by Reid
ShalvoyColor-Coordinated. Having trouble
finding a preformed gutter-and-downspout system in the color
you need? With more than 700 standard hues to choose from and
the ability to custom match nearly any sample, Alcoa's Envoy
line may have what you're looking for. Envoy gutters are .032
inch thick and come with numerous options. Prices start at
around $3.25 per linear foot for 5-inch K-style aluminum
gutters. Alcoa Home Exteriors, 800/962-6973,
www.alcoahomexteriors.com.
Copper Plus. Are your high-end clients looking
for something a little fancier than run-of-the-mill copper
gutters? Berger now offers decorative copper systems in three
embossed patterns: Greek Key (top), Caesar Circles (bottom),
and Patriot (not shown). They come in various sizes and are
sold in 10- and 20-foot preformed lengths. Prices range from
$13 to $17 per foot. Berger Building Products,
800/523-8852, www.bergerbuildingproducts.com.
Weather-Ready. In areas with lots of snow and
ice, gutters need to be especially hardy. Rainhandler gutters
— which have a capacity of 95 pounds per section —
are designed to support the extra load imposed by winter
weather. Rather than drains or downspouts, they use louvers to
cascade water away from the house. Five-foot sections retail
for around $24; contractors can expect a 20 percent discount,
says the maker. Rainhandler/Savetime,
800/942-3004, www.rainhandler.com.
Hardwood Flooring
Quick Fix.
Not that your installer would ever make a mistake, but if a
hardwood floor turns out to have hollow spots, end-lifting, or
loose areas, DriTac's Wood Floor Repair Kit can help. After
drilling in the problem area, you fill the void with adhesive,
then patch with a wood dowel and putty. The kit sells for
around $140; refills cost $78.
DriTac Adhesive Group, 800/394-9310,
www.dritac.com.
Fast Work. In a hurry? Thanks to
"lock-and-fold" technology, Turlington floors (sold under the
Bruce brand) can be installed 30 percent to 50 percent faster
than traditional hardwood flooring, says Armstrong. Sections
angle and lock into place, and can be either floated or glued
down. They come in oak, maple, hickory, cherry, and walnut,
with prices starting at $4 a square foot. Armstrong,
800/233-3823, www.armstrong.com.
Antique-Like. Sure it looks great,
but who can afford T&G milled from old Chinese railroad
ties anyway? After a process of planing, distressing, and
hand-glazing — plus an application of scratch-resistant
coating — Mannington's new Inverness hardwood flooring
looks just like the real old stuff, says the manufacturer. But
at $7.50 a square foot, it's a lot cheaper. Mannington
Mills, 800/482-0466,
www.mannington.com.