I’m going to be a bit discreet with this post, simply because I don’t want to reveal too much too soon--you’ll get the big story in the January 2008 USGlass, so be on the look out or that (plus, rest assured, I’ll remind you again when the time is closer.)

Residential construction is down—that’s no secret. It’s a topic I even wrote about in my last post. But know this: not all aspects of single-family residential construction are feeling the pinch. In fact there’s one branch that can be quite lucrative.

There’s a certain sector of people out there with millions, sometimes billions, of dollars. And when you’ve got that kind of money, you can do pretty much whatever you want … even build a house or two. And when money is no object, it’s a safe assumption that these high-end homes are in a class by themselves … the ultra-high-end, you might say. And this segment has not been hurt at all, when the rest of the market has been.

Often, these folks want something truly unique, truly their own. One way they can get that is by going beyond the traditional approach to housing by adding storefront or curtainwall materials. You tend to see this when there’s something really worth seeing—amazing views, mountaintops, the ocean … anywhere in which the homeowner has a stellar view. What better way to view it than big, big glass?

While due to confidentiality agreements I can’t reveal some of the big-time names that are building some of these houses, but I’m telling you, you’ve heard of them, or at least the companies and organizations they represent. They can put glazing systems in their homes in a way most of us probably can’t. And, yes, it’s a cool concept, but it’s certainly not for everyone. Plus, depending on the neighborhood in which you live, straying from the style and look of the other houses might even cause an uproar within the community. Just something to keep in mind …

On another note, I was catching up on my own industry blog reading yesterday and saw that Max Perilstein was thankful that Michigan lets Ohio State win each year. As a follow up to that, I am thankful that Ohio State let UNC win last Wednesday night—and in Columbus, too! Regardless of where I live, the Tarheels will always be number-one with me.