Third-Quarter Remodeling Market Index Posts Solid Gain
WASHINGTON, DC — Demand for remodeling remains strong, and remodelers “are doing quite well as long as they can adequately deal with material and labor shortages,” according to the latest Remodeling Market Index (RMI) compiled by the National Association of Home Builders. The Washington, DC-based NAHB this week released its NAHB/Royal Building Products Remodeling Market Index (RMI) […]
‘Strong Growth’ Foreseen for Remodeling Through 2022
CAMBRIDGE, MA “Strong growth” in home improvement and maintenance expenditures is expected to continue over the coming year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), released last month by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The LIRA projects year-over-year gains in annual improvement and repair […]
Home Sizes, Suburban Shift Seen Increasing as COVID Offshoot
WASHINGTON, DC — Single-family home sizes are reportedly rising as an offshoot of the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing a recent trend toward downsizing, as homeowners are seeking additional residential space for a wider range of purposes, particularly teleworking and school-related activities. At the same time, trade association officials are reporting a continued shift in new residential […]
Activity Strong Although Project Backlogs Persist, Survey Finds
PALO ALTO, CA — Businesses in the residential construction and remodeling sectors anticipate “strong activity” through the balance of 2021, although many companies report steady increases in backlogs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with wait times of nearly three months before new projects can begin. That is the key finding of the Q4 2021 […]
Schock to Open First U.S. Factory
MARTINVILLE, VA — SCHOCK GmbH, the global supplier of quartz composite kitchen sinks, will establish its first U.S. manufacturing presence with the construction of a factory in Martinsville, VA, the company announced. “We couldn’t be more excited to be embarking on this expansion,” said Ralf Boberg, CEO of the Regen, Germany-based company. “SCHOCK’s new facility […]
SEN Design Group Expands Educational Access
CHARLOTTE, NC — SEN Design Group, the Charlotte, NC-based kitchen and bath industry buying group and business education resource, has revamped its membership structure to increase access to business education opportunities for industry professionals, the organization announced. “Under our previous structure, the majority of our educational opportunities were add-on expenses for our members, but we wanted to make […]
Fisher & Paykel Unveils Improved Digital Interface
COSTA MESA, CA — Fisher & Paykel, the Costa Mesa, CA-based supplier of high-end appliances, has launched a Trade Resources platform, a “next-generation solution” for the brand’s trade partners, the company announced. Improving upon The Kitchen Tools interface that had previously served as a gateway for product access files for the A&D community and builders, the company […]
Architecture Firms Report Increased Demand for Services
WASHINGTON, DCArchitecture firms, including those focused in the residential sector, continued to report increasing demand for design services in September, according to a new report issued by the American Institute of Architects. According to the Washington, DC-based AIA, the association’s monthly “Architecture Billings Index” (ABI) score for September was 56.6, up from August’s score of […]
Builder Confidence Up, Despite Supply Chain Disruptions
WASHINGTON, DC Strong consumer demand helped push builder confidence higher in October despite growing affordability challenges stemming from rising material prices and shortages, the National Association of Home Builders reported. According to the Washington, DC-based NAHB, builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes moved four points higher to 80 in October, according […]
MoistureShield Expands Distribution Through BlueLinx Branches
ATLANTA — MoistureShield, the Oldcastle APG-owned manufacturer of composite deck boards and related products, has expanded its distribution throughout the northeastern U.S. with the addition of several BlueLinx branch locations, the company announced. BlueLinx locations in Charlotte and Raleigh, NC, Denville, NJ, Yaphank, NY, Burlington, VT, Bellingham, MA and Portland ME will each offer the […]