by Patrick McCombe
Three-Way Outlet.
Leviton’s Acenti Triplex and Sixplex receptacles contain
outlets oriented in three directions. Transformer-type plugs
can be inserted in the top and bottom outlets without blocking
the third one. Prices start at $15 each.
Leviton, 800/824-3005,
leviton.com
Take a Spin.
The
classic rotary dimmer has been updated: Pass &
Seymour/Legrand’s Decorator dimmers are controlled by
intuitive rotating knobs with LEDs that show the lighting
level. An optional snap-in illuminated module makes the devices
easy to find in the dark. The dimmers come in 600- and
1,100-watt versions in five colors. The model shown sells for
$27. Pass & Seymour/Legrand, 800/776-4035,
passandseymour.com
Well-Connected.
Interconnected smoke detectors offer extra safety — but
retrofitting them usually means fishing three-conductor wires
throughout the house. Kidde’s Wireless Smoke Alarm is
different: It gives your clients the advantages of an
interconnected system without the fishing. Instead of wires, it
uses radio-frequency signals to sound all the alarms when one
is activated. The product has a 10-year battery and an
85-decibel siren. Prices start at $50 for a battery model; AC
versions start at $55. Kidde, 800/880-6788,
kiddewireless.com
Fast Cut.
If you
ever have to install an electrical work box in wood paneling
— or in any tough-to-cut wall surface — consider
Arlington Industries’ Hole Saw Box. Sized for a 3
1/4-inch hole saw, the box has a sturdy, integrated clamping
system and 17 cubic inches of space inside. (Note that it
requires an oversized wall plate.) It’s rated for a
3-pound fixture and costs about $5. Arlington
Industries, 800/233-4717,
aifittings.com
Pest
Control.
Log-builder Bill Averette adds Bug
Juice to all his deck stains and exterior coatings to prevent
wood-boring insects from destroying his clients’ homes
(see “Building Log Homes,” page 75). According to
the manufacturer, Bug Juice is the only insecticide additive
approved by the EPA for use with interior and exterior paints
and coatings. The company also says that the product remains
effective for the life of the coating. An 8-ounce bottle costs
$50. Walla Walla Environmental, 800/247-9011,
wwenvironmental.com
Stick-to-itiveness.
Despite inroads made by composites and exotics, most decks are
built with pressure-treated decking. The problem is that
getting paint or stain to stick to PT lumber can feel like a
losing battle — but I’ve had good luck with
Penofin’s Penetrating Oil Finish for Pressure-Treated
Wood. It lasts longer and looks better than any other deck
stain I’ve used. Available in three colors, it can be
applied with a garden sprayer and costs about $40 per gallon.
Penofin, 800/736-6346,
penofin.com
Perfect Pitch.
Fabricating sill
pans on site? There’s more than one way to slope the
rough sill. The conventional method is to nail on a piece of
bevel siding; another option is to use Amico’s Sill
Wedge. Available in both 2x4 and 2x6 sizes, the PVC wedge is
3/8 inch tall and comes in 10-foot lengths. It’s sold in
30-count cartons and costs between $4 and $5 per length.
Amico, 800/366-2642,
amico-lath.com
Don’t Cut
Corners.
Compatible with DuPont’s other
weatherization products, FlexWrap RW preformed corners for
inset windows work with single-, double-, and open-stud
construction. The maker says the butyl-based formula performs
well in all climates. The company declined to provide pricing.
DuPont, 800/448-9835,
construction.tyvek.com