Articles by Bob Miodonski

 If you’re a plumbing contractor in Atlanta, Miami or Washington, you’ve probably seen or heard ads for Plumbers 911 that offer a range of services to homeowners.  

 The Plumbing Industry Leadership Coalition met in June to address three topics we’ve discussed in this column in recent months: the federal law on no-lead plumbing products; the next generation of plumbing industry professionals; and the nation’s aging infrastructure. 

 We’ve seen this collision before when two indicators of nonresidential construction activity are released virtually at the same time, with each moving in a different direction. The divergent reports support comments I’ve heard lately from contractors, wholesalers and manufacturers that the road to economic recovery remains a bumpy one. 

 I first heard the phrase “frugal fatigue” a couple months ago at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in New Orleans. It refers to people who have grown so tired of minding their tight budgets that they are starting to spend money again.

Bath collections grow, solar market struggles