January 21, 2009
Day Two Is In the Can
We had a great day today. We spoke with lots of vendors about some great products, and we did our best to answer some more of your questions.
For example, Dee asked about flooring options that are durable and easy to clean. We stopped by to chat with the folks at Shaw to ask about durable, easy-to-clean flooring options. We learned that it's often a matter of personal preference. For example, ceramic tile is very durable and easy to clean. However, the grout can sometimes be an issue, and there's always a risk that anything dropped on the floor might break. Hardwood flooring is one alternative to consider, but the top recommendation was that of laminate flooring. Laminate is durable and easy to clean; however, some homeowners might have issues with it not looking exactly like hardwood -- as well as the noise it produces when people walk across it.
James asked about new roofing products, especially for flat roofs. So, we talked to the people at GAF, who told us that there's really no such thing as a "flat" roof. (Or, if there is, it's because of a bad design.) GAF has a peel-and-stick roofing product that can be used in place of shingles. Brian has a low-slope roof, and he was quite impressed with the new product.
Mike said that he'd like to learn more about building information modeling (BIM). We talked to the folks at Cadsoft, who are leaders in BIM. We learned that Cadsoft has been using BIM for quite some time. They've got a system in place that allows multiple users with a wide variety of different types of software to share information about a home design. For example, the architects could design the house and send files to the builder, who could then take the files to a lumberyard -- which would then be able to use those files to provide all the lumber necessary to build the home. And all this could be done without everyone needing to buy new software. We're planning to produce a video on this subject to give you more details.
Knowing the current issues surrounding the recent mandate for installing fire sprinklers on new homes, we decided to talk to the people at Rapid Response, a fire sprinkler company. I have to confess, I learned quite a bit. For example, I had been under the impression that once one sprinkler went off, they all went off. Turns out, that only happens in the movies. Also, the cost isn't quite as prohibitive as you might imagine. As installers get better and better, the price goes down -- sometimes to as little as $1 per square foot of home. And some insurance companies offer discounts as much as 20% for homes with sprinklers, so it's possible that the cost of the sprinklers could be covered by insurance savings in as little as 5 years. Again, we're planning on putting a video together on this subject to give you more information.
Another video we're planning to produce deals with an amazing new product called SawStop. And let me tell you, this thing is flat-out COOL! Basically, what it does is to completely shut down the saw blade if it comes in contact with your skin. The technology is based on the same principle that makes touch-lamps work -- namely that the human body has an inherent electrical charge -- and if the blade comes in contact with skin, it instantly detects that voltage and stops the blade's rotation with a brake. The SawStop folks demonstrate the saw with a hot dog, and it gives you a really good idea of how well it would work in saving your finger from a nasty cut.
If you have any suggestions on other topics you'd like us to cover, please send them our way!
Posted by Ralph Davis, HGTVPro.com Staff at 9:46 PM
January 20, 2009
One Down, Three to Go
First, a quick house-keeping note. Several folks have commented that they'd like to see a longer show with fewer commercials. Unfortunately, we don't have any information on HGTV's airing of its on-air International Builders Show special this year. However, you'll still be able to see footage and special features from the show here on HGTVPro.com -- as well as on our show, HGTVPro.com Weekly, which airs on Saturday mornings at 6:30 on HGTV.
Now that's out of the way, here's how our first day in Vegas at the Show went down.
- It looks like LED lights are gaining traction in the energy efficiency market -- and why not? One fixture at the Seagull Lighting booth touted a lifespan of 35,000 hours! We also found out that using LED lighting is more than just replacing bulbs. If you really want to do it right, you'll need to replace the receptacles -- and sometimes even the switches, as well.
- Kolbe Windows & Doors took some time to show us some of their new products for universal design. They demonstrated their latest line of windows with easy-to-use crank handles, as well as automated opening systems and doors with built-in wheelchair ramps that make it easy for folks with disabilities to make adjustments.
- Brian and I ran across an interesting decking product called DryJoist. It's an aluminum framing/rainshelter system that replaces the wooden joists in a deck. It reduces the need for wooden deck framing, thus increasing the headroom space below the deck, and once it's installed, there's no need to add any additional ceiling work under the deck.
- Brian spent some time in the HGTV booth chatting with Steven Ribeiro with Aldeia Development in Independence, Oregon. He's several months away from completing a project in Oregon that he hopes will one day be the highest LEED rated project ever.
In addition to these highlights, we saw other folks -- some old friends as well as some new faces -- and set up some video sessions to help answer some of those questions you sent us before the trip. Tomorrow, we'll see about answering a few of those questions in our blog post.
But please feel free to shoot us any other questions that are on your mind about IBS.
Posted by Ralph Davis, HGTVPro.com Staff at 11:48 PM
January 13, 2009
Next Week, We'll Be in Vegas
The folks at HGTVPro.com are gearing up for our visit to the International Builders Show in Las Vegas next week. We'll be walking the show floor looking for cool new products --- as well as answers to the questions you've sent us. We'll share our findings with you on this blog.
Many thanks to those of you who told us what you'd like to see from the show. Here are a few of the topics you said you'd like us to cover:
- Green energy technology, such as solar, wind, and kinetic power
- Recycled (or reclaimed) products and ways to improve on-site recycling
- New adhesives, such as a high-quality tile cement that will help eliminate the need for backerboard and will reduce tile breakage.
- New roofing products, especially for flat roofs.
- Alternatives to MDF molding.
- New gadgets and inventions to help save time and labor.
- Green remodeling systems and products to help homeowners know their best options for HVAC, new windows, etc. --- so that they can improve efficiency without sacrificing attractiveness.
- New kitchen and bath products.
- New pavers and deck materials.
- Floor and wall tiles made from glass or porcelain.
- Recycled glass countertops.
- Pricing information on how long it takes to realize a financial benefit from switching to green building products and materials.
- Green cabinets, countertops, and work surfaces.
- Tools for lifting heavy or bulky objects, such as water heaters.
- Information on solar generators.
- Universal design information for homes that are equally accessible to people in wheelchairs as well as folks who are more than 6 feet tall.
- Kitchen faucets that can be activated with a foot pedal.
- Geodesic concrete home alternatives.
- Cost comparisons of new technologies (e.g., SIPS, ICF, steel framing etc.) versus traditional stick-built construction.
- Whole-house water filtration systems.
- Information on jetted tubs, such as the cost and health comparisons of air jets versus water jets.
- Information on new technologies to improve the translation from design to construction. For example, what improvements have been made over traditional blueprints?
- Information on greenhouses that can be installed on small properties.
- Alternative heating technology.
If you've got any additional topics you'd like to see us cover, please share them with us by submitting a comment to this blog.
Posted by Ralph Davis, HGTVPro.com Staff at 1:43 PM | Comments (22) | TrackBack
