The Contractor’s Tool Box

Feb 9 2010 4:59PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |

By Lou Manfredini

Over the last few years, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Susan Marvin, president of Marvin Windows and Doors. I had a chance to speak with her at the International Builders’ Show last month in Las Vegas and was impressed with her energy and industry insight.

 

While acknowledging that 2010 is shaping up as a challenging year, she nonetheless expressed optimism that builders and homeowners will respond positively to new Marvin products such as the retractable screen and the Ultimate Lift and Slide Door.

 

The short video below has my interview with Susan Marvin, as well as chats about green issues with Kevin Morrow of the NAHB and a positive remodeling outlook from upstate New York bui...Read More

Jan 19 2010 4:21PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (2) |

By Lou Manfredini

I’m really happy to be here in the HousingZone, talking to remodelers, builders and others in the homebuilding industry. I hope you’ll join in with comments and suggestions about information you’d like to see as we go along.

For my first post, I’d like to point to a nugget buried in government housing statistics that hasn’t really gotten a lot of attention: the growth of remodeling as a share of overall residential spending.

In November – the latest month for which figures are available – residential remodeling captured a 20 percent bigger piece of the overall construction pie than it did a year ago. This is a trend we saw develop throughout 2009.

In terms of actual dollars spent, remodeling basically held steady over the last year. But new construction dropped significantly during the same period...Read More