Mantel 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.com
Leakproof 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
