Secret Screen. Page through just about any
window manufacturer's marketing materials and you'll notice
that very few windows are shown with screens installed. Why?
Because screens obscure both the window and the view. Jeld-Wen
recently began offering retractable screens on its Custom Wood
Windows. Phantom Screens have veneered tracks and a wood handle
that help them blend in even when they're fully extended.
Phantom Screen upgrades can add 25-30% to the price of a
window. Jeld-Wen, 800/535-3936,
www.jeld-wen.com
Rain Coat. Advances in glass coatings have
made today's windows more energy-efficient than ever, and
better able to protect interiors from ultraviolet light. Now
there are products that can keep windows cleaner, too. The
exterior coating on Andersen's Low-E4 glazing — which is
standard on the.comany's 400 series product line —
allegedly reduces dirt buildup and water spots. A clear film
applied to both sides of the glass protects it during
construction. Andersen, 800/426-4261,
www.andersenwindows.com
Expanded Palette. I remember when clad windows
came in three colors. Now some window manufacturers offer
upwards of 40. Take Windsor's Pinnacle units, which are
available in seven standard and 30 feature colors, ranging from
Appalachian brown and burnt pumpkin to sunflower and walnut.
According to Windsor, the cladding is extruded and not
roll-formed. Feature colors cost approximately 20 percent more
than standard colors in awning, casement, and fixed units; in
double-hungs and gliders, they cost about 30 percent more.
Windsor, 800/218-6186,
www.windsorwindows.com
Garage Doors
Shelter From the Storm. Ever since 1992's
Hurricane Andrew, garage-door manufacturers have been working
on products that can stand up to high winds. Some rely on posts
or other reinforcements that must be deployed by the homeowner
before a storm hits — but Clopay's WindCode Garage Doors
have internal reinforcement, so they're always prepared for bad
weather. They.com with wind ratings from 90 to 150 miles per
hour. Prices for the Coachman model shown start at $1,500 for a
standard single door and $3,000 for a double door.
Clopay, 800/225-6729,
www.clopaydoor.comControl Central. The 398LM Smart Control Panel
displays the time, the garage temperature, and updates on the
status of the garage-door opener on a backlit LCD screen. The
wall-mounted device can be used for programming controllers and
has a built-in motion detector that turns on the lights
whenever somebody enters the garage. I found it on the Web for
$44. Chamberlain, 800/528-5880,
www.liftmaster.com
Rest Easy. With above-garage master suites and
bonus rooms growing in popularity, quiet door-openers are more
important than ever. Wayne-Dalton promises that its belt-driven
Prodrive opener is 50 percent quieter than the.comany's other
openers and 10 to 15 percent quieter than belt-driven openers
from other makers. As a bonus, the device is.comatible with
HomeLink and Car2U home-automation systems. Prices are
determined by local dealers. Wayne-Dalton,
888/827-3667, www.wayne-dalton.com
Decking
Faux Exotics. When it was first introduced,
fiber.comosite decking was sold in only one or two boring
shades, but since then it's gone through a rather colorful
transformation. ChoiceDek's newest colors — Spice (left)
and Driftwood (right) — are meant to resemble exotic
species. The 5/4-by-6-inch boards.com in 12-, 16-, and 20-foot
lengths. Original colors of ChoiceDek cost about $1.90 per
lineal foot; pricing for the new hues had yet to be determined
at press time.
Weyerhaeuser, 800/951-5117,
www.choicedek.comGroovy. Looking to shave some time off your
next decking installation? Check out Veranda Tropics.comosite
decking. A continuous groove on both edges of each board
receives the.comany's hidden deck fasteners, eliminating the
need for biscuit joiners or special installation tools. The
decking.coms in jatoba (light brown) and mahogany (shown) and
costs about $2.80 per lineal foot. Veranda,
800/230-7547, www.verandainfo.com
Smooth Finish. Over the past 10 years, decks
punctuated with nail or screw heads have been relegated to
economy class. While dozens of hidden fastening systems have
emerged, few — if any — are as easy to use or as
secure as FastenMaster's IQ fasteners. The polycarbonate clips
are screwed to the back of the deck board and then fastened to
the top of the joist with an angled screw. No special tools are
required. Packaged with drivers, screws, and an instructional
DVD, IQ fasteners are sold in boxes that cover 25, 100, and 500
square feet of decking. Using them costs about $1.80 per square
foot of deck space. FastenMaster,
800/518-3569, www.fastenmaster.com