WASHINGTON, DC — The National Association of Home Builders has renewed its calls on Congress and the Biden administration to help ease building material supply chain bottlenecks that are stunting housing affordability by eliminating trade barriers and seeking solutions to port congestion and major delays in truck and rail transportation.
Testifying before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations, NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke this week told government lawmakers that disruptions in the building materials supply chain that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic are having “a disproportionate” impact on smaller homebuilding firms.
“Without large economies of scale, small businesses generally cannot negotiate bulk discounts on lumber and other key building materials,” said Fowke. “The effects of this uncertainty trickle all the way to the (prospective) homebuyer, many of whom have balked at projects due to unexpected price increases.”
According to the Washington, DC-based NAHB, historically high lumber and building materials prices continue to serve as “headwinds” for the U.S. housing sector, significantly impeding housing affordability.

“From steel mill products and plastic piping to cooper pipe and wood windows and doors, prices are up dramatically year-to-date and are exacerbating the growing housing affordability crisis,” Fowke said, suggesting that the Biden administration address two fundamental problems.
“On the trade front, until a long-term solution can be reached, Congress and the administration should temporarily suspend duties on a wide array of imported building materials and goods, from Canadian softwood lumber to Chinese steel and aluminum,” said Fowke. “In addition, policymakers must continue to aggressively explore solutions to ease building material supply chain disruptions that are causing project delays and putting upward pressure on home prices.”

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HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — A revised set of health and safety protocols, including COVID-19 vaccination requirements and/or proof of a negative coronavirus test result, have been issued for the 2022 Design & Construction Week (DCW), the annual three-day event that encompasses the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and the International Builders’ Show (IBS).

The National Kitchen & Bath Association, which owns KBIS, and the National Association of Home Builders, owner of IBS, this week released the revised protocols for DCW, set for Feb. 8-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The guidelines, effective as of Oct. 11, apply to all attendee and exhibitor registrants for both KBIS and IBS, and are subject to revision, event sponsors noted.

“The safety and wellbeing of our attendees, partners, exhibitors, site workers and staff remains our top priority, said DCW organizers, adding that they are “working with our vendors, partners and the Orange County Convention Center to…deliver a safe and productive environment in which to conduct business.”

“As we get closer to returning to an in-person event, we continue to update our health and safety policies based upon current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state of Florida and local Orlando health authorities, event organizers added. “We will continue to monitor their recommendations and will update relevant information as needed.”

Among the following health and safety protocols to be adhered to are the following:

n All registered attendees and exhibitors will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within five days of attending the show. Two types of negative tests are acceptable: polymerase chain reaction, referred to as “PCR” (also called diagnostic or molecular), or rapid antigen test (also referred to as a “rapid test”).

n Any one of the following will be accepted for entry (when accompanied by a valid government issued photo ID): electronic proof of a negative test result through a show-management approved app, or a printed or digital copy of negative COVID-19 test results, written in English, that indicates the type of test administered and includes the name of the person in question and the date the test was administered. Per CDC guidelines, negative COVID-19 test results are valid for five days, meaning that the negative test must have been completed no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in order to be accepted for entry for all three show days. If an individual is unable or unwilling to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to entry will suffice.

n Show attendees, exhibitors and others will be required to wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status when riding on an official show hotel shuttle and when indoors at the OCCC from move-in through move-out and at other show related venues.

n U.S. domestic residents will be considered fully vaccinated if they have completed two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. International travelers who have completed full regimens of vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be considered fully vaccinated.

Show management said it is “continuously monitoring guidance from the CDC and state/local health authorities” and reserves the right to adjust the shows’ health & safety protocols “as relevant recommendations and tradeshow industry standards evolve.”

“Guidance related to large gatherings relative to COVID-19 and associated variants continues to change,” DCW organizers said. “What will remain constant is the commitment of the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) and NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and to the health and safety of attendees, exhibitors, partners and staff at our shows.”

Additional details regarding the health and safety Policies for Design and Construction Week can be found at: http://www.designandconstructionweek.com/healthsafety.html.

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As homeowners look to their baths as an escape from the hectic world, function and beauty take the lead in design. However, the urgent craving for wellness is also having an impact on the elements of the bath. What were once luxuries, such as towel warmers and statement-making accessories, are now an integral part of the overall aesthetic of peaceful pampering.

Here are some of the hottest trends in bath accessories right now.

• Organization has taken a giant leap forward, with storage shelves and towel storage becoming key elements of the design.
• Finishes are still trending warm, with matte blacks and all shades of gold leading the charge.
• Safety and accessibility continue to be top of mind, and items such as grab bars and shelving provide their services in very stylish ways.
• Open storage is becoming much more popular, and shelving on walls and in vanities and showers is adding extra space for decorative and functional items.
• Decorative accessory finishes have moved beyond metals and now include powder-coated paints, as well as stone and wood for a touch of nature.
• Saving space and using every inch of the bath continues to be important, and those demands are being answered by smaller-sized accessories, individual towel warming rails and wall niches.

The post Beauty, Function & Wellness Blend in the Latest Bath Accessories appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

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WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the trade organization representing many of the industry’s leading appliance suppliers, has lent its voice to a four-member coalition of trade associations urging immediate action by the Biden administration and Congress to address ongoing global supply chain challenges.

The Washington, DC-based AHAM yesterday joined the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) in releasing a white paper outlining how supply chain disruptions, which are being compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, “are hurting the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers, stalling the U.S. economic recovery (and resulting in) unprecedented damage to the global product supply chain.”

The call for action comes one day after a coalition of workers from across the supply chain warned world leaders that global trade is facing a potential “global transport system collapse” if governments do not restore freedom of movement to transport workers and give them priority to receive COVID vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The ability to produce and deliver home appliances to consumers has been dramatically hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and other supply-related issues, creating hardships for consumers and for businesses at every step in the supply chain,” said Joseph McGuire, president and CEO of AHAM. “The result is ongoing shortages of products, materials, components and labor, leading to delays and increased costs,” McGuire said, adding that, in some cases, the supply chain timeline has doubled or tripled.

“This is at a time when consumers are spending more time in their homes and more dependent than ever on home appliances to keep their families healthy and their homes clean,” he said.

The request by AHAM followed a series of meetings between association members and Biden administration staff, centered around issues important to AHAM-member companies, such as the Section 301 China tariffs, Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, labor shortages, increased costs for shipping containers and increased shipping times, and semiconductor shortages, AHAM said.

“Combined with increased demand for appliances and equipment, supply chain bottlenecks have negative consequences, including increased costs, lost sales, delayed deliveries of critical products to consumers in the face of supply chain backlogs, and even shutting down manufacturing plants,” the association contended.

AHAM acknowledged that many supply chain issues will require long-term solutions, but the coalition also requested immediate relief from policymakers through tariff removal and fair allocation of semiconductors to all industries.

“Quick implementation of these and other policy solutions may help prevent a continued worsening of the availability of manufactured products in the U.S., while increasing productivity and stemming product cost inflation,” AHAM said.

The post Trade Associations Urge U.S. Action on Supply Chain Challenges appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

• Project Location: Clearwater, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Bristol
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: Snow White
• Countertop: Silestone Quartz
• Countertop color: Polished Calacatta Gold
• Backsplash: Silestone Quartz full height polished Calacatta Gold

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Parkland, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: 1300 series
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: White
• Countertop: Quartz
• Countertop color: Calacatta Barcelona
• Backsplash: Quartz Calacatta Barcelona

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Fort Lauderdale’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Clearwater, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Catalina
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: White
• Countertop: Granite
• Backsplash: Tile

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

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KOHLER, WI — Kohler Co., the Kohler, WI-based manufacturer of plumbing products, tile, cabinetry, lighting and related products, will host “Kohler Living,” a forum aimed at exploring ways that “thoughtful design and innovative technology can add beauty, convenience and comfort to the home,” the company announced.

The online forum, scheduled for Nov. 4-5, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. CST, will bring together “the leading minds in design, entertainment, art, culture and business to discuss the future of the places we live, stay and work in (and) present a path toward a more beautiful and sustainable future,” Kohler said. The free event is being offered to consumers and trade professionals alike, the company added.

The first day of the two-day virtual event will be focused on topics that highlight wellbeing, design and innovation, Kohler said. The second day will emphasize smart home, sustainability and social impact, event organizers added. In addition to attending the various discussions and events, forum attendees will have the opportunity to connect with Kohler experts and other attendees in real time via a dedicated chat function in each session page.

For all individuals who register, Kohler is offering a chance to win an Ultimate Destination Kohler Getaway — including a stay at Kohler’s five-star The American Club resort hotel, plus spa and golf packages for two, according to the company.

A complete program of events can be found by visiting Kohler.com/Living.

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