These Are the World’s 9 Most Beautiful Bamboo Buildings
Architectural Digest searched the world for the most beautiful structures made of bamboo, many of which are in Asia. Bamboo has been a building material staple for centuries, especially in Asia, but is often used in more pedestrian applications. Architectural Digest magazine decided there was more to bamboo than that and set out to find the […]
Construction Backlog at Highest Level in Nearly Two Years
New findings from the Associated Builders and Contractors show a significant increase for both large and small contractors. The housing slowdown and looming impacts to cost increases due to pending tariffs remain but right now the backlog remains strong, the association said in a survey taken in the period of late April to early May. It […]
Ace Aces First Quarter but Warns of Potential Tariff Issues
The big specialty store operation reported a 4.2 percent gain for the period, even as net income declined. As an indicator of the strength of the DIY home improvement and remodeling sector, Ace’s results are encouraging in a retail environment that still remains challenging for the overall building business. First quarter revenues were $2.2 billion, […]
He Was the Most Famous Builder Ever in American Residential Construction
A new book on the man behind Levittown shows how William Levitt changed the way the country builds new homes. Over a career spanning decades and stretching from the former potato fields on Long Island to as far away as France, William Levitt claims to have built 140,000 new homes, becoming the Henry Ford of […]
Georgia-Pacific Closing Virginia Plywood Facility
The big building materials company is blaming the slow housing market for the decision to close the plant this summer. The Emporia, VA plant, which employed 550 people, is scheduled to permanently close on July 1, Georgia-Pacific said, noting that “normal operations” have already ceased. The company says it will provide all affected employees with […]
Stanley Black & Decker Price Increases Could Be First of Many
The big tool maker is taking steps to address the current tariff situation which also includes moving some production out of China. In announcing its first quarter results that saw a small decline in revenues but a substantial increase in earnings, Stanley Black & Decker said it had raised prices by “high single digits” in April and was looking […]
Will Canada Become the Housing Factory to the World?
The nation’s new prime minister is pushing to make it so with a focus on expanding its manufactured housing industry. Shortages in housing – especially residential housing – seem to be a fact of life throughout the modern world, but it’s especially true in North America where high building costs have resulted in equally as […]
New Houzz Study Points to Five Big Home Improvement Trends
The just-released Houzz & Home Study identifies the top home improvement projects that homeowners did in 2024. Houzz, the online resource for both professional builders and homeowners, identified five home renovation projects that were the top jobs last year, based on its latest survey of the field. It found that the overall median spend among […]
Apple Joins the Mass Timber Movement
The consumer electronics company, well known for its design aesthetic, is the latest convert to the use of mass timber construction. The brand’s new Miami Worldcenter store, which opened earlier this year, represents its first use of mass timber construction. Designed by its in-house team, the free-standing pavilion in downtown Miami features extensive use of […]
How Satisfied Are Homeowners with Remodeling Projects?
Americans spent $603 billion improving their homes last year but were they really happy with the results? We all know home improvement projects result in larger living spaces, updated amenities and improved homes – sometimes all three – yet once a project is done are homeowners satisfied with what was done? That’s what the National […]