Industry Trends & Analysis

Make Money Selling Quality
The best materials may not be the cheapest in the short run—but they are in the long run.

Finding Center the First Time
Problem solving with construction calculators. Part 2.

Fundamentals of Receiving
Accurate inventory management is critical to a successful operation. It all begins with successful receiving management. Here’s how to do it right.

Conquering Cumulative Error
How construction calculators solve repetitive problems and save money.

Haunt Historic Homes
Earn the respect of your clients—and respectable fees—by knowing more about your craft.

How to Avoid "Greenwashing"
If you rely on product labels to recommend green products, you’d better understand what the labels signify.

Selling the Re-Deck Project
New deck projects are nice, but there’s money to be made replacing old decks, too.

Managing Your Waste Stream
Recycle and reuse, and you’ll save both money and the environment.

Installing Trouble-Free Doors
Develop a Manual of Practice to train your installation crews

What Green Really Means
Green has exploded into the marketplace. Everybody wants “green,” but with no established definition, who knows what they really want?

Conserving Water in the Home
New techniques take green building to the next level

What the Heck is a VOC?
Possibly the most widely used term in green building, a definition of VOCs is in order.

Why Moisture Content Matters
Invest in a moisture meter now, before it’s too late

Deck Math
Part I of a 3-part series on making more money on decking.

Not All Bad News
The secret is to focus on areas with traction, and prepare for tomorrow.

Energy Efficient Lights
These lights save energy and money, which makes them a very green choice.

New Solutions for Melting Vinyl Siding
A new additive may solve the issue of siding that melts due to reflected heat.

Under Pressure
Builders across the country face tough markets, unsold inventory, and fewer buyers. Learn what you can do to help.

Building Mold-Resistant Bathrooms
Correct installation and customer education can help prevent moisture problems.

Understanding the NFRC Ratings
This "apple to apple" comparison lets you rate windows and doors for energy-efficiency.

Tips for Buying Deck Materials
Know what questions to ask to get the best products.

NAHB Forecast: Soft landing for housing market
Demand dips 10% in first quarter; market expected to level out in 2007 

Product Update: The (almost) $10 billion category
New study pegs demand for molding and trim products to reach $9.8 billion by 2009.

Top Billing for Home Depot?
Can the LBM giant parlay its 15 minutes of fame into stardom?

Housing Report: Home Price Appreciation Begins to Slow
Prices still rising, but off the record pace of recent years.

Mob Scene
Consolidation in the production-housing channel leaves underserved markets elsewhere.

Housing Report: Surprise! Homes Get Bigger
The weird house on the block has fewer than three bathrooms.

Condensation on Windows
Condensation on windows spells trouble—and not just for the windows.

A Well-Oiled Machine
How the Middle East crisis may determine the fate of the channel.

Why Miters Move
Using new-growth wood for millwork means finding ways to avoid future joint failure.

Innocents Abroad
Dealers are looking beyond the United States for alternative brands. That’s good for the entire channel.

Five D’s for Moisture Control
Better building practices lay a solid foundation for durable exterior trim. 

The Day After
Bob Nardelli will be remembered as the guy who finally snatched the halo off Home Depot’s head.

Turnaround Artists
The downturn is real—and no amount of positive spin will change that.

Fix Frost Problems in Basement Walls

Weather...or Not
Bad winter storms and half-hearted reporting snowball into confusion over the housing market.

The Case of the Melting Siding

Preventing Water Damage and Roof Leaks
A North Carolina builder asks, “What is the best way to reduce the potential for water intrusion at our roof wall intersections?”

Layout with Lasers
Knowing how to use hi-tech tools will help you sell them.

Predator’s Ball
How sub-prime lenders undermined the housing boom. 

Avoid Moisture Build-up in Homes
Good fans and careful installation will help avoid moisture problems.

What’s New in Cool Roofing
New products are “not so hot,” and that’s good news!

Finding Cash in the Corners
Recycling scrap isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for the bottom line.

Pros and Cons of Closed and Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation

The Power of Computers
Even smaller businesses can benefit from embracing all the computer world has to offer.

Why Water Runs Uphill
Understanding water will help your customers stay high and dry.

Does Permeability Matter in a Housewrap?
The more quickly a wall dries, the better.

2008 Entrepreneurs Of The Year
Tony Shepley of Shepley Wood Products took top honors in the $50-million-plus category. Meet our other two winners-Lumber One and The Remodeler's Choice.

Tool Trends for 2008
New safety features for saws truly revolutionize this product category.

More Top Tools: 2008
The Festool Domino is a tool that makes job site work faster, cleaner, and more efficient.  

Profiting from Installed Sales
However you choose to embrace this opportunity, it's time to make installed sales a core part of your business.

Going Cordless, Going Green
New battery technology offers measurable benefits.

Cost Effective Green Building
Reducing energy is one of the best ways to start going green.

Profit from the Green Building Revolution
All across America, home builders are greening their businesses. Here's how you can profit from the Green Building Revolution.

The Green Market is Here to Stay
Learn what “green” is, why it matters— and how you can profit from it.

What's Green About Windows?
What’s Green About Windows? When you deliberately punch large openings in perfectly good walls, you’d better have quality window units to install.

The Green Building Envelope
Insulation is the key to reducing fuel costs.

Green Building Standards
Understanding green building standards will help you—and your customers—stay out in front of this exploding market.

Eight Ways to Go Green at No or Low Cost
Most dealers already stock green products, and adding new green lines is easier than you think.

The Culture of Caution: Are You Ready For a Downturn
Housing remains strong-but can that last? Dealers discuss steps they've taken to ensure they can stay on top in a down market.

Off and Running
We've called on seven pacesetters in key facets of our industry to help you chart your course.

Hard Lessons from Your Vendors
If you succeed, they succeed, so your vendors are promed to offer business assistance. All they ask is your time and attention.

American Pie
All your life, white middle-class home buyers have been the driving force behind the housing industry. A new era is about to begin.

Pressure Cooker
Selling treated wood has gotten complex in the eleven months since CCA was banned.

Co-opetition
Regional Building Material associations and buying groups seek to redefine their respective roles in the dealer channel.

Value Proposition
Whether you're building a business to pass on or sell off, it's critical that you know how to value your company.

Hot Products: 2005 International Builders’ Show Sampler
The New and the Hot from the International Builders’ Show in Orlando

Ownership Society
Driven by the housing boom, remodeling has blossomed into a quarter-trillion-dollar business. Are you getting your share?

The Vendor Solution
Vendor-managed inventory programs have proven effective with many other products and channels. Is the time coming when a vendor will manage your lumber inventory?

Show Me the Money
Results of our exclusive research into sales compensation.

For Love or Money
Dealers are migrating toward program buys on commodities to ensure supply and ease price volatility.

Residential Building Permits Top 200 Markets

The Economics of Katrina
Few housing experts doubt that damage from Katrina will dwarf the losses from any previous U.S. natural disasters. Here's a closer look.

NAHB Forecast
LBM Prices Moderate As Homebuilding Tapers Off.

In Depth: Insulation
Concerns about heating bills, mold and indoor air quality, coupled with newly instituted tax credits, give inside-the-wall products a higher profile.

In Depth: Molding
Wood, composites and polymers have expanded the molding market, giving dealers wider options for meeting customer needs and budgets.

In Depth: Windows
Stricter codes, emerging technologies and a desire for more amenities spur growth in high-end window designs across all materials.

Katrina Cottage vs. FEMA Trailers
As this proud little house demonstrates, temporary mobile homes are not the only option for hurricane ravaged areas.

Green & Growing
With more consumers learning the benefits of living in a “green” home, and savvy builders delivering the goods, green building appears more evolution than trend.

Engineered Wood Products
The market continues to grow and demand is spurring products that expand builders’ options.

In Depth: Siding
Personalization, durability and performance are driving the selection of siding products.

Material Handling Products
From taller racks to more nimble forklifts, faster and more efficient material handling capabilities mean more money in your pocket.

In Depth: Roofing
As homeowners look to boost curb appeal, roofing manufacturers are responding with new products in an abundance of colors, styles and materials.

In Depth: Insulation
Performance advances mean energy savings for homeowners—and sales for you.

In Depth: Moulding, Trim, & Millwork
The slowdown in new-home construction may change the product mix in moulding, but marketers remain optimistic about 2007 sales.

Framing the Future
Building material dealers get closer to their builder clients by providing—and even installing—customized, specialized component packages.

In Depth: Windows
Regional variations in codes, energy needs, and styles drive new products and expanded options.

Decks
New colors, options, and materials keep this category sizzling.

In Depth: Fasteners
Booming deck projects, stricter building codes, and new products are all driving explosive growth in this market.

Siding
As homeowners demand “personal style” for their homes, siding product lines expand to meet the mix-and-match era.

In Depth: Doors
Homeowners who want to jazz up their home’s appearance look to their doors—inside and out—as a quick way to present a new face.

In Depth: Engineered Wood Products
Suppliers look to expand market share in a housing slowdown as more builders recognize the benefits of these products and processes.

Ask The Expert
Reducing Mold in Finished Basements...Finished basements require care to stop wetness and possible mold growth.

In Depth: Roofing
Performance tops the list in this category—but aesthetics are also key as options continue to expand.

Wired for Profits
Technology tools engineered to harness efficiencies and fatten your bottom line.

How Tight is Too Tight?
Builders should build tight and ventilate right to avoid indoor air quality problems.

A Special LBM Journal Research Report
Builder/Remodeler Product Preferences: Find out what you can do to influence your key customers’ purchases in the areas of roofing, siding, windows, and insulation.