Chimney
Vac. Cleaning out a fireplace or wood stove is a lot
easier with a Cougar Ash Vacuum. Unlike a conventional shop vac
or fireplace tools, the fire-resistant Cougar won’t
spread fine particles throughout the room. The steel canister
has a 5-foot hose, a two-part filter with an external shaker,
and a carrying handle. It costs $260. Love-Less Ash
Co., 800/568-3949, loveless ash.com.
Bay-Front Wood Burner. One of the largest
manufactured fireplaces on the market, the Delta 2 from RSF has
a bay-window front that makes the fire visible from almost any
angle. The unit accepts logs of up to 24 inches and can be
connected to the ductwork of a forced-air heating system. The
suggested selling price ranges from $3,600 to $4,500, depending
on finish and extras. RSF Chimney,
450/565-6336, icc-rsf.com.
Porch Planks. Looking for an alternative to
wood porch flooring? Check out Azek Porch. Made from cellular
PVC in two colors — brownstone and slate gray — the
T&G 1x4 planks don’t require predrilling and
won’t rot or support mold, says the maker. They cost
about $5.50 per linear foot. Azek,
877/275-2935, azek.com.
Wood Look. Fiberon’s Sanctuary Decking
looks a lot like real wood. The 1-inch-thick by 51/2- inch-wide
cellular PVC boards have graining on both sides and are grooved
for use with hidden fasteners. They come in 12-, 16-, and
20-foot lengths in ipe and driftwood patterns. Square edge
boards are also available (20-foot lengths only). The product
costs about twice as much as pressure-treated decking.
Fiber Composites, 704/463-7120, fiberondecking
.com.
Green Brick.
Acme Brick says its new King Size brick weighs about 1/3 pound
less than conventional king-size bricks and requires less
energy to manufacture — all because the company increased
core-hole size from 25 percent to 33 percent of total volume.
The new format should reduce transportation costs and boost
green appeal. Costs run about $400 per 1,000 bricks.
Acme Brick, 817/332-4101, brick.com.
Quick Dry. Rain
in the forecast? You still might be able to paint, provided
you’re using Sherwin-Williams’ Resilience exterior
latex paint. The maker says its “moisture guard”
formula dries in half the time required by most exterior
paints. The product is compatible with wood, steel, masonry,
vinyl, and stucco substrates. A gallon sells for approximately
$50. Sherwin-Williams, 800/474-3794,
sherwin.com.
Single Serving. I tried GE’s new Caulk
Singles shortly after their introduction. The 11/4-ounce
packages were easy to open and offered excellent control. Plus
they’re the perfect size for a small project. Available
in paintable white latex and in clear and white silicone, they
cost $2.50 apiece. GE, 877/943-7325,
caulksingles.com.
Stowaway. If your clients want a central vac
system but have neither the space nor the budget, tell them
about the Vroom Solo. This self-contained vacuum — which
mounts in a base cabinet — has a self-retracting 24-foot
hose and sells for $350. The Vroom Central (not shown) is
similar but connects to an existing central vac; it costs $250.
HP Products, 800/822-8356,
vroomyourroom.com.