“Unfortunately, prior to when historic district protections became law, many homes were impacted by poor renovations that stripped away important architectural elements,” said Chris Kornman, PhD, founder and owner of Entablature. Kornman’s project in Uptown New Orleans was one of them. Bringing Charm and Community Back On Octavia Street, most of the homes were built following the 1884 World’s Fair. As New Orleans style blends French, Spanish and Creole influences, one defining point of the regional vernacular is the front porch. During a past renovation, the original front porch was…
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Existing home sales 1.2% lower than last year
On a year-over-year basis, existing home sales saw a slight decrease, only 1.2% lower than in 2025. However, on a month-over-month basis, existing home sales fell for the third consecutive month as a result of both elevated home prices and mortgage rates. Homes stayed on the market for a median of 31 days in August 2026, up from 29 days in the previous month but unchanged from August 2025. Last month, existing home sales decreased across the four major regions: Sales in the Northeast decreased 4.0%, in the Midwest 3.1%…
Read MoreWomen in working in construction reaches record high
According to the National Association of Home Builders, the share of women working in construction has risen to a 20-year high. Recent data puts women’s share of the workforce at 11.3%. From 2024 to 2025, an estimated 31,000 women joined the industry, adding to the 1.37 million total. NAHB reports that this is a wide comeback for women’s participation since the Great Recession. From 2007 to 2010, an estimated 300,000 women left the industry workforce. This increase is largely attributed to more white-collar positions in the industry, such as administrative…
Read MoreWhat the custom home premium reveals about homebuilding
According to the National Association of Home Builders’ analysis of the latest Survey of Construction data, the custom home premium reached its highest level since 2011, at 12.6%. The custom home premium is the difference between what typical buyers pay per square foot for a contractor-built home versus a spec home. For custom single-family detached homes started in 2025, the median price increased to $171 per square foot. For spec starts, excluding improved lot values, the median was $152 per square foot, nearly unchanged from $153 a year earlier. The…
Read MoreNARI introduces a new member benefit
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) introduced a new benefit for its members: the NARI SecureFuture 401(k) Plan. This plan allows NARI member businesses to support their employees without taking on the burden of administrative work. The association explained that this initiative reflects a shift in how it supports its members’ professionalism and business success. NARI cites that, as critical skilled labor is to the industry, this new offering would help member businesses attract and retain valuable staff. This is especially valuable as many NARI member businesses are…
Read MoreExisting home sales see slight dip in August
According to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Existing-Home Sales report, existing-home sales in August 2026 decreased by 2.0% month-over-month and 1.2% year-over-year. “Mortgage rates and home sales move in opposite directions, so it’s not surprising to see a mild dip in home buying activity due to high mortgage rates,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Still, home prices are rising and existing home sales are actually up 1.6% year-to-date through the first eight months of the year. Homebuying demand, despite higher interest rates, is no doubt being supported by…
Read MoreWhat Clauses Offer Contractor Protection
Strengthening indemnification and arbitration clauses to protect your business Contractors are facing increased scrutiny by clients and third parties, leading to more construction defect, property damage and personal injury lawsuits. This risk often arises in the context of routine work. A contractor performs water intrusion remediation at a condominium building, entering individual units to cover personal belongings and open drywall and ceilings. Even though the contractor did not cause the underlying water intrusion damage, it may nonetheless be sued by condominium owners who attribute their inconvenience to the remediation work.…
Read MoreResidential Contractor Editor’s Choice 2026 Products Released
The Residential Contractor Editor’s Choice 2026 recognizes the top products that exemplify innovation, quality, performance and value for today’s residential remodelers, specialty contractors and custom home builders. Selected by the editors of Residential Contractor, these products represent practical solutions that help construction professionals build more efficiently, improve jobsite productivity, enhance craftsmanship and deliver lasting value to their clients. From the structure and building envelope to interior finishes, mechanical systems and design technology, our 2026 Editor’s Choice selections highlight products we believe deserve a place on every residential contractor’s radar. Read…
Read MoreLP Building Solutions delivers new design options
LP Building Solutions (LP), a leading manufacturer of high-performance building products, announced the expansion of its LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding portfolio with the introduction of the new LP® SmartSide® Primed 8” Brushed Smooth Shake Lap Siding, designed to give building professionals greater flexibility in achieving refined, traditional exterior designs. Demand for shake-style accents remains strong across many housing markets, particularly for gables and architectural focal points. The new profile addresses that trend with a smaller reveal that creates a more detailed appearance than larger-format shake products. The LP® SmartSide®…
Read MoreIncoming fall design trends
While the weather still feels like summer, fall is looming around the corner. With a new season come new design trends. According to new data, homeowners are renovating for longevity, not with resale in mind. Instead, warmth and personalization are the priority as homeowners upgrade their spaces into what will become their forever home. Homeowners are gravitating towards details and materials that evoke a sense of lived-in authenticity, including aged metals, artisan plaster, handcrafted tile, natural stone and unique vintage pieces. Fall is all about warmth and patterns, and design…
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