Have California’s energy standards done little to repair a broken HVAC industry? Rick Chitwood says enough is enough. He proposes seven key points for ending third-party verification and compliance inspections: 1) Down-rate HVAC performance by 50% when energy modeling. 2) In every new home, clearly post energy model results. 3) Make public energy modeling results, […]

Homebuyers were happy about the housing market during the fourth quarter. According to the National Association of Home Builders, home affordability was still solid. According to the figures from October to December 2013, American homebuyers earning the national median salary of $64, 400 were able to afford 64.7 of new and existing homes on the […]

An economic upswing means home remodeling is back. Kitchen and baths are seeing the lion’s share of that revitalizing cash flow. Remodeling projects in the kitchen are focused primarily around improved natural light, walk-in pantries, and professional-grade ranges and luxury finishes on the countertops. Kitchen islands are still popular, as top cabinets stretch to the […]

As much fun as it is to personalize your home, it is important to choose design projects that will pay off down the road. Consider the ever popular bathroom remodel: A luxury project is lovely on a personal level, but only recoups 57 percent of your money when you sell. Reigning in the dream bath […]

Open concept is all the rage, but in case of an earthquake, you may wish you had a few more walls. According to recent research the differences in older home bracing and support that make exist when a homebuyer elects to remove a wall can put the entire structure at risk when an earthquake hits. […]

Overwhelmed by your bathroom remodel? Consider these key points to get you the results you want: 1) Allow your needs and usage of the space to guide what stays and what goes. 2) Weigh whether DIY projects actually save you. Money saved is good, but factor in realistic time and labor expenditures, not to mention […]

What kinds of jobs currently comprise the homebuilding industry? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) submitted data based on the 2012 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey to present a clear view of the Residential Building Construction industry group.  Several key findings include the following: ·      9% or 48,000 positions are management jobs. ·      14% or […]

The 1970’s energy crisis in the United States inspired the green building movement. Some builders began to propose that people should live, breathe, and bathe in their homes and communities, secure that the building materials surrounding them are not toxic. In the coming years, green builders hope to see policy makers in the Philippines reach […]

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) believes the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) got it wrong when it announced new regulation for silica exposure and is asking the rule be withdrawn until more research and collaboration can be accomplished. In August 2013, OSHA determined that airborne silica could lodge in the lungs of […]

Are “control layers” in home building confusing you? Do you know that vapor barriers are not air barriers? Are you clear that drainage planes are not vapor barriers?  Despite the differences in application and purpose, the term “vapor barrier” seems to have become the blanket term for all three layers. The key is to know […]