Professional Builder (1993) articles from October 2004

Professional Builder (1993) archives from October 2004

TND movement keeps moving.(Up for Discussion)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I want to compliment you on the TND article in April Professional Builder. Peter Katz is a very old friend of mine (25 years or so). I knew him before the concept of New Urbanism even existed. I have enjoyed watching this movement develop over...

Building better bonus systems.(Up for Discussion)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... My employer and I read with interest Scott Sedam's article on the bonus system in May's Professional Builder. We have somewhat implemented that type of plan, however we could not answer yes to all his questions. We worked the numbers and our...

Don't forget about security.(Up for Discussion)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... In reading the "Land Development, Part II" article (PB, August), it looks like a major issue is being ignored. There is no mention of the government requirement for security. Every jurisdiction I am aware of will require security before a...

Create your own category.(Perspective)
October 1, 2004... In nearly every office in every industry across the land, the planning process for 2005 rages on. Common questions asked no matter the business include: * What did we do this year that bears repeating next year? * How has our market...

Carving a new niche.(Plans & Projects)
October 1, 2004... Southwest Florida design maven Lee Wetherington has made a habit, over the years, of wearing out the carpet between his table and the stage during Sarasota/Bradenton Parade of Homes awards banquets. But that position of design leadership has...

Contemporary Craftsman: a custom parade move-up home succeeds with its bold interpretation of a Midwest architecural tradition, open spaces and modern livability.(Plans & Projects)
October 1, 2004... On a corner lot on a road named Fellowship, Kate Worledge fell for Middleton Hills, Wis., all over again. "About three and a half years ago, we fell in love with the neighborhood and bought our first house here. When it was time to move up, we...

Design sketchbook: how grand should they be?(Foyers)
October 1, 2004... By definition, a foyer is an area that serves as an entry or entrance hallway for the rest of the home. Since this area offers the first (and often the final) impression of a home, its design is critical. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As...

The cost of puppies: "how much is that doggy in the window?".(Lessons Learned)
October 1, 2004... We recently began a project with a builder I have known for some time. Tom wanted to launch a quality journey, and he expressed a sincere desire to make a break from "standard industry practices." I start to get enthused when I hear someone...

Exit strategy ... part one.(The H.R. Dept.)
October 1, 2004... If you are a privately held home builder chances are you have been thinking a lot about your future lately. How long do I want to continue doing this? If I step out, who will run my company? Should I consider selling? Is my company poised for...

A misunderstood concept: Denver land planner David Clinger believes innovations in high-density detached housing meet today's emerging market head-on.(An Interview)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... PB: You say the new concepts you present (page 72) can solve land affordability problems, but will municipalities accept such radical departures from the subdivision norm of four units to the acre? David Clinger: Here in Denver, when you...

Land planning--Part IV.(Learn)
October 1, 2004... Last month we discussed the site-planning process. While it is wise to include your municipality in your site-planning discussions, the actual government approval process can begin only once you have completed preliminary plans and much of the...

The next generation of plumbing: first in a four-part series on organizing utilities.(Path)
October 1, 2004... Big bathrooms and kitchens may catch a homebuyer's eye, but innovations behind the walls could be the next hot trend for selling homes. A new approach to integrating plumbing systems can simplify installation, ease maintenance and improve the...

New ideas for detached density: demand is growing for small-lot, detached homes. But how do you deal with the cars while protecting safety and privacy at 7 to 10 units per acre?(Special Report)
October 1, 2004... American consumers have always preferred detached homes. But rising land costs are now driving builders toward higher-density forms of detached housing. The goal: Keep prices affordable for mainstream buyers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Getting your HVAC system sized just right.(Product Report)(heating, ventilation and air conditioning)
October 1, 2004... Ask heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) manufacturers and experts alike whether most builders know how to properly size HVAC equipment and the answer is unanimous--No! "Most builders understandably rely on the expertise of...

Code upgrades: builders beat Florida hurricanes; Homes built to statewide code resisted structural damage due to wind, but the devil's still in the details.(News2Use)
October 1, 2004... If Florida's unusually rough hurricane season had a silver lining, it was that new homes built to new codes are as sturdy as hoped. The damage from mid-August Hurricane Charley was considerable, wracking up an estimated $15-billion, according...

Going mobile.(News2Use)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... TRAILER-ABLE MANUFACTURED HOMES took a publicity beating on television and in newspapers, even though those built since 1994 code upgrades weathered the storm as well, structurally, as site-built homes. Manufactured homes aren't subject to the...

New OSHA Web site.(NAHB Opinion)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... In the bustle of last summer's busy construction season, an important new resource for our industry may have gone largely unnoticed by builders working 24/7 to meet the extraordinary demand for new homes: the Occupational Safety and Health...

Structural success: SIP homes survive the storms.(Build)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... THERE'S A BRIGHT SPOT amid the news of devastation, rebuilding--or rather waiting to rebuild--and sadness following this season's hurricanes. In and around Port Charlotte, in southwestern Florida, in fact, there are eight bright spots. ...

Energy efficiency: California finds alternative to air conditioning.(Build)
October 1, 2004... A report released by the Davis Energy Group and the California Energy Commission concluded that automatic ventilation cooling technology combined with building design provides cooling capabilities while reducing energy consumption. The report...

New wall treatment: clay plaster looks, feels Old World.(Design)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Plaster, once practically the only choice for interior walls, hasn't exactly gone the way of the dodo, but it's not a thriving species either. However, as Tuscan and other European-styled homes continue to capture buyers' hearts, builders may...

Architectural connection.(Handy Hangers)
October 1, 2004... Simpson Strong-Tie has created an Architectural Products Group as a response to a clamoring from builders and architects for attractive connectors for exposed wood applications. The line includes interior and exterior steel connectors, joist...

Two retirement markets: limits to boomer wealth.(Manage)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A RECENT STUDY BY American Association of Retired Persons shows net worth among the baby boom generation has grown substantially in recent years, but may not be enough to get them through retirement without Social Security and pension plans....

Still a risky business: two types of housing bubbles.(Manage)
October 1, 2004... "Housing bubbles" are a big topic of conversation these days because so many economists believe they now exist in many markets (perhaps even on a national scale) and have the potential to severely damage the industry and the national economy....

Builders beware: deadly strategic planning mistakes.(Quality Beat)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... An early overview by PB editors of entries in the National Housing Quality awards reveals strategic planning as a common area of weakness. With that in mind, California-based strategy consultant Bill Birnbaum's list of the most common strategic...

Web savvy: Aqua stimulates virtual sales.(Sell)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... To date, no buyer has ever been inside Aqua, a new two-tower, 532-unit condominium project in Long Beach, Calif., developed by Genesis Realty from Dallas. There is no model home or sales office, and yet the project boasts three buyers for every...

Smooth sailing: customer service tips.(Sell)
October 1, 2004... IN AUGUST, NEW HOME CUSTOMER SERVICE PROFESSIONALS from all over the country gathered in Las Vegas for the ninth annual New Home Customer Service convention. Manny Schatz, principal of Professional Builder Services in Danville, Calif., and a...

Weekly tips: sales training to go.(Veteran's Videos)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Sales managers now can have weekly training videos delivered to them from the Internet, thanks to an innovative concept developed by John Rymer, a veteran of more than 20 years in new home sales and a former vice president for Morrison Homes in...

Piered foundations: natural high ... on stilts.(Land)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Bentonite has the consistency of kitty litter and is about as much fun to build on. In Springdale, a town landlocked inside Southern Utah's handsome Zion National Park, bentonite-rich clay is hundreds of feet deep. But local builder Allan...

Infill leadership: how to succeed in Boise ... by really trying.(Land)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... SEVEN YEARS AGO, 24-year-old David Hale relocated to Boise, Idaho, to become one of the city's most visible infill builders. Previously a construction manager for a Portland, Ore., production builder, he was familiar with Portland's restrictive...

Unanimous approval.(Land)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... How does a builder win unanimous city council approval for a new master plan? For McStain Neighborhoods of Boulder, Colo., getting such an approval from the leaders in Longmont meant meeting the city's demand for environmentally sensitive...

DAP[R] Kwik Seal Plus[TM] Basement Paint with Microban[R].(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... DAP[R] Kwik Seal Plus[TM] Basement Paint with Microban[R] antimicrobial protection is a basement paint that protects concrete and masonry walls, with a guaranteed waterproof seal. This paint guards bacteria, as well as mold and mildew growth on...

Introducing the new ConstructionOffice[TM] 2004.(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... Extend the power of QuickBooks[R] and Microsoft[R] Office [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Construction Office software from UDA Technologies provides integrated project management for small to medium-size construction firms. Join the thousands...

Connectors for High Wind.(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... High Wind-Resistant Construction selection guide for wood structural connectors, shows installation drawings, load tables, and fastener schedules for products appropriate for high wind areas. Contains updated loads on products to comply with...

Horizon[TM] foundation finishing systems protect above-grade foundations.(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... The NEW Horizon Insulated System works in tandem with TUFF-N-DRI[R] Basement Waterproofing System to extend foundation water-proofing & energy savings from footing to sill plate. This full-wall protection features a transferable 30-year...

DAP[R] SIDE Winder[TM] Advanced Siding & Window Sealant.(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... DAP[R] SIDE Winder[TM] Advanced Siding & Window Sealant features an advanced polymer formula combining permanent flexibility and durability. It combines the best properties of several sealant technologies to offer the broadest application...

Classic-Craft[R] Rustic Collection[TM].(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... Therma-Tru Doors' beautiful Classic-Craft Rustic Collection offers Southwestern and European country architecture with the look of real wood graining and fiberglass performance. The Rustic Collection features square, arch or radius top designs...

Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek[R].(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek[R] is an ultra-modern engineered decking product made from recycled polyethylene plastic and wood fibers. ChoiceDek[R] is a low maintenance decking and handrail system that combines modern durability with the classic...

Weather Shield's Telescoping Patio Door.(Products & Literature Showcase)
October 1, 2004... Weather Shield's Telescoping Patio Door offers a view up to 24'-wide, 10' tall. The ultimate entertaining solution, the door brings the outdoors in, instantly doubling, tripling-or more-a room's capacity. It has up to six panels (three per...

Setting a customer-centered course.(From the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Challenging the conventional builder perspective on product procurement, logistics and trade relations, Pulte Homes' Reggie McCoy outlines a new customer-centered philosophy on purchasing, the industry's umbrella heading for these three...

Giants flock to Reno, Inland Empire markets.(Market Snapshots)
October 1, 2004... This month, we feature two Western metropolitan markets that are benefiting from the significant increases in home prices throughout coastal California: Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif., and Reno, Nev. Fifteen of the 20 largest GIANTS have...

Redefining purchasing: supply chain management leaders; Talent is scarce, but an outside-the-industry perspective on your supply chain could yield the right business results.
October 1, 2004... From consumer-goods companies to healthcare organizations, nearly all industries are reexamining their supply chains. Their objective? To gain a strategic edge and cost advantage in a highly competitive marketplace. Home builders are no...

Where's a nexer to go? In Part 3, D.C. Nexers refine community concepts.(Analysis)
October 1, 2004... Nexers: What's going to bring them into the communities and the homes we build? In interviews in the metro Washington area, we verified and expanded on much that we had learned earlier about three community formats--Main Street, Village,...

Building faster, building better.(Process Improvement Report)
October 1, 2004... Decreasing cycle time and increasing employee productivity is key to boosting profits. The challenge is accomplishing this while maintaining consistent quality. When quality is compromised in the rush to build faster, unhappy customers are the...

The decision box.(Selling Strategies)
October 1, 2004... This is a story about decisions. Most of all, it's a story about why closing isn't as important as some people would like you to believe. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Remember when we first started talking about closing? I asked you how...