R.M. Young Company and Western Weather Group will host a joint educational webinar titled “Powering Safer Grids with Wildfire Forecast Intelligence + Rugged Weather Hardware” on February 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern. The live webinar is free to attend with advance registration. As wildfire risk continues to grow across utility service territories, accurate forecasting and dependable environmental data have become critical to grid safety, operational planning and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) decision-making Webinar attendees will learn how to: Apply wildfire forecast intelligence to utility operations and planning Use…
Read MoreDay: January 21, 2026
Remodel of the week: Neil Kelly
The design team from Neil Kelly remodeled a kitchen in Gresham, transforming its outdated design into a more contemporary one that balances with transitional warmth. Tawni Peterson from NK worked as the Design Consultant on the project, leading a team also from NK. The clients knew they wanted to remodel the kitchen when they originally moved into the home a few years ago, envisioning a more open and airy kitchen. The team faced structural challenges during the initial walkthrough, noting that the existing vertical stick framing was not adequate to…
Read MoreDesigners weigh in on 2026 home design trends
Home design in 2026 is focusing more on wellness, from more natural, earthy tones to functional spaces suitable for a quiet escape. Design is moving away from the previous one-size-fits-all aesthetic and towards a look that is more adaptable with life. The biggest theme beginning to emerge is not about chasing looks, but about shaping spaces that support how a person actually lives, enhances wellbeing and connection, allows a homeowner to feel calm and meaningful, and balances neutrality with purposeful accents. Designers are starting to gravitate away from the flat,…
Read MoreUsing AI technology in the remodeling industry
Danny Fisher, the Chief Technology Officer at West Shore Home oversees one of the largest bathroom remodelers in the country with over $1 billion annual revenue. Fisher gives his insights on how he utilized AI technology when he started at West Shore and how it revolutionized the workflow and scale of business. As any remodeler knows scoping is the hardest part of scaling home remodeling, relaying the client’s needs while balancing cost, labor and timelines can take years to manually understand. Yet under Fisher’s experience AI can simultaneously check inventory…
Read MoreNLBMDA’s 2026 national policy agenda
The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) released their national policy agenda for 2026. In this they outlined their vision for housing and construction, tax and economic policy, legal reform and consumer protection, workforce policy, environment, health and safety, production supply and trade, energy and transportation. Highlights of their framework include supporting the Timber Innovation Act to advance tall wood building construction. The NLBMDA supports and wants to advance building codes that would allow for construction of wood framed buildings larger than six stories. This is supported by…
Read MoreBuilding material prices continue to climb
Residential building material growth price continued to rise at the end of 2025, despite a softer new home construction market. The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that price growth for residential construction inputs remained higher than 3% since June, indicating persistent cost pressures for both builders and developers. Building material prices have seen the largest annual increase since early 2023, now up 3.5% year over year. Metal particularly stands out, with metal and trim prices having surged nearly 50% compared to…
Read MoreRemodeling Market Sentiment increased in Q4 2025
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released their NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter, showing growth and stability in the market. The survey increased four points compared to Q3 at a 64. This survey takes an average of the Current Conditions Index and the Future Indicators Index. The Current Conditions Index takes into account the current market for small, medium and large projects and averaged a 71. While the Future Indicators Index surveys incoming inquiries and backlog of projects. This index increased four points from…
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