The quest for affordable housing has recently become very difficult for many people in the United States and other industrialized countries, particularly for those who are only making minimum wage. Finding safe, cost-effective housing is a much greater challenge for individuals living in less developed areas. In these places, the average incomes are even lower and natural resources are scarcer. Many of these countries also lack government systems that help struggling families. Read More
Building Materials
Highlights of the 2019 International Builders’ Show
Roving reporter Michael Springer here with coverage of the 2019 International Builders’ Show (IBS), held in snowy Las Vegas, Nevada. The weather was unusual, but it was still warmer than where many of us were visiting from so no biggie. The 2019 IBS marks the 75th anniversary of this trade show, and this year the show featured more than 1,500 exhibitors sprawled out over 600,000 square feet. Now combined with the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), every hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center was filled, and the attendee count broke the 100,000 people mark. I wandered as much of the acreage as I could (including the outdoor exhibits), and I encountered cool tools and gear, building materials and fasteners, and everything else that goes into a house. Read More