Building Smarter and Faster to Meet Modern Demand

Products to enable more efficient construction in today’s burgeoning housing market

ClosetMaid ExpressShelf™ Ventilated Wood shelving in Chocolate

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 2016 closed out with housing starts reaching an annual rate of 1,226,000 – an 11.3% increase from just November to December.

Home builders are gearing up for a busy year; news outlets reported that in October 2016, new housing starts hit a nine-year high, soaring up to 1.34 million. This marked a 17% increase from December 2015. And this growth shows no signs of stopping.

In 2017, builders will have to speed up to keep costs down, without sacrificing quality. They will be challenged to work faster and more efficiently with the goal of closing more quickly and enjoying increased profit from the burgeoning market.

One way this can be achieved is to employ innovative products and new systems to include more elements that buyers demand from a new home – features such as solid storage options, plentiful light, ample space and modern design. If builders can incorporate time and labor savings while keeping costs lower and schedules tighter, then this may help them also more efficiently meet deadlines.

Thinking creatively for solutions is key, which is why new products like the ClosetMaid ExpressShelf™ design and build, pre-finished shelf and rod system can be of great assistance. The ExpressShelf system can be installed fast – in fact, at a rate of one minute per foot. That’s less than half of the time of traditional shelving. The video below illustrates the ease and timeliness with which it can be installed.

ExpressShelf also meets ANSI-BIFMA functional and proof load requirements. It is ideal for homes geared towards Millennials, as it provides a modern and sleek look that integrates with other ClosetMaid systems, offering further storage options.

The installation of ExpressShelf is not just fast, but easy. With its attractive and intelligent patent-pending hardware, ExpressShelf goes up with basic tools or a drill template and eliminates the need for ladders, caulking, and painting. And after installation, the system is dynamic and adaptable. It is ideal for reach-in, walk-in, coat closets, laundry rooms, linen closets and pantries.

As building materials have evolved, so have in-home features. There are the flashier appliances and smart home technology consumers crave, but also flooring, lighting and storage options, which are designed to help build production crews work efficiently and remain on budget. Using products like ExpressShelf is one way to keep ahead of tight production schedules and budgets without sacrificing design or quality.

This article originally appeared on Builder.