Archives for August 2007
Wozniak’s New Goal is Efficient Housing
Some of our readers may not be familiar with Steve Wozniak. “Woz”, as he is affectionately referred to, together with Steve Jobs, basically invented the personal computer in the form of a computer company known as Apple Computer in a garage in 1976. Wozniak has since gone on to support various educational and human interest [...]
21 August 2007 | Business, Construction, General, Green Building | No Comments
Big Dig tunnel collapse
Hmmmm…
No doubt: someone was negligent in the collapse of the Big Dig tunnel in Boston that killed one. The Latin phrase res ipsa loquitur comes to mind.
But it’s hard to understand why Massachusetts officials are going after Powers Fasteners, Inc.
Powers received an order for standard-set epoxy to be used in the tunnel ceiling, and sold [...]
14 August 2007 | Construction, Construction Defect, Construction and Law, Litigation | No Comments
The housing boom legacy
This article, while somewhat grim, definitely hits the nail on the head so to speak, about some of coming fallout from the housing boom that seems to be waning. Brad Inman’s article is yet another dissenting opinion from the rhetoric coming from QA/QC firms. Inman instead sees the handwriting on the wall pointing towards a [...]
14 August 2007 | Construction, Construction Defect, Construction and Law | No Comments
Builders, house flippers face more accountability
Texas is cracking down not just on builders, but remodelers and “flippers” as well it seems. I can’t help but wonder if the increased publicity from Texas area investors such as the Montelongos hasn’t helped to spur this legislation on.
Many remodelers and house flippers will fall under the purview of a state agency that regulates [...]
14 August 2007 | Business, Construction, Construction Defect, Construction and Law | No Comments
Defects dull dream home’s luster
This is an interesting article that is mostly accurate, although it does contain some errors and is definitely biased, although the Contra Costa Times does not list it as an editorial piece..
Experts estimate that the average new house will exhibit three to 14 construction defects. Some builders have a reputation for standing behind their work [...]
8 August 2007 | Business, Construction, Construction Defect, Construction and Law, Inspections | No Comments
Standard Pacific Shares Hit 7-Year Low
Shares of Standard Pacific Corp. plunged to a nearly seven-year low Monday on growing concerns that the homebuilder won’t be able to cover its debt.
The stock of the Irvine, Calif., company tumbled $2.28, or 18.7 percent, to $9.91 in afternoon trading. Earlier in the session, shares plummeted to $7.51, a level not seen since the [...]
8 August 2007 | Business, Construction, General | No Comments
Drywall Maker in Pain as Housing Suffers
Many in the construction industry have struggled as the housing market has slowed dramatically in recent times.
But few have felt it as forcefully or as suddenly as the USG Corporation, the nation’s largest maker of drywall, the paper-wrapped plaster boards used to build walls in homes and offices.
USG, based here in Chicago, is in some [...]
7 August 2007 | Business, Construction, General | No Comments
Developer moves, renovates historic farmhouse
This is very interesting and quite divergent from the normal method of operation for developers following land acquisition:
The soul of the American Folk farmhouse is at least 110 years old, but much of the structure itself isn’t a day over six months.
National builder Shea Homes moved and restored the historic Hudson-Schutte farmhouse on Escondido’s east [...]
1 August 2007 | Construction, General | No Comments
