PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION
Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $593.0 billion, 1.2 percent below the revised November estimate of $599.9 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $260.4 billion in December, 2.8 percent below the revised November estimate of $268.1 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $332.5 billion in December, 0.2 percent above the revised November estimate of $331.8 billion.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION
In December, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $309.6 billion, 1.2 percent below the revised November estimate of $313.3 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $80.3 billion, 0.4 percent below the revised November estimate of $80.6 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $83.7 billion, 2.3 percent below the revised November estimate of $85.7 billion.

The company said net sales orders for the first quarter increased 45% to 4,037 homes ($850 million), compared to 2,777 homes ($568 million) for the same quarter of fiscal 2009. The Company's cancellation rate (cancelled sales orders divided by gross sales orders) for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 was 26%.

Donald R. Horton, Chairman of the Board, said, "We are excited to report a quarterly pre-tax profit of $42.8 million and net income of $192.0 million. Our homes closed increased 36% over the prior year while our homes gross margin improved 460 basis points sequentially to 17.1%. Our homebuilding SG&A dollars increased only 1% from the year ago quarter while homebuilding revenues increased 23%, bringing our SG&A as a percentage of homebuilding revenues down to 11.6%.

"Our net sales orders also showed significant improvement from the year ago quarter, increasing 45%. Our focus on providing affordable homes positioned us to take advantage of the demand created by the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers, and we believe that the extension of the tax credit will benefit our spring selling season.

"Market conditions in the homebuilding industry are still challenging, characterized by rising foreclosures, high inventory levels of available homes, increasing unemployment, tightening FHA lending standards and weak consumer confidence. However, new home inventory remains low, interest rates are favorable and housing affordability is near record highs."

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in December, increased 1.0 percent to 96.6 from 95.6 in November, and remains 10.9 percent above December 2008 when it was 87.1. In November, the monthly index had fallen by 16.4 percent from surging activity in preceding months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said it's important to recognize how the tax credit is skewing market data. "There are easily understood swings in contract activity as buyers respond to a tax credit that was expiring and was then extended and expanded," he said. "These swings are masking the underlying trend, which is a broad improvement over year-ago levels. December activity was the fifth highest monthly tally in two years."

Buyers who have a contract in place to purchase a primary residence by April 30, 2010, have until June 30, 2010, to finalize the transaction to qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers.

The PHSI in the Northeast rose 2.3 percent to 76.1 in December and is 14.9 percent higher than December 2008. In the Midwest the index increased 5.2 percent to 86.9 and is 8.7 percent above a year ago. Pending home sales in the South rose 2.2 percent to an index of 98.4, and are 5.5 percent higher than December 2008. In the West the index fell 3.8 percent to 119.9 but is 18.6 percent above a year ago.

Yun projects the extended and expanded tax credit will encourage 2.4 million households to take the credit in 2010. "While new-home sales will remain low due to a lack of construction, existing-home sales are projected to rise to around 5.6 million in 2010," Yun said. Last year there were 5.16 million existing-home sales.

He added that one of the greatest benefits of rising sales will be firming home prices. "For several months now we've been seeing stabilization in all of the home price measures as inventory is pulled down," Yun said. "As a result, the housing wealth for many middle class families has begun to stabilize."

Fourth-quarter operating profit totaled $199 million compared with $10 million in the prior year. Results were favorably impacted by cost reduction and productivity initiatives and increased sales volume. These favorable factors were partially offset by lower price/mix.

"In 2009, we significantly improved our global cost structure and operating performance despite a substantial decline in global demand levels," said Jeff M. Fettig, chairman and chief executive officer of Whirlpool Corporation. "In addition, we generated record free cash flow and strengthened our financial position. I am pleased with our execution in this challenging environment, and we look to build upon our progress in 2010."

FOURTH-QUARTER REGIONAL REVIEW

Whirlpool North America
Fourth-quarter sales of $2.6 billion increased 4 percent from the prior year, while North American unit shipments increased 8 percent. U.S. industry unit shipments of major appliances increased 6 percent during the fourth quarter.

The North America region reported operating profit of $136 million compared to a loss of $(20) million in the previous year. The improvement was primarily the result of cost reduction, productivity initiatives and increased sales volume. These factors were partially offset by lower product price/mix.

Based on the current economic outlook, the company expects full-year 2010 U.S. industry unit shipments to increase between 2 percent and 4 percent.

Whirlpool Europe
Whirlpool Europe reported fourth-quarter sales of $956 million, a 2 percent increase from the prior year. Excluding the effects of currency, sales declined approximately 9 percent. Overall industry unit demand during the quarter declined approximately 8 percent from the prior year.

The region reported an operating profit of $19 million during the fourth quarter compared with $2 million reported in the previous-year period. Results were favorably impacted by lower costs and higher price/mix. These factors were partially offset by lower volume.

The company expects full-year 2010 industry unit shipments to be approximately equal to 2009 levels.

Whirlpool Latin America

Fourth-quarter net sales totaled $1.2 billion, an increase of 52 percent from the prior year. Excluding currency translation, sales increased approximately 28 percent.

Operating profit totaled $138 million in the fourth quarter compared with $110 million in the prior year. The improvement in profitability is primarily related to higher sales volumes, higher productivity and favorable foreign currency fluctuations. These items were partially offset by lower monetization levels of certain tax credits and lower price/mix.

The company currently anticipates full-year 2010 Brazilian appliance shipments will increase 5 percent to 10 percent compared to the previous year.

Whirlpool Asia
Whirlpool Asia reported fourth-quarter sales of $188 million, increasing 34 percent from the prior year. Excluding the impact of currency, sales increased 27 percent. Operating profit during the quarter totaled $6 million, an increase of $3 million from the prior year. The year-over-year increase in operating profit was mainly attributable to higher unit volume and was partially offset by lower price/mix.

The topics covered in the presentation included an overview of the window and door industry, including an analysis of transactions and expansions and the slowing rate of plant closings and bankruptcies.

Also included was a discussion of current industry trends, the state of the residential and commercial real estate markets and a review of the capital markets and private equity investing as they pertain to the window and door industry. The final section of the presentation covered current trends regarding competition from Chinese companies, including the most recent import statistics and some of the events taking place in China that will affect the U.S. domestic market.

A complimentary copy of the presentation is available, along with all of Jordan Knauff's research on the door and window industry, at www.jordanknauff.com/windoor

John Haddon, Accu-Weld President, stated, "It is with great pride that we announce these new products within the first year since our family acquired the company, combining customer feedback, a strong vision and a relentless focus on value and quality." The Haddon Signature Series is based on a proprietary Accu-Weld profile bringing together energy efficiency, beauty and performance. Haddon continued, "Vertical integration enables us to tightly manage every step of the extrusion and manufacturing process. When Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, visited our plant, it was clear to us that it was time to raise the bar on energy efficiency. Our new Eco-Green product, which qualifies at the R-5 level, is 50% more energy efficient than the 30/30 standard at an affordable price."

The Haddon Signature Series includes three window lines: Accu-Vision, Accu-Safe and Eco-Green.

Accu-Vision - For the Haddon Signature series, engineers developed a stronger, more durable 15-chamber, foam-filled frame that is fusion welded from a 100% virgin vinyl blend. The frame is beveled for enhanced appearance and is available with a variety of grid styles. The windows utilize an exclusive Gold Series weatherseal treated with Ultra-Fresh to be highly resistant to mold, mildew and fungus, as well as providing a superior seal against air and water leakage. Standard auto-locks provide ease of function and safety enhancements. Additionally, several non-structural components are made from recycled materials for environmental considerations. High-performance double-strength Solarban60 insulating glass contributes to the whole window Energy Efficiency Ratings of R-3.33 and U-Factor of .30.

Accu-Safe - This window includes all of the standard features of Accu-Vision with increased safety and enhanced soundproofing for the Urban home. Tempered and laminated on double-strength glass makes it virtually impenetrable and dramatically reduces noise from the outside. An auto-lock engages when closed for a secure seal. This window achieves Energy Efficiency Ratings of R-3.44 and U-Factor of .29.

Eco-Green - Designed to be the most energy efficient replacement window, outperforming Energy Star standards by a wide margin. Eco-Green utilizes all of the features of Accu-Vision plus triple pane glass to achieve Energy Efficiency Ratings of R-5 and U-Factor of .20. For customers seeking to meet the R-5 standard or looking to buy the most energy efficient window on the market, at the best price, the Eco-Green is for them.

All of the new Haddon Signature Series Windows will be manufactured at the company's "Green" production facility located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. According to Larry Haddon, Accu-Weld Vice President, "After 20 years of selling windows for other manufacturers, we now have the opportunity to design and build the window we've always wanted. We've paid attention to the details that matter in look, performance and style. We're thrilled to offer our dealers and customers this exciting family of super energy-efficient windows."

Accu-Weld products, including the Haddon Signature Series, are immediately available via Accu-Weld dealers and distributors. Dealers interested in carrying Accu-Weld products should contact Larry Haddon at Accu-Weld at 215.245.6050.

For more information, visit www.accuweld.com.

The 2010 NTCA training and education program includes seven architectural workshops at Daltile Gallery Selection Centers in Atlanta, Anaheim, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Manhattan and San Diego. The NTCA "Tile & Stone Gallery" workshops hosted at Daltile locations are geared to present architects and designers with important tile and stone industry information, specification details, new materials and methods, while providing the opportunity to earn CEU credits.

In addition, Michael Whistler, the new West Coast regional director for the NTCA, will host a special training presentation in Spanish on August 11, in Escondido, California. Whistler will present 30 workshops in the Western states, as well as the Vancouver session. Gerald Sloan, NTCA training director, will present an additional 39 workshops in the Eastern United States and Toronto.

"Daltile is pleased to take our long standing support of the NTCA to a new level as evidenced by our expanded 2010 program," said John Turner, Sr., General Manager of DalTile Corporation commercial sales and national accounts.

Bart Bettiga, NTCA executive director said, "As long as the NTCA has been performing workshops, Daltile has been a consistent supporter of the program. In these challenging economic times, both the NTCA and Daltile are committed to being leaders in promoting the successful installation of tile, stone and allied surfaces, through training and education."

Workshops generally follow a four-hour format with refreshments and snacks provided at each host location. Each workshop will allow hosts to customize topics to best meet the needs of their target audience.

NTCA is a non-profit trade association serving every segment of the industry, spearheading education for the professional installation of ceramic tile and allied products.  For more information on workshop scheduling or hosting, please contact NTCA assistant executive director Jim Olson at jim@tile-assn.com

"Chuck has been an integral part of the DriTac family for over six years and we are thrilled to promote him to this very important position. Through his leadership, we have experienced significant growth during the time he has been with us" said Yale Block, President.

Hall joined the company in 2003 as National Sales Manager and made an immediate impact on the companies growth and future direction. Prior to joining DriTac, Hall spent many years working with several major hardwood flooring manufacturers. Hall's expertise and in-depth knowledge of hardwood flooring, adhesives and the flooring industry, have proven to be invaluable to DriTac's success. Hall has built long-lasting relationships in all channels of the flooring industry and has extensive experience working closely with flooring distributors, manufacturers and contractors to build sales both domestically and abroad.

Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, DriTac Flooring Products is one of the oldest and most experienced manufacturers of environmentally friendly adhesives for wood flooring in the market today. DriTac is the only major adhesive manufacturer solely dedicated to environmentally friendly adhesives and flooring installation products specifically designed for the wood flooring industry. DriTac adhesives are available from coast to coast through more than 100 distributors.

For more information, visit: www.DriTac.com

The move has paid off, and the new Value line is attracting many grateful new customers.

One example is the Fremont, California office of BCA Architects. BCA does a lot of work for schools and churches who typically can't afford high end renderings and animations, so they have had to use rendering houses from China to save money. Last year BCA decided to give Focus 360's Value Line a chance. According to Samer Kawar, Associate/Lead Design Architect "The quality of Focus 360's work makes all the other renderings and animations we've done (which we thought were good at the time), look amateurish! Great people to work with too..."

BCA and Focus 360 have now done multiple architectural renderings and architectural animations together. One animation was a design presentation of an elementary school. Focus 360 was able to keep costs down, for instance, by using stationary cars and people--while still communicating the building's sense of design and scale.

Home builders are also taking advantage of our Value Line. Shea Homes uses our Value Line Virtual Model Homes to demonstrate the floor plans that won't have a physical decorated model. According to Adam Hieb, Director of Sales and Marketing, "We've used Focus 360 for many years for our bigger budget, high profile projects. We're excited that we can now afford them for all our projects."

If you've been contemplating offering renderings or virtual model home tours without breaking the bank, visit them online at: www.focus360.com

The Environments For Living program - offered by Masco Home Services, Inc., a Masco company - is the only national turn-key program designed to assist builders in constructing energy-efficient homes using the principles of building science. And it's leading the way in helping builders construct homes that are more comfortable and more durable than homes built using conventional methods. The program addresses a range of green building attributes including energy efficient construction, methods for improving home durability, indoor environmental quality, and water-efficient building practices.

"We developed Green Built Texas to increase awareness and availability of resource efficient homes in our market," says Phil Crone, Director of Government Affairs and Green Building Programs for the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas. "Recognizing the Environments For Living program as a compliance path for our program furthers this mission by increasing the options available to homebuilders and buyers throughout Texas." By communicating the unique benefits of each program, Green Built Texas helps builders and buyers make informed decisions on the sustainable strategies they wish to employ."

"The real winners of the linkage between Green Built Texas and the Environments For Living program are the homebuilders and homebuyers throughout the state," says Stephen Davis, Regional Building Science Advisor for Masco Home Services. "Making it easier for builders to construct more durable, energy-efficient homes than standard, code-built homes will provide an enormous amount of good for the built environment in Texas."

To learn more about the Environments For Living program requirements, visit www.environmentsforliving.com or call (866) 912-7233.

At House Plans and More's website, customers can choose from a selection of plan packages that now include a PDF file format. This online house plans option includes a complete set of construction drawings in an electronic format that allows you to resize and reproduce the plans to fit your needs.

"Everyone part of the construction process wants to get their hands on a copy of the plan. So no matter how many you need, we have an option for you including our PDF file format that allows you to make as many copies as you would ever need," explains Sean Kehoe, a Residential Estimator for HDA, Inc. Since these are electronic files, House Plans and More can send them to a customer via email within 24 hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is also a great way to save money on shipping costs while offering printing flexibility by allowing a customer to print the size and number of plan sets they need.

In addition to t PDF file format, House Plans and More offers several other plan package options including CAD packages and traditional house blueprint packages ranging in size from 1-set to 8-sets.

House Plans and More features a staggering collection of more than 18,000 home designs. With this vast quantity of plans, everyone searching for a home plan is sure to find exactly what they need. For more information on House Plans and More, HDA, Inc., and their house plan collection, please visit HousePlansandMore.com

In comparing current sales levels to year-ago levels, 24 percent of respondents said sales were higher in January versus year-ago levels, down from 27 percent in December. For January, 46 percent reported sales were even, and 30 percent said sales were below year-ago levels, down significantly from 52 percent in December.

Looking forward six months, 61 percent of January respondents said they expect sales to be above current levels, up from 60 percent in December. In January, 26 percent of respondents said they expect sales to be even in six months and 13 percent expect sales to be below current levels.

Looking forward one year, 72 percent of respondents project sales will be higher, up from 71 percent who felt that way in December. Twenty-three percent of January respondents project sales will be even one year from now and six percent project sales will be below current levels.

Timothy S. Farrell, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA), said: "While sales levels for some of our members are beginning to improve slightly, most of them remain frustrated by macroeconomic hurdles, such as high unemployment levels and a stagnant housing market, standing between them and the opportunity for more robust growth."

Released at the 2010 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas last month, the Commentary provides valuable insight to the intention and implementation of the practices and provisions found in the standard. Developed with the input of members of the ICC 700-2008 Consensus Committee who developed the standard, the Commentary is a useful resource for any designer or builder using the ICC 700-2008 as a rating system for developing or renovating residential properties of all types, to reduce their relative environmental impact.

The National Green Building Standard is a scoring tool and certification protocol that assures projects have met stringent benchmarks in energy, water and resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality and lot and site design. It is the first such system to be approved by the American National Standards Institute. The standard covers single-family homes, apartments and condos, residential land development and home remodeling projects, and is administered by the NAHB Research Center, which also accredits local verifiers around the country.

"This new resource allows readers to better navigate the National Green Building Standard," said Bob Jones, NAHB Chairman and a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "Each chapter breaks down the different components contained in the standard, allowing builders and remodelers to learn the best way to build green in their own communities."

The Commentary expands on the compliance language in the ICC 700-2008 to further explain the standard's:

-Scope and administration
-Compliance method for all applications of the ICC 700-2008
-Requirements and prescriptions for all chapters within the ICC 700-2008

The National Green Building Standard Commentary is available for purchase ($41.95 NAHB member/$45.95 retail, ISBN 978-0-86718-659-8) at www.BuilderBooks.com or by calling 800-223-2665.

"Manufacturers from all over the globe have reserved their location on the show floor with many companies expecting to unveil new products at the show," said Ed Several, Group Vice President & Show Manager, National Hardware Show. "We are optimistic that the expected market recovery in mid-2010 will encourage retailers to diversify their inventory mi. By reviewing hundreds of thousands of new SKUs in a variety of price points, retailers are able to gain valuable insight, ideas and inspiration."

Brands representing the seven major product categories that are exhibiting at the National Hardware Show include: 3M; Ames True Temper; Arrow Fasteners; Bond Manufacturing, Brinkmann Corporation, Burpee Garden Products; Camp Chef; Channellock; Coleman Cable, Cosco Home & Office; Designers Edge, Earthtronics, Elmer's Products; EMSLO Group, Fiskars; Feit Electric; Ferry Morse Seed, Gleason Group, Henke/ Loctite, IDC Westinghouse, Illinois Tool Works, Jarden's First Alert brand; Karcher, N.A., Little Giant/Franklin Electric, MTD Products, Racor, Rio Brands, Stack-On Products, ShurTech Brands, Southern Patio, Stanley National Hardware; Stanley Tape, The Hammock Source, Vaughn & Bushnell; Whirlpool/Gladiator Garage Works; Worx; The Scotts Company.

"New programs, products, insights and customer value have all contributed to this early commitment to next year's show we believe," said Several. "We've created a series of "Discovery Zones" where retailers can see the latest new products in categories that they buy; brand new custom research and insight being revealed through the North American Retail Hardware Association; consumer product testing will be conducted by HANDY magazine and the Handyman Club of America and a whole host of other brands will be announced in the near future. We are very excited for the 2010 event."

To learn more and register, go to: www.nationalhardwareshow.com/en/Home/

"ZIP System® roof and wall sheathing eliminates the need for housewrap and felt, so the time it takes a builder to install ZIP System panels is significantly less than with traditional methods. The new tape gun gives builders an even greater advantage because it loads twice as fast as the previous version and is designed for greater durability on the jobsite," said Meredith Murchison, ZIP System products general manager at Huber Engineered Woods. "Now builders have the ability to improve installation speed with a system that is already recognized for industry-leading management of moisture and air movement."

The ZIP System wall sheathing has a moisture barrier and air barrier all-in-one, providing a tight building envelope and superior moisture resistance during and after construction. ZIP System tape durably seals panel seams, can help reduce air leaks as recommended by the Seal and Insulate with the ENERGY STAR effort, and is code recognized as window and door flashing tape (ESR-2227). ZIP System roof panels have a built-in moisture barrier and eliminate the need for felt paper and H-clips. Builders using ZIP System roof and wall sheathing can obtain points toward green building certifications including LEED for Homes, ENERGY STAR for Homes, and NAHB National Green Building Standard.

For more information, visit: www.huberwood.com

"Homeowners today know that curb appeal is one of the most significant features when building, buying, selling or remodeling a home. Yet, many do not fully realize the large impact a roof has on curb appeal. In addition to protecting the home, the roof is one of the largest architectural features—in some cases up to 50 percent—and has the power to truly take a home from drab to FAB," said Sheree Bargabos, Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt Business President.

Bargabos continued, "It became apparent to us that the growing consumer trend for more color in all aspects of a home would also be demanded for the roof. Design-conscious homeowners, many times the woman of the household, told us they wanted a roof that helped tie-in the total exterior package. This is what we had in mind when we developed the Designer Colors Collection; we combined the high-performance of our Duration shingles with intense beauty from distinct color and dimension."

The Designer Colors Collection offers seven new colors modeled after those found in life, and are meant to evoke feelings that match their names—from Summer Harvest, Pacific Wave, to Merlot. Summer Harvest, for example, is a blend of sunny gold, cool blue and burnt sienna tones that blend to achieve a warm, rustic feel much like a summer day with a clear blue sky. Five of the seven colors are available in each region of the U.S.

Whichever color homeowners select, they can rest easy knowing that all Duration Designer Color Collection shingles come with SureNail Technology for maximum performance and wind protection of up to 130-MPH winds.

The Designer Colors Collection offers builders and roofing contractors the opportunity to further differentiate their homes and businesses and can also attract a growing market segment of women and young, design savvy homeowners.

FIND YOUR ROOF COLOR
Owens Corning enlisted renowned colorist, Lee Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, to help develop exterior color palettes to correspond with each of the seven shingle colors to help homeowners visualize style options for their home.

To find out more about the Designer Colors Collection and to take an interactive quiz to find out which new roof color suits your personality, visit www.roofingcolorcompass.com

"RMI's Board of Directors believes that this asset sale is a vital step to preserve and maximize value for our shareholders given the Company's current financial condition and the state of the industry. We will evaluate additional strategic options for the Company once this transaction closes, including effecting a special dividend," said Chief Executive Officer Bradley Larson.

The transaction currently is expected to close by April 30, 2010.

About Ready Mix, Inc.
RMI has provided ready-mix concrete products to the construction industry since 1997. RMI currently operates three ready-mix concrete plants in the metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona area, three plants in the metropolitan Las Vegas, Nevada area, and one plant in Moapa, Nevada. RMI also operates two sand and gravel crushing and screening facilities near Las Vegas, Nevada, which provide raw materials for its Las Vegas and Moapa concrete plants. Upon closing of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement, RMI will be subject to the terms of a non-compete agreement and will cease to provide ready-mix concrete and operate such facilities.

The homebuilding segments reported a pretax loss of $55.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to a pretax loss of $82.7 million for the same period in 2008. This reduction in loss was primarily due to higher gross margins, lower selling, general and administrative expenses, and a decrease in loss from land sales, partially offset by higher inventory and other valuation adjustments and write-offs, as well as to declines in closings and home prices.

Homebuilding revenues decreased 21.1 percent to $405.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to $513.5 million for the same period in 2008. This decline was primarily attributable to fewer closings and lower sales prices. Closings totaled 1,666 units for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009, compared to 1,964 units for the same period in the prior year, reflecting a 15.2 percent decrease. For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the average closing price of a home declined by 3.7 percent to $237,000 from $246,000 for the same period in 2008.

New orders of 969 units for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, represented an increase of 74.9 percent, compared to new orders of 554 units for the same period in 2008. The Company sold 1.7 homes per community in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009, versus 0.7 homes per community for the same period in 2008. For the fourth quarter of 2009, new order dollars increased 94.8 percent to $237.6 million from $122.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Backlog at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 11.1 percent to 1,732 units from 1,559 units at December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2009, the dollar value of the Company's backlog was $435.1 million, reflecting an increase of 6.9 percent from December 31, 2008.

The company said sales declined throughout the United States., while sales increased overall in Canada and Europe. A significant portion of the increase in Europe was in France, which was up primarily due to the acquisition of Agence Internationale Commerciale et Industrielle, S.A.S. in April 2009. Simpson Strong-Tie's fourth quarter sales decreased 7.5% from the same quarter last year, while Simpson Dura-Vent's sales decreased 31.0%. Simpson Strong-Tie's sales to contractor distributors and dealer distributors decreased significantly as home-building activity, and general economic conditions, remained weak. Sales to home centers also decreased. Sales decreased across all of Simpson Strong-Tie's major product lines, particularly those used in new home construction. Simpson Dura-Vent's sales decreased across most of its product lines, with the exception of direct vent products.

Check it out now at: http://greenhomeguide.com

"We anticipated very difficult market conditions in 2009 and took action accordingly," said William C. Foote, USG Chairman and CEO. "Structural cost reduction initiatives and aggressive management of product margins helped to mitigate the impact of exceptionally weak demand. A continued sharp focus on overall spending and working capital, plus the successful settlement of the Lafarge lawsuit, added to the corporation's strong cash and liquidity positions."

Foote continued, "2010 will be another challenging year. We expect our businesses to benefit further from the many actions that we continue to take to optimize our operations. We are confident that our emphasis on the elements of the business that are within our control, such as customer satisfaction, cost control, sizing the business to market conditions and innovation, will enable us to manage successfully through this prolonged downturn. Looking forward, we believe we are well-positioned to capitalize on an economic rebound and a recovery in our key market segments," concluded Foote.

The non-cash, deferred tax asset valuation allowance in the fourth quarter of 2009 will not impact the corporation's ability to utilize its U.S. net operating loss carryforwards to offset taxable U.S. earnings in the future. At December 31, 2009, the corporation had a federal net operating loss carryforward of approximately $1.2 billion that will not begin to expire before 2026. The $31 million in fourth quarter charges includes $29 million of restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges and $2 million of goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges.

Core Business Results

North American Gypsum
USG's North American Gypsum segment reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $407 million, down from net sales of $505 million reported in last year's fourth quarter. It reported an operating profit of $63 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, which included $97 million, net of fees, of income from the settlement of litigation and restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges of $1 million. North American Gypsum reported an $87 million operating loss, including $32 million in restructuring and impairment charges, in the fourth quarter of 2008.

United States Gypsum Company reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $315 million compared to $415 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. The decline in net sales was primarily attributable to an 8 percent decline in the realized selling price of SHEETROCK(R) brand gypsum wallboard and a 26 percent decline in wallboard shipments. Sales of complementary products were also lower.

U.S. Gypsum reported a fourth quarter 2009 operating profit of $57 million, including the benefit of the litigation settlement, an improvement when compared to an operating loss of $81 million in fourth quarter of 2008. Profitability for joint treatment and cement board products improved while overhead and other costs were reduced. These more than offset the negative effects of lower wallboard prices and volumes. The operating loss improved by $14 million when excluding restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges in the fourth quarter of both 2009 and 2008 and the $97 million litigation settlement in the fourth quarter of 2009. The operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the operating loss in the fourth quarter of 2008 included restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges of $1 million and $28 million, respectively.

U.S. Gypsum shipped 1.06 billion square feet of gypsum wallboard during the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with 1.44 billion square feet shipped during last year's fourth quarter. U.S. Gypsum's average realized selling price for gypsum wallboard was $109.86 per thousand square feet during the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with $118.98 in the fourth quarter of 2008 and $115.33 in the third quarter of 2009.

The gypsum division of Canada-based CGC Inc. reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $73 million, an increase of $2 million, or 3 percent, compared with the same period a year ago. The sales increase was principally due to the favorable effects of currency translation in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008, partially offset by lower sales of SHEETROCK brand gypsum wallboard. Operating profit of $5 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009, an improvement compared to an operating loss of $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. This improvement was primarily due to improved wallboard profitability and the favorable impact of cost reductions.

USG Mexico S.A. de C.V., USG's Mexico-based gypsum business, reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $36 million, down from $44 million in last year's fourth quarter. The decline in sales was largely attributable to a decline in shipments of gypsum wallboard. Operating profit was $3 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, unchanged from the fourth quarter last year.

Building Products Distribution
L&W Supply Corporation and its subsidiaries, which comprise USG's building products distribution segment, reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $270 million, down 38 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Fourth quarter 2009 net sales reflected lower volumes in all major product categories as a result of weaker commercial and residential construction demand. Sales of gypsum wallboard and the aggregate sales of other products were each down 38 percent compared with last year's fourth quarter.

L&W Supply reported an operating loss of $63 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to an operating loss of $256 million for last year's fourth quarter. The fourth quarter 2009 operating loss included $25 million in restructuring charges. The fourth quarter of 2008 operating loss included $241 million of restructuring, goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges.

L&W Supply has taken action to reduce its cost structure in response to the significant decline in demand for its building products, closing 37 locations in 2009 and significantly reducing other costs. The closures have been widely dispersed throughout the markets L&W serves. As of December 31, 2009, L&W operated 164 distribution centers in 37 states.

Worldwide Ceilings
USG's Worldwide Ceilings segment reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $146 million compared with fourth quarter 2008 net sales of $171 million. Operating profit was $5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to a $12 million operating loss in the fourth quarter of 2008. Fourth quarter 2009 operating profit included restructuring and impairment charges of $4 million compared to $15 million in similar charges in the fourth quarter of 2008.

USG Interiors Inc., USG's domestic ceilings business, reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $90 million and operating profit of $5 million. These results compared with net sales of $109 million and operating profit of $3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The sales decline primarily reflects lower shipments of both ceiling tile and grid attributable to reduced commercial construction activity. Operating profit improved primarily due to a reduction in overhead costs, which more than offset the negative effects of lower volumes across all major product lines.

USG International reported net sales of $55 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, a decrease of $4 million compared with the fourth quarter of 2008. The lower levels of sales were largely due to lower demand for ceiling grid in Europe, lower demand for ceiling tile in the Asia-Pacific region and reduced demand for gypsum products in Latin America. The operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $2 million compared with a loss of $16 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. USG International recorded a charge of $4 million for restructuring and asset impairment in the fourth quarter of 2009. The fourth quarter of 2008 included $14 million of restructuring and goodwill impairment charges.

The ceilings division of CGC Inc. reported fourth quarter 2009 net sales of $14 million, an increase of $1 million from last year's fourth quarter. Operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2009 increased to $2 million from $1 million in the fourth quarter of last year primarily due to improved manufacturing costs.

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Weyerhaeuser says its pledge includes the immediate donation of building materials to help with temporary housing and the exploration of alternatives that could help introduce safer products for the longer-term rebuilding efforts. For example, the company's iLevel Shear Brace is specifically designed to help buildings resist the lateral forces created by high wind and earthquakes and could potentially be used in the rebuilding effort.

The company also committed to providing necessary technical assistance to help explore opportunities that may increase the likelihood that buildings will survive future earthquakes in the region. Weyerhaeuser is in the process of identifying an appropriate partner in this rebuilding effort.

"We recognize there are many organizations currently helping Haiti recover and we believe we could be most effective by working with one of these organizations and being part of their efforts," Fulton said. "We also want to ensure that our efforts are used at the appropriate time and place. Finding a knowledgeable partner is key to the success of our efforts."

LP FlameBlock Sheathing will be manufactured using Barrier's Pyrotite™ Technology at the existing manufacturing facility in Watkins, MN.

"We are excited to join LP in this endeavour and look forward to prosperous growth by combining our technology with LP's OSB sheathing, experienced sales force and comprehensive distribution channels," states Barrier President & CEO Dr. Michael D. Huddy.

For more information, visit: www.intlbarrier.com

"Home buying conditions have rarely been as good as they are right now, but consumers are still waiting to see significant positive signs of improvement in employment and confidence, and this is slowing buyers' return to the market," agreed NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Meanwhile, competition from foreclosed homes is also severely impacting new-home sales. That said, expected improvement in the job market this spring will help propel the housing recovery as we head into the prime home buying season."

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index 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 sales conditions as good than poor.

The January HMI fell one point to 15, its lowest point since June of 2009. Two of its three component indexes registered one-point declines, with the index gauging current sales conditions and the index gauging traffic of prospective buyers falling to 15 and 12, respectively. The index gauging sales expectations in the next six months held even, at 26.

The HMI edged down by a single point in three regions, with the Northeast falling to 22, the Midwest down to 11 and the South declining to 16. The HMI fell three points in the West, to 16.

Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 456,000, a 6.9 percent decrease from the revised November figure of 490,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 92,000. An estimated 553,800 housing units were started in 2009, 38.8 percent below the 2008 figure of 905,500.

BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December, meanwhile were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 653,000, a 10.9 percent increase over the revised November rate of 589,000

Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 508,000, 8.3 percent above the revised November figure of 469,000.

"These figures give us the first estimate of the worst year we've seen for housing production since the Census began recording these numbers," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "We remain cautiously optimistic about a recovery in 2010, as job growth begins to show positive signs by mid-year."

Regionally, housing starts in December were down 19 percent in the Northeast, 18.5 percent in the Midwest and 0.9 percent in the West. The South posted a 3.3 percent gain.

During Jones's 35-year career, he has earned a reputation for excellence and established a continuing commitment to the home building industry at the local, state and national levels. He assumes the leadership at NAHB amidst signs that the housing industry may be emerging from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

"This has been an extraordinarily difficult time for builders across the country," Jones said. "I believe it is my responsibility to serve NAHB's members as we work to get the housing industry back on its feet. I want to see residential construction regain its place as the nation's engine of job growth."

Key issues on the agenda for Jones and NAHB include the availability of financing for acquisition, development and construction (AD&C), as well as concerns about housing appraisals that often compare new homes to foreclosed or distressed properties. NAHB is also working with federal policy makers as they consider an overhaul of the nation's home mortgage finance system.

Jones has been a member of the NAHB board of directors since 1979. He was chairman of the Single Family Small Volume Builders Committee in 2006, chairman of the Resolutions Committee in 2005, and vice chairman of the National Council of the Housing Industry in 2004. He served as an NAHB national vice president representing Illinois, Indiana and Michigan in 2000 and 2001.

Representing his home state of Michigan, Jones was named NAHB State Representative of the Year in 1999. He served on the Federal Government Affairs Committee in 2003 and 2004, and on the NAHB Budget and Finance Committee in 2005. He received the National Sales and Marketing Council's Friend of the Institute Award in 2009. Jones is also a Certified Green Professional (CGP).

At the state and local levels, Jones serves on the board of directors of the Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) and was the association's president in 1999. He received the MAHB Housing Achievement Award in 2001. He is a member of the board of directors of the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan, served as the association's president in 1994, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2000.

Jones is involved in a number of civic and business organizations. He currently serves on the Michigan Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He has chaired the board of trustees at St. Bonaventure University in New York and the board of directors at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital-Oakland, Mich. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed Jones to the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council. Former Gov. John Engler appointed him to the Michigan Residential Builders & Maintenance and Alteration Contractors Licensing Board.

Jones and his wife, Carole, have four children, Bobby, Julie, Michelle and Steven, and eight grandchildren.

The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2009 was $221,300; the average sales price was $290,600.

An estimated 374,000 new homes were sold in 2009--the lowest number of new-home sales since the government started keeping track in 1963.

"As expected, the road to a housing recovery is proving to be a very bumpy ride," said Bob Jones, a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and newly elected chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). "Although purchasing conditions for new homes are extremely favorable thanks to the expanded home buyer tax credit and historically low interest rates, the sobering realities of a weak economy and job market continued to drag on consumers' willingness to go forward with a purchase near the end of 2009. We do, however, expect more buyers to begin taking advantage of the new tax credit in the coming months."

"December's shortfall in new-home sales is not that surprising, given the fact that it was still too early for most consumers to know about and act upon the newly extended home buyer tax credit," noted NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "It is also likely that some sales that might otherwise have taken place at the end of the year were pulled forward to earlier months to take advantage of the previous tax credit that expired at the end of November, thereby exacerbating the December decline. That said, we are looking forward to the newly extended and expanded home buyer tax credit beginning to have a positive impact on buyer demand going forward."

Regionally, sales of new single-family homes were quite mixed in December. Displaying typical month-to-month volatility, the Northeast posted a 42.9 percent gain, the Midwest registered a 41.1 percent decline, the South posted a 7.3 percent decline and the West generated a 5.2 percent gain.

Meanwhile, the number of newly built homes on the market dropped from November's 235,000 units to 231,000 units in December. This is the lowest inventory number in nearly 40 years. Because of December's slower sales pace, the months' supply rose from 7.6 in November to 8.1 in December.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/resolutions-new-years-2010?click=main_sr

The Consumer Confidence Survey® is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by TNS. TNS is the world's largest custom research company. The cutoff date for January's preliminary results was January 19th.

Says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center: "Consumer Confidence rose for the third consecutive month, primarily the result of an improvement in present-day conditions. Consumers' short-term outlook, while moderately more positive, does not suggest any significant pickup in activity in the coming months. Regarding their financial situation, while consumers were less dire about their income prospects than in December, the number of pessimists continues to outnumber the optimists." 

Consumers' assessment of present-day conditions was, on the whole, more positive than last month. Those stating business conditions are "good" increased to 9.0 percent from 7.5 percent, however, those stating business conditions are "bad" increased to 46.1 percent from 45.7 percent. Consumers' assessment of the labor market improved moderately. Those claiming jobs are "hard to get" declined to 47.4 percent from 48.1 percent, while those claiming jobs are "plentiful" increased to 4.3 percent from 3.1 percent.

Consumers' short-term outlook, while overall more positive, was somewhat mixed. The percentage of consumers expecting an improvement in business conditions over the next six months decreased to 20.9 percent from 21.2 percent, while those anticipating conditions will worsen increased to 12.7 percent from 11.8 percent. Regarding the outlook for the labor market, those expecting fewer jobs decreased to 18.9 percent from 20.6 percent. However, those expecting more jobs to become available in the months ahead declined to 15.5 percent from 16.4 percent. The proportion of consumers anticipating a decrease in their incomes declined to 16.2 percent from 18.4 percent. 

The company said revenues for the quarter declined 24% compared with the same quarter a year ago. Net earnings were down 58% compared to the same quarter last year. Lower operating costs across all of Eagle's businesses, as well as lower financing costs and corporate overhead, were offset by continued declines in quarterly sales volumes and prices.

Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard
Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard's third quarter operating earnings of $0.9 million were down 86% over the same quarter last year. Lower net sales prices and sales volumes were the primary drivers of the quarterly earnings decline.

Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard revenues for the third quarter totaled $58.3 million, a 24% decrease from the same quarter a year ago. The revenue decline reflects lower Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard sales volumes and prices. The average Gypsum Wallboard net sales price this quarter was $89.00 per MSF, 14% less than the same quarter a year ago. Gypsum Wallboard sales volume for the quarter of 388 million square feet (MMSF) represents a 14% decline from the same quarter last year. The average Paperboard net sales price this quarter was $415.62 per ton, 16% less than the same quarter a year ago. Paperboard sales volume for the quarter was 50,000 tons, 4% less than the same quarter a year ago.

Cement, Concrete and Aggregates
Operating earnings from Cement for the third quarter were $13.4 million, a 39% decline from the same quarter a year ago. Cement revenues for the quarter, including joint venture and intersegment revenues, totaled $53.4 million, 25% less than the same quarter last year. Cement sales volumes for the quarter were 584,000 tons, 17% below the same quarter a year ago.

Eagle's purchased cement sales volumes for the quarter declined to approximately 2,000 tons, or less than 1% of total cement sales volume, compared to approximately 110,000 tons, or 16% of total sales volume for the same quarter a year ago. The average net sales price this quarter was $84.01 per ton, 12% less than the same quarter last year.

Concrete and Aggregates reported a $0.1 million operating loss for the third quarter, down from the $0.4 million operating profit for the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to lower sales volumes and net sales prices.

Revenues from Concrete and Aggregates were $9.3 million for the quarter, 39% less than the same quarter a year ago. Concrete sales volume decreased 34% from the same quarter a year ago to 95,000 cubic yards. Concrete average net sales price for the quarter of $66.53 per cubic yard was 9% less than the same quarter a year ago. Aggregates sales volume of 468,000 tons for this quarter was 36% less than the sales volume for the same quarter a year ago. Aggregates average net sales price for the quarter was $6.25, down 2% compared to last year's third quarter.

The conference will be preceded on Sept. 15, 2010, by a full day of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) workshops sponsored by the New Jersey U.S. Green Building Council. A Green Building Expo featuring green building products and materials will also be held in conjunction with the conference.

AIA-NJ is seeking presenters from the disciplines of architecture, interiors, planning, engineering, contracting, education, policy and legislation, energy analysis and other building-related professions who can speak on topics relevant to the track sessions, which include legislation, codes and metrics, planning, buildings and tectonics.

Two speakers already booked for the event is Edward Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030, a U.S. based, non-traditional environmental advocacy group focused on protecting the global environment by using innovation and common sense to develop, and quickly implement, bold solutions to global warming.

The other keynote speaker will be Bill Reed, an internationally recognized proponent and practitioner of sustainability, who is president of Integrative Design Collaborative, a consulting organization working to evolve green building design practices into an approach that is fully integrated with living systems.

Reed is also principal of the regenerative planning firm, Regenesis, and the strategic environmental planning firm, Integrative Design. Ultimately, his objective is to improve the overall quality of the physical, social and spiritual life of our living places.

In addition to presenters, East Coast Green is also seeking sponsors and exhibitors. They will have the opportunity to increase their company's visibility in the "greening" consumer markets, as well as to network with leaders and to present their products and applications to an audience of early adopters and industry leaders.

Those interested in being presenters must apply online by Jan. 29. Presenters will be notified by Feb. 26 and announced by March 26. Proposal guidelines, track descriptions and submittal instructions are available by following the speaker link at www.aia-nj.org/ECG. For more information e-mail Kim Vierheilig, AIA, at ECGspeakers@aia-nj.org

For information on exhibiting or sponsorship, follow the link at the ECG Web site (above) or e-mail Jack Purvis, AIA, LEED AP, at ECGsponsors@aia-nj.org

Registration for the event opens in April 2010.

The organizer Hamptons Expo Group anticipates the show will draw homeowners from the South and North Forks as well as the bordering township, plus 15,000 potential buyers of the 70,000 shoppers projected to be  shopping at Tanger that weekend, to attend the show floor making it the most heavily trafficked home and garden event on Long Island. 

The show includes a Hamptons Design and Decor section with vetted world-class design and decor solutions. GreenHamptons Pavilion, a separate section in the home show floor, presents environmentally-friendly products.

Exhibitors will benefit from the rain-resistant site,  Tanger's marketing program to drive shoppers in their stores to the Show, a $1.2 million combined advertising campaign, as well as the easily accessible location. Exhibitor space is available by calling 631-283-5505 or visiting hhgshow.com

Mark your calendars now and be the first to view thousands of the latest innovations, new gadgets and cutting-edge technologies. From fireplaces, stoves and inserts to outdoor living equipment including grills, smokers and tailgating accessories, HPBExpo is the place to get fired up!

Check out the new trends that are keeping these industries red-hot including:

•Contemporary fireplaces
•Patio firepits
•European-styled wood stoves
•Pellet stoves
•Portable grills and tailgating gadgets and accessories
•Much, much more!

Visit hpbexpo.com for more information

Read more on the story at Marketwatch

The new package options are designed for a full range of homes – entry level, move-up and custom-built – and offer an excellent line of kitchen and laundry appliances built with the strong principles Maytag-brand loyalists have comes to expect.

•The base kitchen package offers dependable freestanding suites that appeal to new homebuyers.

•The second appliance package's appealing aesthetics combine features and performance perfect for the move-up homebuyer. The line's appliances, including the Maytag® Power Zone and Power Center for cooking, are equipped with more power and capable of handling larger loads than ever before.

•The third appliance package provides impressive high-performance features and sophisticated aesthetics for the savvy homebuyer, including high-efficiency front-load laundry, featuring a gas range with the industry's most powerful 3,200-watt Speed Heat&trade element and the Maytag® JetClean® Dishwasher with SteamClean Option and Silverware Blast&trade.

"Better built homes start with better built products, and Maytag brand understands that products built with durability in mind earn the confidence of homebuyers," said Tracy Frye, senior contract marketing manager at Whirlpool Corporation. "With every home a builder designs and builds, they also grow their reputation. Now with diverse appliance options to meet the needs of different lifestyles, it is even easier for building professionals to build with the confidence of the Maytag brand."

According to Smith-Dahmer Associates' 2009 "Consumer State Tracker Qualitative Research" homebuyers recognize Maytag brand as: Trusted (87 percent), Strong (78 percent), and Timeless (75 percent).

For more information on Whirlpool Corporation and its offerings for building professionals, please visit insideadvantage.com or call 1-800-952-2537.

The company said Fourth quarter 2009 net orders increased by 24% year-over-year to 621 sales, compared to 500 in 2008, primarily due to gains of 50% in Texas and 19% in California. In addition to continued low mortgage rates and historically high affordability, the gains reflect an improvement in Meritage's fourth quarter company-wide order cancellation rate to 30% in 2009 from 56% in 2008. Sales were lower than the third quarter due to normal seasonality and the last-minute extension of a federal home buyer tax credit originally scheduled to terminate on November 30, which is widely thought to have reduced the sense of urgency for buyers to purchase a home in the latter portion of the quarter.

"With November's extension and expansion of the home buyer tax credit for contracts signed before April 30, 2010, we are optimistic that this incentive will benefit our 2010 spring selling season by encouraging more people to buy a new home before the extended tax credit expires," said Steven J. Hilton, chairman and chief executive officer of Meritage Homes.

"Our gross margins continued to improve due to our success in reducing construction costs, combined with lower incentives and greater closing volume in our newer communities, where we are building more cost-efficient homes on lower-cost lots," said Mr. Hilton. "We are excited about our new series of Simply Smart(TM) homes, which we announced last week, designed especially for renters and first time or first move-up buyers. As we close out older communities and ramp up sales in our new communities built on the lower-cost lots we've acquired, we expect to return to more normal margins and profitability."

"We undertook a number of strategic initiatives last year to enhance virtually every area of the company, and I'm very pleased with our progress," said Mr. Hilton. "Based on what we've already accomplished and our on-going plans, I believe we have not only positioned the Company for a return to profitability in 2010, but have also permanently improved our competitiveness. We have significantly reduced our construction costs and overhead, and expect to realize further gains through a managed process of continuous improvement in our operations. We have built a robust market research function that we believe gives us a strategic advantage in underwriting lot acquisitions and pricing our homes, through a better understanding of the competitive landscape for both resale and new homes, as well as home buyer trends in our markets."

Check them out now HERE

Check it out at: www.plumbingforums.com

Learn more about this project and the Green Building Initiative's Green Global Rating System at TheGBI.org web site.

The Spring 2010 Sentiment Report, a survey of 5,000 homeowners in the U.S. who are considering remodeling, also shows that the recession has had several impacts on U.S. homeowners. These include:

•The most popular projects in the past – remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms – have decreased in popularity, as adding a bathroom has taken the honors of the most popular project. This makes sense since, for many homeowners, updating an existing room can be put off because it is often seen as a "luxury", while for many the addition of a bathroom is a necessity due to changes in the needs of the family.

•Interest in do-it-yourself projects, both the actual building as well as acting as their own general contractor, has remained steady throughout the economic downturn.

•Economizing on the cost of materials is growing in popularity at the same time, as fewer homeowners are reporting they will use expensive materials for their remodel. The percentage of homeowners reporting they will use average costing materials remains the same.

•The number of homeowners reporting they are "excited" about remodeling has climbed to an all-time high of 54%, which is primarily due to homeowners who aren't excited about remodeling choosing to put their plans on hold to wait until the recession is over. This may be a costly choice for homeowners since the cost to remodel now is as much as 20% lower than in 2006, according to a special cost to remodel study published earlier this year at remodelormove.com.

Now you can take a tour of the virtual home here

"Pella is known for providing outstanding windows, doors and service, and these events are intended to provide design, building and remodeling industry professionals with the tools they need to help grow their business in this challenging economy," said Pella Corporation Trade Segment Manager Jarred Roy

The events will also offer those in need. "We recognize that it's been a tough year for many people economically, and that's why we're partnering with The Salvation Army and asking attendees to donate non-perishable food items to be collected at each event," Roy said. "We're expecting an 'army' of attendees and we hope that together we can help secure plenty of food to be donated to local food banks through The Salvation Army to help feed the respective area's hungry," he said.

Training and educational credits will be offered in partnership with the National Association of The Remodeling Industry (NARI), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and American Institute of Architects (AIA). Sessions presented by Pella and industry partners will cover proper window installation, marketing ideas, construction tips, trends, and "green" building.

A Case® Design/Remodeling, Inc. representative will present the keynote address at each event on "The Future of Remodeling."

Sessions will be held in notable stadiums like Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Soldier Field in Chicago, Gillette Stadium in Boston, Chase Field in Phoenix and more.

The Pro Expo presented by Pella 2010 participants will include:

Brands/businesses
•Contractors.com
•James Hardie®
•Kohler® and Sterling®
•Schluter Systems®
•Thermador® / Bosch®
•Sprint®
•Henkel/OSI®
•DuPont®
•AZEK® Building Products
•Rocky Mountain Hardware®
•Silestone® by Cosentino
•Ferguson®
•Roxul, Inc.®
•USG Corp.
•Sherwin-Williams®
•Designer Doors(TM)
•Lutron(R) Electronics, Inc.
•MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc.
•The Dow Chemical Company®
•Wellborn Cabinets, Inc.®
•Pella®Windows and Doors
•Case® Institute of Remodeling

Associations
•National Association of The Remodeling Industry (NARI)
•National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
•American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Industry media
•Cygnus Business Publications
•Hanley Wood
•Reed Publishing

Non-profit charitable organization
•The Salvation Army

Events will be held:
•Feb. 2 — Denver, Coors Field
•Feb. 4 — Salt Lake City, Energy Solutions Arena
•Feb. 9 — San Diego, Qualcomm Stadium
•Feb. 11 — Phoenix, Chase Field
•Feb. 16 — Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium
•Feb. 18 — San Francisco, AT&T Park
•Feb. 23 — Nashville, Tenn., LP Field
•Feb. 25 — Green Bay, Wis., Lambeau Field
•March 2 — Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa Events Center
•March 4 — Atlanta, Turner Field
•March 9 — Charlotte, N.C., Bank of America Stadium
•March 11 — West Caldwell, N.J., Atlantic Health Jets Training Center
•March 16 — Richmond, Va., Richmond Int'l Raceway
•March 18 — Chicago, Soldier Field
•March 23 — New York City, Citi Field
•March 25 — Boston, Gillette Stadium
•March 30 — Philadelphia, Citizens Bank Park
•April 1 — Kansas City, Mo., Kauffman Stadium
•April 6 — Pittsburgh, PNC Park
•April 8 — Grand Rapids, Mich., Van Andel Arena
•April 13 — Milwaukee, Miller Park
•April 15 — Minneapolis, Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
•April 20 — Columbus, Ohio, Schottenstein Center
•April 22 — St. Louis, Busch Stadium
•April 27 — Cincinnati, Ohio, Great American Ball Park
•April 29 — Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Browns Stadium
•May 4 — Toronto, Ontario (Canada), Rogers Centre
•May 6 — Detroit, Ford Field
•May 11 — Seattle, Safeco Field
•May 13 — Portland, Ore., Oregon Convention Center

Register online at: http://theproexpo.com/

Designed to reduce the amount and weight of material needed to cover the roof, Surround SR Underlayment features five times more material in one roll than 30-pound felt. In addition, Surround SR Underlayment rolls are 40 percent lighter and 25 percent wider than felt for easier installation and quicker roof deck coverage.

"Surround SR Underlayment provides roofing professionals with a new, cost-efficient synthetic underlayment that is 10 times stronger than 30-pound roofing felt," said Bob Dahl, business director of Typar Construction Products. "The material is lightweight and easy-to-cut, which simplifies installation and reduces labor and time expenses for roofing contractors."

Surround SR will not wrinkle or absorb water when wet, and features a heat-reflecting, gray-colored surface, which reduces the amount of heat buildup on the roof. Surround SR Underlayment is backed by a 30-year warranty and is ideal for residential and commercial applications. Furthermore, it will not contribute to the growth of mold or degradation of indoor air quality. For more information, visit www.surroundtypar.com or call 800-284-2780.

"We've launched a whole new category of range hood," said Skip Woodall, president and CEO of Vent-A-Hood, about the ARS series.  "Thanks to superior engineering and design, we offer the one real solution for residents in lofts, condos or highrises who have suffered with recirculating hoods that do nothing to clean the cooking air."

Unlike conventional low-quality ductless ventilation products on the market, Vent-A-Hood's new Air Recovery System includes a unique four-phase technology with four times the cleaning power to effectively collect the rising gases, separate the grease, contain the odor and trap the smoke for complete cooking air recovery.

The ARS series features an active canopy to capture cooking contaminants. A centrifugal blower then extracts the grease.  The air is pushed through an activated carbon bed with 50 times more exposure to cooking air than flat carbon mats in traditional ductless hoods to reduce odor.  And lastly, a large accordion microfiber filter makes Vent-A-Hood's design the only hood to address smoke when not venting to the outdoors.

"The Air Recovery System is a green technology to take pollutants out and put clean air back," Woodall said.  "It is the only range hood worthy of the Vent-A-Hood name that will clean and recover good air when ducting to the outside of a home is not an option."

The Vent-A-Hood ARS series, offered in two stainless steel designs, is now available across the U.S. and Canada.  For more information or to find a Vent-A-Hood licensed dealer near you, visit www.ventahood.com

The company has posted a one minute video that illustrates the installation process, and the design flexibility offered by this exciting new product.

Check it out at: /www.jameshardiecommercial.com/hardie-reveal-panel.shtml

The filing was made with the blessing of more than two-thirds of the company's secured lenders as part of a plan to reduce the Company's outstanding debt by more than $350 million.

Atrium and each of its subsidiaries intend to operate as usual during the debt restructuring process, and existing management will remain in place. The Company expects to deliver on all commitments to customers and honor all warranties in the normal course. The Company does not anticipate any layoffs or facility closings as a result of the debt restructuring, and plans to continue to pay all employee wages and benefits in the normal and ordinary course.

Suppliers will be paid under normal terms for goods and services provided after the filing date of January 20, 2010. In addition, and subject to its approval, the Plan provides for the payment in full in cash of all valid claims for goods and services provided to the Company before the filing, during which time the Company has remained current on all of its trade-related payment obligations.

"The balance sheet restructuring announced today will substantially reduce our outstanding debt and put Atrium in a much stronger financial position to grow our business over the long term," said Gregory T. Faherty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atrium. "We have already done the hard work of lowering our cost structure and reducing excess capacity in light of the difficult environment under which we have been operating for more than three years. And, we are already experiencing the positive impact of these initiatives through increased profitability. Now, as part of the restructuring announced today, we will put in place a healthier capital structure that is more appropriate to the current size of the market, while freeing up additional cash that can be invested in future growth as the housing market rebounds. Once our balance sheet is right-sized, Atrium will be more competitive than ever."

Additional information on Atrium's balance sheet restructuring is available on the Company's website at www.atrium.com/restructuring

O'Brien comes to ViWinTech with a depth of experience including his most recent and extensive work at BF Goodrich Company. His 30 years there included positions in the Human Resources Department and he served as Plant Manager where he was involved in developing quality management techniques. 

ViWinTech Director of Sales and Marketing, Ken Barman, said of O'Brien joining the company, "Mr. O'Brien understands the important connection between raw materials and customer satisfaction. He's here to ensure we have what it takes to fill orders with just in time delivery and high quality standards."

Vinyl Window Technologies, or ViWinTech, has been manufacturing window and patio door products for 24 years and now serves 25 plus states as well as international customers.  For more information, visit www.viwintech.com

"We turned heads in the decking industry two years ago at the International Builders Show with the introduction of DryJoist, our first structural deck drainage system," said Jon Bailey, Vice President of Wahoo Decks, "Our newest introduction, DryJoistEZ only has two components to the system, a lower price point, and a traditional bead board appearance, positioning it as an affordable solution to drying in a deck or balcony."   

One of the 13 winners of Architect magazine's third annual R+D Awards, DryJoistEZ is made of marine-grade aluminum.  A sustainable alternative to traditional wooden deck joists, aluminum is fully recyclable and is impervious to rot, decay, insects and fire. Able to be installed in any weather conditions, wet or dry, it is perfect for balconies and decks for both residential and commercial applications. DryJoistEZ is 100% waterproof and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty and an industry leading leak-proof guarantee.

"DryJoistEZ is not only an alternative to wood framing, it's an alternative to waterproofing a deck or balcony as well," continues Bailey, "It's metal, there are no glues or rubber membranes that need continuous days of sun to dry, DryJoistEZ is just easier to install when compared to traditional methods of waterproofing a deck or balcony."

The DryJoistEZ planks are capable of spanning 6' post to post on a single span and 8' post to post on a multi-span, eliminating the need for wood joists 12 or 16 inches on center. DryJoistEZ supports the deck boards every 6" on center so intricate design patterns for deck boards, such as herringbones or diagonals, are easily achieved without having to add extra blocking. The planks are 24 feet long and include 5" water channels on each one. These water channels run uninterrupted the entire length of the plank so there is no need for gaskets, seals or silicone sealants.

The underside of DryJoistEZ is precision extruded with grooves so that when the planks are interlocked, they resemble a traditional bead board pattern on the ceiling of the area below the deck. Each plank is powder coated with a protective finish that can be used as either the finished coat or the base coat if another color is desired.

DryJoistEZ is manufactured using 45% recycled content from industrial and post-consumer aluminum scrap and because of this, helps builders in achieving points toward LEED credits based on the standards set forth by the LEED Green Building Rating System within the categories of Recycled Content of Materials and Construction Waste Management.

DryJoistEZ has also received approval from California and San Diego County for use of its deck products in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) designated areas. DryJoistEZ is constructed with Ignition Resistant Materials and is non-combustible and fire-safe.

About Wahoo Decks
Headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, Wahoo Decks is a leading manufacturer of award winning outdoor decking products. Wahoo products have been engineered to be uniquely low maintenance and more resistant to natural elements than traditional decking products.  In addition to deck drainage systems, Wahoo Decks also offers Wahoo Rail, a complete line of commercial grade aluminum railing.   Additional information about Wahoo Decks can be found on www.WahooDecks.com

"We continue to take steps to assess and reduce our environmental impact," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "Ensuring the sustainability of our facilities across the country gives us energy efficient buildings to accomplish our primary mission - serving Veterans with the best care."

As a federal agency, VA is required to have 15 percent of buildings incorporate sustainable practices by 2015 in accordance with Executive Order 13423. The recent Green Globe certifications raise VA's sustainable building inventory and contribute toward reaching the department's goals.

Visit TheGBI.org to read more.

Products will be shown and demonstrated by Screen Tight during the show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 19-22, 2010 at its Booth Number C5077.

Innovative products being shown by include: