We have been researching and thinking for several months now about the possibility of a complete hardware store and eventually anything from lumber to windows, available for purchase online. I have gotten all kinds of feedback from companies all across the country who have tried this sort of thing , and most of them do not seem to have much luck. They also do not seem to put much time and energy into the site and very little , if no, quality advertising.
I have grown to be pretty optimistic about this idea and would love to have feedback on this from the public, especially those who already buy from us.
Right now, if you go to www.goodwynhardware.com you will see the complete catalogue is available online and you can print out a list of what you want to order and call the Hardware Store for pricing and to place order. There actually are some really great deals and very competitive pricing on many hard to find items. We would like to expand this store where you can pay and check out right there on the site and we will deliver your items right to you.
I can definitely see an advantage to this if you are buying lumber, concrete, fence boards and you need a gate latch and screws also. Wouldn't it be convenient to place the entire order Saturday night from the comfort of your home and have it all delivered to you on the following week? We think so.
I would love to know what you think .......
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Another great article from PROSALES ...
Source: PROSALES MagazinePublication date: October 4, 2010
By Bendix Anderson
Bigger than the Baby Boom, this younger generation will create a new wave of demand for housing and all the materials it takes to build a home ... eventually.
The number of children born each year increased sharply for about 20 years from around 1980. Today, there are 81 million "Echo Boomers" who were born from 1981 to 1999, compared to just 78 million Baby Boomers born from 1946 to 1964. They're also more diverse: More than 40% of Echo Boomers belong to an ethnic minority, compared to less than 30% of Baby Boomers, the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University estimates.
For the most part, these are the latter-day children as well as the grandchildren of Baby Boomers–thus the "Echo" name. They're also called Generation Y or Millennials.
The Echo Boomers are probably going to make news for years to come, in the same way that the Baby Boomers before them dominated the national landscape. But at least for housing, that news hasn't happened yet. Even the oldest Gen Y members–those born in 1981–haven't turned 30 yet. The peak of the Echo Boom–the more than 4.1 million people born in 1990–are still two years away from graduating from college. And that's assuming they take four years to matriculate; there's evidence it's taking Gen Yers a few extra years on average to get their diploma, putting off even further their entrance into the housing market.
Economic Headwinds
One popular image of Generation Y–the 40% of adults in their 20s who move back home with their parents at least once–can lead pundits to ask whether Echo Boomers will ever move out of the toughest economic times in decades. The unemployment rate for workers aged 20 to 24 is 15.7%. As writer Derek Thompson notes in the Atlantic Monthly, "You can't become financially independent on food stamps."
To make matters worse, much of Gen Y started the recession deep in debt. In 2006, the average public college student owed $17,250 from loans. That's more than twice the $8,000 in average debt 10 years before, according to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
"Gen Xers probably already have their first home," says Stephen Melman, director of economic services at the National Association of Home Builders. "Gen Yers are probably looking for their first job."
A Desire To Own
Despite all this bad news, Millennials are growing more confident about the economy over the last year, unlike older Americans, according to research from the NPD Group.
Almost half of Generation Y respondents said they were somewhat to very likely to buy a home in the next three years, according to a poll by the Concord Group taken in the first quarter of 2009. Like most housing research firms, Concord focuses on Echo Boomers who were born before 1990 and who are now old enough to have started their professional lives.
More than half of the members of Generation Y would trade lot size for proximity to shopping or work, and a third will pay more for this easier access.
A little less than half of these Generation Y respondents expect to buy their first home by the time they are 30, and three-quarters expect to buy that first home by the time they hit 35, according to Concord.
That's reason for builders and dealers to cheer especially loudly, as younger buyers now account for much of the scant demand for housing. The number of first-time home buyers rose to 47% of all home sales from 41% of transactions in last year's study, and was the highest on record dating back to 1981, according to the 2009 National Association of Realtors' Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
Oh, the Urbanity!
These young professionals are widely supposed to desire a social, urban lifestyle.
In the Concord Group's recent Generation Y survey, 52% chose their current city for its lifestyle, the most popular response. "Nowadays you have Generation Y making location decisions first and then looking for a job," says Tim Cornwell, director of the Concord Group. Those locations tend to be one of roughly a dozen metro areas, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland, Ore.
"It's a pretty small list," Cornwell notes.
Research shows Gen Y is, on average, willing to give up prized home features to live closer to work and other amenities: Two-thirds of Gen Y respondents say living in a walkable community is important to them. More than half would trade lot size for proximity to shopping or work and a third will pay more for this walkability, says Charles A. Hewlett, managing director for research firm RCLCO.
Sizing Up the Generations
After decades of dominating America's demographic charts, Baby Boomers are being supplanted by Generation Y, aka Echo Boomers or Millennials. How they add up:
Baby Boom1946 19644 million births per year
Generation X1965 19803.2 million births per year
Generation Y1981 19993.9 million births per year
Generation Z2000- 4.1 million births per year
Source: Census Bureau
Even among families with children, a third or more are willing to trade lot size and "ideal" homes for walkable, diverse communities, according to RCLCO.
Compared to location, amenities provided by developers, such as a swimming pool, a game room, or wine storage, are much less valuable to Generation Y. Two-thirds called those amenities "not important," though a handful of Gen Y respondents were still enthusiastic about the pool, the Concord study found.
The most valued amenity? Safety. Just over half said secured access for the community was somewhat or very important. An exercise room and "community activities" were also important to well over a third or respondents, according to Concord.
Not Really So Different
Of course, it's possible to overstate the case that Gen Y favors dense, pedestrian-friendly environments and nothing else.
By they time they reach age 50, more than 60% of Echo Boomers see themselves "living the suburban dream," residing next to a golf course, or even becoming "a country squire with acres of land," according to Concord.
More than two-thirds say yard space is somewhat or very important to them, and close to two thirds value a "large lot," according to Concord.
And even though about 70% say their next home will be an apartment, condominium, townhouse, or urban loft, that still leaves close to 30% who plan to move into a home with a yard.
"We are much more traditional than a lot of people expect," Cornwell says.
Inside the home, a big kitchen is somewhat or very important to more than 90% of respondents. That makes the size of the kitchen the most important potential feature of the home, followed by an open floor plan. Also, more than 80% say having a place to park a car is important, the Concord study shows.
Clearly these Millennials don't expect to rely on buses and subways–though close to 80% polled by Concord would pay more to be located near alternative modes of transit.
Younger members of Gen Y, those now aged 20 to 24 years old, also value green building ideas and sustainable design. More than half say green building and sustainable design are "somewhat important," while more than a fifth say these features are "very important."
– Bendix Anderson is a freelance writer who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
By Bendix Anderson
Bigger than the Baby Boom, this younger generation will create a new wave of demand for housing and all the materials it takes to build a home ... eventually.
The number of children born each year increased sharply for about 20 years from around 1980. Today, there are 81 million "Echo Boomers" who were born from 1981 to 1999, compared to just 78 million Baby Boomers born from 1946 to 1964. They're also more diverse: More than 40% of Echo Boomers belong to an ethnic minority, compared to less than 30% of Baby Boomers, the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University estimates.
For the most part, these are the latter-day children as well as the grandchildren of Baby Boomers–thus the "Echo" name. They're also called Generation Y or Millennials.
The Echo Boomers are probably going to make news for years to come, in the same way that the Baby Boomers before them dominated the national landscape. But at least for housing, that news hasn't happened yet. Even the oldest Gen Y members–those born in 1981–haven't turned 30 yet. The peak of the Echo Boom–the more than 4.1 million people born in 1990–are still two years away from graduating from college. And that's assuming they take four years to matriculate; there's evidence it's taking Gen Yers a few extra years on average to get their diploma, putting off even further their entrance into the housing market.
Economic Headwinds
One popular image of Generation Y–the 40% of adults in their 20s who move back home with their parents at least once–can lead pundits to ask whether Echo Boomers will ever move out of the toughest economic times in decades. The unemployment rate for workers aged 20 to 24 is 15.7%. As writer Derek Thompson notes in the Atlantic Monthly, "You can't become financially independent on food stamps."
To make matters worse, much of Gen Y started the recession deep in debt. In 2006, the average public college student owed $17,250 from loans. That's more than twice the $8,000 in average debt 10 years before, according to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
"Gen Xers probably already have their first home," says Stephen Melman, director of economic services at the National Association of Home Builders. "Gen Yers are probably looking for their first job."
A Desire To Own
Despite all this bad news, Millennials are growing more confident about the economy over the last year, unlike older Americans, according to research from the NPD Group.
Almost half of Generation Y respondents said they were somewhat to very likely to buy a home in the next three years, according to a poll by the Concord Group taken in the first quarter of 2009. Like most housing research firms, Concord focuses on Echo Boomers who were born before 1990 and who are now old enough to have started their professional lives.
More than half of the members of Generation Y would trade lot size for proximity to shopping or work, and a third will pay more for this easier access.
A little less than half of these Generation Y respondents expect to buy their first home by the time they are 30, and three-quarters expect to buy that first home by the time they hit 35, according to Concord.
That's reason for builders and dealers to cheer especially loudly, as younger buyers now account for much of the scant demand for housing. The number of first-time home buyers rose to 47% of all home sales from 41% of transactions in last year's study, and was the highest on record dating back to 1981, according to the 2009 National Association of Realtors' Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
Oh, the Urbanity!
These young professionals are widely supposed to desire a social, urban lifestyle.
In the Concord Group's recent Generation Y survey, 52% chose their current city for its lifestyle, the most popular response. "Nowadays you have Generation Y making location decisions first and then looking for a job," says Tim Cornwell, director of the Concord Group. Those locations tend to be one of roughly a dozen metro areas, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland, Ore.
"It's a pretty small list," Cornwell notes.
Research shows Gen Y is, on average, willing to give up prized home features to live closer to work and other amenities: Two-thirds of Gen Y respondents say living in a walkable community is important to them. More than half would trade lot size for proximity to shopping or work and a third will pay more for this walkability, says Charles A. Hewlett, managing director for research firm RCLCO.
Sizing Up the Generations
After decades of dominating America's demographic charts, Baby Boomers are being supplanted by Generation Y, aka Echo Boomers or Millennials. How they add up:
Baby Boom1946 19644 million births per year
Generation X1965 19803.2 million births per year
Generation Y1981 19993.9 million births per year
Generation Z2000- 4.1 million births per year
Source: Census Bureau
Even among families with children, a third or more are willing to trade lot size and "ideal" homes for walkable, diverse communities, according to RCLCO.
Compared to location, amenities provided by developers, such as a swimming pool, a game room, or wine storage, are much less valuable to Generation Y. Two-thirds called those amenities "not important," though a handful of Gen Y respondents were still enthusiastic about the pool, the Concord study found.
The most valued amenity? Safety. Just over half said secured access for the community was somewhat or very important. An exercise room and "community activities" were also important to well over a third or respondents, according to Concord.
Not Really So Different
Of course, it's possible to overstate the case that Gen Y favors dense, pedestrian-friendly environments and nothing else.
By they time they reach age 50, more than 60% of Echo Boomers see themselves "living the suburban dream," residing next to a golf course, or even becoming "a country squire with acres of land," according to Concord.
More than two-thirds say yard space is somewhat or very important to them, and close to two thirds value a "large lot," according to Concord.
And even though about 70% say their next home will be an apartment, condominium, townhouse, or urban loft, that still leaves close to 30% who plan to move into a home with a yard.
"We are much more traditional than a lot of people expect," Cornwell says.
Inside the home, a big kitchen is somewhat or very important to more than 90% of respondents. That makes the size of the kitchen the most important potential feature of the home, followed by an open floor plan. Also, more than 80% say having a place to park a car is important, the Concord study shows.
Clearly these Millennials don't expect to rely on buses and subways–though close to 80% polled by Concord would pay more to be located near alternative modes of transit.
Younger members of Gen Y, those now aged 20 to 24 years old, also value green building ideas and sustainable design. More than half say green building and sustainable design are "somewhat important," while more than a fifth say these features are "very important."
– Bendix Anderson is a freelance writer who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Pro Sales TOP PRODUCTS *****
Flex-Ability ConceptsQuick Qurve Plates make it easy to create curved walls, arches, and other architectural features. Constructed of untreated or treated OSB, the plates come in two-foot segments and are hinged with dowels instead of mechanical fasteners. Available for 2x4 or 2x6 construction, Quick Qurve plates provide a solid framework for curved designs, and wall coverings and moldings can be fastened directly to the plates to finish projects. Quick Qurve Plates won a Cool Product award at the 2009 Remodeling Show. 866.443.3539. http://www.flexabilityconcepts.com/.
Timberlake CabinetryThe Sonoma cherry Bordeaux fits with today’s popular clean, contemporary design—but with a warm, Shaker-style look that fits a transitional space. The line features adjustable concealed hinges, fulldepth drawers, and 3/4-inch-thick plywood veneer boxes and shelves. Drawers are made with dovetail joints. 800.967.9674. http://www.timberlake.com/.
ThermaTruThe Fiber-Classic Mahogany Collection of fiberglass doors is Energy Star qualified and may be eligible for federal tax credits up to $1,500. Composite top and bottom rails offer increased rot resistance, while LVL stiles improve the doors’ structural integrity. The doors’ simple lines and architectural details make the Fiber- Classic Mahogany line compatible with many styles. Doors are available with a range of decorative glass designs. 800.537.8827. http://www.thermatru.com/.
Milwaukee”Subcompact cordless tools are a fast-growing trend, and no brand has taken them further than Milwaukee’s M12 line,” report the editors from our sister publication, TOOLS OF THE TRADE, in their 2009 Editors’ Choice Awards. They selected two Milwaukee tools for specific praise: the Hackzall mini recip saw and the motorized coppertubing cutter. The Hackzall is a tiny one-handed Sawzall for making fine cuts. It fits standard recip saw blades or the line of 4-inch blades made just for it. The copper-tubing cutter is a direct replacement for a manual tubing cutter and works the same way, but its motor spins the cutter head. It cuts much faster and allows easier access to water lines parallel to a wall than a manual cutter. It works on copper tubing from 3/8 to 1 inch in diameter. 800.729.3878. http://www.milwaukeetool.com/.
TrexDealers we have talked with are impressed by Transcend decking’s ability to bridge the gap between the looks of a composite and the durability of PVC, at a price point that’s between the two. The decking is protected by a shell to offer a high-definition woodgrain pattern and improved stain and fade resistance, Trex says. Transcend features a no-sheen look and a 25-year limited fade and stain warranty. Available in four colors and two profiles, the decking also includes a modular railing system and contains 95% recycled content. It will not warp, rot, or crack, the maker adds, and spills wash off with just soap and water. 800.289.8739. http://www.trex.com/.
Group Award: Reflective RoofingHomeowners can save 7% to 15% in total cooling costs by putting products on their roofs that refl ect the sun’s rays rather than absorb them, the Cool Roof Rating Council says. Technical issues have limited them in the past to the palest of hues, forcing builders to sacrifice style for performance. That’s no longer so. Manufacturers have begun making cool roof products in vibrant hues. Tamko Lamarite Slate Composite Shingles now feature an expanded palette of five energy-saving “cool color” options that reflect the sun’s heat and satisfy the standards of the Cool Roof Rating Council. New colors include terra cotta (shown) and pale olive. Shingles are produced in widths of 5, 7, and 12 inches. 800.641.4691. http://www.tamko.com/.
Owens Corning The maker says its Duration Premium Cool asphalt roof shingles offer more vivid colors than in the past. The maker developed new solar-refl ective granules for a brighter, richer look. The products come in four color choices, are rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council, and meet California Title 24 requirements. 800.438.7465. http://www.owenscorning.com/.
CertainTeed Corp. New colors for Landmark Solaris solar reflecting asphalt roofing shingles allow homeowners to have an Energy Star-qualified product that does not sacrifice curb appeal, the maker says. Solaris shingles can lower the surface temperature of a roof by up to 20% during warm months, withstand up to 130 mph wind, and meet Title 24 requirements. Four new colors are available. 800.233.8990. http://www.certainteed.com/.
OsmoseCertified as an Environmentally Preferable Product by Scientific Certification Systems, MicroPro treated lumber releases 90% to 99% less copper into aquatic and terrestrial environments than standard treated wood products, the company says. In addition, what’s released bonds to organic matter and becomes inactive, keeping it from having a toxic effect on the environment, the maker says. The product also takes less energy to create and is more concentrated than standard wood treatments, resulting in less greenhouse gas emissions during the manufacturing and shipping processes. These characteristics helped it win BUILDING PRODUCTS’ Green Product Award this year. 770.233.4200. http://www.osmosewood.com/.
Armstrong World IndustriesTastes in kitchen cabinetry change, but homeowners are always looking for convenient storage. The Elements line of cabinets offers a variety of storage options, including spaces for cutting boards, small appliances, and cleaning implements. Shown is the ChefCenter offering in Calibra plantation hardwood. 800.527.5903. http://www.armstrong.com/.
Empire LevelTaking the traditional level up a notch, the e100 digital level features a shockabsorbing system with dual molded end caps to help ensure accuracy under rugged conditions. It comes equipped with a backlight for illumination, an audio beeper that signals when level or plumb is reached, and a digital readout that displays degrees, percent slope, and inches/feet. The tool is available in 24- and 48-inch sizes. 800.558.0722. http://www.empirelevel.com/.
LenoxEditors at TOOLS OF THE TRADE were impressed with the performance of LENOX Gold with T2 Technology recip saw blades. “Cut through a section of cast-iron pipe” with the blades, they wrote in their 2009 Editor’s Choice Awards, and “you’ll think somebody switched it out for PVC.” According to the company, these new blades deliver the longest-lasting, fastest, and most efficient cutting performance in the industry. The products optimize the tooth shape, pattern, and set for each TPI (tooth per inch) specification. These features—along with new surface coatings—help reduce friction and heat build-up so users can achieve the lowest possible cost per cut with less effort. 800.628.3030. http://www.lenoxtools.com/.
Jeld-WenThe Juniper Door collection finds a positive use for a species that’s so scorned as invasive and waterhogging, programs have been created to remove it from areas where it is endangering plants and wildlife. The juniper interior and exterior doors sport large, swirling grain patterns and knots, along with a rich color ranging from light to deep cinnamon brown. Cracks and splits enhance the material’s rustic feel. The doors come in several designs and finishes, including the chappo finish shown here, and can be specified with distressing, hammering, and blackened antiquing. Sister publication BUILDING PRODUCTS recognized the line for its sustainability. 800.535.3936. http://www.jeld-wen.com/
Ansell LimitedSafety is one of the most important concerns on the jobsite, especially when it comes to your most important tool, your hands. The Cut Protection Glove protects hands from lacerations and abrasions that occur during construction. Made from a stretch yarn that features the strength and durability of Kevlar and steel, the Cut Protection Glove offers up to eight times more protection than other gloves, the maker says. 800.207.7017. http://www.ansellconstruction.com/.
GoldblattThe BladeRunner drywall cutter cuts both sides of a sheet at the same time, cutting one step of the usual three-step process. BladeRunner splits into two halves, each with a cutting wheel, that you place on either side of a sheet of drywall to score both sides simultaneously. It will cut up to 5/8-inch drywall. Powerful magnets hold the two cutters in line and the two halves tight to their opposite surfaces while you guide the tool along your cut line. Spring-loaded hinged legs hold the sections apart and fold in when you start a cut at the edge of a sheet, then emerge again as you reach the end of your cut. 866.562.4229. www.goldblattbladerunner.com.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Product Monitor: Subflooring
Source: PROSALES MagazinePublication date: June 16, 2010
By Victoria Markovitz
Subfloors are typically viewed as a commodity, and regardless of whether they're made of oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood, they need to meet the same structural ratings. But some manufacturers aim to move subfloors out of the commodity bargain bin. They are improving their subflooring products–particularly the OSB selections–branding them, and marketing them to stand out from the masses. Additionally, companies have started to highlight how subflooring products can add green benefits to a home.
This shift toward premium status follows a decade in which OSB has slowly shed its old nickname of "flake board" and moved from a 50% share of the subflooring market to what manufacturers say is probably closer to 80%. But even today, some builders prefer plywood over OSB for a variety of reasons, including plywood's inherent ability to resist moisture better than standard OSB and its higher-end appearance.
Now OSB is fighting back even harder, with improvements such as increased moisture resistance and the addition of printed nailing and framing guides that can help builders save time during construction.
The Rain's a Pain
When OSB gets wet, its edges swell. As a result, builders have to make sure the floor of a home is flat by sanding the subfloor. But by tweaking wax and resin treatments along with the structure of OSB panels, companies have begun to turn out increasingly more moisture-resistant OSB products.
One of the newest releases is Ainsworth's pointSIX Durastrand Flooring, an OSB subfloor. The company tapers the edge of the panel by 0.6 millimeter to give it room to swell if it gets wet. The taper is enough for the manufacturer to offer a 180-day no-sand guarantee, but not enough for the product to need to be installed differently or for a builder to worry about gaps if the product does not get wet, says Robert Fouquet, Ainsworth's vice president of marketing and sales.
To increase the moisture resistance of its OSB lineup, Louisiana-Pacific added two premium products with higher levels of waxes and resins to resist edge swell. Its LP TopNotch 350 series carries a 100-day no-sand warranty (Circle 102), and the 450 line has a 200-day no-sand warranty.
"I think just the addition of the premium products has been the biggest change," says Brian St. Germain, OSB quality and technical manager for Louisiana-Pacific. "Over the course of the last five to 10 years, it's become more popular with builders. It offers reduced labor, and is a better overall product."
Norbord has offered its premium OSB subfloor, Stabledge, for about 10 years, says Doug McNeill, the company's marketing manager. Last year, Norbord introduced a mid-priced subfloor, Pinnacle (Circle 105), and reformulated its commodity subfloor, TruFlor, in 2008. Pinnacle offers a 50-year limited warranty and 100-day no-sand warranty, while TruFlor has a 25-year limited warranty, an improvement from the former commodity panel that did not offer a warranty. Stabledge leads the pack with a 50-year limited warranty and 50-year no-sand warranty.
Improvements in resins, the way the board is laid up, and press and cycle times for the manufacture of subfloors make for better products at all levels, McNeill says.
"Builders not wanting to sacrifice quality can take advantage of a slightly lower-cost subfloor and not have any problems," he says.
Huber Engineered Woods has continued to adjust the way its OSB subfloor, AdvanTech, resists moisture. The resins bond chemically to the wood in AdvanTech, acting like Gorilla Glue and making it harder for water to penetrate, says Charlie Robinson, general manager of AdvanTech flooring. The company also sands the top and bottom of the product so it "has the sheen of plywood," and is denser, making it more difficult for water to find a way into the board. These measures allow the company to back a 300-day no-sand warranty.
Most recently, the company has added a fastening guide to the surface of the offering. Different symbols on the guide indicate placement for fastening at 16-inch, 19.2-inch, and 24-inch on center. Home inspectors can simply glance at the board to see it is fastened correctly, and the guide speeds up the fastening process by about 25%, Robinson says.
Weyerhaeuser has also added a nailing guide to its iLevel Edge Gold OSB subfloor. Different shapes mark 16-inch, 19.2-inch, and 24-inch spacing.
Green Subfloors
As builders look for more ways to gain points in green rating systems and use more green products overall, most OSB and plywood subfloor manufacturers have started using certified wood from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Companies also stress how the strength of their product can help builders use advanced framing techniques to become more efficient with building materials.
Georgia-Pacific has SFI certification for its engineered wood products, and recently added NAHB "Green Approved" certification to products including DryPly plywood subfloor and DryGuard OSB subfloor.
"We get more and more questions from builders [whether our products meet green ratings]," says Pat Lynch, vice president of sales for Georgia-Pacific's Structural Panels group. "This gives them that peace of mind that these products can help earn points."
Last year, Norbord made its subflooring products available with either SFI Chain of Custody or Forest Stewardship Council certification.
Robinson from Huber says his company gets questions from builders about AdvanTech's ability to support advanced framing techniques. Huber obtained an ESR report from the ICC Evaluation Service to prove that its subfloor could perform with wider framing spacing, he says.
"It can reduce material cost and labor cost," Robinson says. "Advanced framing is something I would keep my eye on."
A majority of these premium products cost more than standard offerings. But as builders continue to demand more value in the products they use to help differentiate themselves in this down market, these improved selections may be one more way their homes can stand out from the rest.
–Victoria Markovitz
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Builders and Remodelers Hopeful for Upturn | Housing Economy
Home improvement spending is set to recover this Fall, according to the recent forecast from the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. This after a decline from 2009 levels, which were low enough as it is.
Conversely, July's NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index fell to 14, down from June's 16 score, indicating that builders and consumers aren't in the most optimistic of moods. Still, there were some positive signs coming out of June. Single-family starts fell only 0.7%; some see this as a sign that they are hitting bottom and gearing for an upturn. You can read the full report on the NAHB site.
Are you involved in building or remodeling? What's you take on the current state of the industry?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Great article on inventory control --- Worth the Read !!
http://www.prosalesmagazine.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=421&articleID=1311021
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Link to great product blog
Check this out !!!!
http://autumnwoodconstruction.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-deck-products-timber-tech.html
http://autumnwoodconstruction.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-deck-products-timber-tech.html
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