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April 18, 2012
Most window and door manufacturers and dealers talk very cautiously about the future. The downturn in the economy, coupled with some false starts on the road to recovery, has produced a significant change in attitude to our industry.
In the ’80 and ’90s, there was always an underlying optimism—even when economic forecasts were less than rosy. That optimism grew and grew as we...
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February 16, 2012
The International Builders’ Show held in February was different this year in a number of ways. Perhaps the most obvious difference was its smaller size, with a number of big, traditional exhibitors—including window and door manufacturers—opting out for the year. Attendance seemed to be up, however, as the aisles seemed busier than previous years.
What was also noteworthy was the...
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December 14, 2011
Last year was tough for the industry. But as 2011 winded down, there were new signs of hope.
Single-family home sales were inching up, as was builder confidence, as measured by the National Association of Home Builders. Challenges persist in the housing market, said David Crowe, NAHB's chief economist, but he also predicts "modest, gradual" improvements heading into 2012.
The mood was...
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September 19, 2011
At least a handful of you reading this article will be doing so on your iPad, I hope. I say that because with this issue, Window & Door is pleased to say we now offer our very own iPad app.
In many ways, this is not a big technological leap. It's been possible to look at the digital edition of Window & Door on any computer, including an iPad, for some time. You could flip...
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August 17, 2011
The opportunity to honor many of our industry’s innovators with the Crystal Achievement Awards makes our September issue one of the most gratifying to work on each year. It’s not just about recognizing the winners, however.
Looking through all the nominations always reveals something about the direction we’re heading as an industry. This year it was evident that window and...
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July 20, 2011
The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision not to expand its lead paint rules in July was welcome news for the industry. The added costs of compliance to the existing Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rules were already having a negative impact on remodeling activity, and additional clearance testing requirements would have inflated those costs further.
The costs and their impact on...
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May 23, 2011
Despite all the objections I’ve heard about the Environmental Protection Renovation, Repair and Paint rules, most in the industry argue that if the laws are on the books, they need to be enforced. Otherwise, the companies that play by the rules—investing in training and following lead safe procedures—will be undercut in the market by those that don’t.
Enforcement started...
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April 14, 2011
We focus on style in this issue, and personally, I think it’s something many people in our industry need to do more often. Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of great looking products out there, but sometimes I think many of us let ourselves get too caught up in the numbers.
The numbers are important. Whether it’s a certain U-factor or DP rating, if it’s required, it...
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March 15, 2011
In January, President Obama announced support of a new Better Buildings Initiative—targeted at commercial projects—and expressed his support once again for Home Star, the program that would provide homeowners with government rebates for energy efficient home upgrades. Given the change in Congress, I honestly don’t know how much potential there is for such programs. I certainly...
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December 20, 2010
All good things must come to an end. And while I know not everyone out there thought the $1,500 tax credits for energy efficient windows and doors were a good thing, I doubt few would argue that they did stimulate more window and door sales over the past two years. While the economy limped along, some companies reported record sales in 2009 and 2010. The year-end deadline definitely produced a...
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