January 2008 Remodeler Product Preview

The KM 5753 30-inch, four-zone and the KM 5773 36-inch, five-zone induction cooktops from Miele sport innovative and easy-to-use timing functions, multiple power boosters, cookware recognition and auto heat programs. Both are available in black Ceran with a stainless steel frame.

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You can't beat real cedar — but you can at least look like it. CertainTeed's CedarBoards XL insulated siding is 16'8" long and is made in a double 6-inch clapboard profile with extruded polystyrene insulation. The boards are molded from real cedar planks and have a rough texture.

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Drawing on the classical style is Jeffrey Court's Mozart Mosaics line of wall, floor and decorative natural stone tiles. Moldings, mosaics, micro-mosaics and other patterns are available in a variety of sizes. Customers can mix and match style and patterns for designs that are truly unique.

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The creators of some of the world's finest cameras now have something else to brag about. The Leica DISTO D3 multi-functional laser distance meter measures runs of up to 325 feet to within 1/16 of an inch. It powers over nearby obstructions, and the built-in tilt sensor determines angles of up to 45 degrees while providing true horizontal distances.

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Ideal for fastening a metal deck to structural steel or metal joists (minimum ¼-inch thick), the compact X-76 from Hilti is perfect for wind tacking and fastening multi-level erections — you can drill up to 600 fasteners per hour. The system is easy to assemble and take apart and requires no tools.

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Born from a collaboration between Walker Zanger Tile and interior designer Michael Berman, the Studio Moderne Collection ranges from Hollywood Regency to Art Deco styles. The tiles are made with a combination of ceramic and natural stone in 30 separate designs.

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The Cartglass Luster Series of ¾ by ¾-inch glass tiles by Hakatai feature cool opal-like iridescent colors for exterior walls, countertops, backsplashes, pool or residential floors. The sleek-surfaced series is available in 1.15-square feet sheets which are mesh-back mounted for easy installation. Twelve opaque colors and seven standard are offered.

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Coming from across the pond is wool-rich luxury carpet manufacturer Brintons with their line of woven Axminster carpets. The company offers more than 200 styles in its stocked range collections and are now widely available in North America for the first time. Distribution will be based out of Atlanta.

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New stair riser offerings from Kerfkore include a new paint grade version at half the price of the standard veneer products. The risers are made in an 8-inch step height that can be ripped down to match new specs or existing stairs. For those who want to really go nuts, they can be purchased in single- or double-nosed or in red oak, pine and maple veneers.

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Following the 2006 CushionStep fiberglass flooring launch are 23 new designs from Armstrong Floor Products in the company's Wood, Stone and Impression lines under the 120-, 100-, and 80-mil Better and Best collections. Better additions include the Messina, Sedona canyon and shoreline beige.

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Hardwoods such as ebony, rosewood and walnut are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. A low-cost alternative called Alowood by EverTech uses plantation-grown, sustainable lumber that is organically hardened and colored throughout with the company's starch-based Everdex technology. The product is FSC-certified.

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You can slap these floors down with or without an adhesive, according to Domco. Its latest collections, the Urbana and Eloquence, feature easy maintenance and excellent dimensional stability. The floors are extremely quiet to walk over and carry a 15-year performance warranty.

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High-quality, prefinished stair treads by Stairtek are available in three widths and five lengths in 12 different exotic species. Treads and risers are sorted by appearance and grain patterns for a more consistent look. Builders looking to green up their operations can tell customers that, according to Stairtek, the wood is derived from environmentally managed forests. A 25-year residential wear guarantee is offered.

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The company recommends using its Trus Joist Wolmanized Parallam Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) in unprotected exterior applications or where structural framing will be exposed to elevated moisture conditions. The construction on iLevel's PSL allows the copper azole preservative treatment developed by Arch Wood Protection to penetrate to the core of the product for protection from termites, mold and moisture.

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Using both Georgia-Pacific's DensArmor Plus with its own QuietRock soundproof drywall, Quiet Solution's new Quiet-Rock DensArmor Plus 528 combines the top moisture, fire and mold resistance with excellent sound abatement properties. The product is 5/8-inch thick and hangs, installs and finishes like regular drywall.

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Made from fast-growing northern hardwoods and certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, LP's SolidStart LSL is a new wood line made from compressed thin wood strands protected with both end- and edge-seals. The product offers a dimensional strength of 1.75E and, according to LP, outperforms dimensional lumber.

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Made from fast-growing renewable woods is Premier Building Systems' latest Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). The SIPs consist of a layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation sandwiched between two layers of OSB. The company claims the product maintains a 55-percent higher whole-wall efficiency over traditional 2-by-6, R-19 construction.

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