Latest Articles in January/February 2012

  • January 20, 2012
    Meetings & Events | Products, Channels, Markets & Trends

    Builders' Show Returns to Florida
    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... more »
  • January 1, 2012
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Operations, Sales & Marketing

    Changing Ways of Doing Business
    Survey result 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. Those findings come from a series of questions included as part of Window & Door's 2012 Industry Pulse study, asking about the electronic tools and media companies using to conduct business and/or communicate with customers and... more »
  • January 1, 2012
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Markets & Trends

    Embracing the Reality of 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... more »
  • January 1, 2012
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Operations, Methods & Techniques

    Improving Installation Methods in Replacement Window Applications
    A three-step system for water management in scenarios where the window is replaced but the wall cladding is not
    Replacement windows and doors represent a sizable majority of the fenestration products installed into buildings in recent years, particularly with the drop in new construction starts and incentives provided for the energy efficient replacement units. While there has been significant effort in codes and standards to improve installation practices in new construction installations, relatively... more »
  • January 1, 2012
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Segments, Channels, Markets & Trends

    The 2012 Industry Pulse
    Survey reveals dealers, distributors and manufacturers are extremely cautious about business outlook
    The window and door industry is looking at the coming year with extreme caution, according to the 2012 Industry Pulse, Window & Door’s exclusive annual survey of industry executives. North American window and door manufacturers and dealers remain guarded in their expectations for the economy as a whole and window and door demand in general.  This year's study indicates less... more »
  • December 16, 2011
    COLUMN : Dealer Perspectives | Channels

    WDDA Establishes 2012 Priorities
    When we set out two years ago to establish the Window & Door Dealers Alliance, we never envisioned the kind of impact we would have in such a short period of time. Some of our many highlights from 2011 include turning back the lead clearance testing rule proposed by Environmental Protection Agency, securing language in the HomeScore Energy program criteria favorable to window and door dealers... more »
  • December 14, 2011
    COLUMN : Opening Remarks

    A Lot of Hard Work
    Last year was tough for the industry. But as 2011 winded down, there were new signs of hope. Single-family home sales were inching up, as was builder confidence, as measured by the National Association of Home Builders. Challenges persist in the housing market, said David Crowe, NAHB's chief economist, but he also predicts "modest, gradual" improvements heading into 2012. The mood was... more »
  • December 7, 2011
    COLUMN : Industry Watch | Markets & Trends

    The Best Opportunity for High-Performance Fenestration
    In last August's edition of this column, I noted that many potential homebuyers, leery about the economy and unable to sell their undervalued homes, are turning to remodeling and staying put. Statistics confirm that a growing number of Americans are spending more on home renovations, at the rate of an estimated $115.9 billion in the year ended June 2011, according to the Joint Center for Housing... more »
  • December 2, 2011
    COLUMN : Code Arena | Codes & Standards, Energy Efficiency

    IgCC Means Change, Not Catastrophe
    “Will Your Business Survive when Green Becomes Code?” was the title of the webinar. The promotional e-mail for the event implied that green construction would soon become code mandated due to the completion of the 2012 International Green Construction Code and that mandated compliance could threaten the survival of many businesses due to liability concerns. Now, I am not a lawyer and... more »
  • February 13, 2011
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Products, Channels, Markets & Trends

    IBS 2012 Product Showcase
      Welcome to Window & Door's ongoing coverage of the 2012 International Builders' Show. This section of our site provides an in-depth look at windows, doors and skylights, as well as components and accessories showcased by industry exhibitors at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., February 8-11, 2012 Click here to read our main show report providing an... more »