Color-Coordinated. Having trouble finding a preformed gutter-and-downspout system in the color you need? With more than 700 standard hues to choose from and the ability to custom match nearly any sample, Alcoa's Envoy line may have what you're looking for. Envoy gutters are .032 inch thick and come with numerous options. Prices start at around $3.25 per linear foot for 5-inch K-style aluminum gutters. Alcoa Home Exteriors, 800/962-6973, www.alcoahomexteriors.com.
Copper Plus. Are your high-end clients looking for something a little fancier than run-of-the-mill copper gutters? Berger now offers decorative copper systems in three embossed patterns: Greek Key (top), Caesar Circles (bottom), and Patriot (not shown). They come in various sizes and are sold in 10- and 20-foot preformed lengths. Prices range from $13 to $17 per foot. Berger Building Products, 800/523-8852, www.bergerbuildingproducts.com.
Weather-Ready. In areas with lots of snow and ice, gutters need to be especially hardy. Rainhandler gutters — which have a capacity of 95 pounds per section — are designed to support the extra load imposed by winter weather. Rather than drains or downspouts, they use louvers to cascade water away from the house. Five-foot sections retail for around $24; contractors can expect a 20 percent discount, says the maker. Rainhandler/Savetime, 800/942-3004, www.rainhandler.com.
Hardwood Flooring
Quick Fix. Not that your installer would ever make a mistake, but if a hardwood floor turns out to have hollow spots, end-lifting, or loose areas, DriTac's Wood Floor Repair Kit can help. After drilling in the problem area, you fill the void with adhesive, then patch with a wood dowel and putty. The kit sells for around $140; refills cost $78. DriTac Adhesive Group, 800/394-9310, www.dritac.com.
Fast Work. In a hurry? Thanks to "lock-and-fold" technology, Turlington floors (sold under the Bruce brand) can be installed 30 percent to 50 percent faster than traditional hardwood flooring, says Armstrong. Sections angle and lock into place, and can be either floated or glued down. They come in oak, maple, hickory, cherry, and walnut, with prices starting at $4 a square foot. Armstrong, 800/233-3823, www.armstrong.com.
Antique-Like. Sure it looks great, but who can afford T&G milled from old Chinese railroad ties anyway? After a process of planing, distressing, and hand-glazing — plus an application of scratch-resistant coating — Mannington's new Inverness hardwood flooring looks just like the real old stuff, says the manufacturer. But at $7.50 a square foot, it's a lot cheaper. Mannington Mills, 800/482-0466, www.mannington.com.
