Kitchen & Bath
Contents:
Resources for Cabinetmakers
Radiant Heating
Kitchen Faucets
Grow Your Own
While there's more than one way to build a cabinet, I've seen
quite a few whose construction left more than a little to be
desired. Quarter-scale DonMar-Wiesing-method cabinet
models are effective teaching tools that make clear the
components and assembly sequence in this solid, economical, and
professional system. I realize that model-building may seem a
little too basic for a seasoned pro like you, but this
efficient method of cabinet-making may actually present a new
idea or two.
Each base or wall-hung cabinet kit includes a one-piece
plastic face frame, but the other components are fashioned from
1/8-inch or 1/4-inch (thickness not to scale) birch veneer
plywood. Once you complete the model, you can scale up and
label individual pieces to full size for use as a construction
reference. A set of both models costs about $50 — a
little steep, but chalk it up to tuition.
Even assembling models goes better with three hands, a fact
recognized by DonMar's Universal Assembly Jig, made of
hefty (8-pound) anodized aluminum. The jig makes it easy to
assemble, square, and glue full-size face frames and side
panels absolutely square and flush.
While the jig is designed to accommodate the projecting face
frame edge on set-back cabinet sides, it can be used for
frameless cabinet assembly with equal precision. Jigs can be
purchased singly for $90 but are much handier used in pairs at
a cost-saving $146. The models and jigs are distributed
exclusively through the GarrettWade Tool Catalog, New York,
N.Y.; 800/221-2942, www.garrettwade.com.
E Unum, Pluribus
I've had it in mind for some time to ask builders which books
(aside from JLC) they consider indispensable to their work.
It's a good idea and I'll get to it, but I'd also like to
suggest this book: Beautiful Built-Ins: Plans for Designing
with Stock Cabinets by Connie Edwards (McGraw-Hill,
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com; $40).
Whether you build your own cabinets or buy them off the shelf,
the ideas in this book will snap you out of that limited and
limiting side-by-side mentality. Floating vanities, bedroom
furniture, and entertainment centers are but a few among the
more than 200 clever cabinet combinations in this versatile
collection. The designs are presented in black-and-white line
drawings and include a list of cabinets, accessories, and
materials required for each concept. The thing is, once you
think about cabinets in this way, you realize that Edwards is
only scratching the surface. Once you get yourself rolling,
maybe you'll be so kind as to share your innovations with the
rest of us, right here.
Cam Countertop Connector
Show me a cool piece of hardware and I'll look for a dozen
ways to use it, like the tail wagging the dog. Case in point:
The toolless FlipBolt (FastCap, Bellingham, Wash.;
888/443-3748, www.fastcap.com), made to draw two sections
of countertop tightly together with no knuckle-banging
required.
The bolt installs in routed cavities just like a standard
countertop bolt. But after fitting it finger tight, you simply
flip a cam lever, and the two sections are drawn tightly
together. It's an ingenious device that could readily serve
other applications requiring a snug but reversible connection.
The connectors cost about $1 each purchased in lots of ten.
Radiant Heating
Blanket Application.
This
electric-blanket-like mat is designed for direct installation
between ceramic tile and the subfloor, using the same mastic
used to bond the flooring. Because of its closely spaced
conductors, nail or staple penetrations are strongly
discouraged. Mats are available in many standard sizes and may
also be ordered in customized configurations, at extra cost and
only minimal delay. The installed cost for a typical
30-square-foot bathroom is said to be approximately $500.
Nuheat, 800/778-9276,
www.nuheat.com.
Laminate Companion.
Laminate
flooring, with its thin profile and "floating" installation, is
a popular option in kitchens and bathrooms. The Environ II
Heating mat uses ultra-thin (1/12-inch) heating wire embedded
in foil, and may be installed directly under the flooring, over
the standard foam underlayment pad. The foam provides a modicum
of insulation between the mat and the subfloor. No cement or
adhesive bonding is required. The mat is said to be equally
well suited for installation under carpeting. The average
material cost is around $12 per square foot for installations
under 50 square feet, $10 over 50 square feet. The thermostatic
control costs an additional $149.
Warmly Yours, 800/875-5285,
www.warmlyyours.com.
Z-qual Time.
Thin, bronze Zmesh
can be directly stapled to a wood subfloor and does not require
embedment in thinset adhesive, concrete, or self-leveling
underlayment. The low-volt mesh, which closely resembles
conventional insect screen, can be freely penetrated without
damage to the conductive matrix, permitting conventional
nail-down wood flooring application. Vinyl, ceramic tile,
stone, carpet, and wood floor coverings may be installed
directly over the mesh. In smaller areas, such as a bathroom, a
floor sensing thermostatic control is recommended. Better
economies of scale are attained in floor areas of 100 square
feet or more — a small bathroom application could run
$20 per square foot.
Warmzone, 888/488-9276,
www.warmzone.com.
Flexible Mat.
Don't try to
simplify the layout by through-installing electrical warming
mat under bathroom fixtures or kitchen cabinets — heat
must always be allowed to dissipate from the floor into the
room air to prevent excessive buildup. The backing mesh on this
12- or 18-inch-wide Radiant Floor Warming Mat can be cut to
allow returns in the layout; the wire heating element flexes
around bends. Mat lengths range from 6 feet to 50 feet in the
12-inch width, and from 25 to 50 feet in the 18-inch width. The
mat is bonded to the subfloor with an appropriate thinset
adhesive. The material cost per square foot is $11, plus
thermostatic control and supplemental wiring.
Radiant Floor Warming, 203/228-0209,
www.radiantfloorwarming.com.
Kitchen Faucets
Modular Faucet.
If you've got a
particular client who likes the look of one faucet but wishes
it had a feature found on another, maybe you need to peruse
just one more catalog. The Systema kitchen line offers an array
of features that can be opted in or out to arrive at an
individualized faucet. A variety of 14 designs and options that
include a single-lever mixer, integrated soap dispenser,
pull-down aerator, and pro-style pre-rinse spray should give
you at least an even shot at customer satisfaction. Prices
range from $799 to $1,399, depending on the options
chosen.
KWC, 877/592-3287,
www.kwcfaucets.com.
Go Pro.
If you've ever experienced
the unparalleled pleasure of professional dishwashing, you can
appreciate the convenience of a free-hanging pressure sprayer
for pre- and post-wash rinsing. The Master Gourmet kitchen
faucet also features a high arc spout and single-lever mixing
valve. Like much good pro-style kitchen gear, the finish is
stainless steel and the list price is high —
$1,100.
Blanco America, 856/829-2720,
www.blancoamerica.com.
Clearing the Deck.
A wall-mounted
faucet can give the kitchen sink a less cluttered appearance,
provide wipe-down access at the back rim, and offer better fill
clearance over tall pots. The Polaris SL-0231 faucet is
available with a 6- or 12-inch swivel spout and easy-to-use
wing handles. The construction is cast brass with a chrome
finish and an optional ceramic replacement cartridge. The
faucet should retail for about $148.
Sloan Valve, 800/982-5839,
www.sloanvalve.com.
Suite Simplicity.
Choosing a theme
is an effective decorating trick that can save you some
selection time. The Waterhill kitchen and bath suite provides
consistency of style from one room to the next. The two-handle
bridge kitchen faucet updates a classic form with a rotating
spout and side spray in chrome, stainless-steel (shown), and
wrought-iron (black) finishes. The suggested retail price is
$935, or $693 in chrome.
Moen, 877/663-6741,
www.showhouse.moen.com