Blogs

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The Design Side

The cover story of Time’s July 14 issue is a 39-page special report, “The Smarter Home.” Naturally, I had to read it. There’s a lot of talk...

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The ideal insulation installation

The development of more stringent building codes, coupled with the growth of high-performance building programs and Home Energy Rating...

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Working smarter, not harder to meet new energy codes

When addressing the increasingly stringent new building codes, avoid overlooking the simple solutions that can directly contribute to...

Design Spotlight* UNPUBLISHED

An opportunity to do what you do best

Twenty-five years ago, a group of Orange County, Calif., BIA members launched a program to help address the problem of homelessness in their...

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Architecture

Outdoor living offers new opportunities

Regardless of the season, decks have become an extension of the home. Many homeowners want to expand the footprint of their entertainment...

Quality Management

Managerial breakthrough

“Breakthrough means change, a dynamic, decisive movement to new, higher levels of performance……..Breakthrough is, then, the creation of...

Design Spotlight* UNPUBLISHED

New products offer a competitive advantage

When home builders are asked which information they deem most critical to the improvement of their businesses, info about new products is...

The Design Side

My ideal home office

A recent blog post on the Estes Builders website got me thinking about what my ultimate home office would look like. I’ve been working from...

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Decking + Railings

Deck evaluation checklist

NADRA has produced a comprehensive checklist contractors can use to delineate any concerns found during a deck inspection

Quality Management

Practicing quality

“Of the primary goals of Quality, Cost and Delivery, Quality should always have the highest priority. No matter how attractive the price...

The Design Side

Great books for home design

Back to the Cabin: More Inspiration for the Classic American Getaway. This companion piece to 2001’s “The Cabin” is a collection of 37...

The Design Side

Don’t let setbacks get you down

I’ve been talking to builders lately about coping with tight lot setbacks. Some build in the city, where it’s commonplace to see a new home...

Design Spotlight* UNPUBLISHED

Good design for all

We are living in a new era of design. No longer reserved just for the rich or those with artistic sensibilities, good design has become...

Design Spotlight* UNPUBLISHED

Better, not bigger

From 1950 to 2013, the average new home in the United States grew from 983 square feet to 2,673 square feet, a hefty 172-percent increase in...

Quality Management

Insights to a small business Baldrige recipient

This link will take you to the Pence & Freese 2010 Baldrige Application (They earned the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence for...

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Marine Applications Expand Deck Options

Deck projects can expand to include a wide range of applications, such as light-commercial projects at restaurants or hotels as well as a...

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Products

Five tips for selecting the best composite deck material

Expanding homeowners’ outdoor living spaces has become one of the top remodeling projects. The projects often involve upgrades to better...

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Products

Add amenities for sustainability-oriented customers

Outdoor living spaces are expanding, with larger decks and more attention to the entire yard. This trend gives homeowners ways to extend...

Lean Design

3 Major Distinctions Between Good and Great Design

In my travels working with builders all over the country, I have the opportunity to see a lot of home designs. I see good, bad, fair, and...

The Design Side

Home as the realm of the senses

Remember when interior designer Carole Eichen coined the term “merchandising” to describe her approach to model homes? I’m not sure how many...

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Decking + Railings

Helping consumers check their decks

May has been declared “Deck Safety Month” by the North American of Deck & Railing Association, a program the group started in 2006....

Design Spotlight* UNPUBLISHED

Advantage, Housing Giants

Some years ago, a small production builder told me that he didn’t want his company to get too big. Smaller companies were nimble, he...

Lean Design

Transformers—More than meets the eye!

This is a transformer-type plan that offers “plug and play” options without too much of a fuss for the builder. A very popular option as of...

Quality Management

And you thought getting trades was a problem!

A lot has been written recently on the industry problem of getting good trades and rightly so. However, there is another problem you should...

The Design Side

Mid-century modern stirs passions

Where do you stand on mid-century modern design? Do you love it or hate it? In the San Francisco Bay area, a resurgence of interest in...

Kephart Community: Planning: Architecture in Denver

Home Builders Institute's Schools to Skills Grant Application Open Through December

As Mortgage Rates Rise, Buyers Lose Purchasing Power

Renters Are Choosing Single-Family Homes for These Features