CONTENTS:
Featured Products
Metal Roofing
Skylights
Trussty Connection
Installing trusses on masonry walls usually means anchor bolts
and treated plates. However, you can eliminate the additional
step of plating and provide greater wind resistance with a new
line of truss connectors from USP. The HLPTA 75 Embedded Truss
Anchors are grouted right into the top-course bond beam and
provide more than 2,000 pounds of uplift resistance each.
Achieving the full load capabilities requires placing either
one #7 horizontal rebar or two #5 horizontal bars for
reinforcement. The 18-gauge connectors are G90 galvanized, and
their 4 7/16-inch height makes them compatible with most
low-slope roof profiles. A 50-count box has a suggested price
of $82.
USP Structural Connectors, 800/328-5934,
www.uspconnectors.com.
Pint-Sized Heating Plant
While its diminutive stature might fool you, the Munchkin
Gas-Fired Boiler is a full-power residential boiler with input
ratings as high as 199,000 Btus. It weighs about 100 pounds and
has an extremely small — 31 x 21-inch —
footprint, so it can fit in places where other boilers won't
go. But that's not all that's noteworthy: The
computer-controlled Munchkin has a stainless-steel heat
exchanger and a 92% efficiency rating, and you can vent it
through the roof or sidewall with 3-inch ABS, PVC, or CPVC
pipe.
Heat Transfer Products, 800/323-9651,
www.htproducts.com.
Air Superiority
When you start your compressor, the motor not only has to
overcome its own inertia and the pump's, it also has to
overcome crankcase oil that's thicker than normal. Both of
these factors contribute to blown breakers and motor strain.
You can reduce the demands on the motor by using an Automatic
Air Inlet Controller. The small device replaces the standard
air filter on your compressor and reduces the demands on the
motor by "free wheeling" the compressor for a fraction of a
second before it starts building pressure. According to the
manufacturer, you won't notice any difference in performance,
but the reduced strain makes cold-weather starts easier and
blown breakers less likely.
R. Conrader Co., 814/898-2727,
www.conrader.com.
Metal Roofing
High-Temp Underlayment.
Temperatures under metal roofing can get hot enough to turn
some asphalt-based roofing products into a syrupy liquid
— generally not what you want from your roofing
materials. If you're concerned that your present underlayment
can't take the heat, you might try Tarco's LeakBarrier PS-200.
The SBS-based product can handle temps up to 260°F,
which is about 35° higher than most peel-and-stick
underlayments, according to the manufacturer. The product has a
smooth face, so it won't scratch the finish on metal roofing,
and a two-part release paper that makes installation easier.
It's available in one- and two-square rolls and sells for about
$25 to $28 per square.
Tarco, 800/365-4506,
www.tarcoroofing.com.
Green-Free Copper.
When it comes
to roofing, few materials can compete with copper for
durability and a classic look. But the green of aged copper
isn't for everyone, and it can clash with some architectural
designs and color schemes. If your customer has no interest in
going green, you could suggest Revere's FreedomGray Copper,
which uses a zinc-tin coating to produce a neutral gray instead
of green as the copper ages. The product has the durability of
traditional copper, and unlike plain zinc, which requires
ventilation to prevent corrosion, zinc-coated copper can be
placed directly on the roof deck. In addition, the copper base
makes it easier to solder and roll form, according to the
manufacturer.
Revere Copper Products, 800/448-1776,
www.reverecopper.com.
Metal Mania.
The market for metal
roofing continues to grow every year. It's not surprising. The
durable metal shingles have some distinct advantages over other
roofing materials: They're noncombustible, lightweight, and
offer excellent resistance to wind and hail. New, ever
increasing color choices and styles allow homeowners to
complement their existing architecture styles and exterior
colors. Midnight Eclipse and Woodland Green are the newest
offerings in Tasman's Decra Shingle Plus line, expanding the
color palette to five offerings. The versatile product can be
installed directly to the existing roof or on battens,
depending on the installer's preference.
Decra, 877/463-3272,
www.decra.com.
Beat the Heat.
Few building
materials get as hot as a metal roof under a sunny sky, but you
can beat the heat with a new reflective coating. BASF's Ultra
Cool Coating increases the reflectivity of metal roofing about
13%, which reduces cooling loads and attic temperatures.
Custom-Bilt Metals is one of several manufacturers using the
new coating. The company offers the coating with its Last Time
line of metal roofing in 24 colors. According to the
manufacturer, the increased reflectivity also reduces expansion
and contraction, making the roof panels last longer. The best
part is that Ultra Cool costs the same as conventional painted
metal roofing.
Custom-Bilt Metals, 800/826-7813,
www.custombiltmetals.com.
Skylights
Sky Dome.
Custom skylights from
O'Keeffe's could be called the ultimate in rooftop
fenestration. This custom fabricator can make skylights in just
about any shape or design that you or your architect can come
up with. Domes, barrel vaults, and pyramids are just a few of
the possible shapes. If the more typical offerings don't have
enough jaw-dropping effect, what about a fully glazed roof that
retracts with the push of a button? All products have
engineering stamps and can be shipped almost anywhere.
O'Keeffe's, 888/653-3333,
www.okeeffes.com.
Larger Than Life.
If your customer
wants a skylight that provides a little more light and pizazz
than the typical 22-inch model designed for between rafters,
you might suggest the Architectural Series from Wasco. Offered
in sizes from 4x4 feet to 9x12 feet, these huge expanses of
rooftop glass are assembled from extruded aluminum frames in
ten standard colors. Features like condensation gutters that
channel water to the outside and thermal breaks to increase
energy efficiency make them easy to live with. Several glass
options are available, including low-e, tinted, and laminated
varieties. Smaller units can be shipped completely assembled,
while larger units are field-assembled to make handling easier.
Prices start at $1,200.
Wasco Products, 800/388-0293,
www.wascoproducts.com.
Plastic Fantastic.
Four layers of
specialty acrylic glazing in ODL's Quad-Glazed Prismatic
Skylights provide greater comfort and increased energy
efficiency compared with conventional insulated glass,
according to the manufacturer. A prismatic layer provides a
uniform light and eliminates the shadows and hot spots often
found in clear skylights. Another reflective layer blocks 98%
of UV, which can fade carpets and fabrics and degrade finishes.
Other internal layers prevent heat loss from the living space.
Venting and nonventing models are offered.
ODL, 888/384-7288,
www.odl.com.
Missile Defense.
Hurricanes and
tropical storms can turn ordinary objects into glass-smashing
missiles, so in coastal areas it's important to use
impact-resistant glass, to protect not only the structure but
its occupants as well. Velux's Impact FCM has laminated,
impact-resistant glass that satisfies the requirements for most
coastal areas (Dade Protocols excluded). The fixed skylight
features low-e insulated glass and a curb-mounted design for
use with a wide variety of roofing materials. The manufacturer
says it also makes an ideal replacement for plastic bubble
skylights. A 22x46-inch Impact FCM with a step flashing kit
sells for about $300.
Velux, 800/888-3589,
www.velux-america.com.