The MythBusters look at destructive force of hurricanes

You might not be able to fool Mother Nature, but based on an episode of MythBusters that ran last night on the Discovery Channel, it might be possible to at least work in conjunction with her.

With Hurricane Ida in the news and preparing to make a mess of the weather on parts of the country even as it was downgraded to a tropical depression, MythBusters aired its "Hurricane Windows" show, in which hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman investigate whether you can lessen the damage caused by a storm by leaving windows open on a trailer or a home.

In typical MythBusters fashion, Savage and Hyneman pulled out all the stops to determine the veracity of the myth, even using the University of Florida's wind machine to create hurricane-force winds. No spoiler alert here: Watch the different parts of the episode on the show's site to see what happens. (The screen shot shows the duo observing a trailer getting battered by Category 2 winds.)

The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which wraps up at the end of November, has seen lower-than-normal activity, as noted in our August storm-season update and as reported on Weather.com: "2009 will go into the record books as a very uneventful hurricane season, except for late season Ida." To be prepared for a weather-related event no matter when it happens, use the advice on our Storm & Emergency Guide.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: We haven't tested roofing shingles or siding for their ability to withstand hurricanes or tornadoes, but our reviews of these building materials can help you find products that will look good and last. Watch our video on how we test shingles.

Q&A: Why are some of the Kilz exterior paints you tested no longer in stores?

I referred to your magazine and ConsumerReports.org when shopping for exterior paint, but at my local Walmart I can't find the Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint from your June 2009 ratings. What happened to it, and do you recommend the Kilz Casual Colors I saw at Walmart?

Manufacturers frequently change the formulation of their paints and stains for a number of reasons, including to improve performance, lower production costs, or meet updated environmental standards, as we covered in our March 2009 report on interior paints.

The Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint we tested is no longer available at Walmart, exclusive retailer of the brand, because Kilz recently discontinued the satin and semigloss versions of its interior and exterior products. The company has replaced those paints with the multipurpose interior/exterior Kilz Casual Colors paints you saw in the store. For more information, read our June 2009 report on exterior paints and stains and see our ratings of exterior paints and stains (available to subscribers).

Although Kilz products have generally performed well in our past tests, we can't predict the performance of these new finishes. We plan to test the interior- and exterior-use versions of the new Kilz Casual Colors this year. Given our test cycle, we won't have initial results on the performance of the exterior paint until 2011 but should have initial results for interior paint by March 2010.

Among alternatives to the Kilz semigloss paint to consider for exterior application are the Kelly-Moore Acry-Shield Semigloss ($37 per gallon), available in the Southwest, and the Valspar Ultra Premium Semigloss ($26), sold at Lowe's nationwide. And while testing is not complete, the Behr Premium Plus Semigloss ($26), sold at Home Depot, and the Ace Royal Shield Semigloss ($25) look very promising after the equivalent of six years of use.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Visit our paints page for details on specialty paints, tools you'll need for your project, and tips on avoiding common painting mistakes.

Latest news on Chinese drywall

"This is a complicated problem, and we have several studies and other activities underway to help bring the best possible science to bear. The first sets of data released today start to explain differences between Chinese and non-Chinese drywall, but more remains to be learned. We are sharing what we know at this point and are outlining the next steps as we continue to work to answer homeowners' questions about what is causing the effects reported and observed."
 
That's how the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in a press statement released yesterday in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, described its ongoing investigation into Chinese drywall.
 
On its Drywall Information Center, the CPSC says it has received almost 1,900 reports from people in 30 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., "who believe their health symptoms or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes are related to the presence of drywall produced in China." (In the photo, the small gray section directly under the thumb is drywall removed from a home.)
 
Read more about yesterday's news in this post on the Consumer Reports Safety blog and sign up for Chinese-drywall alerts from the CPSC. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook
 
 

EPA proposes tougher lead-paint rules

In conjunction with last week's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed changes to the 2008 Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program.

Contractors renovating, repairing, or painting homes built before 1978 would be required to be trained and certified in and follow lead-safe practices, including minimizing dust, containing the work area, and conducting a thorough cleanup to reduce the potential exposure associated with disturbing lead-based paint. So contractors would no longer be able to opt out of these practices if a homeowner certifies that there are no children under the age of six or pregnant women living in the home.

"This proposed rule will further increase protections for children and their families from lead-based-paint hazards associated with home renovation and repair," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, in a press release. "The administration is demonstrating its continued commitment to eliminating childhood lead poisoning and strengthening lead poisoning-prevention efforts."

While lead-based paints in homes were banned in 1978, many homes built before then probably have some lead paint. The new rule is intended to help protect older children and adults from exposure to lead, which can cause brain damage and diminished mental and physical development. It should also ensure that families with young children who purchase a recently renovated home aren't exposed to lead-dust hazards.

Another proposed change would require contractors to provide information demonstrating that they complied with lead-safe training and work practices to homeowners when a final invoice is delivered or within 30 days of completion of the renovation, whichever is earlier.

In a related action, the EPA has also proposed lowering lead-hazard standards in lead dust and modifying its definition of lead-based paint. The new standard would be 10 micrograms or less of lead per square foot for floors and 100 micrograms or less for windowsills, down from 40 micrograms 250 micrograms, respectively. Also, paint in existing structures with levels of 600 parts per million (0.06 percent by weight) would be considered lead-based paint. The current level is 5,000 ppm (0.5 percent) or 1 milligram per square centimeter.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're concerned about the presence of lead in your home, read our report on home-use lead test kits. If you discover elevated levels of lead, hire a certified lead inspector or risk assessor. If you're planning to paint or renovate your home yourself, follow the EPA's safe-work guidelines. When you're finally ready to paint, be sure to use the best finishes, like those covered in our latest report on interior paints.

Looking at the future of the energy-efficient home at the 2009 Solar Decathlon

Mother Nature didn't make it easy for the teams that took part in 2009 Solar Decathlon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The homes designed and built by 20 college and university teams were put through the weather wringer during the final days of the event last weekend, with cold, rainy, overcast weather prevailing—not exactly ideal conditions for solar-powered homes.

The homes in the 2009 Solar Decathlon were judged on 10 characteristics, including architecture, comfort, lighting, appliances, hot water, home entertainment, and market viability, or how easy and affordable the home is to build. Readily available products used in the houses include compact fluorescent lightbulbs and LED lighting, induction cooktops, front-loading washing machines, energy-efficient windows, bamboo flooring, and low-VOC paint.

Team Germany took first prize in the fourth installment of this competition (see its home in the video above) earning 908.29 points out of a possible 1,000, followed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Team California with 863.08 points. See the complete final standings.

With umbrella in hand and galoshes on feet, I checked out the future of the energy-efficient home. (You can avoid any inclement weather by visiting the 20 projects via a virtual tour.)

While the competition calls for uniformity in overall size—houses can be no larger than 800 square feet—the first thing I noticed was how different the houses looked from one another. With teams from throughout the U.S. as well as Canada, German, Puerto Rico, and Spain, each featured a design unique to its climate and region.

Tip of the Day: Take advantage of rebates for low-flow toilets, faucet accessories, and irrigation gear

As part of its WaterSense program, which aims to get consumers and businesses to use less water, the  U.S. Environmental Program has assembled a list of municipalities offering rebates on toilets, faucet accessories, and irrigation equipment. The list below, current as of September 21, 2009, includes links to the municipal sites where you can get details on the deals, such as the rebate for half the cost of an eligible high-efficiency toilet up to $200 being offered by the city of Sharon, Massachusetts, or the Irvine Ranch (California) Water District's $9 rebate for qualifying sprinkler-system pop-up spray heads.

If you're remodeling your bathroom or need new fixtures, read our reports on low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads and check out the ratings of toilets and showerheads (available to subscribers). Also learn about tankless water heaters and the latest efficient dishwashers and washing machines. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

City of Avondale	Arizona	Toilets
City of Avondale	Arizona	Faucet Accessories
City of Peoria Utilities Department	Arizona	Toilets
City of Phoenix	Arizona	Toilets
City of Scottsdale Water Resources Department	Arizona	Toilets
City of Tempe	Arizona	Faucet Accessories
City of Tempe	Arizona	Toilets
City of Tucson - Tucson Water	Arizona	Toilets
Town of Payson Water Department	Arizona	Toilets
Borrego Water District	California	Toilets
City of Fresno- Water Conservation Program	California	Toilets
City of Oxnard Water Resources Division	California	Toilets
City of Santa Barbara	California	Toilets
City of Santa Rosa - Utilities	California	Toilets
City of Santa Rosa - Utilities	California	Faucet Accessories
Irvine Ranch Water District	California	Faucet Accessories
Irvine Ranch Water District	California	Toilets
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California	California	Toilets
Otay Water District	California	Toilets
San Diego County Water Authority	California	Toilets
Sonoma County Water Agency	California	Toilets
Town of Windsor	California	Faucet Accessories
Town of Windsor	California	Toilets
City of Greeley Water Department	Colorado	Toilets
City of Thornton	Colorado	Toilets
Denver Water	Colorado	Faucet Accessories
City of Melbourne	Florida	Toilets
City of Titusville	Florida	Toilets
Eastern Volusia Regional Water Authority	Florida	Toilets
Manatee County Utility Operations	Florida	Toilets
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department	Florida	Toilets
Toho Water Authority	Florida	Faucet Accessories
City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management	Georgia	Toilets
City of Austell	Georgia	Toilets
City of Austell	Georgia	Faucet Accessories
City of Gainesville, Environmental Services	Georgia	Toilets
City of Roswell	Georgia	Toilets
Clayton County Water Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Cobb County Water System	Georgia	Toilets
Coweta County Water & Sewage Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Fayette County Water System	Georgia	Toilets
Fulton County Department of Public Works	Georgia	Toilets
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources	Georgia	Toilets
Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources	Georgia	Toilets
Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority	Georgia	Toilets
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District	Georgia	Toilets
Acton Water District	Mass.	Toilets
Concord Public Works	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Concord Public Works	Mass.	Toilets
Dedham-Westwood Water District	Mass.	Toilets
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority	Mass.	Toilets
Neponset River Watershed Association	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Town of Danvers	Mass.	Toilets
Town of Sharon Water Department	Mass.	Faucet Accessories
Town of Sharon Water Department	Mass.	Toilets
Town of Walpole Water Department	Mass.	Toilets
City Utilities of Springfield	Missouri	Toilets
Southern Nevada Water Authority	Nevada	Toilets
American Water	New Jersey	Faucet Accessories
American Water	New Jersey	Toilets
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority	New Mexico	Toilets
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority	New Mexico	Faucet Accessories
City of Gallup - Gallup Joint Utilities	New Mexico	Toilets
City of Santa Fe	New Mexico	Toilets
Homewise, Inc.	New Mexico	Faucet Accessories
Homewise, Inc.	New Mexico	Toilets
City of Durham Water Management	North Carolina	Toilets
Town of Cary	North Carolina	Toilets
Eugene Water & Electric Board	Oregon	Toilets
Tualatin Valley Water District	Oregon	Toilets
City of Sioux Falls	South Dakota	Toilets
Arlington Water Utilities	Texas	Toilets
Austin Water Utility	Texas	Toilets
Austin Water Utility	Texas	Toilets
City of Allen	Texas	Toilets
City of Irving	Texas	Toilets
San Antonio Water System	Texas	Toilets
City of Charlottesville	Virginia	Toilets
City of Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities	Virginia	Toilets
James City Service Authority	Virginia	Toilets
James City Service Authority	Virginia	Irrigation Professional Service
Cascade Water Alliance	Washington	Toilets
Cascade Water Alliance	Washington	Faucet Accessories
City of Everett Public Works	Washington	Toilets
City of Monroe - Utilities Department	Washington	Toilets
City of Redmond	Washington	Toilets
Spokane County Utilities Division	Washington	Toilets
Water District 19	Washington	Toilets
Kaukauna Utilities	Wisconsin	Toilets
Madison Water Utility	Wisconsin	Toilets

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Putting exterior siding through its paces

In years past, many homeowners decided against using vinyl siding for aesthetic reasons. One of the common knocks against this material had to do with the wavy, so-called oil-canning look that resulted from nails that were pounded in too tightly.

But with the waviness problem more or less eliminated—installers learned from their peers' mistakes, and many siding products are now more rigid—and thanks in part to its relatively low price and resistance to water and insects, vinyl now dominates the exterior-siding market.

Whether you use vinyl, plastic, or any other material, like those covered in our June 2009 report on siding and roofing, attractive siding can help boost the curb appeal of your home, important if you're selling your home.

"You have only one chance to make that first good impression," says Judy Moore, a regional vice president for the National Association of Realtors. "Exterior siding, roofing, the front door—all these things are crucial. The outside is a signal as to what the buyer can expect inside."

As you'll see in the video above, we tested both traditional vinyl siding and plastic shingles/shakes, which offer even more of a woodlike look with as little maintenance as vinyl. We also tested fiber-cement products, which cost about the same as vinyl and most resemble wood, even down to the need for periodical refinishing.

Our testers accelerated weathering tests to assess resistance to typical weathering cycles siding would encounter at your home, including heat, sunlight, and rain. They also measured how well the siding products withstood impacts in cold and warm temperatures. While the siding that scored the highest tended to be the thickest and priciest, we found exceptions. Our top picks in vinyl also included the Heartland Siding's HeartTech, which sells for a relatively low $75 per 100 square feet.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Siding and roofing are among the five home repairs you shouldn't ignore. Read our full report on these building products and check out the ratings of siding and roofing (available to subscribers) to find the best materials for your home.

Q&A: How can I tell a water-based paint from an oil-based one?

I've read that water-based paints are easier to clean up than oil-based finishes. How do I know whether I'm buying a water-based or an oil-based paint?

About 80 percent of paint sold today is water-based; the rest is oil-based. Oil-based paint is considered more hazardous than water-based paint because the solvents used to make it are toxic and flammable. Note that you can recycle both types.

Water-based paint often has the word "latex" as part of the product name. Ingredients include water and ethylene or propylene glycol. Water is indicated for cleanup.

Oil-based paint often has the word "alkyd" as part of the product name, and the label will indicate "caution" and "flammable" or "combustible." Ingredients include petroleum distillates or mineral spirits. Cleanup method indicates the use of paint thinner, mineral spirits, or turpentine.

Essential information: Fall is a great time to tackle interior-painting projects. If you're painting rooms inside your home, read our latest report on interior paints (article and ratings available to subscribers) and visit our paints page for details on specialty paints, tools you'll need for your project, and tips on avoiding common painting mistakes.

Q&A: How frequently do I need to reseal my granite kitchen countertops?

My contractor told me I should reseal my granite countertops periodically to protect them from stains. How do I know when it's time to reseal them?

Granite, limestone, and marble countertops are all different, so check with the fabricator to see what the recommended time period for resealing is. But if your kitchen countertops get a lot of use, the general rule of thumb is to reseal them every six months, according to Andy Graves, of the Fabricator Network trade group. Graves suggests you do a water-absorption test to get an idea of how fast water is penetrating the stone and whether the counters need resealing.

To test, put a few drops of water on the stone in high-use areas, such as around the sink and range or cooktop, and let the water stand for 15 minutes. The water should bead up. If it doesn't, it's time to get the granite resealed.

You can also use this test on butcher block and other wood countertops that have an oil finish. You do not need to reseal a wood counter with a polyurethane finish, however when this finish is worn or damaged, repair or refinish it.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Read our latest report on countertops and check out the ratings (available to subscribers) to find the best material for your home. If you're remodeling our kitchen, use our updated Kitchen-Planning Guide.

Chinese-made drywall not a radiation risk, says CPSC

As we've reported in "By the Numbers: Chinese-Drywall Problems Spread Beyond Florida," "Problems With Chinese-Made Drywall Include Health Issues," and "Latest News on Chinese Drywall"—some significant issues have arisen with drywall made in China.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that it has received almost 1,200 reports from people in 24 states and the District of Columbia "who believe their health symptoms or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes are related to the presence of drywall produced in China." The photo shows copper coils on an air conditioner that were apparently blackened and corroded by drywall.

Among the health concerns was the possible radiation risk posed by Chinese-made drywall, but as you'll read in "Report: Drywall From China Does Not Pose a Radiation Risk," on the Consumer Reports Safety blog, federal and state agencies have found no radiation safety risk to families living in affected homes.

If you're concerned about the drywall in your home, visit the CPSC's Drywall Information Center and subscribe to our Safety blog to stay up to date on the latest news about Chinese drywall. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook