Local building codes continue to evolve as municipalities across the country adopt more stringent sustainability requirements. The recent Napa County building code updates provide a clear example of how green construction regulations are expanding beyond new construction to cover alteration and addition projects. Home builders and contractors working in California and other progressive markets should […]

New building code requirements in Los Angeles are pushing the residential construction industry toward higher standards for roofing performance. The city has adopted updated reflective roof mandates that require specific levels of solar reflectance and thermal emittance on most new and replacement residential roofs. These rules, part of California’s broader push for energy efficiency under

The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have jointly submitted a proposal to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) that could significantly change how residential buildings are plumbed. The measure would require insulation of all hot water piping

Understanding the 2016 Housing Market Recovery from a Builder Perspective The National Association of Realtors projected in late 2015 that existing-home sales would increase at a moderate pace in 2016, driven by rising home values and sustained job growth. For home builders, understanding these macroeconomic signals is essential for aligning production schedules, land acquisition strategies,

Home improvement spending is projected to see double-digit growth through the first half of the year before moderating toward the third quarter. That was the key finding from the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Understanding these home improvement

The home building industry operates in cycles, and the ability to read market signals early often separates thriving builders from those who struggle. When builder confidence shifts, as it does in response to interest rate changes, material costs, and labor availability, the most successful builders are those who interpret the data correctly and adjust their

When an architect or builder bypasses building codes, the consequences can extend far beyond fines or lawsuits. A recent case in California illustrates this stark reality: architect Gerhard Becker was sentenced to a year in Los Angeles county jail after pleading no contest to the manslaughter of a firefighter who died battling a fire in

Despite widespread media reports suggesting otherwise, the incandescent light bulb is very much alive in the United States. January 1 did not mark a ban on the manufacture or import of 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs as many headlines claimed. The reality is that federal energy efficiency standards have evolved, and the lighting industry has