Sound Muffler. QuietPad 420 floor under-
layment allows you to reduce sound transmission between stories
in tall buildings without adding noticeably to floor heights.
Suitable for use with tile and hardwood flooring, the padding
is a mere 1/16 inch thick but earns an IIC (impact insulation
class) rating of up to 61. It comes in 5-foot rolls from 300 to
1,200 feet long. A local dealer quoted me $1,400 for a 300-foot
roll. Quiet Solution, 800/797-8159,
quietsolution.com.
Moment’s
Notice. Moment frames are most commonly used in areas
subject to earthquakes or high winds and in homes with
expansive window and door openings. Until recently they
required a case-specific design and engineer’s approval,
but now there’s a manufactured version: Simpson’s
Strong Frame Ordinary Moment Frame. Sized to fit in a 2x6 wall,
the steel frame comes in sizes up to 19 feet tall and 16 feet
wide. Prices range from $2,000 to $6,000. Simpson
Strong-Tie, 800/999-5099,
strongtie.com.
Load Up. An integral part of modern sound
control, mass-loaded vinyl installs easily and barely affects
wall thickness. Properly installed, SoundSense’s
1/8-inch-thick NoiseOut 2 has an STC (sound transmission class)
rating of 29 — higher than can be achieved by adding
extra layers of drywall to both sides of the wall. A
41/2-foot-by- 30-foot roll sells for $330.
SoundSense, 631/324-2266,
soundsense.com.
Sky’s the Limit. If your clients want
something a little more dramatic than a simple rectangular roof
window, tell them to check out Wasco’s Architectural
Series Skylights. Units come with several types of glazing
— including two hurricane-resistant options — and
can be used on both low- and steep-slope roofs. Standard sizes
start at 5 feet by 5 feet. Wasco,
800/388-0293, wascoskylights.com.
Solar-Ready.
This Square D combination service entrance panel makes it
easier to add photovoltaics to your client’s home —
either during construction or in the future. Sold with a 200-
or 225-amp main breaker, the panel has 26 breaker slots plus
room for a backfeed circuit breaker and current-monitoring
equipment, as well as a separate compartment for PV switching
equipment. An online vendor (newark .com) sells the 200-amp
version for about $1,500. Square D,
888/778-2733, us.squared.com.
Easy Does It.
With Velux’s Solar Water Heating Systems, you get all the
matched components you need in one package — with most of
the engineering already done for you. Available with either 52
or 78 square feet of collector space, each system contains a
controller, a storage tank, and collectors. Installed costs
generally run between $7,000 and $10,000.
Velux, 800/888-3589,
veluxusa.com.
Composite Siding. Revolution Composite Siding
is one of the most natural-looking composite sidings I’ve
seen. It’s made from wood fiber and plastic, half of
which is recycled. The 7-inch planks have 67/8-inch exposures
and are 12 feet 6 inches long; they come in five matte-finish
colors and cost about $3 per square foot.
Alside, 800/922-6009,
revolutionsiding.com.
Bright Idea. Suitable for both new
construction and retrofits, Halo LED Recessed Lighting uses 75
percent less energy than the 65-watt incandescent lamps found
in most can lights. And unlike compact fluorescent lamps
— which commonly dim down to 50 percent of maximum output
— LED modules can be dimmed down to 15 percent with
standard dimmers or 5 percent with trim-adjustment dimmers.
According to the maker, the bulbs have a warm white color and
last 50,000 hours. They cost about $130 each. Cooper
Lighting, 770/486-4800,
http://www.cooperlighting .com.