NewsWFB Briefs: Used Dirt Dragon For SaleWFB EditorsMay 23, 2018 Add us as a preferred source on Google A used Dirt Dragon is for sale. See pictures and more details in the WFB Classifieds. Add us as a preferred source on Google Read NextNewsHouzz Launches AI Communication Tools in AppJune 17, 2026RecommendedNewsHouzz Launches AI Communication Tools in AppNewsHousing Starts Down in May as Multifamily Starts PlungeNewsBuilder Confidence Below 40 for 14 Months StraightNewsWorldwide Wood Floor Art Project Connects CraftspeopleRelated StoriesNewsHouzz Launches AI Communication Tools in AppNewsWorldwide Wood Floor Art Project Connects CraftspeopleNewsMohawk Appoints Paul De Cock CEONewsNew Chicago-Area Distributor Aims to Support Wood Floor CommunityMore in NewsNewsHouzz Launches AI Communication Tools in AppHome services software provider Houzz (Palo Alto, Calif.) introduced new AI-powered mobile features to its Houzz Pro app that include call transcriptions, language translations for text, and offline mode.NewsHousing Starts Down in May as Multifamily Starts PlungeSingle-family starts fell 1.9% month-over-month and 6.7% year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted 882,000 homes, while multifamily starts dropped 40.2% from April and 14.2% year-over-year for an annualized rate of 295,000 units.NewsBuilder Confidence Below 40 for 14 Months StraightSingle-family home builder confidence fell two points to 35 in June, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, marking the 14th consecutive month that sentiment has been below 40, a streak not seen since the foreclosure crisis in 2011–2012.NewsWorldwide Wood Floor Art Project Connects CraftspeopleJakko Woudenberg, the Dutch Wood Artist of “The Night Watch in Wood” fame, has launched a collective wood floor art project called “Pay It Forward” that currently spans eight countries and 39 participants.NewsWFB Briefs: NAHB Calculates Cost of Regulations; Small Business Optimism Falls in May; MoreNAHB finds regulations add $131,734 to the cost of a new single-family home, small business optimism fell 0.6 points in May to 95.3, and more.NewsTemporary Ease on Gas Prices Drives Consumer Sentiment IncreaseConsumer sentiment rose to 48.9 in early June, an increase of 4.1 points from May, driven by easing gasoline prices, according to the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers.NewsVälinge Increases Renewable Energy UseIn its 2025 sustainability report, Välinge Innovation (Viken, Sweden) reported that 73% of its total energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2025, up from 69% the year before.NewsMohawk Appoints Paul De Cock CEOMohawk Industries (Calhoun, Ga.) has named Paul F. De Cock, the company’s current president and chief operating officer, as its next chief executive officer, effective September 30, according to the company.NewsResidential Building Materials Hit Highest Prices in Over Three YearsWholesale prices for building materials used in residential construction climbed 4.4% year-over-year in May, the strongest yearly increase since January 2023, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data.NewsNew Chicago-Area Distributor Aims to Support Wood Floor CommunityA new Chicago-area flooring supplies distributor, DOM Flooring Supplies (Elk Grove Village, Ill.), hosted demonstration days at its store, May 20–21. The event marks one of many, as Owner Damien Janaszek says he plans to build a community and bolster education around the wood flooring industry.NewsExisting Home Sales Increase as More First-Time Buyers Enter MarketTotal existing home sales increased 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million in May, the highest rate since December 2025 but still historically low, according to the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders.NewsZillow: Home Seller Activity Falls Year-Over-Year as Mortgage Rates ClimbMay home sales rose 4.8% month-over-month to 341,929, but stood 2.9% lower than last year as new listings decreased 0.8% month-over-month and fell 4.1% year-over-year to 422,956, according to Zillow’s May market report.Page 1 of 905Next PageResource BookLooking for a specific product or a company? Wood Floor Business has the only comprehensive database of the industry.Learn MorePodcastsAll Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.Learn More