Products - Structural Systems - Industry News

• Ace Hardware Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Home Improvement Retailers
  For a third consecutive year, Ace Hardware ranks highest in satisfying home improvement retail store customers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Improvement Retail Store Study,.
• Structural Insulated Panels Lead to Energy Savings
  A growing building technique – structural insulated panels (SIPs) – is helping Americans reduce home energy use. Compared to traditional "stickbuilt" construction, SIPs save homeowners up to 60% on monthly utility bills.
• Wood is Good for Home Building
  Whether it is in structural products, or in staircases and cabinetry, where fabricated products sometimes boast lower cost and more strength, wood maintains its popularity. Here's why.
• Interest in Green Construction Growing
  Custom home builders in the California market are noticing a growing interest in green construction among consumers. Here are their observations.
• Economy Puts Lumber Out on a Limb
  The glut of homes in foreclosure, vacant or stuck on the market has the nation's lumber industry hanging on by a limb. Here’s a look at the current state of the industry.
• Custom Builder Turns Focus to Reclaimed Wood
  This custom home builder in Bend, Ore. has a reclaimed wood side business that's keeping him busy during these slow periods.
• Homes Built to Withstand Hurricanes
  These homes do well in high wind conditions because of its unique radial engineering. Typically the only damage owners of these homes report after a hurricane are a few missing shingles.
• Price of Lumber Stable In Spite Of Hurricanes
  Here's some good news. The late summer trifecta of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike have not driven up the cost of wood like past storms.
• Demand Grows for Sustainable Timber
  It's a pretty crummy time to be in the building supply industry. But not for EcoTimber. The Richmond, Calif. firm, a national leader in environmentally friendly wood flooring, expects to see its sales rise 20 percent this year - even while the overall wood flooring industry is likely to face a third consecutive year of declining sales.
• Building and Construction Foam Market Sees Growth Potential in Eco-Friendly Product Line
  Weakened by a down economy, the nearly $14 billion market for polystyrene and polyurethane foam may see its resurrection in the move toward sustainable and green construction products, according to a study from SBI.
• Replacing Roofs, Walls Can Lower Energy Bills
  Paul Fisette of the University of Massachusetts Amherst says that roof and wall home improvement jobs can be the perfect opportunity to boost a home's energy efficiency and lower heating bills, especially in older homes.
• Does U.S. Lumber Need Labeling?
  Increasingly, lumber is being labeled to vouch for the responsible practices that went into bringing it to market. Certification is catching on, especially overseas as markets grow for certified products. But many American foresters and their commercial clients say certification doesn't make sense for forests in the U.S. Here’s why.
• Straw-Bale Homes Gaining Ground
  Straw-bale homes have become popular among those choosing an environment-friendly lifestyle, says Drew Hubbell, an architect for Hubbell and Hubbell Architects in San Diego. Here’s what Hubbell identifies as the qualities and benefits of straw-bale homes.
• Life Expectancy of Home Components
  The National Association of Home Builders, together with Bank of America Home Equity, recently created a Life Expectancy of Home Components study that outlines the longevity of housing components. Here are some of the report's findings and tips for prolonging all your home's parts.
• Wood Product Resistant to Mold, Insects
  Here’s a look at a relatively new lumber product that blocks the growth of mold and protects lumber from fungus, wood rot and insects.

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