But uh-oh -- here comes a slowdown in that market, too. A press release from Associated General Contractors of America warns that the bloom is fading off that rose. AGC economist Ken Simonson cites rising material costs as one reason and labor shortages as another.

He also expects the brunt of the slowdown to hit exactly the kind of projects that those enterprising home builders have taken on; he expects big utility and public-works projects to continue. So while the developer may postpone the new mini-mall down the street, it's likely that the street itself will still be widened according to plan. Unfortunately that's one kind of construction that most home builders and remodelers don't know much about.

If you're a builder or remodeler, what have you been doing to prop up your company until new construction picks up again? Have you tried any light nonresidential construction? Multi-family projects? Any builders tried remodeling?

And what kind of results have you gotten? Do you think it's a good addition to your company's bag of tricks, or is it something you'll quit as soon as that wolf leaves your doorstep?