AT HOME with Concrete - 05/07/2009 (Plain Text Version)CHBC Chairman View Graphical Version | Subscribe
to NAHB Publications | Email our
Editor... In this issue: Diversify your Business With Energy Efficient, Sustainable Concrete ProductsA new, free video by the Concrete Home Building Council and Building Systems Councils shows traditional home builders how to incorporate concrete into various phases of their homes, allowing them to offer diverse options in any market. The video, available at www.nahb.org/concretevideo on the NAHB Web site, shows builders how concrete systems can be used in more places than just a home’s foundation. Above-grade concrete walls and decorative concrete can add unique character and a degree of sustainability to any new home project. “The residential concrete market is growing,” said Jim Niehoff, president of the Concrete Home Building Council and Director of Low-Rise Buildings for the Portland Cement Association (PCA). “More and more builders are seeing ways they can add a strong, durable product like concrete to the interior or exterior of a home.” That’s because technology and innovation has diversified concrete into new markets like interlocking concrete pavers, concrete siding, or even concrete countertops. “Builders and buyers are impressed by the flexibility concrete offers,” said Niehoff. “For example, 20 years ago, no one would have thought to make a beautiful kitchen countertop out of concrete. Now, because of advances in coloring, stamping and sealing, people are asking for it. Concrete systems are a growing trend in the industry.” Niehoff added that concrete can add to the greenness of a home, too. Using an above-grade concrete wall system can tighten the thermal envelope of a home, which can reduce air infiltration and make a home more energy efficient, he said. “I think residential builders are starting to see the benefits of building with concrete,” said Niehoff. “After they build their first concrete home, many will build nothing else.” To learn more about the concrete home industry, visit the Concrete Home Building Council Web site at www.nahb.org/concrete or the PCA Web site, http://www.cement.org/. For a list of Concrete Home Building Council members, visit www.nahb.org/concretedirectory. For more information or to contact us directly, please visit www.NAHB.org | ©2009, National Association of Home Builders |