by Patrick
McCombe
Rooftop Problem-Solvers.
Flashing a manufactured metal chimney can be difficult with
some roofing materials. To make this important job easier,
Selkirk recently introduced the Metalbestos Platinum Series
line of flashings. The Universal Metal Roof Flashing Kit (top
left; $32) adapts standard shingle flashing kits for use with
most profiles of metal roofing. The Universal Rubber Boot
Flashing Kit (top right; $181) allows you to use rubber
flashing boots (commonly used for vent pipes) with a metal
chimney. And Dead-Soft Aluminum Flashing (right; starting at
$100), designed for tile roofs, conforms to the undulations of
concrete and clay tile. Selkirk, 800/992-8368,
www.metalbestos.com
Easy Masonry.
A manufactured
chimney that combines the durability of masonry with the easy
installation of metal may sound like a pipe dream — until
you check out the DM44 Dual Module Chimney from Isokern. Made
from lightweight volcanic pumice and suitable for both
gas-fired and solid-fuel applications, Isokern chimney and
fireplace components take up less room than site-built masonry
and stack like building blocks. The system even includes offset
chimney blocks for snaking the flue around obstacles, plus
blocks with a brick ledge for adding stone or brick veneer at
the top. Because of shipping costs, prices vary by region.
Isokern, 904/363-3417, www.isokern.net
Sturdy Construction.
Detractors of
manufactured chimneys like to argue that manufactured
components have a shorter life span than site-built masonry and
suffer from unsightly and potentially dangerous corrosion,
especially in coastal areas. A SuperPro Stainless Steel
factory-built chimney vanquishes those concerns. Made entirely
from 304 stainless steel, the product boasts a non-prorated
warranty for the first 10 years and prorated coverage for
another 15 years. I found 36-inch lengths of 6-inch pipe at an
online vendor (www.ventingsystems.com) for $89 each.
Selkirk, 800/992-8368, www.selkirkinc.com
Outdoor Lighting
Brilliant Eras.
Historic
restoration is so much more than simply slapping on a period
paint scheme. Every detail matters, down to the style of the
exterior light fixtures. Rejuvenation, a company that
specializes in period lighting and hardware, carries
reproduction outdoor lighting from every conceivable era, from
the jazz to the jet age. The elegantly simple Silverton (far
left; $111) suits homes built in the first half of the
twentieth century. The Otis (left; $120) is perfect for postwar
ranches and other modern suburban styles. The Mission-style
Timberline (right; $259) complements Arts & Crafts
bungalows. And the Hathaway (far right; $335) is a good choice
for Tudor-style homes. For all lamps, glass patterns and
finishes may affect price. Rejuvenation, 888/401-1900,
www.rejuvenation.com
Good Aim.
Designed to combat light
pollution, Dark Sky-approved fixtures reduce the amount of
glare aimed at the night sky. Acculite DT Trapezoidal and DR
Semicircular lights from Juno satisfy Dark Sky requirements and
use compact fluorescent, metal halide, or high-pressure sodium
bulbs. Spirit levels built into the fixtures' mounting brackets
simplify installation; with the bracket secure and level, two
hidden set screws hold each fixture in place. Acculite DT and
DR lights come in white, bronze, and black finishes. The DT
— with a 32-watt compact fluorescent — sells for
about $226. Juno, 847/827-9880,
www.junolightinggroup.com
Lean Lines.
Although they're quite popular,
polished-brass and wrought-iron coach lights aren't right for
every project. If your customer is looking for a less obtrusive
outdoor fixture that still has some flair, you might suggest
the wall-mounted 101 Series from Besa. This lamp has a clean,
contemporary look and lasts a long time — even in salt
air — thanks to its stainless-steel housing. It comes in
brushed stainless and powder-coated bronze finishes and
measures about 20 inches tall, 9 inches wide, and 5 inches
deep. Pricing runs between $225 and $250. Besa Lighting,
800/446-2372, www.besalighting.com
Time-Saving Towel Bars.
A bathroom's finishing touches
— towel bars and paper holders, for example — can
take a surprising amount of time and patience to install. Moen
says its Pro-Fit Installation System — designed for use
with the company's line of bath accessories — reduces
that time by more than half. The system uses a plastic template
with a built-in spirit level to position the product line's
special mounting plates. Once the plates — which contain
integral hollow-wall anchors — are fastened, you slip
metal posts over them; the posts lock into place without set
screws. The installation tool sells for $15; prices for 24-inch
towel bars start at about $8. Moen, 800/882-0116,
www.csi.moen.com.
Electronics Garage.
Are your
clients tired of pawing through the tangle of wires cluttering
their kitchen counter — or some other chaotic space
— in search of MP3 players, PDAs, and cell phones? The
iCove from WireTracks provides a charging and docking station
for all sorts of electronic wizardry. Designed to keep the
devices handy and manage their associated snarl of wires, the
iCove is a 5-by-7-inch recessed niche with a built-in 110-volt
AC outlet. It's available in black or white, and fits within a
standard 5-by-7-inch picture frame supplied by the customer. At
$199, this product is a clever low-cost feature that can make
your clients' lives just a little easier. WireTracks,
888/886-9473, www.wiretracks.com
Structural
Sheathing
Easy-Breathing Sheathing.
In my
western Pennsylvania hometown, just about every house built
during the postwar building boom was sheathed with fibrous
Celotex under a brick veneer. I worked on plenty of these homes
20 to 30 years later, and even though they were commonly built
without housewrap or building felt, I found that the sheathing
was almost always in good shape. Brown Celotex Sturdy Brace
sheathing is still around, and it satisfies most requirements
for corner bracing, wind shear, and seismic conditions. As an
added bonus, Sturdy Brace is rated at 20 perms — compared
with 1 to 2 perms for plywood and OSB — which helps wall
assemblies dry out if they should for some reason get wet. The
sheathing sells for about $9 per sheet. Knight-Celotex,
847/716-8030, www.knightcelotex.com
Structural Silver.
Fiberglass-reinforced gypsum
sheathing has been a mainstay of commercial construction for
nearly 20 years, but when plywood and OSB prices shot through
the roof several years ago, some builders started using gypsum
sheathing panels for home construction, too. Now there's a
gypsum sheathing panel designed specifically for one- and
two-family residential dwellings. DensGlass Silver — with
fiberglass mats on both sides — qualifies as structural
sheathing when you use the fastening schedule specified in IRC
Section R602.10.3, method 5. According to the manufacturer, the
1/2-inch-thick product is suitable under most exterior
claddings, including wood, brick, vinyl, and stucco — but
it's not a nailing base, so you'll need to fasten siding to the
framing. A drywall supplier in North Canton, Ohio, quoted me a
price of 48 cents per square foot for 60 8-foot sheets. GP,
800/947-4497, www.gp.com/build
Mold-Free.
If you're looking for a
sheathing product that provides code-required racking strength,
easy installation, improved mold and fire resistance, and a
cheaper price tag than plywood or OSB sheathing, you might want
to consider StructGuard TS. Available in 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch
thicknesses in 8-, 9-, 10-, and 12-foot panels, the
gypsum-based product has antimicrobial additives designed to
resist mold growth. An Austin, Texas, yard quoted me a price of
$13.10 per sheet. Temple-Inland, 800/231-6060,
www.temple.com/gypsum
Make a Connection.
Washer outlet boxes have existed for
years, so I'm surprised someone didn't think of a dryer box
sooner. At 14 inches wide and 51/2 inches deep, the DBX1000
Dryer Vent Receptacle installs in standard 2x6 framing and
includes a pair of knockouts for 4-inch round ductwork and a
smaller knockout for a gas line. According to the manufacturer,
the DBX1000 is also good for recessing gas lines behind the
kitchen stove, ice-maker water lines behind the fridge, and
receptacles behind wall-mounted televisions. Depending on the
dealer, the box sells for $20 to $25. Construction Solutions,
866/270-8240, www.dryersolutions.com