The E-Magazine of the Fairfield County HBRA NOVEMBER 2017 UPCOMING DECEMBER 6,7, and 8 CAPS Training DECEMBER 13 HBRA Holiday Cocktail Party JANUARY 18-19, 2018 OSHA10 Training JANUARY 26, 2018 The Twenty-Six Hour Day Features 1st Annual Bowl-A-Rama November Membership Mtg HOBI Awards Dinner New HBRA Members Member News Builder News
COLOR OF THE YEAR 2018 CALIENTE AF-290 VISIT US TODAY: Ridgefield Supply 29 Prospect Street Ridgefield, CT, 06877 203.438.2626 www.ridgefieldsupply.com ©2017 Benjamin Moore & Co. Benjamin Moore, Paint like no other, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. Printed in the USA.
2016-17 OFFICERS President Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc. Sr. Vice-President Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders Vice-President Kim DiMatteo DiMatteo Group Secretary John Hertz Hertz Construction Immediate Past President Peter Gaboriault Bear Paw Builders 2016-17 DIRECTORS Peter Battaglio Hocon Gas Max Bender Bender Supply Steve Berko Four Square Build & Design Michael Church William Pitt Sotheby’s Ken DeLeo Doherty & DeLeo Brian Kurtz Interstate Lumber Rob Michaud The Michaud Group Steven Roth Elevator Service Company Alex Shook Pella Commercial Michael Wood Wood Builders Joanne Carroll JMC Resources Jerry Effren Gary Fanali City Carting LIFE DIRECTORS Peter Fusaro Preferred Builders The Greyrock Companies Maureen Hanley United Bank Michael Palumbo ERI Building & Design Thank you to the following VIP Associate Members for their support in 2017. Due to their generosity the Association greatly benefits - from developing new events and educational opportunities for the membership, to keeping our lights on! NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 3 gas MEDIA SPONSOR
IN THIS ISSUE Letter From The CEO Upcoming Events Bowl-A-Rama 8 Bowl-A-Rama 12 November GMM 14 HOBI Awards & Dinner November General Membership Meeting HOBI Awards New Members Member News Local Chamber to Honor Murphy Brothers NAHB Builder 20 House VS Hurricane HBRA Job Bank Dear Sandler Coach Builder News Builders Blast Tax Proposal OSHA Announces Electronic Reporting Tax Plan Slams Middle Class Houses Passes Joint Employer Bill New Home Sales Pace Hits 10 Year High IHA Places Emphasis On Addressing Housing Needs US Finalizes Canadian Softwood Lumber Tariffs New Homebuilders Turn to Green Construction Spotlight Opportunity 500 Membership Challenge CAPS Training OSHA10 Training The Twenty Six Hour Day Member Benefits Advertisers: Ridgefield Supply Hocon Gas CTC&G Marlin Electric Elevator Service Company Interstate Lumber Tooher Ferraris DiMatteo Group Fairfield County Bank East Haven Builders Supply Ed’s Garage Doors United Bank County TV & Appliance Ring’s End Editorial Staff Gina Calabro Publisher/Editor Clare Michalak Designer Sarah Iannarone Executive Assistant HBRA of Fairfield County 2228 Black Rock Turnpike, Suite 307 Fairfield, CT 06825 203-335-7008 hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com www. buildfairfieldcounty.com p.6 p.7 p.8 p.12 p.14 p.20 p.22 p.23 p.24 p.25 p.25 p.26 p.27 p.28 p.28 p.28 p.28 p.29 p.30 55+ Housing Builders and Developers Stay Confident p.30 Directory p.31 p.32 p.33 p.34 p.35 p.36 p.37 p. 2 p. 5 p. 11 p. 18 p. 19 p. 21 p. 22 p. 26 p. 27 p. 29 p. 30 p. 32 p. 33 p. 40 Want to advertise? Contact the office for more information and rates.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST “Propane Pete” Battaglio Over 35 years of experience With over 400,000 gallons of storage, Hocon Gas has a stellar reputation for delivering propane and industry expertise since 1952! Senior Regional Manager, New Business Development Hocon Gas, Inc. 6 Armstrong Rd. Shelton, CT 06484 Cell: 203.343.2199 Shelton: 203.925.0600 Fax: 203.944.0300 Email: pbattaglio@hocongas.com PROPANE SERVICES INCLUDE: RESIDENTIAL • Cooking • Fireplaces • Generators • Grills • Heat • Hot Water • Pools • Tanks CUSTOMER SERVICE • Appliances • Installation • Propane Delivery • Expert Services INDUSTRIAL DIVISION • Industrial Gases • Safety Products • Temporary Heat • Welding Supplies www.hocongas.com DANBURY NORWALK GUILFORD SUFFIELD 86 Payne Rd. 1242 South St. (203) 744-4000 33 Rockland Rd. (203) 853-1500 736 Boston Post Rd. (203) 458-2790 (860) 254-5862 TORRINGTON 2407 Winsted Rd. (860) 626-0900 WATERBURY 20 Railroad Hill St. (203) 754-7601 WE PLAN IT ■ WE INSTALL IT ■ WE FILL IT ■ WE SERVICE IT AD-BLDG-CONNECTIONS-MAG-NOV-2017 ©Hocon Gas • HOD 726-30 HIC 0616588
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER Dear HBRA Members, Happy Thanksgiving! Here we are almost at the end of the year. It is hard to believe the time has flown by so quickly. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have many things to be thankful for. These last few weeks were filled with some special events. The 1st Annual Bowl-a-rama was a fun-filled evening and a major success with 120 bowlers. The HBRA Bowling Cup is now at home at Smarthome & Theater Systems, the 2017 High Score Team winners. We had another great membership meeting at County TV & Appliance. Special thanks to the Vetrini’s for hosting. This year’s HOBI award dinner was the largest to date with 880 attending. Congratulations to all of the Fairfield County award winners! See page 17 for the list of winners. You can also visit our website for the award categories. Be sure to register for the 2nd annual Holiday Cocktail Party on December 13th at O’Neill’s Pub in South Norwalk. This year we bought out the pub from 6PM-9PM. Food and open bar for 3 hours, but we are limited to 150 attendees and we will SELL OUT - register ASAP! Our first NAHB certification class is being offered on December 6, 7, & 8th. The Certified Aging in Place certification is one of the most widely requested. See page 34 for information. As always, if you have any questions, please call the office or e-mail us at hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com! Best, Gina Calabro gina@buildfairfieldcounty.com 6 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
MARK YOUR CALENDARS UPCOMING EVENTS December 6, 7, and 8, Certified Aging in Place (CAPS) Rings End Educational Facility 160 Avon Ave Stratford, CT 06615 Click Here to register January 18 & 19, 2018 OSHA10 Ridgefield Supply Educational Facility 29 Prospect Street Ridgefield CT 06877 Click Here to register January 26, 2018 The Twenty-Six Hour Day Ring’s End Educational Facility 160 Avon Ave Stratford, CT 06615 Click Here to register December 13 2nd Annual Holiday Cocktail Party O’Neill’s Irish Pub in South Norwalk Click Here to register 1 UPCOMING MEETINGS: Membership Committee - Wednesday, November 29 NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 7
HBRA Job Bank HBRA EVENTS HBRA Bowl -A- Rama BUILDERS VS ASSOCIATES I t was a sold out event and fun filled evening for the 1st Annual HBRA Bowl-a-Rama at Nutmeg Bowl in Fairfield. Twenty teams representing Builders and Associate members enjoyed food and drink and bowled to win the coveted HBRA Cup, a trophy that will be memorialized and passed to the highest average team each year. Congratulations to Smarthome & Theater Systems, the 2017 HBRA Cup winners and first place Associate team!. Additionally, the highest scoring Builder team receiving Bowling Pin awards was Tallman Segersen. The highest single average winner was Dave Bennette from Hocon Gas. Thanks to all of “Lane” Sponsors: Elevator Service Company, DeRosa Builders, DiMatteo Group, Interstate Lakeland Lumber, Hocon Gas, Bender, United Bank, The Michaud Group, Eastern Metal Works, and Tile America. 8 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017 Special thanks to Elevator Service Company and Nutmeg Bowl for providing raffle prizes.
First Place Smarthome & Theater Systems See Additional Photos Here: NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 9
Bowling Shirt Winners 10 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
COTTAGESGARDENS.COM | NOVEMBER 2017 THE CRAFTED HOME FURNITURE ACCESSORIES NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 11 connecticut cottages & gardens november 2017 cottagesgardens.com
HBRA Job Bank HBRA EVENTS November General Membership Meeting Hosted by County TV & Appliance T he last membership meeting of 2017 was a evening of fine cuisine and excellent networking. Our hosts, Vinny and Elio Vetrini of County TV & Appliance offered attendees a smorgasbord of food prepared at different vignettes in their updated showroom. The evening also included a raffle of a 55 inch TV provided by our hosts and won by Ed Rekos of Ridgefield Supply. The winning name for the Membership Raffle was not in attendance so there will be a winner of $1,500 at the December Holiday Cocktail Party. 12 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
See Additional Photos Here: NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 13
HBRA Job Bank HBRA EVENTS 2017 HOBI Awards T his year’s HOBI’s held on November 15th at the Aqua Turf in Plainville, recognized some of the most innovative and majestic builders and associate members across the state of Connecticut. The dinner, attended by 880 attendees, was the largest HOBI event to date. Emcee for the evening, Joanne Carroll took awardees, members, and guests through a myriad of exceptional spec, custom, and remodeled homes, outstanding individual projects, and brilliant marketing and sales programs that all reflected the remarkable residential building industry in CT. Thanks to Joanne Carroll, Joanne Hoerrner, and Bill Ethier for another outstanding event. Congratulations to all of the winners, especially the 104 awards Fairfield County members were recognized. See page 17 for a list of winners. 14 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
Luxury Home Tour Committee See more photos by Jim Fuhrmann Photography HERE NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 15
16 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017 See more photos by Jim Fuhrmann Photography HERE
HBRA FAIRFIELD COUNTY HOBI AWARD WINNERS Congratulations to the 2017 HOBI winners from the HBRA of Fairfield County For a full list of winners go to http://hobiawards.com. Awarded at the dinner: Remodeled Home of the Year Ben Krupinski Builders Spec Home of the Year VAS Construction Custom Home of the Year Significant Homes Project of the Year Brindisi & Yaroscak Aitoro Appliance Altamura Homes Archetype Argus Development BA Staging & Interiors Back Country RAM Barrington Building Company Ben Krupinski Builder Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NE Properties Blansfield Builders Bluewater Home Builders Brindisi & Yaroscak & PBS Architects CCO Habitats Cerreta Builders Charter Group Partners LLC Closet & Storage Concepts Connecticut Stone Corbo Associates Cornerstone Contracting & Charles Hilton Architects Criscuolo Design Build Davenport Contracting DeRosa Builders Domus Constructors East Coast Structures Eastern Metal Works Elevator Service Company Fine Line Finish Carpentry LLC Fletcher Development Gilson Fine Homes Greenwich Construction Greenwich Custom Homes HBRA of Fairfield County Hemingway Construction Hertz Construction Hobbs Inc. Karp Associates Koushouris Custom Remodeling & Construction Leigh Overland Architect Love Where You Live Mondo Gatto & Tecton Architects Murphy Brothers Contracting RMS Companies Significant Homes Snellman Construction Sound Beach Partners Steiner Inc. Stephanie Rapp Interiors Tallman Segerson Tiago Building Group Tile America Toll Brothers Inc. VAS Construction Wernert Associates Inc. Woodland Partners NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 17
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Join your fellow HBRA members for a glass of cheer! We BOUGHT OUT O’Neill’s from 6pm-9pm. There will be a variety of appetizers, light fare, and 3-hr Open Bar. Please bring an unwrapped toy so that we can “Fill A Truck” with Toys. HBRA Members: $50 Non-Members: $80 REGISTER ONLINE WE ARE NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN MOTION As the elevator and lift industry experts, Elevator Service Company is dedicated to finding the prefect product for your application. We offer the most reliable and efficient lift solutions in the industry. Our products come in every finish and option imaginable, so you can add your personal touch. 203-757-5000 www.ElevatorServiceCo.com CT Lic.# ELV. 400105 R1 ~ RI Lic. # 21 MA Lic.# EC-000093 Providing not one, but all Major Manufacturers Equipment NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 19
NEW MEMBERS Welcome to the newest members of HBRA of Fairfield County! Go to www.buildfairfieldcounty.com for their contact info. John Duge Duge Construction Co. Today we are owned and operated by John A. Duge, Jr., who holds an engineering degree from the University of Connecticut and has over 20 years experience on construction sites. No job is too big or too small, all work gets the attention of the owner and our master craftsmen can perform all types of work Residential and Commercial. If you’re in the Greenwich area and are looking for a contractor who “Builds them like they used to” The choice is simple. Duge Construction Co. Please Call Us at (203) 869-3844. Ellen Hyde Phillips Fairfield Interiors When you place the design of your home or office in the talented hands of interior designer Ellen Hyde Phillips of Fairfield Interiors you will draw upon Ellen’s wealth of design expertise and experience. Since 1984, this fullservice, Connecticut-based interior design company has served residential and commercial customers throughout Fairfield County, CT; Westchester County, NY; Martha’s Vineyard, MA; Mission Viejo, CA; Mequon, WI; and Dallas, TX. Andrea S. Reiner InnerSpace Electronics, Inc. For over 25 years, discerning clients, architects and building professionals have trusted InnerSpace Electronics, Inc. to simplify the complex technology in your home: Audio/Visual, Lighting and shading systems, HVAC, Networks, Security cameras and Home Theater design are our core specialties. As a Platinum-level Savant and Diamond-level Lutron dealerships complimenting our full engineering and CAD department in-house to provide expert, efficient service. Suzanne Stillwell Jade Marketing Solutions Located in Fairfield county Connecticut, JMS offers marketing services to local companies, We are a lively bunch who pride ourselves on creative and effective marketing strategies. As a local agency we can help develop a narrative your customers will care about! 20 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
Denis Habza Superior Plus Energy Services Superior Plus Energy Services is a leading provider of fuels and energyrelated services to residential and commercial customers across the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. An expert in all things fuel, the Superior Plus Energy Services promise includes outstanding customer service, care for its communities, devotion to its employees, reliable and high quality fuels, investment in safety, and commitment to the environment. For more information about Superior Plus Energy Services, Contact us at 203-888-2535 or visit https://www.superiorplusenergy.com/ TRL Tricia Korbl TRL Development Group, LLC Welcome to our newest Affiliate Members Danielle Bijanada Love Where You Live Homes, LLC Gina M. Romanello InnerSpace Electronics, Inc. 13/16" 3/4" ILINE 1902 ILINE 1901S ILINE 1903 ILINE 1903S The ILINE Collection is a comprehensive moulding program that offers a fresh pallet of new and vibrant profiles that will be an enhancement to any interior space. These profiles are divided into categories based upon their specific application. To ensure that the proper mouldings are specified in the project, simply write the corresponding ILINE moulding number in your specifications, or architectural plans. View and download profiles at interstatelumber.com NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 21 7 1/4" 5 3/4"
MEMBER NEWS Chamber’s ANNUAL DINNER DANCE on Friday, January 12th Mamaroneck, NY: Local Chamber to Honor Murphy Brothers The Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce has chosen Murphy Brothers Contracting as their 2018 honoree. Owners Sean and Chris Murphy will be recognized at the at 6:30 at the Beach Point Club. “The Murphy Brothers have been a longtime member of the Chamber,” said current Chamber President, Susan Fuller, “Chris and Sean Murphy, along with their entire team are very supportive to our Chamber and the local community, and we are fortunate to have Murphy Brothers Contracting in our Village.” The Murphy Brothers started their award-winning general contracting firm in 1979. Although their construction projects are spread throughout the Westchester and southern Fairfield region, for nearly four decades, they have continued to operate their business in the Mamaroneck community. “Mamaroneck will always be ‘home’ to us,” said Chris Murphy, “it’s got everything, plus the nicest people in the County!” In recent years, they’ve built and are operating Mamaroneck Self Storage on their property. The brothers are hoping to add to the current structure, incorporating an Amazon-style drop-off center, a packaging & mailing service and a “white glove” packing & moving service, in synchrony with the proposed Village of Mamaroneck MAKER Zone, whose aim is the rebirth and sustainability of the manufacturing district in Mamaroneck Village. 22 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
NAHB 20 Clubs Build Your Future NAHB 20 Clubs is the only group that serves as your own personal board of directors. The 20 Clubs are a group of home builders and remodelers from non-competing markets across the country who are focused on discussing and developing real-world solutions to help improve each other’s operations and increase their bottom lines. 20 Club members gain the knowledge they need to build business management systems that survive and thrive the ups and downs of the home building industry. The results: PROFITS! 20 Club members reported an average of double net profits within their first three years of joining! If you’re ready to be a part of one of NAHB’s most exclusive and profitable programs, then visit nahb.org/why20clubs and complete an application today! AD220Club17 NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 23
MEMBER NEWS House vs Hurricane By Leigh Overland and Gene Braunstein I n the 1967 Oscar-winning movie, “The Graduate,” Benjamin Braddock, played by a very young Dustin Hoffman, reluctantly attends the big college graduation party his parents throw for him. A family friend takes Ben aside and offers him some sage financial advice. “One word,” the man pointedly tells him, “Plastics.” If that conversation were to take place today, Ben might very likely be told “Plastics…and concrete.” While it doesn’t sound like the kind of investment that would rocket anyone to the top one percent, it is the blueprint for constructing new housing that is many more times hurricane resistant than the default method of just using wood. It’s called ICF, or Insulated Concrete Forms. How much better than traditional wood framing is an ICF house? When super storm Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012, the beachfront houses in Union Beach, NJ, as in countless other communities, were irretrievably destroyed– ripped apart, flattened by rising tides and the nearly 80 mph winds. Where nice houses once stood, condemned property and foundations remained. Only one building was left intact–an ICF home with the owners and their family safely inside. Their home withstood the rising tide and would have been able to weather more than twice the wind speed that caused so much destruction around them. Although some damage was done to the exterior of the house, it was minor and easily repaired.1 While the degree with which we have been able to predict and track storms has given us more than ample prep and/or evacuation time, there has been very little talk about minimizing or even preventing the catastrophic aftermath. There’s not only the physical toll. There’s the emotional, psychological and financial ones as well. Other than nailing 4×8 foot plywood sheets over our windows and doors, the only options at this point are still pretty much fight or flight. Hope is not a strategy, but unfortunately, that’s all that many victims have left to cling to. They want to rebuild, but the specter of more super storms will linger. Clearly, it’s time to rethink our castle-making and take a serious look at Insulated Concrete Forms. The key to the effectiveness and strength inherent in an ICF-built home is its simple, ingenious technology, which has been used in Europe since shortly after WWII. The insulated concrete forms start out as two rectangular pieces of 2.5-inch thick, high-density Styrofoam. The two pieces are connected side-by-side by plastic spacers leaving a 6- to 8-inch gap, depending on their placement in the structure. These hollow blocks lock together, end to end, forming the foundation and exterior walls, creating a “shell” of the house or building. Once all the blocks are locked in place, the entire gap is filled with concrete. Think of ICF as a concrete sandwich consisting of two slabs of Styrofoam “bread” with concrete in the middle. And hold the mayo. It’s no wonder that there’s always such widespread, heart-wrenching devastation after an extreme weather assault. Wood-based structures simply can’t hold up under such extreme conditions, which, scientists tell us, are going to increase in frequency and intensity. Read More Statement from NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald on Imposition of Canadian Lumber Tariffs G ranger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Commerce Department’s final decision to impose countervailing and anti-dumping duties averaging 20.83 percent on Canadian lumber imports: “Today’s move by the Commerce Department to impose duties averaging 20.83 percent on Canadian lumber shipments into the U.S. could not have come at a worse time. Home builders and home owners are already dealing with the monumental rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the devastating hurricane season and California wildfires. This tariff only adds to the burden by harming housing affordability and artificially boosting the price of lumber. It is nothing more than a thinly-disguised tax on American home buyers, home builders and consumers. “This is particularly disappointing given that NAHB met recently with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to express our concerns on this issue. Unfortunately, the administration is taking protectionist measures to support domestic lumber producers at the expense of millions of U.S. home buyers and lumber consumers. This is an especially hard blow at a time when the housing sector is still struggling to regain its footing and grappling with rebuilding efforts following these natural disasters Read More 24 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
DEAR SANDLER COACH HBRA JOB BANK The HBRA JOB BANK is a FREE service for HBRA Members. If you would like to have a job posted, please use the Job Posting form to submit the information. The fee for Non-members is $50. Please contact the HBRA office at 203-335-7008 or email us for more information, FREE Resume Posting (Open to the public) E-mail your resume in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Subject line: JOB BANK. Do not include your resume as body copy in an e-mail. Include a short paragraph summary of your skills or what type of job you are seeking. The HBRA of Fairfield County is not an employment agency nor will the HBRA recommend or refer any person seeking employment. It is up to the Member to contact an applicant directly and make employment decisions. Murphy Brothers Contracting Construction Site Supervisor Murphy Brothers Contracting is hiring for a Site Supervisor position with at least 5 years’ experience. This highly motivated individual must be knowledgeable of all construction phases from excavation through finishes, communicates well, understands how to read blueprints, has good problem-solving skills, and is comfortable working with work-related computer programs. Qualified candidates must be able to work closely with Project Manager, homeowners, architects, designers and coworks. For more information, contact Michael Murphy at michael@murphybrothers.com Dear Sandler Coach, I hate cold calls and always get stopped by the gatekeeper, what can I do to get through? - Amy G. Dear Amy, Let’s start with you hating cold calls. If you truly hate them it will unfortunately come across in the tone of your voice. This in itself may be stopping you from getting through. Sure no one really likes cold calls but the tone of your voice is crucial in getting through a gatekeeper. There are 5 reasons to make a cold call, one is to get a yes! Two is to get a No! (Yes we want the no) Three is to get a referral (Maybe they know someone that could use what you have) Four is to learn a lesson, this is great, maybe you learn who the decision maker is or even what the name of the gatekeeper. Then the last one is clear - it’s next steps. Maybe you are getting back with them after the holiday, or when they have their next budget meeting. Remember, every call doesn’t have to be successful only if you get the meeting. Just the fact that you made a cold call is a win! John J. Fazio, Jr. John’s clients include the single entrepreneur all the way up to Fortune 500 companies in the areas of sales, leadership, management and customer service. Have a training question for John? Send your questions to hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 25
BUILDER NEWS Builders Blast Tax Proposal; Realtors not Smiling Either C ongressional leadership and the Trump Administration stand accused of “abandoning middle-class taxpayers in favor of high-income Americans and wealthy corporations’ by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The remark came in a statement from NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald regarding Thursday’s release of the framework for the long anticipated Republican tax reform proposal. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) also released a statement critical of the plan, but withheld talking about specifics pending further review. MacDonald had no such reservations. In the statement, which carried the headline “Republican Tax Reform Plan Slams Middle Class,” he said, “The bill eviscerates existing housing tax benefits by drastically reducing the number of home owners who can take advantage of mortgage interest and property tax incentives,” and that “Capping mortgage interest at $500,000 for new home purchases means that home buyers in expensive markets will effectively lose this housing tax benefit moving forward.” The bill, is expected to hit heavy headwinds from other lobbying groups as well. It cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent but appears not to eliminate many of the current exemptions that cut the average corporate tax bill to 18 percent. The bill would reduce the current six tax brackets to four; 39.6 percent for households making more than $1 million annually, and 35 percent on incomes from $260,000 to $1 million. A 25 percent rate would apply from $90,000 to $260,000, and percent from $24,000 to 90,000. Households making less than $24 would pay no income tax. Read More Look no further for an insurance agent who can work with you to design an insurance portfolio just right for your business. If you engage in construction or remodeling of one or two family residences in CT then I want to talk to you. Our construction insurance program includes: • General Liability • • • Property Business Auto Inland Marine • Workers Compensation • Umbrella • Builders Risk Kim Marie DiMatteo, CIC, MWCA I have been in the construction insurance business since 1992. I know the markets, the products, and what’s right for you. Call me today to schedule a convenient appointment. 79 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton, CT 06484 | 203.924.5429 | www.dimatteogrp.com 26 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
OSHA Announces Electronic Reporting Deadline For 2016 Injury And Illness Data I n May, OSHA said it would propose pushing back the compliance date from July 1 but did not specify Dec. 1 as the new deadline until June. In its rule-change proposal, OSHA said that not only did employers need time to become familiar with the electronic reporting system, but that it was also giving the Trump administration an opportunity to review the new electronic reporting requirements. Despite the compliance deadline delay, OSHA introduced its electronic reporting system on Aug. 1. Employers will be able to use the web-based system’s Injury Tracking Application to report the information that would normally be submitted on the paper forms. Industry groups like the National Association of Home Builders have pushed back against the electronic reporting requirements, more specifically at OSHA’s intention to make some of the submitted data available for the public to view online. The NAHB and others have argued that displaying what they Financing some of the top builders in Fairfield County. have characterized as proprietary information online could constitute violations of employers’ First and Fifth amendment rights. Read More People you trust, service you expect, and products to fit your financial needs. • Construction Financing • Commercial Mortgages • Term Loans • Revolving Lines of Credit 877.431.7431 • www.fairfieldcountybank.com NMLS ID #516624 EQUAL HOUSING L E ND E R MEMBER FDIC NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 27
BUILDER NEWS Republican Tax Reform Plan Slams Middle Class G ranger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, today issued the following statement on the tax plan unveiled by House Republicans: “The House Republican tax reform plan abandons middle-class taxpayers in favor of high-income Americans and wealthy corporations. The bill eviscerates existing housing tax benefits by drastically reducing the number of home owners who can take advantage of mortgage interest and property tax incentives. “And capping mortgage interest at $500,000 for new home purchases means that home buyers in expensive markets will effectively lose this housing tax benefit moving forward. “The House leadership killed a cost-effective plan proposed by NAHB that Ways and Means Committee leaders agreed to include in the legislation. It would provide a robust homeownership tax credit that would have helped up to 37 million additional home owners who do not currently itemize. Most of them are low- and moderate-income home owners. “Meanwhile, as corporations receive a major tax cut, small businesses, which generate the lion’s share of job growth, get limited relief. “The bottom line: Congress is ignoring the needs of America’s working-class families and small businesses. “And by undermining the nation’s longstanding support for homeownership and threatening to lower the value of the largest asset held by most American families, this tax reform plan will put millions of home owners at risk.” House Passes Joint Employer Bill, Providing Certainty for Small Businesses T he National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today commended the House for passing the bipartisan Save Local Business Act, legislation that would amend the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to restore a common sense joint employer standard for home building firms and other small businesses. “Under current law, it is possible for a home builder to be considered a joint employer through such a basic business act as setting the work schedule of their subcontractor,” said NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald, a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas. “This bill would reinstate the sensible criteria that has worked for the American business community for more than 30 years and provide legal certainty for all business owners.” In 2015, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned decades of precedence in the case of Browning-Ferris Industries of California Inc. by affirming that a company could be considered a joint employer if it has indirect control or the potential to determine the key terms of an employee’s employment, including hiring and firing, supervision, scheduling and the means and method of employment. Read More 28 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017 New Home Sales Pace Hits 10-year High S ales of newly built, single-family homes in September rose 18.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 667,000 units from an upwardly revised August reading, according to data from HUD and the Census Bureau. This is the highest sales rate since October 2007. Year-to-date, new home sales are 8.6% above their level over the same period last year. “The September sales numbers show that there is solid, growing demand for new home construction,” said NAHB chairman Granger MacDonald. “However, builders need to continue to monitor rising construction costs to keep houses affordably priced.” “New home sales have bounced back from a few soft months and have returned to the strong growth trend we saw earlier this year,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “As existing home inventory remains tight, we can expect new homes sales to continue to make gains in the months ahead.” The inventory of new homes for sale was 279,000 in September, which is a five-month supply at the current sales pace. New home sales increased in all four regions. Sales rose 33.3% in the Northeast, 25.8% in the South, 10.6% in the Midwest and 2.9% in the West.
IHA Places Emphasis on Addressing Housing Needs of Developing Countries D uring its 2017 Interim Meeting this week in Tokyo, the International Housing Association (IHA) launched a new working group to support the housing needs of developing countries. The IHA aims to advance the housing industry globally. By bringing a focus to the specific needs of developing countries through this new working group, the IHA will actively contribute to a better understanding their needs and thereby bring heightened awareness to the housing needs of its member countries and across the world. “IHA is committed to opening the channels of communication to help address the housing needs of developing counties that are actively working to advise the economic position and living standards of their citizens through housing,” said Kevin Lee, chairman of IHA and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association. “By working together, we will be able to share ideas and best practices from around the world that have worked in other countries, to better assist developing countries that may have similar challenges.” The IHA recognizes that the residential construction needs of developing countries need to be better understood by the global industry as a whole. The Working Group will serve as the key forum for dialogue about some of the challenges these countries face while moving toward solutions to meet their housing needs. Read More US Finalizes Canadian Softwood Lumber Tariffs T he latest development reflects a similar proposal Commerce Department officials made in April that would have applied an average 20% tax on Canadian softwood lumber imports. That decision, made in response to countervailing claims, was expected to create $1 billion in revenue on imports valued at $5 billion annually. In June, the department said it would impose another set of preliminary antidumping duties, ranging from 4.59% to 7.72% on certain imports. Together, the two duties would see an extra 17.41% to 30.88% added to imports’ present cost. Read More ANNOUNCING the arrival of our new 8-story BOOMTRUCK CONNECTICUT - East Haven - Manchester - Newtown SANDY HOOK - 2 Turnberry Lane - 203-426-0030 NEW YORK - Millwood • Mold / Mildew Resistant Board • Fire Rated Board • ½” Light Weight Board • Exterior Sheathing • Metal Studs • Acoustical Ceiling Tile NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 29
BUILDER NEWS NAHB NEWS Report: More Homebuilders Turn To Green Construction I t’s been well-documented that green homes can command a higher price-point, but efforts to green the construction space go far beyond residential. From heavy industry to commercial offices, the desire to operate more efficiently is one factor driving renewable energy production. That’s helping construction, too. Energy-related projects accounted for more than 2 million construction jobs in 2016, or roughly a third of the entire construction workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That number only stands to increase as more such projects come online, particularly in the renewable energy space. Adding to that push is a growing interest from cities aiming to cut their carbon footprints. Chicago, which now houses the most green office space in the country, earlier this year announced plans to transition 900city owned buildings to completely renewable energy by 2025. Aspen, CO, Burlington, VT, and San Francisco have all recently made similar pushes. In September, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio took aim at the city’s biggest and mostpolluting buildings by proposing an efficiency program to counteract their negative environmental impact. Barring regulations, more property owners are voluntarily turning to energy efficiency, prompting AEC professionals strive to meet that demand. Renewable power source installation reached a record-high 138.5 gigawatts of capacity added globally in 2016. That figure nearly equals the total energy capacity of the world’s 16 largest power plants. 55+ Housing Builders and Developers Stay Confident in Third Quarter B uilder confidence in the singlefamily 55+ housing market continued to be positive in the third quarter of 2017, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. While the index measuring builder confidence in the single-family 55+ market dropped from a reading of 66 in the second quarter to 59 this quarter, it’s the 14th quarter in a row in which the reading was above 50, the break-even point at which more respondents see conditions as good than poor. Read More BEAUTY. ELEGANCE. STRENGTH. Our Aluminum Doors Will Surprise You. Ed’s Garage Doors offers a broad selection of aluminum doors that are the perfect complement to your home. Visit our showroom to see many exclusive aluminum doors on display, and talk with a design expert about our countless in-stock and custom options. Showroom Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Evenings: By appointment Sunday: Closed 136 Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854 203-847-1284 edsgaragedoors.com ® 30 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! 2018 Directory & Resource Guide Confirm your free listing and consider placing a paid directory ad! Your ad not only promotes your business but helps the HBRA of Fairfield County with annual operating expenses! Ad & Listing Deadline: Friday, January 12, 2018 The HBRA Member Directory & Consumer Resource Guide reaches hundreds of members and consumers each year through the printed and online flipbook directory. AD DIMENSIONS & PRICING size Full Page Half Page (Hor.) Quarter Page 5.75” x 3.75” 2.75” x 3.75” All full-size print pages include bleed. Please return forms via email, fax or mail. HBRA of Fairfield County 2228 Black Rock Turnpike, Suite 307 Fairfield CT 06825 T: (203) 335-7008 F: (203) 335-7141 clare@buildfairfieldcounty.com dimensions [WxH] PRiCe 6.75” x 8.75” $900 $600 $425 Listing Example Simple Listing: InSinkErator 4700 21st St Racine WI 53406 www.insinkerator.com Rhonda Burnim (203)522-9608 CLICK HERE FOR LISTING FORMS NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 31
MEMBER OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT The HBRA of Fairfield County is offering a VALUEADDED membership opportunity to promote your business in our digital monthly magazine Building Connections! Interstate+Lakeland Lumber Corp. Since 1922 Interstate + Lakeland Lumber has been dedicated to servicing the needs of the area’s finest builders throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties. Committed to providing the highest quality of service and materials in the area with competitive pricing, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber has established itself as one of the leaders in product knowledge and representation. From framing lumber, both dimensional and engineered, to windows, siding, and trim, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber can supply the full array of building materials to suit any type of project. We are most proud of our molding program with over 300 molding profiles in stock that make up the IL Greenwich Collection. Interstate + Lakeland Lumber just recently launched 40 additional profiles to make up their new “ILINE Collection”. With our 100,000 sq ft millwork manufacturing and distribution center located in Bethel CT, we are leading the industry on the custom mill work side of the business for both interior and exterior production. Interstate + Lakeland Lumber is proud to be one of Brian Kurtz the few and remaining successful family owned and operated businesses that has entered into its fourth 26 HBRA of Fairfield County | JUNE 2017 generation with the addition of Brian. This rich and vibrant tradition continues to grow as the company enters its 96th year in business. Brian joined the company in 2008 eager to continue its great success, and has played key role in helping chart the future course of Interstate + Lakeland Lumber. As an outside salesman for the past five years he has managed to grow existing customer relationships as well as develop new ones with some of the top builders in the area. He brings passion and enthusiasm every day to his work and is constantly looking for ways to improve customer satisfaction. Over the next five years Brian plans to continue his growth in all aspects of the company and focus on bringing in the next generation of dedicated IL employees to help Interstate flourish. Please stop into Interstate + Lakeland Lumber’s award winning Window and Door showroom in Greenwich CT, or any one of the 5 locations to speak with our knowledgeable and friendly staff that represent the Interstate and Lakeland Lumber family. We look forward to supplying your next job.” Interstate+Lakeland Lumber Corp. 184 South Water Street Greenwich CT 06830 www.interstatelumber.com The Monthly Spotlight includes: • 1 FREE Full Page in the Building Connections Magazine • Space for company contact information and logos, linked to your website • Opportunity to display homes for sale, listing information, and notable homes • Opportunity to display awards and recognitions • See Pages 24 and 26 for examples. CONTACT clare@buildfairfieldcounty.com to reserve your space today! MEET THE MOST POWERFUL BUSINESS PARTNERS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY. Kathryn A. Eren, VP, Cash Management Officer; Lisa Stuard, AVP Commercial Loan Administrator; Maureen Hanley-Bellitto, SVP, Commercial Team Leader; Gregory Pastor, Jr. VP, Commercial Banking Officer; Kim Karl, VP, Commercial Banking Officer; Deep community roots. Unrivaled market knowledge. Unmatched customer service. When a bank builds its commercial banking team around the values that truly make a difference in helping your business and community grow and prosper, that’s more than banking. That’s changing the way you bank. Talk to us today. Visit bankatunited.com/commercial Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender 32 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
Help the HBRA Meet Our Goal of 500 Members! One Lucky Winner will receive a PAID 2018 Membership Renewal We need 60 more to reach our goal by December 31st and you can help! Who better to inform others on the value of membership than YOU! It is a great opportunity to contact your vendors, sub-contractors, manufacturing reps, and other relevant companies and let them know why the HBRA of Fairfield County is the association they NEED to join! Plus, every new member you enlist that joins and lists you as the referred member gets you a ticket for the drawing (and a SPIKE) that includes: 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th Place 2018 Membership Renewal - valued at $595 $100 VISA card $25 Amazon Card 4 BowTie Cinema Tickets The Challenge starts October 1st and ends December 31st. The Winners will be announced at the February General Membership Meeting. Updates of TOP TEN standings will be available on our website at http://buildfairfieldcounty. com/membership-challenge-2017 THE SMART CHOICE For Making Your Dream Kitchen A Reality SMART HOME CONTROL THERMADOR SUBZERO / WOLF GE MONOGRAM ...and more BEST SERVICE AT THE GUARANTEED BEST PRICE In-Store And Onlin 2770 Summer Street • Stamford, CT 06905 203-327-2630 STORE HOURS: MON & THURS: 9AM-9PM | TUES, WED, FRI & SAT: 9AM-6PM | SUN: 11AM-5PM www.countytv.com NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 33
CAPS I, II AND III DESIGNATION (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) CAPS I: December 6th, 8:30AM - 5:00PM CAPS 2: December 7th, 8:30AM - 5:00PM CAPS 3: December 8th, 8:30AM - 5:00PM Ring’s End Educational Facility 160 Avon Street, Stratford CT 06615 HBRA Member Fee: $250 per course Non-Member Fee: $350 per course (Fees include registration, lunch, resource materials, and NAHB exam processing) DEADLINE TO REGISTER - November 30th REGISTER HERE Three Courses Required: Marketing & Communication Strategies for Aging and Accessibility (CAPS I) The goal of the course is to equip course participants with the knowledge and tools to effectively market and sell services to the aging in place (AIP) market. Continuing Education Credits: 6 CE for AIBD, 0.6 CEU for AOTA, 6 NAHB CE for: CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, CSP, Master CSP, CMP, MIRM Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging In Place (CAPS II) The goal of this course is to enable participants to identify common challenges within the home and understand attractive design concepts that create a safe and comfortable environment for clients who want to age in place as well as identify with one or more of these groups: Individuals who are not experiencing health issues related to aging, individuals who have a progressive or other condition that requires home modifications or equipment, and individuals who are dealing with an abrupt or traumatic health-related change. Continuing Education Credits: 6 AIA/CES HSW Learning Units, 6 CE for AIBD, 0.6 AOTA CEUs,6 NAHB CE for: CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, CSP, Master CSP, CMP, MIRM Details & Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging In Place (CAPS III) This course builds on the CAPS I and CAPS II courses (which are prerequisites for this course) by introducing design solutions and techniques for professionals whose clients require specialized design and equipment to live and thrive comfortably in their homes. Whole house product specification and installation techniques will be covered accompanied by practical, hands-on activities. Continuing Education Credits: 6 AIA/CES HSW Learning Units, 6 CE for AIBD, 0.6 AOTA CEUs,6 NAHB CE for: CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, CSP, Master CSP, CMP, MIRM Certified Instructor: Alan Hanbury, CGR, CAPS, CGP. GMR, MBA House of Hanbury Builders Inc. 109 Stamm Rd, Newington, CT 06111 34 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017 Sponsored By
OSHA 10 HOUR CONSTRUCTION Thursday, January 18 & Friday, January 19, 2017 8:00am-2:00pm Registration starts at 7:30AM Ridgefield Supply Educational Facility 29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield CT 06877 HBRA Members: $35.00 Non-Members: $75.00 (Fees include registration, continental breakfast, lunch, and OSHA card) REGISTER HERE OSHA is coming to FINE you! Get ahead of them & learn what you need to know for your business and your employees. The OSHA10-hour construction training course is designed for anyone in the construction industry. Upon completion, participants will receive an OSHA construction safety and health 10-hour course completion card from the Department of Labor. OSHA 10 cards are good for 5 years. *Must attend both dates in order to receive OSHA card-per federal regulation. Continental Breakfast & Lunch included both days. Payment must be received by January 12th to reserve your spot. Walk-ins will not be accepted at this course due to limited seating. Sponsored by: NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 35
THE TWENTY-SIX HOUR DAY Friday, January 26, 2018 8:00am-2:00pm Registration starts at 7:30AM Ring’s End Educational Facility 29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield HBRA Members: $20.00 Non-Members: $40.00 (Fees include continental breakfast) REGISTER HERE How Contractors Can Get Two More Hours in Your Day! Contractors know the value of their time and the need to leverage every hour for increased results. One additional hour each day of productive time can yield significant increases to their bottom lines. Don Wetmore grew up in the construction industry and has had a career as a Realtor, a real estate attorney, a real estate developer and management consultant and one of the leading experts on Time Management. Don has made over 2,000 Time Management presentations worldwide and has conducted dozens of Time Management programs exclusively for contractors throughout the United States and Canada. He is the author of seven books, including “Beat the Clock”. In his dynamic, motivating, and content rich Time Management Seminar for Contractors, you will learn practical ways to: • Manage multiple priorities • Organize “have to’s” and “want to’s” • Manage appointments and scheduled events • Invest time v. expense time • Get two more productive hours in every work day • Leverage your time for greater productivity • Gain better control over the entire 24-hour day • Overcome procrastination • Avoid “crisis management” • Identify and eliminate time wasters • Say “no” positively • Reduce telephone tag • And much, much more! Sponsored By Instructor: Dr. Donald Wetmore Productivity Institute 127 Jefferson Street Stratford, CT 06615 36 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
HBRA Job Bank Up to 35% OFF with FREE shipping Hewlett-Packard PCs & Printers Introducing the HP Employee Purchase Program for NPP members - An exclusive shopping experience with everyday savings of up to 35% and free shipping. HP even offers personalized assistance to help you find the perfect PC and other HP Home and Home Office Store products. NPP members receive • Up to 35% OFF • FREE shipping • 30-day return policy (no restocking fee) • Personalized purchase assistance (phone, chat, email) • Dedicated support for premium products* *Including in-house calls and accidental damage protection Up to 10% OFF moving and storage PODS Moving & Storage, Solved PODS® combines moving and storage into one easy solution. No more packing, unpacking, and repacking on someone else’s schedule. Instead, we put you in control and safely transport or store your belongings. NPP members can move and store with PODS for less. NPP members receive • 10% OFF initial delivery (local and long distance) • 10% OFF first month’s rental (local and long distance) • 10% OFF long distance transportation Not signed up yet? All HBRA Members are eligible! Visit www.mynpp.com, select Company, then Construction, then Residential. Select HB&RA - Home Builders and Remodelers Associations from the dropdown menu, complete the enrollment and START SAVING! MEMBER BENEFITS
HBRA Job Bank MEMBER BENEFITS WE’RE HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL. RAM® 3500 If you’re a member, it’s time to cash in. GET A $500 CASH ALLOWANCE ON MANY FCA US LLC VEHICLES.1 Visit NAHB.ORG/FCA for more details. UP TO $1,000 ADDITIONAL VEHICLE BENEFITS2 MOST NATIONAL AND LOCAL INCENTIVES FCA US LLC IS A PROUD AFFINITY PROGRAM PROVIDER FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS. 1 Family members must reside in member’s same household. See dealer for allowance and eligibility requirements. 2 Upfit bonus must be used in conjunction with On The Job program. See dealer for On The Job eligibility requirements and offers. ©2017 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC. FIAT is a registered trademark of FCA Group Marketing S.p.A., used under license by FCA US LLC. 38 HBRA of Fairfield County | NOVEMBER 2017
SPEND LESS TIME RUNNING PAYROLL • ADP provides excellent job costing payroll that quickly and easily flows into the general ledger • Mobile apps can be geographically fenced with job costing capabilities to satisfy your most complex payroll • Biometric finger scan to help prevent “buddy punching” • Quickly view balances, request time off, approve/deny requests Contact MunnCo to connect with ADP E: Dylan@munnco.com C: 406-459-4392 NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 39
REdefining home improvement RingsEnd.com 800 390 1000 NOVEMBER 2017 | HBRA of Fairfield County 40
1 Publizr