by Patrick
McCombeMantel
Maker. With a repertoire of some 50-plus styles,
Mantels of Yesteryear offers reproduction mantels for virtually
any architectural style. The company also makes custom pieces.
Standard wood species include quarter-sawn oak, walnut, cherry,
sycamore, and mahogany. Prices typically range from $600 to
$7,000. Mantels of Yesteryear, 888/292-2080,
www.mantelsofyesteryear.com
Dread-Free
Treads. Prefinished hardwood flooring has made the
lives of countless GCs easier. Now similar benefits are
available for stairs, thanks to Stairtek's Prefinished Wood
Stair Treads. The company's UV-cured, aluminum-oxide finish
resists wear and tear and reduces sun damage. Prices for the
treads — which come in more than 12 wood species —
start at about $40 apiece. Stairtek,
888/782-4783, www.stairtek.com
High Style. Looking for just the right column?
Timeless Architectural Reproductions' fiberglass-reinforced
polymer columns come in a range of styles: round and square,
smooth and fluted, tapered and untapered. Prices range from
$200 to $16,000 (and up) depending on length, diameter, and
style. The company also sells stain-grade wood columns in stock
sizes; prices range from $200 to $5,400. Timeless
Architectural Reproductions, 800/665-4341,
www.timelessarchitectural.com
Flashing
Seal the Deal.
Quickflash, the maker of self-flashing plastic panels for
various exterior-wall penetrations, has a new product: the AC
Line Set Flashing Panel. Designed to seal the hole for
insulated refrigeration lines — without the use of caulk
or sealants — it comes in two sizes and sells for $5.25.
Quickflash, 702/614-6100,
www.quickflashproducts.comLeakproof Corners. No matter how carefully
it's constructed, a peel-and-stick-membrane flashing pan is
vulnerable to leaking at the corners. Grace's plastic Vycorners
are meant to address this problem; they make installing a
peel-and-stick pan fast and easy. I found a 50-count box on the
Web for $52. Grace, 866/333-3726,
www.graceconstruction.com
Missing-Pan Plan. Short of removing the entire
unit, what are your options when you come across a leaky window
with no pan installed? According to its maker, the DamSill
Window Pan can be installed under existing windows and doors.
The technique was perfected on leaky SIPs buildings as part of
a class-action lawsuit settlement. Videos on the manufacturer's
Web site demonstrate both new and retrofit installations. The
pans sell for $11 each with a 200-count order.
DamSill, 800/400-8679,
www.damsill.com