Heated socks

Heated wool offers cozy feet:
A "smart wool" that can be heated has been developed by New Zealand-based company, Canesis Network, in conjunction with Australian Wool Innovation. The socks work by using a conductive fibre which is blended with ordinary wool. When the "smart" woollen yarn is knitted together, it creates a bed of interconnected fibres with enough resistance to be heated. The first product, socks that can be heated, should be on the UK market early 2005. The socks will be warmed by a small battery, similar to a mobile phone battery and would be heated for about 3-4 hours. (Canesis is a research group derived from the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand with an international reputation as a world-class provider of textile technology, research & development services.)

Woodworking basics

An up-close look at a tree:
Some of the 865 or so tree species native to North America north of Mexico may appear to be shrubs, which aren't trees. And some shrubs can be treelike. Really, then, what is a tree? Let us explain.

Kitchen composter

Sharp Corporation has developed a new system that dramatically reduces the volume of kitchen waste (more than 92% in 24 hours) by efficiently breaking down and digesting organic food waste by means of a proprietary Composting Bio Mix containing a blend of highly effective food digesting microbes and yeast cells which also act to suppress odors while they work.

Two new Household Kitchen Waste Composter models, the NP-40CX and NP-20CX, will be introduced into the Japanese market in September of this year.The NP-40/20CX series of composters can break down almost all organic kitchen waste in a single day, dramatically reducing the disposal volume and, at the same time, practically eliminating odors generated during processing. This energy-efficient system employs a blend of microbes that work at ordinary room temperatures and do not require a heater to raise the temperature of the waste.

The Composting Bio Mix carrier has a long service life, and need only be replaced about every six months.The amount of kitchen waste that householders dispose of daily is increasing year by year. In response to this trend, the number of local governments introducing programs to subsidize the purchase of kitchen waste composters is also increasing. Plus, consumers are becoming more environmentally aware, and in the future, it is anticipated that the trend “to process in the home, kitchen waste produced in the home” will grow stronger.

Leverage for construction

theforgottentechnology.com
via bookofjoe

Wallace Wallington is a 58 year old retired carpenter who lives near Flint, Michigan. In 1987, while on a job, he encountered a 1,200 lb. concrete block that had to be moved. The block was in an area inaccessible to machines. He improvised with a few rocks and leverage, and moved the block. After he retired, he decided to study the history of leverage in construction. He's created a website incorporating everything he's learned. He has a large following in Europe, where art students study his photos and diagrams. Says Wallington, "You do not need to lift weight to move it from place to place." Or, as Archimedes put it in 230 B.C., "Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the world."

Power usage meter

This is the gift that you really really don't want to give to your gadget loving geek friend. Trust me. The Kill a Watt appliance monitor. 'Connect your appliances into the Kill A Watt™, and assess how efficient they are. A large LCD display counts consumption by the Kilowatt-hour just like utility companies. You can figure out your electrical expenses by the hour, day, week, month, even an entire year. Monitor the quality of your power by displaying Voltage, Line Frequency, and Power Factor. Under $30. [via redferret]

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PC Magazine has an article titled The Electron Leak showing that many of your home electronic components (from computer printers to stereos) are not off when they're "off." There is a report that up to 10% of the power generated in the world will be required for Always-On and stand-by power requiring more than 400 500MW powerplants.

Spray-on Vinyl

[via ebuild] The president of Am-Vi-Co, a Las Vegas-based supplier, suggests that as environmental regulations force paint manufacturers to water down their products, homeowners must paint their houses every few years. That, says Houar, makes the economics of permanent coating more palatable. Tex-Cote low-maintenance spray-on coatings are thicker than paint, so they help fill surface imperfections, according to the maker. Liquid Vinyl is a high-viscosity resin spray-on coating from Canada that the firm says provides long-term protection for all types of stucco, masonry, metal, and wood surfaces. “Permanent coatings,” which have been around since the 1960s, are used primarily in commercial applications. But that's changing as suppliers expand their residential contractor networks. Charlotte, N.C.-based Alvis is the largest of these organizations, with 78 dealers and 90 branches nationwide.

Procraft claimed Multi-Guard R-20 was essentially the same substance used to cover NASA's space shuttle. The Federal Trade Commission found Kryton's marketing deceptive, and in 2002, ordered the company to submit all marketing materials, test results, and surveys to the commission for five years. During the next two decades, Kryton also must send a copy of the order to any resellers it used since Jan. 1, 1999. To separate themselves from Procraft, other suppliers assert superiority by emphasizing differences in their chemical compositions and drying thicknesses (which range from 10 to 16 mm). Some sellers believe there's room for several spray-on sidings in a market that's just taking off. But he thinks some dealers and suppliers are squandering the opportunity to inform the public.

Toto keeps it hot

Bathtubs might not at first be parts of your home that you care that much about, but in Japan they are almost at the center of every household, as taking or soaking in a bath is much more frequent than taking a shower. The new Furopia bathtub from Toto, part of the Mahoubin-Yokusou series, is quite a big deal then. It's main feature is that it purports to keep water at the same temperature, for up to 6 hours. With families sharing the same bath water, this means that the last one in will no longer need to suffer cold water. Furopia Bathtub at http://mocoloco.com/archives/000643.php

Prefab uptick

Prefab Houses Are Catching On
Pre-fabricated, or pre-fab, homes have been popular in Canada and Europe for years but in the United States the term still brings up visions of low-quality materials and shoddy construction -- a stigma that designers and contractors are trying to erase. Complete story.

A German firm has many models.

Low speed windmill

Wind power for the ordinary householder.

'Windsave has developed a unique slow turn generator which provides supplementary electricity from wind power at very low wind speeds starting at 5mph.

It can be fitted to most buildings either as a single unit (e.g. houses) or as a multiple framework of units (e.g. for commercial premises)...

by providing supplementary electricity into your mains the Plug 'n' Save system reduces the amount of electricity that you need to buy from your utility.'

Sold from Glasgow, UK

[via redferret]

Cooling hat

Keep a cool head. Oh it may look like an ordinary cap, but in reality it is a top secret, nuclear fusion warp transmogrifier with...(enough..Ed) OK, so it's a patented evaporative cooling hat that uses a Hydroweave system to suck the heat away from your brain, doctor. All you need to remember as you plunk down yer $24.95 is that it's a cool product. Literally. 'You charge the hat by running it under cool water; after its excess water is wrung out, the hat keeps your head up to 30º cooler than the outside air temperature while keeping you dry and comfortable...The end result is a hat that actually cools you more effectively the hotter the air temperature.'

NEC Update

Vegetation cannot be used for support of overhead spans of temporary wiring for branch circuits or feeders.

Mike Holt seeks in his newsletter system to keep us up to date on the National Electircal Code, fire and safety issues, as well as the occasional practical technique or gizmo.


[via Mike Holt's newsletter]

Automate this.

CalEarth:

"Superadobe (mile-long sandbags and barbed wire construction) and Ceramic Houses (fired in-place adobe structures) are seen as solutions to global deforestation by organizations such as the Turner Foundation and Rex Foundation (Grateful Dead) who have lent their sponsorship along with other organizations to work at Cal-Earth. The United Nations with whom Khalili has built housing prototypes usimg these technologies see these as the answer to affordable housing worldwide and emergency relief housing because of their efficient simplicity. Up to one mile long Tubular Bags. Cal-Earth label. Shipped in compact rolls."

Refrigerator update

• The average size of refrigerators in U.S. households increased by 10 percent between 1972 and 2001, and the number per home rose as well.
  
• More than 65 percent of Chinese city-dwellers now own a refrigerator, and more than 90 percent own a clothes washer—both up from less than 5 percent only two decades ago.
  
• In India, sales of frost-free refrigerators are projected to grow nearly 14 percent annually.
  
• In 1978, 56 percent of American homes had cooling systems, most of which were small window units; 20 years later, three quarters of U.S. homes had air conditioners, and nearly half were large central systems.
  
• Standby power—the electricity consumed when appliances are turned “off” but not unplugged—could account for as much as 10 percent of total electricity use in industrial countries by 2020.
  
• This will require almost 400 additional 500-megawatt power plants that will emit more than 600 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.

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Roland Piquepaille writes "Magnetic refrigerators offer significant advantages when compared with current vapor-compression ones, such as gains in energy efficiency, lower cost of operation or elimination of environmentally damaging coolants. Unfortunately, all the materials which have been tested in the last fifty years suffer from hysteresis losses, lowering the energy available for cooling. But now, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers have found a solution, reported in Nanomaterial Yields Cool Results. By adding a small amount of iron to a gadolinium-germanium-silicon alloy, they enhanced the cooling capacity by 30 percent. This very significant step may help move the promising technology of magnetically generated refrigeration closer to market. This overview contains more details and references." [via NanoDot]

Grass pavement

The Grasspave system is comprised of a sandy gravel base course, Hydrogrow polymer-fertilizer mixture, the Grasspave2 ring and grid structure, sharp concrete sand, and grass seed or sod.

Grasspave2 is a structure which provides incredible load bearing strength while protecting vegetation root systems from deadly compaction. High void spaces within the entire cross-section enable excellent root development, and storage capacity for rainfall from storm events. Stormwater is slowed in movement through and across Grasspave2 surfaces, which deposits suspended sediment and increases time to discharge. Suspended pollutants and moderate amounts of engine oils are consumed by active soil bacteria, which are aided by the system’s excellent oxygen exchange capacity. Benefits:

• Pervious Load Bearing Surface
• Stormwater Pollution Filtration and Treatment
• Airborne Dust Capture and Retention
• Heat Energy Reflection Reduction, “Cool” Surface
• Tree Growth within Parking Areas

Slide-On Pop-Top

** Unique Fibreglass Slide-On Pop-Top Camper…
2 externally accessed side storage compartments, which roll out from the body of the slide-on.
** Quick External Access … no need to set up camp to use kitchen facilities or access items in storage like fishing rods or snorkeling gear.
** External Cooking Facilities … enjoy your natural surroundings and avoid build up of heat, odour and moisture within the ROLLAVAN.
** Superior Storage Space … with 2m3/2060 litres of storage space, nothing needs to be left at home.
** Up to 3 Times More Bench Space … food preparation is never cramped with 2.4m2 of bench space.
Spacious Living Area … roll out side storage compartments means that your utility floor is living space not storage space.
** Quick Camp Set Up Time … simply pop open the roof and roll out the side compartments.

Slide out kitchen shelves

http://www.kitchenshelves.com/
http://rollingshelves.com/
http://www.slidingsusan.com/
http://www.slidingshelf.com/

Drywall shelf standards

E-STANDARD
Rakks

An extruded aluminum wall standard designed to be recess mounted between 5/8" drywall panels.

The front flanges cover the rough-cut edge of the drywall.

Executive computer desk

Here is a fully detailed larger-than-average computer cabinet called "The Executive".

There is an electric push-up device for the monitor.

Roll-out shelves for files and printers.

And it's all wrapped up in a variety of classical furniture detailing.

For commercial applications, the unit has a clever undermount system to enable rolling the unit and using a fork lift ot move it from office to office.

But it ain't cheap.

Mini appliances

When I rent studio and one bedroom units to tenants there is often an open moan about lack of an inside laundry. I have looked at the smaller washing units and haven't found any that truly can squeeze into a small space, work under a safe amperage demand and give the longevity and repair features a landlord requires. After all these years, why not?

An outfit called laundry-alternative displays a number of devices that are reduced-scale washers and dryers.

Mini Clothes Dryer
**Drying times are approximately the same as with a conventional clothes dryer.
**Also works as a wrinkle remover and comes with a convenient garment sponge.
**Fits most hand-held or wall-mounted hair dryers (up to 3 1/2" in diameter).
**Includes a special hook (patent pending) for hanging over a door or rod.
**Opens to a 57" garment bag for dresses and slacks.
**Folds to a 6" x 6" pouch for easy storage and packing.
**Laboratory safety tested.
**About $20.00
More Information

Ceiling fan

Concept II Ceiling Fan

Simple and practical ceiling hugger, the Concept II fan is easy to assemble and install.

IMPORTANT: When making your selection please note that this fan is available with 44 and 52 inch blades

About $200 from G Squared at g2art.com

Battery nailers

DeWalt battery operated nailers
dewalt.com) is entering the cordless nailer category with a number of 16-gauge finish nailers in 12-, 14.4- and 18-volts.

These are sure to be all over job sites very soon!

Projection screen paint

Goo. Screen Goo. Super funky gloop.'Screen Goo is a specially formatted, highly reflective acrylic paint, designed specifically for the video projection industry. Screen Goo acrylic paint allows one to transform any smooth paintable surface into a high performance projection screen...Any rigid transparent surface can now be cost effectively transformed into a high quality dual-sided projection screen.'

Straw bale housing

Sustainable Building Sourcebook: Straw Bale
http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/strawbale.html
The Sustainable Building Sourcebook is an online publication in partnership with the City of Austin, Texas, Green Building Program. This section of the Sourcebook provides information and resources on straw bale construction. The article begins with a definition of straw bale construction as a construction that uses "baled straw from wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice and others in walls covered by stucco...." and proceeds to address building considerations, commercial status, and implementation issues. The authors discuss some of the benefits of this "low cost alternative for building highly insulating walls" and consider some of the common concerns such as financing and public acceptance. A variety of resources for anyone interested in building with straw bales are provided and anyone who already has built one is invited to join the international Straw Bale Registry. This site is also reviewed in the September 24, 2004 NSDL MET Report.

Housing ideas

Ponte Vecchio
“Old Bridge”

The oldest bridge in Florence
built in 1345.

Only bridge to escape
being blown-up
during World War II.

http://www.pamelaj.com/florence.htm

The vendors on the bridge
specialize in new & antique jewelry.

Talk about providing a living
and and a livelihood
in a small space.

Rotary air engine

Air power.
100% more efficiency is a very serious claim!

The Di Pietro Rotary Air Engine. Zero pollution, very low friction, 100% more efficient than competitors. Very nice, very nice indeed! 'It has low number of moving parts. It is compact and light. It has virtually no friction. It has virtually no vibration. It uses its own momentum to its advantage. It cushions its own parts on a film of air. Only 1 PSI of pressure is needed to overcome the friction. [via redferret]

Email receipts

Recorded delivery email. Backtrack Recorded Delivery. Free email security blanket. 'Lets you record emails you send to friends, colleagues, customers. Whatever. When they READ the mail, we deliver YOU a receipt. They don't see the mail until the receipt is on its way to you.'

Super pickup truck

Possibly too much truck?
Your eyes don’t deceive you. It’s a pickup truck. From International. Which makes it much more than a pickup truck. It's $100,000 too.

Here's their early promo blurb:
It’s an International CXT – born out of the proven International 7300 severe service truck used by professionals for the most rugged applications. So you get all the attributes of a commercial truck – but you don’t need a commercial driver’s license to drive it.

Virtual window

These Virtual Windows consist of eight 15" LCD panels connected via custom-built cables to two nVidia Quadro PCI video cards, each with four DVI outputs.

The LCD backlight inverters are driven by their own power supply (sitting on top of the PC) and the panels get their 3.3v power from the PC's ATX power supply. The total desktop resolution is 3072x2048. A small Visual Basic app cycles pre-cut images every 15 minutes and Windows manages the arrangement.

The only reason the cables are visible is becase the fireplace is in the way and that wall isn't due to be remodeled for quite a while.

Carbon bathroom

Grand Prix Winner:
Designtope
Restroom of the 21st Century
via bookofjoe

Kohei Odaka created it: it's called "Black Cube." The restroom is a narrow space made of charcoal. The only source of light is a luminescent toilet seat. Kohei explained why he used charcoal for the walls: "The special qualities of the charcoal, which dehumidifies, deodorizes, and emits negative ions, soothe the body, and the reduction of visual information to a bare minimum sharpens the senses and creates a pleasurable sense of tension." Over a thousand entries were received for the competition sponsored by Toto Ltd., the stylish Japanese bathroom fixture company.

National Electrical Code questions

I subscribe to the newsletter of Mike Holt which keeps me more or less up to date on changes and improvements and advice from the National Electrical Code.

Q. What is the maximum number of circuit breakers permitted to be installed in a panel?
A. The maximum number of circuit breakers permitted in a panelboard is limited by the instructions posted inside the panelboard [110.3(B)]. However, the NEC specifies that not more than 42 overcurrent devices can be installed in any one cabinet [408.15].

Q. Is there a code limitation as to the total ampere rating of all circuit breakers in a panel? Example: Could the total ampere rating of all circuit breakers in a 100A panel exceed 100A?
A. This is not a Code issue. The sum of the ampere rating of the circuit breakers in a panelboard is irrelevant. As a matter of fact, it is very common for the total ampere rating of the branch breakers in a panelboard to far exceed the rating of the panelboard.

Q. Does the NEC state the number of NM cables permitted under a single staple?
A. No. NM cable must be secured and supported in accordance with 334.30 which states that nonmetallic-sheathed cable must be secured by staples, cable ties, straps, hangers, or similar fittings designed and installed so as not to damage the cable. However, this section does not specify the maximum number of cables permitted under a single staple. As always, the installation must be approved by the authority having jurisdiction [90.4], so basically it's up to the inspector.

Managing sound

Managing sound is sound management. This sounds like a sound thing to do. This site has an extensive line of sound control products. [via Natural Handyman Newsletter]

• ABSORPTION PRODUCTS
  Alleviate ringing and echoes in your studio with acoustic foam.
• BASS TRAPS
  Control low-end frequencies within and beyond your room.
• COMPLETE ROOM KITS
  Treat your space right with these all-in-one designer kits.
• MAX-WALL KITS
  Keep it portable with stand-mounted acoustic foam kits.
• SOUND DIFFUSORS
  Kill standing waves and extend your studio's "sweet spot."
• ISOLATION
  Isolate speakers, amps and drums from your walls & floor.
• SOUNDPROOFING
  Keep interior sound in, keep unwanted noise out.
• ADHESIVES & FASTENERS
  Mount your materials correctly.

Heat load

www.heatload.com has some interesting words to help understand our climate range. Basisc calculations for DIY furnace and air conditioning installations as well as small diameter ducting for older homes can be located here.

Cold is another word for empty. It isn't really anything. It is, as a vacuum is, the lack of something. Cold is the lack of heat. The earth we live on is almost empty. We live on the edge of a delicate temperature balance only some 500° F above empty. The coldest it can ever get is about -460° F, but "hot-wise" temperatures can reach into the billions. We live at the bottom of a thermometer that stretches to the moon. Our planet is a cool puddle in a desert of heat, but water works only at these narrow temperature ranges, and life depends on this water.

Our planet must remain empty in order to support life. Refrigerants that leak into the atmosphere cause damage which allows extra heat to alter and fill our emptiness. Federal and international regulations have been devised and enacted to curb the release of certain refrigerants into the atmosphere to prevent our emptiness from being disrupted. A federal licence is required for handling these refrigerants. If your going to use refrigerants, use them conscientiously. Much depends on it.

Zero sum building

Environmental costs of home construction
can be lower

Most of the energy that goes into building U.S. homes is consumed -- not by the power tools, welding and trucking during construction -- but during the manufacture of the building materials, according to a comprehensive life-cycle assessment comparing typical wood-, steel- and concrete-frame homes. ...

History of Plaster

The earliest plasters known to us were lime-based. Around 7500 BC, the people of 'Ain Ghazal in Jordan used lime mixed with unheated crushed limestone to make plaster which was used on a large scale for covering walls, floors, and hearths in their houses. Often, walls and floors were decorated with red, finger-painted patterns and designs. In ancient India and China, renders in clay and gypsum plasters were used to produce a smooth surface over rough stone or mud brick walls, while in early Egyptian tombs, walls were coated with lime and gypsum plaster and the finished surface was often painted or decorated. Modelled stucco was employed throughout the Roman Empire. The Romans used mixtures of lime and sand to build up preparatory layers over which finer applications of gypsum, lime, sand and marble dust were made; pozzolanic materials were sometimes added to produce a more rapid set. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the addition of marble dust to plaster to allow the production of fine detail and a hard, smooth finish in hand-modelled and moulded decoration was not used until the Renaissance. Around the 4th century BC, the Romans discovered the principles of the hydraulic set of lime, which by the addition of highly reactive forms of silica and alumina, such as volcanic earths, could solidify rapidly even under water. There was little use of hydraulic mortar after the Roman period until the 18th century.
Plaster decoration was widely used in Europe in the Middle Ages where, from the mid-13th century, gypsum was used for internal and external plaster. Hair was employed as reinforcement, with additives to assist set or plasticity including malt, urine, beer, milk and eggs. In the 14th century, decorative trowelled plaster, called pargeting was being used in South-East England to decorate the exterior of timber-framed buildings. This is a form of incised, moulded or modelled ornament, executed in lime putty or mixtures of lime and gypsum plaster. During this same period, terracotta was reintroduced into Europe and was widely used for the production of ornament. In the mid-15th century, Venetian skilled workers developed a new type of external facing, called marmorino made by applying lime directly onto masonry. In the 16th century... [ MORE ]

Router bit extension

At Eagle. Insert all of your bits to a safe depth in the collet and still take advantage of the cutters’ full profile. The Xtreme Xtension also solves the problem of not being able to raise your table mounted router collet high enough to easily change bits by extending the collet an additional 1-1/4", allowing quick and easy above the table bit changes with any 1/2" collet router. Requires a minimum 1-3/4" hole in your table or table insert. The Xtreme Xtension installs into your router like any typical 1/2" shank bit. Set includes: Xtreme Xtension, 1/4" collet reducer, and 5/32" allen wrench. About $70.

Mitermate

The Mitermate allows you to quickly and accurately cut bevels, compounds, miters and 90° cut offs.

Set the angle, lock into position, set it on the piece to be cut and run your saw along the guide bar.

The cut line is exactly on the edge of the Mitermate.

Made from high-impact polycarbonate, stainless steel and aluminum.

Measures 13 x 13 x 1" and will adjust to fit different brands of saws.

At Eagle for $29.99

Fabric awnings

This site, Awntech,
seems to offer a good product at a good price.

► prepackaged,
► light-weight,
► durable in rough weather,
► inexpensive,
► easy to assemble and install
► and come with a 5 year warranty....

For example, $200.

Higher tech drainage

Hydrodrain® 300, 302, 1000 and AL are composite drainage products consisting of a three-dimensional geonet, crush-proof drainage core and a non-woven, needle punched filter fabric (Hydrodrain 300). There are several variations of this product to meet particular project requirements.

These products are acceptable in both horizontal and vertical applications, but are considered ideal in horizontal installations where a high compressive strength is desired.

Hydrodrain® 400, 420 and 700 are composite drainage products consisting of three-dimensional "dimple" type polyethylene core with a non-woven, needle punched filter fabric (Hydrodrain 400). There are several variations of this product to meet particular project requirements.

These products are acceptable in both horizontal and vertical applications, but are typically used in vertical installations (foundation walls, planters, etc.) where it's high flow rate is a plus.

Thermaflo® combines the excellent thermal protection of STYROFOAM® insulation, superior drainage capability and protection to the waterproofing membrane - all in a single product. This 3 in 1, multi-purpose product is particularly well suited to below grade vertical foundation walls.

The advantage of Thermaflo on a foundation wall is that it cuts labor in half, when compared to the installation of a separate protection layer and drainage composite. The thermal protection is an added benefit.

Garden Roof

The following components are installed,
working from the roof deck on up...

Roofing Membrane - Monolithic Membrane -- hot, fluid applied, rubberized asphalt, offering tenacious bond to substrate, no seams, simplified flashing details and self-sealing capabilities -- applied in two coats, with a layer of fabric reinforcement between layers, to a thickness of 215 mils.

Protection Course/Root Barrier - Hydroflex and Root Stop work together to prevent roots from penetrating the waterproofing/roofing membrane.

Insulation/Air Barrier - Dow STYROFOAMs a CFC free, closed cell, extruded polystyrene that exhibits high compressive strength and moisture resistance, while maintaining excellent long term insulation value. Use of insulation depends on the thermal value requirements of the structure.

Water Retention - Depending on the needs of the vegetation, water retention can be achieved through the use of Moisture Retention Mat -- recycled, non-rotting, polypropylene fibers stitched through a polyethylene carrier sheet that is rolled out over the root barrier or insulation/air layer.

Drainage/Water Storage/Aeration - polyethylene modled panels called Floradrain provide water drainage, water storage, and aeration to create a harmonious balance of air and water in the substrate soil.

Filter Fabric - a geotextile filter sheet made of non-rotting, non-woven polypropylene fibers, resistant to all natural acids and alkalis, and chemically neutral, is unrolled over the entire roof area completely covering the Floradrain. Soil and plants are added above.

Hydrotech USA

Japan Colors

Japan Colors by Ronan paints are finely ground, lead-free, flat paste colors that are used on furniture and cabinetry for such decorative applications as aging and faux finishing. For this closet, Thompson used the product in a blend of cobalt blue and chrome yellow. Also ideal toners for flat paints, they're available in 24 colors. Ronan Paints, 800.247.6626; www.ronanpaints.com.

Future bath?

Why not fixtures in a waterproof room?


This innovative multi-function unit facilitates the creation of new, futuristic bathroom designs. SOLITUDE sets its own stage offering both practicality and fascination with its complex combination of shower and washing area with numerous additional functions. SOLITUDE – new ideas create new spaces.

Multifunction unit with shower and washbasin from Dornbracht.

Modern drywall trim

[via ResidentialArchitect] Shady character:

Trim Tex shadow bead connects drywall with interior door and window jambs for a clean look. Have the vinyl trim spray-painted dark gray or black for a deep shadow effect, as shown in this project. The company offers such other options as 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch deep reveal beads for breaking up long expanses, plus fiber optic reveals for that Las Vegas look. Trim Tex, 800.874.2333; www.trim-tex.com.

Sheen stealer

[via ResidentialArchitect] Berridge standing seam roof gives Welch another weapon against the unrelenting Texas climate. The company's fluoropolymer resin coatings protect the panels against ultraviolet radiation and carry a 20-year guarantee against cracking, peeling, and fading. Welch usually selects a heavy, zinc-coated steel finish. "I like the monochrome look of the dark blue-gray color and that it's flat without any sheen." Berridge, 800.231.8127; www.berridge.com.

Translucent stone

[via Residential Architect Online]

Fiberstone cuts marble, granite, or onyx as thin as 3 to 4 millimeters and then fuses it to tempered, extra-clear glass to form a translucent stone.

White onyx cabinets or an exterior wall. The company also suggests the diaphanous sheets for work surfaces, illuminated ceilings, doors, light fixtures, and shower partitions.

http://www.fiberstone.com/

Design value

Improved real estate--property with buildings--shares two of the basic characteristics of architecture codified by Vitruvius.

All buildings have structure (firmitas), and all buildings enclose space (commoditas). The first two factors being relatively equal, the true determinant of value is the third, more elusive Vitruvian quality: delight (venustas).

Like a classical deity, delight may take many forms. Its effects may go unattributed, but they are always essential.

All property is subject to the market forces of supply and demand, the benefits or drawbacks of location, the practical concerns of structure and function. These form the mundane context in which, from time to time, real estate markets will overheat. It's up to architects to provide delight. [Article by Erik Lerner, AIA]

Storm Panels

Fabric-Shield™
"Fabric-Shield™ Protects Against The Storm."

Wayne-Dalton Fabric-Shield™ Storm Panels are a highly-effective alternative to steel or aluminum hurricane panels. These PVC coated woven fabric panels are tested to block wind, rain and storm-driven projectiles. Yet Fabric-Shield™ panels are easy to handle and translucent, allowing light to enter.

• Standard and custom sizes available
• Lightweight, easy to handle and store
• Quick to deploy and remove
• Translucent, allowing diffused light to enter

Painting stucco

PROBLEMS WITH PAINTED STUCCO
The rush to paint stucco exteriors reduces curing time and has resulted in widespread failure not only of the coating, but also of the stucco itself.

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For a hard coating on stucco, take a look at these products. An economical way to get the fresh, even colors you want, LaHabra Fog Coat is the clear choice. Fog Coat is a spray-applied Portland cement coating which cures to become an integral part of the stucco surface to which it is applied. It comes in all of LaHabra's 30 colors, with the color built into the product. It will not chip or peel like conventional paint. Three uncomplicated steps: mix, strain and apply.

Most cement based products develop minute surface cracks during their cure cycle. These can be microscopically small, or they can be visible to the naked eye. Either way, cure-induced surface crazing or cracking can usually be covered by a flexible finish provided the cracks do not exceed 1/16" in width. The finish of choice for this normal condition has traditionally been one formulated from elastomeric compounds, capable of maintaining its flexibility over a wide range of temperature and weather conditions. LaHabra Elastomeric Finishes are formulated from improved polymers with better capabilities to stretch and return to their original dimensions as a wall expands, contracts and flexes. Minute surface cracks are kept beneath the LaHabra Elastomeric membrane, invisible and protected from the elements.

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The producers of Extreme Makeover – Home Edition were looking for a product that could meet their tight production schedule, they turned to LaHabra Stucco. The exterior design element of traditional stucco was chosen on the Extreme Makeover - Livermore project. When considering three coat stucco for the project, one major concern was that the scratch, brown and finish coat of traditional three coat stucco requires at least seven days. However only six days were allotted to complete the home remodel. The solution was the LaHabra Wall one coat because the color finish coat can be applied only 24 hours after installation. A typical plasterer can only apply a given number of pounds of base coat per hour. By using a product designed for thinner application, (½" versus ¾" inch of three coat systems) the product covers 1/3 more wall for the same labor.

Post system

Digging postholes can be backbreaking work. To avoid the chore while installing a 4x4 post for a bird feeder, I recently tried the U-Fix Ground Screw post system from Krinner ($20), and I couldn't be happier. The 34-in.-long U-Fix ground screw comes with a length of hardened rebar to use as an installation handle. You thread the rebar handle through the top of the screw shaft and twist the screw into the ground as if you were using a giant corkscrew. The result is a rock-solid post base with a lot less labor. Krinner USA, 800-339-5833, http://www.krinnerusa.com/ -- Mike Berger

Locate installation position and check for proper alignment. Screw the ground screw U-Fix 4x4’’ with the bar straight into the ground. While screwing align vertically with a level if needed. Continue screwing until collar is about one inch (2.5cm) above ground. To keep the post in best condition place any piece of wood (1/2’’) inside the collar. Put your 4x4inch (9x9cm) post on the top and screw to one side of collar. Remove the wooden piece. Check & align post vertically. Secure both sides with suitable screws.

SawStop

Unlike blade guards that are often removed or misused, SawStop technology provides an active safety system that continuously monitors for accidental contact with the saw's blade, regardless of user training, fatigue or misuse. Unlike blade guards, a safety system incorporating SawStop technology provides an always on, non-removable safety system.

The SawStop system works by recognizing the difference in the electrical properties of wood and a user. The system induces a high-frequency electrical signal on the blade of a table saw and monitors this signal for changes caused by contact between the blade and a user's body. The signal remains unchanged when the blade cuts wood because of the relatively small inherent electrical capacitance and conductivity of wood. However, when a user contacts the blade while the saw is operating, the electrical signal changes because of the relatively large inherent capacitance of the user's body.The SawStop system detects this change in the electrical signal and immediately forces a brake into the teeth of the blade. The brake absorbs the energy of the blade, bringing the blade to a complete stop in approximately 5 milliseconds. To see high-speed, close-up videos of the SawStop system stopping the blade of a table saw, click on the links to the right. In the videos, the saw blade is rotating at 4000 rpm. The blade is stopped in less than 5 milliseconds. It can make the difference between needing a Band-Aid or a hand surgeon.

eyelighter

eyelighter Specs:

2-3v CR2016 lithium cells - White / Blue
1-3v CR2032 lithium cell - Red
Adjustable, plastic-coated alloy ear loop
Colors: Bright White, Bright Blue or Red
overdriven light-emitting diode
Weight: 10g (total)
Product of U.S.A / 45% Foreign Content

Range: $9.95-11.95 at RadTech.us

Pocket color match

Pocket Palette

Ever go to the paint store and notice people who bring in random, or worse, large articles from their homes to color match? Ever get lost in all those little paint chip samples you can take with you to figure out which color is best?

Enter the Benjamin Moore Pocket Palette device. It's an electronic palette search instrument that will match any sample to the closest Benjamin Moore color. The price, $299, might be a little steep for people outside the trade, but think of the headaches averted. Coming this Fall.

Solid Wall of Water

Problem: 183 gallons of water are treated every day for each person in the United States. Up to one quarter of this water goes to applications like radiators and toilets, that do not require potable water.

Solution: Most houses in the US have enough roof area to collect enough water to supply these potential "grey water" users, but storage has always been a problem. Storage tanks are large, usually custom fitted, and most of all, Ugly. That's where the Waterwall comes in. This free-standing plastic tank holds 1200 liters, comes in mod colors, and can be nested together for any capacity. The design is even being considered by architects for noise damping and as a thermal mass. Permalink at IDFuel