February 2007 Product Preview

Featuring the company's Acrytol formula, Flood's FloodPro Supreme Performance premium finish is a waterborne system that penetrates deep into wood. The stain can be used on surfaces and conditions such as exotic hardwood and high-altitude applications and is guaranteed to last five years on exterior vertical surfaces and three years on decks.

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Tiki Mini Pendants from Meyda Tiffany, handcrafted of fine art glass, sport a brushed nickel finish. The pendants are featured in cobalt, kelp and flame. Each mini pendant is 30 inches tall and 5 inches wide. The company also offers various other collections, including the Old Forge and Art Glass windows.

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One-piece, pre-formed niches for use in tile installation projects by Bonsal are, according to the company, easy to install and are ready to tile in minutes. The products are available in four styles — square, narrow combo, soap and wide combo — for applications in the bathroom or recessed shelving.

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Keeping with the compact HVAC unit trend, York's mc2 AC unit features a variable speed motor and a quieter operation volume at 72dB. The unit outputs single-stage heat and is 13 SEER. The unit has a five-year warranty on the compressor and a five-year limited warranty on its functional parts.

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The Home Spa towel warming drawer from Jacuzzi can hold up to four towels in the drawer by draping them over the specially designed heat-generating poles. The towels are warmed to 120 degrees in 15 minutes. The product is offered in a standard 36-inch or 24-inch size and can be incorporated into existing cabinets.

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Hydro Ban by Laticrete is a thin load-bearing waterproofing and anti-fracture membrane that inhibits mold growth and does not require the use of fabric in the field, coves or corners. It bonds directly to drains and pipe penetrations and allows for flood testing in only 24 hours. It is backed by a 10-year system warranty.

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The tubular locking system family from Baldwin includes sectional and emergency egress entrance sets, deadbolts and knob and lever sets. Interior passage, privacy and keyed sets are available as well. Named after a 17th-century New York village, the Bethpage locking hardware has 17 finishes forged out of brass.

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Crafted from brass, Accents decorative storm door latches and levers are available in Hickory Hardware's Cumberland, Villa, Georgian, Serenade and mortise styles in polished brass and satin nickel finishes. Accents coordinates with the company's Wright Products Impressions line of entry door hardware and fits most wood or metal out-swinging storm doors from 34-inch to 1¼-inches thick.

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The latest privacy 1¾-inch pocket door locks from L.E. Johnson Products feature automatic latching; push-button latch disengagement for easy door opening; and one-touch privacy locking with emergency release. The locks fit standard 218-inch bores and can be used in single or converging pocket door applications.

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The Hi-Security locks from Marks USA has a combination standard pin tumbler cylinder with a side-bar locking mechanism corresponding to a security feature designated by uniquely shaped side pins corresponding to a factory-milled groove on the key. Cylinders currently available include mortise; rim; a combination mortise and rim; key-in-knob; and deadbolt.

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The electronic keypad locks and deadbolts from Schlage, a division of Ingersoll Rand Security, feature a four-digit code system on blue LED-lit keypad. The owner has two preprogrammed access codes and can store an additional 17 codes. The line has eight finishes in two different designs and runs on a nine-volt battery.

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Locksets from Black and Decker's Weiserlock brand now feature the company's iron black finish, available in the company's following product lines: Augusta Handleset, Aspen levers, Troy knobs, Family and on the D9000 Series Deadbolt and the latest addition, the keyless Powerbolt (shown). The finish is guaranteed not to scratch, corrode or tarnish over time.

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The Mulholland and Eydon collections (shown) from Amerock feature finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze and weathered nickel copper for cabinets or drawers. The Mulholland line features curves and the Eydon has a worn look with rugged textures. Coordinating hardware for appliance doors is also available.

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The stainless steel Zephyr bath collection from designer Adrienne Morea and Atlas Homewares features coordinating towel bars, rings, robe hooks and a toilet paper holder. The back plates are 2 by 3 inches except those for the 24-inch towel bar, which are 2½ by 3 inches. Each piece includes concealed mounting hardware.

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While treated lumber and cedar continue to have their place in the decking market, composites are leading the way.

"That's where all the growth is coming from," says Michael Morrow, president of Outdoor Living/Archadeck of St. Louis, one of the leading deck installers and dealers in the country. "Eighty percent of our business now comes from composites."

Customers are asking remodelers for composites, largely thanks to exposure on the the Internet, television and in print. Consumers are doing their research, Morrow says.

"Composites fit with today's homeowners and their maintenance-free attitudes," he says. "They've got vinyl siding, they've got vinyl windows — they want their deck to be that easy, too."

For remodelers, composites don't require much of a learning curve when it comes to installation. The biggest challenge for most installers new to composites is getting used to hauling the boards, because their higher density makes them heavier than wood, Morrow says. Because of that higher density, Morrow recommends that his installers and his customers predrill before inserting screws to avoid "mushrooming" that can detract from the final look of the deck.

One other area of concern: although composites will not change shape due to moisture gain or loss, the lengths can be affected by severe thermal gain and loss. A 16-foot board will shift about ¼ inch in a 100-degree swing, which is not out of the ordinary in some northern parts of the country throughout the year.

Made in 6- by 6-foot sections, the latest post covers from Deckorators include the Stacked Stone Collection made in the company's canyon, gray and Sedona colors. Each post cover is 24 inches tall and is made of a high-density polyurethane epoxy with a proprietary molding process that mimics the look of stone. Connectors accommodate a variety of rail angles, and the product features a 25-year warranty against cracking, splitting or warping.

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Cherry and earthtone colors have been added to A.E.R.T.'s MoistureShield composite decking line. The material has a deep wood grain texture and is made of recovered wood fiber and recycled polyethylene plastic. Colors also include Cape Cod gray, seasoned mahogany, rustic cedar and classic natural. The company provides a 50-year limited warranty.

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According to the company, the CrossTimbers composite decking and RailWays composite railing from ElkCorp resists sagging, splintering, warping, insects and rotting. The beams span 24 inches and are treated with non-toxic chemicals. The decking can be assembled with the company's EZ-Build or Sabre concealed clip fasteners and is available in four colors. The line carries a 20-year limited warranty.

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Remodelers can choose from either a wood grain pattern or a smooth contemporary look with Trex's Accents reversible deck boards. The product line is made in reddish-brown, Winchester grey, saddle (tan) and woodland brown. The boards are made out of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic and the colors reach their final shades after eight to 12 weeks of outdoor exposure.

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TEK Deck Pro by composite deck manufacturer Teknor combines a UV absorber with a biocide. The line uses the company's Masterbatch technology, which incorporates pigments whose high infrared reflectance level reduces heat buildup in deck components that can cause polymer degradation.

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The Exotics from Fiber Composites' Fiberon family is a composite deck line designed to mimic exotic tropical wood. Two options are available: the Jatoba, which copies the grains of woods such as ipe and cambara, and the Mahogany, made to look similar to natural mahogany, redwood or Brazilian cherry. The line features a 20-year limited warranty.

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The Harmony Select Decking and Railing System from Royal Crown uses the company's Celucor blend of wood fibers, vinyl and cellular PVC capped in a thermoplastic resin. The boards have a variegated wood grain appearance and are offered in deep red mahogany and weathered gray. According to the company, the boards are colorfast and are covered by a warranty.

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