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building science construction

Understanding, Recalibrating, and Communicating Building Science with Expert Gord Cooke

To build better homes, the industry—and homeowners—should recalibrate their thinking on building science, says Gord Cooke, president of Building Knowledge Canada and partner of...
Oct. 14, 2024
accessory dwelling unit custom build

An Accessory Dwelling Unit Becomes a Writer's Retreat in Austin

Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have been around since the first garage apartment was rented to a college student. As small “a”—affordable—housing options decrease, especially...
Sept. 27, 2024
modern organic custom home

On the Boards: Modern Organic Spec Home With All the Bells and Whistles

Custom builder Clay Wooten, owner of Wooten Built, is embarking on a spec project that will become one of the most expensive homes per square foot—not on the water—in Winter Park...
Sept. 10, 2024
net zero custom home

A 90-Year-Old Remodel Creates a Beyond Net Zero Home

Architect Elizabeth DiSalvo, founder of the sustainability-focused firm Trillium Architects, describes the existing version of this 1930s house as having, “no particular style...
Aug. 28, 2024
custom home building

Fewer Custom Homes Built in 2023

Fewer custom homes were built in 2023 than the year prior, according to recently published data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction.  The share of custom homes...
Oct. 2, 2024
custom builder social media

Do's and Don'ts for Contractors On Social Media

Social media can be a powerful tool for building brand awareness and engaging with your audience, but it’s important to approach it with the right strategy. Here are some...
Sept. 23, 2024
custom builder

4 Personal Touches This Custom Builder Adds to Every Home

What separates high quality custom builders from any other builder comes down to intentional, small touches that make a big impact. At Alair Homes Houston, Partner Bryan Phillips...
Sept. 18, 2024
yelp v google reviews

How the Yelp v. Google Lawsuit Could Impact Online Reviews, A Lawyer Explains

Positive reviews are vital for contractors’ leads and reputation. So what happens to those positive reviews when the two most known review platforms go head to head in court?&...
Sept. 17, 2024
alaina money garman

Alaina Money-Garman: Building to Move the Industry Forward

The Farm at Penny Lane project is a 40-acre farm developed on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and it houses 15 residents living with severe mental...
Sept. 19, 2024
living stone design + build asheville nc

Developing a Leading—and Winning—Custom Building Company: Living Stone’s Story

Sean Sullivan never builds the same house twice—the next must be better than the last.It’s not just because he’s a custom builder. It’s a mindset—and much of a lifestyle—that’...
Sept. 11, 2024
bree jones parity homes

How Parity Homes is Rebuilding West Baltimore

Parity Homes owns 40 properties next to West Baltimore's Highway to Nowhere—a remnant of an abandoned highway project from the 70s and a remnant of a community that once was.But...
July 25, 2024
Chris Adams on jobsite

Building Relationships, Building a Business

Chris Adams came from humble beginnings when he first entered the construction industry as a high school student pushing a broom on a jobsite to make extra money. But even from...
Oct. 23, 2023
Patio

What Features Do Homeowners Want in a New Home?

Single-family homes have changed over the years, with trends shifting primarily based on what buyers are looking for and what they can afford. The National Association of Home...
Sept. 20, 2024
custom builder business

How Can Custom Builders Respond to the Current Market?

Despite high interest rates and a challenged new construction market, the custom home industry remains a thriving, exciting industry sector, according to Grant Farnsworth, president...
Aug. 19, 2024
inflation reduction act

Do Homeowners Really Use the Inflation Reduction Act?

According to the first report by the Treasury Department, 3.4 million households benefitted from the Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives for clean-energy home improvements ...
Aug. 7, 2024
residential construction data for the month of november

November Data: Custom Architects Weigh In, New Construction Trends, Contractor Confidence, and Material Price Changes

November saw a bevy of research released by organizations throughout the residential construction industry, including reports from John Burns Research and Consulting, The Farnsworth...
Dec. 13, 2023
kohler x remedy place ice bath

Kohler Unveils Luxury Cold Plunge Tub

Kohler takes the plunge into the cold tub trend with a new, unique wellness-focused offering: the Kohler x Remedy Place Ice Bath. It's the kick off to Kohler's partnership with...
Oct. 15, 2024
Shown is the Forked Light from Buster + Punch | Photo: Buster + Punch

5 New Lighting Releases That Add Warmth and Dimension

Well-curated lighting was the theme of 2024, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2024 Kitchen Design Trends Report. At least when it comes to functional spaces...
Oct. 9, 2024
vinyl siding durability

How Vinyl Siding Can Prepare Homes for Extreme Weather Events

As extreme weather events become more severe across the country, the need for durable exterior products and weatherizing new and existing homes becomes paramount.The correct structural...
Oct. 9, 2024
A RootCellar walk-in refrigerator sits behind double arched doors in this Orlando home. | Photo: Chris Freeman, The Freeman Company

Forget Fridges: These Luxury Walk-In Coolers Redefine Refrigeration

Walk-in refrigeration systems are no longer just for the restaurant industry. The brainchild of co-founders Don Lake and Paul DeLorenzo, a Massachusetts-based company is revolutionizing...
Oct. 8, 2024
PET HOME DESIGN

The Most Popular Pet-Friendly Home Design Choices

Pets play an important part in the lives of many American households, so it’s no surprise that homeowners would take them into consideration when renovating their homes. Home ...
Aug. 28, 2024
print marketing for contractors

The Do's and Don'ts of Print Marketing for Custom Builders

In this digital age, it's tempting to dismiss print marketing as outdated and irrelevant. However, if executed correctly, print marketing can still be a highly effective tool ...
Aug. 14, 2024
marketing tools for contractors

4 Tools to Automate (And Personalize) Digital Marketing Efforts

Contractors must adapt to stay competitive and profitable, especially in today’s evolving digital landscape. Marketing is a vital part of any construction business—and we all ...
Aug. 13, 2024
Start With the Why: Fundamentals of the Custom Builder Business

Start With the Why: Fundamentals of the Custom Builder Business

In the opening seconds of Custom Builder's new bi-monthly video series Taking Care of Business, host Duane Johns, a custom builder, remodeler, coach and consultant, asks guest...
Jan. 30, 2024
temporary paint peelable paint

The World’s First Peelable Paint is Now on the Market

Unpaint by international coatings company Glasst has hit the American market, touting itself as the first-ever peelable architectural wall paint—and it can be applied like any...
Sept. 10, 2024
kickout flashing

The Ins and Outs of Kick-Out Flashing

The space where the roof and wall meet is critical—and kick-out flashing is an essential element in preventing water damage to the home.In honor of International Flashing Awareness...
Aug. 21, 2024
custom waterfront home

A Seaworthy Modern Family Home Built to Withstand the Elements

  This three-story modern house occupies almost its entire waterfront lot in Newport Beach, Calif. And while it might seem like it was complicated to build a more than...
Aug. 5, 2024
Copper Drifts award-winning custom home project uses copper cladding

Two Custom Homes Are Among the Winners in Recent Copper Awards

A total of 10 projects were recently recognized by the Copper Development Association (CDA) for their outstanding design and craftsmanship using architectural copper. Winners ...
July 3, 2024