voluntary guidelines will help make green building more consistent. New wood products are already making it more profitable. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOW DO YOU VIEW GREEN BUILDING? To some in the building industry it's a social...

Land planning--Part V.(LEARN)
November 1, 2004... Last month, we discussed the trials and tribulations of the government approval process. It can be--and usually is--long, expensive and drawn-out, but a process that all land developers must endure. For the most part, all the funding to...

The new ABCs for HVAC: second in a four-part series on organizing utilities.(PATH)(Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning )
November 1, 2004... Properly installed and sized HVAC can make a home a comfortable oasis regardless of the weather outside. Hidden within the floors and walls, it's usually out of sight and mind--that is, until it needs to be repaired or updated. Then homeowners...

Setting a new customer standard: winners of the NRS Award show how your company can create customer delight.(Special Report)
November 1, 2004... Creating a first class customer experience dominates discussion in every industry. No longer can leaders be content just satisfying customers; the bar has been raised and for builders this means managing the customer relationship rather than...

Appliances that make homebuyers say "wow!": builders who choose appliances on price alone may be overlooking powerful profit opportunities, such as packaging and marketing unique features, upgrades and innovative placement.(PRODUCT REPORT)
November 1, 2004... The market has seen an explosion of new appliance brands, models and features. No wonder builders are finding it hard to keep up. It is imperative that builders familiarize themselves with the newest cutting-edge appliances if they want to...

Thanks for the sweep: Ford is just getting warmed up.(Brand Leader)
November 1, 2004... awareness preference usage Brand: Ford Trucks Category: Pickup and Medium Duty With the launches of the 'Next F-150' and the 'Next Super Duty' F-Series pickups in the past year, Ford has won over two dozen major awards from...

Formica.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... Stone Natural Quartz Surfacing is the newest addition to the Formica family. With 12 neutral colors, ranging from Breccia Creme to Blue Crystalle (pictured), it is stain resistant and suitable for horizontal and vertical applications. Made from...

Rehau.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... Rehau has updated its Insulpex energy-transfer pipe to include 16 new ASTM-compliant sizes that meet North American standards. Available in one- and two-pipe configurations, the Insulpex pipe is produced with a bonded layer of CFC-free...

Kitchen Aid.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... Drawer dishwashers by Kitchen Aid allow users to wash two loads simultaneously at different cycle settings. With a variety of functional configurations, delicate items can be washed separately from pots and other heavy-duty kitchenware....

Motiv.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... Designed by Victor Hoernig of the Ginger Design Group, Motiv's London Terrace double sconce light is a reinterpretation of an authentic, English Victorian design. Available in polished chrome, polished nickel, polished brass and satin nickel,...

Crane.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... Crane's Solid Core family of siding products introduces its newest. CraneBoard Double Seven. With a 7-inch profile, the siding features an authentic wide board, straight-face design and textured appearance. The purple solid core backing...

Resource Material Corp.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... Timbermill woodgrain vinyl siding panels from Resource Material Corp. are made with TempRite CPVC vinyl material that is impervious to wood-boring insects and can resist fading. Timbermill log panels shield a home from exterior noise while...

York international.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... The Affinity 3S and 8T series 13 SEER and 15 SEER heat pumps by York feature scroll compressor technology designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce noise and increase comfort levels. Offered in seven colors--champagne, terra cotta, jet...

Master Halco.(PRODUCT REVIEW)
November 1, 2004... Colonial Aluminum ornamental fences and gates by Master Halco offer larger pickets, rails and posts to achieve 8-inch spacing. Assembled using stainless steel fasteners or aluminum pop rivets, the panels are powder-coated for durability. Panels...

Las Vegas is hissing: that sound you hear is hot air leaking from the glitter capital's housing price balloon; It is not that of a national bubble bursting.(News2Use)
November 1, 2004... Median new home prices in Las Vegas rose more than 50 percent during the first six months of this year, driven to extremes by a huge influx of speculative buyers. It's a classic example of a local pricing bubble. The way it's now defusing...

Housing policy.(SIDEBAR TITLE TAB)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... As builders, we believe that every American should have the opportunity to live in a decent and affordable home. And although the nation has made great progress, much remains to be done. Housing America is made more difficult today because...

Insurance woes top builders concern list.(THE DETAILS)
November 1, 2004... The price of general liability insurance and the ongoing shortage of carriers willing to write such policies for builders pushed these issue to the top of NAHB's annual critical issues surveys. On a scale of one to five, where one equals not at...

Creating a community theme.(THE DETAILS)
November 1, 2004... A sense of place matters just as much to luxury home buyers as the details of the floorplan and the quality of the finishes. To deliver on this desire, custom builders can borrow a page from their production builder counterparts. Here Terry...

A house without right angles.(THE DETAILS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Architect Matt Schlueb, principal of Schlueb Architecture, recently designed his own home in Pittsburgh, Pa., with virtually no right angles. Villa Vuoto features 2,600 square feet of living space, three levels, and simple and compounded...

The long & short of it.(THE DETAILS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Hansgrohe makes it simple to solve the showering desires of both short and tall bathers with its height-adjustable shower panel from Pharo. The Pharo Lift combines the luxury of a showerpanel with the versatility of a wallbar. With 8 inches of...

Domestic bliss: a Minnesota builder and his wife transport the magic of the English moors across the sea to their own custom cottage near Minneapolis, using their passion for authentic design and craftsmanship.(THE TOUR)
November 1, 2004... This custom 5,500-square-foot Minnesota "cottage" is filled with distinctive, imported antiques and meticulously-handcrafted trim, rather than the rustic game trophies one might expect to find in the wooded lake region west of Minneapolis....

Perfect partners.(MEDIA ROOM/GAME ROOM/LIBRARY)
November 1, 2004... With a side-by-side arrangement that permits shared spaces and amenities, the game and media rooms in this spectacular $7 million custom residence in Austin. Texas, combine to create an inviting informal zone that serves as one of the home's...

Together space.(KITCHEN/FAMILY ROOM)(Karen Butera Inc.)
November 1, 2004... Interior designer, Karen Butera, skipped the formalities when she developed the plan for the fabulous kitchen in this 7,200-square-foot. former Street of Dreams home outside Las Vegas. "I wanted this kitchen to really feel like the heart of the...

Spectacular splash.(MASTER BATH)
November 1, 2004... Inspired by the artistic symmetry of a unique, free-standing tub that he'd once seen in a magazine, luxury home builder, Peter Magee was determined to use this fixture as the focal point of the dramatic master bath in one of his most recent...

Step outside.(OUTDOOR SPACE: Architecture)
November 1, 2004... With the Nevada desert as its backdrop, the palm tree-lined pool terrace of this Tuscan-style luxury villa outside Las Vegas provides an invitation to enjoy the outdoors that is irresistible. In addition to a sculpted pool and spa, the terrace...

Reflection room.(CONSERVATORY)
November 1, 2004... While the all-glass conservatory in this 7,875-square-foot luxury home constructed for Atlanta's 2004 Street of Dreams was one of the show's hottest rooms, the attention it garnered had nothing to do with the temperature inside. "This room made...

Counter intelligence.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Stone Natural Quartz Surfacing is the newest addition to the Formica family. With 12 neutral colors, ranging from Breccia Creme to Blue Crystalle (pictured), it is stain resistant and suitable for horizontal and vertical applications. Made from...

Deep 'fridge.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... With a smudge-resistant stainless steel exterior, adjustable shelf heights and the Pure Advantage ice and water filtration system, the Icon counter depth refrigerator by Electrolux is perfect for any serious kitchen. The refrigerator comes clad...

Smart spout.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Danze adds both one- and two-handle models to the pull-down spout faucet line of the Sonora Collection. Available in three finishes: Chrome with Satin Nickel Accents, Stainless Steel and Polished Chrome, the new faucets feature a quiet running...

Programmable wood-burner.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... The Horizon Series fender fire wood-burning fireplace by Valor is equipped with a programmable remote control, six-piece log set and authentic-looking fire brick liners. Featuring arch doors in vintage iron with optional cast iron trim, the...

Sixty jets, 30 colors.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Aquatic's Air Bath Collection welcomes Serenity XI to its line, featuring 60 air jets and continuous bubble action, wave and pulse modes. The bath has a 1 HP variable speed air blower with a 600-watt air heating system and remote blower....

Antique update.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Abbaka introduces Classic, its newest range hood, with Antique Bronze finish. Other colors include Antique Copper, Hammered Aged Copper, Copper Verdigris, and brushed finished copper or brass. The hood's antiquing is done by hand, ensuring the...

Solid wood details.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Mann's Architectural Medicine Cabinets are made using real wood panels and solid wood moldings that are hand cut into leaves, flowers and fluted columns. Standard cabinets are available in both wall mount and recessed styles with mirrors...

Elegant options.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Price Pfister offers Catalina, a pullout spray head lavatory faucet with arc styling for increased sink clearance. Users can toggle between the standard stream and spray modes by simply twisting the aerator, either while the pullout is extended...

Durable floors, in/outdoors.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Thin-section cementitious polymeric flooring has a wear-resistant finish for both interior and exterior surfaces. Floric Polytech MT-200 Microtopping can be applied by trowel, squeegee or roller, or can be sprayed. It is approximately 3/32...

Personal touch.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... KraftMaid adds 26 new designs to its glass cabinetry, with inserts including classic, etched, textured, layered and camed designs. Whether it's maximum visibility, frosted or even patterned designs, the inserts can personalize any kitchen...

The remote floats.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Kohler introduces BubbleMassage air jet technology to its Experience and ProFlex whirlpool bath collections for additional massage control. Eight new models provide a variety of shapes, designs and sizes. A variable-speed blower allows...

Customizable cabinets.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... MasterBath creates custom bath cabinetry with unique design details including moldings, decorative fillers and toe kicks for hutches, linen cabinets, storage and medicine cabinets and mirrors. Three detailed door styles are available in nine...

Six grand finishes.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Bach introduces the Allemande bathroom ensemble collection featuring a widespread lavatory faucet, tub and shower fixtures and a Roman tub faucet. Each is available in six finishes: polished chrome, polished nickel, satin nickel, polished...

Exposure enclosure.(THE PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2004... Celesta Luxury Glass Enclosures are frameless and custom designed and crafted to help homeowners create the ultimate shower environment. With an array of hinges, pulls and towel bars available in a variety of finishes, and three styles of...