How Hardie siding helps protect a medical-needs camp in a wildfire zone
A medical nonprofit in Idaho sought to build a wholly accessible getaway for children with cancer. James Hardie helped bring this dream to life.
Publications
An assortment of some of my recent professional publications.
Design Solutions: Structural Fixes Help Resurrect Vintage Homes - QUALIFIED REMODELER
Historic homes carry the weight of their past but also often the weight of decades of poor or outdated remodels from previous owners. Finding the right balance between what to save, what to rebuild and what to alter for a modern home is tricky.
Roofing Trends: Weathering the Impact
The U.S. experienced nearly 7,000 severe hail storms in 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Severe Storm database. This is up from approximately 6,000 severe hail instances reported the year prior, and the nearly 5,000 hail storms reported in 2021. While weather patterns fluctuate — 2020 saw just over six thousand instances while 2019 saw over seven thousand — the trend is toward more storms that can cause damage to roofs.
Hailstorms have the potentia
Hailstorms have the potentia
Insulation and the Inflation Reduction Act
Signed into law just over a year ago in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in clean energy and climate action ever ratified in the U.S., finally putting the country on a path to achieve desperately needed climate goals, including a net-zero economy by 2050.
Design Solutions: Digging Deep
In the heart of eastern Atlanta, a growing family with a charming 1930s bungalow found themselves in need of more space. The solution? Excavating their 5-foot crawl space and converting it into a 9-foot-tall basement and entertainment area.
Outdoor Living: How to Elevate Deck Design
A deck can be more than just a functional platform for grilling and lounging. With the right design and materials, a deck can be a stylish and personalized extension of a home that reflects a client’s personality and preferences.
Choosing the right materials, knowing how to use them to the best design advantage, and intuiting which additional features will be most valued by your clients are beneficial skills to learn.
It’s not even a question that composite decking is the primary material used
Choosing the right materials, knowing how to use them to the best design advantage, and intuiting which additional features will be most valued by your clients are beneficial skills to learn.
It’s not even a question that composite decking is the primary material used
Product Trends: Siding With the Times
It’s well known in the remodeling industry that trends are slow to adopt and slow to leave. Just by the nature of the beast, a lot of different moving parts and elements go into creating a noticeable trend, with everyone from early adopters to the late majority joining in to popularize a movement.
When it comes to siding, there are only so many traditional permutations of color and design homeowners have to work with if they’re looking to update the exterior of their home. However, as homeowner
When it comes to siding, there are only so many traditional permutations of color and design homeowners have to work with if they’re looking to update the exterior of their home. However, as homeowner
Design-Build: Building Trust
Over the last few years, design-build has not been a priority for many homeowners. The design-build process is generally considered ideal for large, complex that require significant design and construction coordination. Because of this, these types of projects were largely delayed due to the pandemic. People prioritized their health and finances, and labor shortages and inventory supplies dwindled or were delayed months.
While remodelers are saying they’re still seeing fewer sales, they are s
While remodelers are saying they’re still seeing fewer sales, they are s
Product Trends: Moisture Management
Rainscreen systems are nothing new; they’ve been utilized in commercial builds for decades. However, only recently have they taken off in the residential market—and for good reason. Changing climate patterns and advancements in building wrap technology, have led to an increased need for and awareness of rainscreen systems.
Product Trends: Customizable Bath Faucets
It’s no secret that wellness has been top-of-mind for the last few years. Pandemic fears of contamination and contagion, as well as conversation surrounding burnout and mental health, have led homeowners’ desire to transform their homes and spaces into retreats—especially their bathrooms.
While not everyone can afford to upgrade their bathrooms to have a walk-in sauna or a multifunctional LED waterfall shower system, there are still many ways to personalize the bathroom space without sacrificin
While not everyone can afford to upgrade their bathrooms to have a walk-in sauna or a multifunctional LED waterfall shower system, there are still many ways to personalize the bathroom space without sacrificin
Roofing Trends: Long-Lasting, Good-Looking
As severe and unpredictable weather events continue to worsen across the country, manufacturers are finding ways to create products that will withstand the test of time and climate change while also providing homeowners a sense of style and charm.
“Darker colors are still very much in demand,” explains Ann Iten, director of marketing for Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions. “You’re still seeing the kind of monochromatic homes—dark roof and very light paint. You’re seeing less of the multiple color
“Darker colors are still very much in demand,” explains Ann Iten, director of marketing for Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions. “You’re still seeing the kind of monochromatic homes—dark roof and very light paint. You’re seeing less of the multiple color
Top 500 Profile: Community Values
Jeff Titus launched Titus Built in 1995 with a degree in construction engineering and an early career working for a variety of firms, from an architecture firm to heading a national corporation’s real estate and planning division. None of it, he says, truly prepared him for running a business.
“None of that teaches you how to run a company,” he explains with a laugh. “It gets you familiar with the work. You learn what’s involved. But running a business is so, so different.” He says he made a lo
“None of that teaches you how to run a company,” he explains with a laugh. “It gets you familiar with the work. You learn what’s involved. But running a business is so, so different.” He says he made a lo
Design Solutions: For Love of a Barn
Platt Builders and Kurtz Design Studio collaborate to transform a century-old barn into a garage and apartment while maintaining the original structure’s design integrity.
Outdoor Living: Keeping Up Appearances
Nancy Moore, owner and founder of The Porch Company, located in Nashville, Tennessee, says, “Porches have always been popular, but with the advent of COVID-19, people started to consider them a necessity. People needed outdoor living space; they couldn’t stay inside all the time. So, that has really ballooned demand.”
Moore, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years, provided some insight on how to build a weather-resistant porch that also serves to perform well for the client. The fi
Moore, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years, provided some insight on how to build a weather-resistant porch that also serves to perform well for the client. The fi
Product Trends: Taking Sides
Short of an addition or replacing a roof, changing siding is one of the most comprehensive ways to increase curb appeal and freshen up the appearance of a house. Contractors are finding that homeowners are willing to try out bold new colors or mix-and-match materials in order to obtain a unique look for their homes.
“With higher interest rates, people are more willing to stay in their homes instead of upgrading and buying a new home. That fuels some additional remodeling,” says Shawn Hardy, e
“With higher interest rates, people are more willing to stay in their homes instead of upgrading and buying a new home. That fuels some additional remodeling,” says Shawn Hardy, e
Deck Accessories: Expanding Views
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives in more ways than can be counted. Over the last two years, we’ve seen homeowners look around their homes and decide to invest in their spaces, remodeling kitchens and bathrooms that might have fallen by the wayside over the years or converting unused space into home offices. One popular remodeling choice has been to expand living spaces into the outdoors, building decks and outdoor spaces to create a cohesive indoor-outdoor realm.
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