The Building Products Guide > Product Reviews

Siding - Never needs painting

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 9 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Keeping old clapboards covered in paint can be expensive and frustrating, which is why so many historic homes end up covered in vinyl siding. NuCedar offers despairing homeowners another option in its solid PVC clapboards. Milled in traditional four-, six- or eight-inch exposures, the pre-painted clapboards install like traditional wood. Vertical joints are locked together from the back, meaning no face nailing or caulking. The clapboards must be installed into specially designed trim and corner boards which come in a variety of profiles. Unlike vinyl siding, these clapboards are solid and installed piece by piece, giving them the look of wood siding. Available in 22 standard colors and five historic shades, the clapboards can also be custom colored at the factory or painted after installation. Choose a raised wood grain or smooth finish. NuCedar also makes a full line of solid PVC trim boards that can be cut on-site so that original mouldings and trim can be preserved. The company also offers vertical siding and shingles that mimic the look of wood. Plan on spending about $5 per square foot.

Learn More:

Supplier: NuCedar Mills, Inc.
See the full story.

Kitchen Sinks - Copper for the Kitchen

Deborah Holmes — Tue, 8 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Kitchen sinks are utilitarian, but that doesn't mean they can't be beautiful. This copper drop-in sink will stand up to heavy use and will only get better with age. The five-sided double bowls have a mirrored finish, contrasting with the hammered deck. Three faucet holes are cut into the triangular rear deck. The 16-gauge sink does require some babying to keep the matte finish free of fingerprints and calcium mineral buildup. The manufacturer suggests wiping it dry with a soft cloth after each use. An application of soft paste wax will help protect the sink. A rich patina will gradually develop but the sink can be restored to its original shine with metal polish.

Learn More:

Supplier: Handcrafted Metal, Inc.
See the full story.

Countertops - Spice It Up

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 2 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Corian's new Spice collection of solid surface countertops includes nine colors good enough to eat. Pictured here is Basil, a soft light brown with streaks of dark brown (nutmeg) and green (fennel) with a smattering of gold metallic sparkles. If the tiny square samples available at your local lumberyard don't help you decide which spice you'd like, order a 10'' x 10'' piece for $13.50. The non-porous surface resists stains, mold, mildew and bacteria and in the hands of a certified installer can be installed seamlessly.

Learn More:

Supplier: DuPont Surfaces
See the full story.

Mantels - Classic Craftsman

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 2 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Draw your hands over a century-old oak mantel and you might think, ''they don't make them like this anymore.'' But actually, Baird Brothers Sawmill does. The mantel pictured here, inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement, is one of several stock styles offered. Classic wood choices are quartersawn oak (shown here) or walnut. Other wood species available are poplar, maple, cherry or walnut. For an additional charge, the mantel can be made from hickory, ash, mahogany, brazilian cherry, lyptus, alder and other woods. The mantel comes unfinished, but for a little more Baird Brothers will finish the mantel or prime it for painting. Order online and you'll be able to follow your order from start to delivery. Detailed measuring and installation instruction are provided. Or call the company to discuss a custom mantel. They can reproduce old millwork or make mantels in custom sizes.

Learn More:

Supplier: Baird Brothers Sawmill, Inc.
See the full story.

Pendant Lighting - Rise and Fall

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

As a baby boomer, I can readily agree that the 1960s produced some questionable household products -- shag carpeting, metallic wallpaper and avocado appliances to name a few. But one item, the pull-down ceiling lamp that sat above nearly every simulated woodgrain formica kitchen table, always struck me as a sensible solution that got thrown out with the rest of boomer fashion. So I was excited to find that such an item still exists (although mercifully without the fake coppertone finish and scalloped edge) in Hudson Valley Lighting's Rise and Fall lighting collection. The pendant shown here in ''old bronze'' can be lowered and raised on a cloth covered cord (just like in the 60s) via a clever exposed pulley/counterweight system. Minimum height is 42'', maximum height is 67''. It's one of several pendant style pulley lights from this manufacturer and is also available as a wall sconce.

Learn More:

Supplier: Hudson Valley Lighting, Inc.
See the full story.

Kitchen Sinks - Crud-free Zone

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

If picking at the grime that forms around your kitchen sink rim is getting old, consider upgrading to one of the new style undermount sinks. Better yet, install a one-piece sink and countertop combo made of rock-hard quartz Silestone. The seamless, integrated unit debuted with a six-inch deep single bowl sink and is available 21 designer Silestone colors. The quartz composite material is naturally non-porous and never needs to be sealed. Easy to clean, it reisits scratches, stains, heat and burns. The one-piece sink and countertop eliminates seams, weak spots and any gaps where grime can gather.

Learn More:

Supplier: Cosentino
See the full story.

Refrigerators - Fill'er Up

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Full refrigerators run more efficiently than half-empty ones. But time spent with the door open as you search for that elusive bottle of ketchup among containers of mystery left-overs negates any energy savings. This 26-cubic foot French door model from Samsung allows you to cram your fridge full without resorting scavenger hunts to retrieve items. For starters, the external storage drawer is waist-high -- convenient for everyone from toddlers to elders. The efficiency starts with the handle, which only needs to be lifted slightly for the drawer to glide open -- a real help to the very young and those with impaired mobility. The 3.5 cubic foot drawer can be set to four different temperatures. During the week, the kids can help themselves to juice boxes and after-school snacks kept at a chilly 33 degrees. A movable divider keeps the kids' stuff separate from other food stored in the drawer. Weekend party? Use the drawer to keep wine chilled at 42 degrees, cheese and fruit platters at 37 degrees, or the steak for the grill at 29 degrees. A twin cooling system separates the fresh food section from the freezer. That increases humidity in the refrigerator, helping to preserve fresh food; it reduces humidity in the freezer, preventing freezer burn. LED lighting runs cooler than conventional appliance bulbs, helping with energy efficiency. As you'd expect in a high-end appliance, this refrigerator has the full assortment of fully adjustable glass shelves and humidity controlled storage bins, including a clear pull-out bin the the bottom freezer. Generously sized door bins provide storage for two full gallons of milk and much more. Perhaps the best thing about this refrigerator is that all this functionality fits into a standard 33'' wide space.

Learn More:

Supplier: Samsung
See the full story.

Light bulbs - Naked Truth

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Folks have been trying to disguise the distinctive spirals of the energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulb since its introduction more than a decade ago. Plastic covers make them look like traditional incandescent bulbs and shades hide slim versions of the lights. But British company Plumen (a combination of plumage and lumen) decided the solution to the design dilemma lay in more, not fewer spirals. Calling it the world's first designer CFL, the company offers the Plumen 001, an energy saving bulb meant to be displayed in all its naked, curvaceous glory. The screw type bulb works like any other CFL, lasting 8 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb and saving up to 80 percent on energy bills. At $30 a piece, the bulbs are not an inexpensive source of light, despite the energy savings. But they've found an market in commercial establishments with exposed ceilings and residential loft style dwellings. Of course, you'll want something other than plastic coated wire to suspend the bulbs from the ceiling. The company sells a variety of brightly colored cloth-covered wire as well as two styles of pendant hanging kits. The Plumen 001 is available in 120 AC and 220 AC for European countries.

Learn More:

Supplier: Plumen
See the full story.

Showerheads - Rainbow Colors

Deborah Holmes — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Wake up your morning routine with the brightly colored handheld Icon Rainshower from Grohe. Choose from six colors embedded in a white or chrome handle. The broad head sprays in a variety of patterns and the silicone nozzles are easy to clean. Feel free to turn the water to hot: An inner channel keeps the handle cool to the touch. Handheld wands can be water guzzlers, but the Icon features an easy sliding ''dimmer button'' that saves water by reducing pressure without turning your shower into a drizzle.

Learn More:

Supplier: Grohe
See the full story.

Insulation - User Friendly

Deborah Holmes — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Wrestling fiberglass insulation batts into wall cavities can be hot, dusty, itchy work even with protective clothin. EnGuard, a glass-free hypoallergenic insulation, eases the discomfort of task. Made of recycled plastic bottles and virgin polyester, the insulation contains no volatile organic compounds, carcinogens or other nasties. It won't take on water, compact or sag. And because it's dust free, you don't need to wear a respirator or other protective clothing while installing it. Friction holds it in place, meaning no stapling and taping, a real time saver. It's easy to cut and tear, another timesavers when working around electrical boxes and pipes. While not the first polyester insulation on the market (Dow Chemical had a similar product distributed through Lowes, which it pulled due to poor sales), it is the first made with 50 percent recycled materials. According to the manufacturer, the insulation itself can also be easily recycled. The insulation is available in R-13, R-19 and R-21 batts. Cost ranges from about 72 cents a square foot for the R-13 to $1.20 per square foot for the R-21. It is eligible for green building credits.

Learn More:

Supplier: Vita Nonwovens
See the full story.