Products - Industry News

• Feds: Chinese Drywall Reports Still Inconclusive
  Federal studies released last week cannot yet definitively link imported Chinese drywall to health problems or corrosion of pipes and wires that thousands of U.S. homeowners have been reporting for nearly a year. Find out what came out of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s initial report.
• Stark Realities of Chinese Drywall Liability Set In
  Chinese drywall manufacturers have more or less ignored litigation thrown at them in the U.S., and here's how consumers, home builders and government representatives are reacting. 
• How Green Can You Go?
  Interest in green home building is exploding, but builders say most buyers are ordering up a small serving of energy efficiency instead of going for the whole green enchilada. Home builders in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa market share their experiences with green home buyers they’ve encountered.
• Wood Preservative Technologies Receive NAHB Research Center National Green Building Certifications
  Osmose, Inc., the premier supplier of wood preservative technologies, has earned Green Approved Product certification for its MicroPro and NatureWood (ACQ) wood preservative technologies from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center under the National Green Building Standard program.
• Lawyers: Chinese Drywall Makers May Ignore Suits
  Lawyers representing homeowners and homebuilders who used drywall suspected of causing corrosion and possible health risks say they expect Chinese companies that made the wallboard to ignore hundreds of lawsuits filed against them in U.S. courts. OK, so now what happens?
• Recession Chips Away at Granite Kitchen Tops
  Not long ago, it was a home-improvement rule seemingly set in stone: a new or upgraded kitchen had to have granite countertops. Now, 21 months into this recession, granite countertops seem to be relics of a fizzled-out housing boom. Here’s the reason why, and a look at what consumers are starting to choose instead.
• A Tale of Two Pools
  In this case study two different families wanted something special for their backyard oases. One went for a cleanly modern resort-style pool, the other a faux tropical lagoon. This is how the desires were met for both.
• Mini-Kitchens in Many Places
  Secondary kitchens are starting to make their way everywhere from the master bedroom to the basement. Here’s a look at examples where a secondary kitchen is desired and why.
• Reclaimed Wood Flooring is the Ultimate Green Choice
  When it comes to flooring options, everyone knows that wood is a green flooring choice, but for the ultimate in green flooring, consider using reclaimed wood.
• Foreign Drywall Makers Targeted
  Not surprisingly in the wake of the Chinese drywall debacle, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that aims to help victims of tainted drywall as well as hold foreign manufacturers more accountable for their defective products.
• Tools for Construction Trade Put to the Test
  Thousands of electrical products go into the average home or building. But how do you know they're safe? The answer often is that they've been tested and given the seal of approval by Underwriters Laboratories. Here’s an inside look at how they do it.
• Green Home in Many Ways
  The home nestled on the back of this island, next to the Folly River, might look at first glance like any other spacious beach house. But the home is noteworthy because it's green - in both the literal and figurative sense.
• Overseas Work May be Risky, but Rewarding for Architectural Firms
  Seeking design or engineering work in another country isn't new. But as the recession continues, and architects become antsy, there's disagreement on whether now is the best or worst time to look for work outside the U.S.
• 'Cool Roofs' Offer a Tool in Fight Against Global Heat
  Relying on the millenniums-old principle that white objects absorb less heat than dark ones, homeowners are embracing ''cool roofs'' as one of the most affordable weapons against climate change.
• Survey Finds Remodeling Projects in the Plan
  Good news: Consumer Reports latest poll on home remodeling reveals that over the next 12 months, 54 percent of homeowners are planning a remodeling project. Not as good news: The recent economic downturn has forced 67 percent of homeowners to rethink their plans. Take a look at more details from the survey.

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