CFA Calls for Entries
The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) recently announced its Call for Entries for its 2009 Projects of the Year Awards, formerly known as the "Basement of the Year." The competition allows foundation contractors to display the wide range of projects completed today. "Each year the projects submitted to this competition get more complicated and demonstrate the diversity afforded through poured wall foundations," says Ed Sauter, executive director of CFA. To enter a project in this year's competition, you must be a CFA Contractor member and submit your entry by Nov. 28, 2008. Categories include: Single Family (2000 sq. ft., Single Family 2000 to 5000 sq. ft., Single Family) 5000 sq. ft., Commercial/Multi-Family, Non-Wall Structural Element, and Above-Grade Home.Voting is based upon qualifications such as the advancement of the use of concrete foundation technology. For more information, visit www.cfawalls.org.
NAHB Honors Excellence in Green Home Building
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will honor excellence in green residential design construction practices and outstanding green advocacy efforts with the 2009 NAHB National Green Building Awards."Home builders and housing industry professionals are instrumental in adoption of sustainable building practices that benefit home owners, the environment, and the economy," says Ray Tonjes, NAHB Green Subcommittee chair and green remodeler and builder in Austin, Texas. "We look forward to honoring their commitment to green building, and sharing their innovative best practices with the residential construction industry."Awards will be given in the following categories: Advocate of the Year (Builder, Remodelor, Individual, Group); Project of the Year (Single Family, Remodel, Multifamily); Development of the Year; HBA Green Building Program of the Year (New and Existing); and Outstanding Green Marketing.All award applications, supporting documentation, and photographs must be submitted via e-mail or on a compact disk. Entries are due by Jan. 31, 2009. Download entry forms at www.nahb.org/greenbuildingawards.
PCA's One-day Concrete Floors Program
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) manual "Concrete Floors on Ground" is explored in depth during the association's newest regional seminar: Troubleshooting Concrete Floors on Ground.The one-day program will cover the design, construction, and repair of concrete floors on ground for residential, light industrial, commercial, warehouse, and heavy industrial buildings. Emphasis will be on attaining the best possible balance among service requirements, costs, and maintenance.The course is ideal for concrete contractors, cement suppliers, ready-mix concrete producers, engineers, architects, and specifiers. Participates discover practical solutions to correcting existing problems and understand poor construction practices lead to concrete defects.Visit www.cement.org/learn to sign up for the Sept. 23 event in Seattle.
New-home Sales Rise in July
Sales of newly built single-family homes rose 2.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 515,000 units in July, according to the Commerce Department. The report also indicated continued contraction in the number of new-homes for sale as builders keep a tight rein on inventories to help restore better balance between market supply and demand."With 15 consecutive months of reductions in the number of new homes for sale, builders are clearly doing a good job at chipping away at their inventories," notes Sandy Dunn, president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Point Pleasant, W.Va.Commerce's report indicated that the inventory of new homes for sale declined for a 15th consecutive month in July to 416,000, the lowest number since April of 2007. This reflects a 10.1 months' supply at the current sales pace, down from 10.7 in June.On a regional basis, sales activity was mixed in July. The Northeast posted a nearly 39% gain, the West a 9.9% gain, the Midwest a 8.2% decline, and the South a 2.5% decline.For more information about this report, visit www.nahb.org.