Engineered Lumber
Cut the Fat. Looking to simplify your framing
and save some money? Check out Ainsworth's 0.8E Durastrand
Rimboard. Made from inexpensive oriented strand lumber, it's
generally suitable for spanning openings up to 9 feet wide.
According to the maker, using Durastrand Rimboard for rim
joists can eliminate the need for headers above doors and
windows. Ainsworth, 877/661-3200,
www.ainsworth.ca
Drilling Allowed. I've heard of plumbers and
framers coming to blows over holes drilled in critical
structural members. Maybe Weyerhaeuser's improved TimberStrand
LSL framing members will maintain the peace, because plumbers
can drill holes in them. The 1 3/4- and 3 1/2-inch beams come
in 9 1/2-, 11 7/8-, and 14-inch sizes; holes of up to 4 5/8
inches can be drilled in the 14-inchers.
Weyerhaeuser, 888/453-8358,
www.iLevel.com
Reach Higher. The Stacked Steel Strong-Wall is
the first ready-made two-story shear wall ever, Simpson claims.
It's suitable for two-story entries and great rooms up to 20
feet 6 inches tall. Even in seismic areas, the product can help
builders and designers maintain the huge expanses of glass that
some homeowners expect.
Simpson Strong-Tie, 800/999-5099,
www.strongtie.com
Exterior Doors
Broad Appeal. With its silver caming and
stained-glass highlights over one or two raised panels, the
Dorado suits a number of different architectural styles. It
comes in Douglas fir, western hemlock, and red oak in 3/0, 3/2,
3/4, and 3/6 sizes. Understated without being boring, this door
strikes me as a great choice for spec homes. Prices start at
$1,000 (for door only). Simpson Door,
800/952-4057, www.simpsondoor.com
Plastic
Frame. Maintenance-free and rotproof, PVC trim has
become quite popular in harsh climates — but why stop
with trim? Now you can install PVC door frames, too. Made
entirely of cellular PVC, the Proframe has a UL 20-minute fire
rating and won't rot, even in the harshest exposures, says the
maker. It comes in single- and double-door configurations and
in-swing and out-swing styles. Replacement-kit prices start at
around $60. Royal Mouldings, 800/368-3117,
www.royalmouldings.com
Factory
Finish. Staining an exterior door on site is a hassle:
The weather has to be perfect; the door is out of commission
for at least a few hours; and it's nearly impossible to keep
tradespeople, delivery drivers, and homeowners from marring the
wet surface. So why not have the finishing done at the factory?
Therma-Tru provides just that option for its Classic-Craft and
Fiber-Classic doors with FinishRight. Available in five colors,
the factory finish adds about $310 to the cost of a 3-foot-wide
entry door. Therma-Tru, 800/843-7628,
www.thermatru.com