San Antonio Building Savvy July 2021

July 2021

San Antonio’s Homebuilding Industry Publication

SPECIAL REPORT 3D-Printed Homes May Be The Answer

JIM LEONARD May Election Recap

GARY & JILL BOURN Make Quite the Splash at GSABA’s 2021 Parade

SIZZLING SURFACE FASHIONS Check Out a Variety of New Options

PHOTO BY JASON ROBERTS

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Photo courtesy of Adam Wilson Custom Homes

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Building Savvy

SAVVY’S A-LIST A-LIST SAVVY’S Air Conditioning Architectural Photographer Classic Services AC Jason Roberts And Associates 830.358.1499 210.789.2033 www.classicairconditioningandwww.jasonroberts.biz heating.com Builder Financing

Architectural Photographer AmCap Home Loans Jason Roberts and Associates 210.422.2114 210.789.2033 www.jasonroberts.biz Building Materials Guido Companies

Building Materials 210.344.8321 BMC www.guidoco.com 512.977.7400

www.buildwithbmc.com MG Building Materials 210.623.4770

Guido Companies 210.344.8321 Doors www.guidoconstruction.com The Front Door Company

Doors Drywall The Front Door Company R. Hernandez Drywall 210.340.3141 210.733.6437 www.thefrontdoorco.com

Flooring Flooring Sunn Carpets and Flooring Sunn Carpets and Flooring 210.349.7866 210.349.7866 www.sunncarpets.com

Mortgage Company Mortgage Company

Electrician Electrician Balcones Creek Electric JPI Electric 210.368.6057 210.233.6638 www.jpielectric.com

Garage Doors Hollywood-Crawford Garage Doors 210.494.3434 Hollywood-Crawford www.hollywoodcrawford.com

Pest Control Accurate Pest Control Pool Builder 210.495.0499 Infinity Pools of Texas www.accuratepest.net

210.233.6638 Elevators www.jpielectric.com Home Elevator of Texas 210.340.5702 Elevators www.homeelevator.com

www.hollywoodcrawford.com

Home Warranties Centricity 727.385.7599 Granite Countertops

www.infinitypoolstx.com Plumbing

Home Elevator of Texas

StrucSure 210.695.3505 830-624-4450 https://venetiancountertops.com www.strucsure.com

www.sunncarpets.com

210.494.3434

JPI Electric

Venetian Marble & Granite

210.340.5702 Fireplace Installations Integrity Fireplace Installations www.homeelevator.com 210.294.1383

Home Warranties Insulation

Fireplace Installations

210.340.3141

Integrity Fireplace Installations

www.thefrontdoorco.com

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210.248.2556

www.alignedmortgage.com

210.460.1580

Diamond Plumbing 210.967.6100 Plumbing www.dptexas.com Diamond Plumbing 210.967.6100 Roofer www.dptexas.com Kendall County Roofing

830.331.2650 www.kendallcountyroofing.com

StrucSure Klar Insulation 210.296.5499 830-624-4450

Roofer

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Appliances 830.331.2650

Kendall County Roofing Specialty Electronics and

Insurance Hotchkiss Insurance Insulation 210.581.0420 Klar Insulation www.hiallc.com

HomeWerks www.kendallcountyroofing.com

210.296.5499

Specialty Glass and Mirror HomeWerks

Lumber and Millwork Roddis Lumber Insurance 210.226.1426 www.roddislumber.com Hotchkiss Insurance

Visit our website to see what’s on sale.

Aligned Mortgage 210.874.1630 210.874.1630 www.alignedmortgage.com Aligned Mortgage

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Luxury Iron Doors and www.hiallc.com Interiors AMS Group Lumber and Millwork 210.366.0490

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Specialty Electronics and Appliances

B&T Glass 210.656.8507 www.sanantoniocentralvac.com www.btglassandmirror.com 210.499.5760

Title Company First American Title B&T Glass 817.918.2323 210.656.8507 www.firstam.com

Specialty Glass and Mirror

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Roddis Lumber 210.226.1426 www.roddislumber.com

Solar Energy Smart World Energy 210.465.1021

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Luxury Iron Doors and Interiors

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AMS Group 210.366.0490

DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily re ect the views of N2 Publishing but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Building Savvy magazine are not endorsed or recommended by N2 Publishing or the publisher. Therefore, neither N2 Publishing nor the publisher

may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies. NOTE: When community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that event and they may be used in this publication.

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“ Te r r y i s s o c o rr ei ga itni vael when it comes to advertising properties in i n n o v a t i v e w a y s . We l o v e his creative thinking.”

TERRY KEMMY

Realtor ® terry0372@kw.com 210.844.1542

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[From The Publisher]

Crisis and Competition

Lead to Innovation Lack of materials and labor lead to housing shortages, which in turn, lead to soaring home prices, overcrowding, evictions and homelessness. We’re in a crisis situation, but with crisis comes innovation and alternative solutions. In our industry, some of the things that might have been considered far-fetched ideas just a few years ago have advanced to the point where they are beginning to challenge the status quo for how future homes will be built.

On that note, our Savvy Special Report article explores

the style trends and some of the alternatives that the

the advancement of 3D printed houses. Stronger, faster

surfaces industry now offers to mimic natural stone,

to build, more affordable and more resilient, 3D printed

marble and wood aesthetically with products that are

houses are no longer just concept homes. While they

more resilient, easier to install and cost far less. This

remain a great solution for building houses for disaster

means even the most affordable housing can also be

relief and for impoverished communities, 3D-built

fashionable housing.

homes that look and feel like the single-family homes they sit side by side with are now being built for sale in

Can you imagine where the domestic automotive

cities across the world, including Austin.

industry would be had our American-born brands not had to face the competition from Asian and European

Where crisis spawns innovation, competition also

automakers? As they’ve always said, the automotive

breeds it. Building materials manufacturers compete

and housing industries run parallel, so now is the

with global innovators anxious to break into our

time to think outside the box and watch the moves of

ripe American marketplace just like our domestic

pioneers posing to bring new ideas, new contractors

automakers do. We’re also seeing a trend with

and new products into the mainstream. Challenge

homebuilders based in other states as well as some

yourself to “never to say never,” and you’ll be among the

from overseas moving into our enticing Texas markets.

survivors in the next millennium of home building.

All of these activities put more choices on the table and challenge contenders to continually raise the bar in order to grow or maintain their market share. At the same time, all must sharpen their pencils to compete.

Terry Kemmy

End buyers ultimately benefit from the creativity that

Publisher

stems due to competition. Our Focus Section explores

210.844.1542

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[Industry News]

By Jim Leonard

n the May election in San Antonio, there were two propositions that voters went to the polls to decide on.

Proposition A, allowed for a change to the city charter that allows the city to use bond funds to build affordable housing. This is a change from current policy, which allows the city to fund infrastructure improvements such as roads and utilities, but not the ability to build vertical construction. The approval will now allow the city to build affordable homes, or at least provide funds to builders to take on that work. Proposition A easily was approved by voters.

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Proposition B was a much closer vote, failing by a margin of

Officers are assigned to downtown neighborhoods to respond to calls

51% to 49%. Prop B was put on the ballot after a citizen’s group

of homeless people entering backyards and relieving themselves,

obtained enough signatures to force a vote. The measure

and leaving trash behind in residential areas. There is also a lot of

would provide for more police accountability. Police reform

drug business and prostitution taking place among this group. I build

was brought to a head last year in the wake of the George Floyd

homes on the east side and west sides of the city inside the loop, and I

incident in Minnesota. Riots broke out in major cities across the

see this on a daily basis.

country to protest what many believed was a failure in how the

From what I have personally witnessed, the police seem to take a very

police dealt with the public, particularly along racial lines. Floyd,

lenient attitude with these people, not provoking conflict, but trying

a black man, was detained by police on a downtown street while

to get these people the help that they need. But where a conflict

they investigated whether Floyd had passed a counterfeit bill to

has already escalated quickly before the police even arrive, it’s easy

a nearby merchant. The police handcuffed Floyd, placed him on

to see how things can change once the police arrive. A person on

the ground, and one officer knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes

drugs is much more difficult to bring under control and things can

until Floyd could no longer breathe and he passed away.

easily get out of hand. It’s my opinion that our local police have a very

Locally, Mayor Nirenberg met with protestors and promised

difficult job and do a great job of acting with composure that fits the

more police accountability. A major point that the proposition

situation. I’ve built several homes for officers and usually find them

would change would be the police contract between their union

to be the same as you and I, just good people. But you do run across

and the city and how it is difficult to fire an officer after several

some that are very arrogant and you can only assume they carry that

department violations. The police union locally is very powerful

same aggressiveness into their job. That is what the proposition was

and although some officers may be terminated by the police

supposed to address.

chief, often the union has been able to have the officer reinstated

Even though it was defeated, it was by a very close margin and many

and placed back on the job.

feel that the city has been put on notice that this issue will not go away and more efforts to obtain reform will be addressed in the future.

StrucSure_BuildingSavvy_July2021.pdf

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5/24/21

1:20 PM

T.A. F RENCH

The city has been negotiating with the police for years on

C USTOM B UILDER TAF R E NC H . C OM

210.573.5970

a new contract. The city wants to change the arbitration procedures in dealing with bad officers. State law Chapter 143 governs arbitration and the city has been blocked in efforts to change local law for years.

C

M

In the eyes of the public, keeping these officers adds fuel to the fire as they feel there is no accountability and officers can do as they please. There is also a feeling that laws are not enforced the

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MY

CY

CMY

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HOW THE NATION’S BEST BUILDERS PROTECT THEIR BUYERS

same across different ethnic groups.

A look at a breakdown of how the public voted shows that there

MIRROR IMAGING OF TAB PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

was a large majority of people living inside Loop 410 that were

FAST AND FAIR CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

SOIL MOVEMENT AND SETTLEMENT COVERAGE REINSURED BY A-RATED LLOYD’S OF LONDON

in favor of the proposal, and a majority who lived outside the

FLEXIBLE PROGRAMS TO MEET EVERY HOMEBUILDER’S NEEDS TAB APPROVED BUILDER’S RISK INSURANCE PROGRAM

Loop being opposed to the measure. The inner-city core is being re-gentrified over the past few years with many young people

SCOTT WHISENANT Vice President of Sales, Central & Southwest Texas (830) 624-4450 swhisenant@strucsure.com www.strucsure.com

purchasing older homes and repairing them. There seems to be an effort to clean up some of these areas, particularly with regard to homelessness.

THE BEST HOMES IN AMERICA ARE PROTECTED BY STRUCSURE HOME WARRANTY

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[Focus Section]

Sizzling Surface Fashions

By Beverly Smirnis

The Best of Mother Nature

Artistic Tile promotes symmetry using bookmatched

Geo Fancylight Petrified Wood from the Antolini Precioustone Collection features

stone slabs.

translucent varieties that can be lit-up from behind.

Cost Saving Solutions Thick, large-format porcelain slabs can be laid in one piece to create kitchen countertops as a cost-saving alternative to using authentic marble or stone countertops. Photo, courtesy of Ceramics of Italy.

The hardworking Everform™ Solid Surface Collection, previously known as Formica® Solid Surfacing, now includes 38 beautiful looks.

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Wilsonart’s Calacatta Quartz Collection recreates the look of Calacatta marble in quartz.

The new engineered hardwood collection from Mullican Hardwood Flooring, Madison Square, offers designers and owners a beautiful highperformance product for a very affordable price.

Easier Update Solutions

Up until this point, no Rigid Core flooring product was stable enough

Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces’ Wetwall Water-Proof Wall Panel System

to be installed under cabinets and islands. Armstrong’s Empower Rigid

is an innovative, patented, water-proof solution bringing high-end style

Core is the first product on the market to offer this benefit, while its

and exceptional performance without the need for grout or intensive

Diamond 10® Technology coating keeps it 100% waterproof and provides

demolitions.

best-in-class scratch and stain protection.

Color Trends The trick to incorporating green – or planning an entire room design around it – is to treat it like a neutral. Layer it with other neutrals or pop it with color say Moen design experts.

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Arizona Tile’s new Flash collection includes a 3-by-12-inch tile, shown

BLANCO Coal Black sinks are the latest addition to its SILGRANIT color

here in Light Blue, laid out in a vertical stack pattern.

palette for sinks.

The Latest in Hardware Finishes

Viaggio Hardware’s newest finish option is Titanium Gray, with warm undertones and an effortless blending of gray and bronze.

Outdoor Elegance

Golden Champagne hardware by Amerock glows against a grey canvas.

Beverly Smirnis is the co-founder of Building Savvy magazine and publishes its flagship Dallas/Fort Worth edition. She and her business partner and husband, Steve Smirnis, have served as judges for the Porcelain pavers can be dry-laid on top of gravel, grass, or sand or professionally installed to create breathtaking terraces, patios and pool

International Builders’ Show Best of IBS Awards and judged numerous homes for builders association parade events across the country.

decks. Photo: courtesy, Ceramics of Italy.

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Totally Connected 13

[Savvy Finance]

By Steven Bankler, CPA

W

ith the strange and confusing sales and use taxes facing Texas builders, it’s easy to get in the weeds with your tax payments. But did you know that forgetting to remit sales tax in Texas can be prosecuted as a first-degree felony?

The Steep Cost of Forgetting to Pay Sales Tax

Which Goods and Services are Taxable in Texas?

The taxability for a building contractor on each project comes down to whether it’s a residential or commercial property, whether it’s new construction or a repair/remodel, and whether you use separated billing or lump sum billing.

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•

Residential vs. commercial property: In Texas, residential

matter who that person is, though, the business owner is rarely off

property refers to a family dwelling, multifamily apartment or

the hook.

housing complex, nursing home, condominium, or retirement

A 2018 Texas Comptroller’s decision against a construction-

home. Homeowners-association-owned and apartment-owned

materials business owner illustrates that point. While the owner fell

common areas designated for tenants’ use are also included.

victim to managers and assistants who stole from the business, the

Everything else is considered nonresidential (or commercial)

Comptroller found that the owner was personally liable for $140,415

property, and these two types of properties are taxed differently.

in unpaid sales tax plus fraudulent penalties and interest after

For instance, the labor for residential construction is not taxed,

assuming some of the check-collecting duties himself.

while the total amount charged for a nonresidential remodel, repair, or restore nonresidential real property is.

•

There’s no doubt that sales and use tax rules and regulations can get complicated. But it’s critical to understand the rules on each

New construction vs. repair/remodel: The Texas Comptroller

project and trust the people you enlist with your collections, taxes

defines new construction as all-new improvements to real

and bookkeeping.

property, including initial finish-out work to the interior or exterior of the improvement. New construction also includes the addition of new, usable square footage to an existing structure. Labor

Steven Bankler has more than 44 years of experience in the accounting

charges for work performed on newly constructed residential

industry. Steven’s expertise lies in consulting, planning, tax, and asset

structures are not taxed, while the supplies, materials, equipment,

protection as well as exit strategy services for closely held businesses.

and taxable services on both residential and commercial new

He also provides litigation support (both as a testifying expert witness

builds are. Furthermore, the labor to repair, remodel, or restore

and a consulting expert), business negotiations and estate planning.

residential real property is not taxed, but the total amount charged

Visit www.bankler.com for additional tax strategy tips and to learn more

for remodeling, repairing, or restoring nonresidential real property

about Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd.

is.

•

Lump-sum vs. separated contracts: What type of contract is the work being performed under? A lump-sum contract that does not separate labor charges is taxed as a service, and the customer is not taxed. Instead, the builder owes the tax on the purchases of equipment, incorporated materials, consumable materials, and taxable services. A separated contract shows one price for the labor charges and another price for the materials used in the project. The builder is considered a retailer of the incorporated materials and must collect sales tax from their customer to pay to the state.

Penalties for Non-payment of Sales and Use Tax Texas considers sales tax a “trust fund” tax, which means that you hold the amount you collect in taxes “in trust” for the state until those funds are due for payment. In essence, you are collecting and holding the state’s money.

Many business owners don’t collect the correct sales and use taxes because of the confusing rules we outlined. That mistake can be costly enough, but collecting and then neglecting to pay the taxes comes with even more problems. At that point, you’re holding on to (and maybe even spending) money that’s not yours. Businesses that neglect to pay sales and use taxes may face stiff penalties, which might include felony charges for the person or people responsible for collecting and paying it. That responsible person may be an officer, director, or employee whose job is to collect, account, or pay taxes. No

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[Savvy Builder]

BOURN CUSTOM HOMES

B

ourn Custom Homes started

Jill, an English teacher, grew up with a mom who had a real flair for home interiors and design.

with a dream — a dream of

And both of her grandpas were old school craftsmen who were meticulous about the quality of

creating beautiful spaces for

each of their homes and renovation projects.

families to build memories to last a lifetime.

Inspired by achieving their own dream

“My love of home comes from generations of home love, of people who poured everything into making homes unique, comfortable, roomy, inviting and full of country charm and love,” says Jill.

of building a “forever home” for their family, Gary and Jill Bourn created Bourn Custom Homes to help others achieve their dreams. About 10 years ago they started looking into building their own custom home, but quickly got discouraged because none of the builders they interviewed would accommodate all of their “must haves.”

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Jill, an English teacher, grew up with a mom who had a real flair for home interiors and design. And both of her grandpas were old school craftsmen who were meticulous about the quality of each of their homes and renovation projects.

“My love of home comes from generations of home love, of people who poured everything into making homes unique, comfortable, roomy, inviting and full of country charm and love,” says Jill.

In a very real sense, Jill’s upbringing and strong sense of family and home called her into the building profession and away from the classroom. Gary came around a little slower. A project manager at a large insurance company, Gary was sharpening his skills as someone who could lead a diversified group of support staff. And he was fine with this good paying job with benefits… until he was furloughed.

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Of course no great builder is made without some very exceptional tradesmen, craftsmen, subcontractors, suppliers and business partners. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

“Gary is a man of integrity. Honest. Upfront. He’s a big team player with all his subs and shows complete respect to everyone involved in his homes.”

Jonathan Beyer - Beyer Boys “He listens. He understands the parameters of what we can do, then trusts us to accomplish a quality install. Gary is very enthusiastic about our product, which is unique in this area. He wants to differentiate himself from other builders and we help him do just that.”

Gary Kulp - Shade and More “It is a family here. You are working with family when you work with Gary and Jill. They treat us as professionals and give us the space we need. They have realistic expectations throughout the process and remain level-headed when things don’t always line up.”

Carl Jackson - Balcones Creek Electric It all came together, full circle on the announcement night in Belle Oaks, the evening prior to the opening of

“Gary and Jill listen, and they ask. They are very open-minded

the 2021 Parade of Homes show. Bourn Custom Homes

and trust the craftsmen that have become partners with them.

won four awards:

Just like me, they want to be different, to really stand out….to not necessarily be for everyone. Gary’s focus is to build lifetime

•

Best interior design

•

Best water feature

•

Best outdoor living space

Carl Poston - Infinity Pools

•

Judges Choice for Best in Show

“They are very detailed-oriented, and extremely patient with the

relationships with those he chooses to work with through his excellent craftsmanship.”

homeowner. The Bourns are very hands on during the entire

Gary and Jill’s philosophy is really very simple, and

process, taking nothing for granted.”

you’ll find it on their website:

Marcus Owens - Pella Windows

We believe: •

“Gary is a star on the rise. A man of faith, complete integrity,

Every family deserves a quality home to build long-lasting

and he almost always delivers a better product than what his

memories in.

•

•

homeowners are expecting. I hope and pray my daughter finds a

Just as each family is unique, each home should be unique

man like him to marry.”

to fit a family’s needs.

Scott Thomas - AmCap Home Loans

Our Maker is a great model of beauty and design. Just as He designed our world, examining every intricate detail, Bourn Custom Homes will design your forever home with the detail it deserves.

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PHOTOGRAPHY • VIDEO PRODUCTION • GRAPHIC DESIGN In addition to creative services for “Building Savvy” magazine, photography & graphic design by Jason Roberts has been published in Texas Monthly, Luxury Home Magazine, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, and many other quality periodicals as well as numerous applications for print and electronic media for a wide variety of clients.

210.789.2033 www.jasonroberts.biz 19

[Savvy Special Report]

STRONGER, FASTER, AND MORE AFFORDABLE AND NO LONGER JUST A CONCEPT 3D-PRINTED HOMES MAY BE THE ANSWER FOR THE FUTURE OF HOUSING

“House Zero” a 2,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home and a 350 square-ft, 1 bedroom/1 bath accessory dwelling unit is ICON’s latest project in East Austin designed by Lake|Flato Architects.

3D-printed houses could help address severe housing shortages that have led to soaring home prices, overcrowding, evictions and homelessness across the U.S. The next evolution will be market-rate houses that compete side by side with traditionally built homes.

A

faster, cheaper way to build homes that cuts down on material waste is worth considering. What if a new technology could also reduce the need for human labor at a time when home builders are struggling to

find enough skilled workers to meeting housing demand? What if a buyer could get a home that looks and lives similar to the one down the street but is proved to be safer, more resilient, better able to withstand fire, flood, wind, and other natural disasters than conventional homes?

ICON, an Austin-based construction technology company, says its 3D printing system can do the work of 10 to 20 workers in five or six different trades. And unlike humans, the machines can work up to 24 hours a day. ICON first showed off 3D-printed homes at the South by Southwest festival in 2018 using a Vulcan printer that could create an 800-square-foot structure for about $10,000. Since then, ICON has printed more than two dozen houses and structures over the past few years. These include quick affordable disaster relief housing projects and social housing. Seven of the houses were 3D-printed last year for homeless people at Community First Village in Austin.

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ICON’s 3D-printed houses are created by inputting a home’s architectural plans into a Vulcan printer positioned on the jobsite that communicates with a large concrete extrusion machine. Early pioneers of the technology have developed their own proprietary cementitious mixtures which are manually mixed and fed into the extrusion machine. Next, the computer provides specific print paths for the extrusion machine to follow to generate uniform layers of semi-solid concrete that cure to form the structural frame. The printer

ICON’s newly unveiled Vulcan construction system can 3D print

Layers of semi-solid

homes and structures up to 3,000 square feet, is 1.5x larger and

concrete cure to form

2x faster than the previous ICON Vulcan 3D printers.

the structural frame.

replaces the traditional methods of building the structure, insulation, sheathing, moisture barrier, and finishing. For now, the rest of the

To move beyond a niche market and into market-rate housing, the pioneers of 3D home printing

house is built traditionally.

will need to significantly ramp up production and persuade buyers, developers and regulators

While ICON’s Vulcan printers produce the structural frames on the job site other

that 3D printed houses are safe, durable and pleasing to the eye. They’ll also need to train workers to operate the machines and install the walls.

companies locate their 3D printers in a factory environment. Oakland, Californiabased, Mighty Buildings promotes 350-square-foot backyard 3D-printed

ICON is moving in the right direction in building 3D printed homes that are city-

studios, known in the industry as

permitted and built for sale. They will compete side by side with traditionally built

“accessory dwelling units.” By 3D printing more elements of a house, including

homes. In East Austin, the first floors of four new homes are 3D printed and upper

floors, ceilings and the roof, they deliver

floors are now being finished using conventional construction practices. The

a monolithic shell that increases the

houses range from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet and took between five and seven

airtightness, reduces the thermal leakage, and increases the overall energy efficiency of the structure, making it easier and less

days of printing time. Starting prices will be in the mid-$400s, which is close to the current median home price in Austin.

costly to meet California’s zero net energy standards. Mighty Buildings’ mini houses can be used as extra bedrooms, playrooms, gyms or home offices. Modules are

Mighty Builders is teaming up with a Beverly Hills-based developer to create the first 3D-printed

transported by truck to the owner’s property,

zero net energy home development in Rancho Mirage, California, an upscale community near

then put into place using a crane. The unit

Palm Springs. The first 15 lots sold out quickly. and with a waiting list of 500 homebuyers,

size is limited by the dimensions of the truck

more similar community plans are in the works, say its developers. Rancho Mirage’s 1,450

bed and the clearance heights of tunnels

square foot, single-story homes will have backyards with 700-square-foot guest houses and

and overpasses.

swimming pools in their backyards. Both the primary houses and guest houses implement

Similar progress has been made with 3D-printed concept homes and communities worldwide. In 2017, a 400-square-foot home was printed in 24 hours in Russia. In Mexico a 3D-printed neighborhood is being built for families living on $3 a day. An Italian company is building TECLA, the first 3D-printed home made from clay—combining the newest 3D

Mighty Builders’ now proven 3D built process. The developers say the selling prices from the mid-$800s at Rancho Mirage are about 40% less than comparable quality homes built traditionally. Mighty Builders is also investing in research and technology to adapt their processes to larger single-family homes and developing a fiber-reinforced version of their proprietary material. With structural properties similar to steel, they aspire to unlock multistory and multifamily opportunities with 3D printing.

What’s next? ICON is working with NASA to develop systems for creating infrastructure and habitats on the Moon and eventually Mars. One of the NASA collaborations s was a student-led and designed prototype rocket landing pad for upcoming lunar missions. Never say never!

technology with the oldest housing material.

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[From The Trades]

A Plumber’s PERSPECTIVE

By Dale Nash

P

andemic, Hurricanes, Texas Freeze, Political Decisions and it’s

are seemingly following a similar path. In late August last year a new

Shift in Power, just to name a few disruptive events in only under

demand raised concern as well, the PVC pipe and fitting market. When

one years’ time. All factors in what seems to be playing out in a

hurricanes pounded the gulf coast last year, it put a huge strain on the

combined fashion thus creating an adjustment like we’ve never quite

refineries that produce the resins necessary to create plastic products.

seen before.

Pipe and fitting manufacturers as well as others, began scrambling to

We’re all aware of lumber pricing skyrocketing, but it doesn’t

purchase resin resulting in higher price tags from other countries such

necessarily quite end just there. The plastic resin and steel markets

as Asia and Mexico.

23

Mexico in turn, temporarily diverted its natural gas supply from its

role in building could become merely a pipe dream in obtaining if

refineries who then halted the production of resin creating a force

there is not a significant change to follow. This not only applies to

majeure in which manufactures turned it’s purchasing back to Asia.

trades, but even recent college graduates who continue to struggle

Obviously, a much further transportation cost than if we were able

in finding a good paying job in the area.

to purchase from our neighboring country or domestically. Once the

Builders may be raising their prices to levels that could place the

return of domestic resin suppliers began to ramp back up from its

first-time home buyer out of the market, leaving only out of state

multiple hurricanes dilemma, low and behold a winter storm, one so

investors as prospective buyers of inventory.

bad in the south, it simply put them back out of the game.

The uncertainty of this situation continues to be ongoing. It’s a

The steel market has been on a progressive rise due to several factors.

frustrating one, pricing continues to rise in a fashion that mimics

For starters, there was a tariff put on foreign suppliers noted as section

previous inflation paths, certain product availability is becoming

232, in 2018. I personally feel that our domestic manufacturing of steel

scarce, while government paychecks enable a “sloth like” behavior

needed to be ramped up before such a section be implemented, yet

when it comes to returning to work. All of this presumably points

our government also had its reasons as to why they did it at the time.

towards a heightened awareness while we continue to tread in

In early 2020, COVID reared its ugly head in which many domestic

unknown waters.

plants already in production shut down and eventually forced us to purchase internationally.

About the Author

Although new steel mills are being built in the United States, they are not yet all up and running. Steel pricing continues to soar at an all-

Dale Nash, a Master Plumber, is President of Diamond

time high and has manufacturers that produce things such as water

Plumbing and a member of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling

heaters, steel tubs, FHA stud plates, steel gas pipe, screws and nails,

Contractors Association. Diamond Plumbing specializes in

etc. continually raising prices on what seems to be on a quarterly

new residential construction, custom and production homes,

basis. Water heater manufacturers for example, have implemented increases of anywhere from 8 to 10% on three separate occasions

plumbing remodel, general plumbing services, water softener

since November of 2020. Other manufacturers using steel for their

sales and installation.

products have also followed suit in some cases. Steel supply is not just a domestic problem right now, it is an international one. And although some “economists” state that we may see steel pricing begin

25 Years in Business • Specialize in level 5 finish

to decline later this summer, the writing is on the wall and I cannot even fathom such a theory at this time.

What’s the result? Here’s an equation for you….

A 300% rise in PVC pipe and fittings since May of 2020, plus a 95% rise in steel pipe and fittings since May of 2020, plus a continued demand by the housing market equals hmmm… the answer is not good.

Plumbers are not only scrambling to purchase pipe and fittings, but also for many other products that contain the plastics, steel and other chemicals necessary to complete their jobs. Senior purchasing agent Mike Dugi of Diamond Plumbing in San Antonio now describes his position with the company as a relentless daily pursuit dealing with multiple suppliers in order to keep his inventory at an acceptable level.

Thus the contracted pricing for materials once established merely diminishing into a simple form of question, “do you have any of this in stock, may I have it, and how much will you be charging me for it if you do?” Followed up by a “thank you.” Allocations for many products have already begun and has now even put some plumbing contractors at the risk of not completing their work.

Serving Bexar County and Nearby Areas

What does this do to the Texas housing market you should ask?

My hypothesis is this....

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24

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210.226.1426

[Home Warranty News]

Homebuilder Warranties: Provide Confidence to Your Buyers

A

ll potential homebuyers are looking for one thing in a homebuilding company: confidence. Anyone who wants a new home built requires confidence in your abilities as a builder, confidence in the quality of

your homes, and the confidence that they’re not going to be left out of pocket, especially if a problem occurs.

It’s Win-Win There’s really no downside to providing a homebuilder warranty.

By Scott Whisenant

Homebuilders that do offer these enjoy an increase in that vital

As a builder, we’re certain you can provide the expert craftsmanship and high-

customer confidence and trust. It also means that your

quality materials required to build a great home, but did you know there’s one

homes get sold more quickly and for potentially more

simple thing you can do to increase your customer’s confidence?

money. This helps your business grow and enables you to focus on building more homes.

Why Provide a Homebuilder Warranty?

Despite your abilities and sticking to best practice, problems in new homes can occur. Usually, it’s down to factors beyond your control. Still, should a new homeowner experience a major defect or structural issue, you can be fairly sure the blame will fall on your shoulders.

For over 20 years, StrucSure has provided third-party, insurance-backed warranties to builders and other construction-related contractors across the United States.

With re-insurance backing from Lloyd’s of London – the largest, most reputable, and longest-running A-rated

Protecting yourself and the new homeowner with homebuilder warranties is a

carriers in the world – our products are among the

way to ensure that you are not left out of pocket should the worst happen.

financially strongest in the industry.

Protection for the Homeowner

If you would like to understand more about StrucSure

Homebuilder warranties provide extra confidence to your buyers because they

Home Warranty and the warranties we offer, please don’t

prove that the homeowner won’t have to foot the bill for covered major defects

hesitate to get in touch today.

or structural problems that happen after they have bought the house.

For this reason, homebuilders that provide warranties are seen as more trustworthy and reputable since they’re taking the extra steps and care to ensure their customers are protected.

Scott Whisenant is the VP of Sales for StrucSure Home Warranty. He joined StrucSure in 2010 and has been highly involved with numerous homebuilder associations across Texas. Scott has received multiple industry awards

Protection for You Homebuilder warranties also provide a mandatory mediation and arbitration clause, which is the protection you need to continue building homes without the fear of going through a lengthy court case.

(including “Associate of the Year” Award in 2016 and Associate Legend of the Year in 2017) and is a member of StrucSure’s Million Dollar Club. Scott’s hands-on approach and commitment to service is highly valued by builder

The bottom line is that you can spend a bit more and provide homebuilder

members across the state and is shown by their advocacy

warranties for your new homes, or you can continue with the knowledge that

and loyalty. Contact Scott at 830.624.4450.

should something go wrong, it’ll either end up with you in court or vastly out of pocket.

26

27

[Savvy Spotlight]

INFINITY POOLS OF TEXAS Makes a Huge Splash at 2021 GSABA Parade of Homes Infinity Pools of Texas brings 40 plus

At the recent Parade of Homes event, you would see owners Carl Poston and Tom

years of experience designing and building

Caldwell on-site daily at Gary and Jill Bourn’s beautiful award-winning home. Their

luxury, innovative in-ground swimming

hand-selected team of master artisans know the difference between ‘good’ and ‘great’

pools, water features, and landscape

and take pride in giving their clients nothing short of perfection. Carl and Tom’s personal

arrangements for discriminating clientele

supervision in each project is a unique quality of this luxury pool builder.

from Cordillera Ranch to New Braunfels.

The longtime family-owned company is led by principals Carl Poston and Tom Caldwell who have created a culture of excellence in delivering the highest quality poolscapes and customer service.

It starts with owner management who are involved at every step of the process from the first call, through the design and construction process until the day that their customers enjoy their new pool.

Infinity Pools sets the bar high. The company tagline is, ‘Excellence is the Only Acceptable Standard.’ “We believe that excellence in workmanship and support is very important to our discerning clientele,” said owner Carl Poston. “We are a builder, not a broker.

This is why, from beginning to completion, we take care of every detail to give our customers the peace of mind that they deserve.”

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There are no surprises for partners in the luxury construction trade who work with Infinity Pools of Texas on custom home projects. Carl remarked, “Our commitment to our partners is equally important. We strive to build strong relationships with builders, architects, remodelers, and others in the trade. Our business depends on customer referrals. We know that when our customers and partners are happy they will share their experience with their friends, family and their customers. We are the right choice for discerning customers who want the absolute best.”

It’s no wonder Infinity Pools has grown its reach in the North San Antonio area through customer satisfaction and client referrals. Customer Missy C. wrote, “They went above and beyond in the construction of our gorgeous pool 8 years ago!! I’ve referred countless friends and they all say this is the best construction experience they’ve ever had.” She added, “They still answer questions when I call and Tom even came out to show me an adjustment on our filter equipment recently.”

As a luxury pool builder, Infinity Pools’ experience with developing budgets and executing construction projects has made them a leader in the luxury pool construction industry. Client Abel C. reflected, “When starting our pool search we met with the most reputable pool builders in the market and knew we found our guy and pool company when we met Tom with Infinity Pools of Texas. His creativity and vision, given our desires and space, immediately drew us in.”

as their standard features that go above and beyond the average pool builder. Just a few to mention include: Original PebbleTec® Interiors, complete In-Floor Cleaning Systems, Travertine Coping, Poured Deck Lids, and Travertine Decking. The list goes on.

“Pool and spa construction with our team starts from the imagination and design stage to the end. We run the complete spectrum including excavation, plumbing, water features, decking, and every other process along the way. We believe that when you want the best work done, it’s best to put in the effort and do it yourself.”

Infinity Pools prides itself on creating poolscapes that are built to last. Owner Tom Caldwell remarked, “We want your poolscape to be a work of art that your family enjoys for generations.”

“So many times contractors disappear “after the sale” never to be heard of again...that is not so with Infinity Pools of Texas. There’s nothing like the peace of mind of knowing you’re getting a beautiful, quality product upfront from a company that pays attention to detail and stands by their product,” Abel C. wrote.

All custom pool projects with Infinity Pools of Texas include the highest grade of materials.

There are no cutting corners on quality. Every custom project includes upgraded materials

29

For more information about Infinity Pools of Texas and to discuss your custom project, visit infinitypoolstx.com or call 210.460.1580.

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31

[Savvy Trucks & Toys]

Battle of the SUVs: As American-Born Brands Raise the Bar, Japanese-born Rivals Answer Back « GMC’s Yukon AT4 gets unique front fascia to improve the Yukon’s approach angle, dark gray wheels with all-terrain tires, front tow hooks and skid plate, a heavy-duty air filter, adaptive suspension dampers, hill descent control, and a two-speed active transfer case along with some extra creature comfort features inside. »

C

ompetition is stiff in the mid- and full-size SUV categories. As American-born brands promote their stand-out features, Japanese-

born brands such as Acura and Lexus answer with matches to challenge them, while adding luxuries and technology to rival them.

$36,255, our Platinum 4WD tester featured the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 good for 365 hp and 280 lb. ft. torque, 20-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension, the Trailer Tow package. adaptive headlights, unique taillights, a two-piece sunroof, and upgraded leather upholstery and steering wheel. With Premium Tech option adding massaging front seats, 10.1-inch touchscreen and 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio and premium aluminum wheels, our tester was $60,935.

Now in its sixth generation, the Ford Explorer was

If you’re looking for a luxury level mid-sized SUV, Acura’s best-selling 4th-gen MDX is

one of the first three-row family-oriented SUVs. It

hard to beat and just earned the highest possible safety award from the Insurance

was originally built on a truck frame, but later models

Institute for Highway Safety. Known for offering impressive value for the money,

had moved to front-wheel-drive layouts and car-like

the MSRP on the 2022 model is $47,925 including a what Acura calls Absolute

unibody construction. The 2020 model marked its

Positioning, its new one-to-one mapping of the pad to screen. Just like a smart phone

return to the rear-wheel-drive layout, dramatically

or tablet, you can move the Apps and Favorites around to position them to your

improving handling and overall balance, while unibody

liking then control selections using muscle memory, something you can’t do with

construction remained. Interior room is expanded.

a touchscreen interface, or other pad type interfaces that rely on a cursor. Acura

While the 2021 Explorer can be had for as low as

follows the trend of allowing buyers to pick both their exterior and interior colors. It’s

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sleek exterior is longer and wider and its drive is stiffer than before, increasing the stability of MDX on the road.

Inside, the Acura team put lots of thought into legroom and headroom, storage, and making the seats easy to fold down. New rear suspension allows for a lower floor in the third row and panoramic sunroofs are now standard. The middle seat in the second-row bench can be folded down to lend a nice wide console with cupholders and additional storage, or it can be removed to leave a walkway from mid to rear.

Drivers who prefer to give up some driving comfort on-road for the better off-road performance of a truckbased SUV. The GMC Yukon is one of the few still around. Its 5.3-liter V8 gets 355 horsepower, 383 lb-ft

« While the 2021 Ford Explorer can be had for as low as $36,255, luxury level trim and options topped our tester over $60K. »

of torque and is rated to tow up to 7,900 pounds. The new Yukon is 6.1 inches longer than its predecessor allowing more legroom for rear passengers and more cargo space. Folding down the second- and third-row seats opens up a massive 122.9 cubic feet of space behind the front row and the loading floor is lowered, making it easier to load big items. New independent rear suspension makes the newest Yukon ride more smoothly while an air-ride suspension system option gives you four-inches of adjustment; lower 2 inches for easier access or add 2 inches for higher ground clearance in off-road mode. It was included on our AT4 trim level tester, the off-road-oriented Yukon available in 4WD only. Standard price for AT4 is $64,800. Ours sported the AT4 Premium Plus package, adding a max trailering, rear media and nav upgrades, a premium tech package, active response 4WD, panoramic sunroof and power-retractable side steps. The Premium Plus upgrade and a few other upgrades (paint, heated and power-release second row seats), boosted its price to

« Our Acura MDX tester was the SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 getting 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque along with wider tires and more powerful brakes. With top-of-the-line Advance trim, its MRSP was $60,650 including a head-up display and a surround-view camera system offering a top-down view of the MDX and its surroundings for tight parking situations. »

$75,600.

Onto its rugged frame, Lexus packs all the leather, tech and power equipment that its other luxury vehicles have, but the Lexus GX 460 is decidedly different due to its truck-based platform with locking differential and permanent four-wheel drive. It is designed to be a three-row luxury SUV that can take you anywhere.

MSRP is $59,100. Our Luxury trim tester came with adaptive suspension which greatly helps the ride quality and it sported red seats that we loved. Extras included the Off Road Package with multi-terrain and panoramic view monitors, transmission cooler, fuel tank protector, crawl control and multi-terrain select drive modes.

Additionally, with the Mark Levinson sound package and a Sport Design package, its sticker was $71,255 including delivery.

« Lexus GX 460 packs lots of luxury into its truck-based GX 460. Even adding its offroad package, premium stereo and sport appearance package, our tester’s price tag was less than the AT4 Yukon. »

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