Sticks Tight. Shurtape’s new Frog Tape is treated with an absorbent polymer along its edges that gels on contact with the moisture in latex paint to seal tightly, says the maker. According to the company, the masking tape delivers straight masked lines with no bleed-through. It’s sold in 60-yard rolls in 24-, 36-, and 48-mm widths for $6 and up. Shurtape, 888/442- 8273, frogtape.com.
Tough Door. Hormann’s Sirius 6200 series garage doors have a tough exterior of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) that the maker says is impervious to dents; the slick plastic comes in white or brown and can’t be painted. The 1 3/4-inch-thick door panels contain foam insulation and are framed with aluminum so they can’t rust. Stabilizing struts and heavy-duty hardware come standard with the series, as does weatherstripping at the bottom and between door sections. The 16-foot-by-7-foot unit shown costs about $1,200. Hormann, 877/654-6762, hormann.us.
Beyond White. It used to be that asphalt shingles with heat-reflecting granules came only in white, but GAF-Elk has added three new colors to the palette with its Timberline Prestique Cool Series. The 40-year architectural shingles are Energy Star–rated and qualify for tax credits; two of the colors meet LEED requirements. The new colors (Weathered Wood is shown) are sold at a 25 percent to 35 percent premium over standard colors in the line. GAF, 973/628-3000, gaf.com.
Storm Windows. Pilkington’s Profilit Hurricane is a polycarbonate-lined glass-wall system that meets Miami-Dade and Florida hurricane codes. The interlocking glass channels are 10 5/16 inches wide and up to 10 feet tall, come in five finishes, and can be used to make curved walls. The material cost for the glass and the top and bottom mounting tracks runs $90 to $120 per square foot. Pilkington, 800/426-0279, pilkington.com.
Shingle Power. Dow’s Solar Solutions division has introduced a photovoltaic roofing shingle that can be installed alongside typical asphalt shingles. Powerhouse solar shingles are nailed directly to the roof deck and electrically connected to each other with wireless plugs that require no electrical expertise from the roofer. This means they can be installed in common roof systems and retrofitted to existing shingle roofs. The company declined to provide pricing. Dow, 800/258-2436, dowsolar.com.
Faster Taping. Huber has developed a tape dispenser as part of the company’s water-resistant sheathing and decking systems. Using the ZIP System Tape Gun to apply the manufacturer’s 3 3/4-inch-wide seaming tape is faster and easier than doing it by hand, Huber says. The gun peels and winds up the tape’s backing paper, properly tensions the tape, and leaves roller marks to confirm you’ve applied the tape with enough force. It should also work with other brands of seaming tape. The gun is sold in a kit bag with an inside-corner smoothing tool for $75. Huber Engineered Woods, 800/933-9220, zipsystem.com.
Clay Coating. American Clay says its Enjarre clay plaster can be sprayed on walls in a single coat that requires no skimming. Available in 43 standard and hundreds of custom colors, the coating can be applied over drywall, masonry, and previously painted wall surfaces. Extra coats can be hand-applied for troweled finishes. An 80-pound bag of powdered plaster costs $55, which comes to about 45 cents per square foot of wall per coat. American Clay, 866/404-1634, americanclay.com.
Room Outside. Base-model Shade Pergolas consist of fiberglass perimeter columns, flat or arched cellular vinyl roof members, and retractable awnings operated with a rope and pulley. They come in five sizes and five colors. Custom versions can be painted any Sherwin-Williams color and include an optional motorized awning; they are also available with wooden components, as shown. Prices start at $8,300 for a 10-foot-by-10-foot model. Walpole Woodworkers and ShadeFX, 800/343- 6948, shadepergolas.com.
Deck and Drain. Wahoo’s new DryJoistEZ system combines structural deck joists and an underdeck drainage plane with a finished ceiling surface below. The 6-inch-wide structural aluminum channels snap together to support deck boards on top and channel water out the bottom. They’re designed to span 6 feet between supporting beams and must be set at a slope of 1/8 inch per foot. The product is sold in lengths from 10 to 24 feet for about $8.50 per square foot. Wahoo Decks, 877/270-9387, wahoodecks.com.
Roof Wrap. Typar’s Surround SR synthetic underlayment is stronger, lighter, cheaper, and faster to install than traditional asphalt-based roofing felt, says the maker. And unlike felt, it’s waterproof. The company claims that a single 1,000-square-foot roll covers as much as five rolls of felt and weighs only 26 pounds. The product’s grey color is designed to keep things cooler for the roofers. Rolls are 45 inches wide and cost $80 apiece. Fiberweb, 800/284-2780, surroundtypar.com.
Copper Top. Parasoleil decorative copper panels can be used in pergolas, fences, and screens. The 3-foot-by-8-foot panels are sold in a variety of designs and are made from at least 90 percent recycled material, says the maker. The company can also craft designs in aluminum, plastics, stone, and steel up to 1/2 inch thick. Stock-pattern copper panels start at $385. Parasoleil, 303/589-4524, parasoleil.com.
Accent Walls. Interlocking Rock sculptural wallboard by ModularArts comes in 21 repeating designs that can be applied to an area of any size. The 32-inch-square panels lock together with steel-reinforced joints and can be dry-fitted or filled and finished with joint compound for a seamless look. They cost $119 each from the manufacturer. ModularArts, 206/788-4210, modulararts.com.
