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2020 KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY SHOW | NEWSWIRE | ASK MATT

PLANNING A KITCHEN OR BATH REMODEL? CHECK OUT THESE NEW PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2020 KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY SHOW.

1 BUY IT

1SPA-LIKE EXPERIENCE INSTALLS IN MINUTES

MFG: Delta WEB: homedepot.com INFO: The Delta HydroRain H2Okinetic Two-in-One Shower Head with hand shower completely transforms your daily routine with dual functionality. The power of the raincan and hand shower together creates an immersive showering experience that you can install in minutes to a standard shower arm, without altering the plumbing behind the wall. The integrated hand shower stays put every time thanks to magnetic docking and provides flexibility and control when you need it, while the H2Okinetic PowerDrench Spray feels like more water, warmth and intensity without using more water.

2FOG-FREE SHAVING

MFG: Clear Mirror WEB: clearmirror.com INFO: Clarity is a new luxury fogfree shaving mirror that installs in any shower without remodeling. Designed with heating technology the company invented 20 years ago, Clarity mounts fast and easy on any smooth surface and can be removed for periodic cleaning. American-made, the system is UL/UN listed for additional safety.

2020 KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY SHOW

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4 3

3SOUND FOR YOUR SHOWER

MFG: Kohler Co. WEB: kohler.com INFO: The portable smart speaker of the Kohler Moxie Showerhead delivers outstanding natural sound balance and provides hands-free control that performs seamlessly in the shower, in the home or on the go. With sound by Harman Kardon tuned specifically to overcome the white noise of a shower, the speaker is sold as a stand-alone or showerhead combo. Choose from BlueTooth or an AI Speaker embedded with Amazon Alexa. Magnetic docking ensures the fully waterproof speaker is securely in place, and the included charging dock allows cordless charging.

4MIELE G 7000 DISHWASHER

MFG: Miele WEB: miele.com INFO: Featuring AutoDos and its integrated PowerDisk technology, the Generation 7000 dishwasher from Miele automatically dispenses the precise amount of detergent needed for a specific program. Extended app capabilities allow users to control and monitor their G 7000 dishwasher from anywhere, as well as to activate programs and options from their smartphones. Aside from loading and unloading, the machine takes care of the rest.

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5TWO-TIER COOKWARE ORGANIZER

MFG: Rev-A-Shelf, LLC WEB: rev-a-shelf.com INFO: Take the frustration out of cookware storage with these Rev-a-Shelf pullouts designed specifically for cookware storage and organization. Available for 18- and 24-in. base cabinets, these soft-close drawers feature sturdy dovetail construction, stylish chrome accents, wooden pegs, lid and pot/pan organizers, and full-extension with over-travel Movento slides. Pegboard bottoms allow limitless customization, and the wood finish complements any kitchen cabinet.

6INSTALL THIS PFISTER FASTER

MFG: Pfister WEB: wayfair.com INFO: Miri is the first of its kind, a pull-down kitchen faucet with Pfister’s patented Top Pfit Technology, which makes installation faster and more convenient with an above-the-deck solution. Users can almost eliminate the discomfort and hard work of a traditional installation by simply inserting the faucet body through the top of the deck and using the included Top Pfit tool to tighten the bracket below the deck. The Spot Defense brushed nickel finish prevents the daily buildup of water spots and fingerprints, ensuring a clean, smooth look.

2020 KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY SHOW

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7UNDERMOUNT SINK FOR LAMINATE

MFG: MR Direct WEB: mrdirectint.com INFO: Available from MR Direct, the SinkLink is an innovative installation piece that makes it easy to install an undermount sink into any laminate countertop. Offered in three colors and compatible with 20 models of the company's stainless steel sinks, the SinkLink acts as a secure barrier that creates a clean-cut finish and prevents liquids from passing through.

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THE ONLY VOICEACTIVATED FAUCET THAT WILL DISPENSE WATER AMOUNTS AS SMALL AS ONE TBSP.

8VOICE-ACTIVATED FAUCET

MFG: Moen WEB: moen.com INFO: U by Moen Smart Faucet is the only voice-activated faucet on the market that will dispense water amounts as small as one tbsp. and as large as 15 gal. at a specific temp. Users can ask Amazon or Google voice assistants to start/stop water flow, activate presets and perform specific tasks like fractional measurements, temperature--precise (90°) or generic (hot)--and combined requests (1 cup of 90° water).

NEWSWIRE

GENERATION T FOR THE FUTURE

Gearing up for 2020, Generation T is a movement helping fill the skilled trades gap that analysts predict will leave three million jobs open by 2028. The projected job shortage will create project delays and limit access to qualified contractors. The goal is to shift the perception of the skilled trades among younger generations by demonstrating the economic mobility and career opportunities available.

Lowe’s launched the movement in 2019 alongside more than 60 industry leaders including 3M, Timberland Pro, Samsung and Bosch, and nonprofits like SkillsUSA. Last fall, at the first-ever Generation T Bunk Build at Rose Bowl Stadium, 300 students enrolled in SkillsUSA carpentry programs worked with skilled carpenters to build 100 bunk beds for the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Through Generation T’s website, interested candidates can learn about educational opportunities and prospective entry-level jobs in skilled trades, while professional contractors and small businesses can post available jobs, programs, apprenticeships and training opportunities. Find out more at WeAreGenerationT.com.

NEWSWIRE

THE HARDEST HOME CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN AMERICA

When it comes to home-improvement, what are hardest jobs to learn and master? To find out, CraftJack, an online lead-referral service, surveyed 1,609 contractors and 652 consumers, asking them to rank 32 types of contractor work.

Consumers and contractors agreed roofing and demolition are the most physically demanding trades. And while contractors voted carpentry as the third-most physically demanding trade, it barely cracked the top ten for consumers.

Of course, muscle isn’t all you need on a job site. It takes many years of training and patience to fully command some trades and produce masterful work. When each survey group was asked what sort of work is most difficult to master, both consumers and contractors rated electrical, carpentry, HVAC, and cabinets/countertops as the most difficult. Find out more at craftjack.com.

ASK MATT

QUESTION: Can I install a fan on a sloped ceiling?

ANSWER: That will depend on the design of your fan and its mounting mechanism. Somefans that use the modern hanging bracket and hanger ball can be installed at a maximum angle of 15 degrees, provided the recessed outlet box is securely fastened to strong framing support, and that the opening of the mounting bracket is oriented at the top. Some fans can install on vaulted ceilings up to 35 degrees. However, if your ceiling has a pitch greater than the maximumslope the fan's in-box mounting kit can accommodate, it will need a Sloped Ceiling Adapter for proper installation. Check with the ceiling fan’s manufacturer to see if a compatible kit is available.

QUESTION: How do I whitewash a brick fireplace?

ANSWER: First step is to brush away any loose grit. Clean the brick with dish soap, water and a rag, then rinse it well. Use painter's tape to mask the brick from surrounding surfaces. Cover the floor with a drop cloth. In a bucket, mix equal parts white latex paint and water, and blend it well. Brush the whitewash first onto the grout lines first, then onto the brick face. Wipe off excess whitewash with a clean cloth as you go. Remove the painter's tape while the paint is still wet, then allow the paint to dry overnight.

QUESTION: Why do deck-building instructions require fastening a ledger board’s lag bolts in a zig-zag pattern rather than a straight line?

ANSWER: The staggered pattern of the lag-screw or through-bolt locations ensures there’s enough wood around and between the fasteners to reduce splitting the ledger board. The recommended pattern also recommends minimum and maximum distances the two rows of fasteners can be spaced apart to achieve maximum holding power while not splitting.

QUESTION: Does thinning paint affect the quality of its finish?

ANSWER: Most paints are ready to go right out of the can with no reduction necessary. Some products can be reducedto some degree, and the instructions on the container should indicate the maximum reduction allowed (if any) and the correct type of reducer. Reducing paint product past the recommended levels will not give you the same performance characteristics or finish quality. Always use the recommended solvent and never reduce past the amounts recommended by the manufacturer.

Got a question for Matt? Visit Matt’s blog at HIRpub.blog.

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