Week of March 6, 2006
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Portland Cement Excluded From New OSHA Standard

In a victory for affordable housing and against unnecessary government regulation, the final Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard on hexavalent chromium published in the Feb. 28 Federal Register excludes exposure to Portland cement in construction and other industries. Portland cement is a basic ingredient in concrete and mortar.

For more than a year, NAHB members and staff have met with OSHA officials, urging them to exclude Portland cement from any rulemaking because the agency’s own data showed that possible airborne exposure to the chemical in construction activities involving wet cement — such as mixing mortar, brick laying, footer cement pouring and cement finishing — was minimal. ...

Framing Lumber Composite $ 375 $ 3
OSB Composite $ 329 $ 11
Southern Pine Plywood Composite $ 466 $ 2
With permission from: www.randomlengths.com 

Floor Plans: A Swiss Cottage in New Jersey — for $4,000

Yes, we know. You cannot buy a five-bedroom, high-end, single-family home anywhere in New Jersey for $4,000. But you could 123 years ago.

And in some ways, the home offered then is not much different than what’s being built today. ...

 

McGraw-Hill Launches 10,000-Web Site Construction Network

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of the Sweets Catalog File, has launched the “McGraw-Hill Construction Network® for products.” The comprehensive online source of building product information integrates the 100-year track record of Sweets with the McGraw-Hill Construction Network which, since its inception in 2003, has become the place to find and manage design and construction business opportunities. ...

Interest Rates  
  30-Yr. Fixed: 6.24% 15-Yr. Fixed: 5.89% 5 Yr. ARM: 5.97%
  1 Yr. ARM: 5.34% Libor (3 months): 4.86% Prime: 7.50%
Housing Starts*  (January 2006)
  Total: 2.276 million Single: 1.819 million Multi: 457,000
Home Sales*  (January 2006)
  New: 1.233 million Existing: 6.56 million  
Median Home Prices  (January 2006)
  New: $238,100 Existing: $211,000  
* Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate

   
 
CEO Syron Puts Housing and Economic Trends in Perspective, Rejects Charge of Systemic Risk
The GSEs and Housing Affordability: A Necessary But Not Sufficient Condition
 
   
 
Visit the all new McGraw-Hill Construction Network for Products...
 
   
 
2006 National Green Building Conference
Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006
NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Gala
 

 
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