10 MOST WANTED
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New technology can make a splash. Like the Swash toilet
seat. Or the Jentle Jet laundry sink.
The Swash really is a new twist on an old idea. It's a heated toilet seat
with a wand attachment that, ahem, sprays users clean. A panel mounted on the
wall near the Swash features controls for a thermostat and a heated dryer. The
Japanese have been doing their business on such seats since the 1960s.
Speaking of delicate items, the Jentle Jet laundry sink by Whirlpool cleans
such apparel by generating a gurgling stream of water, thereby giving the
washing machine much-needed down time.
Although the Swash and Jentle Jet are likely to generate consumer interest,
no one knows for sure whether they will be industry hits. But such stylish,
upscale items, both featured in the New American Home introduced last month at
the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla., usually are in high demand
by consumers.
With that in mind, they are among 10 "new" items we think could be a hit in
the industry sometime soon. Not all are new this year. Some have been around
for a time but just recently have started to pick up support, either in the
industry or with consumers. Automated lighting, for example, is not new. But a
new technology, called Z-Wave, is making it more affordable.
We have our reasons for picking these 10, of course. The toilet seat, with
its spray wand, is a "can't miss." On second thought, it had better not miss. A
miss would mean a mess.
And, as the concept of the laundry room changes, expect jet-style sinks to
catch on. Laundry rooms are being redesigned as multifunctional spaces,
combined to create a hobby room, recreation room or storage area. Washing a
couple of items in a small sink while shooting a game of pool in a combo
laundry-game room seems to makes sense.
What makes more sense to me, though, are the materials with more substance
than style. Items with backbone, like FlexWrap flashing tape or plastic molding
that bends around curves. And Warmboard, a pre-grooved structural subfloor
designed to make radiant floor heating more efficient. These items can save
money for both homeowners and contractors.
We've also included items that make more sense, like pellet-burning outdoor
furnaces. Now there's a way to reduce our dependency on oil. Others seem so
darn convenient, like automated lighting.
But the building industry is a strange world. Several years ago, steel
studs supposedly were the wave of the future. Snap-together steel framing was
going to make wood framing obsolete.
Still waiting....
Housewrap, though, has taken off. Ever since Tyvek was introduced in the
early 1990s, every new house and every new addition is wrapped with a
protective barrier to reduce air infiltration and the chances for trapped
moisture.
What's the next hit, the next Tyvek housewrap? Who knows? But it's fun to
imagine not having to worry about running out of toilet paper.
WRITE TO: Gary Dymski, 235 Pinelawn Rd., Melville, NY 11747-4250 or e-mail
Gary.Dymski@newsday.com.
DYMSKI'S PICKS
1. AUTOMATED LIGHTING CONTROL
What it does: New Z-Wave technology allows one-touch control of household
lights, security systems and appliances plugged into electrical outlets.
Devices are controlled by a wireless remote, like those for TVs.
Where you'll see it: New construction, especially high-end. Also in major
remodeling projects that feature open walls and new wiring. A neat feature of
Z-Wave technology is that components can be mixed and matched, regardless of
manufacturer.
What it costs: New-construction prices will vary greatly, depending on
manufacturer, number of outlets and type of remote-control devices. But
Intermatic, one of several manufacturers with retrofit systems, has a Z-Wave
line called HomeSettings, with two adapters that plug into existing outlets and
a programmable remote. It sells for about $100 at home centers.
Where to see more: www.Intermatic .com; www.Leviton.com; www.z-wave
alliance.org.
2. DUPONT FLEXWRAP FLASHING TAPE
What it does: This tape will appeal to anyone who hates windows that leak
around the frames. The flexible, rubberized FlexWrap tape curves around
windowsills and custom shapes. This flexibility eliminates the timely and often
flawed process of cutting tape pieces to fit around curved and rounded
openings. Contractors love the idea of quick installation. Homeowners will love
the end of leaky windows.
Where you'll see it: Replacement windows, new construction and remodeling.
Contractors experience fewer requests to recaulk or reflash.
What it costs: Considering ease of installation and reduced callbacks, it's
pennies more than conventional flashing tapes.
Where to see more: www.
construction.tyvek.com/en/product
Services/Flashing/flexWrap.shtml.
3. FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MOLDING
What it does: Bends and curves to complement wood and painted moldings in
both interior and exterior use. For base molding on rounded walls, curves on
crown molding and casing on arched openings.
Where you'll see it: Remodeling and new construction. It can match stained
wood or be painted. Also being used more and more in restorations.
What it costs: From $3 to $25 a linear foot for stock styles. Custom styles
might include a fee to make a mold. Available at 84 Lumber, Lowe's and
lumberyards such as Best Building and Supply Lumber in Speonk, and Speonk
Lumber.
Where to see more: Zago Flexible Moulding, Newark, N.J., www.Flexible
Trim.com.
4. ICYNENE FOAM INSULATION
What it does: A water-based foam that replaces fiberglass insulation,
Icynene is sprayed into wall cavities, where it expands as it dries. It plugs
cracks and crevices, creating an airtight seal. Because it is a permeable
material, it does not trap moisture. Compared with conventional fiberglass
insulation, Icynene claims it can reduce monthly energy costs by 50 percent.
Where you'll see it: Primarily in new construction because it must be
sprayed into open sides of walls. Once the material dries, it is cut flush to
the studs with a handsaw.
What it costs: About three times more than conventional fiberglass
insulation. The payback is in reduced energy costs.
Where to see more: www.Icynene.com.
5. HIGH-TECH BIDET TOILET SEAT
What it does: Upon completion of a bodily function, a warm, gentle spray of
water provides a more hygienic departure. The "washlet," or warm-water
cleaning toilet seat, is a product of a Japanese company, Toto, and dates back
to the 1960s. The newest American player is Brondell, maker of the Swash toilet
seat (pictured).
Where you'll see it: Mostly in the bathrooms of millionaires. It's strictly
upscale. In addition to the cleaning spray, toilet seats can be heated, have
optional blowers for drying and a "self-closing" lid.
What it costs: Swash models run $399 to $499. Toto's Washlet is $727.
(Remember, that's just for a seat.)
Where to see more: www.Brondell .com; www.Washlet.com. Swash seats at The
Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond and other specialty stores.
6. EON WOOD-LIKE FENCING
What it does: A highly engineered polymer, Eon fencing has the look and
feel of wood plus the durability of vinyl. It resists rot, mold and insects.
It's lighter than most composites, which blend recycled plastic and wood fibers.
Where you'll see it: With consumers pining for a maintenance-free wood
look, this fencing should slice into the demand for vinyl. Eon benches and
tables dot Walt Disney World's Wilderness Outdoor Lodge in Orlando, Fla. Eon
decking is sold by Home Depot across Ontario, Canada.
What it costs: Depending on style, color and custom applications, Eon
engineered polymer fencing runs $120 to $200 for a 6-foot-long panel.
Where to see more: www.Eon
Outdoor.com.
7. TILEREDI WATERPROOF SHOWER MODULE
What it does: A lightweight, leakproof polyurethane form that can be tiled
over. The finished work serves as a basin for tubs and showers. It makes for
faster installations and more upscale appearances. Units have a preformed
slanted pitch for drainage and are a cost-saving alternative to the
conventional installation of felt, vinyl and cement or the cheesy-looking
one-piece acrylic pans.
Where you'll see it: Because it has a lifetime no-leak guarantee,
remodelers and new-home builders should lean toward these modules. Because they
accept tile, they provide an affordable high-end appearance.
What it costs: Modules come in five standard sizes and are from $500 to
$545, including a special tile-setting adhesive. Prices are similar to custom,
cast-iron shower bases.
Where to see more: Call ADG Sales, Hauppauge, 516-356-2805, or online at
www.TileRedi.com.
8. WHIRLPOOL JENTLE JET LAUNDRY SINK
What it does: Jentle Jet sinks use the power of micro-jets to thoroughly
launder delicate items. Jentle Jet sinks are not replacements for laundry room
utility sinks; instead they are supplements to washing machines.
Where you'll see it: As laundry rooms grow larger to share space with hobby
rooms and storage rooms, the sinks will be showing up in both remodeling and
new construction.
What it costs: $500 and up, excluding installation.
Where to see more: www.mtiwhirl pools.com.
9. OUTDOOR PELLET- BURNING FURNACE
What it does: Get off oil, get on pellets. These furnaces, which are
installed outside the house, feed on pellets made from recycled wood waste,
paper waste or corn, to produce residential heat. The pellet process diverts
millions of tons of waste from landfills and turns it into energy. The Pellet
Fuels Institute says more than 600,000 homes in North America use wood pellets
for heat.
Where you'll see it: Rural construction, such as second homes upstate. But
these furnaces can be used virtually anywhere. Health institutes in Wisconsin
have turned to these furnaces.
What it costs: About $7,500 for furnaces that can replace existing systems
of forced air and hydroponic, and even heat pools and spas. Some systems melt
snow on rooftops and driveways. Prices vary by model, shipping and
installation.
Where to see more: Northwest Manufacturing, www.Woodmaster.com, makes
pellet- and wood-burning furnaces.
10. RADIANT FLOOR SUBFLOOR SYSTEMS
What it does: Radiant heat flooring dates to the ancient Romans. But the
new version by California-based Warmboard is a structural floor and radiant
panel, all in one piece. In other, more labor-intensive radiant installations,
the heat system is added above or below the subfloor. Warmboard is the subfloor.
Where you'll see it: New construction and remodeling. Warmboard proponents
say it has a quicker response time, so rooms heat up faster.
What it costs: Competitive with other radiant systems, but savings are
realized in labor efficiency and overall energy performance. Warmboard reduces
at least one step of the traditional installation process.
Where to see more: www.Warmboard.com.
