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February 1, 2012
Consumers will soon demand doors, window and hardware that communicate with and be controlled by smart home systems
A remarkable turning point in the fenestration industry was reached a few weeks ago. Rather than waiting for the upcoming International Builders’ Show, Pella Corp., Andersen Windows, Therma-Tru Doors, Lowe’s and Schlage introduced new Internet-enabled products a month earlier at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Many probably paid little notice to the importance of the...
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February 1, 2012
Suppliers see new emphasis on enhanced functionality
In looking at hardware these days, window and door manufacturers’ top priority are features and benefits that can help differentiate their products, suppliers report. Other recent trends in the market include continued growth in demand for wide-opening patio door systems, the emergence of window opening control devices, and more electronic options.
“In a tight market, product...
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January 31, 2012
With consumer confidence slowly but surely seeping back into the economy, some industry companies are banking on a decent home improvement season in the coming months. And this uptick in confidence also coincides with “spring home show” season, a dynamic that could prove to be a useful catalyst in the window and door industry.
Let’s talk about home shows. Love ‘em or hate...
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January 31, 2012
As regular readers of this column are probably aware, the International Code Council has recently changed their process of revising the International Codes. They went from having two complete code change cycles per edition of the code to just one. And they changed their timeline, with applicable deadlines and hearing dates.
The goal was to have the 2012 edition of the International Building...
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January 23, 2012
This week we heard from two sources that business could be improving. The National Association of Home Builders reported that builder confidence is up for the fourth straight month. “Builders are seeing greater interest among potential buyers as employment and consumer confidence slowly improve in a growing number of markets," says David Crowe, NAHB chief economist....
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January 20, 2012
With slowly improving market conditions, NAHB is optimistic for annual event
Window and door manufacturers may not be convinced, but organizers see positive signs for this year's International Builders' Show, scheduled for February 8-11 in Orlando, Fla. With the housing market showing signs of modest improvement, the National Association of Home Builders reports pre-registrations are 25 percent ahead of last year's pace and exhibit space sales have remained strong for the...
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January 18, 2012
In working on the 2012 forecast piece for the January/February issue, I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of folks in the window and door industry about what they expect for the coming year. We covered a lot of topics, as I’m sure you can imagine, ranging from the significant challenges our industry continues to face, to the overlooked opportunities that some companies are pursuing in a...
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January 9, 2012
The concept of the smart home has been with us for many years. Progress in the market, however, has been limited. Last week's announcement from Lowe's about the launch of the Iris system indicates things are changing. And the residential window and door industry is paying attention.
Therma-Tru Doors, for example, is going to offer doors that allow homeowners to monitor activity with the Lowe's...
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January 1, 2012
Survey looks at adoption rates for new electronic tools and media
Websites are the norm; social media has many fans; and mobile technologies are gaining traction among manufacturers, distributors and dealers of windows and doors. These findings come from a series of questions included as part of Window & Door's 2013 Industry Pulse study, asking about the electronic tools and media companies use to conduct business and/or communicate with customers and...
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January 1, 2012
With more realistic expectations for the coming year, window and door companies focus on opportunities that exist
If 2011 was the year for window and door companies to adjust to the new norm of the marketplace, 2012 will be the year of truly accepting market conditions—no more waiting for a recovery—and focusing on areas in which businesses can thrive, industry executives say.
“We are hopeful that the recovery will come sooner than later,” says Todd Woods, director of marketing and...
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