Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Whether youre embarking on a full bathroom renovation or just looking for ways to keep your space fresh for the year ahead, stay on-trend with the latest bathroom design styles for 2024. Expect to see a combination of functionality and design, with natural elements, earth tones, and a focus on accessibility in the coming year.

Bathrooms feature a greater attention to detail and focus on sustainability than ever before. Nature-inspired elements will continue to reign, but with a more saturated take in 2024 than they have in previous years. A lot of the bathrooms we have designed for completion in 2024 are full of deep earth tones and colors, says Katie Labourdette-Martinez of Hearth Homes Interiors. We are loving the juxtaposition of off-white tiles and stone paired with deep earthy plaster and dark marble.

Jean M. Allsopp

As far as what exactly homeowners will be keeping in mind when embarking on bathroom renovations in 2024, Mitchell Parker, Houzz senior editor says addressing unique familial needs, particularly that of aging family members, will be another primary focus.

From sustainable elements to handmade faucets and fixtures, these are the most popular bathroom trends the experts predict for 2024.

Courtesy of Hearth Homes Interiors / Public 311 Design

Consumers can expect to see an increased popularity in spaces that feel truly timeless. Parker credits this trend to homeowners aiming to stay in their homes for a longer duration of timeperhaps well into retirement. Designers on Houzz are hearing that homeowners want to achieve a timeless style with materials and features they wont grow tired of, he explains. Even modern homes are incorporating elements such as brick, handmade clay tiles, rustic wood elements and arches that create a feeling of quiet luxury.

According to Parker, focusing on a more timeless aesthetic also furthers the popularity of sustainable design where features like water- and energy-efficient fixtures, LED lightbulbs, and dimmers are all continuing to gain prominence.

Courtesy of Hearth Homes Interiors / Public 311 Design

According to Parker, the trend toward personalized elements and custom, handmade features initially gained traction in European design shows but has made much headway for U.S. consumers. This trend toward handmade details and features is also closely linked to the growing popularity of timeless style. Pros on Houzz say this includes handmade tiles, custom bathroom vanities and other bespoke elements, which create a feeling that the homeowner has something truly unique and special, Parker says.

Courtesy of Hearth Home Interiors / Public 311 Design

The 2023 Houzz U.S. Bathroom Trends Report found that wood is the most desired choice when upgrading a bathroom vanity. While white continues to dominate as the most popular color for countertops and walls, this attraction to wood vanities connects to a larger move throughout the home away from cool grays and stark whites to warmer neutrals like beiges, creamy off-whites and rich browns, Parker says. With the broad range of wood tones on the market, it can work for nearly any aesthetic ranging from coastal to traditional.

Courtesy of Hearth Homes Interiors / Erin Feinblatt Photography

Labourdette-Martinez says she is seeing scallops pop up just about everywhere. From vanity chairs to cabinetry details, its coming in hot and we think its here to stay through 2024, she says. Another detail thats making its way to the bath after playing a prominent role in living space design is fluted cabinetry. The aesthetic creates a thick, often rough statement-making detail beneath island countertops, bathroom vanities and dining room tables, adding visual texture and interest, Parker says.

Courtesy of Hearth Home Interiors / Public 311 Design

While natural materials are continuing their unprecedented rise in popularity, so too are nature-inspired colors and wall treatments that can further the soothing, indoor-outdoor appeal of the aesthetic. Earth-toned paint colors, plaster, and accent colors are recent favorites for us and weve been weaving them into our designs in 2023, and expect to be doing even more of that through 2024, Labourdette-Martinez says. When it comes to selecting earth-toned paint colors, undertones are more important than ever. To keep it interesting, look for shades that bring an unlikely element to the table (like an off-white with a subtle apricot nod) for a fresh take on the earth-tone trend.

Courtesy of Hearth Home Interiors / Public 311 Design

Bold marble and natural stones have been a big bathroom trend through 2023, and we expect 2024 to be no different, Labourdette-Martinez says. Were loving the deep reds and browns, bold veining, and black stones for bathrooms lately. For those who are looking to keep their budgets in check, consider tiles that can lend a similar effect, or even smaller elements like a rattan stool, natural rug, or wood bench to deliver a grounding, natural feel.

Because more homeowners are planning to stay in their homes for longer, they're implementing features that they'll need down the road. Half of homeowners who are addressing these needs are planning ahead for the future and theres growing interest in universal design that prioritizes beauty, in addition to function, Parker says. Manufacturers are supporting this trend by creating stylish, aging-in-place features. For this reason, nonslip flooring, curbless showers, wider doorways, lower vanity heights, and grab bars are a few design elements youll see more of in 2024.

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7 Bathroom Trends That Will Make a Splash in 2024 - Better Homes & Gardens

Bathrooms, a bit like kitchens, take a lot of consideration especially when you are starting from scratch and designing a totally new space. Unlike living rooms and bedrooms where you can quite easily switch things around as your tastes and trends change, bathrooms need to be considered from the start - they need to last through ever-changing trends and get that balance between being both current and classic.

Essentially you want to be creating a bathroom that never dates, a timeless space that always looks on trend. Easier said than done we know, which is why we asked top interior designers for what they think makes for a timeless bathroom.

The key to a timeless bathroom is really about creating a space you love and not being too swayed by interior design trends. If you reflect your own personal style that's what's going to give a space longevity, plus choosing colors and finishes that aren't going to date too soon (although if you love it, what does 'dated' even really matter?).

(Image credit: Julie Soefer/Marie Flanigan Interiors)

'Begin by layering your bathroom with timeless natural materials, in both the bathroom flooring and countertop selections. I love a classic marble paired with wood flooring or a beautiful tile. These elements create a canvas that fosters a sense of enduring elegance.' suggests Marie Flanigan.

'Plumbing fixtures with clean and subtle silhouettes help strike a balance between contemporary touches and timeless design. Create a balanced and inviting atmosphere with strategically placed fixtures that not only enhance functionality but also offer a new finish to the space. Hardware selections serve as jewelry for your bathroom. Choose timeless finishes like unlacquered brass or polished nickel and pay attention to intricate details that add a touch of sophistication to the overall design.'

'Im a big believer in choosing timeless materials for things that are not easily changed like tile and plumbing fixtures in a bathroom,' agrees Emily Henderson. 'Think of a pretty subway tile for instance. Then after those foundational elements are in place you can either continue with traditional light fixtures, bathroom paint colors, decoror you can decide to play with different styles to make it feel more eclectic.'

Marie Flanigan

Marie Flanigan is an award-winning interior designer whose passion and achievements in design have positioned her as one of the nations best.She is classically trained and practiced architect, and her trademark style is evident through the sophisticated use of color, texture, and light. Every home she designs receives her personal signature of timeless elegance and innovative simplicity.

(Image credit: Micheal Sinclair/Tala Fustok)

'A timeless bathroom is all about the fusion between form and function. Everything in your bathroom should serve a purpose, especiallyif the space is on the smaller side,' explains Kathy Kuo.

'I would advisefirst making a list of the bathroom essentials you know you'll need -shower curtain, bath mat, towels, soap dishes, a toilet paper holder - and then make design-centric choices to check those pieces off your list. Finally, finish the space off with an artful wall mirror, some fun wall art, and a chic waste bin - these are items that you can moreeasilyswap if you decide you want a slight refresh down the line. If you let practical needs lead the design, you can't go wrong!'

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Kathy Kuo is a celebrated interior designer and international guru within the home and lifestyle space. She has 20+ years of experience in the design industry.

(Image credit: Tala Fustok)

'Bathrooms have come a long way in the last few years.The use of unusual and impactful materials has really been on the rise.One thing we keep in mind for someone looking for a showstopping bathroom is whether it will work in five years!' recommends Jennifer Walters, founder of Folding Chair Design.

'Some of this boils down to materials. The use of a powerful marble is always a good idea in my book. Marbles have been used in bathrooms for hundreds of years and will continue to be used in different ways, so the timeless quality of this material always holds up.Geometric porcelains and cement bathroom tiles are already seeing their way to the door, so we like to use more trendy looks in spaces like bathroom backsplashes where they can easily be changed out in a few years if necessary without redesigning a whole room.'

(Image credit: Julie Soefer/Marie Flanigan Interiors)

'Creating a timeless bathroom is all about blending enduring aesthetics with functionality. We begin by selecting materials that have stood the test of time. Marble bathrooms immediately come to mind, with their innate elegance and timeless beauty, or subway tiles which are known for their versatility and clean lines.' explains Jennifer Davis.

'We keep the bathroom color schemeto neutrals, like pristine whites, warm beiges, or soft, inviting grays. To complement these foundational elements, opt for fixtures and plumbing fittings characterized by classic lines,nothing to ornate or too modern. We tend to stick with timeless metals such as polished chrome or brushed nickel. The marriage of classic materials, neutral tones, and timeless design elements creates a space that surpasses the fleeting bathroom trends.'

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Jennifer fell in love with design at a young age and has been working in the industry for over 25 years. She has developed an eye for detail and a talent for creating timeless designs. Jennifer offers a balance of creativity and forward-thinking with a structured, organized, and detailed mentality.Jennifer is driven by her deep passion for design while curating an exceptional client journey, ensuring pure delight from the very beginning to the end.

(Image credit: Design by Caitlin Higgins Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp)

'Aesthetically, try for clean, beautiful finishes. But a bathroom does not have to be all white or neutral to be timeless,' says Mindy O'Connor Principal Architect and Founder of Melinda Kelson O'Connor Architecture & Interiors. 'Bold tile, wall, or vanity colors and deep saturated or colorful hues can be timeless as well. The way you apply those colors though is critical for longevity. Think in large areas, and avoid overly complicated or intricate patterns, especially ones that might be disturbed if a plumbing fixture, mirror, or vanity needs to be updated.'

'Be conscious of scale looking for proportional places to use small or mosaic shapes versus larger format tiles and think of continuous surfaces and how they intersect or meet the curb, windows, or walls in the room. Stick with more neutral (and easily cleanable) metal finishes that can work with changing tastes as well.'

(Image credit: Davis Interiors)

'In order to design a timeless bathroom, focus on a proper bathroom layout with distinct areas wherever possible. Even in a small space creating breathing room around each function will make the room feel more open and lasting. Include bathroom storage in your vanity (or medicine cabinets), and a separate tiled shower where possible. Having spaces to put things away makes for a more usable bathroom and allows for lasting finishes.' adds Mindy.

So it seems that if you want to design a timeless bathroom, it's all about the marble, clearly designers believe this is the most classic of materials. You want to create a setup that is malleable, by that we mean it's a neutral (or neutralish) backdrop for you to bring in smaller decor and fixtures that bring the bathroom up to date and change the look as trends change.

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How can you design a bathroom that never dates? | - Homes & Gardens

Falling mortgage rates helped end a four-month decline in builder confidence, and recent economic data signal improving housing conditions heading into 2024.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose three points to 37 in December, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.

With mortgage rates down roughly 50 basis points over the past month, builders are reporting an uptick in traffic as some prospective buyers who previously felt priced out of the market are taking a second look, said NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey, a custom home builder and developer from Birmingham, Ala. With the nation facing a considerable housing shortage, boosting new home production is the best way to ease the affordability crisis, expand housing inventory and lower inflation.

The housing market appears to have passed peak mortgage rates for this cycle, and this should help to spur home buyer demand in the coming months, with the HMI component measuring future sales expectations up six points in December, said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz.

Dietz added that the recent pessimism in builder confidence this fall has been somewhat counter to gains for the pace of single-family permits and starts during this time frame.

Our statistical analysis indicates that temporary and outsized differences between builder sentiment and starts occur after short-term interest rates rise dramatically, increasing the cost of land development and builder loans used by private builders, Dietz noted. In turn, higher financing costs for home builders and land developers add another headwind for housing supply in a market low on resale inventory. While the Federal Reserve is fighting inflation, state and local policymakers could also help by reducing the regulatory burdens on the cost of land development and home building, thereby allowing more attainable housing supply to the market. Looking forward, as rates moderate, this temporary difference between sentiment and construction activity will decline.

But with mortgage rates still running above 7% throughout November, per Freddie Mac data, many builders continue to reduce home prices to boost sales. In December, 36% of builders reported cutting home prices, tying the previous months high point for 2023. The average price reduction in December remained at 6%, unchanged from the previous month. Meanwhile, 60% of builders provided sales incentives of all forms in December, the same as November but down slightly from 62% in October.

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 35 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as good, fair or poor. The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as high to very high, average or low to very low. Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

The HMI index gauging traffic of prospective buyers in December rose three points 24, the component measuring sales expectations in the next six months increased six points to 45 and the component charting current sales condition held steady at 40.

Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast increased two points to 51, the Midwest fell one point to 34, the South dropped three points to 39 and the West posted a four-point decline to 31.

HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics is also available at Housing Economics PLUS (formerly housingeconomics.com).

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Builder Sentiment Rises on Falling Interest Rates - National Association of Home Builders

Vertically Integrated Modular Housing Project Opens in Auburn, Washington

Blokable at Phoenix Rising, a vertically integrated 12-unit affordable modular housing development in Auburn, Washington, opened in 2020. Modular homes are mass-produced, prefabricated residential structures that can be combined with other modules or permanent fixtures onsite to form single- or multifamily dwellings. Blokable, a Seattle-based manufacturer of modular homes, developed Phoenix Rising as its prototype multifamily building. Adopting a modular construction process generated considerable time, cost, and energy savings.

Creating a Prototype Modular Community

Unlike most modular manufacturers, who sell their products to developers, Blokable uses a vertical integration process that allows the company to control the entire development process, including site selection, assembly, and financing. After developing single-module accessory dwelling units (ADUs), the firm was ready to build a small multiunit development as the next step in the product development process. "This generation of prototype was basically the step between building ADUs and then building full five-story engineering," explained Aaron Holm, who along with co-CEO Nelson del Rio led the development of Blokable's fully integrated process.

Blokable drove the entire development process for Blokable at Phoenix Rising, handling the permitting, inspections, financing, assembly, logistics, and transportation. After working with the King County Assessor's Office to find available space, Blokable contracted with Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care to build a prototype multifamily residence. Valley Cities owns both the resulting apartments and the quarter-acre building site. Blokable initially intended to apply for funding from a state program supporting innovative development methods. However, because Blokable was a design-build developer, it could not respond to the state's request for proposals because only teams consisting of architects, developers, and general contractors were eligible to respond. To receive state funding, a state legislator had to add an earmark to Valley Cities in the state capital budget to fund this project. This unconventional production strategy created other complexities, such as determining the applicable rules and regulations as well as the builders' wages, because manufacturing and architecture are separate industries with very different pay scales. After a few years of financial and administrative delays, Blokable at Phoenix Rising opened in December 2020 at a cost of $1.5 million.

Twelve Prefabricated Apartments

Blokable assembled the all-steel modules in its manufacturing plant in Vancouver, Washington. Complete with floors, windows, and appliances, the modules were transported nearly 150 miles by truck to the site, where they were assembled into two buildings: one with five units and one with seven units. Only the roofing was constructed on site.

The modules, which have a useful life of 50 to 100 years, are all electric and net-zero ready. Their tight building envelope minimizes the energy expended for heating and cooling. Residents of Phoenix Rising pay about 60 percent less for air conditioning and heating their units and 30 percent less for utilities than do residents of standard new units. The units have an energy-recovery ventilation system that filters outdoor air and exhausts stale air outside. This system helps limit exposure to bacteria, mold, and other unhealthy air particles. The tight building envelope also minimizes outdoor sounds.

Five of the apartments are 280-square-foot studios and seven are one-bedroom apartments that are 340 square feet. The units include kitchens and living areas and have dimmable cove lighting. All the apartments are reserved for residents who earn between 30 and 50 percent of the area median income. Blokable at Phoenix Rising is near amenities, services, and job opportunities in Auburn and the greater Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. The development is also a few miles from a commuter rail station that offers direct links to downtown Seattle, downtown Tacoma, and other suburbs.

A Cost-Effective Strategy

At approximately $125,000 per unit, the project cost significantly less than a typical site-built residential development in King County would. One reason for the lower cost was the project's shortened development timeframe. Unlike traditional onsite construction, modular production is a standardized and repeatable process. In addition, factory production requires significantly less architecture and engineering services than does standard construction. The streamlined development process and reduced need for specialized services significantly lowered labor costs. The project's tight building envelope also reduced the amount of material waste, because the materials do not need to be sent to the site before being cut to fit.

Holm explained how Blokable will produce future modular developments more quickly and efficiently. "We took a lot longer building Phoenix Rising than we [will] on subsequent projects because we took a lot of time to specifically document the process so that we could make it more repeatable and drive costs down. This is a model that substantially reduces the per-door cost basis to bring new housing to the market." Blokable now has a standardized manufacturing, assembly, and attachment process, and many of the structural components are preengineered. In addition, developing a standardized, preapproved product simplifies the approval process because the structure already meets local regulatory requirements.

Although modular development is nearly always less expensive than site-built construction, Holm believes that the vertical integration model is by far the most cost-effective construction method. Currently, most manufacturers sell modules to developers when the "product" is at its lowest possible value, which adds a middleman and limits incentives for modular production. When the manufacturer also acts as the developer, however, these producers can increase profits while also reducing costs for residents. "The incentive for factory production in the real estate context is for vertical integration and [for] the developer to realize the upside in the form of appreciating real estate equity, not to sell it as a productized asset," Holm said. He explained that this model can yield 30 times the profit over a 10-year period compared with modular "products" that are sold as a construction "input" to the development process.

Prospects

Blokable is preparing to mass-produce multifamily apartments in several states. Blokable's product is designed to meet many of the strongest state codes in the country. The structures can be up to four stories tall in areas that experience heavy snow and up to five stories tall in earthquake-prone areas such as California, which has the strictest seismic requirements in the nation. These buildings are also designed to withstand winds of up to 160 miles per hour.

Modular homes are becoming increasingly popular in the United States because of their financial, environmental, and time-saving benefits. Although regulatory and financial barriers to modular and other prefabricated housing persist, some state and local governments have been easing restrictions. For example, shortly after Blokable at Phoenix Rising opened, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries began allowing third-party engineers and architects to review modular development plans, simplifying the administrative approval process. Holm remains optimistic that modular development using a vertically integrated process will become increasingly common. However, financial and regulatory restructuring will be necessary for factory production to replace traditional construction in the residential market.

Interview with Aaron Holm, 10 October 2023.

Interview with Aaron Holm, 10 October 2023; email correspondence with Aaron Holm, 20 November 2023.

Interview with Aaron Holm, 10 October 2023.

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Vertically Integrated Modular Housing Project Opens in Auburn, Washington | HUD USER - HUD User

(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)

There's a new house on the east side of Lansing that city officials hope will lead the way for attainable housing in the area.

"It's a way to see if this is one of the many solutions that's needed for the housing crisis," Alan Fox Ingham County Treasurer.

On what used to be two vacant lots on the east side of Lansing now sits Ingham county's first-ever modular home thanks to the Ingham County Landbank

"This is a house that will fit into the neighborhood beautifully. It's about the same size as other houses. It's two story's and the particular design was picked because it will not stand out in this neighborhood," Fox said.

Allen Fox is the Ingham County Treasurer and the chair of the Ingham County Housing Trust Fund.

He says this new home is a part of an experiment to help the housing shortage in the area.

"We wanted to see if they were usable. And affordable to get moderate-income housing into the city. And the state of Michigan had some funds available to try it out," Fox said.

Fox says the house will be sold to a new homeowner at a rate of cost that is subsidized by public money in order to make it affordable.

"So it contributes to increase in home ownership. And it it contributes to having just one more housing unit in the community. That relieves the housing shortage," Fox said.

Dejuan Lewis and his wife Jennifer have lived in the area for years and says they are happy to see changes in their neighborhood.

"Previously, there used to be two houses there and then over the years, they demolish them and there was a garden in there at one point in time that community garden and then now seeing a big house come in it's nice," Jennifer said.

"I will say it's not much to look at over here but you know, the people are real nice. The kids are nice, they come on and they play over here in the backyard with our trampoline. It's nice to add to the community. So I'm all for it," Dejuan said.

Fox says the energy-efficient house is expected to be ready for occupancy by spring of 2024 and this won't be the last that we see of these homes.

"There's going to be another one going up elsewhere in the city later this year," Fox said.

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First ever modular home in Ingham County placed on the eastside of Lansing - FOX 47 News Lansing - Jackson

In 1969, the federal government announced that it would hand out millions of dollars in subsidies to companies willing to try something new: build houses in factories.

Then as now, America was in the throes of a housing crisis. There werent enough places to live. Mass production provided Americans with abundant and cheap food, clothing, cars and other staples of material life. But houses were still hammered together by hand, on site. The federal initiative, Operation Breakthrough, aimed to drive up the production of housing and to drive down the cost by dragging the building industry into the 20th century.

It didnt work. Big companies, including Alcoa and General Electric, designed new kinds of houses, and roughly 25,000 rolled out of factories over the following decade. But none of the new home builders long survived the end of federal subsidies in the mid-1970s.

Last year, only 2 percent of new single-family homes in the United States were built in factories. Two decades into the 21st century, nearly all U.S. homes are still built the old-fashioned way: one at a time, by hand. Completing a house took an average of 8.3 months in 2022, a month longer than it took to build a house of the same size back in 1971.

Federal housing policy in the decades since the failure of Operation Breakthrough has focused myopically on providing financial aid to renters and homeowners. The government needs to return its attention to the supply side. Opening land for development, for example by easing zoning restrictions, is part of the answer, but reducing building costs could be even more constructive. Land accounts for roughly 20 percent of the price of a new house; building costs account for 60 percent. (The price of land is a larger factor in coastal cities like New York, but a vast majority of new housing in the United States is built on cheap land outside cities.)

The tantalizing potential of factory-built housing, also known as modular housing, continues to attract investors and entrepreneurs, including a start-up called Fading West that opened a factory in 2021 in the Colorado mountain town of Buena Vista. But Fading West, and similar start-ups in other parts of the country, need government help to drive a significant shift from handmade housing to factories. This time, there is reason to think it could work.

On a windy morning last month, I watched as wooden platforms the size of train cars moved down the Fading West assembly line, advancing to a new station every few hours as workers added walls and windows, wiring and insulation, dishwashers and cabinets. The finished boxes are trucked to building sites and swung into place by cranes. Houses consist of two to four boxes. Once theyre knitted together, the result looks like a traditional home.

Charlie Chupp, the chief executive, previously ran a company that built and shipped all the pieces of new stores for Starbucks, Einstein Bros. Bagels and other restaurant chains. Fading West is seeking to apply a similar model to building homes and apartments. We see ourselves as being in manufacturing, not construction, says Eric Schaefer, a former pastor who is now the companys chief evangelist, bending the ear of politicians, reporters and developers about the potential benefits of mass production and the changes necessary to support it.

Final assembly happens so quickly that it almost seems like a magic trick. In Poncha Springs, a town 30 minutes south of Buena Vista, I watched as a crane swung a 19,894-pound box over a concrete foundation. A worker on each corner checked the fit while two more waited in the basement to connect it to the foundation. As it was secured, a truck arrived with the next box.

The team of eight workers has sometimes assembled four houses in a single day.

Joanna Schwartz, the chief executive of Quartz Properties, which is using Fading Wests boxes to build the homes, said buyers sometimes come to see the show. They didnt have a house in the morning and then in the afternoon they can walk through it, she said.

Fading West says houses from its factory can be completed in as little as half the time and at as little as 80 percent of the cost of equivalent handmade homes, in part because the site can be prepared while the structure is built in the factory. A 2017 analysis by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, found similar savings for the construction of three- to five-story apartment buildings using modular components.

Factory building has other advantages, too. It can reduce waste, maintain higher standards of consistency and produce homes that are more energy efficient. It is not subject to rain delays.

It also offers a solution to the home-building industrys growing problems finding enough qualified workers, especially in high-cost areas. Manufacturers like Fading West can build where labor is cheaper and then ship homes to the places where people want to live.

But there are good reasons modular housing has remained the next big thing for a long time.

One basic problem is that houses are large objects, and unlike cars or airplanes, they are not designed to move. The result is that the savings from factory production are partly offset by the cost of transportation. (Some companies reduce transportation costs by shipping homes in smaller pieces, an approach pioneered by Sears and other retailers of build your own home kits in the early 20th century, but that just shifts the cost from transportation to assembly.)

The volatility of the housing market is also a problem. Traditional home builders rely on contract workers who are easily dismissed during downturns. Factory builders, which have high fixed costs, tend to go bankrupt. Housing downturns have ended a long line of ambitious and well-funded efforts to create the Model T of the housing industry. In 2006, on the cusp of the most recent housing crash, factory builders produced more than 70,000 homes. Since the crisis and the resulting wipeout, annual production has not exceeded 30,000 houses.

Neither volatility nor transportation costs might matter if factory home builders could match the efficiency gains found in other kinds of mass production. Brian Potter, a senior infrastructure fellow at the Institute for Progress, a nonpartisan think tank focused on technological innovation, gives the example of the Ford Taurus. Experimental models of the 1996 Taurus were built by hand, which cost almost half a million dollars per car. The car eventually retailed for less than $20,000.

Factory home builders have struggled to streamline construction. Mr. Potter spent several years looking for ways to make housing construction more efficient, an effort he narrated on a fascinating blog, before concluding that significant progress wasnt likely. Almost any idea that you can think of for a way to build a single-family home cheaper has basically been tried, and there was probably a company that went bankrupt trying to do it, Mr. Potter told me.

I think the history of the auto industry provides reason for more optimism. One lesson is that progress requires production at scale. There are a handful of car companies that each make millions of cars, and hundreds of home builders building a few hundred homes a year. Fading West, which aims to produce as many as 1,000 homes a year, says that isnt enough to justify investments in automation.

Efficiency gains also come from doing the same thing over and over again, but the idiosyncrasies of local building codes make that impossible. In Colorado alone, by Mr. Schaefers count, there are more than 300 distinct building codes, requiring adjustments for each new batch of homes. Fading West found that it had to use different roof designs for homes headed to the city of Fairplay and to a development just outside the city, because the county has stricter snow load regulations.

A sequel to Operation Breakthrough could help the industry overcome those challenges. The Canadian governments Rapid Housing Initiative is providing support for large-scale modular manufacturing by setting tight construction deadlines for affordable housing projects that obtain government funding, an approach the United States could emulate on an even larger scale.

The government also can push for the standardization of building materials and building regulations. Herbert Hoover, the great champion of industrial standardization, who during his years as commerce secretary in the 1920s worked successfully to establish uniform rules for products such as paving bricks, milk bottles and blackboards, argued that establishing consistent standards was the nearest thing to a free lunch. It would increase productivity, benefiting companies, workers and customers. Florida and California will always have somewhat different building codes, because hurricanes and earthquakes pose different challenges. But there is no reason for Colorado to have 300 different codes.

If it seems far-fetched that the government could revolutionize the home-building business, take a look at what sits on top of a growing number of American homes. The government has driven the spread and driven down the cost of solar panels through decades of investment and subsidies.

Its time to pay similar attention to the buildings underneath.

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Opinion | Why Do We Build Houses in the Same Way That We Did 125 Years Ago? - The New York Times

Hi, I am Hobot-R3 window cleaning robot, and I am here to help you clean those filthy windows. Little does it know that while it is an enthusiastic and tireless cleaner, I am not.

You see, I know that it will politely ask me to move it to the next pane of glass every few minutes, which is a pain in the *rse. OK, lets get serious Hobot-R3 makes me get off my *rse and clean the glass, frames, flyscreens, and more. And that is a good thing as we live by the sea, and it is amazing how much salt deposits get on the glass.

Most would answer when you cannot see out of them. Unless, of course, you have a million-dollar view, and then you can afford to pay for a cleaner.

The Architectural Digest states at least twice a year in established suburbia and at least four times a year within 1km of the sea, river, or dry/dusty area.

What comprises window washing? No, it is not a quick pressure hose, as that leaves water spots and streaks. It is not a quick wipe with a cloth/squeegee with a window cleaning solution, as that does not remove grime. It is the application of muscle and a final polish to remove streaks. Importantly, do it on a cooler, low-humidity, windless day.

If your windows are dirty, using water or a cleaning solution makes mud! Professional window cleaners recommend you vacuum the glass first. And remember, every story has two sides inside and outside.

We have reviewed a few glass-cleaning robots, so we wrote a guide to help us assess the relative merits. Read Window cleaning robots sparking windows can be easy.

Spoiler alert Hobot-R3 is pretty good, especially for dirty windows.

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets expectations) and Exceed (surpasses expectations or is the class leader) against many of the items below. We occasionally give a Pass(able) rating that is not as good as it should be and a Pass + rating to show it is good but does not quite make it to Exceed. You can click on most images for an enlargement.

I have been using a Hobot 388 window cleaning robot since mid-2021, so I know what to expect from a dual rotating mop pad robot. It is nice that it has upgraded from one to two ultrasonic misting spray nozzles and added some basic intelligence via an App. Still, the 388 has done everything I asked of it.

The Hobot App for Android or iOS is benign and only collects information needed for its operation. It enables firmware updates, and you can use the Hobot-R3 without the app or the remote control just by pressing the start button.

The best description is:

If you have dirty windows, it recommends using two passes. The first with spray-off is to remove dust and avoid mud. The second with spray-on cuts grime and cleans/polishes. Or you can pressure wash first, and after the water has dried (important as the pads streak if wet), do the second run only.

If you are doing a maintenance clean, then one pass with a spray-on is fine.

We strongly recommend using any AC-powered device outside with an HPM Electresafe Power Centre it has an RCBO (Residual Current Breaker with Overload) to stop anyone from getting electrocuted by detecting a ground leakage.

Its 295 148 95mm x 915g. The height means you may need to remove flyscreens.

The top rotating pad is mainly used to climb crablike up windows and to polish the glass after the bottom pad cleans them. They dont constantly rotate as such but adhere to the glass gecko-like.

No matter where you start it on the pane, it will first climb to the top of the frame and clean along that. It then crabwalks down the glass and moves from one side to the other before moving down again and rinse and repeat.

All glass gets at least two passes one from the bottom pad and one from the dry top pad.

The glass must be >3mm and flat, transparent, coloured, or opaque. It can have a slight tilt we tested it to about +/-30.

To start, switch it on, hold it against the glass and press the start/pause button. To release, press the power button.

Other uses: It will clean glass pool fences, shower screens, tiled benchtops (works horizontally, too), and splashbacks. While it has pressure change and edge detection, please keep it away from frameless glass edges.

These are microfibre and are not meant to be damp if they are, you get streaks. Hobot provides six pairs; you change them every 15-20m2 depending on the dirt and if you see streaks. The pads are hand or machine-washable (<40). I use a Dishmatic Dish brush with a general-purpose pad and some dishwashing detergent to clean the pads and then wring and air dry.

It is not so much AI as smart algorithms assist in preventing falls and cleaning all glass to a pre-set pattern.

We found that placing the Hobot-R3 at the top of the glass was best to save time in climbing up and then cleaning downwards.

In all the time I have used a Hobot window cleaner, it has not fallen. But that is not an invitation to be blas about it either. The 4m carabiner rope should be used whenever there is a risk. For example, cleaning tall windows where a fall onto a hard surface could break it.

It is not always easy to find a tie-off point either. Some use a pool-cleaning pole; others place old pillows under the window to break the fall.

Pure, clean water is fine but has no cutting power. Hobot Window detergent comes in a five-pack for $60 (special $55) plus shipping. Given its frugal use, stick with this instead of trying to find an alternative.

It does a 2100 x 650mm (1.365m2) window in 4.5 minutes. It is no louder than a conversation 70dB at 1m.

Given that we prepped the external dirty glass with a pressure wash, it only needed one pass to clean the windows, leaving them streak-free. Like most windows robots, it cannot remove bird poop, insect impacts, paint splatter and gunk. You should remove these first with a razor blade scraper.

We did not prep the internal glass, and one pass was fine.

Of course, we had to clean the frames, edges and corners to finish manually, but the result was better than a cloth, squeegee, and hard work.

Apart from cleaning the mop pads, wipe over the unit and store it. If you dont use it for three months, top up the battery charge.

The water tank and nozzles are user-replaceable. This is good for longevity.

For our purposes and environment, a rotating mop cleaner is best. That does not detract from the excellent platen Hobot S2, perfect for well-maintained windows.

The App reminds me to clean every three months now damned app. But quarterly maintenance is easier than annual back-breaking work.

Definite yes. Not because I am lazy but because it does all the windows, balcony glass, pool glass fence, and more, some of which are way outside my comfort zone. And because my neighbour borrows mine all the time.

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Hobot-R3 window cleaning robot does a great job (cleaning review) - CyberShack

Are you a homeowner, property manager, or just interested in learning best practices for maintaining a healthy living space? Then this online Zoom conference on air duct cleaning and mold remediation will be your perfect guide.

Our webinar aims to address such queries: Where do I find top-notch air duct cleaning near me?" and looks forward to introducing experts from Pure Airways Duct Cleaning Dallas who will share valuable insights from years of experience in the field.

The spotlight of our sessions will focus on steps towards achieving healthier indoor air quality, starting with your duct and vent systems. Proper maintenance goes beyond simple cleaning - it's about enhancing room comfort while also reducing energy expenses.

Next, we'll delve into mold-related issues that can infest any home unnoticed. Its crucial to have an understanding of home mold remediation techniques; whether you're dealing with black mold or just musty odors, prompt and effective action is vital. For this topic, we've got industry professionals from Pure Airways Duct Cleaning Dallas leading the charge. They'll walk you through their comprehensive approach to mold remediation in Dallas style!

From initial inspection methods to rigorous clean-up procedures, well equip participants with a thorough knowledge base designed to improve ones indoor environment significantly.

This informative session will pave the way toward better indoor health right at your fingertips. After all, clean indoor air is not a luxury but a necessity! If you're ever perplexed thinking about tackling issues related to air ducts or mold remediation in-house, don't fret; our upcoming online event should provide plenty of answers.

We encourage attendees to come prepared with questions or concerns related to these topics ahead of time so they can be addressed during our Q&A segment.

Remember, awareness is the first step to action. So while you stay tuned for more information on our floating date and time, mentally prepare yourself to absorb the ins and outs of air duct cleaning and mold remediation from industry veterans!

Bookmark this space for updates on the event's confirmation link. See you soon!

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Local Event: Navigating Your Indoor Environment: A Comprehensive Webinar on Air Duct Cleaning & Mold Remediation - Patch

A section along Anderton Avenue could collapse as a result of flooding or an earthquake, the city says

Courtenay officials are monitoring a retaining wall on the Courtenay River, saying a section along Anderton Avenue is at risk of collapse in the event of flooding or an earthquake.

The area of greatest risk along the 260-metre wall on the west side of the river is a 50-metre section below an unoccupied hostel and the 10-unit Anderson Arms apartment building next to the 5th Street Bridge.

Building owners and residents have been notified and the city said it is installing warning signs, but there are no immediate evacuation orders, nor an immediate timeline for repairs or replacement.

Staff are working to determine best path forward for the impacted properties and expect to have more information for residents and property owners in the near future, the city said in a notice this week.

The city made repairs to the 50-metre section in 2016 and recently noticed more movement in the piles.

Failure may be a gradual slide toward the river, or a rapid collapse caused by a flood or seismic event, said the city.

The Anderton Avenue retaining wall protects the banks from river flows, but backfill behind the wall has been sinking toward the river. This is a concern because buildings can only withstand a certain amount of movement before they become unsafe to occupy, according to Courtenays engineering department.

The risk of failure is much lower behind the 210-metre concrete section of the Anderton Avenue wall and the sewage lift station and Riverside Park behind it, according to the city.

The foundation of the 5th Street Bridge is not at risk, but the city said debris could damage the bridge if a rapid collapse of the pile wall were to occur.

dkloster@timescolonist

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Courtenay concerned about retaining wall along river - Times Colonist

December 14, 2023

The City of Courtenay is notifying the public about the potential risk of failure to the Anderton Avenue Retaining Wall located along the west side of the Courtenay River, parallel to the 400-block of Anderton Avenue.

The City has been closely monitoring the Anderton Avenue Retaining Wall following a repair in 2016. The wall is made up of two sections a 50-metre sheet pile section and a 210-metre concrete section. Monitoring has detected movement of the sheet pile wall, which indicates a risk of partial or total failure.

Failure may be a gradual slide toward the river, or a rapid collapse caused by a flood or seismic event. The risk of failure is much lower behind the concrete section of the wall, along Riverside Park.

Private property owners and residents impacted by this risk have been notified directly, and the City will install warning signs in the affected area.

This notification is a proactive measure to make property owners and residents aware of the condition of the Anderton Avenue Retaining Wall. We recognize that this information may be concerning, especially among impacted residents. said Mayor Bob Wells The City is completing additional structural inspections, and is actively working to determine a path forward for the impacted properties. We are committed to ongoing communication about this sensitive matter.

The City of Courtenay will provide property owners and residents with further updates as additional information becomes available. To learn more about the risk to the Anderton Avenue Retaining Wall, visit http://www.courtenay.ca/andertonwall.

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Potential Risk of Failure of Anderton Avenue Retaining Wall - City of Courtenay