Builder Confidence on Rise in January
For Residential Pros
“The National Association of Home Builders is reporting that builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family continued to climb for a fourth consecutive month in January, rising four points to 25 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released Wednesday, January 18. This is the highest level the index has attained since June of 2007.”

The Lean Designer: The best way to prepare for a plan review
Housing Zone
“As many of you know by now Professional Builder is holding three days of plan reviews by some of the top designers and architects in the country during the International Builders Show. I am honored to be part of that group and very much look forward to the event. Here are some juicy insider tips to help you take advantage of the opportunity…”

Seven Steps to Choosing the Perfect Circular Saw
Fine Homebuilding
“We recently reviewed 14 sidewinder circular saws and found seven features that separate the good from the not-so-good. Let’s take a closer look.”

Here’s an interesting story: a company is hoping to be build a new town in New Mexico. Only thing is, you can’t live there. It’s a ghost town.

The town (currently called the Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation) will have all the amenities that a real city would have, including houses and businesses. Everything would be fully functional with utilities. It would even have a mall (not filled with merchandise presumably)!

So why on earth is this town being built? For research of course! Pegasus Global Holdings will use the town to test energy efficient and green home innovations. MSN Real Estate gives an example of what might take place there:

If it all sounds too crazy, here’s a down-to-earth example: Say scientists want to see if a new kind of smart thermostat can make an entire neighborhood more energy-efficient. They could hand out the thermostats to homeowners in Albuquerque and check in on their meters for the next year. But the results would depend on a lot of factors out of the researchers’ control, such as how warm or cool individuals like their rooms to be or the houses’ insulation quality. And if the experimental system doesn’t work, the scientists would have disrupted people’s lives and maybe increased their utility bills.

But nobody would live in the center’s buildings. Computerized systems would mimic human behavior such as turning thermostats up and down, switching lights off and on or flushing toilets, but they would do so under the scientists’ control. A research team could install the thermostats in a block of the center’s two-story suburban houses, then run multiple long-term scenarios, manipulating the imaginary residents’ behavior to see what the energy use is under different circumstances.

Oh, and since there will be researchers and scientists there to run things in the imaginary city, they’ll be staying in facilities underground.

Although building an entire city that no one lives in might seem odd, having this sort of research space might lead to all sorts of discoveries with energy efficiency in the home. What do you think?

Image courtesy of pascalbovet.com on Flickr.

EcoHome has a wonderfully informative article that runs us through the potential pitfalls. Let’s take a look, shall we? We recommend checking out the article for the full look.

• It is important to watch your calculations. Check and then re-check again. Don’t just use the default calcs. As the old saying says, “Measure twice, cut once.”
• Don’t forget the air! Air flow and air filters both play a big part in certification.
• You’ve got to make sure duct leakage is at 6 percent or less for LEED for Homes, so make sure to watch this portion of the building process carefully.
• The simplest thing might be the best thing you can do to achieve LEED certification: communicate. Don’t assume that the left hand knows what the right is doing. The more you communicate with your team, and carefully document everyone’s efforts, the less chance there will be of something slipping through the cracks.

Prequalifying Clients
Qualified Remodeler
“There is an old saying that if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. Similarly, in the remodeling industry, if you don’t know what your business focus is, any client will do. In today’s marketplace, where finding remodeling jobs can be a struggle, accepting clients you avoided in the past may be a necessary evil. However, a group of remodeling contractors in Cincinnati stresses the importance of staying true to your business and yourself.”

Apple’s Visionary Redefined Digital Age
New York Times
Use an iPad on the jobsite as many builders do? Take a moment to remember the driving creative force of Apple.

States With the Highest (and Lowest) Homeownership
24/7 Wall St.
“The dream of owning a home has become increasingly unattainable for many Americans, and the situation is not likely to improve soon, as the collapse of the housing market and the recession continue to take their toll. That is the disturbing conclusion to be drawn from the US Census Bureau’s newly released report ‘Housing Characteristics: 2010,’ an overview of the national home market at the end of the last decade. One of the highlights of the report is a list of the states that have the highest and lowest percentage of homes occupied by their owners. 24/7 Wall St.’s review of the data found that homeownership rates were high in thinly populated states and those with low home prices, while homeownership was low in states with expensive homes and large cities.”

The summer building season may be  winding to a close, but builders and remodelers should know there’s still plenty of incentive for consumers to pursue new projects through autumn.

The federal tax credit for consumer energy efficiency, which doesn’t expire until Dec. 31, offers a 10 percent return of up to $500 on qualifying ENERGY STAR products, including insulation, HVAC systems, water heaters, roofing systems, windows and doors.

Integrity has created an online guide featuring  its energy efficient windows and doors that qualify for the tax credit. However, there’s some additional considerations beyond finding the right products:

• To qualify, windows and doors need to be installed by Dec. 31, not just purchased.
• Homeowners do not have to replace all the windows/doors/skylights in the home to qualify.
• New home construction does not qualify.
• No vacation homes or rentals — it must be the owner’s principal residence.
• It doesn’t need to be a replacement, either. The tax credit would include the installation of a new window or door where there wasn’t one previously, as would be the case with an addition.
• The tax credit does not include cost of installation.

Whether its replacing a stubborn patio door with the Wood-Ultrex Sliding Patio Door or swapping out leaky bedroom windows for Wood-Ultrex Casement windows, Integrity offers an entire lineup of windows and doors that not only qualify for the federal tax credit, but also meet homeowners’ standards for style and function. With winter drawing closer and energy bills inching upward, this is a great opportunity for homeowners to upgrade their home’s energy efficiency.

• Outdoor living areas: Are you paying more attention to things like porches and patios? An outdoor kitchen (from simple to grand) and a fireplace can add a whole new dimension for homeowners. Who doesn’t love an extra room in the great outdoors?
• Green features: Green is hot right now, but homeowners are demanding practical things like energy efficient windows and water and electricity-saving appliances. Showing that products meet federal ENERGY STAR standards will be important in attracting and informing consumers.
• Open kitchens: If the hearth is the heart of the home, it makes sense people want to be in it. Open kitchens allow that cozy feeling while allowing the cook some additional space to maneuver.
• Smaller homes: To go along with the green theme, smaller homes are easier to heat and cool, easier to clean and discourage the mindless filling of rooms.

Do you see these trends when you are building and remodeling?

2035: The Home Energy Forecast
Daily 5 Remodel
“In its 2011 Annual Energy Outlook, the Energy Information Administration projects a number of changes in residential energy use in U.S. homes between 2009 and 2035, including: Per capita energy use will decline by at least 17 percent, thanks largely to more energy-efficient technologies along with population shifts to warmer and drier climates. However, these gains will be offset by a 26.7-percent increase in population growth, resulting in relatively constant delivered energy use.”

BUSTED! A True Story
Fine Homebuilding
“While researching my new book on in-law units, I heard many stories of units that had been or were illegal, hence my book’s title, In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats. No doubt you’ve heard of similar situations—or perhaps have run afoul of zoning codes at some point during your building career. … Many homeowners create second units that, though compliant with current building codes, are outlaws (illegal units) because a permit was never issued for construction. Stiff permit fees and red tape are the reasons most often given for not getting a permit from city hall. But I think a case can also be made that our patchwork of zoning codes—many of them enacted in the 1950s or 60s—are badly outdated.”

The State of the Kitchen & Bath Industry
Remodeling Magazine
“At the recent Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas, Karen Strauss, president of the Masco Cabinetry Group (which includes KraftMaid, Merillat, and Quality) in Ann Arbor, Mich., addressed a group of professionals about the state of the industry. Strauss offered suggestions on how designers and remodelers can survive in today’s tough market. First, she urged professionals to face reality. Kitchen and bath sales are down 30% since 2006, she said, but even with a few small rises in consumer confidence, the market is still “bouncing along the bottom.” Though the unemployment outlook has improved, professionals need to pay attention to the quality not just the quantity of new jobs on the market.”

Kicking the Contractor
Daily 5 Remodel
“Countless other mass-market media stories, including this article in the Wall Street Journal, also cite contractors’ willingness to slash their prices, citing anecdotal reporting as well as results of an Angie’s List survey. And that rubs many remodelers the wrong way.”

Energy Labels a Powerful Tool for New Homes and Retrofits
EcoHome Magazine
“In an effort to aid consumers and contractors, Earth Advantage created its own labeling system, Energy Performance Score (EPS), which it piloted across 300 homes in 2008 and launched formally in 2010. Under the program, residential buildings score on a scale of 0 to 200 based on millions of BTUs used per year, with 0 being net-zero. According to Duane Woik, green building consultant for Earth Advantage and state director with the Oregon HBA, EPS allows pros to build at their comfort level while providing homebuyers with a quantifiable and easy-to-understand measurement.”

Low cost, high style
Builder Online
“Few builders had the time or the inclination to pinch pennies during the housing boom. … Now that profit margins have narrowed and buyer equity has shriveled, those in the business who can fashion design gold out of lead have a talent that everyone wants. We touched base with a handful of recessionary alchemists and asked them to share some of their tricks of the trade.”

We spoke to designers, architects, builders and others in the home and fashion industries. As we had those conversations, some topics kept cropping up.

Here’s what your peers are talking about: the top trends for 2011 in home building and design. Let us know if this matches what you’re hearing. What would you add?

Trend #1: New Life for Old Materials

It’s more than merely recycling. It’s finding ways to turn substance into style — by taking raw material from one source and repurposing it in a completely unexpected way.

From metal tiles made of reclaimed airplane parts to countertops and wall panels made of recycled glass bottles, these innovative reworkings are adding creative flair – and sustainable substance — to homes across America.

Trend #2: Designing For Yourself

Americans are staying longer in their homes. With that comes a desire to make their homes fit their lifestyle. People aren’t designing a home to be as bland as possible for the next buyer – they’re designing it for themselves, to be lived in to the fullest.

In keeping with this, architects and designers say there’s a new definition of value. It’s not about the lowest price.

It’s about quality, durability and getting the style and the performance you want from the products in your home, whether that’s a sofa or a picture window.

Trend #3: Natural Materials

If it sprouted from the earth, designers are finding a way to use it in homes.

Flooring is one area where you might find a surprising substance under your feet – like palm, for example. How about wallcoverings made of banana trees? Ceiling tiles of jute? And while not as exotic as these other materials, sustainably grown pine can be found in window frames and other structural elements.

These products deliver beauty and durability along with their eco-friendly origins. The use of natural materials is still in its infancy in mainstream housing – but expect to see them more and more in the future.

Trend #4: Trad-Mod

As the name suggests, these are traditional elements with a modern twist – a little sleeker, a little surprising. Examples include streamlined living and dining room sets, silk chandeliers and casement windows that simulate the look of a classic double hung.

Trend #5: Relaxed Outdoor Living

Forget the elaborate outdoor kitchens of a few years ago. Outdoor living is still important to American homeowners, but they’re going for a more relaxed, low-key version. Think fireplaces and fire pits, comfortable outdoor seating and dining areas, interesting lighting and simple counter space.

And to connect indoors and out, energy-efficient patio doors – either sliding or swinging — are a must.

Trend #6: Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

No list of home trends would be complete without these topics – and they only get more important every year. The largest annual study of American homebuying preferences, by AVID Ratings, found that four of the top 10 desired home features involve energy efficiency. So, alongside such features as walk-in closets and kitchen islands, American homebuyers want:

• Energy-efficient windows
• Energy-efficient appliances
• High-efficiency insulation

Sustainability includes conserving water, maximizing natural heat and light, and using low-VOC materials (volatile organic compounds). Quality and durability are also part of the sustainability picture. Well-built, high quality home products last longer — and don’t end up in landfills. And Integrity has thousands of product options that meet or exceed stringent federal ENERGY STAR standards.

Many thanks to the experts who shared their 2011 predictions. Special thanks to

Christine L. Albertsson AIA, CID, NCARB, Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd.

Kurt Gough, A-AIA, Shelter Architecture

Susan Nackers Ludwig, Residential Architect