Codes Corner with: Lynn Madden, Hallmark Homes, IBA Codes & Safety Committee Chair & Nate Kleist, Energy Diagnostics As a quality inspector for a custom home builder, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to make sense of some of the requirements in the...
Joint column by IBA, Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana and Kentucky Over nine years ago, then- Governor Mitch Daniels and the Indiana legislature boldly led Indiana to become the 23rd state to adopt a right-to-work law. Today, more than a third of the states...
SEA 389, dealing with state regulated isolated wetlands, passed the Indiana Senate and Indiana House and now heads to the Governor’s desk for final action. Once Governor Holcomb receives the bill in his office, he has seven days to sign the bill, veto the bill,...
Dealing with the pandemic over the past year has been tough on the entire country. We have been fortunate in Indiana, however, to have strong leadership at the state level that has allowed us to weather the pandemic in much better shape from a health...
Last year is one that I am sure none of us will soon forget, and I am excited about the strides we have taken and the work we have done to solidify our industry as an integral part of our state’s success. I’m eager to...
Submitted by EO, Shelby Roberts Good things come to those that wait. At the end of every storm is a rainbow. There are a million different ways to say that patience is a major key to success. The Builders Association of Kosciusko-Fulton Counties is proud...
What a year. When starting my time as IBA president after our December board meeting last year, I never would have expected what 2020 had in store for us as individuals, a community and an industry. I came in to my term as IBA president...
The Indiana Builders Association (IBA) members on the ballot found success on November 3 as general election results poured in across the state. After all the votes were counted, IBA will add 2 members to the Indiana General Assembly, with now 10 members of the...
We have all heard the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, which means that what one person finds beautiful another person may not. In some Indiana communities, beauty is less subjective, and in fact, it is quite prescriptive – mandating that new...
In times of crisis, we usually revert back to what we know and understand. The housing industry is no different. 2020 has proven to be a very tough year for a lot of us. There has been plenty of uncertainty and unknown variables that have...
Build Your Future Indiana is a unique collaboration of employers, state agencies and industry associations. Our goal is to encourage Indiana residents to learn about construction craft careers and training opportunities now emerging in our state, and to qualify for and get jobs in these...
The Indiana General Assembly officially began their “short-session” on January 6 and they are scheduled to wrap up their work by March 14, 2020. The term “short-session” is used for off-budget years when the Indiana General Assembly meets due to a 1970 constitutional amendment that...
As a contractor, I know that a structure is only as good as its foundation. The Indiana Builders Association is built on a foundation of local chapters and individual members. In 2020 I want to focus on our foundation, so the Indiana Builders Association is...
Lynn Madden has been in the construction industry for 30 years. She is a Journeyman Carpenter, former building inspector, and former planning and zoning director. Madden is a nationally certified building inspector with 13 certifications in commercial and residential construction – a necessity for performing...
Mary Ellis, Executive Director of the Builders Association of Greater Lafayette (BAGL), knows the key to a successful event is networking. Typically BAGL’s monthly membership meetings are dinners held at the American Legion, which has great food, service, parking and cheap beer. Their set-up, like...
By IBA President Don Thieneman This October, the Indiana Builders Association hopes to support our local associations statewide in their individual membership drives. We have seen tremendous success in our recruitment efforts in the past, and this year we hope to continue that trend. When...
By IBA President Don Thieneman The Indiana Builders Association is more than just a place to network with other industry professionals. It gives you opportunities to have access to members’ benefits that help you save money, strengthen your business and support your association. Hopefully by...
If you tuned into the news lately on topics regarding our industry, you couldn’t miss the constant theme of a high demand for new construction; how there is more work than our men are able to execute. When you go to a meeting, you don’t...
By IBA President Don Thieneman It is no secret that the amount of people who see the value in the association model has slowly declined over the past decade. It has become increasingly more difficult to communicate the value of membership not just for...
By Matthew Schantz, Frost Brown Todd, LLC his fall, a federal trial court in Indianapolis decided that Design Basics, a producer of market-ready designs for single-family homes, had not presented enough evidence to even ask a jury to decide whether Jasper homebuilder Kerstiens Homes &...
Advancements in framing and insulation coupled with a desire to build tighter, more energy-efficient homes have builders looking carefully at evolving wall assemblies. But as finishing materials become more sophisticated, there may be a need to look down — to the flooring system. Trapping moisture...
This week is Fire Prevention Week, an annual public outreach and awareness campaign from the National Fire Protection Association. While mostly geared to fire prevention in the home, builders can use the week to review their jobsite fire safety practices. The home building community got...
Take these tips from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to stay Septic-Smart! How to Care for Your Septic System Septic system maintenance is not complicated, and it does not need to be expensive. Upkeep comes down to four key elements: Inspect and Pump...
By David Logan The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law in late 2017, created a new section of the tax code—199A. Section 199A provides a 20% deduction for “qualified business income” generated by pass-thru entities such as LLCs, partnerships, and S-corporations....
As the snow melts and warm weather approaches, many home owners’ thoughts turn to a traditional activity this time of year: spring cleaning. But whether you enjoy getting your house in order or would rather tackle only the bare minimum of necessary chores, it’s...
We all enjoy the benefits of having healthy local water resources – and that means we all have an important role to play in keeping our waterways safe and healthy for everyone to enjoy. After it rains or snows, the excess flow of water...
After the dust settles on your Independence Day celebration, you may notice that your home has begun to show the signs of an active summer – both inside and out. Take the time now to do a few maintenance tasks to keep your home...
