Nation's Building News Online: November 15, 2004Print All Articles Text Version |
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The New American Home Weathered Florida's Hurricanes, Will Be Ready for ToursTry as they might, the hurricanes that huffed and puffed and hammered Central Florida Try as they might, the hurricanes that huffed and puffed and hammered Central Florida this past hurricane season couldn’t knock the wind out of The New American Home® 2005. The home, now in the final stages of construction in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, will be open for tours during the International Builders' Show on Jan. 13–16. Beautiful — and Hurricane Resistant The luxurious 9,036-square-foot Mediterranean-design New American Home was built in accordance with the 2001 Florida Building Code, which was adopted after Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992. The absence of damage to the New American Home attests to the effectiveness of the code. Some of the code standards and their roles in helping the home weather the hurricanes include:
According to architect of the home, Ed Binkley of Bloodgood Sharp Buster Architects and Planners, Inc., having a conscientious builder responsible for seeing that the code is followed in its entirety and subcontractors who are focused on doing the job right is the best way to make a home hurricane resistant.
Blending Mediterranean Splendor with Universal Design This two-story showcase home works in harmony with the outdoor environment and was designed to accommodate the evolving lifestyle of its owners. Targeting a move-up family with one to three children, the house integrates home automation, new technology, energy efficiency and healthy home construction techniques. Handicapped-accessible and designed and built following universal design and aging-in-place principles, the home includes a master suite, four bedrooms, a library, a game room, a spacious three-car garage and a dramatic private courtyard with a pool. The front entry overlooks a meandering waterway traversed by a pedestrian bridge. About two-thirds of the home is air conditioned. New Standards in Efficiency and Technology Pittsburgh-based IBACOS: Integrated Building and Construction Solutions, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program, provided design and engineering support to ensure maximum, innovative energy efficiency. The home will use 47% less energy for heating and cooling and 64% less energy for water heating than a traditionally constructed house of a similar size in the same climate. The home will be Energy Star® rated with a multitude of temperature and humidity sensors monitored for one year by IBACOS to gauge efficiency. Home owners will be able to program lights, control shades, monitor the front door, activate the sprinkler system, turn on the central vacuum and chlorinate the swimming pool from anywhere in the house via touch-screen keypads and remotes. Technology will link a dozen televisions throughout the house with telephones, computers, lights and security and audio systems. LCD (liquid-crystal display) monitors will allow interchangeable television and computer use. To View Plans Now ... To view photos and floor plans of the home, visit www.TNAH.com on the International Builders' Show Web site. ... and Tour the New American Home During IBS Registered attendees at the 2005 International Builders’ Show can tour the New American Home from Thursday, Jan. 13, through Sunday, Jan. 16, during show hours via free shuttle buses — tickets are required. The buses depart every half hour from the Orange County Convention Center. The show home is 17 miles from the convention center, and the tour takes approximately three hours including travel time.Free shuttle bus tickets can be picked up during show hours at the home's booth in Transportation Central in the C Hall Lobby of the West Building. For more information, contact Tucker Bernard, NCHI senior director, at 800-368-5242 x8519. About the New American Home Since its inception in 1984, the New American Home has had the distinction of being both a show house and a for-sale product, balancing architectural freedom with the bottom line. As conceived, the New American Home is a collection of ideas for the industry to take away — in large pieces or bit-by bit — to be incorporated into millions of new and remodeled homes across the country each year. The National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI) — the Supplier 100 of NAHB, cosponsors the show home along with Builder magazine, which features the home’s products, technologies and design ideas in its January 2005 issue. Building News Coast To CoastConstruction at a Record PaceConstruction activity is on pace for another record year in Utah, thanks to low mortgage rates, household growth and a myriad of housing assistance programs. The state Bureau of Economic and Business Research estimates that the total dollar volume for all permitted construction projects rose to almost $3.9 billion during the first nine months of 2004, up 16.3% from just over $3.3 billion during the same period of last year. Nearly three-quarters of that figure is tied to single-family home building. According to the Utah Association of Realtors®, third-quarter home sales totaled 10,736, compared to 9,337 last year. The average price, meanwhile, climbed to $189,281 from $178,063. Some Builders Offering Sweeter Deals on HomesIncreased competition and an expanding inventory of new homes have many builders offering incentives to generate business. According to Rottlund Homes Minnesota president Todd Stutz, "We've become somewhat of a society where consumption habits are formed by what's on sale, and home building is no different." Stutz says incentive packages help builders get an edge on their competitors and prompt buyers to act before the deal expires. His company typically provides financial assistance to first-time buyers and appliance upgrades to those trading up. Pulte Homes is another builder using specials to lure buyers. The company is currently allowing buyers to use a $14,000 package toward the interest on their mortgages, so they can pay only the principal each month for one year. Total Construction Starts Running 10 Percent Ahead of 2003's PaceConstruction starts for the first nine months of 2004 are on pace to set a new record for total construction this year and to post the largest annual gain in the last five years, according to Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge (MHC). MHC reports that construction starts totaled $445 billion as of the end of September, a 10% gain over the same period last year. Residential construction has risen 18%, but non-residential projects have also either matched or surpassed last year's levels. Increases have also been posted in all regions of the country, most notably in the South Atlantic (14%) and the West (13%). More Home Owners Opt to Stay Put and RemodelMany home owners are choosing to remodel to add space, modernize or allow them to age in place. Soaring home prices put trade-up homes out of reach for some, but others like their location and local schools and want to stay put. Experts say low interest rates and a surge in home equity have generated interest in remodeling. In fact, Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies found that home owners shelled out about $129.3 billion on home improvements during the last year. The popularity of remodeling projects has brought out scores of unlicensed contractors, overwhelmed legitimate contractors and sparked a rise in the number of complaints against contractors. According to the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, complaints jumped 28% to 3,209 during the 2004 fiscal year, 1,059 of which involved unlicensed contractors. To avoid losses tied to unlicensed contractors, home owners are urged to solicit three estimates, check references and licenses and examine the contractor's work in person. Your Two-Story Beauty Is a BeastHome owners are increasingly remodeling their two-story family rooms and foyers to create extra space for home offices, bedrooms and recreation rooms. Though spacious rooms with high ceilings seem impressive at first glance, experts say home owners eventually discover that two-story spaces are difficult to decorate and clean. They are also noisy and costly to heat, and some home buyers consider them to be a waste of space. "People are choosing to bring their living areas down to a more human scale," says Builder magazine editorial director Boyce Thompson. "People are now buying houses that have more defined spaces rather than that totally open floor plan." The desire for extra space means such conversions will not hurt the home's resale value, according to Loudon County, Va.-based real-estate agent Leslye Edwards. Keeping Workers SafeRoofing contractors should stay informed about the latest fall-protection equipment on the market and proactively purchase such equipment in order to ensure employee safety, avoid Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines and ensure maximum profitability for each job. Some available options for skylights and hatch openings include: the Bilco's Bil-Guard Hatch rail system, which provides easy-to-install fall protection for hatch openings that does not penetrate the roof membrane and costs between $700 and $1,000; Kee Industrial Products' Kee Guard skylight railing system that stands free without penetration of the roof membrane, avoids blockage of light and costs about $550; BlueWater Manufacturing's SR2K roof hatch system that costs $790 and provides protection for roof hatches, skylights, fire vents and floor doors; and Railguard 200 from Garlock Equipment that provides easy-to-install skylight protection for about $1,150. Some available options for roof anchors include: Protective Roofing Products' PR-600, which is a mobile fall-protection system for use on a low-slope roof that provides fall protection for two workers and restraint for one worker; Guardian Fall Protection's CB series of roof anchors that provide a complete roof safety system for four workers by utilizing bases through which is run a continuous line across the rooftop; and DBI/SALA's permanent and portable roof brace system. Tests Show Brick Withstands Hurricane-Blown Debris Better Than SidingRecent tests by the University of Tennessee's Richard Bennett reveal that homes with brick exteriors are more impact resistant than those covered with vinyl or siding made of fiber cement. Bennett urges home owners rebuilding after the hurricanes that plowed through the Southeast this summer to opt for brick as a means of protecting their homes from storm debris. He found that windblown debris can push as much as five feet through vinyl and fiber cement. In addition to its impact resistance, Bennett recommends brick for its energy-efficiency and its ability to minimize fire insurance premiums and add 8%-10% to the home's resale value. Home Is Where the Hand-Held IsHome automation technologies are slowly spreading across the Asia-Pacific region, enabled by fast and cheap Internet access. The foundation of a smart home begins with computers linked together by a wired or wireless network, after which other appliances such as stereos and televisions can be networked as well. Once the networking infrastructure is in place, entertainment applications will drive the adoption of home automation, says IDC Asia/Pacific analyst Claudio Checchia. Andrew Merritt, owner of Australia-based home networking hardware vendor Blakemore Integrated Automated Systems, is developing a prototype residence featuring networked entertainment, lighting, heating and security controlled by a central computer or server via a universal remote. Meanwhile, Korea-based LG's HomeNet range uses the Internet to connect a fridge, washing machine, air conditioner, microwave and projector TV. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the lack of standard communications between devices from different manufacturers: Software that can act as an intermediary between various gadgets is one solution being explored, while another skirts intermediaries altogether by reducing complexity; in this vein is the Internet Zero project at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, which proposes that intelligence be inexpensively embedded into home devices without introducing new standards. Speaking at a recent lecture, Center for Bits and Atoms director Neil Gershenfeld remarked, "Our experience has been that the killer app is...managing complexity rather than any one new service." Smart homes are not being designed strictly with luxury or security in mind: Efforts include spaces that monitor elderly inhabitants and provide caregiver services, while even more forward-looking visions include homes that anticipate owner needs and are capable of self-maintenance VoIP Aids Productivity, Cost Savings, Competitive Advantages for Small BusinessVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has given small businesses a scalable solution to the telecommunications crossroads they found themselves in by having to choose between too much capacity at too high a cost or not enough capacity due to their phone companies' focus on residential customers and big businesses. "I live on the dashboard Web-based interface," says a commercial real estate agent who recently used his company's VoIP system to finalize a multimillion-dollar deal from a prospective client's boardroom. "And now that our company and our employees are used to it, I don't know how we worked without it." VoIP technology provides high-speed broadband networks over which voice, e-mail, instant messaging, audio conferencing, Web-based conferencing, video, fax and find-me-follow-me functions can be integrated through any single Internet-linked computer. VoIP saves up to 40% in direct costs compared to local phone services while boosting production by providing remote meeting capabilities and allowing the sharing of documents, files and presentations. Three States Pursue Innovative Programs to Spur Affordable HousingSeveral states that have been successful in pushing new affordable housing initiatives shared information about their innovative programs and policy strategies during the Fannie Mae Foundation’s annual housing conference in Washington, D.C. last week. Representatives from Ohio, Illinois and Massachusetts discussed their states’ efforts to increase affordable housing opportunities. The efforts included a trust fund, a ‘bounty’ given to communities to zone up and a comprehensive plan that included resource allocation. Ohio: A Trust Fund for a Full Range of Housing Needs Ohio’s principal program is a trust fund that provides funding for projects that serve low-income families and individuals. According to Ohio’s lieutenant governor, Jennette Bradley, the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF), established in 1991, funds a full range of housing activities, including predevelopment costs, rental assistance, housing counseling, handicapped accessibility modifications, rehabilitation, home repair and new construction. During fiscal year 2004, the OHTF provided downpayment assistance to 349 households, built or rehabilitated 2,071 rental units and 154 ownership units, and provided business assistance to 61 businesses. OHTF was created with $5 million in state funds. Since then, the state’s Affordable Housing Task Force has recommended a mechanism to provide permanent funding with a $50 million cap. As proposed, this would be achieved through an increase in county recordation fees. Massachusetts: A ‘Bounty’ for Communities That Have ‘Zoned Up’ In an effort to expand the supply of housing, this year Massachusetts signed into law a ‘bounty’ system that enables individual communities to ‘zone up’ in order to provide more housing without reducing the amount of green space in the state, said Douglas Foy, the secretary of commonwealth development. Chapter 40R was signed into law in June and gives communities with approved smart-growth districts a bonus payment of $3,000 for each unit of new housing that receives a building permit. To help local communities implement 40R, four state agencies — the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA), the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction (EOTC) and the Department of Economic Development (DED) — will provide $30,000 in planning services and technical assistance to each local community in the state. The measure was promoted last year by the Commonwealth Housing Task Force, a private ad hoc organization established to increase the supply of housing in Massachusetts. The task force identified the lack of land zoned for multifamily housing or single-family housing on small lots, rather than an absolute lack of land, as a major constraint upon the production of more housing. Illinois: A Task Force to Unify Policy Development and Resource Allocation Illinois is in the process of developing a unified affordable housing policy that would encompass supportive services as well as resource allocation, according to Kelly King Dibble, executive director for the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich issued an executive order in 2003 to develop the comprehensive policy, Dibble said. The governor has created a housing task force from staff from the housing-related state agencies and charged it with developing an annual comprehensive housing plan that would include the development, preservation or rehabilitation of a range of affordable housing options. Dibble said the comprehensive plan has not been completed to date, but that working groups have developed recommendations. Housing SnapshotMortgage interest rates nudged up slightly last week following the fourth Fed increase in the federal funds rate this year. But rates continue to be extremely affordable, which bodes well for new home sales and single-family housing construction. The general economy continued to pick up steam as retail sales grew by 0.2% for the month, according to the Commerce Department. Though retailers posted higher-than-expected sales, most of the sales favored high-end stores over discounters, suggesting that lower-income consumers are still feeling the pinch of energy prices. Jobs increased by 337,000, the best showing since March. About a fifth of those new jobs were in construction, and many of them were a result of the hurricanes that lashed Florida. Overall, consumer confidence in early November rose to 95.5, up from 91.7 in October. There was good news on the lumber front as well. Framing prices fell $7 for the week to $348 from $355 per 1,000 board feet, according to Random Lengths. A year earlier, the price was $333. Random Lengths' structural panel composite price, which includes oriented strand board, dropped from $322 per 1,000 square feet to $321, compared to $544 a year earlier. Mortgage Interest Rates30 Year Fixed Rate: 5.76\% Housing Starts: Sep. 2004Total: 1.898 million\% New Home Sales: Sep. 2004 *1.206 million Existing Home Sales: Sep. 2004 *6.75 million * Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate The Elections Provide a New Foundation for Achievement in HousingHousing was clearly in the winner’s column after the votes were counted in the Nov. 2 elections. That is no small tribute to the grassroots members of NAHB — along with their colleagues, their employees, their families and friends and their customers — who mobilized as never before in support of the candidates who share our concern about expanding housing opportunity in America. We worked extra hard across this country to register voters and get them to vote, and by a wide margin they chose the candidates who understand that housing is foremost among the concerns of this nation. During the campaign, we heard from both presidential candidates. We asked them what they planned to do to strengthen our national priority for housing. We questioned them on their positions on housing’s role in the economy, tax policy, our housing finance system, the need for affordably priced housing for working families, overregulation and more. Both President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry were forthright and encouraging in their responses. In the forum provided in Nation’s Building News for sharing their views with our membership, it was very clear that housing was one issue that had garnered strong bipartisan support in the race to the White House. In a contest that was characterized by some sharp differences on major issues, housing was one area where both of the presidential contenders stood in agreement. In a memorable speech before the NAHB Board of Directors at our fall meeting in Columbus, OH, President Bush continued his discussion of housing. He acknowledged the role of housing in leading the economy back to health and described the initiatives of his Administration designed to increase homeownership opportunities overall, and for underrepresented minorities in particular, and to help builders deliver housing that families at the lower end and middle of the income range can afford. He also stated positions on tax policy, regulatory relief and health insurance for small business that we share. The President has established a good foundation for housing, and in his second term in office we will be working with the Administration to ensure that he is able to build upon it. From the congressional races, we will see some familiar faces and some new faces in the 109th Congress that convenes next year, but the good news is that there are few who are not familiar with the needs of our industry. Through a sophisticated communications and outreach program, the nation’s home builders conducted a voter mobilization campaign targeted at one key Senate race and nine competitive House races. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our members, we won all of them. BUILDPAC, our political action committee, has been a growing source of strength and pride for our association, and the results of the elections show that NAHB has become a powerful force on Capitol Hill on behalf of championing housing and the American dream. (To read more in NBN about the outcome of the elections, click here.) In the weeks ahead, NAHB will be working to sharpen its position on the housing issues that will arise in the new Congress and the new Administration. On the policies that matter the most, we are ready to engage our nation’s leaders in an effort to achieve legislation that will make a decisive difference for the men and women who build America’s housing and the households who live in the homes that lend vitality to our economy, our neighborhoods and our society. Workforce housing is very much on our agenda, and we will be gathering at the National Housing Center next month to voice our ongoing commitment to providing housing for our country’s working families in or near the communities they serve. Along with Fannie Mae, NAHB will be holding “Close to Home: A Symposium on Workforce Housing” on Dec. 8. The symposium will consider new research on the housing needs of working families and will include panels that will define the problem, identify strategies for overcoming barriers and consider approaches and partnerships that have worked and can succeed to solve this problem. As we have seen in the elections, the concern for housing is an issue that bridges political differences like no other. Our hopes and our spirits are high, and our determination is strong, to accomplish great things for housing and work with out newly elected leaders to reaffirm policies that will fulfill our commitment to housing like never before. Reward Your Superintendent With Non-Traditional Incentive PlansMany home builders tie superintendent bonuses to their companies’ or projects’ profitability. However, some use non-traditional rewards for jobs well done — and do so for a variety of reasons. Some companies keep closed books and don’t want to disclose profit information to their employees. In other instances where superintendents don’t have control of the bidding process, bonuses tied to job profits aren’t pertinent. The following are tips from home builders for developing non-traditional incentive plans for superintendents: For four years, Chris Thompson, president of On the Level, Inc., in Chaska, MN, used a bonus plan that his supers earned incrementally. On each project, they earned a small percentage of the construction costs for achieving each of the items below:
“The super usually got three out of the four items,” Thompson recalled. The recommended total percentage of construction costs earned is 1%-4%. Superintendent incentives can be tied to zero punch lists, as Betty Hardle does at Vanderbuilt Homes & Realty in Minneapolis. “There are lots of creative ways to show appreciation,” she explained, “and some don’t cost much money. Share some of the goodies that you get from suppliers, such as trips, prizes, gifts, etc.” Communication goes a long way toward augmenting a good incentive plan. “If a superintendent is really good and you want him or her with you a long time, then tell them so — repeatedly,” Hardle recommended. Show superintendents that you’re looking toward the future by keeping them informed about your ideas and plans and asking for their feedback. Discuss the super’s own plans and ideas, too. The rationale for rewarding superintendents goes far beyond good will. A good superintendent actually saves you money. “If the budget is met, there is money in that, and if the schedule is met or beat, there is money in that overhead recovery is accomplished faster,” said John Barrows, president of J. Barrows, Inc. in Wainscott, NY, who uses a three-part bonus plan that’s similar to Thompson’s. If you still want to do an incentive plan based on profits, there’s a creative way to do that as well. Greg Miedema, who heads Dakota Builders in Tucson, AZ, calculates a target gross profit in his sales price and then gives his superintendents a bonus for beating that gross profit. “It takes careful job cost accounting, perhaps a warranty contingency, but it can be done and we’ve found it effective so far,” said the remodeler.
BuilderBooks.com Has ‘Managing Your Employees' to Help With the ‘People Part’ of Business Looking for help with the “people part” of your business? “ Managing Your Employees,” available at BuilderBooks.com, contains a model personnel policies and employee handbook that you can customize for your company, a section on legal and regulatory authorities that affect personnel policies and suggested systems and processes for managing your employees. It also contains a CD of forms and checklists for managing human resources policies and programs. To view or purchase this publication on line, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order. The NAHB University of Housing Offers Courses on Business Management The NAHB University of Housing offers a course on business management designed to help builders improve their business and profitability. For a list of current offerings, click here. Search keywords: “Introduction to Business Management.” NAHB Has More Than 160 Resources to Help You Run Your Business More Profitably
Go to NAHB's Business Management Tools Web pages for instant access to more than 160 timesaving, moneymaking and cost-cutting business resources to help you run your business more profitably. Get guidance on accounting and financial management, business strategy, computers and information technology, customer service, human resources and more. Resources are added weekly, so bookmark www.nahb.org/biztools to go directly to these vital business management resources. Local and state associations, link directly to www.nahb.org/biztools from your Web site and give your members instant access to these resources. It will make your HBA Web site the place to go for the information and guidance they need to succeed. Smart Solutions: Be Sure Your Software Solutions Are Industry-SpecificChris Thompson, president of On the Level, Inc., a custom home building company in Chaska, MN, and a member of NAHB’s Business Management & Information Technology Committee, wanted to automate and integrate his company’s accounting and construction management functions. Thompson had been using his bookkeeping software to perform budgeting, estimating and scheduling functions, but the results were less than ideal. “We found that we were duplicating tasks,” said Thompson. To prepare the budget, for instance, he had to enter data into a spreadsheet, but then he also had to manually re-enter it in the bookkeeping software. “It wasn’t very accurate,” he said. So Thompson decided to upgrade and install a new, integrated business software package that could do scheduling, budgeting, estimates, take-offs, accounting and enable his back-office operations to share information and work together. After six months researching software, Thompson chose the integrated package that could perform all the accounting and construction management functions he required, plus share data and integrate functions. The software also was designed to work with the NAHB Chart of Accounts (link is for NAHB members only), which Thompson had been using for years, and included modules for payroll, inventory and other application functionality that he could add later. His software salesperson, a CPA, installed the software and transferred On the Level’s stand-alone software programs into the new integrated software database. Thompson spent about $11,000 for the software and installation. Unfortunately once installed, the software did not work as advertised. “Things were getting screwed up and going into the wrong accounts,” Thompson recalled. The new program kept producing incorrect financial statements. The software salesperson/installer tried several fixes but nothing seemed to work. Thompson had his bookkeeper take accounting classes, thinking the additional knowledge might help her rectify the problems. That didn’t help either. The Solution: Hire a Software Installer Who Knows the Industry The bookkeeper’s instructor, Gary Sabby, the president of Sauk Rapids, MN-based HeartLand Financial Strategies, a software and systems consulting firm with clients in the construction industry, thought the problem might be that the software had been installed incorrectly. Like the software salesman Thompson first worked with, Sabby is a CPA. But Sabby is also a builder who understands how builders run their businesses and what needs and software requirements they might have. He was brought in to troubleshoot the problem and it didn’t take him long to realize that his suspicions about the software installation were correct. The original installer “hadn’t sat down with the staff and asked them what they needed,” said Sabby. “That’s why none of the figures or other data seemed to balance.” He reconfigured the software to work with the NAHB Chart of Accounts and established a clear audit trail to show:
“You need an audit trail in case an accountant asks, ‘Where did this number come from?’ ” Sabby explained. The Payoff: All Systems Are Go — And Much More Accurate Reinstalling the integrated software package took about two weeks, but the program now works as intended. “Things are a lot more accurate, which is the whole reason why we bought the software in the first place,” Thompson said. One part of the software package that he has found particularly useful is the program’s trade contractor module. It alerts him if he starts to write a check to a trade contractor whose liability insurance has lapsed or agreement hasn’t been signed. Additionally, the builder can now compare construction budgets to his actual costs. “That lets us make a more money,” he said. By improving the accuracy of its financial data, On the Level was able to boost profits enough so that the software investment already has paid for itself. What You Can Do To better integrate business management software (or any kind of office automation) in your business:
If the salesperson doesn’t ask about your company’s business needs and only gives you a sales pitch about the software’s capabilities and tells you a “standard” package will meet your needs, then look elsewhere.
Have backup systems in place so you can continue operating until you and your staff become proficient using the new software. Have you or someone you know developed a smart solution about business managment or technolgy that will help the industry? If so, contact Jill Tunick at 800-368-5242 x8461 so we can share your solution.
The NAHB University of Housing Offers Courses on Business Management The NAHB University of Housing offers a course on business management designed to help builders improve their business and profitability. For a list of current offerings, click here. Search keywords: “Introduction to Business Management.” Home Owners Outside Austin Rescue Displaced Slider TurtlesDemonstrating their commitment to living in harmony with the natural environment, home owners in Barton Creek West, — a quiet, family-oriented community of 398 homes nestled in the southwest hills of Austin, TX — came to the rescue of more than 200 red-eared slider turtles and several other wildlife species who were displaced when a multi-million gallon retention pond was drained in order to replace its liner. When home owners began to spot turtles of all sizes, blackened with sludge, wandering aimlessly through their subdivision in search of water, their home owners association and its management company assembled a team to pick up stray turtles and return them to the wild. Turtles were rescued by the tubful, hosed off and released one-by-one from the banks of Barton Creek, which runs through the more than 400 acres of greenbelt owned and protected by the home owners association. Baby turtles were especially fun to watch being released as they darted to the bottom of the cool-water creek and then resurfaced, members of the rescue team reported. The protected greenbelt is populated by thick stands of native trees and plants that are the habitat for many birds, several of which are endangered species, and wildlife. In the early years of development, Barton Creek residents recall regularly seeing a local flock of turkeys waddling down the parkway, deer grazing everywhere and even an occasional puma. Seniors Public Housing in Minneapolis Features Universal DesignThe Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) broke ground last month on a $14.2 million project for seniors that will include universal design features in all of its 102 apartments, allowing residents who need assisted-living services to be fully integrated with those who can live independently. Close to downtown, the Heritage Commons project is the first that the city has built for seniors since 1972. It will replace housing that was demolished in 1997, and unlike the high-rise towers that typically provided public housing for seniors in times past, the new building will be low-rise construction overlooking a park and pond, with design that encourages social interaction, a sense of community and connections with the surrounding neighborhood. Set on a prime 2.1-acre site, the four-story, 94,000-square-foot building will have indoor and outdoor community spaces, resident gardens with raised beds, a rain garden, beauty salon, café/store, library/classroom, second-floor open balcony, exercise room, great room with fireplace, nurse’s station, social services and high-speed Internet access. “Heritage Commons represents the very best in senior housing, public or private,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak at the building’s groundbreaking. “Seniors deserve to live in a great building like this, and it’s going to raise the bar for projects both here and in other cities.” About 40% of the units will be for seniors who need assisted-living services, but because all of the units will have the same universal design features, any resident can live in any part of the building. In traditional seniors design, residents who need assisted-living services are commonly segregated in one wing or floor of a building. Owned by MPHA, the project is being financed with a Hope VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was secured by the housing agency and its developer, St. Louis-based McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. Heritage Commons was designed by Miller Hanson Partners and the general contractor is Weiss Builders, Inc. It is scheduled for completion late next year.
Attend the 2005 Seniors Housing Symposium in Metro Washington, D.C. Area Learn more about the fastest-growing segment of the housing market. Plan to attend Building for Boomers & Beyond: Seniors Housing Symposium 2005, the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals serving the burgeoning 50+ market. For more information, click here. Universal Design Helps Speed the Approval Process, Create Interested BuyersUniversal design is fast becoming a buzzword for responsible building that provides extra value for consumers. But that’s only part of its story. Universal design also is a boon to the building and development community. When properly marketed and awareness grows, universal design can help speed the approval process for developers and create a ready market of interested buyers for builders. For a recent project I worked on, universal design was the key to unlocking community support for what many — including the developer — expected to be no better than a long shot to earn approval. A Plan for Mixed Products in a No-Growth County The developer, Gary Hill, of AML Development in Potomac, MD, wanted to develop a mixed-product community in staunchly no-growth Fauquier County, VA, an outer suburb of Washington, D.C. Hill wanted to develop a 120-acre agricultural parcel set among the rolling hills of Piedmont, VA. A zoning amendment on the parcel allowed for a senior care facility. Hill knew he could get approval for a nursing home without much difficulty. He also knew that a nursing home was of little interest to the older citizens of this rural community. As one county resident put it, “I have seen nursing homes and funeral homes around here, but I am not ready for that.” Instead, Hill’s plan was to develop an age-exclusive community for the 55-plus market that would feature a mix of housing types — condominiums, attached villas and detached cottage homes. I worked with him during the planning and approval process. A Lifestyle Component Centered on Universal Design Rural preservation and environmental quality are major concerns in Fauquier County, so a site plan was created that preserved 85% of the 120-acre parcel. The plan for the new community, Suffield Meadows, also included a lifestyle amenity component centered on universal design that featured a gardening focus, provided security and maintenance for the home owners and supported continued independence and dignity. We introduced the concept of universal design to county residents at several town meetings, and through the Suffield Meadows Web site and a widely distributed newsletter. Through our outreach, we explained that the development’s well-designed houses would be able to support people who might need care assistance in the future, but who wanted to continue to live in their own homes. Answering a Desire to Stay — and Move — Brings Community Support Many seniors want to stay — and move. That is, they want to stay in their community, yet they realize that their needs have changed and their homes are becoming too much for them as they grow older. By introducing them to universal design, they were able to see that moving into a universal design home in the proposed community would keep them safe and independent — and in their neighborhood. As expected, the zoning board ruled against the project. A few weeks later, however, Suffield Meadows supporters showed up in record numbers at the county council meeting to speak in favor of the project. The citizens loved Suffield Meadows and the concept of universal design and became a strong and vocal force for approval. After hearing from its citizens, the council unanimously approved the plan. Not only did the developer receive the zoning required to build the community, he also found that many of these same boosters anxiously were waiting for the product to be available. Louis Tenenbaum is a Potomac, MD-based Independent Living Strategist, consultant, trainer and speaker who specializes in aging-in-place and universal design. He also is a member of the NAHB Seniors Housing Council. Tenenbaum can be reached at 301-983-0131 or via e-mail. Information also is available on his Web site at www.louistenenbaum.com.
Attend the 2005 Seniors Housing Symposium in Metro Washington, D.C. Area Learn more about the fastest-growing segment of the housing market. Plan to attend Building for Boomers & Beyond: Seniors Housing Symposium 2005, the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals serving the burgeoning 50+ market. For more information, click here. 'Boomers on the Horizon' Available at BuilderBooks.com Capitalize on the niches, needs and opportunities of the rapidly growing 55+ market by learning their preferences in "Boomers on the Horizon: Housing Preferences of the 55+ Market", available at BuilderBooks.com. This book depicts boomers who are on the verge of drastically changing the building industry. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order. Ten Simple Ways to Improve Your BusinessBusiness may be booming now, but how can you keep customers calling when the market slows? Erik Cofield, CGA, CCSP, a housing industry business management consultant, discussed improving your business during the Remodeling Show in Chicago last month. By incorporating these key ideas into your business plan today, you won’t have to wonder later where all the customers went.
The NAHB University of Housing Offers Designation Programs and Other Courses The NAHB University of Housing offers CAPS, CGR, CGB and a variety of other professional designation programs and business management courses that set builders and remodelers apart from the competition. To learn more about NAHB’s designation programs, visit www.nahb.org/designations. For a complete list of all current education offerings, click here. NAHB Has More Than 160 Resources to Help You Run Your Business More Profitably
Go to NAHB's Business Management Tools Web pages for instant access to more than 160 timesaving, moneymaking and cost-cutting business resources to help you run your business more profitably. Get guidance on accounting and financial management, business strategy, computers and information technology, customer service, human resources and more. Resources are added weekly, so bookmark www.nahb.org/biztools to go directly to these vital business management resources. Local and state associations can link directly to www.nahb.org/biztools from their Web site and give their members instant access to these resources. Who Will be the Next Remodelor of the Month? The Remodelor of the Month (this link is accessible to Remodelors™ Council members only) award program is underway. Don't miss your opportunity to be named the Remodelor of the Month. Commitment — It’s What Makes Planning WorkYour Daughter’s Birthday All of these events have something in common. Sure, most of them are important to many of you, but what do they have in common? What do they share? Whether we’re at each event as participants or observers, these are events that we don’t want to miss. So in order to attend them, we have to plan. This is no big deal, until you realize that planning requires something even more important to make sure we get there on time— commitment. Simply put, “If you commit to making the plan happen, you will make it happen!” In our industry, it is customary and wise to examine our procedures, to give them a “physical” exam, to make sure they work efficiently, to adjust when necessary and, sometimes, to change them entirely. This is part of being a good manager or planner, but only a part. Making a plan by organizing all the steps to follow is really pretty straightforward. Making a commitment to follow those steps is what makes the plan work. Call it dedication or a pledge, but it’s essential. If we could consistently have the same mindset or commitment to finish the job on time, on budget and with a happy customer, our margins would show it. This is why, when we discuss being committed to our schedules we also talk about “posting” our schedules for all to see. With the schedule posted, everybody involved understands their roles and commitment much the same way a race organizer does when he sets the starting time for a NASCAR event. Imagine the chaos if there was no commitment to having the race start on time. So, the next time you have a medium-sized job coming up, try moving the normal completion date ahead by 5% without changing any of your standards. Then, make it happen. Yes, it will take some additional planning, but the real difference is commitment. If it works for you, then make the commitment to inject it into all of your jobs and watch the effect on your bottom line. MM (Mike) Weiss, CGR, CGB, GMB, CAPS, president of Weiss & Company, is the immediate past president of the national Remodelors™ Council. Weiss tours the country teaching both CGR and CAPS courses to hundreds of professional remodelers a year. For more information, e-mail Weiss.
The NAHB University of Housing Offers Designation Programs and Other Courses The NAHB University of Housing offers CAPS, CGR, CGB and a variety of other professional designation programs and business management courses that set builders and remodelers apart from the competition. To learn more about NAHB’s designation programs, visit www.nahb.org/designations. For a complete list of all current education offerings, click here. Who Will be the Next Remodelor of the Month? The Remodelor of the Month (this link is accessible to Remodelors™ Council members only) award program is underway. Don't miss your opportunity to be named the Remodelor of the Month. Builder Initiatives in Five States Receive NAHB GrantsInitiatives on local and state ballot issues, revisions to the National Wetlands Plant List, a home-building Web site for consumers and a study of the impact of zoning on minority home buyers were among the five projects that were authorized by the NAHB Executive Committee during the association’s fall board meeting in Columbus, OH, last month to receive State & Local Issues Fund grants. The following associations were selected to receive financial support: Building Industry Association of the Delta, Stockton, CA The association, working through the Save Stockton Jobs coalition, was trying to defeat a Sierra Club-backed initiative — Measure Q — on the general election ballot. The initiative to create an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) around the city of Stockton, set it at the 1990 urban service line and drastically limit the ability to build new homes in the city was extremely close in the Nov. 2 elections and as this issue of Nation's Building News went to press, absentee ballots were still being counted to determine if it was approved or defeated. The BIA of the Delta — joined by other Stockton businesses, Realtors® and farmers — ran their campaign using direct mail, radio and television advertisements and phone calls to convince voters to cast a “no” vote for Measure Q. Colorado Association of Home Builders The Colorado Association of Home Builders launched a public campaign to influence voters to uphold the positive reforms made in the state's Notice and Opportunity to Repair law, and they succeeded on Nov. 2 by a wide margin. (For full story in last week’s NBN, click here.) Maryland State Builders Association and a coalition of other state and local HBAs The Maryland State Builders Association and its partners have developed a multi-pronged strategy that includes convincing federal agencies to re-propose the changes, a grassroots letter-writing campaign and hiring a technical consultant to assess the proposed changes. Builders Association of Minnesota Working in conjunction with the Department of Commerce, the association has secured grants to complete the planning phase of the Web site, and expects to have the site up and running by the start of Minnesota's 2005 legislative session. Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, TX In response, the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin is conducting an economic impact study to illustrate how zoning and subdivision regulations negatively impact the minority community and the less wealthy. This study is part of an overall effort by the Texas Association of Builders, NAHB and the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) concerning potential litigation under the premise of fair housing discrimination. Can the Issues Fund Help Your Association? The next funding applications will be considered at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, and the submission deadline is Dec. 6. Descriptions of projects funded in the past can be viewed on INFOsource (NAHB members only), NAHB's online information clearinghouse. NAHB members can go online to get general Issues Fund information (NAHB members only), or e-mail Sam Leyvas or call him at 800-368-5242 x8326. Mississippi Gov. Barbour Lauds Industry for Boosting the EconomyMississippi Governor Haley Barbour, speaking at NAHB’s annual state and local government affairs conference in Biloxi, MS, earlier this month, expressed gratitude to the home building industry and its advocates for boosting Mississippi’s economy and for keeping the nation’s economy strong. NAHB President Bobby Rayburn welcomed Barbour and thanked him for his work to ease regulatory and legal barriers to home building in Mississippi, calling him a “strong leader” and a “friend to the industry.” Since taking office earlier this year, Barbour has signed into law legislation adding Notice and Opportunity to Repair provisions to the state’s Home Warranty Act. The amended act requires home owners to notify builders when a construction defect is discovered and give them the chance to repair it. The bill also adds mold damage to the state’s list of warranty exclusions. Before being elected governor, Barbour served as chairman of the National Republican Party from 1993-1997. The NAHB State & Local Government Affairs Conference, held Nov. 4-6, examined the 2004 election’s impact on the home building industry, impact fees and how to maximize associations’ government affairs efforts. For more information, e-mail Marie Yarroll or call her at 800-368-5242 x8279. Forest Service Researchers Develop Water-Resistant Soy-Based Wood AdhesiveAs a lower-cost alternative to petroleum-based wood adhesives, the Forest Products Laboratory — a unit of the USDA Forest Service in Madison, WI — has developed a glue that contains 50%-75% soy, it was announced this summer. North America's annual consumption of petroleum-based phenol formaldehyde adhesive resins for composite wood panels is forecast to grow more than 20% in the next seven years from 4.4 million pounds currently, which is valued at $2.82 billion, according to the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board. The challenge for researchers from the laboratory — who were collaborating with Heartland Resource Technologies of Oelwein, IA — was to formulate a product with better water resistance than the soy-based glues that became popular in the early 20th century for plywood panels. Those products failed when wet, so their use was limited to internal applications. Researchers developed several formulations of soy and phenol hybrid adhesives and used them in the face section of strandboard. To test how well the sample glues would hold up, boards were immersed in water for 24 hours and boiled for two hours. The adhesive that successfully emerged from these trials is three-fourths soy, with the remainder composed of phenol and natural gas-based formaldehyde. Researchers say that their product is not only durable, performing equally well as those manufactured today, but it can be made through a process that is very similar to what manufacturers are already using. It has been successfully demonstrated in oriented strand board, particleboard, plywood and molded products. The prototype product is good for the environment, according to James Wescott, chief operations and technical officer at Heartland, because it contains less petroleum and maximizes the use of soy, which is grown and harvested primarily for its oil. The glue is made up of the flour, or soy meal, that remains after the oil is extracted, and that product is currently used mostly as animal feed. Heartland projects it will be using as much as one million bushels of soybeans annually for soy adhesives by their fifth year of production. The research on the soy glue was conducted under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
Attend the National Green Building Conference March 13-15, 2005, in Atlanta The National Green Building Conference is the only national conference targeted to "Green Building" for the mainstream residential building industry. For more information on this event, click here. Enter the 2005 National Green Building Awards — Entries Due Dec. 15Home builders, remodelers, developers, nonprofits, academics, industry experts and others involved in green building efforts are invited to submit entries for the 2005 National Green Building Awards. The deadline for entries is Dec. 15. The awards recognize individuals, companies and organizations that demonstrate a commitment to the ideals of green home building. Winners will be announced at the 2005 National Green Building Conference in Atlanta, March 13-15. “The industry’s best and the brightest will have a chance to show how their green home building efforts have true market value for consumers and a positive impact on the environment,” said Eric S. Borsting, chairman of the 2005 NAHB National Green Building Conference and NAHB’s Energy Subcommittee. During the past three decades, those involved in the green building movement have built more that 40,000 resource-efficient, environmentally sensitive homes.Compete in Seven Green Awards Categories Entrants are eligible to compete in the following seven categories:
For details, visit NAHB’s Web site at www.nahb.org/greenbuildingawards. All winners will be featured in NAHB publications and will receive a complimentary admission to the 2006 National Green Building Conference. HBI Awarded $1.5 Million National Youthbuild GrantThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the Home Builders Institute (HBI) a $1.5 million, one-year grant to provide technical assistance nationally to the HUD Youthbuild program. Youthbuild helps at-risk, unemployed and undereducated youth ages 16-24 work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas while learning construction skills by building affordable housing for homeless and low-income people. The homes are then sold at affordable prices to low- and very low- income persons as well as homeless individuals and families. Since the program’s inception in 1993, more than 8,300 young adults have built or rehabilitated more than 4,900 affordable housing units across the country. HBI will help enhance existing Youthbuild programs by increasing industry involvement and strengthening connections between program participants and potential employers. This is the first time HBI worked with HUD Youthbuild on a national level. Prior to the national grant, HBI has provided assistance to local Youthbuild programs. “We are very pleased that HUD selected HBI to provide technical assistance to its Youthbuild efforts,” said HBI Board Chairman James A. Sattler, a builder in Cedar Rapids, IA. “HBI and NAHB share 30 years of success working with youth enrolled in the Department of Labor’s Job Corps, and our own Project CRAFT continues to be touted as a national model in training at-risk youth,” Sattler said. “Through this grant, this valuable experience and knowledge can now benefit the young people looking for a second chance through Youthbuild.” Cambridge, MA-based Abt Associates, Inc. is a partner in the effort and will work with HBI. Abt Associates applies scientific research and technical assistance expertise to a wide range of social, economic, and technological policy issues, international development and complex business problems. For more information about HBI’s youth programs, e-mail Dennis Torbett or call him at 800-795-7955 x8908 or John Hattery, x8916. Free Monthly Online Newsletter Focuses on Housing Quality-Related IssuesA free monthly online newsletter on building quality issues began publication this month by the NAHB Research Center to help businesses become more efficient, improve their profits and stand out from the crowd. “Quality Matters” includes the latest news and resources on quality-related issues for the residential construction industry and provides a forum for industry professionals who want to share their experiences in this area. Among the information in this month’s premier issue:
To subscribe to "Quality Matters," or for more information, click here. Framing Products Meet the Challenge of Building Tall WallsProducts from Trus Joist offer home builders wood-framed tall walls 10-30 feet high designed to meet the growing popularity of large windows and vaulted ceilings that provide home owners with scenic views and natural light. Headquartered in Boise, ID, Trus Joist is a Weyerhaeuser business and a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — the Supplier 100 of NAHB. The design and construction of tall walls present unique challenges to builders and code officials. Conventional framing practices do not apply to walls that are taller than 10 feet, even though some builders continue to use them for that purpose, says the manufacturer. Other builders use platform framing, stacking 8- to 10-foot-high walls on top of each other — creating a “hinge” effect and wall instability to wind pressures perpendicular to the wall. Trus Joist says that its wall framing design methodology factors in both perpendicular wind load pressure and vertical loads, which are outlined in its easy-to-use specifier’s guide. By meeting structural demands, its tall walls eliminate under- or overbuilding. Using the patented TimberStrand® laminated strand lumber (LSL) and Parallam® parallel strand lumber (PSL) technologies, Trus Joist’s engineered lumber is longer, straighter and stronger than conventional options, the company says. By providing builders with consistent, predictable product performance,and easy design specifications, sliding doors will slide, windows will open and close and walls will not vibrate with every slammed door, according to Trus Joist. A skilled team of representatives and engineers is available to help customers understand the tall wall products and answer any questions. To learn more, click here or call 800-628-3997. This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page.
Are Collar Ties a Remedy for a Sagging Roof?Dear Builder’s Engineer, My house was built in the early '70s, using 2x6 rafters spanning 13 feet between ridge board and wall. I live in New York State, in a location where there is a good sized snow load. The roof has developed a sag between the ridge line and the rafter tails. I attribute that to the rafters being undersized and sagging in the middle. The sag is not horrible; I would guess it's about an inch, maybe a little more. Still, I would like to do something now rather than wait to see if it gets worse. A few details:
I'm wondering if collar ties would help. I could take 12-foot 2x6s and position them underneath the paired, opposing rafters, miter the tie ends to fit under the rafters and then use tie plates or gang nail plates to attach the ties to the rafters. I've read that is stronger than just nailing the collar tie to the side of the rafter. I thought that it would be best to get the collar ties supporting the midpoint of the rafter or as close as possible, that's why I thought 12-foot length collar ties would be better. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Daniel Zielinski Dear Daniel, You would do well not to wait. A 15-second calc using my handy ConstructionCalc Power Span Table tells me your rafters should have been 2x10 (assuming 24-inch spacing, Doug Fir #2, 25 pounds per square foot snow load and a comp roof). Collar ties are not your answer, unfortunately, because they will not give the rafters the additional vertical support they need. Collar ties mainly keep rafters from spreading apart sideways. They’re of little help for a vertical sagging problem. It sounds like your ceiling joists are already doing the job of keeping the rafter ends from thrusting outward, thus new collar ties would be redundant. You have two choices. Plan A (see sketch below) is the preferred alternative: Add support to the rafters via vertical or diagonal 2x4 “kickers” nailed (screwed would be better) to the rafters, as Plan B would be to sister (place side by side) an additional 2x6 to each existing rafter, thus doubling the rafter’s width. I would suggest screwing the two together with three-inch wood screws at about nine-inch spacing, staggered pattern.Trying to drive nails into old wood can really jar things, something you definitely don’t want, especially at the rafter heels. The new 2x6s can be 10-feet long, centered over each existing rafter. They don’t have to extend over the full length of the existing rafters because the problem is a bending problem, occurring only near the middle. There is no overstress problem near the rafter’s ends, so we don’t have to beef them up. My book, “Basic Structural Concepts for the Non-Engineer” explains bending theory for anyone wanting more of the whys and wherefores. One last thing. I suspect the heel connections of rafter ends to ceiling joists are grossly weak. This is the connection in any triangular truss where the most force occurs, and thus explains why gang nail plates are always largest there. To expect several face nails into overlapped 2x’s to develop the required strength is expecting too much. However, because the wood is old and prone to splitting, it may be advisable to leave things be, unless visual inspection reveals slipping, cracking or other signs of distress. The reason Plan A, above, is the preferred alternative, is because adding additional vertical support will greatly relieve the stress on this critical heel joint. As you are well aware, the devil is in the details, and there are many I’ve not addressed. Don’t be shy about calling in a local engineer to fill in the blanks. Thanks Daniel for a very good question! Tim K. Garrison P.E. of ConstructionCalc.com has authored books and short courses and lectures on topics relevant to builders. Got a technical or management issue? E-mail buildersengineer@constructioncalc.com. Tim reads every one.
This column cannot be reprinted without permission from the author. The views expressed in this article represent the personal views, statements and opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views, statements, opinions or policies of the National Association of Home Builders. NAHB does not necessarily endorse any of the views expressed by the author and NAHB is not responsible for any direct or indirect consequences arising out of the views expressed in this article. Chicago Carpenters Donate $100,000 to Support ‘Building Homes of Our Own’The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters has contributed $100,000 to support NAHB’s award-winning educational program “Building Homes of Our Own” in 2005. Marsha Elliott, a builder and developer from Chicago and chairman of the NAHB Public Affairs Committee, was instrumental in working with the Chicago Carpenters to bring this valuable contribution to NAHB. The donation provides for the continuation of the popular program, which uses home building to teach middle-school students key learning objectives and introduces them to careers in the industry. “Teachers tell us that ‘Buidling Homes of Our Own’ is an excellent, desperately needed resource,” said Elliott. “It shows our industry in a positive light, and I’m proud to be a part of ensuring its continuation as not only a tool for teachers, but as a resource for our members to reach out to the community.” Plans for the program next year include a new network version along with the printing and distribution of another 10,000 CD-ROMs. “The decision of the Labor Management Committee reflects our commitment to the growth of an organized residential construction industry that promotes skilled craftsmen and creates opportunities across the broad spectrum of our communities,” wrote Martin C. Umlauf, president of the Chicago Carpenters union, in a letter to Elliott. Launched in September 2002, “Building Homes of Our Own” has reached more than 2.2 million students, teachers and parents nationwide. Free to educators, word-of-mouth among teachers has catapulted the program into classrooms for the instruction of both core subjects and career and life skills disciplines. The program is part of the ongoing educational outreach initiative of NAHB that responds to the impact computers are having on classroom instruction and how children learn. “Building Homes of Our Own” and a comprehensive, printable teacher’s guide are available free to educators. The teacher’s guide provides additional activities, exercises and projects for single classrooms, integrative learning and even distance learning applications. To learn more about the program, click here, or e-mail Kym Kilbourne or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447. Museum Looking for Help to Launch Bob the Builder Exhibit TourThe Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is in the preliminary stages of assembling a traveling exhibition featuring Bob the Builder and his friends and is looking for home builders associations and other organizations to help sponsor the undertaking, according to the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, which is a partner with the museum. The museum, which is the largest children’s museum in the world, has been licensed by HIT Entertainment to create a 2,500-square-foot educational exhibit that would travel to 15 cities over the next five years. Designed for young children, the proposed exhibit includes opportunities to manipulate tools, build, count, explore, role-play and work together with others. The museum hopes to obtain financial commitments by the end of this year to build the exhibit in early 2005 and open it next summer. In addition to home builders associations, they are looking for builders and industry suppliers to sponsor the exhibit. With HIT Entertainment, from the fall of 2003 through this past spring, NAHB ran a “Bob the Builder’s Blueprints for Home Safety” promotion for children and distributed 250,000 activity books to builders and local associations for their use in community outreach programs. For more information about the exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, e-mail Cathy Ferree, the museum’s director of international traveling exhibits, or call 317-334-3837. Children Young and Old Receiving Entertaining Introductions to Home BuildingPicture books for young children that provide an introductory glimpse into the world of home building are becoming increasingly popular, and as the holiday season fast approaches are fairly easy to find by searching the Web. Here are three: A recent publication by illustrator Elwood Smith, “Raise the Roof!,” is an example of the many titles that are available. Plano, TX, author Anastasia Suen is married to an architect and she says that she has lived through years of construction and at long last has been able to turn all that dust and noise into a book. “Grab your tool kit and put on your hard hat,” the book invites pre-schoolers. “There’s a house to build!” Available from BuilderBooks.com, "Billy the Builder Bear Builds a House" by Connie Balliere, the EO for the HBA of Midland, MI, is a publication that home builders can use to boost their image with youngsters in the community. The 23-page softcover, full-color book tells children all about the home building process. It goes beyond the technical aspects of building a house and touches issues important to the industry: pride in the profession, caring about people and the environment and fine craftsmanship. Billy is a warm and fuzzy ambassador from the home building industry to the world of children, and builders can personalize the book with their company name and donate them to schools or give them to clients and friends. For middle and high school students, NAHB’s “Building Homes of Our Own” remains a popular way of reaching older children, and it is a resource that home builders associations and members of NAHB can easily put into the hands of teachers. The free simulation program turns students into virtual home builders, while teaching them math, science, social studies, language arts and technology lessons. Teachers have been enthusiastic about the educational resource because it appeals to their students’ interest in electronic games while teaching higher-order thinking skills and problem-solving. “Building Homes of Our Own” CD-ROMs come with a comprehensive teacher’s guide, a guide that explains the game to associations and builders and tells them how to approach educators and a four-minute video showing how the program is being used in schools. For more information on marketing tools and donating the resource to the community, NAHB members can click here, or e-mail Kym Kilbourne or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447. NAHB/NOD Award to Honor HBA Program That Helps People with DisabilitiesState and local home builders assocations are invited to enter the 2005 NAHB/NOD Disability Initiative Recognition Awards program. The award, conducted in partnership with the National Organization on Disability (NOD),recognizes outstanding examples of programs, projects and activities conducted by HBAs that further the goal of full participation of people with disabilities in community life. Entries are due by Dec.15. The winner will be announced at the 2005 International Builders Show in January. The winning HBA will receive a cash award. The winning program in 2004 was “Rampathon” by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties in Washington State. The HBA and its members assisted 21 area residents by building wheelchair ramps for their homes. The 2003 winning “Camp for All” project by the Building Industries Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania involved the wheelchair-accessible renovation of a campers’ cabin and health cabin that enabled children with differing abilities to attend summer camp together. NOD has been a leading force in changing attitudes and in expanding the involvement of people with disabilities in the community since its founding in 1982. NAHB has participated in NOD’s National Partnership Program for more than five years. For the application form available on the NAHB Web site, click here. For more information, e-mail Denise Malatesta, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8550. NAHB Winter Board Meeting Schedule AnnouncedOFFICIAL MEETING NOTICE OF The following schedule of events is a partial listing provided as a notice for the upcoming NAHB Board of Directors Meetings, which will be held at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL on Jan. 10-16, 2005. The board meeting will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel. The International Builders’ Show program will identify the exact time and place of each scheduled meeting. Monday, Jan. 10 Tuesday, Jan. 11
Wednesday, Jan. 12 Committees and Councils Meetings Thursday, Jan. 13 Opening Ceremonies
Friday, Jan. 14 Joint 2004 Executive Board, Budget & Resolutions Committee Saturday, Jan. 15 2004 Board of Directors Meeting Sunday, Jan. 16 Educational Programs Member Advantage: WorldPointssm Platinum Plus® MasterCard® Credit CardNAHB members are invited to apply for the only credit card that supports NAHB each time a purchase is made and rewards cardholders with points for travel, cash, brand-name merchandise and more. Click here to learn more about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of the NAHB WorldPoints credit card from MBNA America Bank. Use the online application today. For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to http://memberadvantage.nahb.org. Or visit www.nahb.org to explore the full range of benefits associated with membership in your local, state and national home builders associations. Save 50% on Holiday Cards, Calendars and More From NEBSNAHB members can save 50% on building-related holiday cards, calendars and more from NEBS, which has been providing personalized business and computer forms, checks and promotional products to small businesses since 1952.
To view and order NEBS products online, click here, or call 800-225-6380. When ordering online or by phone, use mail code #11047 to receive your NEBS/NAHB discount. For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to http://memberadvantage.nahb.org. Or visit www.nahb.org to explore the full range of benefits associated with membership in your local, state and national home builders associations.
Make Your Connection With www.nahb.org Make your connection to the latest housing industry news and information with www.nahb.org — the official public and members-only Web site of NAHB. Log in today to register for educational seminars, meetings and networking events; find important economic and housing data; and learn the latest developments in NAHB’s efforts to promote housing. It’s all available to you 24 hours a day at www.nahb.org. Just click the "Member Log In" button to get started. If you are a member and need information about NAHB products and services, use the NAHB Staff Contact Directory to look up the direct telephone extensions for NAHB staff experts. Awards Programs Deadlines
Make Your Connection With www.nahb.org Make your connection to the latest housing industry news and information with www.nahb.org — the official public and members-only Web site of NAHB. Log in today to register for educational seminars, meetings and networking events; find important economic and housing data; and learn the latest developments in NAHB’s efforts to promote housing. It’s all available to you 24 hours a day at www.nahb.org. Just click the "Member Log In" button to get started. If you are a member and need information about NAHB products and services, use the NAHB Staff Contact Directory to look up the direct telephone extensions for NAHB staff experts. Calendar of Events
To view more meetings & events information on the NAHB Web site, click here.
Make Your Connection With www.nahb.org Make your connection to the latest housing industry news and information with www.nahb.org — the official public and members-only Web site of NAHB. Log in today to register for educational seminars, meetings and networking events; find important economic and housing data; and learn the latest developments in NAHB’s efforts to promote housing. It’s all available to you 24 hours a day at www.nahb.org. Just click the "Member Log In" button to get started. If you are a member and need information about NAHB products and services, use the NAHB Staff Contact Directory to look up the direct telephone extensions for NAHB staff experts. |