Many of those FOR SALE signs that were once everywhere in suburban neighborhoods have been replaced by signs offering the property FOR RENT. Whether homes are in recently completed communities or more mature neighborhoods, homes that are built to be rental properties are on the radar screens of builders and investors.
This presents both challenges and opportunities for homebuilders.
Recent News
According to census data, there were 6 million multigenerational households in the U.S. in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010. These are households that include two or more adult generations, or grandparents and grandchildren younger than 25. While many cultures and ethnic groups (e.g., Hispanic, Asian) have always embraced this extended family living arrangement, they are now being joined by all other groups.
Based on this trend, homebuilders are taking a closer look at offering floor plans that allow for greater flexibility.
With so many new products being added to Acme Brick’s inventory, architects and builders needed a convenient way to access their specifications, colors, and styles. Digital product brochures, catalogs, case studies, and other building and design resources have now been added to the site, dramatically increasing the accessibility of all product offerings.
Outdoor entertaining has never been hotter, even when it turns colder.
Fresh air with a few friends and family is certainly conducive to a great time, and nothing tastes better than grilled meat and vegetables. However, what about those times in the fall and winter when “baby, it’s cold outside?”
Since ancient times, wrought iron has been a popular addition to homes and public buildings. When this metal is used for doors, the designs and colors of this material make a design statement that suggests richness and timelessness. For builders who want to add an elegant component to brick construction, wrought iron is an excellent choice.
Builders who specify Acme Brick have another ally at the company in the new General Sales Manager for Texas. It’s John Brewer, a man who started his career as a residential home builder. Acme announced this promotion recently, and Brewer joins a long list of talented construction experts to hold this position in the company's more than 130 year history.
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When they designed the ENT building in Fort Worth, Texas, the architects from the highly regarded firm of 97w did what great designers do: They spent weeks researching construction materials for the exterior facade of the building with the idea that it would make it stand out among the other buildings in the rapidly growing Clearfork area.
One of the most magnificent examples of commercial buildings designed in the “Art Deco” style was constructed of brick manufactured by Acme Brick. The Gulf Building is still a “show stopper” almost 100 years after it was built.
As with many trends in residential construction, the term “sustainability” has gone from a buzzword used by a small number of people to the mainstream of new homebuyers. Why? One word: economics.
When clients find a lovely piece of coastal property and decide they want to build a vacation home, a red flag often goes up for builders. To be specific, two red flags with a black square in the middle of each is the warning for a hurricane!
On April 17, 1891, businessman George E. Bennett chartered a company known as the Acme Pressed Brick Company. But not even a visionary like Bennet could image what was to come. By the mid-20th century, his company --- since renamed Acme Brick --- would become the largest American-owned brick manufacturer.
Whether it's the heat of the blazing sun in the Southwest or the humidity and moisture in the Southeast, weather can wreak havoc on the exterior of any building — residential or commercial. This is why architects across the United States are rethinking their old decisions about cladding and choosing MAC Metal Architectural Siding.
Art Deco, a design trend that first gained popularity in the 1920s, has regained popularity, and we’ve noticed that our customers, who are architects, builders, and interior designers, are thinking outside the glass box. Glass block and brick are hot again, and this trend is being driven by the consumer’s appreciation of the natural radiance of light.
The “loft look” got its start when manufacturers moved their operations from urban city centers to less expensive suburban areas starting in the 1950s. This left warehouse space available for redevelopment into living and working spaces for artists, writers, and other knowledge workers who loved the large rooms, exposed brick, low rent, and high-energy lifestyle these spaces provided.
In the past 50 years, the economics of home construction have changed dramatically. When vinyl siding and synthetic insulation materials were introduced in the 1960s, as a substitute for traditional brick and wood, home builders found their costs were reduced dramatically. In recent years, it is estimated by trade associations that homes wrapped in vinyl siding and synthetic insulation are purchased by 33 percent of new home buyers.
