Innovative Products for Builders & Remodelers, continued
Ultimate Replacement Window
Replacement windows usually involve a compromise in aesthetics, but if you’re looking for a wood replacement window that can match just about any architectural style, you might consider Marvin’s Ultimate Insert Double Hung. Based on the company’s popular Ultimate Double Hung for new construction, the replacement version uses the same hardware and comes in an equal number of authentic and simulated light patterns. Unlike many other wood replacement windows that include only the sash and balances, the Ultimate Insert comes assembled in a frame for easier installation. Marvin, 888/537-8266, www.marvin.com.
Get the Blues
Doorknobs are among the last things to go into a new or newly remodeled home, but sometimes it’s important to keep doors closed for painting, to reduce dust, or to signal that a room is complete and there’s no reason to go in. You could install a salvaged knob and swap it out later, but it’s a lot easier to use a Blue Thing. This temporary knob is adjustable for both 1 3/8-inch and 1 3/4-inch backsets, and it installs without tools. You can find it on the company website for $2 each. Perfect Products, 877/366-7728, www.doorsaver.com.
Better Bolt
A deadbolt is a tenet of home security, but how much does it really help when faced with a flat bar? If your customer is looking for something better, you could suggest the MacLock Blade Locking System. The 28-inch sliding lock replaces the bolt, and it works with products from most manufacturers, including Baldwin, Schlage, Weiser, Yale and Kwikset. To make cutting the large slot in the door edge easier, the manufacturer offers a router template, bushings, and a 5/16×4-inch router bit. The maker claims that MacLock is six times stronger than a standard deadbolt and that the steel housing reinforces the upper part of the door. Buying three at $117 each gets you the template and router bit for free. MacLock, 866/297-7233, www.maclock.com.
Bookcase Bifold
You wouldn’t think that a bookcase and an interior door have much in common until you see the SpaceXDoor. This innovative product combines the two in a cool-looking, space-saving bifold, making what seems like the perfect closet door for home offices and bedrooms. The 8-inch-deep bookcase is available in several hardwood veneers and in MDF. According to the maker, the smooth-acting hardware prevents books and knickknacks from taking a tumble. Prices start at $1,300. SpaceXDoors, 800/262-9464, www.spacexdoors.com.
High-Style Drop Ceiling
Drop ceilings are a great option for basement or commercial spaces because the panels allow access to mechanical systems and easy upgrades of communication and data cabling. The only problem is a look that’s strikingly reminiscent of your grade school classroom ceiling. If you’re afraid your customers will send you to the dunce corner for even suggesting one, you might show them the Techstyle ceiling from Hunter Douglas. It has a clean monolithic appearance and installs from the bottom instead of the top, providing more ceiling height and even easier access to mechanicals. Prices start at about $4 per square foot. Hunter Douglas, 866/556-1235, www.hunterdouglasceilings.com.
Rustic Rail
Lodge-style homes have a character that make spindle balustrades look a little out of place. If building a more appropriately styled railing with twigs and a drawknife isn’t your idea of fine carpentry, you could suggest Balcony and Stair Panels from J. Dubs. The heavy-gauge plasma-cut steel plates can be powder coated in four colors in standard or custom designs. You could also use them in more-modern spaces, opting for geometric patterns instead of wildlife. They’re available in heights from 2 feet to 4 feet, and, according to the manufacturer, most designs pass the 4-inch spacing rule. Prices start at $40 per foot. J. Dubs, 800/622-9015, www.jdubs.com.
Leak-Detector Connector
A broken appliance or supply line can fill a home with gas in a hurry, and the effects can be devastating. The Safety+Plus gas connector includes a magnetic valve that shuts off the flow of gas to an offending appliance during a major leak. Other gas appliances are unaffected, and once the leak is repaired, the valve automatically resets without intervention. The flexible connectors also have a powder-coated finish and can be installed in both horizontal and vertical applications. Retail prices start at $32. Brass Craft, 248/305-6000, www.brasscraft.com.
Space-Saving Hi-Flow Flue
Masonry and B-vent chimneys are expensive to install, take up a lot of space, and require the efforts of three or four different trades. Power-venting systems replace the chimney with a fan-driven assembly that sends exhaust gasses through an exterior wall. The SideShot 2 from Tjernlund Products is the first zero-clearance power venter — you can put it tight to framing members without risking a fire. It also has a self-cleaning impeller that resists soot buildup, an indoor draft adjustment, and a high-velocity design that prevents discolored siding. The SideShot 2 is compatible with oil-fired boilers and furnaces from 70,000 to 168,000 Btus, atmospherically vented gas boilers and furnaces from 40,000 to 125,000 Btus, and power-assisted gas boilers and furnaces from 40,000 to 150,000 Btus. It sells for about $500. Tjernlund Products, 800/255-4208, www.tjernlund.com.
Captivating Stapler
It’s no surprise that cap nails hold building paper and housewrap better than staples, but driving them by hand is slow and the big head means they almost always hit the ground with the foot-poking, tire-popping side facing up. A new cap stapler from Bostitch might be an improvement. Unlike cap nailers that use coils of caps, the SB150SLBC-1 uses strips, which take up less room in your toolbelt and hold together better. The staples also have a wider crown to better resist puncturing the cap. The nailer sells for $249. Stanley Bostitch, 800/556-6696, www.bostitch.com.
Rock On!
If you’re hoping to rally the troops for a full day of hard work, you could show up with a Bosch PowerBox Jobsite Radio. It provides four GFCI-protected outlets instead of just occupying one in the wall. It includes a digital tuner with 10 AM and 20 FM presets, an MP3 jack, a 12-volt DC outlet, and a charger for Bosch cordless tools. An aluminum roll cage provides protection, and when you can’t plug in, it runs on any Bosch battery pack from 12 to 24 volts. With a CD player, it sells for $179; the radio-only version is $149. Bosch, 877/267-2499, www.boschtools.com.
Wrench-Free Sidewinder
It’s hard enough keeping track of your circular saw, but holding on to those skinny blade wrenches is even tougher. The new Mag Series Circular Saws from Porter-Cable have a tool-less blade-changing system that eliminates the quest for the elusive blade wrench. The maker claims the system is faster and holds as well or better than wrench-tightened bolts. The new saws also have a cool directional dust port and a lightweight housing, which the manufacturer claims is lighter and more durable than its predecessors. It’s available in both left- and right-handed versions with prices starting at $130. Porter-Cable, 800/487-8665, www.porter-cable.com