Home Building Articles
August, 2012
"The market for new construction is back on track."
That's the analysis from Patrick Newport, U.S. economist at HIS Global Insight,
in response to the latest report on new-housing starts and permits from the U.S.
Department of Commerce, released today.
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March 27, 2012
The safety and purity of your drinking water and the efficient operation of your
private well system depends on a well-organized maintenance program. Protect your
investment in a quality water supply through regular inspection, testing and repair
or treatment...
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January 12, 2012
Fixed Mortgage rates fell once again to a record low, offering a great opportunity
for those who can afford to buy or refinance homes. But few are able to take advantage
of the historic rates...
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March 21, 2011
Engineered Wood No. 05 GE Nucleus™ Home Energy Monitor and Management
System General Electric anticipates introducing the Nucleus with Brillion™
technology this year. Designed for areas where utility rates are based on time-of-use,
GE states that the product will work in homes with smart meters, plugging into any
standard electrical outlet to track electricity use and allow users...
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March 9, 2011
Enngineered Wood No. 05 GE Nucleus™ Home Energy Monitor and Management
System General Electric anticipates introducing the Nucleus with Brillion™ technology
this year. Designed for areas where utility rates are based on time-of-use, GE states
that the product will work in homes with smart meters, plugging into any standard
electrical outlet to track electricity use and allow users...
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December 21, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy recognizes radiant barriers as a way to reduce summer
heat gain and lower cooling energy usage. An independent study in 2010 by ConSol
reinforced this, finding that radiant barrier sheathing is a top energy-efficient
technology when building a new home. The study indicated that radiant barrier sheathing
is on of the top three energy-efficient technologies in new...
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December 21, 2010
The Department of Energy (DOE) launched a pilot program on November 9 designed to
make it easier to gage a home's energy efficiency. Home Energy Score compares a
home against others in the region and provides custom recommendations on how to
reduce energy costs. It evaluates 40 points to generate a score ranging from one
to ten, with ten representing excellent energy efficiency. The evaluation...
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April 29, 2010
We are very pleased to report that as of yesterday, April 21, 2010, a revised and
improved ICC Evaluation Services Report for ICYNENE LD-C-50™ has
been posted on the ICC-ES website. The newly revised report puts ICYNENE LD-C-50™
insulation in a unique position as being the only spray foam insulation that can
be left as sprayed in the attic assembly. All other Icynene®...
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April 21, 2010
The Department of Energy (DOE) launched a pilot program on November 9 designed to
Debate Over Sprinklers in New Homes Becomes a Hot Issue Across The Nation Georgia
lawmakers this week rejected a residential sprinkler mandate. By: John Caulfield
Related Articles Save / Share The ongoing battle between builders and fire service
officials over building codes that mandate the installation of fire sprinklers into
new homes is being played out this spring....
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March 31, 2010
Make Room For Grandparents and Boomerangs The number of Americans living in multigenerational
households grew by 2.6 million from 2007 to 2008 and continues to rise, according
to a Pew Research Study. By: Jenny Sullivan Related Articles Save / Share Does that
nifty new floor plan of yours have enough bathrooms? It's a question that may be
worth revisiting in...
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March 8, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Small Business Commerce Association's Award Honors the Achievement
SAN FRANCISCO, November 7, 2009, Owner Builder Network has been selected for the
2009 Best of Business Award in the Single-family housing construction category by
the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) The Small Business Commerce Association
(SBCA) is pleased to announce that Owner...
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February 23, 2010
If you're thinking about building your own custom home, there are some simple questions
you should ask yourself, and some answers you should get before starting. What are
the reasons I should be my on builder? In a word---Money! In another word---Control!
Let's talk about money first. There is no better way to build equity than to be
an owner builder---but the...
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February 10, 2010
On January 28,2010 Sheila Kramer, Founder of Owner Builder Network, received a Proclamation
from the City of Houston's Mayor Annise Parker for the company's contribution to
the City's building....
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January 20, 2010
National Kitchen & Bath Association Reports Trends for 2010 Results are in from
a recent survey of designers conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association
to reveal the key design trends for 2010 NKBA News Release January 13, 2010 HousingZone
Hackettstown, N.J., Jan. 12, 2010 — The results are in from a recent survey of designers
conducted by the...
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January 12, 2010
Kitchen and Bath Design Trends Announced for 2010 Although the most popular features
have remained unchanged, some new trends are gaining traction Mark Crawford, HousingZone
Contributing Editor January 12, 2010 HousingZone According to the National Kitchen
& Bath Association, trends in kitchen and bath design for 2010 won't be much
different from the previous year, although....
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January 12, 2010
Builders' Tip: Caulking an Undermount Sink in Place Click for larger image. I needed
to affix a stainless-steel undermount sink to a granite countertop that was already
installed on its cabinet bases. One problem I faced in tackling the job was how
to get a good silicone-caulk seal between the underside of the counter and....
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January 11, 2010
Earth Advantage Institute Selects Top 10 Green Building Trends For 2010 Trends range
from energy scores for homes to web-based displays that track energy usage in real
time. Matt Phair, HousingZone Contributing Editor January 8, 2010 HousingZone The
Earth Advantage Institute, a leading nonprofit green building resource that has
certified more than 11,000 sustainable homes, today...
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January 07, 2010
No-Maintenance Myth Our virtual home designer and building scientist weigh in on
defining true sustainability. By: Rich Binsacca Related Articles Save / Share Glimpse
the Future: The Home for the New Economy will debut exclusively online, with narrated
and photo-realistic virtual tours, at the 2010 International Builders' Show and
remain open through June...
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January 06, 2010
Census Bureau News Release January 4, 2010 HousingZone Texas gained more people
than any other state between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009 (478,000), followed
by California (381,000), North Carolina (134,000), Georgia (131,000) and Florida
(114,000), according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates California remained
the most populous state, with a July 1, 2009, population of 37...
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January 06, 2010
Brick Holds Up as Homeowners' Siding of Choice New poll finds preferences remain
highly regional. By: John Caulfield Related Articles Save / Share More than 70%
of Americans, and more than half of all homeowners, express a preference for house
siding. And a new survey of more than 2,000 people across the country finds that
brick is still favored over other types of...
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November 5, 2009
What measures determine if a home is green? Does using recycled materials make a
home green? How about locating the home on reclaimed land? Or, what if the homeowners
have energy bills significantly lower than those for a similar-sized conventional
home?According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it takes more than using
a few sustainable practices to build a...
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November 05, 2009
A good credit score translates into lower interest rates for home-shopping borrowers.
In a mortgage lender's eyes, the higher your score is, the less risk you are, and
the more likely it is you will pay off your debt. For this reason, borrowers with
lower scores usually end up paying higher interest rates on their loans. If this
is you, don't panic. There are a number of things you can do to...
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November 05, 2009
Green building benefits the environment, the builders, the community at large, and
of course the individual homeowner. This article focuses specifically on important
benefits to the homeowner—better durability, energy savings, water savings, improved
indoor air quality—and the green building practices typically used to achieve these
benefits. Durable A green home is a durable home...
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November 05, 2009
Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers — $6,500
cheaper.First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since
January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year. But
with the program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the House voted 403-12
Thursday to extend and expand the tax credit to include many...
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November 04, 2009
Hardly anyone enjoys doing the laundry, but today the task is much easier than it
was a few decades ago. A job that once required a washboard and considerable elbow
grease now requires little more than the push of a button. These days, the hard
part is picking the right washing machine to buy. Anyone who goes to an appliance
store to look at washing machines encounters what...
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October 27, 2009
Effective April, 22, 2010, if you are working for compensation on a project that
will disturb paint in a home, school, or childcare facility built prior to 1978,
you must comply with the new lead safety regulations, including: Painting and property
management firms must be EPA-certified and their employees must be trained in the
use of lead-safe work practices. Painting and maintenance...
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October 27, 2009
Water-saving toilets are now standard on all new construction because of a 1992
federal mandate for plumbing fixture manufacturers. Also known as low-flow toilets,
water-saving toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) of water or less, compared
with older toilets that use 3.5, 5.0, and up to 7.0 gpf. The 1.6 gpf models significantly
reduce the amount of fresh water consumed and the corresponding...
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October 27, 2009
Low-flow faucets and showerheads sound like they deliver low water pressure, but
that's not too appealing to a homeowner who's working at the kitchen sink or trying
to start off the day with an invigorating shower. In actuality, good low-flow or
water-saving faucets and showerheads deliver what feels like full-volume water.
They provide equal or better performance than conventional fixtures...
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October 27, 2009
Solid surface countertops were a revolution of sorts when they were first introduced.
Until then most modern countertops were limited to tile or laminate. Solid surface
has come a long way however, available in a vast array of colors and patterns, made
by numerous manufacturers. The term "solid surface" may seem a bit obvious since
all countertops are "solid". But...
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October 27, 2009
Residential fire sprinkler technology has been around for several decades, yet there
has never been a strong market demand for these potential life-saving devices. Almost
30 years ago, the idea of installing a system in the home was first developed, and
since then manufacturers have done their best to educate consumers and create new
markets. Even with all this educational material on...
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October 27, 2009
Light Emitting Diode, more commonly known as "LED", represents the cutting edge
of lighting technology. LEDs operate on a totally different concept than traditional
incandescent style lights. Instead of using a brittle metal filament that is susceptible
to shock and vibration, LEDs are solid-state devices with no moving parts utilizing
an electronic chip that is encapsulated in an epoxy...
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October 27, 2009
By following some basic guidelines for surface preparation, primer application,
and topcoat application, it's possible to avoid the majority of the headaches associated
with interior paint. Surface preparation Wall and ceiling surfaces should be completely
dry before primer or paint is applied. Use a damp cloth to remove loose dust and
dirt created during the drywall installation. If the...
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October 27, 2009
Check with your bank/Lending Institution as to what amount of insurance you will
be required to carry. Determine what policies will have to be issued by your closing
date.• Determine if your location is in a designated flood zone. If so, flood insurance
will be a requirement as opposed to optional. A "pre-construction...
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October 27, 2009
Green building benefits the environment, the builders, the community at large, and
of course the individual homeowner. This article focuses specifically on important
benefits to the homeowner—better durability, energy savings, water savings, improved
indoor air quality—and the green building practices typically used to achieve these
benefits. Durable A green home is a durable home...
Read More»
October 27, 2009
For anyone who intends to go the route of do-it-yourself landscaping, this article
will share some really useful tips for you to get started. The very first question
that you should probably ask yourself is - "What do you want your landscaping to
look like?" This question is best answered by reading home decor and gardening magazines
and visiting your neighbors' yards. That should give you ...
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October 27, 2009
The Harris County Tax Office has a better idea. Following is a letter from Susan
Banks, Director of Property Tax for the City of Houston: For several years, the
Harris County Tax Office has had a program used by lenders and tax agents to receive
and pay their tax bills electronically. We are now offering this program to any
taxpayer with multiple accounts. As a GHBA member, the Tax...
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August 27, 2009
Apples vs. Oranges Appraisers need regulatory guidelines that acknowledge today's
realities. By: Joe Robson Related Articles Save / Share Picture this: For the first
time in months a small builder sells a new home. The sales price cuts the builder's
profit to the bone, but it's a reasonable price given today's housing market. The
buyers are well...
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August 18, 2009
Everyone has heard of the "credit crisis". No money for anyone. WRONG!! The only
change in lending is the rules have tightened up. In too many cases, people who
cold not qualify or afford a mortgage before were still approved for loans they
could not qualify or afford. That has changed. Monies for construction loans or
mortgage are still readily...
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August 06, 2009
Mortgage firms' increased scrutiny is killing deals, delaying the sales processThe
days of being able to sign a contract on a house and then pick up the keys in a
matter of weeks — or even days — are fading.From start to finish, the time it takes
to close a home has gone from less than 30 days to upward of 45, according to real
estate brokers, who blame the delays on more rigid...
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July 08, 2009
A brick exterior adds value and beauty to a new house, but it can also bring some
unexpected problems. Brick is thought of as being extremely weatherproof, so it's
often used as the exterior finish for high-end homes. However, brick is porous,
and it absorbs moisture. This can lead to structural damage and mold growth.Builders
typically do not include a drainage plane or weep holes to drain and...
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July 08, 2009
Hurricanes are one of nature's most destructive forces, as witnessed in 2005 when
Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast. FEMA estimates that Katrina killed over
1,300 people, displaced 450,000 people, and wrecked over 300,000 single-family homes
throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Most of the havoc caused by Katrina was flood-related,
due to levee failures in New Orleans. Storm surges...
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July 08, 2009
Window shopping is easy when you know what to look for. You’ll find many styles,
shapes, features and glass packages when looking for windows and doors. But deciding
on the perfect choice for your home and family is simple. Just take your time and
assess your needs. Consider which style will best suit your home and your family,
what thermal performance features will be ideal for your...
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July 08, 2009
You may recall the story of the statue built with clay feet. Even though the head,
chest, and legs of the statue were made of strong metals, it only took a single
stone to bring the statue down. The same concept is true of new homes. All the best
practice building in the world won't make a home durable, comfortable, or safe if
the soil beneath it is unstable. Poor quality soil is a real issue...
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July 08, 2009
Led lights also generate very little unwanted heat. The energy savings may be doubled
in air-conditioned environments where each watt of incandescent lighting can add
another watt or more to the power needed for air conditioning. The EPA encourages
the use of innovative light source technologies such as led light bulbs. Led lighting
instantly achieves full brightness with no warm up time...
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July 08, 2009
Many times you can judge a book by its cover, at least when it comes to selecting
the type of siding for a home. If a siding looks expensive, it probably is. And
the same is true if it looks second rate. Is there a good-looking, durable siding
that isn't too expensive? Fiber-cement siding has become a popular alternative to
many other sidings. It requires very little maintenance and has a very...
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July 08, 2009
Think stucco finish can stop rainwater and moisture in its tracks? Think again.
Stucco finished are actually porous, which means that water can get sucked up through
the pores and enter into the walls. What’s more, stucco can crack over time, practically
inviting water to enter the home, damage the building materials, and potentially
produce mold. When designing a stucco wall system...
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July 08, 2009
What are Aerobic Systems? Aerobic septic systems are used in situations where standard
septic systems are not a viable option. In many cases, they are used to replace
failing septic systems. Aerobic systems are similar to septic systems in that they
both use natural processes to treat wastewater. But unlike septic (anaerobic) treatment,
the aerobic treatment process requires oxygen. There...
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June 23, 2009
A large percentage of heat escapes through the attic and the walls of a home. However,
a new approach to insulation can make a big difference.In order to build a better
thermal envelope, we need to look at the second law of thermodynamics. This law
states that heat flows in one direction, from a warm space to a cold one. For example,
warm air inside a home will flow to the...
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June 23, 2009
The national average interest rate on the benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate loan averaged
5.69% in the week ending Thursday, down from 5.87% a week ago and 6.23% a year ago.
The 15-year fixed-rate loan averaged 5.21% down from 5.43% a week ago and 5.98%
a year ago. Both the 30-and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages are at their lowest levels
since July 2005, according to Freddie Mac. The...
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June 19, 2009
What measures determine if a home is green? Does using recycled materials make a
home green? How about locating the home on reclaimed land? Or, what if the homeowners
have energy bills significantly lower than those for a similar-sized conventional
home? According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it takes more than using
a few sustainable practices to build a...
Read More»
March 31, 2009
There are many options available for anyone looking to build a new home or vacation
residence. While most people opt for a traditional framed structure, it should be
noted that it is not the only option available. If you are a person with a desire
to live in and with nature, perhaps it's time to consider a more natural way to
build. We've all heard the horror story of the pig who built a house...
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March 31, 2009
A panelized home is one in which many aspects of the home are pre-cut and assembled
in a factory setting before being shipped out to the job site. Roof and floor trusses,
as well as wall panels, are the most common parts of a home that are pre-built in
this fashion, though other aspects of a home can be addressed with panelized construction.
There are a lot of reasons to choose a pre-fabricated...
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March 30, 2009
March 23, 2009, Knoxville, TN - Although worried about the economy, consumers are
willing to buy energy-efficient products and services - if they see immediate savings,
according to a national survey released today. The survey, one of four annual surveys
conducted by The Shelton Group, found that 71 percent of consumers cited saving
money as a reason to buy energy-efficient products. Far fewer...
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