Issue Contents

January 2010

Column

Announcing the National Housing Quality Executive Council

Professional Builder magazine Editor-in-Chief David Barista talks about National Housing Quality Executive Council (NHQEC), a group of 25 home builders and housing consultants that are fully committed to serving the industry

Feature

11 Tips for Mastering Building Envelope Design

Faced with meeting increasingly stringent energy codes and a growing demand for green, high-performance features, builders nationwide are looking to maximize the energy efficiency of their homes without blowing the budget. The easiest and most...

Home Builders: Act Fast to Capture Tax-Credit Sales

Builders should be fully prepared to take advantage of the home-buyer tax credit. No more extensions or stimulus money will be forthcoming from the Fed.

ICC Upholds Mandatory Fire Sprinklers in Residential Code

In November 2009, the International Code Council (ICC) voted to keep the language related to mandatory fire sprinklers installed in all new one- and two-family homes in the next edition of the International Residential Code (IRC)

New Jersey Townhomes Live Like Detached Homes But Cost Less

Well-heeled empty nesters are flocking to The Enclave at Montvale for a shot at large, luxurious townhomes that live like single-family homes, but cost a lot less.

Residential Community Planning Moves in New Directions

Over the next 20 years, experts predict a shift toward residential communities that are smaller, greener and friendlier.

Setting and Monitoring Sales Benchmarks Helps Home Builders Succeed

Knowing your traffic-to-sales conversion is a great start, but the best builders focus on the subtleties of the home-buying process and agent activities to measure sales success and pinpoint problems.

Tampa Builder Puts Lean Building into Action

Scott Sedam hosts the Lean Building Forum on HousingZone.com, where each month he interviews those who are implementing the principles of lean operations in home building.

Trade Partner Council Meeting: First-Person Account

A first-person account of K. Hovnanian's Mid-Atlantic trade partner council gathering that was held November, 2009.

Trade Partner Councils Pay Off for Home Builders

Home builders that have championed trade partner councils (TPCs), and industry consultants who have helped put them together, say having one can pay off with a host of benefits for the builder, and probably even more for participating trades.

Water Efficiency to Play Bigger Role in Home Building

Stormwater management plans and low-flow fixtures are among the top water-conservation measures employed by home builders, according to a Professional Builder survey.

News

Eco-Friendly Post

The posts are available in any wood species and can be manufactured up to 10½ inches wide and 10 feet long

January 2010 Number Crunch for Home Builders

Professional Builder magazine's provides a snapshot of statistics related to the home building industry.

Product Review

A Rare Find

Debuted in November, Chelsea Park flooring from Armstrong's Bruce Laminate line is a five-inch individual plank laminate product in an 8mm structure. It sports the company's simple, two-step Lock & Fold process that fits laminate strips...

Barns, Factories and More

Introducing Aged Woods new Rescued Maple line. Traditionally, Aged Woods reclaims wood destined for the dump from old barns being destroyed.

Breathable Barriers

Premier Building Systems (PBS) introduces the new PBS Building Wrap and Weather Barrier for SIPs

Her Name Was Alysse

The Alysse from American Olean is glazed porcelain floor and wall tile that looks just like travertine. The collection is available in four tile sizes: 6-by-6-inch wall tile, 10-by-14-inch wall tile, 13-by-13-inch floor tile and 20-by-20-inch...

High Style on the Gridiron

Introducing Urban Architecture and its collection of unique lighting pieces. Shown here is the Gridiron Lantern

High-Performance Panels

These feature a 12-month limited-exposure warranty, are UL-Classified for fire resistance (Type SLX) and can be used in any fire-rated assembly where regular Sheetrock liner panels are specified

High-Tech Planks

Tech-Plank is made with what the company calls Wood 2.0, which is comprised of 75 percent pine thinnings from sustainable and managed forests. The company guarantees the product for 50 years

Keep it Down!

dB-3 and dB-4looring install under the drywall and floor. Both can reduce noise transmission by 75 percent and weigh far less than drywall-based sound solutions.

LEED the Way

DuChateau Floors are antique reproduction hard-wax oil floors in great modern designs originally developed in Holland. The company’s latest offerings (Fine Sawn Collection shown here) feature textured hardwood emphasizing the changing grain...

Lighten Up

The Elemix additive from Nova Chemicals uses advanced polymer technology to consistently deliver energy efficient, durable, lightweight concrete

Medallions Deserve a Medal

Sometimes that little extra flair will push a sale over the edge. Oshkosh's Noche line includes some great inlays. Shown here is the Windsor. The line can be installed into new or existing wood floors 3/8- to ¾-inch thick. The inlays are...

More Bang for Your Buck

Ninety-nine cents a square foot? You got that right. Lumber Liquidators' new line of resilient vinyl flooring, called Tranquility, features the visual benefits of traditional wood flooring, from the wood grain appearance to the unique texture....

Old is New

BR-111’s products look as cool as they sound. Each of the company’s new Antiquity Engineered products, many with color palettes brand new to the hand-scraped line, offer a classic five-inch plank presentation, thick-sawn wear layer and crystal-...

Pure as the Driven Snow

There aren't many products that are certified 100-percent-pure by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Mullican's FSC-PURE engineered hardwood flooring products are available in 10 colors, including three- and five-inch hand-sculpted selections...

Recycled Silence

The 170 Sound & Crack Isolation Mat from Laticrete is a 1/8-inch-thick (3mm) underlayment membrane that provides exceptional sound reduction while simultaneously providing anti-fracture protection for tile or stone installations

Roof Raised

Increase your roof R-values and structural stability with ACH Foam Technologies' R-Control Structured Insulated Panels, which provide R-values of up to R-38

Smart and Fashionable

The company's MagneDock docking system and optional SmartTouch technology make Brizo's Venuto faucets both user-friendly and durable

Straight and True

iLevel makes the new Parallam Plus PSL using long, narrow veneer strips bonded together with adhesives using a press and microwave process

The Real McCoy

Cikel, a vertically-integrated FSC-certified manufacturer, has launched the Vila Velha collection of exotic engineered Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring. The hand-scraped, rotary-cut wear layer collection represents “real” Brazilian Cherry, not...

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Reference Library

Professional Remodeler's 2013 Market Leaders

Professional Remodeler’s annual Market Leaders list, which identifies the top...

15 design trends for kitchens & baths

With demand for custom design, remodeling, and renovations at its highest level since 2005, ...

Project Spotlight: Kitchen countered

Normandy Remodeling converts confined kitchen into sprawling galley.

5 bathroom design trends for 2013

Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association surveys its members to identify the latest...

6 kitchen design trends for 2013

Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association surveys its members to identify the latest...

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