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Other stories by Craig Webb

• EPA Toughens Lead-Paint Rule

  Provision removes opt-out exemption for homes without small children or pregnant women.

• Senators Seek OMB Involvement in EPA Lead Paint Rule

  Ten senators have urged the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to help make certain that it will be possible for Americans to comply with a soon-to-be-enacted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule designed to control the spread of dust from lead paint when old homes are renovated.

• Big-Ticket Remodeling Spending Set To Revive

  Homeowner spending on major remodeling projects is starting to turn a corner and should begin showing year-over-year increases in 2010, Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies says.

• Startup Plans to Build 25 Green-Building Product Stores in California

  New Home Inc. seeks to be as big as The Home Depot, only greener.

• Dealers Surge in Popularity Among Small Remodelers

  LBM operations nosed out big-box stores to become the preferred shopping source for small, general-service remodelers in 2008, a new study by the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) finds.

• Home Depot Sees Drop in Big Ticket Sales

  Sales overall fell by single digits in 2008, but purchases over $500 fell even more.

• Lowe's Same-Store Sales Fell 7% in 2008, Will Drop Again This Year

  Customers less willing to spend on renovation projects, but storm-related building material sales were healthy.

• Lumber Yards Getting Paid Later

  LBM dealers are getting paid several days later this year than in 2007, despite working harder on collections, a new ProSales survey reveals.