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VIRTUAL CONSTRUCTION CONVENTIONS FACE TECH CHALLENGES NEW PRODUCTS FOR THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM
In February, two major construction-related virtual events suffered technical difficulties that interfered with attendee access to the online exhibits. Although the educational sessions at both IBSx (International Builders’ Show) and KBISvirtual (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) went ahead as scheduled, the product introductions were offline, prompting show officials to offer refunds to the attendees.
Although the technical problems impeded press coverage of the new products, HIR worked behind the scenes to get the scoop on some of the latest rollouts for the kitchen and bath.
1 WETWALL WALL PANEL SYSTEM
MFG: WilsonArt WEB: www.wetwall.com INFO: Instead of using tile and grout when water is ever-present, the Wetwall Water-Proof Wall Panel System from WilsonArt provides a single panel that’s waterproof. It’s a tongue-and-groove product that is easy to work with and can be installed without any special tooling in as little as 2.5 hours. Once it’s in, it requires little effort to maintain because it's groutfree. Ideal for bathrooms and showers, this patented wall system withstands daily use and is available in an array of nature-inspired "on trend" designs.
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2 CIA BATHROOM FAUCET WITH MOTIONSENSE WAVE
MFG: Moen WEB: www.moen.com INFO: Combining hands-free technology with a beautiful design, Moen’s first-ever touchless bathroom faucet features a single sensor on the faucet base in line with the handle to provide hands-free control, so users can turn water on and off exactly when they need it with just the wave of a hand. This innovation eliminates the need to touch the bathroom faucet when washing hands, helping to reduce the spread of germs, while also providing the striking style consumers prefer.
3 SIDEKICK SHOWER SYSTEM
MFG: Peerless WEB: www.peerlessfaucet.com INFO: Get more versatility from your shower with the SideKick Shower System, which is simple to install on an existing shower arm and comes with special attachments for cleaning your pet, baby and the shower itself. It also has a pause button, which allows the user to lather or change position without worry of water waste. The shower head features five spray patterns and includes a cleaning-pad attachment, a pet attachment with “fingers” to scrub dirty pet fur, plus a suction-cup solution for flexible mounting. Quickly re-dock the wand while sitting or kneeling outside of the tub, keeping it out of dirty water.
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4 BROAN-NUTONE SURFACESHIELD VENT FANS
MFG: Broan-NuTone WEB: www.broan-nutone.com INFO: Winner of an IBSx Platinum New Product Award, the Broan-NuTone SurfaceShield bathroom vent fans are designed to alleviate mold and mildew buildup in bathrooms using Vyv patented LED technology designed for hands-free disinfection. The antimicrobial light technology reduces bacteria, fungi and mold, and it’s coupled with the powerful and quiet 110 CFM Roomside series bathroom ventilation fan to remove pollutants from the air in the room. The 110 CFM fan runs at a whisper quiet 1.0 sones, so you’ll hardly notice it’s there.
5 PFISTER NORDEN AND PORT HAVEN FAUCETS
MFG: Pfister WEB: www.pfisterfaucets.com INFO: Two new pull-down kitchen faucets from Pfister— the Norden and the Port Haven models—feature three state-of-the-art features. The MagnePfit magnetic docking feature uses powerful magnets to keep the spray head firmly secured to the spout in conjunction with a weight located on the hose to provide quick and effortless retraction. To help align the spray head after each use, Auto-Align technology utilizes threaded grooves subtly located at the base of the spray head that work with corresponding grooves inside the spout to re-orient the head for perfect positioning. The third feature is Pfister’s HydroBlade high-pressure spray pattern engineered to blast away hard-to-clean messes with ease.
YOUR FAVORITE NON-SCRATCH SCRAPER WIDER!TOOL JUST GOT
Save Time and Effort When Cleaning Small Surfaces, Edges & Grooves!
ORIGINAL MODEL AND NEW WIDE BLADE FEATURES: ROUNDED TIPS —BETTER SCRAPER THAN A FINGERNAIL FLAT-EDGED TIPS—WON’T SCRATCH LIKE A SCREWDRIVER POINTED TIPS—BETTER THAN A TOOTHPICK FOR CLEANING GROOVES AND CORNERS
Remove stickers, tape,caulk, putty, grime & more!
Available in original 2-packs, 5-packs and new wide blade 3-packs 6 CORIAN ENDURA
MFG: DuPont WEB: www.endura.corian.com INFO: How’d you like a countertop made of a high-performance porcelain? The new Corian Endura product is made from a recipe of natural minerals compressed together under extreme pressure and then heated at high temperature in a similar way to how nature forges a diamond. The resulting material is a densely packed mass characterized by its durability and beauty. HIR attended an online demonstration, where Endura passed a scratch test, wiped clean after being marked with a Sharpie, and withstood high temperatures from the direct flame of a butane torch. Impressive! Corian Endura is comparable to the price of nicer quartz. It’s not a DIY product and will need to be fabricated by a certified Corian fabricator, but anyone who wants a countertop with a high-end look and high-end performance should check out this new material.
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8 GE ULTRAFRESH FRONT LOAD WASHERS
MFG: GE WEB: www.geappliances.com INFO: Since 46 percent people with a front-loading laundry washer complain of a mold/mildew odor, and 1 out of 2 owners switch back to a top-loader, something had to be done. To eliminate the odor, the new GE front-loading machines incorporate an enhanced drain, a new air venting and circulation system, plus Microban technology. GE Appliances developed a wider gasket that is angled to allow water to fully drain after the wash cycle. Plus, the new UltraFresh Vent System with OdorBlock creates a revolutionary new airflow at the touch of a button. After the wash cycle, the unit pulls in and circulates fresh air, removing moisture from the door, gasket and basket. GE tops off the UltraFresh odor-fighting features with exclusive Microban technology built into the gasket, dispenser and pump during manufacturing to help prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria in parts of the washer where moisture could linger.
7 SUPERSTEAM+ BUILT-IN WALL OVEN
MFG: Sharp WEB: shop.sharpusa.com INFO: The Sharp SuperSteam+ Built-in Oven is a hybrid convection oven that uses heat and water to cook. It has five high-performance cooking modes including Steam, Steam Bake, Convection Bake, Super Steam Grill, and Super Steam Roast. The combination of superheated steam and conventional, radiant heat in cooking modes is designed so food will be crispy and browned on the outside, moist on the inside. This built-in-ready 24-in. oven can be installed in a wall, under the counter or kitchen island with no additional trim kit needed. Download the Sharp SuperSteam+ app and connect to your home network to enable remote control operation of common features, like preheating.
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© Pavestone
“BACKYARDING” IS A GROWING TREND TO MOVE MANY INDOOR ACTIVITIES—FROM WORKING IN AN OFFICE OR CLASSROOM TO DINING AND RECREATION—TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
Under pandemic conditions, yards and other managed landscapes became a safe haven for social gatherings, working, studying, playing, exercising and relaxing.
“Your own backyard is nearly limitless with possibilities, and homeowners got really creative as they expanded and enjoyed their yards over the last year,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and the TurfMutt Foundation. “We predict, long after the COVID-19 pandemic passes, our yards will become an even greater part of our lives. The notion of ‘backyarding’ is here to stay.”
Here are some ways to bring more “backyarding” into your life:
1. Invest in your yard. Design your dream lawn and garden for a purpose, not just for aesthetics. Do you have kids and pets who need a place to play? Will
you host gatherings? Do you need a place for rest and relaxation and/or games and recreation?
2. Get the whole family involved. Ask other members of the household to help identify ways to move indoor life to the great outdoors. Can you take office calls and video meetings to the patio or porch? Can your kids do their online learning outdoors? How often can you take dining outside?
3. Plant something—as early as you can.
(Or plant more). Adding trees, bushes, grass and flowering plants is a good yard investment, but they often take time to grow. Plant as early as recommended so you can enjoy the benefits faster. Just remember “right plant, right place.” Location, maintenance, sunlight and watering needs should all be considered, as well as your climate zone.
4. Stretch winter-weary muscles. Let off some steam by mowing the grass, trimming the hedges, or edging the lawn. Working in the yard helps living landscapes look better and stay healthy, and provides you a productive way to get outdoor exercise.
5. Plan a staycation. A makeshift “resort” or vacation spot could be just out your back door. Construct a fire pit to have a “campfire” or a stonebuilt grilling area to host a barbecue.
6. “Level up” nature care. Add flowering plants, trees and shrubs to give wildlife and pollinators food and shelter. Your yard is part of the larger ecosystem, so check your climate zone for landscaping options that support the birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife in your area. You’ll soon be observing the wildlife and nature from your backyard.
Research shows spending time in nature–which starts in your backyard–is good for reducing stress, boosting heart health, boosting Vitamin D levels, and enhancing memory. Learn more at TurfMutt.com.
ASK MATT
QUESTION: How do I unclog a bathroom sink?
ANSWER: To fight a sink clog, most folks start by using a simple cup-shaped bathroom plunger. Pick a plunger with a large enough suction cup to completely cover the drain and create an airtight seal against the surrounding sink. Seal off any other outlets, such as the overflow drain in sinks, to create a vacuum, then fill the sink with enough water to cover the suction area. Push out any trapped air beneath the cup, then give the plunger 15 to 20 vigorous up-and-down pumping strokes to jolt loose the clog. This may take 3 to 5 times to work. If that doesn’t unclog the problem, you can remove the drain cover which closes the drain. To do this, first place a bucket beneath the sink to catch water. The drain cover opens and closes using a ball-andsocket lift lever at the back of the sink’s drain pipe. Unscrew and remove the retaining nut that holds the “ball” of the lever to the socket. This should allow you to slide the lever rod out of the keyhole on the bottom of the drain cover. You should then be able to pull the drain cover freely out of the sink drain, which is often what traps hair, objects and other debris in the drain. Use a wire coat hanger and hot water to clear out the drain pipe and thoroughly wash the drain cover before replacement.
If this still doesn’t work, you can use a pipe wrench to remove the P-trap beneath the sink, in which a foreign object may have gotten trapped in the turn of the pipe. You can also run a plumbing snake into the drain pipe past the P-trap to rout out clogs further down the line.
Need more info? Visit Matt’s blog at HomeImprovementAndRepairs.com.
NEWSWIRE
LUMBER-PRICE STICKER SHOCK
According to the National Association of Home Builders, lumber prices have skyrocketed more than 180% since last spring, and this price spike has caused the price of an average new single-family home to increase by $24,386 since April 17, 2020. Similarly, the market value of the average new multifamily home has increased by $8,998 over the same period due to the surge in lumber prices.
The latest Random Lengths prices as of mid-February show the price of framing lumber topped $975 per thousand board feet — a 180% increase since last April when the price was roughly $350 per thousand board feet.
High demand and low lumber supply are the result of people deciding en masse to move from multi-family city housing to single family homes in the suburbs, all while existing homeowners work to improve their dwellings. According a report from CNBC, “Strong housing demand, lowinterest rates, and a booming home remodeling continue to push prices higher. At some point, however, the basic reality of affordability should at least slow some of the growth.” H
