Attention  to our building-professional readers! Are you headed to the International Builders’ Show next week? Are you ready to see the latest in cutting-edge fenestration innovation? Then you need to make sure to stop by the Marvin booth!

We’re in booth W2339 and will be showing all of our latest and greatest as well as old favorites. If you love Marvin, want to tell us something or just want to see what all the fuss is about, stop by! There’s always someone there to talk with.

Safe travels to Orlando and see you at the show! If you’re not able to make it, we’ll be covering the show on MLuxe next week, so stay tuned…

Marvin Windows and Doors brought its newest products to the annual International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida. The show is the biggest in the homebuilding and remodeling industry, and this year’s event featured Marvin’s Clad Ultimate Glider — a classic window redone with Marvin’s touch for style and quality.

Take a tour of the booth and Marvin’s newest products via this video.

What do you really need a permit for?
Home Construction and Improvement
A confusing, troubling issue for some homeowners as they start out on a remodeling project. “Though permit requirements vary from city to city (and by the size and scope of your plan) generally you’ll need a permit for major structural or electrical projects. Here are some of the projects you really need a permit for, though you are still encouraged to double-check with your individual city board.”

12 top remodeling trends for 2011
Moneywatch
“The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) conducted an exclusive poll of their top builders and developers for us and found that while most people are not starting major renovation projects due to the economy, now is the time to take care of the smaller jobs around your home. Call it the over-arching remodeling trend for 2011: Tackling small projects while you wait to do the really big remodeling project that’s on your list.”

Recapping the 2011 International Builders’ Show
Marvin Windows Media Room
Yes, we’re linking to ourselves here. This post is our round-up of news and information from the homebuilding industry’s largest convention. It features the new products Marvin unveiled, new products from other leading home product manufacturers, some great interviews, and more.

How to prepare your home and household for a remodel
Charles & Hudson
“Even if you aren’t doing the job yourself, you should take steps to prepare your home and household before a major renovation begins. Once contractors start running around your home and the demo starts, it’s often too late to lay the groundwork for an efficient remodel. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your home & household for a remodel.”

Get the lighting right: 8 mistakes to avoid
Houzz.com
“Interior designers are often called upon to give input about lighting in residential environments. In trying to tackle a lighting dilemma, many fixtures get specified in living areas, kitchens and baths that waste energy and do not get light where it is needed most. These ineffective specifications are often repeated as homeowners are unsure of lighting solutions and tricks of the trade. But sometimes, knowing what not to do can help make you look like a pro. Below I list 8 common lighting mistakes to avoid, and how to do it right, as demonstrated by Houzz designers.”

This week, at the 2011 NAHB International Builders’ Show, Marvin Windows and Doors unveiled new products and innovations, each with enhanced performance, customization and energy efficiency in mind.

The Clad Ultimate Glider
Marvin re-invented the glider window with modern features and performance that breathe new life into this classic window. The Ultimate Glider brings elegance and smooth operation to this versatile unit. With its clean lines and recessed hardware, the Clad Ultimate Glider is sure to become a favorite for homeowners and builders alike. It features a patent pending sash removal system built for easy operation.

Plus, it can be seamlessly mixed and matched with other Marvin windows, such as the Ultimate Casement.

The Ultimate Inswing French Door
Marvin has made several improvement to its Ultimate Inswing French Door with both homeowner and builder in mind. We’ve rolled out a host of changes to this popular door that will add to its performance, beauty and ease of installation.

Design options include raised or flat panels, a full line of architectural hardware choices and multiple sizes and configurations.

Tripane With Krypton Marvin Windows and Doors is proud to introduce an innovative option for energy efficient windows: Tripane with Krypton. Using proven tripane construction along with the superior insulating properties of Krypton gas, Marvin’s new window option performs to our highest standards ever.

Tripane with Krypton is designed for passive building and meets many energy and regulatory standards and codes.

Grilles-Between-The-Glass
Grilles-between-the-glass just got more customizable. Now homeowners can mix and match dozens of color combinations for this popular design feature on all products from Marvin.

Marvin now offers 13 exterior and four interior grille colors, available on all of the company’s industry-leading wood and aluminum clad wood windows and doors.

We spoke to designers, architects, builders and others in the home and fashion industries. As we had those conversations, some topics kept cropping up.

So, here’s what the experts are talking about: the top trends for 2011 in home building and design.

Trend #1: New Life for Old Materials

It’s more than merely recycling. It’s finding ways to turn substance into style — by taking raw material from one source and repurposing it in a completely unexpected way.

From metal tiles made of reclaimed airplane parts to countertops and wall panels made of recycled glass bottles, these innovative reworkings are adding creative flair – and sustainable substance — to homes across America.

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Trend #2: Designing For Yourself
Americans are staying longer in their homes. With that comes a desire to make their homes fit their lifestyle. People aren’t designing a home to be as bland as possible for the next buyer – they’re designing it for themselves, to be lived in to the fullest.

In keeping with this, architects and designers say there’s a new definition of value. It’s not about the lowest price.

It’s about quality, durability and getting the style and the performance you want from the products in your home, whether that’s a sofa or a picture window.

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Trend #3: Natural Materials
If it sprouted from the earth, designers are finding a way to use it in homes.

Flooring is one area where you might find a surprising substance under your feet – like palm, for example. How about wallcoverings made of banana trees? Ceiling tiles of jute? And while not as exotic as these other materials, sustainably grown pine can be found in window frames and other structural elements.

These products deliver beauty and durability along with their eco-friendly origins. The use of natural materials is still in its infancy in mainstream housing – but expect to see them more and more in the future.

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Trend #4: Trad-Mod
As the name suggests, these are traditional elements with a modern twist – a little sleeker, a little surprising. Examples include streamlined living and dining room sets, silk chandeliers and casement windows that simulate the look of a classic double hung.

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Trend #5: Relaxed Outdoor Living
Forget the elaborate outdoor kitchens of a few years ago. Outdoor living is still important to American homeowners, but they’re going for a more relaxed, low-key version. Think fireplaces and fire pits, comfortable outdoor seating and dining areas, interesting lighting and simple counter space.

And to connect indoors and out, energy-efficient patio doors – either sliding or swinging — are a must.

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Trend #6: Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
No list of home trends would be complete without these topics – and they only get more important every year. The largest annual study of American homebuying preferences, by AVID Ratings, found that four of the top 10 desired home features involve energy efficiency. So, alongside such features as walk-in closets and kitchen islands, American homebuyers want:

• Energy-efficient windows
• Energy-efficient appliances
• High-efficiency insulation

Sustainability includes conserving water, maximizing natural heat and light, and using low-VOC materials (volatile organic compounds). Quality and durability are also part of the sustainability picture. Well-built, high quality home products last longer — and don’t end up in landfills.

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Many thanks to the experts who shared their 2011 predictions. Special thanks to

Christine L. Albertsson AIA, CID, NCARB, Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd.

Kurt Gough, A-AIA, Shelter Architecture

Susan Nackers Ludwig, Residential Architect

After spending the week with architects, builders and suppliers at the International Builders Show, Lou Manfredini files this report on the industry’s outlook for 2010.

Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAHB, foresees growth in “green building” — perhaps no surprise, driven by consumers’ desire for green products.

Susan Marvin, president of Marvin Windows, is excited about the positive response to the company’s new products. She says 2010 is going to be another challenging year, but the way to fight through a challenging year is to continue to listen to what consumers want and to deliver high quality and good value.

Jeff Seidel, a builder from New York, says he’s optimistic but realistic about 2010. His company is well-positioned, he says, with a dual purpose: building and remodeling. The firm’s remodeling business was strong in 2009 and will continue to be strong in 2010 — a reflection of consumers’ increasing desire to update what they have rather than try to buy new.

Continuing his reporting from the International Builders Show, Lou Manfredini uncovers some of the more innovative products on the show floor.

He meets with a representative from Bosch Appliances to learn about their new dishwasher, which operates with a focus on efficient use of energy and water. Lou also gets an introduction to a home automation system by Leviton.

Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAHB, talks with Lou about the National Green Building Standard.

Lou Manfredini reports from the show floor at IBS on Wednesday, “Green Day.” Sponsored by Marvin Windows, the day is focused on a number of sustainability and efficiency-related topics.

Lou shows us a residential wind turbine from Windtronics as well as GAF’s reflective shingles and ventilation systems for cooling your roof — thereby reducing cooling costs and energy use on warm days.

Lou spoke with Kevin Morrow, senior program manager for NAHB, about products builders can use to improve a home’s energy efficiency and Michael Still of Marvin Windows and Doors about SFI and FSC certification. These “green” certification programs ensure that products add value to your home and are healthy for the environment.

Marvin Windows and Doors brought home improvement expert and Today Show contributor Lou Manfredini to the International Builders Show in Las Vegas this week to roam the show floor and find the most interesting and most innovative new products on display.

In today’s first video report, Lou shows us:

• DuPont’s new roof liner, a replacement for tar paper
• Corian countertops, available in several new styles
• Leviton’s new dimmer that actually works for dimming compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Marvin’s gorgeous wall of glass, the new Ultimate Lift and Slide Door

Stay tuned this week for more video reports from Lou and other updates from Marvin’s team at the show.