Busy Greenbuild Reflects Growth of Green Movement

jswanson — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:45:45 -0500

Boston--While other trade shows may be struggling, the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo held here last week was bursting at the seams. With over 25,000 attendees crowding the aisles of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the show, organized by the U.S. Green Building Council, provided evidence that demand for green is “real,” as one window manufacturer noted.

Take control of your anxiety

rself — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:00:09 -0500

A stimulus program for replacement windows and doors…

jswanson — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:35:00 -0500

Right now, there’s much talk about the need to bail out U.S. automakers. Those in favor say actions are necessary to save the economy from falling into depression and put the U.S. in a leadership role in next generation energy efficient cars.

Change at Association Reflects Shifting Market

jswanson — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:51:17 -0500

After inviting producers of PVC millwork products to its meetings two years ago, the Wood Moulding & Millwork Producers Association voted officially to drop “Wood” from the association’s name this past August. “Our membership realized the moulding and millwork substrate may be different, but the same marketing, freight, human resource and distribution challenges face wood, MDF and PVC producers,” states Kellie Schroeder, CEO and executive vice president.

Money in the Bank

rself — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:35:49 -0500

Dan Glover, owner of River Valley Window & Door in Lake Havasu, Ariz., was part of a “state of the window and door industry” panel that spoke at GlassBuild America in September. His company was one of our 2007 Dealers of the Year. Serving builders in the new construction market, he enjoyed growth and success as more people flocked to that desert community. He has seen firsthand the housing market meltdown.

Seeds of Luck

rself — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:04:45 -0500

If ever there were a time when people felt they were running out of luck, this is it. The financial crisis of today has left a lot of people feeling scared and victimized. The good news is that the economic sun will rise again and life will be eventually easier. In the meantime, stop feeling victimized and create your own luck. Seneca, the great Roman philosopher noted 2,000 years ago, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”

Options for Video Advertising Expanding Online

rself — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:00:14 -0500

Choices in video advertising were once limited to broadcast or cable TV channels. Now, in addition, dealers can use the Web to showcase their video ads, whether it’s on their own site, or in tandem with search engine marketing and online yellow page ads that now offer the option of adding video to the mix. Dealers can now “multi-purpose” original 30-second spots in a variety of ways.

The Next Fire: WUI Codes Could Help Lessen the Impact

rself — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:56:52 -0500

While natural disaster newshounds watch alternating seasonal threats of East Coast hurricanes and West Coast wildfires like a tennis match, building codes have been shoring up the defenses in hopes of mitigating disasters such as 2005’s Katrina and 2007’s Witch Creek. We have devoted much discussion in these pages to the evolving codes and standards for hurricane wind, water and impact resistance, but have not revisited Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fire codes and standards for some time.

ICC Hearings Produce Some Disparities, But Also Some Favorable Results

rself — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:51:58 -0500

My one prediction for the International Code Council final action hearings that took place in Minneapolis in September was that they were going to be quite lively— particularly with regards to the energy code discussions. There were 27 public comments that dealt with maximum U-factors for residential construction, and another 18 for maximum SHGC, also for residential construction.

Synthetic Millwork Continues to See Gains

rself — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:19:05 -0500

Synthetic millwork and trim may cost more than traditional wood, but companies pushing the product see it continuing to gain market share. While the housing downturn may be slowing that trend, these suppliers see more builders and remodelers making the change in the long run.
Cellular PVC millwork and trim products, which started out eight to 10 years ago as a “novelty,” have become the biggest trend in the industry in the last two years, according to Greg Wolf, marketing director for Fypon Ltd.