Professional Builder (1993) articles from September 2007

Professional Builder (1993) archives from September 2007

Flowers in the Lobby.(Corporate cultures during tough times)
September 1, 2007... By Paul Cardis, Avid Ratings Co. Why maintaining your company's culture and image during tough times should stay a priority. As the housing industry enters a second wave of suppressed sales, it worries me to see so many large home...

Serious Green.(Green building surveys)(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director Are we serious yet? Is this green movement in home building going to last? Or is it just another tease, such as the one we had in the late '70s or the early '90s? Home builders think green is here...

Paint it Green.(Marketing & selling of ecofriendly houses)(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor Savvy marketers sell green building on energy savings and health benefits, but its subtle clout comes from some home buyers' perception of green as a mark of quality. Six home builders offer insight into how...

ProBuilder Product Report: Green Products.(Professional Builder Report: Green Products.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek Broan Nick Bajzek Meeting ASHRAE Standard 62, the ultra-quiet SmartSense system by Broan automatically coordinates the operation of ventilation fans in the home, running them intermittently throughout the day when...

What is green?(Surveys & marketing strategy of green home building.)(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Our nationwide survey of builders reveals their opinions about what green is, its marketability and its long-term impact on the industry. Everyone is jumping on the green bandwagon these days, from Al...

Traditional with a Twist.(Building ecofriendly homes at Stapleton)(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Harvard Communities' Tower model at Stapleton proves buyers will opt for a twist on the traditional. Some buyers are in search of the traditional; some are in search of traditional with a twist. Perhaps...

Job Search 2.0.(Job search strategies from a search professional's perspective.)
September 1, 2007... By Rodney Hall, The Talon Group Tap technology and refine your approach to help land your next big gig. If you're reading this month's issue, odds are good you are gainfully employed and borrowed the magazine from your office. ...

ProBuilder Product Report: HVAC.(Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning)
September 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek Construction Solutions Nick Bajzek With fire safety in mind, the DBX1000-M metal dryer box from Construction Solutions minimizes fire hazards by providing a recessed area in the wall for the dryer vent hose, thereby...

Tarpon Coast Builders.(Production introduction list of diffrent companies)(List)
September 1, 2007... Mike Romig, Venice, Fla. Weaver Precast Mike Romig The Epic Wall System from Superior Walls/Weaver Precast is manufactured with a reinforced low-water-to-cement concrete. The walls are certified R-15, and the company claims the...

Charting a Green Path.
September 1, 2007... By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design In addition to the NAHB Model Green Home Guidelines, LEED for Homes and about a dozen other national green-building programs, home builders can choose from about 85 regional programs. Should there be...

ProBuilder Product Report: New Products.(Professional Builder Report: New Products.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek Schlage Nick Bajzek Bringing piece of mind, the Schlage King Cobra 2 (KC-2) deadbolts and Access Control Management System uses a programmable iButton, rather than keys. That means, according to the company, there's...

Code Change Clears A Few Hurdles.(International Residential Code adoption on Structural insulated panels (SIPs)could save builders time.)
September 1, 2007... By Susan Conbere, For PATH Partners International Residential Code adoption on SIPs could save builders time. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) have always been easy to assemble into strong, energy-efficient walls. Now, planning and...

Sharp Lookin' Solar.(Uses of nonconventional sourses of energy(solar energy) in future for housing development.)(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek, Staff Writer The ungainly and inefficient solar roof cells of the past are just that. Solar power is now poised to take off some of the burden placed on our nation's power grid, as Sharp's roof modules show. According...

House-to-Sell Customers.
September 1, 2007... By John Rymer, New Home Knowledge Part one of a two-part series on closing a contract with house-to-sell customers. What is the single biggest obstacle that prevents new home customers from purchasing a home today? Affordability? No....

Financing the Downturn.(The housing cycle downturn was going to be a short-lived.)
September 1, 2007... By Chuck Shinn, The Shinn Group of Companies 8 steps you can take to protect yourself. Industry experts believed the housing cycle downturn was going to be a short-lived, mild 10 percent adjustment with a soft landing. It has been...

The Custom Builder Design Challenge.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
September 1, 2007... By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design The winners of our first Design Challenge present creative solutions for a busy couple and their two young sons moving into the city. Picture your new clients: a professional couple who work outside...

Spa-Special.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... By Jennifer Block Martin, Contributing Editor Design spa-like retreats for homeowners eager to pamper themselves For clients seeking the perfect refuge, redraw the master bathroom into a masterful home spa. Although high-tech amenities...

Tuscan Textures.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
September 1, 2007... By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design Painstakingly crafted in Tuscan farmhouse style, the home of Lennar executive Jeff Roos blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors. Jeff Roos admits that when he started planning his own...

Urban Legend.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
September 1, 2007... By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design The first Custom Builder Design Challenge is over, and I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to all who entered. I understand that creating an original design for CB was a labor of love undertaken on...

Grab Your Xbox.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Avocent Corp. introduces Emerge MPX 1000)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff As part of a cooperative effort with the Avocent Corp., Electrograph Systems' Emerge MPX 1000 is the first wireless high-definition media extender that provides both wired and wireless capabilities in one package. Also for the home...

Sound Service.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff According to the company's third-party research conducted by Parks Associates, structured wiring was included in about 50 percent of all new homes in 2006. Eaton's Structured Wiring Solutions wiring answers the call with the...

Advantage for Vantage.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff Designed with full system integration in mind, the Vantage Controls Axium 450 series multi-room amplifier is designed to work with keypad controllers or the company's InFusion automation system. The amplifier provides four zones of...

Your Request is its Desire.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff Offering control over eight zones and a built-in program that coordinates with iTunes is the iQ multi-room audio system from ReQuest . The system has a hard disk media server, 16-channel amplifier and a multi-room tuner. Options...

Obstacle Course.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
September 1, 2007... By Jane Adler, Contributing Editor How do you grow your business when challenges throw you off-track? Here, builders discuss common obstacles and how they overcame them. Maybe you want to make more money, or your children are joining...

Dean Homes.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
September 1, 2007... Dean Jasper, Bellevue, Wash., Owner Wolf Sporting the company's characteristic look, the 36-inch dual-fuel range from Wolf features a pivoting touch control panel, a cobalt blue porcelain oven interior and three adjustable oven racks...

A Grand Entrance.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff Step inside the front door of this Mission-style ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and for a moment you might think you're in a European castle. The entry turret, which anchors the home, has walls sheathed in stone and is softly lit...

Maximum Metal.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff Made for patios, condos and small-sized outdoor areas, The Terrace Griller by Danver comes chock full of metal: a built-in Kenyon Electric Grill, the company's stainless steel cabinets and a Summit Appliance two-drawer UL...

Too Hip to be Square.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Hansgrohe introduces Square 180 and Square 120 showerheads)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff The Square 180 (shown) and Square 120 showerheads from Hansgrohe feature spray faces that measure 7 inches and 5 inches and provide a more contemporary alternative to traditional round showerheads. The 180 and 120 are made in chrome...

Chic Boutique.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(product launch of MTI Whirlpools)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff MTI Whirlpools' Boutique Collection is a design-savvy solid surface product line for the bath. At the center of the collection is the Elise 72-inch freestanding tub. Each product in the Boutique Collection is constructed using a...

No Codes, No Keys, No Worries.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(SmartScan door entry system from Masco Corp. Weiser Lock Div.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff With the company's latest biometric technology, the SmartScan door entry system by Weiser Lock needs only a fingerprint scan to allow access to the home. The deadbolt is activated by swiping a valid fingerprint across its sensor,...

Warmboard, Warm House.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(hydronic flooring system )
September 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek, Products Editor The hydronic flooring system from Warmboard not only heats the floor - it is the floor. When it comes to radiant heating, home builders have two options: spot heat with electronic radiant flooring or go...

The Flavor Lasts Longer.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(blade series from Vermont American Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff Designed for demanding applications, Vermont American's Diamond Abrasive Blade series of blades feature 14 variations for masonry and tile cutting applications. The tile blades range from 4 to 10 inches in diameter for use with...

Concrete, Look Out.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(gas-actuated tool )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff Claiming to be the industry's first gas-actuated tool with enough power to fasten 2 by 4s into concrete, the C4-LT Trak-It tool fastens 2 9/16-inch pins via a more powerful charge from the unit's larger combustion chamber and...

No Ordinary Square.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(C.H. Hanson's Pivot Square )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff C.H. Hanson's Pivot Square looks like a traditional speed square with a few level vials built-in, but a portion of the square can pivot and stay locked in position like a bevel gauge. The tool also tells the user the degree and roof...

The Latest in Lithium.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Staff Sporting a heavy-duty, two-speed gearbox and a 21-position clutch with automatic shut-off, Milwaukee's 0490-22 4-volt lithium ion screwdriver provides a lot of power in a 1.1-lb. package. The tool has a two-position handle,...