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You may have heard the phrase “Silver Tsunami” in the news lately. It refers to the Baby Boomers aging and the resulting costs that will come along with that. What does that have to do with the building industry? Well, smart builders and remodelers will be paying attention to the idea of universal design. As a large portion of the population ages, there’s going to be more interest in building and remodeling homes that will take into account the needs of the elderly. And universal design principles are important to the younger set too: if you want to live in your home for a while, you’ll need to think about the future.

Consider these findings from a recent study of older Americans (age 55 and up) by the Mature Market Institute:

• Nearly two-thirds (63%) plan to stay in their current home as long as they can. That number rises to 78 percent for those aged 75 and older
• Eight in 10 prefer a single-story home to a two-story or split-level, with 75 percent preferring to have the master bedroom on the main floor
• Windows that open easily rank among the top features that consumers said would help them remain in their homes longer, with 81 percent of consumers citing them as important. Other key desired features include a washer/dryer (90%), ample storage space (84%), and an easily operated thermostat (73%)
• Energy efficiency also ranked high on the list of desired features, with 73 percent of consumers saying that features such as windows with low-emissivity glass and EnergyStar-rated appliances are important to them

Those findings highlight why more than 80 percent of the builders surveyed in the same study indicated that they included Universal Design features in their 55+ community homes.

These features include:

• Wider doors and hallways
• Lever door handles
• Lower kitchen cabinets
• Larger medicine cabinets
• Attached garages with garage door openers
• Non-slip floors
• Larger medicine cabinets
• Easy opening windows

Recent census data shows that more than 29% of Americans aged 64 and over suffer some form of physical disability that makes it difficult for them to climb stairs, open doors and windows, or use a historically designed bathroom. That number reinforces the need for Universal Design when it comes to home building and remodeling for an aging – yet still independent – population.

For more information on Universal Design, visit the Center for Universal Design.

Photo courtesy of Susan Serra Associates via Flickr.

Obama proposes $3,000 home energy rebates
Reuters
President Barack Obama on Tuesday shared the details of his proposed “cash for caulkers” energy efficiency rebate plan. Reuters reports: “The efficiency plan, which must be passed by Congress, is intended to prompt Americans to invest in everything from insulation or new windows to overarching energy upgrades of their homes, creating construction and manufacturing jobs and boosting energy efficiency.

“Consumers would be eligible for between $1,000 and $1,500 for simple home upgrades such as insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, air conditioning units, windows, roofing and doors. Homeowners looking for more comprehensive energy retrofits would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate if the efficiency measures lead to a 20 percent energy savings.”

Obama Sets Aside $3.4 billion Stimulus to Jump Start “Power Grid 2.0″ in US
Inhabitat
In other presidential energy-related news, Inhabitat reports: “As part of the infamous American Reinvestment and Recovery Act — or Stimulus — Obama smartly set aside 3.4 billion dollars to invest in smart grid technology in 2010 and beyond. That block of funding was matched by industry money and private investment to total over $8 billion in funding for everything from installation of smart meters to funding for manufacturing processes.”

Home Improvement Retailers See Glints of Rebound
New York Times
“After more than a year of not spending money on their homes, consumers began refurbishing their kitchens and painting their living rooms in what appears to be the early stages of a comeback for the home improvement industry. Home Depot and Lowe’s, the nation’s largest home improvement retailers, posted better-than-expected earnings this week.”

But: “Home Depot’s professional business — merchandise typically bought by builders and contractors — was weak, though the rate of decline was not as bad as in previous months. The company’s worst-performing categories included lumber, hardware, electrical goods and other high-priced construction-related categories. Lowe’s, too, said sales to its commercial business customers were soft.”

Take Three: Will Congress Extend the Home Buyer Tax Credit?
WSJ.com Developments blog
“The National Association of Realtors and other industry groups are beginning to make the rounds on Capitol Hill to press their case, which goes something like this: We know you’ve extended the tax credit two times already, but the housing market is still fragile, the tax credit is working, and don’t forget: you’re up for re-election soon. In other words, do you really want to own the next leg down in home prices?”

Tom Kelly is president of Neil Kelly Company, a design/build firm that his father founded 60 years ago in Portland, Oregon. Neil Kelly has supported sustainable building practices long before “green building” was in vogue and has taken a strong leadership position with the construction of Tom’s home in Parkdale, Oregon. The house is the first home on the West Coast to receive LEED for Homes Silver Certification.

“For all the years we’ve urged our employees, suppliers and clients to build and remodel in a sustainable manner, Barbara [Kelly’s wife] and I have always wanted to build a showcase for sustainable design, construction and living,” Tom Kelly said. “We believe this is the future of home building.”

The United States Green Building Council’s LEED program requires energy efficient and sustainable building practices and materials, but it goes much deeper than those concerns. Using durable, energy-efficient products like following all contribute to increased energy efficiency and sustainability through the sound application of building science methods and technology:

• Integrity windows and doors and other ENERGY STAR-qualified products
• FSC and reclaimed wood
• concrete with either 75 percent recycled glass or 50 percent recycled paper and fly ash content
• metal roof with 30 percent recycled material
• a rain screen exterior siding system
• staggered studs for thicker wall construction
• dual tracking photovoltaic solar panels that can use both direct and diffuse sunlight
• foam-in-place spray insulation
• wood-and-foam roof panels

However, other subtle factors are an essential component. The three-bedroom, two-bath home is modest in size and designed to harmoniously coexist with the building site and its surroundings. The home is purposefully situated with its long axis running east-west: The residence can take advantage of the more than 30 Integrity casement, awning and picture windows, capturing the light and heat through the south-facing wall of glass while the operating windows on the north and northwest sides of the home capture and circulate the prevailing winds through the home. This design provides natural heating and cooling as well as ambient light that enhance the homes indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency.

The combination of this thoughtful design, technology and cutting-edge building practice make Tom Kelly’s home a “net-zero energy” building — it creates at least as much energy as uses on an annual basis. When its energy needs outpace its home production system, electricity is pulled from the power company’s grid. But when energy production outpaces usage, the excess energy is “sold” to the power company and flows into the power grid, eliminating the need for battery storage and making this home anything but a drag on our precious resources.

We recently took the opportunity to interview Matt Risinger, president of Risinger Homes, an Austin, Texas-based green building company that specializes in architect-driven new custom homes and remodeling. He also writes a green building blog. You might remember Matt from this remodeling project we featured.

Builder Blog: Tell us a bit about your company and the type of work you do.

Matt Risinger: We do about 50 percent of our work in whole house remodeling and 50 percent in new custom homes. We have a few great architects in Austin who like our work and refer us to their clients. We focus on both the client and architect relationships, so projects are fun and the referrals keep coming. Our specialty is high-performance green building, but it’s those relationships that keep the business flowing.

BB: How does your company differentiate itself from its competitors? Any particular niche or area of expertise?

MR: Green building is a specialty for us, but our other focus is on being an architect’s builder. We sweat the details that matter to our architects, and the results really show in the final product. I have a staff architect who is a great field manager because he speaks the language and can interpret the design intent to our guys who are implementing the plans in the field.

BB: Tell us about a recent project you’re particularly proud of. What makes it unique or interesting?

MR: These photos [below] are of a house we completed last year with architect Nick Deaver. This whole house remodel of a 1970s house was a great collaboration between us, Nick and the clients. We had a ton of fun remodeling this house, and the clients absolutely love their house. Nick and I met weekly — sometimes daily — on site to ensure we got the details just right, and the clients really got to see their house transformed. We used all Marvin and Integrity sliding doors and Integrity windows, too.

BB: What do your customers ask you about? What trends or hot topics are on their minds?

MR: Energy efficiency is huge for us these days. It’s a green building topic that really hits home. If we can show a client how their current $1,000 electric bill in July will go down to $400 after a remodel, that’s where the rubber meets the road. We also hear a lot about indoor air quality and how allergies and chemical sensitivities are becoming more important in a new home. Why wouldn’t we try to build the healthiest house possible? I love hearing how building science and green building topics are discussed early on in a project, not as an after thought.

BB: Is there any particular new tool or piece of equipment that’s changed your work for the better?

MR: My AirCard on my laptop is huge! We always have a laptop on site, and it makes pulling up a spec sheet for an obscure light fixture a breeze in the field.

BB: What areas of the construction industry do you see as growth sectors or particular areas of opportunity?

With our aging housing stock, there is a huge opportunity for large scale remodeling in urban areas. We’re seeing a trend towards smaller, better-designed spaces, so why not reconfigure existing houses — in great locations — to meet the needs of modern people?

Photos courtesy of Matt Risinger

This post by home improvement expert and Today Show contributor Lou Manfredini was originally published at The Contractor’s Toolbox, Lou’s blog on HousingZone.com.

Demographic and economic trends are slowly remaking the American housing model of the past 60 years. The post-WWII rush to suburban and then exurban growth is shifting – but like an ocean liner, it will take a long time to turn around.

Still, the signs are there, pointing to opportunity for builders in small-scale development, urban infill and custom building. According to the 2010 Emerging Trends report from global consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers:

“Next-generation projects will orient to infill, urbanizing suburbs and transit-oriented development. Smaller housing units — close to mass transit, work, and 24-hour amenities — gain favor over large houses on big lots at the suburban edge. People will continue to seek greater convenience and want to reduce energy expenses. Shorter commutes and smaller heating bills make up for higher infill real estate costs.”

What does this mean for builders? Craftsmanship, creativity and quality will be in demand. If you’re not familiar with the latest green building techniques and materials, you need to be. Customers will demand it, and you can burnish your credibility and value by becoming the go-to resource for your clients.

The new dream home will have fewer square feet, but higher-quality materials and smarter amenities. Flippers are leaving the market, replaced by buyers who want to invest in a home and a community, not merely trade property.

Learn about quality, energy-efficient products like Integrity windows and doors. Educate yourself — and your clients — about the latest construction techniques. Look for opportunities not at the urban edge, but closer to the action.

The remaking of our housing market offers opportunities for smart builders to create a sustainable business based not on volume, but on quality.

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Recent data reported by the U.S. Commerce Department shows that home remodeling was a bright spot in the troubled U.S. construction industry.

Year-end figures from the Commerce Department show that spending on private, residential remodeling in 2009 totaled $125.6 billion — up 8.2 percent from 2008. Meanwhile, new residential construction spending came in at $134.8 billion — a drop of 23.5 percent from the previous year.

This has been reflected in a shift we’ve seen in our own business, as energy-efficient replacement windows and doors have outperformed our products for the new-construction market. Homeowners are more often renovating their existing homes instead of trading up to larger homes or flipping properties for a quick profit. There’s now an increased emphasis on improving the home for greater comfort, efficiency and style.

As part of that shift, remodeling grabbed a much bigger share of the overall residential construction dollar. For all of 2009, new construction accounted for 51.8 percent of residential construction spending, with remodeling at 48.2 percent. By contrast, new construction accounted for 60.3 percent of residential construction spending in 2008 and remodeling for only 39.7 percent.

The federal tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements is also giving a boost to remodeling.

Like everyone in the homebuilding industry, we’re eager to see an upturn in the new construction business, but we’re also happy to see the continuing strength of the remodeling segment.

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Established in 1905, Darlington School, a college preparatory school located outside Atlanta in Rome, Georgia, educates 950 students from 25 states and 30 countries in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2005, Darlington School celebrated its centennial celebration and kicked-off its second-century campaign, focused on the venerable learning institution’s next 100 years.

Part of this effort included expanding and updating the school’s facilities and buildings. This was a difficult task, as with any school, due to the limited time between school years and the mandate that school activities experience minimal disruption. Integrity’s consistent 10 calendar-day delivery allowed for certain phases of Darlington’s project to be completed in a compressed timeline that no other window manufacturer could meet.

Darlington also wanted the project to reduce its impact on the environment as a whole, particularly on its stunning 400-acre campus. The new middle school is being constructed using USGBC LEED certification principles, while many older systems and components throughout the entire campus are being upgraded through the use of newer technologies and building practices. Integrity Windows durable Ultrex construction, Energy Star-qualified performance, strong NFRC and WDMA ratings, and sound manufacturing practices made the selection of Integrity a logical choice for Darlington’s green-inspired project.

Finally, preserving the beauty and architectural integrity of the 100-year-old school’s buildings was a paramount concern. The marvelous brick buildings and classic double-hung windows exude the tradition and heritage of this fine institution, and the windows being used for the project needed to possess the appropriate fit and finish. Integrity’s wood interiors, neatly mitered corners, sloped sills, clean and balanced sight lines, simulated divided lites and elegant radius profiles delivered on this requirement flawlessly.

Nailed by recession, home remodelers look to rehab results in 2010
Dallas Morning News
“Home remodelers that have been hammered by the recession can look forward to better times in 2010. Forecasters say the home improvement and fix-up business should pick up this year after a 25 percent slide in activity since 2007.”

Building initiatives raise questions
Builder Online
“In an era when taxpayer dollars are being squeezed tighter than ever, proponents of a legislative proposal requiring local officials to build more energy-efficient buildings say their plan boils down to two things: dollars and sense — common sense.” But some question whether regulations that require public facilities to be green aren’t a good solution.

Report Offers Predictions, Demographic Trends That Will Affect Housing
HousingZone.com
A new report from the Urban Land Institute offers insights into how four demographic groups — aging baby boomers, younger baby boomers, Generation Y and immigrants — might affect housing trends and the construction industry in the years to come.

An EPA Q and A on Lead Paint
Custom Home
The editors of Custom Home and Remodeling magazines ask questions posed by remodelers about EPA lead-safe training and compliance in light of the agency’s lead-protection “renovation, repair and painting” rule.

“Smart grid” technology, which uses digital technology to monitor and control electricity flow into homes and businesses, is not as far off as you might think. A recent article in Professional Remodeler called smart grid technology — “including the development of custom and web-based display panels that show real-time home energy use, and even real-time energy use broken out by individual appliance” — a top-ten trend to watch in 2010.

Cnet’s Green Tech blog offers a good introduction:

Building the smart grid means adding computer and communications technology to the existing electricity grid. With an overlay of digital technology, the grid promises to operate more efficiently and reliably. It can also accommodate more solar and wind power, which are inconsistent sources of energy that can become more reliable with better controls. Much like computers and routers manage the flow of bits on the Internet, smart-grid technologies use information to optimize the flow of electricity.

So what exactly can a smart energy grid do for homeowners? Among other things:

• It can heal itself: Using sensors built into the system, pieces of the grid can communicate with each other, reporting problems and balance load distribution to remedy current problems or alleviate looming trouble.
• Encourage consumers to proactively monitor and reduce energy usage: If you’re able to see how much energy you’re using and which appliances or devices are using the most, you can easily make changes to save more or conserve energy.
• Enable “electricity markets”: Consumers can better control how much energy is used and even when it’s used, avoiding peaks in demand  times high demand
• Make alternative energy sources easier to use: As explained above, with a smarter, more flexible power grid, solar and wind generation become more reliable.

Some are leery of the benefits, though, and are concerned about the impact on consumers’ pocketbooks:

Consumer advocates have a different perspective. First, even with stimulus grants, consumers have to pay part of the cost of any smart meter rollout, but much of the benefit is in lower operating costs for utilities. More crucial, all consumers, including those who can’t or don’t want to be responsible for monitoring their electricity use, could be exposed to volatile prices. An elderly woman home alone on a summer day could see rates in her community triple or quadruple without being able to do much about it.

Exactly when and how smart grid technology will be implemented in homes across the country is, clearly, not yet known. But with consumers increasingly demanding efficiency-driven remodeling and renovation projects, one thing’s for sure: It’s only a matter of time.

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Superhuman tape measure skills

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx_5GI0QRdw

Builder throws saw blade through 2×4!

World’s hardest nail thrower

One-in-a-million shot with nail gun

Guy makes art with semiauto nail gun