Blogs

Residential Products Online content is now on probuilder.com! Same great products coverage, now all in one place!

Opinion

After a record year in Chicago, why the dip? A local real estate pro offers some explanation.

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Builders

How the Right Products and Manufacturer Partnerships Can Help Solve Labor Shortage Issues

There are 17% fewer people now working in construction than at the market peak, with some states seeing declines of 20% or more

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Caulks + Sealants

Three Ways to Help Your Clients Reduce Energy Costs in the New Year

Insulating sealants, tankless water heaters, smart thermostats, and other innovative products can lower heating and cooling bills

Using sealant is one way to eliminate drafts and make homes more energy efficient

Business Management

Looking Ahead to 2017

One thing I can guarantee: 2017 will be nothing if not interesting

Home Technology

Trust, Teamwork, Partnership

Homes get built, in large part, because of great relationships

Opinion

Notes From the Field: Five Common Framing Errors and How to Avoid Them

Mistakes in framing lead to structural and serviceability issues. Here are the most common errors, and how to eliminate them

Buckled sheathing on house exterior wall

Opinion

Inventory Watch: In California and Nationwide, Hard to Get Started

Markets with the largest decrease in entry-level home affordability underscore hurdles for first-time buyers

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Disaster Durable Solutions

Continuous Insulation Sheathing Simplifies Energy Code Compliance

Typical wall assemblies offer numerous pathways for heat to exit through exterior walls. Heat lost through wall surface thermal bridging can...

The Design Side

Looking at the future with Charter Homes & Neighborhoods

The Lancaster, Pa.-based home builder talks design trends and creating new neighborhoods in the dynamic Pittsburgh market

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Appliances

Cooking with Induction

Induction cooktops, which use electromagnetic energy to create heat in the metal of a pot, can boil water within 90 seconds without pre-heating

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HVAC

The New Smart & Connected Home With Nest

Today's modern home is defined by its connectivity. Incorporating Nest and Works with Nest products into your homes can go a long way to attracting customers who are interested in buying the smart and connected home.

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Tools + Equipment

The Nice List: Top 10 Tools for Your Favorite Contractor

An LED light stand, laser level, heavy duty tool chest, and headset with built in audio are among this year's hottest gift ideas

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Structural

BASF Expands Its High-Performance Wall Systems Portfolio

The HP+ A-Series, a flash-and-batt system from BASF, reduces lumber content, improves moisture management and achieves higher R-values

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Products

Induction: The Coolest Way to Get Things Hot

Why isn't everyone cooking with induction? Probably because they don't know that much about it or how it works. Here's a primer

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Engineered Lumber Practices and Projects

Know Your Zones – Part 3: Ceilings and Roofs

In the final part of this three-part series, we examine some of the important factors when choosing products for ceilings and roofs.

Opinion

A Winning Strategy

Much of the credit for LGI’s success goes to its marketing and sales processes

Opinion

Systems and Sensibility

Metrics from builders polled reveal potential areas of focus for the coming year

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Building Materials

2x4 Wall Systems Outperform Traditional 2x6 in Tests

BASF and Building Science Consulting tested the home performance of the 2x4 HP+ Wall System and 2x6 construction with full cavity insulation

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Disaster Durable Solutions

Net Zero Green Builders Unite Under Big Goal

A groundbreaking new project aims to help the construction industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions—and achieve full net-zero targets. ...

Sales + Marketing

Redefining Marketing for a New Generation of Homeowners

Millennials—the newest generation of homeowners—aren’t as quick as past generations to embrace the major life decisions that will move them from renting to homeownership