Finds 2007
Appealing home storage solutions
ORG Home Solutions offers customized storage solutions ranging from drawers and baskets for personalized closets, to work benches and shelves for the garage. Builders work directly with ORG professionals to design and install custom solutions, which can then be shown to buyers using specialized software. Master and guest bedroom closets, kids’ closets, kitchen pantries, laundry and utility rooms, home offices, and central living areas with home entertainment centers can all benefit from custom solutions which not only add appeal, but can
add value to the home, the company says. For more information, visit www.orghomesolutions.com.
Smarter than your average bead
USG’s Beadex Paper-Faced Metal Bead can reduce unsightly corner cracks by using a joint compound to attach directly to the drywall, rather than using nails or screws, the company says. According to the manufacturer, the special paper face adheres superbly to joint compounds, and since fasteners are not needed, installation and corner alignment is easier. As a result, minor shifts in the frame do not affect the bead and there are no nail pops, the company says. For more information, visit www.usg.com/pfbead.
Hit the deck
Builders can create unique, low-maintenance outdoor havens with Royal Outdoor Products’ vinyl columns, decking, railing, and fencing, which never need painting or sealing, the company says. Interlocking vinyl plank systems ensure fast, easy, and error-free deck and porch installation while vinyl railing, posts, and trim add finishing touches. Different styles of fencing made from vinyl or composite can be used to create an enclosed space in the front or back yard or can be configured to enclose a garden, patio, or pool. For more information, visit www.royalcrownltd.com.
Bringing the day spa home
Americh offers the new Contura freestanding bathtub for builders who want to bring the pampering pleasure of a day spa into a home’s bathroom, the company says. Measuring 72 inches long by 32 inches wide by 28 inches deep, Contura is available as a still soaking bathtub or with an Airbath system equipped with a blower that levitates and surrounds the body with warm air bubbles. The Airbath system offers a variety of settings with single touch control, from delicate to spirited, to complement the user’s mood. For more information, visit www.americh.com.
Navigating a new surface
Eos Solid Surface has developed a new countertop surfacing option which incorporates translucent particles into a new material that rivals the look of quartz, the company says. Available in nine new colors, the 3cm thick slabs feature a full 1¼ -inch of hard working solid surface, adding strength and durability. According to the manufacturer, there’s no need to build up underlayment or edging as with standard solid surface, thus requiring up to 70 percent less labor for increased turnaround and construction times. Eos also offers the surface in 2cm thickness. For more information, visit www.eos-surfaces.com.
Design from the ground up
LP Building Products recently introduced LP SolidStart Solutions, a whole-house building design program offered exclusively to LP customers. The software combines both structural and non-structural framing and analysis to facilitate a streamlined, efficient production and design process in one integrated software application, the company says. Using the software, users can apply details and specifications to individual walls, panels, corners, and openings, design complex roof systems using the roof generator feature, and generate floor systems with the software’s framing program that automatically adds necessary components like rim, blocking, and hangers. For more information, visit www.lpcorp.com/solidstart.
Lightweight Joists
Roseburg’s RFP I-Joists can be cut and fastened with traditional framing tools and fasteners while typically weighing less than half of comparable conventional framing lumber, the manufacturer states. They can be used at greater joist spacings compared to lumber, requiring fewer pieces be cut and handled on the job site. Long lengths and relatively deep joists allow multiple span installations, speeding construction by eliminating the need to lap joists over bearing walls or support beams. They also give designers the freedom to create more open spaces while reducing the need for supporting walls, columns, or beams. For details, visit www.teamrfp.com.
Long-Lasting Trim
MiraTEC Treated Exterior Composite Trim combines the beauty of cedar with the long-lasting performance of an engineered product, the company claims. Treated with zinc borate, MiraTEC will not delaminate, resists moisture, rot, and termites, and is backed by a 30-year limited warranty. Using the patented TEC manufacturing process, MiraTEC is uniformly thick and dense, with no voids or knots. Available in smooth or textured sides, it provides an accent to any exterior cladding — cement fiber, vinyl, brick, OSB, hardboard, wood, or stucco. Common uses include dentil trim, gables, corner posts, porch trim, fascias, windows, doors, column wraps, decorative trim, and other non-structural architectural elements. For more information, visit www.cmicompany.com.
Smarter, Greener Hardboard
Signature S2S hardboard from DPI is the smarter, greener replacement for medium-density fiberboard, according to the manufacturer. The product uses lining — the natural polymer from inside the wood cell — as a binding agent instead of formaldehyde. Eliminating grain makes hardwood stronger than regular wood, even though nothing artificial is added, DPI states. S2S panels have a scratch- and moisture-resistant surface, plus an ultra-smooth surface on both sides. The panels are available in sizes up to 4-by-16 feet. For more information, visit www.decpanels.com.
Spanning Windows, Doors
Oriented Strand Lumber, a new Durastrand Rimboard product from Ainsworth, is an alternative for short-span beams and headers in engineered floor systems. The rim board can be installed continuously around the entire floor system, eliminating the need for a separate structural component, according to the manufacturer. With an 0.8E rating adequate for most short-span applications of up to 9 feet, it will save on labor, the company says. It also offers dimensional stability and consistency. The material is 11/4 inches thick and comes in depths of up to 24 inches and lengths of up to 24 feet. For details, visit www.ainsworth.ca.
Waveless Walls
TimberStrand LSL Wall Framing from Trus Joist takes the waves out of long walls, making them ideal for long walls where a straight appearance is crucial. Wall frames made from TimberStrand LSL are straight, free of knots, and resist twisting, shrinking, and bowing after installation, according to the manufacturer. The framing material helps cut down on callbacks from sheetrock cracks. It also helps cabinets and countertops install flush without shimming, reducing tile and grout cracking. The 2-by-4 and 2-by-6 inch studs come in lengths of up to 1165/8 inches, while sill plates come in lengths up to 35 feet. For details on the FrameWorks Tall Wall System, visit www.ilevel.com
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