the mash

The sandwich generation isn’t just a social problem; it’s an innovation problem, too. At some point in our lives, many of us become filling for the so-called sandwich—caring for our own children and our aging parents at the same time. Or we experience transition, in our jobs, relationships, or health, and need to live with family or friends to bridge the gap. This need for multigenerational housing is in direct opposition to our current priority building single-family, nuclear homes in the U.S. Here’s why one writer believes that needs to change, and why it’s an untapped opportunity for the construction and design industries.

Home ownership is a core part of The American Dream (if not *the* American dream). What does it mean for the construction building materials industry that so many potential buyers are squeezed out of the process? We explore the factors and how these players might best respond to the coming consequences for multifamily building and material costs.

When the city of Mason approached the Challenger Baseball League about building an adaptive field, Jen Christmas was all in. Not only did she co-lead a $2.5 million capital campaign—she discovered the game-changing power of having the right people ask the right questions. It leads to adaptive construction that does more than comply with laws; it brings together a community of people in ways that weren’t possible before.

What does it mean to “think big” in today’s environment of delayed product availability and labor shortages? We found out firsthand at the International Builders Show and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. Get the key insights for the building materials industry from our long walks along the exhibitor aisles.

Smart home products are everywhere. If your lights aren’t controlled by a simple Alexa request, are you even living? In reality, home automation is on a steep incline. By 2025, the industry is expected to grow by at least $25B. And with big players like Google, Amazon, and Facebook digging their heels in, it’s important to pay attention—especially if you build or sell materials for the home.

We need to be more focused and creative in leading the development of workforce solutions. The challenge is to find motivated workers and convince them of a career in construction, offering opportunities for on-the-job training.

Your ultimate goal is to outperform the market and your previous year. Given your channel mix, how will your business be impacted by the potential 1% shift, and what is your plan to leverage it?

It was a record-setting year for IRE 2019. The show was bigger, better, and full of innovative roofing products and solutions. From the best materials to the best business practices, Music City did not disappoint.

NAHB partnered with MetroStudy during the 2019 International Builders’ Show (IBS) to present the 2019 National Housing Forecast. The forecast included key housing predictions based on current economic trends as well as recent United States government policy’s impact on the housing market.

The fastest-growing residential areas in the U.S. are where wildlife meets urban life. While beautiful, these exurban communities will require innovative building materials to combat the dangers of mountainous and coastal living, especially as our climate changes.

Looking forward, we’re expecting big changes in the construction industry. It’s time to get prepared so you can prevent commotion in your operations and come out ahead. In this post, Bill takes us through his forecast of the future to help you understand what’s expected over the next few years.

They say age is just a number. But when it comes to an aging workforce, numbers matter.

Based on the energy and conversations coming out of some of the industry’s key shows, there’s a lot to look forward to for the rest of the year. First, we look at how to prepare for the inevitable ups and downs in the marketplace.

Suppliers provide quality products and services… usually.