Multipurpose Products

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

October 3, 2002

Multipurpose products are a unique attraction. An item that can perform several functions usually translates to saving both time and storage space.

That's the lure of the Little Giant Ladder System by Wing Enterprises. The all-in-one ladder was one of the more popular items at the Fall Home Improvement & Remodeling Show at Nassau Coliseum recently.

"We figured we'd sell about 70 over the four days of the show," said Erik Dunn, a manufacturer's rep for the Utah-based Wing (800-542-9464). "We reached 80 by [Saturday] and finished selling nearly 120 ladders."

Wing has been making aluminum ladders for about 30 years, Dunn said, and its Little Giant has been popular with fire departments, the military and construction firms almost as long.

House Doctor Recent columns

The ladder comes in four sizes (13, 17, 22 and 26 feet), two workload standards (heavy duty and industrial) and meets or exceeds OSHA standards. It can perform 34 functions, including serving as a stepladder, an extension ladder, a staircase ladder for uneven ground (staircases and steps) and a scaffold system. Prices range from $299 for the 13- footer to $469 for the 26-footer.

Several other products offered a new twist. They included:

ColorPlus Fiber-Cement Siding by James Hardie Siding Products. The drawback of fiber-cement siding is that it must be painted or stained much like wood, although less frequently. Homeowners considering fiber cement siding now have an option in Hardie's ColorPlus line, which features seven mar-resistant colors and four stains.

"The colors in the ColorPlus line are supposed to hold up without painting for about 15 years, but I think it will do a little better than that," says Thomas Schietinger of Improvements by Design, a Deer Park construction company and Hardie distributor.

The color is blended into the siding, a composition of Portland cement, sand, cellulose fiber and water. Several styles of siding are made, and the finished product offers the look of wood siding. Like all fiber cement siding, ColorPlus, which also can be painted if and when the color does fade, is fire- and insect-resistant and carries a 50- year limited warranty. The line also has color-matching accessories, including caulk, nails, touch-up paint and metal trim.

The siding, minus trimwork and surface preparation, can be installed for about $125 per 100 feet. Unpainted siding installation is about $90 per 100 square feet. (631-254-3787; www.jameshardie.com)

Liquid Siding by Procraft. This coating system, developed as an exterior finish for lighthouses, is supposed to replace paint and comes with a 25-year warranty. The coating is applied in a three- or four-step process, and the final layer contains ceramic material that dries to the thickness of a credit card. The siding has elasticity, so it withstands drastic changes in temperature, and it is vapor- permeable, so it is guaranteed not to chip, crack or peel. It can be applied over virtually any coating except vinyl and glass.

Popular in Europe for about the past 10 years, the siding was introduced to the U.S. market about five years ago.

"The price for applying, and there are many, many variables, usually is about two or three times the price of the absolute best paint job and in line with the installation of a premium vinyl siding, says Myron Charness of Architectural Coatings Llc of Islandia. (631-582-3900; www.procraftcoating.com)

Ultimate Umbrella by Dynafoam International.

The commercial outdoor umbrella with an offset post is designed for patios and decks. It has an advantage over stationary fold-out awnings because it can be moved easily across patios and decks. The show special was the 8 1/2-foot-by-8 1/2-foot model for $299. More than 100 were sold, company spokesman Milt Young said. Regular price is $499. The umbrella folds, tilts and swivels and can be held in place with patio blocks or an optional weatherproof portable base. (Dynafoam International, 717-859-7030)

Safety Oil Tank by Roth Industries Inc. Fuel oil can be stored inside the home with this corrosion-resistant, leak-proof tank. These tanks protect the oil with two layers: a seamless inner tank of polyethylene is encased in a lock-seamed tank of galvanized steel. Exterior seams of the outer tank are protected by an oil- and fire- resistant seal. Three sizes (165 gallons, 275 gallons and 400 gallons) are available, and the price is about $2,000. Another option to protect your oil tank from the elements is Tank Mate, a vinyl tank cover that runs between $300 and $700. (Meenan Oil Co.; 516-783-1000 or 631-467- 5600; www.roth-usa.com)