PR January 2005

Chicago's North Shore is well known for teardowns, and this 1950s ranch home set on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan seemed a perfect prospect. The roof leaked, windows needed replacing, mechanicals were out of date, and the house was about half the size of those surrounding it in the community of Glencoe.

Missel combines design and technology with COLONNA's standalone bathroom design. Elementary components include triangular Missel compact elements that are grouped in a square column (46×46×115 cm). The four compact elements of washbasin, bidet and compact toilet cistern as well as the hot and cold water pipes and drainpipe are fitted with Missel's structure-borne sound insulation.

Supporting a world-class work force requires a world-class work environment — one that is safe, healthy, comfortable and productive. Adapting the workplace to meet these criteria and create working conditions that suit the worker is what the study of ergonomics is all about. Using ergonomic tools, equipment, work layouts and methods can cut remodeling firms' long-term costs by reducing in...

LP's Vinyl Norman Rockwell siding collection is now available in a premium shingle line. The Perfection Shingles are made from a heavy-grade polypropylene material. A water-management system designed to prevent damage to internal walls comes standard on the siding, which is made to withstand wind loads up to 160 miles per hour.

Alcoa Home Exteriors introduces DreamColor, a line of premium siding, shutters, designer accents, soffits and fascia available in 700 baseline colors such as Tropical Coral, Lemon Ice and Lavender Crème. DreamColor allows for custom colors to be created and paint hues to be duplicated to match existing siding with Alcoa's Color Cue tool.

Peachtree Doors & Windows adds a new design to its Newport entry door collection, featuring the look of a wood door inside and the appearance of a smooth door on the outside. The exterior is pre-finished and available in six standard colors, while the interior panel can be stained in Dark or Red Mahogany, Early American and Golden Oak.

As a card-carrying member of Generation X with a baby face that belies my age, I've been upholding the work ethic, drive, maturity, skills and knowledge of my cohort for more than a decade. I've never noticed the lack of initiative and attitude of entitlement that I've heard many employers claim to see in younger workers.

Pella's Vivid View window screens are virtually invisible, so the view to the outside is crisp and clear. The windows allow up to 50 percent more natural light and provide up to three times the airflow according to Pella. Backed by a five-year transferable warranty against chalking, fading, hazing and corrosion, and can be cleaned by hosing them off with water.

Warn Industries introduces an all-in-one portable winch and carrier combination, the Warn Works 3200AC-R. With an attached carrier that features an integrated mounting plate, roller fairlead, handle and built-in remote dock, the tool has a pull capacity of 3,200 pounds. and runs off a standard wall socket.

Looking at metrics for accounts payable, accounts receivable and working capital efficiency over time and against benchmarks can tell us if we are headed toward being cash strapped or if we can safely grow our business. They draw attention to payment and collection policies that might need closer investigation to keep us solvent and financially flexible.