/// smarT building sTarTs here /// The magazine

of The naTional associaTion

of home builders

design within leaders of The Top

50 markeTs /// p.42

reach secreTs To curved

exTeriors /// p.75
seven strategies to make homes waTer sTewardship
approachable to more buyers wins big /// p.50
see page 64

June 2014 /// www.builderonline.com

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 June 2014 /// Vol. 37 /// Issue 6

12 editor’s Notes build Smart

14 in the News 75 Construction Detail:
93 Ad index Curved exterior walls
76 Redline: Why you should
Foundations combine the butler’s
19 Top Trends: What’s pantry and pantry closet
hot in kitchens and
82 How-To: Supporting
baths according to our
Watermark Awards jury ceramic tile

22 Dashboard: Where is new- NAHb

home and lot demand 85 National Beat: News from
peaking in the U.S.? the NAHB and Home
Innovation Research Labs
Products
27 Editor’s Pick Plan View
89 Take the focus off the
28 Top Shelf
garage with these plans
32 Category Review: For Putting on the dog Hillside residence’s smart and
home buyers, stone Next savvy kitchen won a watermark Grand Award. Page 50
accents denote quality 96 Private elevators can help
attract older buyers to
Sound Off multilevel homes
Features
36 Crowe’s Economy: A look
at economic conditions 42 best laid Plans
from the NAHB’s chief To be a market leader in 2013, smaller private
economist
builders positioned themselves for success
39 Hunting the Market: during the downturn. See the latest market
Economic insights
from Metrostudy’s chief
rankings in our 2013 local leaders poster.
economist 50 A New Standard
Practical luxury, a better open kitchen, and
exemplary water stewardship won big this year
in our annual kitchen and bath competition.
64 lucky Seven
You know those elusive first-time buyers you’ve
been chasing? Here’s advice on how to lure
them, via seven key aspects of home building.

On the Cover Illustration: Bryan

Christie Design

Volume 37, number 6. Builder (ISSN 0744-1193; USPS 370-600) is published 12 times per year: monthly in Jan., Feb., March, April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. by Hanley Wood, LLC, One Thomas
Circle, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20005, for the National Association of Home Builders and printed in the USA. Copyright 2014 by Hanley Wood. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted
and not necessarily those of the NAHB. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written authorization. Single-copy price: $8.00 (except House Plans issues, which are $12.95). Periodicals postage paid at
Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Builder, P.O. Box 3494, Northbrook, IL 60065-9831. Member: Business Publications Audit, American Business Media.

w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m June 2014 builder 5

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 the magazine of the national association
of home builders

John McManus, editorial director

Gillian Berenson, chief design director
Jerry Ascierto, editor-in-chief
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Jennifer Goodman, senior editor
Shelley D. Hutchins, senior editor
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rendering by Gene Giles Brian Wilson, deputy art director
Sandra Malm, assistant editor
SoftPlan 2014: download free trial Spencer Markey, senior web producer
Andrew Knight, scrum master, radar desk
Charlotte O’Malley, data projects producer, radar desk
“I don’t know how a builder survives without SoftPlan.” Katie Gloede, data journalist, radar desk

Jim Irvine, Builder - The Conifer Group, Portland Oregon, Past President NAHB
 easy to learn & use
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& circulation
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hanley wood media

Dave Colford, president/media
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executive programs
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Try SoftPlan for yourself: visit www.softplan.com or call 1-800-248-0164 for your free trial construction programs
Tom Rousseau, executive vice president/
Circle no. 237 strategic marketing services
Jennifer Pearce, senior vice president/strategic
2014-792_2014-792 4/8/14 7:59 AM Page 1 marketing services & consumer media
Sarah Welcome, senior vice president/
audience operations

Customer Satisfaction Made Easy published by hanley wood

Peter Goldstone, chief executive officer
DesignRail Aluminum Rail Kits offer your customers a beautiful,
® Frank Anton, vice chairman
Matthew Flynn, chief financial officer
ultra-low maintenance, view-friendly railing option that easily mounts Dave Colford, president/media
between wood posts. Kits include a powder-coated top rail, bottom Andrew Reid, president/digital
Rick McConnell, president/exhibitions
rail and intermediate picket, pre-drilled to support 1/8” CableRail by Jeanne Milbrath, president/marketing
Feeney cables (sold separately). Christopher Veator, president/metrostudy
Paul Mattioli, senior vice president/corporate sales
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planning & analysis
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Circle no. 294 w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m

Frame
Your Future

You’ve built your business,

but new challenges—and opportunities—always exist.
Be ready for tomorrow by growing your skills today. NAHB helps
you learn in-person and online, with topics like green building, codes,
marketing, new home sales and aging-in-place. Take a course to stay ahead
of the trends, or earn a designation and boost your bottom line.

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Circle no. 258
editor’s Notes
Future-
Proof
Homes
Chris Anderson mouths off
on what home builders need
to do to make him want
a new home
Children will “explore
the capabilities of [3d
printers] in ways that we
did as kids playing with
personal computers.”
12 builder june 2014
W
hat you should
know about
Chris Anderson
is that he’s not
a home builder,
and he’ll be the
first to tell you
he knows prac-
tically zip about construction and real es-
tate development. Still, Anderson, who
first made a name for himself reporting on
invention—and is now doing it—may
change home building.
It’s odd to think that a man,whose focus is
on drones and 3D printing, may alter the way
people make a living and become consumers,
which in turn could change home building.
Why? Because what he’s doing could radically
change what things, including labor, cost.
Anderson invented Wired magazine, and
his written explorations on automation and
digital technologies, the Internet of things,
and open-source development and production
are the stuff of books that look at the ways
goods and services now come to and captivate
consumer markets today, free of infrastruc-
tural and cost constraints that choke so many
of our businesses and industries.
Anderson believes that technology and
automation are inexorably changing the ba-
sic building blocks of how the economy
works. Still, his brand of futurism is neither
pie-in-the-sky nor of a dystopia of masses of
workers put out of their jobs by robots.
Instead, he sees people—you-and-me kind
of people—stirring ourselves into socio-sci-
entific cocktails that consist of measures of
entrepreneurialism, invention, collabora-
tion, and micro-marketing, a concoction
that adds up to new, super-resilient cottage
industries. Anderson calls this the “Maker”
economy, a robust and growing ecosystem of
garage-band style businesses, each able to
turn conventional notions of overheads and
input costs on their heads. As a proof of con-
cept, Anderson himself invented—with the
help of an open-source network of wizards
and co-enthusiasts—an unmanned aerial
vehicle business called DIY Drones, whose
John McManus
editorial director
potential uses on residential construction
jobsites—land acquisition planning, inspec-
tions, materials and product deliveries, etc.—
stretch to the limits of one’s imagination.
We were lucky enough to have Anderson
keynote BUILDER and Metrostudy’s 2014
Housing Leadership Summit (HLS) in South-
ern California. While there’s a “pre-practical”
level to scenarios about where technologies
such as 3D printing will lead, there’s also a
down-to-earth reality to his message.
One idea that struck home with the HLS
audience came in the form of unvarnished
parental guidance.
“If you have a child below the age of 10 in
your household, buy her or him a 3D printer,”
Anderson urged. The inexpensive 3D printer
models available today are the equivalent of a
desktop computer in homes a generation ago.
“Very likely, your children won’t follow the
directions and produce others’ ideas. Instead,
they’ll explore the capabilities of the device in
ways that we did as kids playing with per-
sonal computers. They’re the ones who’ll ulti-
mately decide what role these devices will
have in our lives and in business.”
That idea relates to another of Anderson’s
comments about how home builders need to
“future-proof” homes if they’re going to ap-
peal to buyers whose lives and needs from a
home are a series of fast-moving parts.
What Anderson is getting at is that the
guts of a home in the form of wiring, water
flow, and other operational networks need to
be able to factor for technologies’ accelerated
pace, and adapt to and accommodate what
becomes available as microprocessor chips
and sensors become ever cheaper and more
powerful at the same time.
When Anderson advises builders to future-
proof their homes, what he’s really saying is
to build homes that appeal to young people.
When he suggests buying your kids a 3D
Anje Jager/agencyrush.com
printer, what he means is that young talent
and fresh blood in home building is the only
way builders will figure out how to future-
proof a home for technology, for flexibility, for
community, and for financial prudence. Sort
of what the American dream is all about. b
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
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Circle no. 219
In The News
D.R Horton Adds Crown
Communities
d.r. Horton’s may purchase of Atlanta-based
crown communities is just another move in
a busy spring for the Fort worth, Texas–based
builder. At the end of April, the company
announced plans to launch its third brand,
entry-level express Homes.
in the process, d.r. Horton acquired
a sales order backlog of about 420 homes
sold, 640 homes in inventory, and 2,350 lots.
it also acquired control of roughly 3,400 lots
through option contracts. d.r. Horton will
pay approximately $210 million in cash for
the purchase, and crown will operate as
a separate division within d.r. Horton.
crown communities is the Atlanta metro
area’s no. 1 builder in unit volume. it reported
2013 revenue of $370 million on closings
of 1,540 units, according to metrostudy. by
purchasing crown, Horton—the no. 2 builder
in the market—more than doubles its market
share to just shy of 15 percent in a resurgent
Atlanta market. That could help it corral lots,
while also controlling labor costs.
“Historically, it’s been really tough for
any of the public builders to get the critical
mass that they needed; that market has
always been difficult,” says Stephen east,
senior managing director in the iSi Housing
research section of the iSi Group. “Getting
up to a 15 percent market share will make
a huge difference versus the way that market
has operated historically from a land
perspective and a trade perspective. i think
it will help them with the trades and seeing
more of the deals that maybe historically went
to the private guys.”
The crown deal is highly complementary,
giving Horton greater geographical diversity
in the Atlanta metro area. d.r. Horton
currently has strength in the north Atlanta
counties, with less activity in the southern
vicinities, while crown’s strengths are in
the southern counties, with less presence
in the north.
crown communities, which achieved
a builder 100 ranking of 28 on our list
released in may of the nation’s 200 largest
home builders by volume, is a privately held
company operating in Georgia, South
carolina, and Alabama.
crown is primarily a value-oriented
builder that generally occupied c and d
locations during the downturn, according
to eugene James, metrostudy’s Atlanta
regional director. it acquired a number
of distressed lots through banks.
“They were building a relatively large
product for a low price-per-square-foot,”
he says. “They’re appealing to first-time
home buyer to first-time move-up buyer.”
with Atlanta’s growth (it’s currently no.
3 in the country in permits), more mergers
could be on the horizon. “it would not
surprise me if we saw other acquisitions
taking place in metro Atlanta, as well
as other parts of the country,” James says.
last october, d.r. Horton made a similar
play to add scale in the charlotte, n.c.,
market, buying regent Homes, the no. 6
player in that market at the time, according
to metrostudy.
“by making the crown acquisition,
it gives them tremendous economies of
scale,” says Tony Avila, co-founder and
managing principal at San Francisco–based
encore Housing opportunity Fund, a real
estate fund manager that invests in
residential real estate. “it’s an accretive
transaction. it can increase their market
share and they can spread their expenses
across many more homes. it’s a very
opportunistic transaction.”
repeated attempts to reach d.r. Horton
for comment were not successful, but
sources close to the acquisition say crown’s
ceo, Francis downey, will remain in place,
and that crown will run as an “owned but
separate” operation for the time being,
as it’s a highly efficient one.
in April, d.r. Horton announced express
Homes, which is ramping up in 13 markets
and four states and aims squarely at the
entry-level buyer with prices from $120,000
to $150,000.
d.r. Horton’s commentary on its second-
quarter earnings call provided a lot of color
about the strategy behind express, which
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
is an effort to court the buyer sitting on the
sidelines because of price increases.
“There’s no question that with the price
increases that we’ve experienced in our
industry over the last couple or three years
with all the pricing power we have had,
we’ve really depleted that pool of affordable
buyers,” CEO and president Donald J.
Tomnitz said on the company’s earnings call.
But with Express, Tomnitz thinks Horton
will create a “whole new pool of affordable
buyers that let us expand our footprint and
our revenues.”
With lower-priced product lines, margins
are almost always lower. But Horton hopes
it can more than offset that with higher
volume. The Express line won’t require
options and upgrades, so Horton’s cycle
times will be dramatically reduced.
“We’re budgeting as close as we can
to our current margins, but probably slightly
lower,” Tomnitz said on the earnings call.
“But don’t forget, we’re planning on turning
that product line as much as three times per
year. So basically our return on that segment
of the business will be just as good, if not
better, than our normal business. In fact,
it will be better.”
Atlanta, ultimately, would seem to be
a good fit for D.R Horton’s Express line.
On the supply side, there are plenty of lots
available for the entry-level buyer. And on
the demand side, Atlanta has a very strong
rental market in the Class A and B range,
serving those demographics most likely
to buy homes. For the year ending in March,
the city’s Class A apartment rents had
increased 8 percent and the city’s Class B
rents had grown 6 percent. Occupancies
for both were at 95 percent, according
to Dallas-based research firm Axiometrics.
“With occupancies as high as they are
and rents going up as much as they are,
I think, pretty soon, we are going to see
some renters compare what it costs to buy
a house versus paying rents,” says
Metrostudy’s James. “There’s no doubt in
my mind that we’re going to see apartment
dwellers jumping ship and buying a house
here soon.” — Les Shaver
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
Building Organizations
Promote Resilient Design
A number of prominent industry
organizations are pledging to work together
to ensure that buildings are not only
prepared to respond to natural and manmade
hazards such as hurricanes and floods, but
also that they are designed, constructed,
and operated to mitigate future threats.
On May 13, 20 industry organizations issued
a joint industry statement on resilience,
pledging to research design and construction
best practices, educate their memberships,
advocate for governmental policy changes,
and respond when disasters do occur. The
statement was spearheaded by the National
Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and
the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
“It is time for the building industry to
tackle some of the more prominent issues
facing this country,” Henry Green, NIBS
president, said at a press conference
announcing the industry statement.
“The building industry has a responsibility
to ensure that the buildings that we design,
construct, operate, and maintain protect the
health, safety, and welfare of our citizens.”
Green was joined at the press
conference by Gail Berens, senior vice
president at the Urban Land Institute;
Randy Fiser, executive vice president of
the American Society of Interior Designers;
Jason Hartke, senior vice president of
the U.S. Green Building Council; Robert Ivy,
CEO of the AIA; Tim Phoenix, president-
elect of ASHRAE; Michael Gardner,
executive vice president of the International
Code Council; Lewis (Ed) Link, a member
of the American Society of Civil Engineers
Critical Infrastructure Guidance Task
Committee; and Nancy Somerville, executive
vice president and CEO of the American
Society of Landscape Architects. Each
of the attendees signed the statement
on behalf of their organization.
Other signatory organizations include
the American Council on Engineering
Cos., American Planning Association,
American Society of Plumbing Engineers,
Circle no. 213
In The News

Associated Builders and Contractors,
Associated General Contractors of
American, Building Owners and Managers
Association, International Interior Design
Association, Lean Construction Institute,
National Association of Home Builders,
International Facility Management
Association, National Society of Professional
Engineers, and the Royal Institute of
Chartered Surveyors. — Katie Weeks
Twice as Many Buyers
Prefer New Homes
While twice as many American consumers
prefer a newly built home compared with
an existing dwelling, many are reluctant
to pay extra for new, according to the
results of a new survey from Trulia.
Forty-one percent of respondents
said they prefer to buy a new home over

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20 percent more for a new home.
After comparing the median prices for
a new home adjusted for property features
and location, Trulia found that new homes
typically are priced 20 percent higher than
older homes with similar attributes in the
same ZIP code.
The Trulia survey explored consumer
preferences for each type of home. A top
reason respondents prefer a new home is
for modern features, such as bigger closets,
a kitchen island, an open floor plan, walls
pre-wired for flat-screen TVs, and radiant
floor heating. They also preferred to be able
to customize the home and to spend less
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to buy an existing home is to pay less.
However, among respondents who strongly
prefer an existing home, the top reasons
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 Top Trends

What’s Happening
in Kitchens and Baths
Builders, designers, and architects share their opinions
on what constitutes an award-worthy kitchen or bath

F
our industry pros recently spent
a day at our office deliberating
for the 2014 Watermark Awards.
The jurors—Maria Casarella,
Andrea Rugg Photography
Smith, McLean, Va.—talked at length about
why winning projects should not only dem-
onstrate design excellence, but also push
kitchen and bath design forward by innova-

Cunningham|Quill Architects, tion and trendsetting. There were a few ani-

Washington, D.C.; Jay Endelman, Guild mated exchanges on the finer points, but our
Craft Homes, Bethesda, Md.; David Mitchell, panelists found common ground in deter-
David H. Mitchell & Associates, Washing- mining overarching themes among the
ton; and Patricia Wynkoop, Miller and winning projects, which we highlight here.

june 2014 Builder 19

1. Smaller Spaces Kitchens continue to
be a hub and homeowners want open areas
with strong ties to adjoining rooms, but
smart compact layouts are replacing
copious square footage. Even in kitchens
and master baths, clients are prioritizing
quality over quantity. “People can survive
with less storage if it’s well-organized,” the
jurors agreed. “Young people can’t afford
big houses with monster-sized kitchens,
and empty nesters are downsizing.”
4. Good Stewardship Our jurors came
to the realization that the projects they
gravitated toward all touched on what they
called the biggest topic of sustainability:
water conservation. “All had big ideas that
push design forward, core philosophies of
good stewardship, and water conservation
is key. The project of the year is all about
water—the bathroom is the hub of the house
and is used to highlight water use.”
20 BUILDER JUNE 2014
2. Materials Luxury is being incorporated
through high-end finishes. “Adding texture,
visual interest, durability, drama, and bang
for buck through material choices is a
common theme,” said the jury, who noted the
popularity of natural, raw materials. “Exterior
materials are being used inside, as well as cool
technology like the project with an image
behind a glass backsplash.” Plus, “eco-friendly
textiles appeal to younger buyers and follow
fashion trends.”
5. Pay Attention to the Ceiling “The
ceiling often is the largest plane in the room
and usually ignored,” according to the
Watermark Awards panel, “but many of our
winners added detail to this large expanse.”
One way to enhance the ceiling’s effect is
through lighting, noted the jurors. “Judicious
lighting placement completes a nicely
composed space without distracting from
the architecture.”
3. Natural Light/Views/Link to Outdoors
Targeted glazing to protect privacy appears
in unexpected places like the shower or
above the tub and brings added light and
a feeling of space to these petite baths.
“Even on suburban, tight lots, many of these
projects place windows in ways to protect
privacy while providing daylight, frame views
of treetops or landscaping, and use high or
low windows and horizontal bands instead of
vertical shapes for glazing,” said the jurors.
Photos (1-6): Tim Street-Porter Photography, Bates Masi + Architects, Casey Dunn, University of Maryland
2011 Solar Decathlon Team, Anice Hoachlander/HDPhoto, Craig Hildebrand Photography
6. Spatial Flow/Layout Many of the
projects focus on extending views from the
kitchen into other areas, and consider what
the view into the kitchen will be from nearby
living spaces. Extending the view outside also
adds perceived space. “Using the kitchen
to connect to the rest of house or creating
interconnectivity and impact beyond the
kitchen with the layout is apparent in many
of the winners,” said the jury.
W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M
 © 2014, HOMER TLC, Inc. All rights reserved.
WHEN A JOB TAKES MORE
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 DEMAND FOR NEW
HOMES
Bay Area
Houston
Salt Lake City
Las Vegas
San Diego

Austin
DASHBOARD Dallas

Housing
Fort Worth N. California
& Nevada Raleigh Sacramento
& Durham

in Demand South
Atlanta
Tampa
& Sarasota
Northeast Southern Twin
Where is new-home and Florida California Cities

lot demand peaking? Denver

T
Central
Florida Jacksonville
San Antonio Indianapolis
here’s a new verdict on housing ev-
Reno Phoenix & Tucs
ery week. The media typically re- on
Charlotte
ports on national housing trends Central
California
with an occasional sensationalis- Mid-
Atlantic Midwest
tic slant on the best and worst mar-
kets based on historical home closings. Rather
Albuquerque
than dwell on what’s already occurred, we’d
like to focus on understanding the correlation
between consumer demand for new homes
and builder demand for finished lots. DEMAND FOR BU
BUILDER tapped regional directors from
ILDING LOTS
Bay Area
Las Vegas
Metrostudy, Hanley Wood’s research arm, to San Diego
Northern
score each demand metric on a scale of 1-10 (1 California Houston
& Nevada
low, 10 high) for their respective markets
across the country. Austin
An examination of Metrostudy’s demand
Dallas
scores and commentary reveals that rising Fort Worth Tampa
& Sarasota
prices are the main culprit throttling growth Central
Charlotte
Florida
in the new-home market, for both builders South Florida
and buyers. The average score for new-home Atlanta
demand across Metrostudy’s markets is a 6, Northeast
while demand for finished lots remains (un- Southern
California Mid-Atlantic
surprisingly) high with an average score of 8. San Antonio
Builders and buyers are experiencing the Denver
same problem—affordability. Very few market
Reno
areas remain unscathed by rising lot prices Jacksonville
due to low supply, perpetuating higher price Salt Lake City Sacramento
tags for buyers, which then impacts demand. Raleigh &
Midwest
Durham
“Demand is hot,” says Steve Johnson, regional
director in the San Diego market, “but sticker Twin Cities Central
California Phoenix,
shock prevails.” — charlotte o’malley Tucson

Indianapolis
Albuquerque
METROSTUDY DEMAND SCORE
For more analysis on these markets LOW HIGH
from Metrostudy’s regional directors,
visit go.hw.net/bd0614-dashboard. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

22 BUILDER JUNE 2014 Illustration by Nicolas Rapp

 Learn how beauty meets brawn at SterlingPlumbing.com.
Circle no. 355
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National Assocation of Home Builders

Data
YOU CAN BUILD ON
HousingEconomics.com
The Economics Publication
for America’s Housing Industry

Get historical data, industry analysis,

and all of the latest forecasts including State
and Metro at your fingertips. The in-depth analyses,
detailed downloadable Excel tables, overviews, and much more
found at HousingEconomics.com will help you support your
business decisions.

Subscribe today!
HousingEconomics.com
 © 2014, HOMER TLC, Inc. All rights reserved.
I NEED THE RIGHT
SHINGLE AT
THE RIGHT PRICE.
Mark Scamardo – Lucas, TX

BULK PRICING
ON GAF SHINGLES
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The Latest Products /// Edited by Sandra Malm /// www.builderonline.com/products

Top Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 28

Category review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

dornbracht bath Fittings

Clear-cut geometric forms in the Tara .logic collection contribute to an
elegant minimalist design from this German manufacturer . The rosettes and
handles in the line are streamlined, featuring extended bodies and overall
sharper contours . The three-hole single-lever tub mixer (shown) is available
in matte platinum or chrome . www .dornbracht .com . Circle No . 1 .

Product speced in a 2014 Watermark Awards project june 2014 builder 27

 1
TOP SHELF
K+B Keepers
The latest in kitchen and bath
products, including selections
from projects entered into
the 2014 Watermark Awards
edited by sandra malm
1. Viking Oven
This French door design has
companion doors that open
simultaneously, so home chefs
can open both doors with just one
hand. The maker says the unit’s
4.7-cubic-foot convection oven
is the largest in the industry.
Heavy-duty metal knobs are
accented with CoolLit LEDs that
illuminate in the firm’s signature
Viking blue when the oven is on.
The oven is available in 12
exclusive color finishes. www.
vikingrange.com. Circle No. 2.
28 BUILDER JUNE 2014
2. WetStyle Bath Collection
Striking geometric forms in the
Cube collection offer a modern
interpretation of stone
washbasins from the French
countryside. The line’s bathtubs,
lavatories, and vessel sinks
(shown) are produced using
Wetmar BiO, an eco-friendly
material made of soy and mineral
stone. The firm says the non-
porous material is slip resistant
and strong. Both high-gloss and
matte finishes are available.
www.wetstyle.ca. Circle No. 3.
3. Bain Ultra Tub
Flowing lines and a finely
finished surface makes the
Evanescence bath an elegant
focal point, even in a compact
size. The tub features hydro-
thermo massage designed
to promote mind and body
relaxation, relieve back pain,
and improve circulation.
The product is available in
rectangular or oval shapes,
each measuring 66 inches
long and 28 inches deep. www.
bainultra.com. Circle No. 4.
Product speced in a 2014 Watermark Awards project
4. Cotto D’Este Stoneware
Kerlite, a laminated stoneware,
comes in ultrathin 3 millimeter
slabs and features a high degree
of elasticity and resistance,
according to the company.
Made of lightweight porcelain,
the durable material is suited
for shower enclosures, walls,
kitchen countertops, and even
high-traffic flooring. The 300-
centimeter-by-100-centimeter
production size offers a variety
of format options. www.
cottodeste.it/en. Circle No. 5.
 Hit your diversion rates
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destination – 24/7. With our exclusive Diversion and Recycling Tracking (DART) tool,
you’ll know exactly how much and what type of material is being diverted
or recycled from every project in your company. Ask your sales rep about DART
as a part of your integrated construction plan. Go to wm.com/bullseye to
download our McGraw-Hill
Start tracking today. Sign up for DART at wm.com/bullseye SmartMarket Report
or call 877 568 1182. and white paper.

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© 2014 Waste Management, Inc.

 5 7
5. Blomberg Refrigerator
The Four Door French Door
Refrigerator offers 25.7 cubic
feet of storage within its two-
door top refrigerator and two-
door bottom freezer segmented
into six drawer compartments.
The unit features a Flexi Zone
compartment, automatic ice
and water, and the maker’s Blue
Light Technology, which allows
produce to continue
photosynthesis while in the
fridge. www.blombergappliances.
us. Circle No. 6.
30 BUILDER JUNE 2014
6. Hansgrohe Faucets
The Allegro E line features a
range of professional-style
faucets including pull-downs,
pull-outs, prep and bar faucets,
and wall-mounted pot fillers.
HighArc models allow for plenty
of room for large pots or vases
underneath and add heft
to the main sink area, while
SemiArc options offer a lower
profile. For finishes, choose from
chrome or the firm’s steel optik
option. www.hansgrohe-usa.
com. Circle No. 7.
7. Glideware Racks
These full-extension pull-out
hanging racks can accommodate
up to 100 pounds of cookware
and are designed to fit standard-
depth base cabinets. The
synchronized motion of pots and
pans hanging from Glideware’s
weighted hooks help keep
cookware from clanging together
while in motion. Ideal for universal
design kitchens, the device also
works to help organize closets
and garages. www.glideware.
com. Circle No. 8.
Product speced in a 2014 Watermark Awards project
8. Wolf Range
The 48-inch Dual Fuel Range
offers the high performance
combination of a gas range top
and two electric convection
ovens. A wide variety of range
top configurations come
standard with dual-stacked
surface burners for precise
temperature control.
Homeowners may specify black,
stainless steel, or signature red
knobs to accent the stainless
steel finish. www.subzero-wolf.
com. Circle No. 9.
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Options shown. Not all options available in the U.S.

Circle no. 216

CATEGORY REVIEW

The New Stone Age

For home buyers, exterior stone accents bespeak quality

T
he share of new homes with stone
as a façade or accent material rose
6 percent from 2004 to 2012, accord-
ing to the latest Builder Practices
Survey from Home Innovation Re-
search Labs. By 2012, 10 percent of new homes
used stone on the exterior, with a 50/50 split
between natural and manufactured products.
The share was higher on luxury homes, with
9 percent using natural and another 5 percent
tapping manmade stone.
Though more builders are working with
stone, evidence suggests it’s now more often
used as an accent material.
“The great stone age was the run-up to the
2008 recession. Now, stone is used in a much
more reserved fashion,” says Bill Sutton, prin-
cipal at EYA Architects in the Washington,
D.C., area. Façades with stone wainscoting,
entryways, porches, and landscaping barriers
add heft to modern exteriors while also con-
ferring longevity. “When a buyer says they
want a stone house, they are thinking dura-
bility,” Sutton adds.
David Barrett also sees a trend toward ac-
cents. Barrett, vice president of product de-
velopment and marketing at Centennial,
Colo.–based Environmental StoneWorks,
says the amount of stone used on new homes

Eldorado Stone
This manufactured Cut Coarse
stone reflects saw-cut Turkish
limestone, a contemporary linear
style that installs with a dry-stack
application. Each piece is cast
from molds of natural stone
and hand-painted by Eldorado
artisans using mineral oxides for
authentic color tones. The firm
says its mold manufacturing
facility is able to capture finite
details and textures, ensuring
depth and variation of colors.
www.eldoradostone.com.
Circle No. 10.

32 BUILDER JUNE 2014 W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M

Circle no. 347
has been halved. “When the market dropped
out, on average, the square feet of stone being
applied to a house was 450 to 500 square feet;
afterward that dropped to 200 to 250 square
feet,” he says.
When stone is specified, builders have the
option of a natural or manufactured product.
Unlike full-depth, 6-inch natural stone—
quarried by machine or dynamite and often
sourced locally—manufactured or cultured
stone is made from lightweight concrete
with depths of a half-inch to 3.5 inches. At
one-third to one-half the cost of natural
stone and only a fraction of the weight, lick-
and-stick products also cut installation costs
and eliminate the need for wall ties or foot-
ings. Manufactured stone may cost less, but
some are unwilling to compromise the time-
less quality associated with natural stone.
On a front elevation, stone often is used
with other claddings. James Wentling of
Philadelphia-based James Wentling/Archi-
tects says stone should wrap around the side
of the house to avoid a pasted-on look. Anne
Postle, principal at Osmosis Architecture in
Niwot, Colo., agrees. “Synthetic stone should
be placed to look like it is the real thing,” she
says. “Don’t end it at an outside corner and
don’t use it like wallpaper.” While the mass
and depth of real stone is hard to achieve with
a synthetic, Postle notes that the look of man-
ufactured products continues to improve.
Stone has transitioned through centuries
of architecture, from the European mansion to
the mid-century modern ranch. Versatile pro-
files from cut limestone to non-grouted stack
stone all play well with natural surroundings
and can equate a home with high quality.
“When you see the outside of a house, it’s set-
ting the table for expectations about what’s
going to happen when you walk through the
door,” Sutton says. — sandra malm

Boral Environmental StoneWorks Coronado Stone Products Nichiha

Boral’s Dressed Fieldstone
cladding features rugged
shapes and colors with stone
sizes ranging from 2 ½ inches
to 22 inches. One of many
textures available from the
manufacturer, Cultured Stone
products weigh less than
natural stone and use a
minimum of 54 percent pre-
consumer recycled content.
Each piece is hand-colored with
iron oxide pigments and cast
from molds of natural stone.
www.boral.com. Circle No. 11.
Non-grouted stacked stone
products like Environmental
StoneWorks’ Mountain Ledge
account for 50 percent of the
firm’s national sales. The
company offers a turnkey
approach to stone veneers,
employing trained project
managers throughout 15
installation hubs who complete
installations on site. Regional
product lines reflect authentic
colors and designs, with custom
veneers also available. www.
estoneworks.com. Circle No. 12.
Each Coronado Stone profile
is cast from an actual stone that
has been quarried from around
the world. The Italian Villa veneer
blends fieldstones and
ledgestones from across the
Mediterranean coast to embody
old-world architecture of villas
and chateaus across Europe.
The stones are hand-painted
by artisans to replicate natural
variations. Time-saving corner
stones are available for the firm’s
standard veneer profiles. www.
coronado.com. Circle No. 13.
Made of fiber cement, Nichiha
KuraStone panels have a hidden
clip system that eliminates
the need for caulks or sealants.
The LedgeStone product aims
to capture the rich textures of
large stacked stones, while also
functioning as a ventilated
rainscreen that mitigates
moisture issues, according
to the company. Channel-strip
mounting and pre-fabricated
corner pieces ensure fast
installation. www.nichiha.com.
Circle No. 14.

34 BUILDER JUNE 2014 W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M

 Give the Dryer Some Space

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restricting airfow. Install the Dryerbox® for safer,
roomier and more effcient homes.

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Circle no. 354

Crowe’s Economy
Land
Games
Developed lots are in short
supply and prices are rising,
even in less desirable areas
A housing recovery is
more clearly in view now
so developers have begun
the process of bringing
land into production
for builders.
36 builder june 2014
A
s the housing market
revives, developed lots
are in short supply and
prices are rising even for
less desirable locations.
But developers are work-
ing to restart the supply
chain to meet the ex-
pected pent-up demand.
The late start is compounded by a lack of ac-
cess to capital, the encumbered process of
adhering to local, state, and federal regula-
tions, and the uncertainty of the recovery.
Credit is still tight but less so than it was,
which is hardly a celebration but an improve-
ment over the worst. At the peak, more than
90 percent of builders were shopping for ac-
quisition and development credit, but that
share sunk below 20 percent in 2009. Now
about 30 percent of the developers are seeking
credit, and their success rate is rising as well.
The process of permitting land for homes
worsened during the recovery because mu-
nicipalities reduced their workforce to cut
costs and are now slow to rehire. Regulatory
requirements were not relaxed although some
jurisdictions did lengthen the time for permit
expiration. In a recent survey, builders re-
ported over half of all new developments en-
compassed wetlands. Existing wetlands were
or will be preserved in more than half of the
developments, and in most of the others de-
velopers must obtain a “wetland fill” permit
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Subdivision Statistics A housing recovery is
more clearly in view now so developers have
begun the process of bringing land into pro-
duction for builders. A recent survey of more
than 2,000 NAHB member developers pro-
vides an estimate of 3,500 subdivisions of at
least four lots that will accommodate a total of
1.2 million homes as of April 2014.
Of those subdivisions, seven in 10 are in-
tended for single-family detached homes with
an average of five general contractors buying
lots and building homes. The median size of
the single-family developments is 24 acres
with 48 lots; 4 percent of the single-family
David Crowe
chief economist
nahb
washington, d.c.
dcrowe@nahb.com
projects will include retail or commercial
space. In 38 percent of the single-family proj-
ects, more land is available for continued de-
velopment after the current job is finalized.
Another 17 percent of the developments are
larger mixed-use projects. Median size is 85
acres intended for 291 single- and multifamily
units, and the projects are likely to have seven
different general contractors within the de-
velopment. The mixed-housing projects are
the most likely to have commercial and retail
spaces; 41 percent will have retail and 36 per-
cent will have commercial space. Nearly one-
third of the mixed-use developments have
additional space for future expansion. Their
large size also makes these subdivisions the
most likely to have environmental issues:
two-thirds of them have wetlands.
The next most frequent subdivision con-
tains multifamily homes in 9 percent of the
projects surveyed. Median size is 12 acres with
86 units, the highest density of all types at 11.2
homes per acre. The developer expects only
two general contractors on the project.
Single-family attached or townhouse de-
velopments are the smallest of the four subdi-
vision types at 10 acres for 56 units. Developers
expect three contractors on these projects,
with a very small share planning retail or
commercial space. Townhouse developments
are the least likely (31 percent) to have addi-
tional land for future development.
Additionally, seven in 10 subdivisions are
in metropolitan areas. Last year, 87 percent of
permits were drawn in the 361 designated
metropolitan statistical areas. The difference
is not likely a shift away from metro areas but
the developers’ designation as a non-metro
area even though it technically lies within the
government definition of metropolitan.
Development characteristics vary by re-
gion with the largest in the Northeast (40 acre
median) and the smallest in the West (14 acre
Anje Jager/agencyrush.com
median). But the smallest lots are in the West
(4.3 units per acre) and the largest are in the
Northeast (1.9 units per acre).
Lot development currently is underway
and as a result, some relief from the short-
ages will evolve. b
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
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Circle no. 342
 Hunting the Market
Radical
Shift
In recent years, builders have
struggled to find the sweet spot
when it comes to land strategies
D
uring this cycle, we have
done work for some of
the largest land invest-
ment companies and
opportunity funds, as
well as private equity
companies. There are a
lot of players who are all
betting on land prices,
trying to anticipate the next big land play.
To understand what’s going on with build-
ers and land strategies today, it helps to look at
what has changed in the past three years. In
2010, builders divided themselves into “land-
light” versus “land-long.” These were the two
strategies for the publics—one camp feeling
that the last misadventure of having a lot of
land on the books was a teachable moment
and that Wall Street would reward them for
keeping the balance sheet light; the other bet-
ting on tailwinds and a revival of home prices,
buying land with abandon. It turns out the
Peter James Field/agencyrush.com
best strategy was to load up on land, but it took
a leap of faith that the recovery would come
soon. We advised some of the largest U.S. in-
vestment firms to go long in “supply-con-
strained” markets that we identified for them
during that time, which did indeed pay off.
As lot and land prices caught fire, gas was
thrown onto the blaze with more builders go-
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
®
Brad Hunter
chief economist
DUPONT™ TYVEK
metrostudy
bhunter@metrostudy.com THERMAWRAP™ R5.0
ing public. Simultaneously, public builders
started to buy private builders. We did the
market due diligence for Standard Pacific
BREATHABLE.
BETTER.
when it bought Centerline Homes. I guess
there’s a twist on the adage, “If you can’t beat
them, buy ’em.” We expect more acquisitions
to occur this year. Builders want to add to their • Termal value of
community count, which they’ll do via or-
ganic growth and mergers and acquisitions. R-5.0
In 2013, some publics felt they had fallen
behind their competitors in lot stockpiles.
They began playing “catch up”—buying land
• Helps reduce air
in late 2012 and early 2013, pushing lot prices leakage
up by 20 percent nationwide and up by 70 per-
cent (or more) in the “A” submarkets. We saw
lot prices go from $1,200 per front foot in the
• Protects against bulk
Chandler submarket of Phoenix to $1,600 per water penetration
front foot, and as a result, the “B” submarkets
started to inflate. In the Phoenix submarket of
Peoria, where lot prices two years ago were • Breathable to reduce
$900 per front foot, we watched them climb to risk of mold and
more than $1,600 per front foot. Around that water damage
time, some land investors began to migrate
from Phoenix to markets like Atlanta, where
lot prices went up by 30 percent last year. • Easy installation
Throughout this land-rush period, builders
have denied using aggressive price escalators
in their land pro-formas, but the reality is that • Tyvek® Weather
some builders got into deals that down the Barriers: Trusted
road will turn out to have been overpriced.
Home price increases have moderated re- for over 30 years
cently (an extreme example: we found list
prices were reduced on 7 percent of new-home Learn more at
plans in Phoenix in the first quarter), so build- www.thermawrapR5.tyvek.com
ers are now taking a careful approach to land
acquisition. That said, the publics are still bid-
ding against one another in prime locations.
Certain submarkets and niches are getting
overcrowded (i.e., the $400,000+ segment in
Raleigh, N.C.), so care must be taken to guard
future margins and internal rate of return.
We’re in a period of high land costs, but we
expect a surge in new-home demand this
year. The opportunities are there, but you will
have to steer carefully to get to them. B
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R
Best Laid Plans
To be a market leader in 2013, smaller
private builders positioned themselves for
success during the downturn
By Les Shaver /// Infographic by Nicolas Rapp
I
n the first half of 2013, builders around the
country saw buyers return to the market.
But to capitalize, they needed to have
some homes ready to sell.
“Because we had grown our compa-
ny every year since 2008, we were well-
positioned and well-capitalized to put a
lot of inventory on the ground,” says
Fred Delibero, CEO of Summit Custom
Homes in Kansas City, Mo. “That allowed us
to capture a lot of market share before the
competitors came back into the market.”
Bonterra Builders in Matthews, N.C., Ea-
gle Construction of Virginia in Glen Allen,
Va., and The Olson Co. in Seal Beach, Calif.,
also stood out from the pack because they
made lot purchases and product design deci-
sions during the downturn that fueled mas-
sive growth in 2013. These builders marshaled
the capital to compete with their larger well-
heeled competitors, while staying small and
nimble enough to maneuver around them in
the hunt for land and labor.
The dramatic rise in closings at these four
companies made them among the biggest
gainers on our Builder Next 100 list (released
in May), while securing top spots in their pri-
mary markets. Here’s how they did it.
GettinG in at the bottom
Bud Ohly, president of Eagle, began prepar-
ing for the recovery during the recession’s
42 builder June 2014
darkest hour. In 2008, he started two dis-
tressed real estate funds to scoop up troubled
projects. Eagle would assist banks with dis-
tressed properties by completing construc-
tion, marketing, and even changing light
bulbs and mowing yards.
“We got very familiar with a lot of banks
and when they had a problem, they’d call us,”
explains Ohly, whose closings jumped 74 per-
cent in 2013, a year that saw the firm acquired
by the Markel Ventures subsidiary of Glen
Allen–based Markel Corp. in August. “We’d
analyze the situation and turn those into op-
portunities to buy good properties. It was
kind of a perfect storm where everything
came together and really gave us the dry
powder to get future projects off the ground.”
Delibero also purchased a number of
bank-owned lots in 2009, which fueled his
firm’s 61 percent growth in 2013. In a market
without any public competition, Summit
has an advantage of size that companies
like Bonterra and Olson don’t—it’s the mar-
ket’s biggest builder and one of only a couple
that also does development. But securing
land is still difficult.
“The demand for land became so incredible
so quickly,” Delibero says. “There was a period
of time where you were purchasing lots from
banks. Then, all of the sudden, prices went up
considerably in a short period of time.”
Darren Sutton, president of Bonterra
Builders—whose closings jumped 99 percent
in 2013—estimates he secured 15 percent to
20 percent of his lots from banks. But that
pipeline has since dried up. “You can’t buy
the opportunities that we search for from
banks anymore,” he says.
In the Charlotte market, which has seven
builders among the top 10 nationals, Sutton
sought out farmers and land owners who
wanted to sell. Quality was his selling point.
“A lot of land owners know the people that
own the land around them and they want to
make sure they find somebody who will do a
good job on it,” Sutton says. “People know
we’ll build a nice product on it, so it kind of
makes them happy.”
With more than 100 different plans, Bon-
terra secures lots its bigger competitors often
find too small. For instance, Sutton recently
picked up a couple of small development in-
fill sites at A-plus locations that will accom-
modate about 15 homes apiece.
“A lot of this stuff is not something the
national guys want,” Sutton says. “They don’t
have the product to go on it, and they don’t
want to spend the money to develop a prod-
uct for something that small. But I don’t
mind doing that.”
The Olson Co., whose closings jumped 66
percent in 2013, executed a similar strategy
to accumulate land. In addition to being able
to move quickly, president and CEO Scott

Laurie chases complex deals that may have
environmental issues and need demolition
and new entitlements.
“It’s a pretty good barrier to entry,” Laurie
says. “It typically takes two years to get from
where we start due diligence to where we’re
starting vertical construction. A lot of build-
ers won’t wait for years to get started on the
vertical construction.”
The righT Mix
While the downturn gave 2013’s highest ris-
ers a chance to gather land at discount pric-
es, it also forced these builders to rethink
their product offerings. For instance, Deli-
bero began to focus on energy-efficient prod-
ucts as a way to differentiate Summit from
its competitors in the Kansas City market.
“In the downturn, people were starting to
become concerned about cost in general,
mainly what it cost to own a home,” Delibero
explains. “We were able to capitalize on that
in our marketing. I think it was an impor-
tant differentiator.”
Noticing that many of his customers
were planning families, Delibero also shift-
ed Summit’s focus from one-and-a-half story
ranch homes to two-story homes. “We rede-
signed our plans to be market relevant and
sharpened our pencils in our purchasing
and operations and customer follow-up,” he
says. “We talked to our buyers and found
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
they were focused on open floor plans. We
started from scratch.”
In preparation for the recovery, Eagle
constructed an 8,300-square-foot design
center in early 2012, which was named the
2012 Best Design Center in North America by
the NAHB. Ohly says his company does an
“unusual” amount of customization for a
builder of its size.
Sutton began the downturn by pulling
all of the bells and whistles out of Bonterra’s
homes to increase affordability. That didn’t
work out very well. So, like Delibero, he
went back to the drawing board and added
upgrades like brick siding, hardwood, En-
ergy Star products, granite countertops, and
9- and 10-foot ceilings. “I separated myself
from the pack of national home builders,”
Sutton says.
Finding MaTerial and labor
The fastest risers of 2013 were able to secure
land and tweak their designs during the
downturn, when competition was minimal.
But as construction picked up, finding labor
and materials became something of a wild
goose chase.
“The labor pool is still not where it needs
to be,” Sutton says. “We had foundations sit-
ting waiting for framers and we were wait-
ing for brick masons. A lot of the labor corps
was depleted during the downturn.”
local leaders
Sutton had to pay his subs more and turn
around payments in as swiftly as a week.
“A lot of our vendors that were actually
what I called labor-oriented vendors [fram-
ers, painters, and drywall hangers] were paid
on a weekly basis just to keep us a preferred
builder,” Sutton says. “I hate running my
business like that, but you have to do what
you have to do to get the job done.”
But Bonterra’s size offered Sutton more
flexibility than his larger competitors had.
“One thing about our organization is that I’m
pretty quick to make a decision and we don’t
have to run it up a ladder,” Sutton adds. “The
publics may have budgets set that they can’t
increase [for labor].”
Delibero, without public competition,
faces different issues in the hunt for labor.
He says some smaller builders might over-
pay for labor, which forced him to be disci-
plined as pricing overheated.
“That creates upward pressure in labor
and materials costs,” he says. “Public build-
ers know what things should cost and can
create equilibrium in market.”
Regardless of with whom these private
builders competed or how they went about
securing labor and land, they ultimately
ending up finding a path to success in 2013.
And that was the intent all along.
“My goal was to be pristine in ’13,” Ohly
says. “And, we were pretty darn close.” b
June 2014 builder 43
 BIggEST MarKET/raNK: KanSaS CITY (1)

Summit Custom Homes MarKET SHarE IN TOP MarKET: 7.5%

acTIvE SELLINg cOMMUNITIES: 30

HOMeS CLOSeD In 2013 180

PROJeCTeD CLOSInGS In 2014 216

KEy TO SUccESS IN 2013

Y
RT
“In 2008, we retooled the company

BE
LI
and shifted our focus from a
story-and-a-half ranch product to a
two-story product. We also became
very focused on green building.” it

IT
SU EE’S
mm

S
TY

M
Su

E
L

IL
e's

M
CI
Le

0
1
AS
FUTUrE PLaNS

NS
“Down the road, would we like to be regional?

KA
Probably, yes. It would possibly be in 2015.
That’s what we’re looking at right now.”

E
H
AT
OL
HOUSES
BUILT IN 2013
(nuMBeR BY
NO
AR N
DI

ZIP CODe)
RN SA
BE
S
LE
GE
AN
S
LO

KEy TO SUccESS IN 2013

“It was the land we bought in 2010 and 2011. We really
know the markets. We’re so focused in only building in La
and Orange County. We know the market down to every
street and every ZIP code.”

FUTUrE PLaNS
“The key to our success is our discipline. We are very good
at saying no. One of the real keys to success is our strategy
HOMeS CLOSeD In 2013 188 and knowing what we will and will not do. When we say let’s
PROJeCTeD CLOSInGS In 2014 215 do something different, we’ve opened Pandora’s box.”

BIggEST MarKET/raNK: LOS anGeLeS (8)

The Olson Co. MarKET SHarE IN TOP MarKET: 3.1%

acTIvE SELLINg cOMMUNITIES: 7

44 builder June 2014

 Biggest Market/rank: RICHMOnD (2)

Eagle Construction of Virginia Market share in top Market: 11.5%

active selling coMMunities: 7

HOMeS CLOSeD In 2013 304 key to success

PROJeCTeD CLOSInGS In 2014 249 in 2013
“We were ready.
We had mature
communities selling
out and a nice
mix of new ones.

CO
RI
We had a good

EN
combination of

D
mixed-use, high-

ON
M
density, and age-

CH
RI
targeted offerings.
Many of these
properties were
purchased with
capital raised to

S
E
EY
invest in distressed

IL
EL

M
0
OS

1
projects and land

M
in the dark days.”

Future plans
“We want to grow into three new
geographic markets and become more
efficient by decreasing cycle time. We
ORD
NC

have a major focus on low-maintenance

CO

and high-density [communities].”

TTE
LO
AR
CH

key to success in 2013

S

“We increased our community counts and

E
IL
M
0

focused on getting the best locations we

1

could. We were pretty aggressive and got

L

some deals from the banks. So, we were able

L
HI
K
C

R
RO

to get some good lot prices going in [on what

TE
AS
NC

was delivered in 2013].”

LA

Future plans
“We’re going to look into expanding into
another market. Right now, we’re based out
of the Charlotte MSa [metropolitan statistical
area], which also encompasses the northern
part of South Carolina as well. We’re looking at
HOMeS CLOSeD In 2013 294 another market within north Carolina or South
PROJeCTeD CLOSInGS In 2014 375 Carolina for something that’s a good fit for us.”

Biggest Market/rank: CHaRLOTTe (10)

Bonterra Builders Market share in top Market: 3.8%

active selling coMMunities: 25

Source: Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company, and builder-provided data

W W W. b u I L D e R O n L I n e .C O M June 2014 builder 45

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Circle no. 318

Design-Pro
Fiberglass
A New StANdArd
Luxurious baths boasting efficient floor plans, open kitchens with
a protected cook’s space, and trendsetting ideas about water stewardship
characterize this year’s top winners /// By Amy Albert and Shelley D. Hutchins
 2014 Watermark aWards
Jim Tetro

June 2014 builder 51

project of the year

award Grand landscape Paul Masi often designs new houses for stun- a visual connection between the two bodies
category Kitchen in architect Stephen ning sites like this piece of land tucked be- of water,” Masi says. Long bands of operable
Stimson Landscape,
a Custom Home More
Cambridge, Mass.
tween the Atlantic Ocean and a freshwater windows face disappearing glass walls that
Than 3,000 Square Feet
structural
pond near the east end of Long Island. His allow the kitchen to read like a pavilion. The
project Sagaponack
House, Sagaponack, N.Y. engineer Gilsanz usual response is to create architecture that island, kitchen table, partition wall, and ceil-
Murray Steficek, New enhances the scenery by blending with the ing are all finished in reclaimed wood planks,
entrant/architect York
Bates Masi + Architects, place’s colors, textures, contours, and moods. in subdued hues of sand and sea grasses. Pol-
Sag Harbor, N.Y. photographer
Michael Moran
This kitchen does all that in addition to ac- ished concrete floors easily withstand heavy
builder Wright and commodating a family of six plus frequent traffic and salty sea air. “Our goal was to se-
Co. Construction,
Bridgehampton, N.Y.
house guests. lect materials that reflected this [setting’s]
“The design was for a family gathering beauty and utilize them in a more refined
space where they could simultaneously cook way,” Masi says.
and entertain,” Masi explains. “There is a The sophisticated application of natural
seamless connection between the indoor and materials harmonizing with the surround-
outdoor, and because the focus was on enter- ings spoke to our jurors. They applauded the
taining, there is a pantry where the dirty design team for “using all the best ideas of
kitchen functions are hidden away.” where we are right now” and creating a space
The overall design concept was to connect that “doesn’t disturb the view.” One panelist
the pond on one side of the property to the noted this kitchen “could be filled with peo-
ocean on the other. “A series of parallel rooms ple or stuff and you still wouldn’t be distract-
with glass to the north and the south ... create ed,” exactly as Masi intended. — S.D.H.

52 builder June 2014 w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m

 The 2014 Watermark Project of the Year plac-
Project oF
the year es its master—and only—bathroom at the
center of this prototype house. The house
was designed by the University of Maryland
for the 2011 Solar Decathlon and was the
architectural as well as overall winner of
that competition.
Its luxurious yet sustainable design high-
lights the use and conservation of what’s
arguably the Earth’s most at-risk recourse:
water. Even the project’s name—Water-
Shed—evokes how both interior and exterior
spaces flow around the 82-square-foot bath.
“WaterShed’s two main volumes are con-
nected by the bathroom, which bridges over
constructed wetlands,” says architect Amy
Gardner. She also notes how the floor-to-
ceiling windows on either side of the room
“maintain a visual and experiential connec-
tion with the landscape.”
Creating an elongated space that runs the
width of the floor plan demonstrates how
important the bathroom is to the overall
house. Spanning 15 feet from end-to-end and
5 ½ feet wide, the design team opted to cele-
brate the rectilinear dimensions rather than
downplay them. Porcelain tile planks run in
a horizontal pattern on the floor and shower
walls. A slotted eucalyptus shower drain and
the horizontal cedar siding on the exterior
also emphasize the rooms’ shape, while a
bamboo-clad niche around the floating toilet
and vanity adds depth to the space. The glass
walls flood the space with natural light and
generate an open feel.
Constructed wetlands abut those glass
walls, giving bathers direct views of where
water ends up after going down the drain.
Graywater from the bathroom sink, shower,
dishwasher, and washing machine, along
with captured rainwater, is filtered by those
wetlands and then used for irrigation.
“It’s as much about beautiful design as it
is good and responsible stewardship,” said
one juror.
The jury enjoyed lengthy discussions on
WaterShed, praising the concept of showing
how water can be recycled and conserved in
addition to the warm, graceful design. “It’s
an idea ahead of our time,” according to one
panel member. They unanimously agreed
that custom and production clients alike
would buy into a forward-thinking design
like this and it has applications across all
housing types. — S.D.H.
award Project of the entrant/builder/
Year architect/engineer/
Project WaterShed, green building
consultant/
Rockville, Md.
landscaPe University
of Maryland 2011 Solar
Decathlon Team
PhotograPhers
Celia Pearson (interiors)
and Jim Tetro (exterior)

Kitchen in
a custom
home more
than 3,000
square Feet

June 2014 builder 53

Powder
rooM

AwArd Grand StruCturAl To the left of this home’s entry is a board- played to the lines of the concrete. This solu-
CAtegory Powder engineer David Inlow, formed concrete wall embedded with 3/4-inch tion admits light but offers privacy.
Room Alameda, Calif. planks of acrylic. By day, the wall’s staggered “It took a village,” admits Schwartz of the
ProjeCt MASon GGC Structural pattern looks like dark lines on a gray façade; construction challenges. Still, a structural
Crook|Cup|Bow|Twist, Concrete, Santa Rosa,
Calif. a pattern that echoes the lines of the concrete. engineer and master masons signed on, and
Nicasio, Calif.
PhotogrAPher By night, when the inside lights are on, the the team built a full-scale mock-up before pro-
entrAnt/ArChiteCt
Schwartz and Bruce Damonte wall becomes a light source that illuminates ceeding. “We found a section of wall where
Architecture, San the front entrance. most of the vertical rebar could go to either
Francisco
There’s more to this exterior than meets side and then used horizontal rebar where the
builder Hammond
Fine Homes, Cotati,
the eye. The slitted façade is the south-facing acrylic occurs,” he says. Then there was the
Calif. wall of a 27-square-foot powder room—a tiny pour—concrete, of course, has to be vibrated to
space that packs big impact. get rid of bubbles. Panel wire was installed to
Step inside the powder room during the hold the acrylic in place, and the wall was
day and you’ll be dazzled by a play of light and built in sections so it could be vibrated and
shadow. The acrylic captures the southern built up, piece by piece.
sun while concrete keeps the space cool. The jury was hard-pressed to think of a
Schwartz initially tried putting a simple powder room that plays such an integral role
square window in the powder room but it in the rest of a house. “It’s a secret ... you don’t
didn’t measure up to the rest of the structure. quite know what it is until you can get up
Horizontal windows were considered, and close to it, touch it, and experience it,” they
then came the idea of slits in the wall that said. — A.A.

54 builder June 2014 w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m

Some additions are quiet augmentations of
what was already there. Yet others trans-
form and reinvent the existing structure
completely. Such is the case with the thou-
sand-some square feet added onto the kitch-
en-centric Hillside Residence. “A sensible
and thoughtful layout” doable for most
homeowners, said the jury of the project,
adding that the “even-handedness with
space and judicious use of materials” result-
ed in a smart addition.
A glass bridge connects private and public
functions of the house, with a galley kitchen
that opens itself up to the rest of the living
space. “The floor plan is spectacular,” said the
jury, who appreciated the design’s ability to
encourage simultaneous activity—cooking,
supervising homework, and spending time
with guests—while allowing the cook’s space
to be a “sacred, clearly demarcated work zone
that’s a central part of the home’s activity AwArd Grand builder Ford Strei
and circulation.” CAtegory Custom Builders, Austin
As stylish as it is high-function, the work Kitchen in a House Less PhotogrAPher
Than 3,000 Square Feet Casey Dunn
island anchoring this galley kitchen is cov-
ProjeCt Hillside
ered on three sides with Carrara marble, wa- Residence, Austin, Texas
terfall-style. Contrasting with the marble’s entrAnt/
elegance is long-leaf pine on both the island’s ArChiteCt Alterstudio
recessed panel and its tabletop; the beams Architecture, Austin
were reclaimed from the floor joists of the
original bungalow structure. Wine storage is
tucked underneath.
A sliding panel allows wall shelves to
function as open storage, or as a hidden pan-
try. The new addition, a block of black, con-
trasts with the white of the original house.
In the kitchen, shiny surfaces play off rustic
ones, and the room embodies the overall goal
of seamlessly melding the interior with the
exterior—no small trick for such an exten-
sive remodel. — A.A.

Custom
KitChen in A
house less
thAn 3,000
squAre feet

June 2014 builder 55

KitChen
renovAtion

AwArd Grand builder Rockwood Mixing different architectural styles and his-
CAtegory Master Construction Co., toric periods is an admirable aim, but in less
Bath Greenwich than skillful hands, the result can be a con-
ProjeCt Bath in interior designer fusing hodgepodge. Bath in a Classical Re-
a Classical Revival Rinfret Ltd., Greenwich
vival Residence is a fine lesson in how to get
Residence, Greenwich, PhotogrAPher
Conn. Michael Partenio it right. “It’s rare to see a bath where so much
entrAnt/ArChiteCt attention has been paid,” said the jury, all of
Douglas VanderHorn whom were as impressed by the room’s luxu-
Architects, Greenwich
rious and efficient floor plan as they were by
the deftly executed combination of orna-
mental styles.
A look around the room reveals Neoclassi-
cal molding, Chinoiserie mirror detailing,
19th-century-style plumbing fixtures, and
contemporary raised glass sinks. Mirrored
surfaces add another contemporary touch,
allowing daylight to dance through the
room, keeping the master bath in this classi-
cal house light and airy.
“This enchanting, masterful space is the
hand of someone who knows how to work
with texture, color, and print,” noted the
judges. Architect Douglas VanderHorn is
quick to credit interior designer Cindy
Rinfret, with whom he worked closely on
pulling off this ambitious melding of styles.
“It’s what we do as architects,” he explains.
“We look at historical precedent.”
Stopping at the details, however, would
be a mistake because this floor plan puts the
‘room’ in bathroom without going over-
board. A gracious result is achieved by tuck-
ing necessities such as twin vanities and
the deck-mounted bathtub into niches. This
maintains the rectangular space, allows an
open feel, and even accommodates the un-
likely addition of twin armchairs.
In a master suite, says VanderHorn,
“You’re only successful when you’re giving
both members of the couple exactly what
they want.” His biggest challenge was inte-
grating a number of amenities in the suite
(spacious his-and-her closets, a home office,
a foyer) and getting them all to flow and
function in concert, with no dead ends or
disorder. Mission accomplished. — A.A.

56 builder June 2014 w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m

The jury liked everything about this kitchen
renovation from floor to ceiling—especially
the ceiling. They admired the attention paid
to the room’s largest plane, which too often
is overlooked.
A 6-foot-long–by-3-foot-wide light tray is
centered in the newly open kitchen/dining
space surrounded by recessed LEDs that
change colors. The dimensions reinforce the
horizontal movement of the room, which
visually directs occupants toward balcony
views, explains interior designer Jeff Ma-
hon. “The neon light tray works in this set-
ting,” confirmed one juror, explaining that
a well-edited material selection balances
what could have been a flashy focal point.
A rectilinear glass mosaic backsplash in
shades of blue heightens the room’s hori-
zontal pull while adding a little oomph to
the all-white palette. A similarly propor-
tioned 8-foot-long island controls the spatial
flow of the 382-square-foot kitchen.
Mahon says the firm’s vision was to pro-
duce a galley kitchen that connected with
vision required digging into shared walls to
move the main sink and stove and drasti-
cally change the room’s circulation pattern.
“The new layout allows one person to
easily prepare a meal for a family without
wearing out their legs,” Mahon describes,
“but also comfortably accommodates a team
of caterers.”
Our panel of jurors agreed with Mahon’s
assessment and went further to note how
the new layout has a “big impact for overall
space planning—it is beautifully scaled and
well-executed with terrific proportion,
right down to the hardware.” The jury
members also appreciated that the chic de-
sign maintains a “pleasing balance of scale
and materials.” — S.D.H.
AwArd Grand ArChiteCt Jonathan L.
CAtegory Kitchen Titus Architects, Naples
Renovation interior designer
ProjeCt The Biltmore EBL Interiors, Naples

the rest of the condo. The wall between the Residence, Naples, Fla. CABinetry Snaidero
entrAnt/Builder/ Cabinets, Italy
kitchen and living room was torn down and
engineer EBL PhotogrAPher Craig
an existing wet bar was reoriented toward Envision. Build. Live Hildebrand
the kitchen space as a serving station. That Construction, Naples

mAster
BAth
deTAil
AWArd Grand builder Lars V. Olsen
This outdoor shower looks simple, but closer
CATeGOrY Detail Fine Homebuilding, inspection reveals a depth of detail and pre-
Marion, Mass. cision that elevates it to award-winner: An
PrOJeCT Aucoot Cove,
Martha’s Vineyard, PHOTOGrAPHer Brian innovative structure with a daily function.
Mass. Vanden Brink
Architect Mark Hutker calls it the “celery
eNTrANT/ArCHiTeCT stalk,” an analogy that highlights several
Hutker Architects,
Vineyard Haven, Mass. inventive features. Untreated cedar slats
lean in, so like a celery stalk, the diameter
is smaller at the top. This gives a user ample
room at the base while a narrow oculus at
the apex frames unobstructed sky. “You
want to look up at that view,” said the jury.
The shower creates an elegant form
when seen from other parts of the house
and grounds, too. Narrow boards set be-
tween the wide slats enhance the celery
comparison and allow privacy while pro-
viding sufficient ventilation. Those skinny
pieces are cut off just above the porch over-
58 builder June 2014
hang, encouraging both breezes and playful
shadows. A steel frame holds it all together
and prevents warping.
Inside, circular cedar ribs connect wood
to steel and serve as shelves for toiletries.
Even the doorway is a cool detail: A segment
of curved wall hangs from a stainless steel
bar. The door is suspended off the deck and
has hidden rollers inside the track to push it
away from the wall so it slides with ease.
Hutker and project architect Jim Cappuc-
cino visited the site numerous times during
construction to ensure the opening exactly
frames a sliver of sea and shore that can be
seen only when standing at a particular
angle toward the cove. “We always strive for
connecting people with a specific piece of
the property,” Hutker says, “and this shower
does that really well.” — S.D.H.
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
What Makes a Home contest
Your clients could win $250,000!

Let your clients know

about our What Makes
a Home contest. Three
grand prize winners
will be chosen to receive
$250,000 each.

Consumers who submit a purchase mortgage application with Wells Fargo between April 1 and August 31, 2014 are eligible.
No application necessary in AZ, CO, IA, MN, NJ, MD, ND, TN.

Wells Fargo is committed to working side-by-side with you to help your

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The What Makes a Home contest will be a Call your local Wells Fargo
celebration of images and words that speak Home Mortgage consultant
to the heart of homeownership. today to learn more about
How can your clients enter? the contest or for more
Go to wellsfargo.com/homecontest between May 12 information about our
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what makes a place feel like a home.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Contest is open to legal residents of

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entry. Internet access and a valid e-mail address are required to participate. Entry period
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to enter, for full Ofcial Rules and prize details. Void where prohibited. Sponsor:
Wells Fargo Bank N.A., 7001 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266.
CS4293

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

© 2014 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801.
Circle no. 229
 Merits

Master bath builder Gleason & Kitchen renovation builder Builders by custoM Kitchen in entrant/architect
Project Castenada Tankard, Berkeley, Calif. Project Country Club Design, Wyoming, Minn. a house less than Schwartz and
Residence, San Francisco PhotograPher Kitchen Renovation, PhotograPher 3,000 square Feet Architecture, San
Aaron Leitz Edina, Minn. Andrea Rugg Project Francisco
entrant/architect
Schwartz and entrant/architect Photography Crook|Cup|Bow|Twist builder Hammond Fine
Architecture, San Rehkamp Larson Homes, Cotati, Calif.
Francisco Architects, Minneapolis PhotograPher
Bruce Damonte

detail builder Steve custoM Kitchen in entrant/architect Kitchen renovation builder Sturm
Project Far Pond, Breitenback, a house less than Schwartz and Project Kitchen Builders, Northbrook, Ill.
Southampton, N.Y. Bridgehampton, N.Y. 3,000 square Feet Architecture, San With a View, Northern PhotograPher
PhotograPher Project Hydeaway Francisco Chicago Jon Miller of Hedrich
entrant/architect
Bates Masi + Architects, Bates Masi + Architects House, Sonoma, Calif. builder Eames entrant/architect Blessing
Sag Harbor, N.Y. Construction, Petaluma, Stuart Cohen & Julie
Calif. Hacker Architects,
PhotograPher Evanston, Ill.
Matthew Millman

custoM Kitchen in entrant/architect Master bath entrant/architect Production Kitchen builder Risher Martin
a house More than Barnes Vanze Architects, Project Mandeville Griffin Enright Project Parkside Fine Homes, Austin
3,000 square Feet Washington, D.C. Canyon Residence, Los Architects, Los Angeles Residence, Austin, Texas PhotograPher
Project Lakeside builder Corcoran Angeles builder Chris Bueker, entrant/architect Casey Dunn
Family Cottage, Gibson Builders, Olney, Md. El Segundo, Calif. Alterstudio Architecture,
Island, Md. PhotograPher Anice PhotograPher Tim Austin
Hoachlander/HDPhoto Street-Porter

For more information and images

on this year’s winners, visit go.hw.
60 builder June 2014 net/bd0614-2014-Watermark.
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SUCCESS STRATEGIES

Lucky Seven
It takes more than luck—nabbing new buyers sometimes means turning
a seven-figure home into a six-figure one. In any market, these seven strategies
can help attract those elusive households you’ve been chasing.
By Amy Albert, Jennifer Goodman, and Shelley D. Hutchins /// Illustration by Bryan Christie Design

64 BUILDER JUNE 2014

 4
6

7
3

JUNE 2014 BUILDER 65

while the high end is rocking again, how to
attract first-time buyers is a question on ev­
eryone's mind. You've heard the reasons why
it remains a prickly problem: The down pay­
ment. The loan. Student debt. Just plain play­
ing it safe in a nerve-racking economy.
Turning renters into buyers is a matter of
cutting costs, "a hard pill for many architects
to swallow because we're trained to strive for
perfection and uniqueness," says Donald Pow­
ers, principal of Providence, R.I.-based Union
Studio Architecture & Community Design.
But once you accept economy as a design ex­
ercise, it can be fun. "Being creative with
simple is what makes a production house
good," Powers says, "but you have to under­
stand how it's going to be built."
While design is an important part of the
affo a il1lty equation, so, too, are factors
c as land and labor. Here are seven strate­
ies to consider from those who have already
acl�ed the code.
LAND PCl)SITION
�
Wit land prices quickly shooting up, 'c' is
the new 'BI, says Brad Hunter, chief econo­
mist a etrostudy, Hanley Wood's research
arm. "Builders will soon be buying land in
more remote locations, at lower prices than in
close-in locations, and that will allow them
to provide homes at lower prices," he says.
Hunter cites the success of Mountain House,
Shea Homes' 4,784-acre master planned com­
munity in California's San Joaquin County, as
a great example of this trend.
of course, not all buyers want to drive until
they qualify. And the rise of the first-ring sub­
urb offers plenty of opportunity to buyers
looking to cut down on the commute.
"Commercial corridors that were shopping
centers in a previous life are taking on value­
and affordability-when they're redeveloped
"Commercial corridors that were shopping centers
in a previous life are tal{ing on value-and affordability­
when they're redeveloped as retail that has housing
associated with it." - Michael Medick, BSB Design
66 BUILDER JUNE 2014
as retail that has housing associated with it,"
says Michael Medick, market leader for land
planning at BSB Design.
In the nation's largest metros, developers
would be wise to look to first-ring suburbs that
are ignored or decrepit, advises Elise Platt, a
longtime development consultant. "People
who like the location will make some compro­
mises," she adds. "Almost every drive-in the­
ater in New Jersey has been converted to
housing in the past 25 years."
Building where everyone else wants to live
doesn't have to be a deal-breaker. There are
plenty of walkable neighborhoods well-posi­
tioned for mass transit, but where the housing
stock has grown old and worn out.
"In a neighborhood with walkable ameni­
ties, you can charge more per square foot,"
says James Wentling, a Philadelphia-based
architect who works from New England to
the carolinas. He looks for older, established
' '
enclaves developed in the 30S, '40S, or 50S,
with parks, churches, commercial centers,
and public transit.
Tony Crasi of The Crasi Co. seconds that
strategy as a way to get around skyrocketing
land costs. "Maybe the lot isn't right off Main
Street, but if it's five blocks away, you still have
the main amenities," he says. An added plus to
this proximity play: Walkable communities
were the least affected during the downturn.
Medick also is a proponent of neighbor­
hoods with some age on them. "In addition
to infrastructure, you've got old trees and
wider sidewalks," he says. Another way
builders can make dollars go farther in desir­
able locations is by reducing the lot size. But
Medick says to proceed with caution: From
the get-go, the land plan and house plan have
to work hand in hand.
Bill Bonstra of BonstralHaresign Archi­
tects, a longtime player in Washington, D.C.'s
redevelopment, advises adding value by in­
creasing density through public process, spe­
cial approvals, and zoning variances. In D.C.,
Bonstra is seeing building codes that now al­
low wood frame buildings to be taller, "a sig­
nificant savings over steel and concrete," he
points out, citing five stories of stick over two
stories of concrete. Density is key, he says, but
"it's about aensity that's not just in a high-rise,
but distributed strategically."
E EVATIONS/SITING
Creating cost-effective elevations that look
Ii e a mill· on bucks is all about what isn't
ere rother than what is. Well-edited detail­
ng that maintains classic proportions and
produces standout houses at every price
point. "If you're designing an eave detail, you
may compromise between what a perfect
classical detail is with the awareness that
every trip of the ladder costs more money,"
explains Powers of Union Studio. "So you de­
sign with 90 percent of the value of the detail
using 50 percent of the effort."
Simplicity and understanding of off-the­
shelf materials is key. "value comes with hav­
ing a strong architectural idea that you follow
all the way through the design," says Looney
Ricks Kiss (LRK) principal Mike Sullivan. His
firm does very simple rooflines that cost less
to build, for example, but stay true to the style.
Powers agrees with that approach and
describes how an inexpensive pre-made
truss roof can be dressed up without much
additional expense. "A pre-made truss on top
of a second-floor ceiling gives us an unsatis­
fying angle," he says, "but if you add a fake
rake eave that looks like it comes up from the
first-floor ceiling line, then the real roof ap­
pears to be a dormer and you have an elegant
steep-pitched cottage roof."
Architect/developer Bill McGuinness has
vast experience in finding the best places to
save or splurge. His firm, Sun Homes, works
primarily in tony Connecticut and New York
suburbs. "place full masonry chimneys at the
center of the ridge," McGuinness advises.
"This looks more traditional but also saves
llvalue is not
money because there's only a little brick above
the roofline." Another way to boost curb ap­
created by the peal while maintaining profit margins is to
incorporate high-end materials where people
square foot, but interact with them daily. "Instead of a stone
skirt, we do clapboard down to grade and use
by how each that budget on bluestone walkways and patios
where homeowners can enjoy it."
square foot Siting to downplay utilitarian spaces like
garages also provides big returns for little or
serves a purpose no cost, adds LRK founder, Carson Looney.
Smart siting doesn't stop with the walls, how­
and provides eve . "T InK a out the outdoor space on all
£ ur sides the house," he says.
a feeling of how
one's life can be Although many builders believe high-perfor­
mance tecnniques add to the cost of a project,
better served by uilding science-based approaches can con­
s rye a considerable amount of time and
one experIence
.
mo ey while also cutting down on custom­
over another."
ers' energy bills. For example, advanced fram­
ing techniques save on lumber and labor
- Carson Looney, while maximizing structural integrity, says
Dean Gamble, technical manager for the EPA's
Looney Ricks Energy Star program. These include designing
homes on 2-foot modules to reduce wood
I(iss waste and labor; spacing out wall studs, floor
joists, and roof rafters up to 24 inches o.c.; and
using two -stud corner framing and inexpen­
sive clips for drywall instead of studs.
"Advanced framing techniques usually
save builders money because they're putting
in less wood," Gamble points out. The DOE
estimates that fully implementing advanced
framing techniques can result in materials
costs savings of up to $1,000 and labor cost
savings of up to 5 percent for a 2,400-square­
foot house.
But a well-engineered building shell is
more than just another way to save money
and woo energy-minded customers-it soon
will become essential as more rigorous state
and national energy codes take hold. Meeting
the new requirements will require upfront
planning, says Tom DiPrima, KB Home's ex­
ecutive vice president for Southern california.
He's already working toward 2020, when Cali­
fornia's net-zero energy standard will go into
effect, requiring all new homes to produce as
much energy as they consume.
"Someone thinking that they're going to
wait un ,il 2019 to jump into learning about
this is making a huge mistake," he says.
e most obvious way to save money when
uilding a house is to build a smaller house.
The trick is to produce a home that may have
less square footage but more livability and
o WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM
functionality. This is another area where an
architect versed in production building effi­
ciencies can offer a distinct advantage.
"value is not created by the square foot, but
by how each square foot serves a purpose and
provides a feeling of how one's life can be bet­
ter served by one experience over another,"
Looney says.
LRK's Sullivan sums up the best way to
make a smaller house look and feel like its
million-dollar neighbor: Focus on scale, pro­
portion, open plans, flexible spaces, and state­
ment cabinetry. "We do an open plan in all
price points, but we also provide one com­
bined back-of-house room that accommodates
several functions," Sullivan says. "place this
one larger room off the kitchen and for very
little money you've added a lot of value."
Although open plans remain in highest
demand, they still require care and thought to
be successful. Breaking up large expanses of
ceiling with simple coffers using 2x4s and
drywall is a technique endorsed by several
architects. Also, thinking about views from
one space to another, and from indoors to out,
can increase a room's perceived size.
"Line up French doors with windows to see
beyond the walls and it makes a huge differ­
ence in perspective on space," Powers says.
"And don't place the fridge in direct sightlines
of the living room opening."
As for proportion and scale, Powers sug­
gests using standard building material mea­
surements as the module for laying out floor
plans. "Plywood comes in 4x8 sheets and lum­
ber comes in 2-foot increments," he says, "and
if you always design in those increments
there are no cuts and no waste."
Adding a single foot to the dimensions of
certain circulation or living spaces can en­
hance a home's worth for perspective buyers.
"Identify areas where you can add a foot to the
room for a built-in, like a desk or window seat,"
cGUInness says. "Clients will remember
at way more than a flashy master bath."
ndustry pros agree that creating an interior
'wow' factor is best achieved by focusing the
udget on details homeowners experience
aily. Using stock products in innovative
way.s gets pronounced results. Looney advises
paying close attention to the often overlooked
hallway between garage and kitchen. "It's the
owner's entry, so why not plan and design to
make this space just as important as the
front foyer?" he asks.
Sullivan advocates designing one or two
really strong elements that define the interior,
such as spending more on kitchen cabinets
JUNE 2014 BUILDER 67
"Employ ees say they want to work for a builder with
clear leadership, a strategic direction, financial stability,
growth potential, and a culture that they are proud to
represent." veronica Ramirez, Joseph Chris Partners
-
and a ceiling height of 11 feet. LRK often takes
advantage of local products and craftspeople
to create these statement pieces.
"The millwork shops in Baton Rouge are so
strong that we do custom cabinetry in every
house in that market for less than production
cabinets," sullivan says. "But even with off­
the-shelf cabinetry, we do a 42-inch upper
cabinet and then another one above that so
you get this strong vertical line."
Other off-the-shelf products can be made
to look custom, says Powers. His firm looks for
places to include alcoves; it then buys stock
furniture to slide into the space, seals it, and
trims it out for easy, inexpensive built-ins.
Precise lighting placement also can create
interior drama with minimal cost, shares
McGuinness. "Just put in slightly smaller
lights on a dimmer and place them closer to
the wall," he says, "then you have a room
that's like an art gallery and the atmosphere
is so much better."
His other standard upgrade is to put a
frosted door on any windowless room. "It costs
a little more," he admits, "but it allows day­
light-to 15rigliten the room or at night with the
d,or closed, light filters out into the adjacent
pace :1 <e a Japanese lantern."
;When it comes to helping buyers with interior
rodu, t selection, less can be more. By offer­
i fewer aesign choices and limiting selec­
tions, buil er can dramatically reduce the
time it takes clients to select, order, and install
products and finishes.
At Utah-based Garbett Homes, every­
thing except paint colors and flooring comes
standard, eliminating the time-consuming
product-selection process and the need for a
design center. Instead, in-house interior de-
68 BUILDER JUNE 2014
signers choose products and finishes for the
firm's distinctive modern look.
Tony Callahan of Kennesaw, Ga.-based
callahan Consulting Group also promotes this
approach, advising clients to limit product
and material choices to the items that target
what customers want, rather than offering
every item in each manufacturer's catalog.
"Purchasing slow-moving SKUs increases
costs in the supply chain and can negatively
impact days under construction," he says.
The New Home Co. creates design pro­
grams tailored to customer profiles for each of
its California communities. For an entry-level
development like Villa Metro in Valencia, Ca­
lif., buyers have a choice-albeit limited-of
products like cabinet door finishes and styles.
Options that might be available at higher-end
developments aren't shown in the Villa Metro
design center so "buyers seeing something
they can't afford isn't an issue," says Joan
Marcus-Colvin, New Home senior vice presi­
dent of sales, marketing, and design.
In terms of specing products, builders
would do well to find good-looking, reasonably
priced substitutes to designer wares. "There
are options other than granite and stainless
for the kitchen," says Miami-based designer
Marianne Cusato, who likes the latest surfac­
ing choices from brands like Formica. Other
ideas include specing 36-inch-high cabinets
instead of 42 inch; painting a vibrant accent
wall for high impact at a low cost; and swap­
ping pricey imported products for affordable
prions from companies like Kohler, which
ffers tubs that provide a luxe look for less.
LABOR,EFFICIENCIES
In manYi�ot markets, a lack of qualified work­
ers has led to a labor shortage that is driving
up construction costs, notes human resources
exp . rt M tin Freedland. Hiring, training,
an etailling talented employees and subs
should be job No. 1 for builders trying to man­
age costs. Well-trained, loyal team members
save money by their longevity and by provid­
ing their own ideas about cost efficiencies.
Manufacturers are a good source for low­
cost or even free training sessions. KB Home
works with its suppliers to offer training for
subs on how to install new green products and
technologies, DiPrima says. During construc­
tion of its recently completed Double Zero­
House, KB offered its HVAC partner on-site
instruction for installing the home's Power­
Pipe heat exchanger that recovers energy
from waste hot water.
"The supplier actually installed it with
them, then took it back out and said 'Now you
install it,'" DiPrima recalls. After the training,
the HVAC company changed its projected in­
stallation time for PowerPipe from 20 to two
man hours, reducing the cost from close to
$1,000 to just $100 or $200, he says.
Building strong relationships with subs
can go a long way in keeping costs down too,
says Callahan. For example, Garbett Homes'
subs like the fact that the company runs a
tight ship on scheduling. It was one of the first
builders in the region to employ the non-mar­
ket-driven evenflow system for construction
management, which has helped it obtain bet­
ter pricing and faster construction times. "A
trade is a lot more likely to work through the
weekend for a builder that gives him volume,"
callahan says.
In terms of in-house staff, many firms that
lost executive-level talent during the reces­
sion are looking to hire again. But attracting
star employees takes more than just competi­
tive compensation.
"I do hear time and time again, 'It is not
just about the money,'" says human resources
consultant Veronica Ramirez. "Employees say
they want to work for a builder with clear lead­
ership, a strategic direction, financial stabili­
ty growth potential, and a culture that they
'
are proud to represent." B
o WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM
Circle no. 288
Circle no. 417
Same Exceptional Home…
With Less Time
and Cost

Did you know incorporating

modular construction into your
building business can reduce your
construction time by up to two months?

Learn this and more in the Save Time and Money Using Systems-Built Strategies:
Modular Construction webinar, Wednesday, June 25, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET. Instructor
Kevin Flaherty, Vice President of Champion Home Builders, will show how modular
building systems help builders reduce time spent onsite while maximizing profts and
offering buyers a fully customized, exceptional home.

For more information

and to register, visit
nahb.org/ModularWebinar.
Join the Conversation.
connections that go
far beyond the cable.

Partner with us, and your residents won’t be the only ones smiling.
our most obvious connection is with your residents—providing them with the innovative services that have
made time Warner cable an industry leader. but our most important connection is with you. to keep it
strong, we make your schedule our schedule and deliver marketing assistance that help you fill vacancies
faster. We only succeed when you do.

to learn more about the benefits of partnering with us, contact dan o’connell at 212.420.4816
or email daniel.oconnell@twcable.com
Circle no. 268

twc.com/communitysolutions

© 2014 time Warner cable inc. all rights reserved, time Warner cable and the eye/ear logo are trademarks of time Warner inc., used under license.
Design and Construction /// Edited by Ted Cushman /// www.builderonline.com/buildsmart

Redline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 76
How-To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Curved Exterior Walls

Curved walls make a nice custom feature. Here’s 1. Curved Sill Plate Cut a
a site-proven detail: on a segmented foundation, radius curve on the outside
edge of treated 2x10 or
cut and attach a curved sill plate jigsawn from 2x12 sill plate segments,
treated 2x12s. Frame studs to follow the curve, and bolt to the polygon
then sheathe with doubled ¼-inch plywood. Side foundation sill.

with wood shingles, and finish the interior with 2. Frame to the Curve Set
studs on the curved sill plate,
doubled ¼-inch drywall. with stud edges toeing the
line of the sill plate’s outside
curve.
3. Sheathing and Drywall
Half-inch plywood or drywall
won’t conform to a tight
curve, but quarter-inch
material will. Use double
layers of thin stock on the
outside and inside wall faces.

1
2

Illustration by Peter Sucheski JUNE 2014 BUILDER 75

 A framed
passageway
separates areas A large island with
that need to be multiple functions
connected. is a must-have. But
in most households,
this hangout spot
gets so much use
that there’s no room
to make supper.

A butler’s pantry
plus the pantry
closet setup lacks The closet pantry
high-functioning, is a useful feature,
accessible space. but until now, it hasn’t
been given much
design attention and
remains underutilized.

G
Dead Space A back pantry was once REDLINE reat kitchens continue to be a

The Pantry,
considered an upgrade, but these days, top priority for most home buy-
unless homeowners have catered parties ers. But the kitchen as hub

Perfected
on a regular basis, the space sees about
as much use as a formal dining room.
Sure, a big closet and butler’s
pantry are useful. But combining
them gives you options and makes
presents a basic design riddle,
especially with open kitchens.
How do you keep the room neat, while pro-
viding space for prep, gadgets, cleanup,
homework, and paying bills?
We now look at the kitchen as we did the
KGA Studio Architects

master bedroom (where the closet becomes a

for a harder-working kitchen. functional dressing room), wondering if the
butler’s pantry and pantry closet could
evolve in the same way. By adding cabinetry
and prep space, you create another work

76 BUILDER JUNE 2014 W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M

 Customer
Satisfaction
Made Easy
You work hard to give your
customers what they need; we
can help make it a little easier. Our
DesignRail® aluminum railing
systems are a great choice for your
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 This flex area offers
the option for a full-
height pantry for
bulk items, a glass-
fronted hutch, work
Now that the desk, or space for
pantry has a wall-mounted TV/
accessible prep media center.
space, the island
hub will be less
crowded.

Reconfiguring the
stairs allows the
alcove to grow,
The alcove and offering expanded
the kitchen are space for more
linked via a common functions.
work surface plus
uninterrupted ceiling
lines.

Today’s full-height
wall cabinets can
Extra base cabinets offer as much
allow space for a storage space as a
wine refrigerator, walk-in pantry. A mix
ice maker, warming of uppers and full-
drawer, or a second height cabinets offer
dishwasher. flexible storage.

zone, so that cooking dinner doesn’t interfere
with all the other daily activities that have
migrated to the kitchen.
We’re not proposing less storage; it’s just
being reallocated to use every nook and cran-
ny. A place to put canned goods? Check. Prep
space within easy reach of the work island?
Check. Room on the island for the kids to be
within eye and earshot? Check. A place to
Enriched Kitchen The kitchen is the hub
of most houses. When there’s more hard-
working and useful space in that room, more
buyers will be intrigued and attracted.
We know the idea has caught on already
in other markets (hello, Southern California).
But when we show this to builder clients in
our area in Colorado, they get excited about
KGA Studio Architects

John Guilliams is design director at
KGA Studio Architects in Louisville,
Colo. jguilliams@kgarch.com
hide the mess? Check. Because we’re seeing
more buyers from cultures where cooking
odors permeating the house isn’t acceptable,
the newly configured pantry gives the option
to include a messy kitchen or wok room.
setting themselves apart from the competi-
tion. It’s an idea from the custom world that
we’re bringing into the production sphere. So
far, it’s proving to be the fishhook that’s
starting to reel in clients. B

78 BUILDER JUNE 2014

 Wall-To-Wall Solutions
© 2013 CertainTeed Gypsum

Our drywall not only makes homes look better,

we make them sound, breathe and feel better.
CertainTeed Gypsum offers a wide range of drywall and fnishing
solutions that will help make your homes stand out from the
competition. From the most sustainable wall and ceilings systems
in the industry to actively improving air quality and reducing noise
levels, you can Be Certain our innovative wall-to-wall solutions will
add value to every room in your homes. That’s good for your
homebuyers — and good for your business.

800-495-6192 • www.certainteed.com

ROOFING • SIDING • TRIM • DECKING • RAILING • FENCE

GYPSUM • CEILINGS • INSULATION
Circle no. 250
Building Information Modeling:

The Industry’s
Next Top Model
As Building Information Modeling (BIM)
continues to be embraced by more home builders,
it’s important you understand why and how it can be
incorporated into your current operations.

Join NAHB for the Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Residential
Construction webinar, Wednesday, June 18, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET, and
learn steps you can take to analyze your business model and identify
areas where BIM can make a positive difference.

For more information

and to register, visit
nahb.org/BIMweb.
Join the Conversation.
GOING GREEN IS EASIER AND MORE
PROFITABLE THAN YOU THINK.
GREENBUILD CAN SHOW YOU HOW
Greenbuild, the largest sustainable building and construction event in the U.S., continues
to make strides in the green movement by expanding options for the residential industry.

- In-depth education sessions show you how to get into & profit from green building
- 750 exhibiting companies featuring innovative products and cutting-edge technologies
- Residential product pavilion showcasing high-performance products to help you
maximize savings on sustainability
- LEED v4 Platinum*, net-zero electricity demonstration home built out on the show
floor with tours

Join 23,000 of your peers and let Greenbuild show you how green building will
benefit your clients and boost your company’s bottom line.

Registration opens soon! Visit www.greenbuildexpo.com today for the latest

news and updates!

EXPO: OCT. 22-23 | CONFERENCE: OCT. 22-24

MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER | NEW ORLEANS, LA

*Final certification will occur after reassembly on Make It Right Foundation site in New Orleans.

Questions: 888-529-1641
HOW-TO

Supporting
Ceramic Tile
A stiff, rugged floor and
a waterproof bond-breaker
membrane are keys to lasting
performance in a top-quality
ceramic tile floor

C
arefully installed ceramic tile is
an expensive floor finish. Its du- 1. Frame for Deflection 2. Double Up the Subfloor
rability and beauty are the mark L/360 is the official deflection standard Cement backerboard over plywood subfloor
of quality, but tile is prone to for floors meant to support tile. Depending is an acceptable underlayment for ceramic
cracking if it’s not well support- on the span, 2x10 joists at 12 inch o.c. can tile flooring. But using a double layer
ed. So when you invest in tile, spend on struc- achieve that. Using deeper 2x12 joists is of ¾-inch A/C structural plywood is even
tural support to match. a more efficient way to stiffen the framing, stiffer. Glue and screw the plywood to the
Design the floor structure for minimal de- but closer joist spacing also helps limit floor joists, and also apply glue between
flection. “L/360,” equivalent to a half-inch in 15 subfloor deflection between the joists (an the two layers of plywood.
feet for a fully loaded floor, is the limit for joist important concern with tile).
deflection. Deflection of the subfloor between
the joists under a point load should be even
less—perhaps as slight as L/480 or L/1080 for
brittle stone tile. To get that kind of stiffness,
frame with 2x10 joists or better at 12 inches
o.c., and install a double layer of ¾-inch ply-
wood attached with deck screws. Stagger the
plywood joints. Use subfloor adhesive to glue
the lower course of plywood to the framing,
and spread carpenter’s wood glue (such as
Titebond 3) before installing the upper course.
Over the plywood, adhere a layer of wa-
terproofing and crack isolation membrane
using contact cement. Noble Co. (www.
noblecompany.com) and Schluter Systems
(www.schluter.com) each offer suitable ma-
terials for this purpose. Study and learn the
supplier’s recommended methods for use—
the details matter.
Finally, apply the ceramic tile using thin-
set mortar. Make waterproof movement 3. Waterproofing Membrane 4. Thinset and Tile
joints at wall and floor intersections. For com- Plywood is not moisture-resistant, and it Latex-modified thinset mortar is well-suited
prehensive details on best-practice tile work, expands and contracts at a different rate for applying tile over membrane. Consult
consult Michael Byrne’s book, Tiling for Con- from tile. So you need to isolate the tile with your supplier to be sure the mortar
tractors. — ted cushman from the wood subfloor with a layer is compatible with both the tile and the
of waterproofing and crack-isolation membrane you’ve chosen. And be sure
membrane. This will allow the tile and the to properly detail any joints where tile walls
subfloor to move independently—a key or floors intersect.
For more construction technology to long-term performance.
articles, go to www.builderonline.
com/construction.

82 BUILDER JUNE 2014 Illustrations by Harry Whitver

Circle no. 331
 WILSONART IS REDEFINING MODERN

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Modern’s not a design movement. It’s a state of mind. It’s the place in your heart that tells you everything around you is
]
aesthetically “right”. You understand that place better than most. That’s why we support you with the hundreds of colors,
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Circle no. 374

News From Housing’s Ground Zero /// Edited by Jennifer Lash

Cultivating leaders
House Party
A great association must For most families, homeownership is an ideal. It’s
rely on volunteer leaders If Congress moves housing finance a goal they work hard to achieve and something they
to help meet its goals. legislation forward, we’ll be able value greatly. And despite the effects of the Great Re-
If you want to create the cession, it remains a long-term goal for most families.
to continue to celebrate that June
best volunteer leaders They know that homeownership promotes stability
and renew their passion is National Homeownership Month and can be critical to creating wealth and providing
for your association’s By Kevin Kelly financial security.
work, encourage them chairman of the board, nahb Homeownership also is crucial to a strong and pros-
to attend the Association washington, d.c. perous nation. New-home construction buoys the
Leadership Institute Aug. economy, providing jobs for millions of Americans and
6-8 in St. Louis. When you’re offering congratula- generating revenues for all levels of government.
The education tions to newly minted graduates and These are all things to celebrate. Yet even as we cele-
sessions include topics toasting June brides, here’s some- brate homeownership and the many benefits it provides,
specific to volunteers, thing else to celebrate: June is Na- we need to be aware of the undercurrents that threaten
such as building effective tional Homeownership Month. to make it more difficult—perhaps even impossible—for
relationships with staff. It’s a time when we mark home- many Americans to achieve this cherished ideal.
Attendees also will enjoy ownership’s importance in the fabric of American life, There’s no question that homeownership isn’t for
keynote speakers and note the many benefits that it provides for our com- everyone. Many people don’t want to own a home; oth-
valuable networking munities, and acknowledge its importance to a ers may lack the means or be at a point in their life
opportunities. healthy, vibrant economy. where renting is preferable to buying. (see page 86)
For details and
registration, visit www.
nAHB.org/ALI.

Mentor Opportunity
As an HBA leader, would
you like to offer your
association a ready
pipeline of fresh new
members and leaders who
already have classroom
and on-site training?
Consider sponsoring
an nAHB Student
Chapter. These programs
prepare high school and
college students for
careers in residential
construction. The HBA
provides mentoring,
site tours, and job
connections. And
students can benefit your
HBA by assisting with
meetings and helping
perform community

Illustration by Sirichai June 2014 builder 85

 But whether their preference is owning or renting, vestors, such a system would: service projects. “We
everyone should be able to choose the home that best • Ensure that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages remain sponsor two student
meets their needs. And if that choice is homeowner- readily available and affordable for creditworthy chapters and are in the
ship, then long-term fixed rate financing must be borrowers. process of adding a third
available to creditworthy borrowers at affordable rates. • Encourage more thorough, consistent, and respon- local university,” says
In the wake of the housing market crisis, it became sible mortgage underwriting. Diane Swenson, executive
obvious that the nation’s housing finance system must • Increase the amount of private capital in the vice president, Maryland
be restructured. However, the task has languished, marketplace. national Capital Building
and one of the few things that members of Congress on • Protect American taxpayers. Industry Association.
both sides of the aisle agree on these days is that hous- • Promote stable and liquid mortgage markets for sin- For more information,
ing finance reform is long overdue. gle-family and multifamily housing. visit www.nAHB.org/
The NAHB supports a solution that gradually would StudentChapters.
wind-down the government sponsored enterprises, Bipartisan legislation currently being considered in
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, into a system where the the Senate, the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Healthy Housing
private sector is dominant and the federal government’s Protection Act of 2014, would meet these goals and The health of housing
role is clear, but its exposure is limited. Federal support breathe new life into the housing sector by providing is key to the state of
would be limited to catastrophic situations where care- a consistent and affordable supply of mortgage credit the u.S. economy, and
fully selected levels of private capital and insurance re- for single-family and multifamily housing. housing is poised to serve
serves would be depleted before any taxpayer funds The NAHB supports this legislation and will con- as an engine of job growth
were employed to shore up the mortgage market. tinue to urge Congress to move it forward. So that we with the right policies
By closely defining the federal government’s role all may continue to celebrate National Homeowner- in place, the nAHB told
in housing finance and including private sector in- ship Month every June, I ask you to do the same. Congress in May.
Testifying before
the Senate Banking
Committee’s
Home Innovation Research Labs networked with industry profes- Subcommittee on

Friendly Competition
Student teams design
zero energy ready
homes for contest
In its inaugural year, 28 teams from
U.S. and Canadian universities com-
peted in DOE’s Challenge Home
Student Design Competition to de-
velop cost-effective, zero energy
ready homes for mainstream build-
ers. The winning teams produced
market-ready, state-of-the-art de-
sign solutions for high-performance
homes that are energy efficient,
comfortable, and durable. The de-
signs are for zero energy ready
homes, meaning their high-perfor-
mance features sharply reduce en-
ergy use, and all or most of the
remaining energy use can be offset
with renewable energy.
This spring, the teams were
judged by national experts includ-
ing leading high-performance
builders, building science profes-
sionals, and researchers. The main
criteria for selection were design/
construction strategies, clear proj-
ect plans, required analyses, and
overall competency applying best
practice solutions and principles of
building science from DOE’s Build-
ing America program. Building
America is the research and devel-
opment arm of DOE’s Residential
Buildings Program.
“The next generation of housing
industry professionals has to be bet-
ter trained to deliver the home of the
future,” says Sam Rashkin, chief
architect of DOE’s Building Tech-
nologies Program and manager of
the student design competition.
“The DOE Challenge Home Student
Design Competition is part of this
important transformation process
toward creating better homes and
communities. The nationwide ben-
efits of cleaner air, large numbers of
green jobs that cannot be out-
sourced, and greater energy security
are just a bonus.”
The final judging and awards
ceremony took place in Golden,
Colo., at the headquarters of the
National Renewable Energy Labo-
ratory. During the competition
weekend, student teams presented
their designs to esteemed jurors,
sionals, heard from thought lead-
ers on their vision for the future of
housing, and celebrated at an
awards dinner where several cat-
egory winners and two grand
winners were announced. As ad-
ministrator for the competition,
Home Innovation Research Labs
would like to congratulate all of
the 2014 winning teams for an out-
standing inaugural showing.
The two grand winners in the
competition were Montage Builders
Northern Forest: State University of
New York—Environmental Science
and Forestry, Syracuse University,
and Onondaga Community College
for Best Single-Family Detached
Design, and Ryerson University’s
Urban Harvest Team for Best Sin-
gle-Family Attached Design.
Project profiles for all winners
are available on the competition
website (www.HomeInnovation.
com/DOE ChallengeHomeStudent
DesignCompetition). Planning for
the 2015 competition is already un-
derway and information on how
and when to register is available as
well. Any students or faculty mem-
bers who would like to be informed
directly about competition updates
can use the “Competition Contact”
link on the website.
economic Policy, nAHB
economist Robert Dietz
said home building and
remodeling have
generated 274,000 jobs
over the past couple of
years. employment from
new-home construction
and remodeling has a
wide ripple effect. About
half the jobs created
by building new homes
are in construction.
nAHB analysis of the
broad impact of new
construction shows that
building 1,000 average
single-family homes
generates:
• 2,970 full-time jobs
• $162 million in wages
• $118 million in business
income
• $111 million in taxes and
revenue for state, local
and federal governments.
nAHB estimates that
total housing construction
over the next few years
should return to just
under 1.7 million
combined single-family
and multifamily starts
on an annual basis.

86 builder June 2014 w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m

 WHAT’S GOOD FOR
HOMEBUYERS IS
GOOD FOR BUILDERS.
These homes look the same on the outside, but only one
has an invisible money-making upgrade on the inside:
above-code building insulation.
Adding insulation helps ensure an energy-efficient, comfortable home that’s
good for the homebuyer, and it’s good for the bottom-line of the builder.

Come visit us at the Pacific Coast Builders

Conference at Booth 6209 on June 25 and 26.

Go to JM.com/buildereducation to get your free copy of our new brochure

to learn about the advantages of adding above-code insulation from JM.
© 2014 Johns Manville. All Rights Reserved. Circle no. 373
 TOUGHER THAN
THE ELEMENTS

Stands up to storms
and harsh weather

Resists water absorption to

help protect against mold,
swelling and cracking

Won’t be eaten by
animals or insects

Fire resistant

Reduces time and

Irresistible charm money spent on
maintenance

THAT RESISTS THE ELEMENTS.

Only James Hardie® fiber cement products are Engineered for Climate.®
For uncompromising performance, HZ5® siding and trim products resist
shrinking, swelling and cracking even after years of wet or freezing
conditions. HZ10® products help protect homes from hot, humid conditions,
blistering sun and more. It’s why James Hardie exteriors help you build a
reputation that lasts in the real world.

Protect your business from whatever nature brings.

Visit jameshardie.com
Siding | Trim
© 2014 James Hardie Building Products Inc. All Rights Reserved. TM, SM, and ® denote trademarks or registered trademarks of James
Hardie Technology Limited. The is a registered trademark of James Hardie Technology Limited. AD1450 4/14

Circle no. 416

New House Plans From the Nation’s Leading Designers /// Edited by Aurora Zeledon /// www.builderhouseplans.com

DESIGN TRENDS Side-Entry Garages for the Win

Move Aside, Garages

Do you prefer a garage that’s accessed
from the front or the side of the house?

● Side loading ● Front loading

● Other (detached, drive under, etc.)

Take the focus off the garage with these four great plans

C
8%
77%
urious to see if consumers have way toward creating great curb appeal sim- 15%
strong opinions about garage ply by tucking the garage door (and every-
orientation, we created a poll on thing contained within) out of sight.
Houzz. Well, the verdict is in, These four plans take the side-entry ga-
and it’s a landslide: side-entry rage a bit further, with pretty windows that
garages got five times as many votes as front- not only spice up the elevation but also let
entry ones. Granted, users of this home im- light into what’s usually a dark space. Inside
provement site probably don’t have lot limi- the homes, open kitchens and great master
tations in mind as much as you do. But if you suites seal the deal. Want to see more? Head
can swing it, a side-entry garage goes a long to www.BuilderHousePlans.com. Source: Poll conducted on www.houzz.com

Beautiful Arches and Tile Square Footage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,191

Plan #HWB1680001 Bedrooms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2½
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . 62’ - 10” x 73’ - 6”
Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Slab,
Unfinished Basement

5 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
8 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
Repro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,096
CAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,972
PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,096

Sunroom Brings Outdoors In Square Footage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,307

Plan #HWB1680002 Bedrooms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2½
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . 68’ - 2” x 100’ - 9”
Foundation . . . . . . . . . . Crawlspace, Slab

5 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N/A
8 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,300
Repro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000
CAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,075
PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000

W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M JUNE 2014 BUILDER 89

Extended Master Suite Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,508 Sq. Ft.
Plan #HWB1680003 Main Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,869 Sq. Ft.
Second Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639 Sq. Ft.
Bonus Space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 Sq. Ft.
Bedrooms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . 56’ - 0” x 52’ - 0”
Foundation . . . .Crawlspace, Unfinished
Walkout Basement
5 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,045
8 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,120
Repro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,350
CAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,340
PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,350 Main Level Second Level

Split Bedrooms for Privacy Square Footage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,760

Plan #HWB1680004 Bonus Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 Sq. Ft.
Bedrooms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . 54’ - 6” x 60’ - 0”
Foundation . . . . . . . . . . Crawlspace, Slab,
Unfinished Walkout Basement

5 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $865
8 sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $910
Repro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,045
CAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,795
PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,045 Main Level Opt. Bonus Space

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Mirror Reverse
By Phone: 1 800 634 4773 u.s. toll free Right Reading Reverse
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90 BUILDER JUNE 2014 W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M

 your
DOOR
your
STYLE
©2014 Masonite International Corporation. MIC-14511

The entryway of your home is the perfect place to express your style.

From authentic Craftsman charm to sleek modern design, Masonite®

has a door that is distinctly you. Stunning details, rich fnishes and

the elegance of decorative glass combine to bring your design the beautiful door

vision to life. Visit Masonite.com to fnd your perfect door.

www.masonite.com
Circle no. 375
 RESERVE YOUR SPOT!
SEPTEMBER 22–24, 2014
BELLAGIO LAS VEGAS, NV

AHEAD
OF THE
CURVE

Are you ready for tomorrow?

The sun continues to shine on the multifamily industry as it glides down a golden road of strong demand and
Plus: New in 2014, AFT Live: The Apartment
rent growth. But what lies around the corner is anybody’s guess. As we enter the latter stages of this upturn,
Owner & Developer Summit will be combined
it’s more critical than ever to sustain today’s gains, while mapping out a path to navigate the obstacles ahead.
with the Multifamily Executive Conference.
At the 2014 Multifamily Executive Conference—the apartment industry’s most valuable educational
A special track of sessions “powered by AFT” will
and networking experience—more than 100 industry experts will share insights on how to make the most of
serve as a virtual brokerage, helping you to navigate
today’s good fortune while building an organization that will withstand the test of time.
the capital markets and pointing the way to the best
rates and terms on the debt and equity markets.
Attend and You Will Learn:
• The most cutting-edge technology trends that will revolutionize the way you run your properties
• Proven strategies from the industry’s best and brightest on how to boost the bottom line REGISTER TODAY!
• Ways to combat today’s rising construction costs to deliver on time and under budget MFECONFERENCE.COM
• Marketing strategies that entice both Gen Y and Baby Boomers
• Successful underwriting strategies for acquisitions and new development

Platinum Sponsor: Sponsors:

AD Index

Advertiser PG number RS number Advertiser PG number RS number

AdvanTech 16a-b* --- ICC 7 214

Boise Cascade 4, 92* 361, 418 James Hardie 88 416

Carrier 40 187 JELD-WEN Windows & Doors 48-49 318

CertainTeed Saint-Gobain 79, 94 250, 392 Johns Manville 87 373

Chevy Silverado C3 --- Kwikset 46 ---

Chief Architect 35 354 Lenox 83 331

Daimler Vans USA, LLC 31 216 Masonite 24a-b*, 91 375

Delta Faucet 1 314 MFE Conference 92* ---

Diablo by Freud America C2 197 Milgard 92* 301

Diamond Spas 24 399 Moen 33 347

Dryerbox 35 274 Mohawk 62 276

Duke Energy 92* 413 NAHB 9, 17, 25, 41, 73, 80

DuPont Tyvek Thermawrap 38, 39 342 Nichiha 13 219

Eldorado Stone 69-71 288 Panasonic Eco Solutions

Electrolux C4 207 North America 61 212

Endura 14, 15 213 RAM 2-3 ---

Feeney 8, 77 294, 293 Rinnai 47 241

Geico 72a-b* --- Riverhead Building Supply 24c-d* ---

Gerber 10 405 SoftPlan 8 237

Greenbuild Expo 2014 81 --- Sterling by Kohler 23 355

*Issue mailed in regional editions.

Hy-Lite 24 404 Advertisers: To update your listing, contact Lauren Searson at 202.736.3461 or
send an email to lsearson@hanleywood.com

W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M JUNE 2014 BUILDER 93

 AD Index

Advertiser PG number RS number Advertiser PG number RS number

Surface Shields 72 417 Waste Management 29 327

The Chamberlain Group 6 203 Wells Fargo 59 229

The Home Depot 21, 26 --- Whirlpool 37 279

The Tapco Group 40a-p --- Wilsonart 84 374

Therma-Tru Doors 18 194 ZIP System by 63 242

Time Warner Cable 74 268 Huber Engineered Woods 8a-b* ---

USP Structural Connectors 16 383

*Issue mailed in regional editions.
Velux Skylights 11 258 Advertisers: To update your listing, contact Lauren Searson at 202.736.3461 or
send an email to lsearson@hanleywood.com

INTRODUCING:

Bring it on!
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Moisture in a home is unavoidable. Every Marketing Strategy
But now there’s a revolutionary way to manage it.
Marketing solutions fit for:
New SMARTBATT™ Insulation with MoistureSense™ Technology can help
reduce the risk of mold and mildew within the wall cavity, contributing to Outdoor | Direct Mail | Print Advertising |
healthier homes and happier occupants. Tradeshow/POP Displays | Social Media | Radio & TV
So bring on the moisture. SMARTBATT has you covered.
THE ONLY PRODUCT TO BLOCK AND BREATHE
Leverage branded content from Builder to create a
more powerful and sophisticated statement about
your product, service, or company in your next
marketing campaign. Contact Wright’s Media to
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find out more about how we can customize your

acknowledgements and recognitions to enhance
Remains moisture tight in winter Increases permeability in the summer your marketing strategies.
when humidity in the cavity is low. to let moisture escape when needed.

800-233-8990 • certainteed.com/smartbatt
For information, call Wright’s Media at 877.652.5295 or
http://blog.certainteed.com
visit our website at www.wrightsmedia.com
ROOFING • SIDING • TRI • DECKING • RAILING • FENCE • FOUNDATIONS
GYPSU • CEILINGS • INSULATION • PIPE

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 One Thomas Circle, NW
Suite 600
Builders' Best Resources/Classifieds S P EC I A L A DV E R T I S I N G S EC T I O N

Washington, DC 20005-5811
202.736.3417, Fax 202.833.9269
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ProtectiveProducts.com
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HiD
LED
CFL
INDUCTION FOR INFORMATION
DARKSKY on how to be a part of the next
FULL BUILDER
CUT OFF MAGAZINE
special advertising section,
contact Brian Sherry at
202-200-8553.

F O R M O R E P R O D U C T I N F O, P L E A S E G O T O W W W. B U I L D E R O N L I N E .C O M JUNE 2014 BUILDER 95

Next
Going up?
Private elevators—or the option to add them in the future—are one
solution for attracting older buyers to multilevel homes
A
2014 survey conducted by the
NAHB on what home buyers
desire ranked elevators as the
most unwanted feature for new
homes. Some builders are buck-
ing this trend, however, as aging in place
becomes a priority for baby boomers.
“With 10,000 people a day turning 65
through 2030, this demographic will repre-
96 builder June 2014
Saving Space Some elevators—like the
Otis Gen2, which KB Home is using in its
Skylar project—require no machine room.
sent the largest age group in the country,” says
Manny Gonzalez, senior partner at KTGY’s
Santa Monica, Calif., office. “Most of them
would prefer to live in their existing home as
long as they can, but the biggest obstacle to
allowing that is stairs, specifically when the
master suite is located on the second floor.”
Sometimes buyers need to look at ameni-
ties like elevators from another angle. “Once
people realize an elevator is a necessity rath-
er than a luxury, they become accustomed to
what it is and how useful it can be,” explains
Dawn O’Connor, owner at Daytona Elevator
in Daytona Beach, Fla., noting that an eleva-
tor typically costs about $30,000. “When I
compare that to a luxury SUV and how often
that kind of investment turns over, it puts
things in perspective.”
A holistic vision of universal design should
guide the placement of any residential eleva-
tor. “Locating the kitchen and pantry in close
proximity to the elevator makes the weekly
task of stocking groceries and staples conve-
nient for anyone,” Gonzalez says. The shaft
also should be close to resident parking.
In KB Home’s Skylar at Playa Vista com-
munity in Los Angeles, the townhome con-
cept is turned on its side. The floor plans
provide single-level living with a semi-pri-
vate elevator.
“The unique aspect of the design of Skylar
is that you use the elevator only to access your
home, otherwise your day-to-day activities all
take place on a single level,” Gonzalez says.
While elevators are far from a standard
feature, production homes with elevators as
an option are increasingly popular. These de-
signs also allow for a future installation.
“The typical way of accomplishing this is
to stack two levels, but more commonly three
levels, of roughly 4-foot-by-4-foot storage clos-
ets that could have the floor removed without
any structural issues,” Gonzalez says.
But Cliff Wenn, sales manager at Manas-
sas, Va.–based Area Access, recommends
leaving nothing to chance and completing
the installation during construction. “Even
if the shaft is already built, there’s a chance
for damage,” he notes. “The time to do it is
now while they are building the house.”
A lesser-known option is the pneumatic
vacuum elevator. The aesthetically striking
vacuum elevator requires no excavating pit,
hoistway, or machine room. Since the prod-
uct’s inception in 2002, vacuum elevators
have been most common in retrofits where
the self-supporting structure costs less to
install than a traditional elevator.
In new-home construction, traditional el-
evators are the less costly option, but some
buyers prefer the look of the pneumatic eleva-
Courtesy Otis
tor. “This type of buyer loves the design, the
360-degree views, and the way it fits in their
home,” O’Connor says. — sandra malm
w w w. b u i l d e r o n l i n e .c o m
 HEAVY LIFTING.
DURAMAX AND ALLISON.® A PROVEN
COMBINATION. The new Heav y Duty is our
strongest Silverado ever. That’s because the
combined power of the available Duramax
and A l l ison del iver an i mpressive 397 hp
and 765 lb-ft of torque. They also deliver the
proven reliability of over one million of these
combi nations on the road today w ith over
100 billion miles of experience.
KEEPING TR AILERS ON THE STR AIGHT
AND NARROW. Another must-have combination is power
and control. With Tow/Haul mode, press a button and
the transmission stays in gear longer, optimizing power
when you need to accelerate. No buttons are required
for Tra i ler Sway Control . It appl ies both the veh icle
and trailer brakes (when properly equipped) to help get
trailers back in line when needed.
WINNING THE UPHILL BATTLE. Another
automatic feature you’ll appreciate (especially
when you’ve got a 7-ton backhoe behind you 1)
is Hill Start Assist. To help prevent rollback,
it detects inclines of 5 percent or more and
momentarily holds the brakes– giving you
PROVEN TOWING POWER
WITH AVAILABLE DURAMAX time to switch from brake pedal to accelerator.
TURBO-DIESEL & ALLISON For downhills, the available Diesel Exhaust
6-SPEED TRANSMISSION.
Brake System uses Silverado’s own exhaust
to decelerate rather than add wear to conventional brakes.
Every th i ng about the new Si lverado H D is desig ned to
work harder for you. Visit chevy.com/silverado and learn
more about the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size
pickups on the road.2 Strong. For all the roads ahead.

HEAVY DUTY.
THE NEW 2015 SILVERADO HD. OUR STRONGEST EVER.

INTRODUCING THE NEW 2015 SILVERADO HD

1
Requires 3500HD Crew Cab DRW 4WD with available Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine. Maximum trailer weight ratings are
calculated assuming a properly equipped base vehicle, plus driver. See dealer for details. 2Dependability based on longevity: 1987-April 2013
Full-Size Pickup registrations. ©2014 General Motors. All rights reserved. Chevrolet® Chevrolet emblem® ChevyTM Duramax® Silverado®
 INNOVATIVE DESIGN.
AMAZING PERFORMANCE.
Distinctive, streamlined and loaded with best-in-class features, Electrolux draws on over 90 years of
designing appliances for some of Europe’s most demanding professionals and home chefs. From a
starter home to a luxury custom home, build the perfect Electrolux appliance suite for your customers at:

ElectroluxBuilder.com or 888.735.4920 or builder@electrolux.com

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