Building Materials

The prolonged housing downturn has pushed the building materials industry into uncharted waters where everyone is trying to hold their place in a shifting topography of competitors, suppliers and customers. Big or small, LBM operators are learning that the rules of engagement have changed. Here today, gone tomorrow, back next week in a reconfigured shape.


What a perfect time to try something new. 


Hampshire, Ill.-based building materials manufacturer W.R. Meadows launched a new website -- wrmeadows.com.

Among the new changes are more project photos, a product spotlight for new products and new social media features. These features include a live Twitter feed, so users can follow tweets as they happen, and links to their Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube pages. 

Royal Group, a manufacturer of decking, trim, pipe and other building materials, has announced a series of promotions in its pipe systems division.

Chad Hall has been named western regional sales manager for electrical fittings in the United States. Prior to joining Royal Group as regional sales manager in November, Hall held several sales positions at Southwire Com., most recently sales manager. Based in Denver, Hall brings 16 years of sales experience in the electrical industry.

Meritage Homes expanded its production of high performance green homes to the Texas market. In the next two weeks, Meritage will open green communities in Fort Worth and San Antonio. 

Each home includes:

• Spray Foam Insulation for a seamless, thermally efficient insulation blanket that prevents air leakage and offers 3X the R-value of standard fiberglass insulation;

• Double Low-E Vinyl Windows that reduce energy loss by up to 50%.

• Energy Efficient CFL Lighting that reduce energy usage by 75%.

The Time Person of the Year is Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. But who is the Tile Person of the Year?

The answer is John Canto of Canto Tile & Stone in Tampa, Fla. The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) presented him with the Tile Person of the Year award at the industry’s Total Solutions Plus Conference.

Canto served four years as the association’s regional director in the late 90s. He served as NTCA president from 2006 to 2008 and chairman of the board from 2008 to 2010.

Bellavita Tile by DM Connections, the Vancouver, Canada-based supplier, has officially executed a name change as part of a restructuring. 

In combination with opening a new manufacturing facility with advanced capabilities in porcelain floor and wall tiles to increase its product matrix, the company will now operate exclusively as Bellavita Tile, Inc.

Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe's announced a variety of executive promotions, including a replacement for the post vacated by Robert Gfeller Jr., who was recently promoted to executive VP merchandising.

An unfair-competition complaint by U.S manufacturers has led to preliminary duties on multilayered wood flooring from China. 

The Commerce Department Tuesday announced a 27.01% duty rate on multilayered flooring imports -- a move described as a preliminary decision, based on evidence of Chinese subsidies.