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February 12, 2010
April 15 usually looms large on the calendar, but this year April 22 looms even larger for many in the industry. "Our world in the remodeling business is going to change dramatically," predicted Paul Toub of Kachina Lead Paint Solutions, speaking to participants in a Window & Door Dealers Alliance webinar focusing on new Environmental Protection Agency lead paint rules that go...
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January 1, 2010
As 2009 ended, most of the debate in Washington centered on health care, but windows and doors, along with other products offering enhanced energy efficiency, were surprisingly high on the agenda. As 2010 begins, for better or worse, our industry is entering new territory when it comes to the government's direct influence on our business.
There are good reasons to believe it could...
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October 1, 2009
This past September, Accu-Weld, a window and door manufacturer based in Bensalem, Pa., hosted a White House Clean Energy Forum featuring Energy Secretary Stephen Chu, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Delaware Governor Jack Markell. The event was part of the Obama Administration’s campaign to pass climate change or cap-and-trade legislation.
Accu-Weld was selected to host the...
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September 1, 2009
The weak economy has created tremendous challenges in the window and door market over the past three years. From an editor's perspective, I still have a hard time believing how much bad news we've had to report. It's more than I have ever seen in 25 years covering this industry. Of course not all the news has been bad, and we continue to look for the good.
Amid all the stories of...
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June 1, 2009
Nothing feels better to me than the beginning of summer. And from an industry perspective, it’s great to see things warming up a bit. With the spring came news that workers were returning to window and door plants, and I suspect many distributors and dealers brought back employees as business picked up in the office and in the field.
Whether you attribute the increase in activity to normal...
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March 12, 2009
As a candidate, President Obama promised "change." Although I don't necessarily think it came from the White House, "change" is now evident in the window and door industry.
The change is being applauded by many. With the enactment of the stimulus package, there is now a real tax incentive for homeowners to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes. Manufacturers and...
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February 14, 2009
Talk of the weak market, not surprisingly, dominated much of the conversation at last month's International Builders' Show. We'll feature a full report on the event in our next issue--and you can find extensive coverage on WindowandDoor.com now, but I thought I'd take advantage of this opportunity to highlight some of the positive developments that emerged at the show.
The event always features a...
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February 5, 2009
“Coming on the heels of unprecedented growth over the past decade,” the home improvement industry is in the midst of a “severe downturn,” says a new report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. The study suggests that by the time a recovery begins, “the entire industry is expected to begin a marked transition on both the demand and supply...
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January 10, 2009
Few people in the window and door industry are sorry to say goodbye to 2008. We reported more than enough stories this year on plant closings, lay-offs, restructurings, and even complete shutdowns of companies. I just wish I could say I was starting the new year brimming with optimism.
Current forecasts for the economy in general, and the new construction and home improvement markets, don’t...
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November 1, 2008
Dan Glover, owner of River Valley Window & Door in Lake Havasu, Ariz., was part of a “state of the window and door industry” panel that spoke at GlassBuild America in September. His company was one of our 2007 Dealers of the Year. Serving builders in the new construction market, he enjoyed growth and success as more people flocked to that desert community. He has seen firsthand...
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