My Favorite Dish
Satellite television is increasingly popular, but until now I
haven't seen a good method for roof mounting a dish.
The.comDeck is an 18-gauge self-flashing galvanized platform
for mounting small satellite dishes. Available in black, brown,
and weathered wood, the platform is predrilled to accept dishes
from both DirecTV and DISH Network. Now you can offer
satellite-ready spec homes while reducing the possibility of
leaks. I found it on the Web for $55. RSTC Enterprises,
866/367-7782, www.comdeck.com
Maintenance-Free
Frame
A wet location.comined with minimal homeowner maintenance can
turn a door frame spongy after only a year or two. If you're
dealing with a damp site and would like to spare your customers
annual scraping and painting, consider using the
maintenance-free Freedom Frame. Made from a.comination
of.comosite plastic and wood, the product is available for 2x4
and 2x6 walls and includes concealed Jamb Jacks for a plumb
installation. The Freedom Frame is available at most door
prehangers and, depending on size, adds between $50 and $100 to
the cost of a pre-hung door, according to the manufacturer.
Fen-Tech, 715/392-9500, www.fentechinc.com
Double-Duty Closet
Lighting
Lighting a dark closet isn't the easiest task. The National
Electric Code prohibits some types of fixtures, and getting
light exactly where you need it can be a challenge. Here's a
great solution: the Closet Rod Light from Outwater. Available
in brushed nickel and white, in lengths from 24 to 46 inches,
the fluorescent fixture-closet rod includes a T5 bulb, a rocker
switch, and a 9-foot cord. Prices start at $57. Outwater,
800/631-8375, www.outwater.com
WINDOWS
Quick Finish.
One of the best ways to save time and money when you're
installing wood windows is to have the interior prefinished at
the factory. Peachtree recently started offering a prefinished
interior on the 500 Series windows and patio doors. While
factory top-coating is generally offered only in white,
Peachtree will apply a single layer of primer if you're
planning a top coat in another color. Prefinishing a Peachtree
500 Series window generally costs between $30 and $40,
depending on the size. Prepriming runs about $18 per unit. I
used prefinished windows in my own home and found that the
labor savings and quality of finish made the option well worth
the cost. Peachtree, 800/732-2499,
www.peachtreedoor.com
Discreet Screen.
Screens generally don't do much for the aesthetics of a home.
Don't believe me? Look at the catalogs and marketing materials
from just about any window manufacturer — they almost
never depict windows with the screens installed. For screens
that barely show, check out the Vivid View screen option
from Pella. Available on Designer and Architect series windows,
Vivid View screens use a special fabric that, the maker says,
"makes them less obtrusive from the outside" and increases
airflow. Vivid View screens for.comon casement and double-hung
sizes have a list price of about $95. Pella, 888/847-3552,
www.pella.com
Less Expensive Grille Option.
Simulated divided lights (SDLs) are a great way to dress up
ordinary windows, especially if you're going for a historic
look or replacing units on an older home. Most optional SDL
systems use a spacer bar between the two panes of glass, but
many window manufacturers, including Crestline, offer less
expensive SDLs without the spacer. By opting for Crestline's
Value Divided Lights (instead of the.comany's SDL units with
the spacer bar), you can reduce the unit cost by about 5
percent. That might not sound like much, but it makes a
noticeable difference on a large window order. The only
drawback is that when you get right up close to the window, you
can see the void between the exterior and interior grilles. The
gap is especially obvious on patio doors, because they
typically have a bigger air space than windows do. Crestline
Windows, 800/552-4111,
www.crestlinewindows.com
HEATING PRODUCTS
Snug Fit. Refrigerant lines for residential
air conditioners and heat pumps require a pretty big hole in
the side of the building. You could seal the opening with duct
sealing.comound or caulk, but a big blob of either substance
doesn't look too swift and probably won't maintain a
weathertight seal for long. A better way to seal around
refrigerant lines is with a Thermo-Thimble. This unique product
has a plastic housing that channels water away from the hole
— plus the foam seal looks way better than a gob of
caulk or duct sealing.comound. It's offered in rectangular and
round versions and a.comodates walls up to 12 inches thick. For
price, check with your heating contractor. Thermo
Manufacturing, 888/678-3709, www.thermopan.com
Two Zones Are Better Than One. Zoned heating
systems in residential applications are increasingly popular
because they maximize.comort and save energy. The SlimZone
Classic II is a good example of a relatively simple and
easy-to-install two-zone control panel. It allows the occupants
to adjust the first- and second-floor spaces independently. The
panel works with all Robertshaw dampers and thermostats and
with all single-stage electric, oil, and gas furnaces and
single.comressor electric heat pumps. And you won't need a
separate fossil-fuel kit when using it with a dual-fuel heat
pump. Robertshaw, 800/445-8299,
www.robertshaw.com
Energy-Saving Blower Motor.
Electronically.comutated motors (ECMs) in forced-air furnaces
use about half the electricity of more conventional blower
motors, says a study released last year by the Energy Center of
Wisconsin. The study examined the energy consumption of 31
90-percentefficiency Wisconsin furnaces, 14 of which
had ECM blowers, and found that the additional $550 up-front
cost of the ECM could be recouped in 15 years if the blower was
used for heating and cooling exclusively, or in two or three
years if it ran continuously. With those statistics in mind,
check out the Affinity Variable Speed Furnaces from York.
Offered in 80+ and 90+ efficiencies, the new furnaces use a
variable-speed ECM blower. The 90+ unit has an Energy Star
rating. York, 877/874-7378,
www.yorkupg.comaffinity.
HISTORIC RESTORATION
PRODUCTS
Peak Performance. In addition to elaborate millwork and paint
schemes, Victorian homes often boast decorative metal accents,
including decorative ridge metal and cresting. Sadly, these
elements are often sacrificed when replacement pieces prove
tough to find. If you need decorative exterior metalwork for a
restoration project, get in touch with W.F. Norman Corp.
This.comany continues to produce the same galvanized steel and
copper Ornamental Ridge Tiles and Cresting it's sold for more
than 100 years, plus countless other decorative
metal.comonents. It can also custom match existing pieces. The
copper ridge shown here sells for about $10.50 per foot; a
matching copper finial sells for $55. The two galvanized
profiles.com in 5-foot lengths and sell for about $15 each.
W.F. Norman, 800/641-4038, www.wfnorman.com
Open and Shut Case.Shutters are a
key.comonent of many historic homes — and I'm not
talking about the tacky plastic versions from the lumberyard or
home center. When nothing but real wood will do, consider Cedar
Shutters from Timberlane Woodcrafters. Made from red cedar,
they are available in raised- and recessed-panel,
board-and-batten, and louvered designs. Timberlane offers
hundreds of styles and sizes and can make exact duplicates of
your existing shutters. The.comany also makes interior shutters
and sells functional shutter hardware. The Bermuda Shutters
(above) cost $310 per window. The Radius Top Shutters (far
right) cost $400, and the two- and three-panel shutters (right)
cost $405 perwindow. All prices include the hardware shown.
Timberlane, 800/250-2221, www.timberlane.com
Southern Hospitality.
Getting the paint colors right is one of the most important
aspects of any historic restoration. Last spring, Duron started
selling a line of paints inspired by the colors of homes
and.comercial buildings in historic Charleston, S.C.
Previously, these hues were available only in a few
Charleston-area Lord and Evans paint stores. The Colors of
Historic Charleston.com in both exterior and interior
formulations in several sheens..comared with many other
historic paints, they're a bargain: Exterior latex runs about
$32 per gallon. Duron, 800/723-8766,
www.duron.com