October 2010
Feature
Implementing the principles of Lean in home building is no easy task, but the payoffs in waste reduction and cost savings can be substantial. Lean expert Scott Sedam provides a roadmap for getting started.
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Every step in the process of selling a house has its challenges, but perhaps none is more frustrating than having the appraisal on a house come in well below the sale price. Not satisfied with the appraised value of your new homes? Follow these...
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For Lancaster, Pa.-based Charter Homes & Neighborhoods, customer satisfaction is more than great service and warranty — it’s about making the home-buying experience something truly special. Read about the 2011 National Housing Quality award...
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Haseko Construction Inc., Honolulu, put its quality management system to the test when it rolled out 22 neo-traditional models as part of its foray into single-family home building. Read about the 2011 National Housing Quality winner.
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Instead of price chasing the competition, Wathen-Castanos reinvents itself as a high-performance, green builder to grow during the market’s ‘darkest days.’
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The NHQ Awards represent the best of the best in quality-driven home building companies, and the 2011 class is no exception. All three winners — Charter Homes & Neighborhoods, Haseko Construction, and Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes — employ...
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It’s good to be green, but everything starts with affordability. That’s what home builders have learned about creating marketable products for cost-conscious, savvy buyers. Solar panels and tankless water heaters are attractive options, but...
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There are a number of reasons builders might make the decision to switch building products, materials, or systems. A different product may offer first-cost or labor savings over your current product. Or perhaps it will make your homes more energy...
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Are conservation communities on a comeback? Some experts believe so. We profile three recent conservation community developments that re-think the decades-old planning model.
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Best of the Blogs [10]
What we can learn from Australian construction practices; Using checklists to ensure quality management; Market update - what the bears see
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The sheer size and growth of the 55-plus cohort over the past 10 years is altering the builder market. There simply aren’t enough younger buyers to occupy the number of homes that Boomers want to sell.
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Now in year five of the worst housing market downturn since the Great Depression, most builders by now have faced monumental challenges to keep their doors open. In an effort to explore the key takeaways and lessons learned from this downturn, we...
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Product Review
The most energy-efficient product line Andersen has ever built, the A-Series meets the latest Energy Star performance criteria and incorporates reclaimed sawdust in the trim system.
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A Touch of Class [14]
Add a touch of elegance to the kitchen with the Blanco Purus 1 faucet. Available in three different chrome/color finish combinations (black, light brown, and dark brown), as well as in solid chrome and satin nickel.
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Double-hung tilt, fiberglass-clad window from Weather Shield rounds out the EnduraShield line of premium fiberglass and fiberglass-clad windows and patio doors.
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Grohe’s Icon Rainshower fixture features a flat, donut-shaped body and is fitted with a small slide button that allows users to control water flow with one finger.
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Made-to-order double-hung wood windows are available in sizes as large as 6x12 feet with high-performance glass, as well as a selection of hardware, colors, and finishes.
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On the Case [18]
Pella’s Architect Series Precision Fit casement replacement windows slide into existing window openings, helping to retain surrounding interior trim, wallpaper, paint, or plaster.
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Picture Perfect [19]
Marvin Windows and Doors’ Ultimate Venting Picture Window offers the unobstructed views of a traditional picture window, yet is operable for cross ventilation purposes. The window’s sash projects outward to reveal a screened-in opening that vents...
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The eco-friendly design of the Noritz NR83-DVC whole-home residential tankless water heater features several green improvements, including reduced amounts of lead and cadmium, and less consumption of standby electricity.
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Ply Gem has expanded its Mira Premium Series line with four styles of radius operable and picture casement windows. The new styles include extended eyebrow, quarter eyebrow, half round, and quarter half round.
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Silent Solution [22]
Atrium Companies has extended its Silent Guard 7000 Series Acoustical Window line to include two new models of casement and awning windows: the Series 7500 Casement and 7600 Awning windows.
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Sleek and Accessible [23]
Unlike typical accessible bathtubs, which look institutional, the Ava Bath from Aquatic features a sleek, modern design that adds a touch of class to any bathroom. The tub’s automated door lowers to open and rises to close, making entry and exit...
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Tall and Rich [24]
Designed to complement the growing popularity of higher ceilings and grand entryways, Therma-Tru’s Fiber-Classic Mahogany Collection is available in an 8-foot height, along with the traditional 6 foot 8 inches.
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