Professional Builder (1993) articles from October 2003

Professional Builder (1993) archives from October 2003

The power of satisfaction.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... In response to Scott Sedam's column "Responding to J.D. Power" [September 2003], I would be more interested in customer satisfaction's relationship to meaningful performance metrics such as same-store sales, profitability, warranty expenses,...

Purple prose.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... I really enjoyed Scott Sedam's column, "Home Building's Purple Cow," in the August issue of Professional Builder. He is so right that companies get lulled to sleep with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. Before you know it,...

Talent scout.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... Meghan Stromberg's article "Winning the Talent War: How to Hire" [June 2003] was most helpful to me, as this month we have been interviewing for a job superintendent, a carpenter, a designer, a service coordinator and a service technician. I...

Fire resistance.(Letters)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... It might interest your readers to be aware of another alternative to non-parapet construction ["Gypsum Alternative to Parapets," June Outfront]. International Barrier Technology's Blazeguard fire-resistant wood panel is an established,...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2003... The photo caption on page 72 of the September issue of Professional Builder misidentified Marvin Ausherman and Stuart Terl. Ausherman is on the left and Terl on the right.

Technology sellers & users covenant.(Perspective)(Editorial)
October 1, 2003... The builder buzz at this year's Benchmark conference struck a familiar though long-absent chord. During breaks and between sessions, builders gathered in groups of two or three, chiming in on the previous speaker, their businesses and, believe...

Who is as different as you?(Publisher's Letter)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... Last month I wrote about realizing the importance of your brand as a builder and how in time your brand development will change market dynamics for building product manufacturers. I believe manufacturers' marketing dollars will shift from...

Housing cost among top consumer worries: National Association of Realtors study shows that affordability ranks higher than pollution and crime in terms of concerns.(Outfront)
October 1, 2003... Affordable housing advocates, builders, municipalities and legislators refer to the lack of affordable housing in a number of American cities as a crisis. A September 2003 survey by the National Association of Realtors confirms that many...

Next stop: the job offer.(The H.R. Dept.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... What you should learn from job candidates before making an offer: * Current compensation: base salary and bonus, bonus criteria, how and when paid, etc. Is it competitive, and are they maximizing their bonuses? * Compensation...

David Caligaris' league of his own.(Off Hours)(President of The Green Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... On the court and off, basketball plays an important part in David Caligaris' life. President of Newton, Mass.-based The Green Co., he was a two-time Academic All-American at Northeastern University in Boston, where he set a single-season...

CD IDs roofing mistakes.(Outfront_build)(compact disc from Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Roofing, a $30 billion-a-year business, accounts for 70% of litigation costs in new construction, according to the Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence, a manufacturer-supported, not-for-profit educational institute. CARE...

Balancing act.(Outfront__build)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... For any builder who has passed over a beautiful piece of ground because of the terrain, Rob Cole has a solution. He's the president of Logangate Homes, which sells the Pedestal, a post-and-beam, panelized home kit that delicately balances a lot...

A better flush.(Plumbing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In 1994, Congress mandated the installation of low-flow toilets that use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush, but too often users must flush two or three times to clear the bowl, rendering conservation efforts useless. Last October, Consumer...

2-1 garage split a hit with city officials.(Outfront__design)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Home buyers say they want more garage than the standard two-car version, but builders are discovering that bigger doesn't always mesh with some municipalities' mandate to reduce garages' street presence. One solution: a 2-1 garage split....

French firm brings new dimensions to wood paneling.(Wall Coverings)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Wood paneling adds a certain ambience to a room. Dark panels warm a rec room and bestow a serious air to studies, while lighter woods, such as pickled or whitewashed wainscoting, make a kitchen or bath seem bright, clean and simple. A...

Immigrant tidal wave: are you ready?(Outfront__manage)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... If the approximately 1.2 million foreign-born residents of Miami-Dade County, Fla., composed a city of their own, it would be among the 10 largest U.S. cities. That's just one of the statistical gems in the Census Bureau's recently released...

Operating expenses: fool's gold for improving profit.(Bottom-Line Building)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A builder's operating expenses are those costs not directly related to building houses. They include indirect construction costs (field overhead), financing, marketing and sales, and general administrative costs. These costs normally range...

Appeal to prospects' green roots.(Outfront__sell)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Customer surveys by The James Co., a Boulder, Colo., builder of luxury townhomes and patio homes, show that area residents value green building practices, so the company's strict job-site recycling program not only demonstrates environmental...

A jackpot of customer referrals.(Outfront__sell)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Luring prospects into sales offices costs builders and developers big marketing bucks, and many overlook their best and most economical resource: their customers. To cultivate referrals from its homeowners in three Jacksonville, Fla.-area...

KB turns homeownership dream into reality.(Hispanic Buyers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In response to research showing that many Hispanics in the Orlando, Fla., area thought homeownership was beyond their reach, KB Home sponsors monthly home buying seminars to dispel that myth. Morning sessions are conducted in English,...

Owl listing for the birds.(NAHB Opinion)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in National Association of Home Builders et al. v. Norton that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 1997 listing of the Arizona population of the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl as endangered was...

Erosion controls hit smaller sites.(Outfront__land)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Production builders have dealt with storm-water runoff erosion controls for more than a decade under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System regulations. Now, Phase II NPDES regulations that went into effect last spring are snaring even...

Hybrid firms help expanding builders.(Land Acquisition)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Two Florida firms, Land Solutions and Development Solutions, might be a harbinger of things to come in many housing markets as national builders continue to expand. Randy Thibaut, a former division president in southwest Florida for Beazer...

Who are those guys?(Lessons Learned)(Column)
October 1, 2003... In my favorite scene from a classic movie, Butch Cassidy observes the relentless pursuit of a posse that never loses the trail no matter what's thrown in its path. The posse just keeps coming... and coming... and coming. Saddle sore and...

Yield in a low-interest world.(Money Matters)(Column)
October 1, 2003... The good news of the past few years for builders is that many have accumulated significant sums of money. The bad news? What to do with it. Builders holding cash to invest in their next project face a quandary. If, for example, you have...

Parks raise revenue, reduce risks.(Numbers Game)(Column)
October 1, 2003... The days of "back-of-the-envelope" land deals and "rule-of-thumb" land planning disappeared in the last decade, replaced by rigorous analysis with the goal of eking out every potential dime from very expensive dirt. Now, a new tool can help...

Give durability a chance.(Building Technology)
October 1, 2003... When it comes to designing and selling a home, every builder knows it pays to think like a home buyer. Building in extra features and conveniences can go a long way toward growing your business. But what about convenience long after the...

101 best companies to work for make residential construction the industry of choice: home building's best jump ahead of the talent curve as our industry plays catch-up with others.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2003... Ten years ago, few builders sought to understand the pulse of their employees. Such concern was missing from rite top 10 priorities of most builders, crowded out by building and selling homes with the people on hand. Plenty of others wine...

Upstairs, downstairs: live/work design comes to suburbia.(Design)(Ladera Ranch )
October 1, 2003... Ladera Ranch in Orange County, Calif., offers all the sought-after essentials of a modern suburban setting--varied housing choices in distinctive villages, new schools, parks, trails, shopping and plenty of open space. Since its grand opening...

Going mod: a high-end custom builder experiments with factory-built housing to beef up business.(Build)(S.K Clark)
October 1, 2003... A home in Widewater Village in Stafford County, Va., from S.K. Clark Construction includes many great features as standard, from hardwood flooring and premium carpeting to a gas fireplace and an entertainment alcove to 9-foot ceilings and crown...

Keeping score on your metrics.(Metrics)
October 1, 2003... You've measured, tracked and tallied. Now, what do you do with all of this information? Where do you put it? Who enters it? Who gets to see it? How do you share it? As discussed in previous columns, each department in a company is...

Building technology: systems & interior finishes--Part IV.(Learn)
October 1, 2003... Most builders and remodelers deal with reputable HVAC contractors. However, we should know enough about sizing HVAC systems to determine whether a system is sized appropriately and installed correctly. Sizing an HVAC system involves...

CertainTeed.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The Boardwalk composite decking and railing system now includes matching post caps and base rings made of Ore same formulation of PVC and recycled natural fibers. These trim products come in gray or tan. Boardwalk has a Class 1 fire rating and...

Alcoa home exteriors.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The Traditional Select gutter system is designed to support at least 50 pounds per lineal foot. The free-floating hanger system expands and contracts with temperature changes. The interior finish is treated to withstand the elements, including...

Cedar valley.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Handcrafted from western red cedar, Coastal Panel shingle panels withstand winds up to 196 mph, the company says. The V2-inch-thick, 8-foot panels include a built-in, UV-protected moisture barrier and are offered with a mixed or vertical grain...

Universal forest products.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The TechTrim line of cellular polymer trine board for exterior applications now features a reversible finish, with one side smooth and the other having a textured wood grain. Also new is a brick-mould pattern suited tot use around entry doors....

Cultured stone.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Tuscan lintels, at 22 inches wide and 6 inches high, can provide visual weight above windows and doorways, while the manufactured stone product's 2 5/8-inch thickness is designed to make them lighter and easier to install than natural stone...

L.B. plastics.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Made to complement Sheer-line 1 1/2- and 2-inch Colonial spindles, the aluminum-reinforced Plantation porch post has a maximum design load of 7,400 pounds. It comes in white, stands 104 inches tall and installs with supplied mounting hardware...

TimberTech.(Products)
October 1, 2003... One side of each TwinFinish 5/4 composite deck plank has a brushed surface with a uniform, textured look. The other side has a wood-grain surface (shown) for the look of vertical-grain lumber. The product comes in cedar, gray and redwood and...

Royal mouldings.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The Pro Series line of no-rot exterior trim products includes doorframes, door-light surrounds, brick moulds, jambs, crown and dentil moldings, windowsills, door and window casings, utility trim, porch and ceilings moldings, fascias, soffits...

BuildLinks.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Made for small and midsize builders, BuildLinks is a Web-based tool for managing schedules, options selection, approval deadlines, change orders and communication. It creates a Web page for each home being built. Then you and your subs, home...

Honeywell.(Products)
October 1, 2003... For those who want manual temperature control with a digital display, the Digital Round thermostat adds a backlit readout to Honeywell's Round unit. Twisting the cover ring or pressing the readout symbol lights the display. The unit comes in...

Franklin international.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Three new Titebond sealants introduce a solvent-free polymer formula that produces a waterproof, flexible sea] that is UV-resistant, won't stain and is paintable immediately after application, the company says. Clear Choice provides the...

Quick-step.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Perspective 4 glueless laminate planks are beveled on all four sides to create the illusion of a real hardwood plank floor. To enhance that illusion, each plank is embossed with a texture that matches the wood-grain pattern underneath. The lung...

Hy-lite products.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Designed to meet stringent new energy codes, Solar Block acrylic blocks have a thin metal coating that produces a tinted appearance, helps deflect solar rays and reduces a window unit's solar heat gain coefficient. Available in 2-inch-thick...

Knauf insulation.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Increased width of the kraft facing and the fiberglass itself creates a friction fit that holds staple-free batts in place. R- 13 batts for standard wood framing (16 inches on center) and 8-foot walls are available now. Additional R-values and...

GE interlogix.(Products)
October 1, 2003... This solution for the Smart ConnectionCenter distributes up to four audio sources to four rooms using Cat-5e cables. Amplification occurs "after the receiver, at the volume control, enabling individual volume and independent source control at...

Porter-Cable.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The six models in the 890 router series are designed for inverted router table mounting as well as portable use. Each unit's 2V4-horsepower, soft-start motor adjusts from 10 to 23,000 rpm to handle applications ranging from raised panels in a...

Echospace.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Web-based Online Selection Sheet lets customers choose options from their home or office 2417. OSS Standard, which displays photos and (if desired) prices, is designed to help turn prospects into buyers. OSS Advanced, which replaces paper-based...

Danze.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The Parma, Opulence and Sonora collections now include wall-mounted lavatory faucets. Faucets in the new Parma Collection come in single- and two-handle models in a brushed nickel or chrome finish. Opulence's two-handle model offers a choice of...

Dacor.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The Epicure raised ventilation system vents the company's commercial-style ranges and cooktops. A 30-inch model integrates with Epicure, Millennia and Preference as-electric and dual-fuel 30-inch ranges. The 36-and 48-inch units integrate with...

KraftMaid cabinetry.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Offered on birch and maple door styles, the new Garnet glaze finish for semicustom cabinetry combines a deep red opaque background with black glaze that hangs up in corners and profile recesses, finished with flyspeck high lights. Other new...

Slide systems.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Made for full-size Dodge, Ford and GM pickups, the Rollerbox Professional rolls to the tailgate. Rafts attach to the bed's existing stake pockets. The storage unit's top section holds large equipment and cases. Below is a detachable toolbox...

Ridgid.(Products)
October 1, 2003... A new line of 35 hand-held corded, cordless, bench-top and stationary power tools includes several innovations and features. Cordless tools have a charger that charges two high-capacity batteries simultaneously in 30 minutes or two standard...

Fen-tech.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Designed for moist applications, SuperJamb extension jambs are made of a co-extruded composite. The core combines wood powder with thermoplastic resins, and the cap is a UV-stabilized, ASA acrylic polymer. The paintable, waterproof product also...

Brasstech.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Each model in the Amenities collection of brass lighting fixtures is designed to complement a specific style in the Newport Brass line of bath faucets and fixtures. All eight designs offer single and double fixtures in a choice of eight...

Framing revolution: some builders have discovered that zone framing is helping them find more margin in every house they build.(Special Advertising Section)
October 1, 2003... Builders are looking everywhere to gain an advantage. For the first time in years the place many are finding an edge is in their framing. Today more builders are framing with a calculated blend of sawn lumber and TimberStrand[R] LSL....

DeWalt.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Offered in 9.6-, 12 and 14.4-volt versions, a new line of cordless impact drivers delivers nearly three times more torque than conventional cordless drills, the company says, while being up to 35% shorter and 20% lighter. All three models...

Housing starts enjoy midyear rise.(Economic Forecast and Data Report)
October 1, 2003... This cycle likely peaked with the 25-year high of 1.872 million housing starts in July. The market has enough momentum for one or two more strong months of more than 1.7 million starts. This will come from nervous builders and from buyers...

Little decline expected in new home construction spending.(Economic Forecast and Data Report)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Spending on new home construction spiked about 3% this summer but is expected to be steady at about a $325 billion annual pace through the end of next year. All of the components are steady. Unit volume will slip 1-2%, but more square footage...

Surge in new home sales subsides.(Economic Forecast and Data Report)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... New home sales were at a 1,165,000 annual rate in July after averaging 1,104,000 the previous three months. The trend is down, confirmed in August by the 15% fall in mortgage applications to purchase a home. But the summer mortgage applications...

Surge in starter homes restrains median new home sales price.(Economic Forecast and Data Report)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Home builders are getting small price increases, but that is masked by the changing price point and regional mix of new homes. The median sales price of new homes jumped $6,800 in July to $191,500. But month-to-month changes are very...

Stronger economy cushions mortgage rate increases.(Economic Forecast and Data Report)
October 1, 2003... It's Still a Jobless Recovery Employment declined by 437,000 year-to-date through August to 2.7 million below the February 2001 peak. Little change is expected until late this year, when sustained employment growth should be renewed. That...

Benchmark action plan.(Professional Builder)
October 1, 2003... Education is effective only when new learning improves an existing situation. The 400-plus attendees at Benchmark 2003 left New Orleans with an action plan to help them translate the ideas heard at the conference into actions to improve their...

CertainTeed's insulation group provides quality products and programs.(Professional Builder)
October 1, 2003... AT CERTAINTEED, EXCELLENCE AND SUPERIORITY DRIVE EVERYTHING WE DO. Within CertainTeed's Insulation Group, our mission is to be the company professionals prefer by providing the highest-quality fiber glass insulation products, systems, programs...

Now builders can wrap the entire house in the protection of James Hardie[R] siding products, trim and all.(Professional Builder)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Home buyers demand a durable, low-maintenance home, and they're not willing to compromise on beauty and charm to get it. Now builders can wrap the entire home in James Hardie siding products, including the only 1-inch-thick fiber-cement trim....

Keep moisture out and confidence in with the proven protection of the TUFF-N-DRI[R] Basement Waterproofing System from Tremco Barrier Solutions.(Professional Builder)(Book Review)
October 1, 2003... Builders can be confident that TUFF-N-DRI will keep basements reliably dry, for a level of performance that translates to profits! BASEMENTS ARE AN INCREASINGLY GOOD OPTION FOR BONUS SPADE. It's not only a strong selling point for the home...

Masco Contractor Services adds significant value to multiple product categories.(Professional Builder)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... With more than 16,000 professional installers, 350 installation locations and 50 distribution points throughout the United States and Canada, Masco Contractor Services provides builders with remarkable supply chain efficiencies. MASCO...

Therma-Tru helps builders add value and curb appeal with every home they build.(Entranceway Enhancement)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2003... Upgrading the Entryway with a Beautiful Door System Creates Customized Style, Demonstrates Construction Quality LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO ADD VALUE AND CUSTOMIZED STYLE TO YOUR HOMES? The Therma-Tru Home Valuation Study proves that...

LP exterior products that lead the way in quality, low maintenance & innovation.
October 1, 2003... As one of the largest manufacturers of building materials in North American, LP is renowned for offering a vast array of industry-leading products. SMARTSIDE[TM] SIDING AND EXTERIOR TRIM PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED FOR BEAUTY AND ENGINEERED FOR...

www.newamericancastle.com is THE template for a luxury home.(Web Connection)
October 1, 2003... www.newamericancastle.com is THE template for a luxury home. Watch the construction process on our website, complete with regularly updated photos and video. Visit all the corporations working together to build the Castle to completion. If you...

The coast-to-coast, walkie-talkie that requires just one number.(Web Connection)
October 1, 2003... The coast-to-coast, walkie-talkie that requires just one number and offers convenient online contact management. Verizon Wireless www.verizonwireless.com Circle 229 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Since 1964, Finlandia Sauna has been recognized as a manufacturer of saunas without equal.(Web Connection)
October 1, 2003... Since 1964, Finlandia Sauna has been recognized as a manufacturer of saunas without equal. We design and build custom, precut, and prefabricated rooms of any size and shape. Our saunas are an affordable luxury that can be included in any...

Commercial Performance, Residential Styling.(Web Connection)
October 1, 2003... Commercial Performance, Residential Styling Based on the industry-leading Temptrol[R] pressure-balancing, anti-scald valve, Symmons' full line of shower and tub/shower systems includes handsprays, multiple-head shower systems, new trim styles...