The Housing Market Remains in Record Slump

With home turnover at its lowest rate in 30 years and first-time buyers at historic lows, builders continue to deal with a dismal market. No matter what numbers you check, the U.S. home building market is at levels builders haven’t seen in decades – or ever. New statistics released over the past few weeks continue […]

Tech Gains as Factor in Bathroom Design: New Report

As with every room in the house, new technologies are driving bathroom design, but wood is also gaining in popularity. A new study on bath design trends points to a number of key technological areas that will influence builders going forward. It also identified several materials and color preferences that homeowners say they want in […]

What Happens Next in Renovo Bankruptcy Shocker?

The parent company of the home improvement player filed for Chapter 7 in November in what seems to be a sudden collapse of its business. HomeRenew Buyer Inc., which operated under the Renovo brand name, had been rolling up a number of regional remodeling and renovation companies, apparently funded largely by private equity firms.  According […]

Canadian Government Grants $1 Million to Four Wood Manufacturers

As the entire construction and home products sector continues to struggle, the investment is seen as a boost to the supply chain. Four Quebec-based wood manufacturing companies are receiving $970,267 from the Canadian government “to modernize equipment and increase production capacity, as part of a broader federal push to strengthen the residential construction supply chain,” […]

Michigan Providing Money and Assistance to Mass Timber Builders

The state’s Department of Natural Resources announced the new program in October that includes funding as well as guidance and technical assistance. Cash awards ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 will be made available by the state under its new Michigan Mass Timber Catalyst Program, designed to support building projects that use mass timber as a […]