Foundation Insulation
An easy and inexpensive way to insulate foundation walls has
proved elusive for many builders, but CertainTeed's new
Basement Wall Insulation promises to make the process faster
and easier. Faced with reinforced polypropylene or foil, the
insulation is available in 3/4-, 1 3/4-, and 3 1/8-inch
thicknesses, with respective R-values of 3, 6, and 11. The
insulation hung from the sill plate can be left exposed in most
residential applications. Installed costs vary, but expect to
pay about $.60 to $.80 per square foot.
CertainTeed
800/233-8990
http://www.certainteed.com
Sturdy Stand
A well-made stand for your portable planer, table saw, or
miter saw can make the difference between an easy task and
complete frustration. The 6132 Work Station's 300-pound
capacity and adjustable top provide a sturdy and convenient
stand for most bench-top tools. The powder-coated steel frame
includes rubber footpads and a leveling leg for stability. It
retails for $39.
Wolfcraft
630/773-4777
http://www.wolfcraft.com
Mold- and Waterproof Paint
In response to the current concern over mold, Kwik Seal Plus
Basement Paint is one of the more recent products to have
Microban added to its formula. The antimicrobial additive, more
traditionally used in socks, cutting boards, and kitchen
sponges, provides long-term protection against mold and
odor-causing bacteria, according to the manufacturer. The
tintable, white latex basement paint resists water pressure up
to 5 psi and is available in 1- and 3 1/2-gallon containers. It
sells for about $25 per gallon.
DAP
888/327-8477
http://www.dap.com
Cut-to-Fit Basement
Windows
Although not the most exciting fenestrations in the house,
basement windows provide necessary ventilation and light in an
otherwise dark and dreary space. Available in clear glass or
privacy-enhancing glass block, Hopper Windows feature a
one-piece injection-molded frame to minimize air infiltration
and provide long-term durability. Most notable are the
trimmable jamb and sill flanges, allowing the windows to fit
openings from 32 to 33 inches wide. The units are available in
white and tan. Prices start at $124 for ten or more; single
units start at $175.
Simonton Windows
800/746-6686
http://www.simonton.com
Smaller
Sander
With a 3 1/2-inch disc, Metabo's model SXE400 Random Orbital
Disc Sander works in places that an ordinary sander simply
won't fit. Running at a maximum 10,000 orbits per second, the
variable-speed machine weighs about 3 pounds and includes an
on-board dust extraction system. The replaceable hook and loop
pad orbits in a 1/8-inch pattern. The maker claims that the
tool's small sanding disc is especially suited for concave and
convex surfaces, and triple-sealed bearings provide longer
life. The street price is $139.
Metabo
800/638-2264
http://www.metabousa.com
On The Job
When Greg McCarren started in the hearth industry over 20
years ago, there was little regulation on air quality indoors
or out. As building codes changed, he feared new regulations
might eventually eliminate wood fireplaces from new
construction. Minnesota and Oregon, for example, now require
the installation of fresh-air systems to replace the air lost
up the chimney and the air used for combustion. Such
regulations are meant to address the negative air pressure
created by the fireplace inside the home. Negative pressure not
only causes the fireplace to draw poorly, but it's also a
threat to health when backdrafting results. Because the hearth
industry didn't have a product to satisfy the new requirements,
Greg invented one.
His creation, the Replenum, mounts on top of a manufactured
fireplace and replaces the air consumed by the fireplace with
fresh air from outside the building. The replacement air is
warmed by a stainless-steel heat exchanger, using heat that
would ordinarily be lost up the chimney. In addition, a
110-volt inducer fan keeps combustion gases moving up the flue,
eliminating the poor drafting common in today's tighter homes.
Activated by a thermal switch, the unit automatically starts
when a fire is lit, so homeowners don't need to remember to
turn it on. When the fire dies, the heat-recovery blower
continues for a short time, capturing the remaining heat in the
exchanger.
Installing a Replenum requires a
37-inch-tall, 24 1/2-inch-wide, and 15-inch-deep cavity above
the fireplace. The unit can be rotated on the flue collar to
aid in positioning as long as a 2-inch air space from
combustibles is maintained.
Keeping duct runs as straight as
possible makes the recovery ventilator more efficient. The
easiest way to accomplish this is straight through the back of
the chase and straight through the interior wall, but the owner
of this home wanted the exterior grill in a less obvious
location, which required additional elbows.
It's important to balance the amount of
air going up the flue and the air supplying the home. While one
installer checks the measurements with a vane anemometer,
another reaches inside the access panel to adjust the fan
speed.
A 13x21-inch access panel is required
for installation and servicing. The intake grill supplying the
heat exchanger is located above the access panel, where it's
less obtrusive. It's important to consider other exhaust vents,
flues, and plumbing vents when locating the supply grill;
otherwise, contaminated air could be drawn into the living
space. The required clearances are included in the Replenum's
well-written instructions.
Because the unit requires 110-volt AC power, it had to pass UL
standard 127, which tests for safe operation, without
electricity (when homeowners are most likely to use a
fireplace). The UL standard, which all manufactured fireplaces
must meet, tests how the unit will perform when the firebox is
refueled every 7 1/2 minutes with special high-output solid
fuel. The unit passed the test and, according to the maker,
performs as well as an ordinary fireplace even without
power.
Installing a Replenum adds about a half day's work to an
ordinary manufactured fireplace installation. Finishing the
exterior access panel also adds some time.
Presently, the unit is certified only for use with Temko brand
fireplaces, because of the expense associated with UL approval.
The manufacturer expects to have most other major fireplace
manufacturers approved within two years. The company is also
planning the introduction of a unit for masonry fireplaces in a
similar time frame. The unit has a list price of approximately
$1,400.
Condar
828/894-8383
http://www.fireplacehrv.com