New Arrivals: Spring AheadSome of the best new choices for the season, including a selection of earth-friendly products.

Source: BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine

Publication date: 2007-03-08

Snap Lock Industries. The AccuPark insert is the newest module for the company's RaceDeck brand garage flooring. Simply snap the unit in place as part of the modular flooring to easily guide vehicles into place in the garage. Driving over the first bump in the plate is the driver's signal to brake with the confidence that his front wheels are correctly positioned in the garage. Each module measures 1 foot wide by 2 feet long. 800-457-0174. www.racedeck.com.

Pittsburgh Corning. Reducing solar heat transmission by 38 percent and raising insulation value 23 percent, Insolar low-E glass block decreases heating and cooling loads and glare to protect against UV rays. Used in window, exterior wall, and stairwell applications, it comes in three sizes. 800-624-2120. www.pittsburghcorning.com.

Native Trails. Made from materials such as recycled copper and handcrafted products, the Maestro collection features vessel lavatories that sit above the counter. With surfaces that reveal the thousands of hammer strokes that go into each bowl, the bowls come in tempered copper and brushed nickel finishes. The collection consists of the Maestro Round Vessel, the Maestro Bajo, and the Maestro Oval. 800-786-0862. www.nativetrails.net.

Milgard. The new Tuscany and Montecito series double-hung windows are made from the company's own vinyl formulation. The Tuscany series offers the style and beauty of traditional wood without the maintenance headaches, and was designed for replacement window applications. The Montecito series is designed for new construction. Both come standard with low-E glass and an exclusive "positive action" lock, so when the window is closed, it's locked. 800-645-4273. www.milgard.com.

PEI Worldwide. This lightweight 85 percent polystyrene and 15 percent cement insulating building block gives homes up to 60 percent energy savings, the manufacturer says. Siding, brick, or stucco can be applied directly to the block. The material has a high resistance to fire, termites, and black mold, the maker says. 713-973-2977. www.peiworldwide.com.

Fiber Composites. Fiberon Professional and Tropics decking styles are available with factory-milled grooves along each board's sides to accept Phantom hidden deck fasteners, creating fastener-free deck surfaces and allowing for speedy installation. Fiberon Tropics is made from recycled materials, and Phantom fasteners are designed for Fiberon by TigerClaw, the manufacturer says. The fasteners install from the top of the deck and are constructed from heavy gauge stainless steel. 704-463-7210. www.fibercomposites.com.

Porter-Cable. Featuring a top-cap design that is easily removed for service and cleaning, Palm-Grip quarter sheet sanders and Palm-Grip random orbit sanders offer improved ergonomics for comfortable body and top gripping; rubber grips dampen vibration. Quarter sheet sander models 342 and 342K (shown) have a 2.4-amp motor and are ideal for preparing surfaces for coatings. 888-848-5175. www.porter-cable.com.

Mar-flex Waterproofing and Basement Products. Shockwave is a crush-resistant drainage board that serves as a shock absorber to protect walls during backfill. The board is made from closed-cell, cross-linked polyethylene foam that absorbs pressure and bounces back to its original shape, the company says. It comes in 3-by-4-foot sheets and in thicknesses of 1/2, 1, and 2 inches. 800-498-1411. www.mar-flex.com.

Makita. The 2-inch brad nailer, model AF505, drives a range of 18-gauge brad nails from 5/8 inch up to 2 inches into hard or soft wood, with magazine capacity up to 100 nails. A tool-free depth adjustment dial allows for a variety of finish applications. The tool's sky hook can be rotated up to 180 degrees and attached on either the left or right side, so the tool can remain close by without being in the way. Dual nail reload indicator windows alert the user when to reload to avoid blank drives. 800-462-5482. www.makita.com.

Symmons. Part of the new Elements line of luxury home bathroom fittings, the Symmetrix Lexington Suite two-handle lavatory faucet features quarter-turn ceramic control components, lever handles, and a lift-rod and pop-up drain assembly. The suite includes an aerator, 1/2-inch IPS shanks, 8-inch to 16-inch centers, and metal construction. It is available in a brushed chrome, Radiance satin, or Radiance polished brass finish. 800-796-6667. www.symmons.com.

Buechel Stone. Chilton Woodlake Blend natural building and cladding stone features a combination of irregular- and rectangular-shaped pieces and a color range of gray, blue, brown, lavender, and mauve. Buechel Stone's building and landscape stone is quarried and distributed nationally. 800-236-4474. www.buechelstone.com.

Plastpro Doors. The Distinction Doors Signature series of fiberglass entry doors has been expanded with the Rustic collection. The Southwestern-style doors utilize the manufacturer's Hydroshield Technology to protect against moisture and water damage and prevent rotting and rusting. The doors feature deep wood graining and are architecturally correct, with proportionate stile-and-rail configurations, the maker says. 800-779-0561. www.distinctiondoors.com.

Amtico. Featuring a subtle, abstract surface pattern that does not mimic any natural materials, Amtico Linear flooring can be customized to many formats to suit the needs and space of the end-user. Linear comes in two natural tones to provide a neutral floor. The premium vinyl tile incorporates the maker's Multi Performance System, utilizing a surface urethane treatment for scuff resistance and low maintenance, a ceramic-impregnated top performance layer for slip resistance, and a high-density second performance layer for dent resistance. 404-267-1900. www.amtico.com.

Composatron. Made from wood/PVC composite Strandex, which features a bonded PVC capstock, Trademark Reserve railings offer the look and feel of white-painted wood railings, but will not rot, warp, fade, or peel, the maker says. The railing system's flat-topped, contoured handrail is 5-1/2 inches wide and comes in 12- and 16-foot lengths. An over-the-post railing design reduces the number of post caps needed to complete installation and gives a clean, streamlined appearance. 416-335-6500. www.trademarkrailing.com.

FauxWoodBeams. Constructed with polyurethane beams that are molded from a natural wood model to achieve a raised grain surface, the Pergola Kit measures 13 feet square and 8-1/2 feet tall when assembled. The Classical-style columns are reinforced with a mixture of 20 percent composite and 80 percent stone dust to provide a strong base for the polyurethane beams. A UV-resistant finish resists fading, insects, and rot, and withstands extreme temperatures, the manufacturer says. Aluminum plating, screws, and shafting are all included in the kit. 800-651-4223. www.fauxwoodbeams.com.

Panasonic. Made for quiet operation, WhisperGreen ventilation fans use DC motors, built-in controls, and motion sensors. Operating at 75 percent to 400 percent above minimum energy requirements, the fans have custom variable-speed controls allowing them to run continuously at 30 to 80 cfm. A delay feature keeps fans on for an adjustable amount of time after the homeowner leaves the bathroom. 800-211-7262. www.panasonic.com.

DaVinci Roofscapes. Combined with the maker's 100 percent virgin polymer formula with embedded UV protectors, the Colorsafe coating system with Kynar anti-aging polymers ensures better, longer-lasting colors in the maker's line of synthetic roofing slates and shingles. In addition, three new color blends are being added to the DaVinci Shake line of roofing: charcoal gray and mocha-toned Tahoe and Mountain. 800-328-4624. www.davinciroofscapes.com.

Barron Designs. The FauxPanels.com line has been expanded with several new styles of faux paneling and siding that emulate brick, stone, and wood. Molded from real wood, stone, and brick materials and constructed from rigid polyurethane, the Faux Panels are lightweight, fade resistant, easy to install, and low maintenance. New styles include stacked stone, brick, stone wall, and bamboo. The panels are available with a Class A fire rating. 800-651-4223. www.fauxpanels.com.

Chief Architect. A new add-on module to the Chief Architect design software family, Chief Architect CAD Designer's Toolkit offers several tools to help save designers time. The Toolkit features a collection of more than 340 CAD details that can be used as construction documents and a CAD Detail Template file with components that can be arranged to create custom details. New wall layer definitions and a new AIA layer set for use within Chief Architect are also included. 800-482-4433. www.chiefarchitect.com.

Dawn Solar. Installed under roofing or siding, the Dawn Solar System is a flat-plate collection system that makes the sun's energy available for use in hot water, warm air, radiant, and other types of heating. An electric/thermal system produces heat and electricity from the same roof plane. 800-803-1476. www.dawnsolar.com.

Schulte. The FreedomRail Double Hang O-Box fits in the 9-inch space between two stacks of Double Hang in a closet, creating space in an area that is underutilized in most closets, according to the manufacturer. The O-box is available in three styles--one-drawer, two-drawer, and shoe cubby--and three colors: cherry, white, and maple. Buyers can further personalize it with drawer dividers or a jewelry insert. 800-669-3225. www.schultestorage.com.

Leviton. For use as a single-pole, three-way, or multi-location sensor, the New Decora Manual-On occupancy sensor turns on manually but switches off automatically once it no longer detects occupancy. It has a 15-amp rating that can control up to 1,800 watts of incandescent, low-voltage, or fluorescent lighting. An optional adjustment delays off settings. 800-323-8920. www.leviton.com.

Alcoa Home Exteriors. The exterior products manufacturer is adding new colors to select profiles of its vinyl, metal, injection-molded, and Cedar Discovery siding products, soffits, accessories, and designer accents. Dark, rich new colors include hazelwood, terra cotta, lakeshore fern, vintage brick, autumn gold, Portsmouth blue, and Montana suede. In addition, the shutter collection's palette is expanding with copper and dark berry hues. 800-962-6973. www.alcoahomes.com.

Bendix Architectural Products. Hand-carved of basswood, American maple, cherry, and red oak, the Acorn decorative center displays four groups of three acorns. Ideal for adding detail to walls, panels, doors, and cabinetry, the Acorn center comes in three different sizes in stain-grade woods. 800-526-0240. www.bendixarchitectural.

Atlas Homewares. Fusing metal and leather, the Zanzibar collection of coordinating kitchen hardware and bath accessories is ideal for contemporary settings with its sleek, tubular shapes. Available in brushed nickel and chrome finishes with brown or black leather accents, the collection includes 20-inch appliance pulls, 5.35-inch drawer pulls, 6-inch towel rings, 22- and 28-inch towel bars, 1-1/2-inch hooks, and more. 800-799-6755. www.atlashomewares.com

Toto. Using 20 percent less water than traditional 1.6-gpf toilets, the Soirée High Efficiency Toilet boasts a 1.28-gpf gravity-fed flush system. Cleaning itself after every flush, the toilet is coated in a slippery, high-ionic bond gloss that repels waste and bacteria. With a one-piece skirted bowl, the toilet measures 17 inches from base to seat. 800-350-8686. www.totousa.com.

NuCedar Mills. Designed to complement exterior cellular PVC trim, this tapered clapboard siding is milled from solid CPVC and has a look that is similar to clapboards milled from Western red cedar, the company says. Measuring 6 inches wide, the boards have a coating that makes them durable and come in 22 standard colors as well as custom colors. 866-393-8883. www.nucedar.com.

Snaidero. This Italian company's Skyline kitchen offers numerous accessible configurations adaptable for any number of individual needs. Lowered or standard-height cabinets, heat-resistant wrap-around counters with contoured edges, rolling waste bins, turntables, backsplash panels equipped with utensil storage, sink, cooktop, and refrigerator are all arranged within arm's reach. 310-516-8499. www.snaidero-usa.com.

Watt Stopper/Legrand. The Miro line of wireless lighting control products is available in a Decorator style, which fits residential home styles. Powered by 900 MHz, the system has whole house and room scene control with a panic function, a vacation mode, and coordinated control of lamps and small appliances. Features such as dimming control bring energy savings. It installs with standard wallboxes and existing electrical wiring. 408-988-5331. www.wattstopper.com.

PAM Fastening Technology. Especially well-suited for drywall applications, the PC-12 cordless screwgun has a lightweight, ergonomic design that makes quick work of large projects. The tool accommodates 1- to 2-inch fasteners with 600 to 900 screws per charge and is ideal for use where a corded tool is inconvenient or electrical power is not available. 800-699-2674. www.pamfast.com.

Rinnai. With a maximum output of 9.8 gpm, the R98 Tankless Water Heater uses either natural or propane gas. Providing domestic hot water and hydronic heat, it has a 10-year heat exchanger warranty and 20-year life expectancy. The water heater has a compact, lightweight design and maintains its temperature for continuous hot water, the manufacturer says. 800-621-9419. www.foreverhotwater.com.

Railing Dynamics. The wood-plastic composite technology of the Novaline railing system features a patented oriented long-strand wood fiber for greater strength and wood content than other composites. Two customizable, upgradable base kits include a white co-extruded system or an unfinished wood composite that can be painted or stained. Copper or stainless steel accents also are available. All Novaline systems require minimal hardware and no special tools. 877-420-7245. www.rdirail.com.

Princeton Delivery Systems. A highly compact design provides the PiggyBack PB45 advantages in size, weight, and maneuverability. While the all-wheel-drive power is comparable to the maker's larger PB50, the PB45's 4,500-pound capacity and on-site agility make it ideal for tile, roofing, lumber, and brick applications, especially where weight or site congestion and obstructions are problems. 614-834-5041. www.piggy-back.com.

Swirnow Building Systems. VerdeX is a sound-reducing underlayment for ceramic tile, natural stone, and hardwood flooring. Made from 100 percent recycled rubber and available in a variety of thicknesses, the underlayment will not rot, develop mold or mildew, or absorb water, according to the manufacturer. The product has achieved FIIC ratings of more than 60, the maker says. 800-338-8833. www.swirnow.com.