By Mark Clement
The cream of the crop -- but in no particular order ...
1. C.H. Hanson Chalk Hog
I love it when new dogs -- or hogs -- learn new tricks. That's the case with C.H. Hanson's Chalk Hog 100 chalk reel. It holds an entire 8 ounce bottle which loads by screwing the bottle to the box. Smart. It delivers more snaps while it's about the same size as other reels. The tool keeps chalk inside, instead of it leaking into your bags or spraying as you pay out line according to C.H. Hanson. It has a braided cord which is about 3x stronger than cotton lines and pops crisp lines. Add the 6x return gear, a built-in carpenter's pencil sharpener and an aggressive hook end. Chalk Hog 100 has a big pork chop brother Chalk Hog 150 for serious framing, roofing, and concrete layout; together they'll keep you riding high on the hog.
www.CHHanson.com
2. Bosch DMD4K Digital Multi-Detector Kit
My eyes lit up when I saw Bosch's multi-detector. This puppy is hot. And ...it looks rough, tough and like it can find everything that's hidden in a wall that I need it to. Its multi-function detection is what I'd really use it for. The DMD4K can detect ferrous and non-ferrous metals, wood studs and wiring -- including hot wires. And I find it awesome that I can use one tool for all of this. For concrete, it detects rebar up to 4 inches deep. This means that finding wires and pipes behind plaster walls is child's play. Not to be termed a brute, however, the Zoom feature, while used in metal mode, helps deliver precision detection of small objects (1/2 inch supply lines, say) or the centers of objects (studs, say) and distinguishing between close objects. It even lights up when it senses something -- kind of like me when I saw this do-it-all detector.
www.BoschTools.com
3. Stone Age Outdoor Fireplaces
Many higher-end -- but century old -- homes where I live have beautiful backyard fireplaces ("outdoor living" being a new name for an old thing). They're stone and require a mason's skill and artistry to build. Today, that's an expensive undertaking. To keep our new-world fires burning, Stone Age Fireplaces has created lightweight, easy-to-assemble, pre-cast outdoor fireplace kits. They require minimal masonry skills to assemble -- and once coated in stucco, full-stone or stone veneer -- look like those old classics. And they work great, having deep fireboxes that maximize draft performance, key to safety and functionality. Stone Age also customizes fireplaces and outdoor kitchens. The units can burn wood or gas. So whether you call it "going outside" or "outdoor living," Stone Age can keep your body and soul warm and fed.
www.StoneAgeFireplaces.com
4. Windstrips
Here's one for anybody who builds homes with roofs on them: Windstrips. If you've ever papered a house only to arrive the next day (or week) ready to shingle and found the felt blew off -- or if you've used a bazillion cap nails to hold it down so it wouldn't blow off -- I think you'll dig Windstrips. They're simple to install using your hammer-tacker. Pop the Windstrip along the paper overlaps, then staple-off the rest of the sheet (in a W pattern) to lock the paper down. Windstrips says you can save 1/2 a day of nailing using their product. Bring the speed! They've never failed according to the company and come with a guarantee -- that's what I'm talkin' about. I think they might be handy for house wrap too. Simple. Effective. Quick. Guaranteed. Yes!
www.WindStrips.com
5. Crick Tool
Sometimes a tool is just so beautiful -- a sublime mix of precision manufacturing and artful design -- that you don't even want to use it. Not that you couldn't. That's the deal with Crick Tool's premium-grade levels: they're gorgeous; they're jobsite ready. The solid hardwood levels are precision-fabricated with stainless steel end-caps, super tough vials, and a 16-gauge binding. That manufacturing muscle keeps Crick's straight and reliable they say -- and Crick's guarantee is for 3 years. The levels are made by craftsmen that care about their craft -- and yours--from "torpedo" size to full-on door bucks. But be careful if you get one: you may use it forever. Or like it too much to use at all.
www.CrickTool.com
6. Neptune Victoria Bath
Call me a sucker for old-school form and function, but one glimpse of Neptune's Victoria clawfoot soaker tub and I was no longer walking IBS's concrete floor, but in an opulent house with detail bordering on decadent. The Victoria bath is a throw-back to a time when craftsmanship meant everything. The forged iron feet are nearly a thing of beauty by themselves, but topped by the swooping lines of the tub, they're elevated another increment. And that the tub is wrapped with a hardwood trim ring is just terrific. If you're building a Victorian-styled home or remodeling a bathroom that's designed for old-world accent, Neptune also offers the Tiffany basin and forged iron towel hanger accessories. There are 6 choices for both the wood trim and the iron feet. And at only 66 inches long, this tub will actually fit in smaller or more crowded bathrooms -- form and function. Beautiful.
www.NeptuneB.com
7. Cast Designs and Supply Fine Architectural Products
This company has a bland name considering the opulent products they produce -- I mean, wow! (By the way, if you see this stuff and don't say "wow," consider Lasik.) Cast designs and fabricates moldings, cartouches, medallions, table bases--even domes for cryin' out loud -- for the most prestigious homes and commercial spaces in the country. And their fabrications, beyond being jaw-dropping in balance and beauty, are green. Made from gypsum, hemp fiber, and water they're not only totally organic but they maintain a Class II fire rating according to Cast. You can even spec them for outdoor applications. Indeed, they earn LEED points. If only the finest will do, look to cast for what's even better than that.
www.CastDesignSupply.com
8. Ridgid WTS200L 10 inch Wet Tile/Stone Saw
If there's one tool category that's short on serious upgrades, it's been wet-cutting tile saws. Most saws are basics compared, for example, with how tricked out miter saws have become. Those days appear over with the Ridgid WTS200L. This saw is tricked out! An aluminum rip fence and angle guide with positive stops at 0, 22.5 and 45 degrees, an accessible 10 inch blade, and super-sweet rolling stand get us started. The saw motor bevels to 22.5 and 45 degrees and it has an awesome cut capacity: it cross-cuts 24 inch tile and makes diagonal cuts on 18 inchers. My fave trick-out may be the laser. While I'm not sold on lasers for miter saws where the pencil line is visible, the first thing that happens cutting tile on a wet saw is the pencil line gets washed off. The laser keeps you on the money -- which is something I expect you can make more of using this wicked saw.
www.Ridgid.com
9. Timberclad Poplar Bark Siding
This is one of the coolest things I've seen for houses--not only at IBS, but anywhere. Originally used by Native American's poplar siding is bark peeled from the tulip poplar tree -- and it's gorgeous. Large shingles (12 to 24 inches long) have a solid, enduring look. They have a distinctive if earthy tone but don't be fooled -- it's way refined. Timberclad's siding is green (harvested gently, according to the company, only during season and kiln-dried without chemicals). It's to-the-weather-tough with installations lasting upwards of 75 years. Design-wise it's versatile. Stagger shingles, mix sizes, or run them straight for crisp lines; you can also side the whole house or use them for highlights, like a gable or frieze. Or spec them for interiors (check out their large custom panels) for signature work from a signature source.
www.PoplarBarkSiding.com
10. Pronto Joint Tape
Here's something that falls under a heading I just made up called Extra Cool. Pronto Joint Tape qualifies for this ad hoc nomination because it's a triple-threat -- saving money, time, and material. According to National Adhesives, the makers of Pronto, because the tape is adhesive using it eliminates -- entirely -- the bedding coat of joint compound normally required to adhere paper tape to wall board. Second, because the tape is flared, it bridges drywall seams flat. Third, the edges are perforated so mud integrates with the tape as it's applied--and goes on without bubbles. So, no first coat means a HUGE savings in compound consumption with a commensurate labor savings. Then there's the increased cycle time which helps you complete projects faster with a higher margin and primo quality. With all that, Pronto looks like more than a triple-threat.
www.ProntoJointTape.com
11. Garage Wow Now
So everybody knows you can re-design the landscape, paint the house, and clear up clutter to zazz up curb appeal, but one thing that can sometimes go overlooked is one of the biggest pieces of the jigsaw puzzle -- the garage door. And the bigger the garage door, the more impact an awesome-looking -- or lousy -- one has on curb appeal. Garage Wow Now -- a clearinghouse of garage door design ideas, styles, and contractor contacts--has some smokin' lookin' doors, from totally hip recti-linear designs to a subtler set of raised panel looks and, my favorite, the carriage house doors. And, they not only pipe you into local contractors who can hang heavy overhead doors (a specialty totally worth subbing out) but GarageWowNow.com has a design page and listing of manufacturers organized by style. This can be a real time saver for design meetings.
www.GarageWowNow.com
12. Tamko Lamarite Slate Composite Shingles
If you're looking for a roof with texture, grace, and a traditional look--combined with weather-beating brawn -- Tamko's Lamarite Slate composite shingles have probably popped on your radar. Bottom line for these good-looking bad-boys is that they look like real slate, both from up close and far away. But they're lighter (which means your roof doesn't require beefed up framing to carry the load), quicker to install (they have reveal marks embossed on the shingle tabs and you can use your roofing gun) and more affordable than real slate (especially against roof traffic during installation) according to Tamko. They're also seem durable as all-get-out what with Tamko's 50 year limited warranty. They come in plenty of colors and three different sizes, so doing a mix-and-match, pattern, or simply adding highlight colors means you can truly do custom work.
www.Tamko.com
13. Makita Rotary Hammers
For breaking or drilling big holes in concrete or masonry, there's no compromise: you need power. Period. Makita's HR3210C and HR4510C look like two rough-and-ready rotary hammers with smart, compact design. Usually a good way to benchmark the work a rotary hammer is designed to handle is tool weight. The lighter 10.8 pound HR3210C makes it ideal for everything from cracking up tile to breaking through block to drilling and for cracking up thinner concrete (1-1/4 inch hole, 3-1/2 inch core bit capacity.) For rippin' breaking and drilling power, the 18.3 pound HR4510C is the go-to. It's designed for sinking large holes (1-3/4 inch diameter, 5 inch core bit capacity) and throwing a beat-down on thicker slabs or solid stone. Both tools are designed with Makita's AVT -- Anti-Vibration Technology -- making life as easy as possible when working with the hard stuff.
www.MakitaUSA.com
14. TimberTech Builder Rail
I love building decks, but really it's the railings that can tell a deck's story. Often, however, we build railings from the same material as the deck boards because a fancier guardrail usually means a loftier deck price. TimberTech's BuilderRail looks like a nice blend of upgrade and affordability while delivering a code-compliant, sweet-looking system. BuilderRail combines galvanized, powder-coated black metal balusters with composite railing sections to create a neat looks and color-combos--and we're talking near-zero maintenance according to TimberTech. Primo looks with no call backs usually means happy customers. Now you're talkin'.
www.TimberTech.com
15. BPG VersaLift
In my career as a remodeler, finding or maximizing storage is often a top concern for my customers. To that end, I've installed pull-down attic stairs, creating hideaway egress to what can be a serious amount of under-employed square footage. The challenge for the homeowner, however, is getting bulky or heavy items up -- and down--those stairs and through the opening on an angle. A neat solution to that challenge is BPG's VersaLift. VersaLift is essentially a dumbwaiter for storage items that sort of looks like an old-fashioned elevator. It's electric (so you'll need to run wire) and can lift 200 pounds. Since it lifts vertically you can get large items through the opening and shift them off the platform. I also like that you can send items back down much more easily than walking backwards down a steep stair. Your back will thank you.
www.BPGHome.com
16. Mayne Mail Posts
Sometimes it's the little things that add up to please a customer, deliver a solution, or (if you're a builder trying to sell a house) secure a buyer. One place to start is with the first thing prospective buyers are likely to see when they pull up to your house -- the mailbox. Mayne Posts designs creates distinctive and maintenance-free posts for all kinds of applications -- single mail boxes, shared mail boxes, and with myriad different looks and styles. Another nice selling-point is that they're made from high-grade polyethylene which means they are here to stay and all but maintenance-free. They install easily -- they're simply a sleeve that slides over a 4x4 post set in concrete. So if you're looking to distinguish yourself or offer a detail to a design-conscious customer, Mayne Posts may be a resource. Check your mail.
www.MaynePosts.com
17. WellCraft Egress Windows
I know, I know, outdoor living is the trend -- right after indoor living where, let's face it, most people spend most of their time. If your project lists include adding a bedroom to a basement project or as part of a new home or addition, then egress windows and window wells are a code-compliant must. Wellcraft's well and window products look like they combine to solve problems builder's face in this area properly sizing and fabricating code-compliant egress -- and making them look good. With four models (one of them modular) to accommodate various size window and applications, Wellcraft looks positioned to be a good resource for products that'll work right the first time. And if you're pouring the foundation (rather than cutting in or modifying existing fenestration) Wellcraft makes a vinyl egress window that's ready-for-the-pour, which looks like it can save steps -- good stuff.
www.WellCraft.com
18. Rainwater Pillow
For customers and builders searching out innovative water-conservation tactics, here's an innovation: the Rainwater Pillow. The pillow -- essentially 10x10 rubber bag or bladder -- stores up to 1100 gallons of roof-collected rain water and can feed a drip irrigation system, water grass or wash a car among other things. The Rainwater Pillow is designed to be tucked away in a crawlspace under a house but also performs -- and is just as obscured -- under a deck or porch. The Rainwater Pillow is low maintenance, according to the company (just clean the filter every so often) and leak-free (testing shows it'll hold water for 5 years.) And, the more you use it the easier it is to keep clean. Rainwater has a sign that shows local officials you're using stored water during a drought situation. 1100 gallons of water takes you a long way toward being green -- and greening your yard or serving green-conscious clients. The water is pumped to your hose at the same rate as an outdoor spigot and there are larger and custom size pillows available.
www.RainWaterPillow.com
19. Woodfold Doors
OK, if there's something cooler than the Woodfold Bookcase Room Divider Doors someone has to tell me what it is. The rolling bookcase -- a bookcase that literally closes over a "secret" door--looks like something right out of Indiana Jones and the Missing Builder, except better because it's real. The Woodfold Bookcase door is strong, able to support 500 pounds, but rolls easily on the Woodfold wheel system. You can get it in several hardwood veneers for different but venerable good looks with a classic design. Use the unit to cover a safe or a pass-through. Or use it to disguise a home-office or secret retreat. How cool is that?
www.WoodFold.com
20. Moen Pot Filler Faucet
Talk about epicurean luxury, Moen's Pot Filler faucet is just that. Intended to be wall-mounted over a cook top or stove the faucet delivers a rush of water to fill big pots quickly. And, in a confluence of form and function, the articulating faucet arm folds back flat against the wall -- neatly out of the way but still attractive to look at. The Pot Filler looks like something you'd find in a commercial kitchen or gracefully adorning the kitchen of one of America's opulent homes like Wintertur or the Breakers. A nice backsplash behind the Moen Pot Filler will only bring out its character while adding charm and utility -- and maybe even a conversation piece--to kitchens of distinction.
www.Moen.com
Mark Clement is a live-action tradeshow demonstrator, remodeling carpenter, and author of The Carpenter's Notebook, A Novel. Check out his books and current projects at www.FormalFarmHouse.com.
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