Turn your bathroom into at-home retreat

Given the current depressed housing market, Americans are more likely to stay in their current homes than to move. But they’ll continue to pump money into their condos, town homes, and houses: U.S. consumers are expected to spend in excess of $170 billion on remodeling projects in 2008, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

The bathroom remains one of the most commonly fixed-up rooms. One trend in recent years has seen bathrooms converted into getaway spaces as consumers bling out their baths with whirlpool tubs, steam and multihead showers, high-style sinks, faucets, counters, and flooring, and other fixtures and surfaces once found only in high-end hotels and resorts. And, of course, the bathroom has become a multimedia center just like the kitchen, as manufacturers add music and video to their bathroom gear.

At last week's 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, we saw of the latest bathroom offerings, including the Hansgrohe Pharo Showerpanel SkyLine,  the Brondell Swash Ecoseat toilet seat, and the SonicSplash audio option from Lasco. Learn about these and other products in our video (right), featuring Bob Markovich, Home editor of Consumer Reports.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: Use our expert advice when you’re shopping for a new toilet and refer to our Ratings (available to subscribers) to find the right model for your home. Also learn how to remodel a bathroom for less and avoid common project mistakes.

Bamboo is growing in the home

Consumer Reports has tested bamboo towels, bamboo flooring, and even bamboo plates, many touting the claimed green aspects of these products. And last week we saw all kinds of bamboo offerings at the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, including Rio Grande Imports' Zoom bamboo bath sink, Totally Bamboo's bamboo countertop panels for kitchens and baths, and Teragren's Studio bamboo flooring.

Learn about the latest green-themed bamboo products in the video (right) featuring Bob Markovich, Home editor of Consumer Reports.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Diva 365 induction range

In our tests, induction cooktops have proved themselves, having broken our speed record for boiling water and simmered sauce flawlessly. What’s more, the magnetic field, which does the cooking on these cooktops, sends nearly all of its heat to the pot or pan, so the cooking surface remains relatively cool, a safety plus.

The new Diva 365 induction range, among the first on the market, is a 36-inch stainless-steel appliance with five induction elements—one large, 4,000-watt “Super Burner”; two 3,000-watt side burners; and two 2,000-watt versions for small pots and lower-heat simmering. (Watch our video, right.)

The 365 comes with a premium price tag: $8,950. Note that the range also requires two 220-volt circuits.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: See our Cooktops and Wall Ovens product page for detailed information on gas and electric cooktops, and learn more about induction models. If you’re in the market for a cooktop, use our buying advice to find the best model, including detailed information on important cooktop features. Before you shop, refer to our Ratings of gas and electric models, available to subscribers.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Vinotemp Eco-Series wine chillers

Refrigerators rely on a compressor to operate, but the Vinotemp Eco-Series wine chillers use thermoelectric technology. This approach, claims the manufacturer, is better for the wine and for the environment.

The main advantage of this technology, says Vinotemp, is that no chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are used. These gases, commonly referred to as freons, can damage the ozone layer. (Note that the types of gas used in today’s refrigerator compressors, hydrofluorocarbons, do not affect the ozone layer.) Other claimed benefits of this technology include less vibration—a “merciless killer” of wine, says Vinotemp—and better temperature accuracy, +/- 0.1°C.

The Eco-Series lineup includes 18- or 28-bottle single-zone units, $229 to $314, and a 21-bottle dual-zone model and 32- and 48-bottle dual-zone units, $314 to $599. (The 32-bottle unit is shown. Smaller countertop models are available, too.) These freestanding wine chillers come in black with stainless-steel doors, trim, and handles and double-pane glass. You’ll find them online and in stores, including Costco, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our advice on choosing a wine chiller and see the Ratings of wine-storage units (available to subscribers). Also, find out which wines to buy to fill up your chiller, and discover the proper serving temperatures for reds and whites.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Thomas’ Liquid Stainless Steel

Suppose you love your refrigerator, range, or dishwasher but really hate the bisque color you loved when you bought the appliance. Instead of replacing the appliance you can give it a makeover. Thomas' Kitchen Art Liquid Stainless Steel is designed to cover up an old finish with a stainless-steel look.

You can apply this brush-on finish yourself in a weekend, claims Thomas’. This two-part, water-based paint includes a base coat with micron-size flakes of real stainless steel and a clear-urethane topcoat for toughness, says the manufacturer. You can even use your refrigerator magnets once the paint has cured, according to Thomas’. (An after shot of a range is shown below left; the before of the same range is below right.)

The steps are straightforward:
• Prep the appliance surface by removing or masking handles and trim. Lightly rough-sand and clean the surface with window cleaner.
• Apply three light coats of the paint with a roller and smooth it with a foam brush, letting each coat dry about an hour before you apply the next one.

Liquid Stainless Steel works on painted and stainless finishes and can withstand heat up to 300°F on range tops, according to the manufacturer. The Fridge Kit, $40, is supposed to have enough paint for an average-size refrigerator, while the Range and Dishwasher Kit, $20, should handle both appliances. The kits are sold at hardware stores and some Home Depots. A spray-on version for faucets and other small items is on the way, says Thomas’.—Bob Markovich

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Fisher & Paykel CookSurface gas cooktop

First there were electric smoothtop cooktops, which eliminated food-trapping coils. Next came gas-on-glass versions, which did away with the grime-trapping wells typically found around the burners.

The latest easier-to-clean cooktop is the 36-inch-wide, three-burner CookSurface gas model from the Fisher & Paykel. After you’re done cooking, says the manufacturer, you push a large knob on the cooktop to lower the burners so they’re flush with the ceramic glass cooktop, facilitating cleanup. Next time you need to boil water, sauté a steak, or stir-fry some vegetables, you push the knob to raise the burners. (The photo shows the cooktop with a burner recessed, left, and elevated.)

To lower or raise the flame level when cooking, you twist that same knob, says the manufacturer. The CookSurface cooktop provides smooth heat control by using the patented AeroBurner system, which adds oxygen as the flame setting goes up, according to Fisher & Paykel.

The three burners can go from a low simmer to a robust 15,000 Btu. Other features include digital displays, quiet igniters, and pan supports that rise and lower with the burners and replace the usual grates. The 21-inch-deep and 161⁄2-inch-deep versions of this cooktop should arrive at Fisher & Paykel dealers and select Lowe’s stores nationwide this fall.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: If you’re in the market for a cooktop, use our buying advice to find the best model, including detailed information on important cooktop features. Before you shop, refer to our Ratings of gas and electric models, available to subscribers.

 

Live From the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show!

The Consumer Reports Home & Garden team has been in Chicago this week to cover the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS), the biggest annual event for kitchen- and bath-industry professionals. Our editors and market analysts have been scoping out the latest trends and the hottest products from more than 1,000 exhibitors.

Learn more about K/BIS at the official show site, and be sure to visit the Home & Garden blog over the next several days to read show coverage (you'll find the posts below), watch our exclusive product-preview videos, and stay abreast of what’s headed your way for the kitchen and bathroom.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Viking Designer Series Ultra-Premium 450 dishwasher

Viking dishwashers used to be made by Sweden-based Asko (learn who makes which appliances in “Appliance sleuthing”). But for its new Designer Series Ultra-Premium dishwashers, Viking decided to control the manufacturing process in an effort, the company says, to outfit its models with cutting-edge technology.

The 450 model, $1,575, can clean up to 15 place settings in one load, says Viking, and its features include a stainless-steel exterior and interior, a soil sensor that adjusts water use and pressure to the load, and a self-cleaning filter. The Energy Star-qualified dishwasher makes virtually no sound, touts the Greenwood, Mississippi-based manufacturer.

This dishwasher is available in 23 different colors, for a $100 premium. You’ll find it at Viking dealers and major retailers nationwide starting this June, with other models to follow.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest testing-based report on dishwashers and buying advice before you shop for a new model, and see our Ratings (available to subscribers) to help find the right one for you.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Thermador Masterpiece Deluxe electric cooktops

Thermador calls its new infrared-sensor-equipped Masterpiece Deluxe electric cooktops groundbreaking. What distinguishes the cooktops? They’re equipped with an industry-first sensor, dubbed Sensor Dome (shown), that is designed to continually measure heat from the cookware and automatically cycle the burner on and off or even shut it down to maintain a set temperature, claims Thermador.

The manufacturer maintains you’ll save time and get better cooking performance since you won’t have to guess at or adjust the temperature. The retractable sensor is also supposed to prevent pots from boiling over.

The Masterpiece Deluxe cooktops are due in stores this July. The 30-inch, four-burner model with one sensor will cost $1,799; the five-burner, 36-inch model with one sensor, $1,899; the two-sensor 36-inch version, $2,099.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Before you shop for a cooktop, read our buying advice and review the Ratings of electric and gas cooktops, available to subscribers.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Caroma Sydney Smart 305 toilet

The 1.28-gallon-per-flush Sydney Smart 305 round-front toilet can save the average U.S. household up to 5,242 gallons per year compared with a standard low-flow toilet, claims manufacturer Caroma.

The toilet, which carries the EPA’s WaterSense label, has dual flush buttons, located on top of the tank, in lieu of the typical lever. You push one button to eliminate liquids and paper, the other to flush solids. Despite its miserly water consumption, the toilet is designed to be clog-proof according to the manufacturer, thanks to a trapway that is nearly twice as wide as the industry average.

The Sydney Smart, $349 in white (also available in biscuit), is backed by a two-year warranty and is sold at bath showrooms and plumbing-supply dealers.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Use our expert advice when you’re shopping for a new toilet and refer to our Ratings (available to subscribers) to find the right model for your home.

2008 International Builders' Show Coverage

The Consumer Reports Home & Garden team recently returned from Orlando, where we attended the International Builders' Show, the housing industry’s largest trade event. From Feburary 13-16 we checked out the latest products and gear from more than 1,900 exhibitors and attended industry conferences, all in an effort to keep you informed of the latest happenings in the American home.

We won't have tested any products featured here . . . yet. So consider our previews a chance to see what’s headed your way. We've also included some stories on the trends we spotted at the show. Bookmark this page so you can come back to read the postings we'll add in the coming days.—Steven H. Saltzman

PRODUCT PREVIEWS

Amana Jot Refrigerator

American Standard FloWise Low-Flow Toilet, with video 

Best by Broan IP29 Vent Hood

DeWalt Nano Cordless Tools, with video 

Electrolux's New U.S. Appliances

Flo n Stop Household Flood-Prevention System

GE Profile WPDH8800J Washer With SmartDispense, with video 

Gem-Loc Premiere Edge Countertop Edging

Kenmore Pro Built-in Refrigerator, with video 

Kohler Express Vanities, with video 

Kwikset SmartKey, with video

Lithium-Ion Tools Move Into the Mainstream

QuietRock Soundproof Drywall

State-of-the-Art Measuring: Bosch DLR165 Laser Rangefinder

Storm-A-Rest Hurricane-Protection System, with video 

Trex Escapes Decking 

Vinotemp Walk-In Wine Vault

Whirlpool SteamClean Electric Ranges

 
SHOW NEWS AND INDUSTRY TRENDS

Ed Begley Jr.promotes energy efficiency

Green is big at the Builders' Show

Home storage is a must

Opening ceremonies at the International Builders' Show

Postshow impressions by the Consumer Reports team

 

 

In search of green at the 2008 International Builders' Show

From a 10-cent metal drywall clip to a $1,200 tankless water heater, the green offerings at this year’s International Builders’ Show ran the gamut: old-school gear to leading-edge technology; inexpensive wares to pricey equipment; simple tools to complex gadgets. Products with an eco-friendly profile were everywhere at IBS—there was even a Green Day on February 14, when show staff encouraged attendees to wear something green. (Note to IBS organizers: The one color you might convince people to wear on Valentine’s Day is red, not green.)

In my quest to understand how manufacturers and builders are now defining green, I spoke with many of the nearly 2,000 exhibitors at the show in Orlando. Their eyes lit up when I asked why a particular product was being marketed as green. Were those dollar signs I saw? From the sheer number of so-called green products on display even to the signage I came across—including the National Association of Home Builders’ declaration that the “future of residential construction is green”—it’s apparent that the housing industry has embraced green.

The challenge will be for us consumers to sift through the hype and avoid throwing away money by trying to buy our way to a cleaner environment. Remember, despite what some marketing mavens want you to believe, you don’t always have to shell out greenbacks to be green.—Kristi Wiedemann, Science and Policy Analyst, GreenerChoices.org

Essential information: Cut through some of the green hype by learning about greenwashing and visit GreenerChoices.org for the latest news on environmental issues and expert advice on ways to save energy and money everyday. 

State-of-the-art measuring: Bosch DLR165 Laser Rangefinder

The Bosch DLR165 Laser Rangefinder I checked out at the 2008 International Builders' Show isn’t your grandfather’s tape measure—and not just because of its $169 price.

This laser-equipped 4-inch-tall x 2¼-inch-wide tool can calculate distance, area, volume, and even indirect length—say, when a heavy object stands between you and the wall at the other end of the room. The DLR165 automatically figures the distance based on the space above and below that immovable object. It also measures from the top, bottom, and middle of the tool, and includes a swing-out pin that, claims Bosch, will measure into grooves and other tight spots where other laser tools won’t fit.

The DLR165, powered by four AAA batteries, also allows you to step off distances while you walk and boasts an accuracy of within one-sixteenth of an inch up to 165 feet, touts the company. The Laser Rangefinder is available now at Lowe’s and specialty stores that sell Bosch tools.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: Visit our Tools & Power Equipment page for expert advice on circular saws, cordless drills, miter and table saws, and a wide range of power equipment.

International Builders’ Show Preview: Electrolux’s New U.S. Appliances

You might think of Electrolux only for its vacuums, but the company actually is one of the biggest appliance brands throughout Europe and makes full lines of kitchen and laundry appliances. The company will be launching the Wave-Touch line and the IQ-Touch series of appliances in the U.S. this spring, with a wide range of kitchen gear.

Based on what I saw in Orlando, these new lines are all about luxury, with features like glide racks and lighting that gradually increases in intensity when you open a door. The display on the Wave-Touch appliances, like the dual-oven model shown, are blacked out except for the clock until you pass your hand in front of them. They then light up, at which point you can set them.

One compelling feature on the ovens is the “perfect turkey” function. Electrolux claims that you just put a turkey or any other poultry into the oven, insert the included probe, and press a button. The oven automatically roasts the bird at the optimum temperature; it also displays how much time is remaining until the cooking is done.

These appliances include many bells and whistles. One of the freestanding ranges, for example, has 11 different cooking modes, including slow cook, convection bake and broil, dehydrate, and bread proof (for baking bread), and the aforementioned turkey setting.

The new lines will be available at Lowe's and other retailers nationwide.—Michael DiLauro

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Amana Jot Refrigerator

If your kid tends to scribble or doodle on everything in reach, you might find yourself reading—literally—the writing on the wall . . . or the floor, counter, and other household surfaces. But what if you could strike a deal so that your burgeoning Picasso or aspiring Austen were to confine his or her assaults to only one front: the refrigerator?

A 28-inch-wide top-freezer fridge from Whirlpool’s Amana brand could be the answer. The new Jot, $549, features refrigerator and freezer door panels that are covered from top to bottom with a white dry-erase surface. (Thank the savvy folks at Whirlpool’s Brastemp brand for this idea; that Brazilian appliance maker first offered this fridge with wipe-clean front panels.)

While there’s no guarantee your kids won’t use crayons, markers, or other weapons of mass messiness on the Jot, you can wipe away anything applied with dry-erase markers to make room for the next masterpiece. Try to get your children not to use red and green dry-erase markers. The documentation for the Jot indicates you’ll need to use a bit more elbow grease to remove works done in those colors.

The Jot (model ATF1822MRE) comes in white only and offers a very basic design, with rounded edges and corners, hidden hinges, and an integrated door handle. Other features inside include dual up-front temperature controls and SpillSaver glass shelves.

If the media you’re more interested in is of the “multi” not marker variety, check out the latest upgrades to the Centralpark Connection line of side-by-side refrigerators, which we first covered at the 2007 Builders’ Show. The latest electronic add-ons to these refrigerators include an iPod dock, a photo display, and centralized family scheduling. Look for our First Look review on some of these features in the coming weeks.—Ed Perratore

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Kenmore Pro Built-in Refrigerator

The new Kenmore side-by-side built-in refrigerator is the latest in the brand’s upscale Pro line of kitchen appliances and the first built-in from this Sears brand. Unlike lower-priced cabinet-depth models, which extend a tad past cabinets, the Kenmore Pro aligns with them for a sleek, flush look.

Highlights of this high-end cooler include 304 stainless steel instead of the cheaper 400-grade variety, oil-dampened doors designed to close without a thud, and, of course, the requisite on-the-door ice-and-water dispenser. This latest Pro brings a pro-style price—$6,500.

Sears labels the capacity of this 48-inch-wide refrigerator at nearly 30 cubic feet of storage. But remember that most refrigerators don’t have nearly the usable capacity that their makers claim, as we reported in “Refrigerator capacity claims don’t add up.”

Essential information: The next time you’re shopping for a new refrigerator, read our buying advice and also ignore the claimed-capacity numbers and rely instead on the more-accurate, real-world measurements in our Ratings of bottom-freezers, built-ins, side-by-sides, and top-freezers (available to subscribers).

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: DeWalt Nano Technology Cordless Tools

Nanotechnology refers to the control of matter sized as small as a nanometer—a billionth of a meter. But DeWalt hopes its new Nano Technology 18-volt DC927KL hammer drill and DC827KL impact driver will be a big hit on the shelves.

DeWalt’s nano-phosphate lithium-ion battery boosts power for its weight as well as life—2,000 recharge cycles, claims the manufacturer. The 18-volt cell fits every other 18-volt tool DeWalt has made since 1996, and the charger also works on the company’s earlier 18-volt or lower batteries.

The hammer drill costs $369, while the higher-torque for impact driver runs $349; each comes with two batteries and charger. Four- and six-tool 18-volt kits are also due this spring, and DeWalt also sells 28- and 36-volt Nano tools.

Our recent report on cordless drills found DeWalt’s 36-volt drill, $450, capable but pricier than several models that outscored it overall. We’ll see how the 18-volt Nano fares in our future tests.—Robert Markovich

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Flo n Stop Flood-Prevention System

If the hose on your washing machine were to burst while you and your family are of out of the house, thousands of gallons could flood your home. Think substantial water damage. Think potential mold problems. Think head-shaking claim adjusters.

The simplest solution would be to shut off the water supply to the appliance, but you probably don’t ever touch the shutoff valve. (Be honest.) Enter the Flo n Stop, a wireless, remote-controlled device that can prevent a nightmarish flooding scenario, claims Millennium International Development Corp.

The setup comprises a solenoid valve installed just after the main water valve in your home, a transceiver module plugged into a nearby electrical outlet, and a battery-powered wireless transmitter that goes near an entry door. When you leave the house, says the manufacturer, you press the off button on the transmitter, which tells the transceiver to cut off the water at the solenoid valve.

The Flo n Stop can’t prevent the damage that would occur if water pours out of a ruptured water heater, for example, but it is supposed to prevent your fresh-water supply from continuing to flow once a leak occurs.

The companion 24/7 Water Sentinel mat is designed to prevent floods even if you leave the Flo n Stop in the on position. If the mat gets wet when an appliance or pipe leaks, it is supposed to send a signal to the Flo n Stop transceiver to cut off water to the household.

The Flo n Stop is expected to cost under $200, without installation. It is available at www.improvementscatalog.com and in spring at Lowe’s stores in Florida.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: You can’t plan for every emergency, but you can minimize the likelihood that an old appliance will turn on you. Read our expert tips for maintaining your appliances.

Opening Ceremonies at the International Builders' Show

“This thing is a long, long way from over.”

“This is a . . . cycle like no other.”

“This is an incomprehensible series of events . . . ”

Those are just a few of the compelling comments from keynote speakers Mary Matalin and James Carville during this morning’s opening ceremonies for International Builders’ Show in the South Hall at the Orange County Convention Center.

While the husband-and-wife political analysts—she’s the Republican representative, he’s the Democratic delegate—were talking about the 2008 presidential election, they could have just as easily been talking about the state of the crisis-riddled U.S. housing market.

Despite the metaphorical clouds hovering over the housing industry—and the actual ones that have been darkening the skies here in Orlando the last two days—the National Association of Home Builders tried its best to enliven spirits during the show opening.

Florence Henderson, known more as Carol Brady than for her earlier roles on Broadway, provided a perky presence during a variety of song-and-dance numbers during the “Viva Orlando” festivities.

This is the fourth year Orlando has hosted the IBS; for the next two years the show will move to Las Vegas, a city that seems to be bucking the building slowdown: 40,000 new hotel rooms are being built, part of $30 billion in building and infrastructure improvements there.

More interested in politics than building? Carville’s best line of the his discourse hinted at a Democratic victory: “We will have to literally talk our way out of winning [the 2008 presidential] election,” he said. Not wanting to make too bold a prediction, he added, “We [Democrats} are perfectly capable of doing that.”—Steven H. Saltzman

Women want a clutter-free home

What do women want?

That age-old question should be on the minds of builders, remodelers, and manufacturers of products for the home. Why? Because 91 percent of all new household purchases are made by or influenced by women, according to Paul Foresman, who earlier today at the International Builders’ Show delivered the “Her Home in 2015” seminar, which focused on the design and amenities that women will want—and expect—in their homes in the coming years.

The typical American woman is stressed, and builders/remodelers and manufacturers need to design spaces and products that will make her life easier and her home a haven from the madness, says Foresman, director of business development for Design Basics, a home-plan-design company and runs the quarterly publication Her Home.

Some other key points Foresman made during his presentation:

• Household messes cause stress, but cleaning is no walk in the park either. The solution? Provide women with products and spaces that are easier to clean, say showers without doors.

• Women want to eliminate clutter in the bathroom, kitchen, and garage. They’ll expect to see well-designed storage systems that can rein in the mess.

The simplest stress reducer I can imagine? Have everyone in the house put his or her stuff away without nagging. My colleagues and I agree that would alleviate a lot of tension.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman

Essential information: Read our report on closet and garage organizers to find the best products to unclutter your home.

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: QuietRock Soundproof Drywall

Dedicating a room of a new home theater with the latest flat-panel TV and state-of-the-art sound system? Then the last thing you want to do is wake the kids while you’re watching the DVD or have your entertainment ruined by your neighbors’ noisy central-air compressor.

QuietRock drywall is a soundproofing wall and ceiling panel that manufacturer Quiet Solution claims will reduce up to eight times more noise than ordinary gypsum board. The QuietRock comes in varying thicknesses in 4x8-foot sheets, with additional sizes up to 4x12 feet.

QuietRock 510 (shown), suitable for DIY installation, according to the manufacturer, costs $40 for a 1⁄2-inch 4x8-foot sheet; the same-size panel of the 5⁄8-inch 530 costs about $130. The highest-performance panels are 1-3⁄8 inches thick.—Ed Perratore

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Storm-A-Rest Hurricane-Protection System

The news images of the devastation caused by colossal hurricanes like Andrew (1992) and Katrina and Rita (both 2005) resonate years later. While no home hurricane-protection system can withstand the tide surges and flooding that accompany the worst tropical storms, John Boyle & Company’s Storm-A-Rest panels promise to fend off the pounding winds, torrential rain, and flying debris that define Mother Nature at her worst.

The tough fabric panels include tough Honeywell Spectra fibers, which the company claims help make the panels 15 times stronger for its weight than steel and allow them to withstand winds in excess of 155 mph. Indeed, Storm-A-Rest panels are certified for Wind Zone 4 and Large Missile D Impact, part of the Florida building code.

The translucent panels install over windows and attach to wood, brick, or concrete and allow 76 percent of the light through to the inside (keeping the interior from getting too dark during a storm), then roll up after storm season. You can also trim the panels with any of 350 Sunbrella fabrics, which show over the window when the panel is rolled up.

Panels for standard-size windows costs about $20 to $22 per square foot without the trim; custom sizes are also available. They are backed by a 10-year warranty.

Essential information: You'll find expert advice for dealing with hurricanes and other natural disasters in  our Storm & Emergency Guide. And learn more about windows in our latest report, "Clear Choices."

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Whirlpool SteamClean Ranges

When it comes to appliances, steam is, well, hot. We’ve recently tested washers, dryers, and dishwashers with steam modes. (Steam-mode improvements ranged from barely to noticeably better than the cycles we regularly test. But other nonsteam cycles might also perform better as well, as we found on this LG dishwasher, for example.) Whirlpool is the latest appliance maker to unveil a steam-equipped product, launching new electric ranges in September.

Whirlpool claims the SteamClean cycle on its ranges will clean grime off the oven interior and that routine use of the new feature will eliminate having to run the self-cleaning cycle. To run a SteamClean cycle, you pour 12 ounces of water onto a tray at the bottom of the oven, close the door, and push a button. After 20 minutes, according to the manufacturer, you simply wipe the oven clean. The SteamClean ranges will cost $700 and up.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: If you’re in the market for a new range, read our buying advice and latest report.

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Trex Escapes Decking

In these days of green marketing—and, yes, greenwashing—here’s something you don’t hear from a lot of companies: “This product is made of 100 percent inorganic products.”

That’s how Scott Fedor, senior product manager for Trex, described the company’s latest line of decking, called Trex Escapes. This new decking is made entirely of virgin PVC—it contains no recycled material of any kind, unlike other Trex products. (Plastic and vinyl decking is made of PVC and polyethylene made from recycled milk jugs and detergent bottles. Composite decking is made of plastic resin and wood fiber.)

Escapes comes in 1x5½-inch boards and 1x12-inch sizes for fascia, riser, and trim uses and is available in  Acorn, Glacier (white), Pewter, and Sahara (sand) colors. It is designed to holds its color for an extended time.

Escapes is stain, scratch, and mold resistant and won’t rot, splinter, or warp, according to Trex. The photo here shows how Escapes compares against untreated natural wood when wine and barbecue sauce are poured on the surfaces. The wood absorbed the stains while the Trex decking wiped clean.

We haven’t tested Escapes yet so we can’t verify these results. But we have looked at other decking materials and deck stains.—Daniel DiClerico

International Builders'€™ Show Product Preview: Gem-Loc Premiere Edge

Laminate countertops have gotten better looking in recent years, thanks to the use of vibrant colors and patterns that mimic pricier materials. But their edge treatments have generally lacked innovation. The new Gem-Loc Premiere Edge, made by Loti Corporation, is a unique hybrid alternative to the standard-issue laminate edging with square or beveled edges.

The manufacturer claims Gem-Loc is the first edge material to combine a laminate face with solid-surface edging with rounded corners. The result is a near seamless molding designed to minimize the unattractive black line of square laminate edge treatments. By softening the transition, the edge treatment becomes a design element, rather than an eyesore, says the manufacturer. What’s more, says Loti, Gem-Loc can be color-matched to a countertop from just about any laminate maker.

Maybe most important, Gem-Loc is designed to be more durable and easier to install and than beveled laminate. That’s because the edging is applied slightly higher than the countertop and then filed flush, eliminating the precision required on beveled jobs.

This edge treatment retails for about $6 per square foot. Across an entire kitchen, Gem-Loc should run only $100 more than beveled edges, according to a company spokesperson.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Visit our kitchen-planning guide for expert advice on countertops and many others elements of kitchen remodeling.

International Builders'€™ Show Product Preview: American Standard FloWise Toilet

The latest low-flow toilets use even less water: California now requires that a residential toilet use 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf), 20 percent less than the 1.6-gpf standard in effect elsewhere nationwide.

The American Standard FloWise (shown) is among the first commodes to meet the new California standard without requiring a second, water-saving mode. It also carries the EPA's WaterSense label for high-efficiency toilets—€”akin to an Energy Star qualification—€”and is eligible for rebates in drought-prone areas.

This gravity-fed toilet is green without being wimpy, claims American Standard, thanks to a funnel-shaped, piston-action flush valve that helps accelerate incoming water; the valve is similar to the one on the company'€™s Champion models, a line of gravity toilet that did well in our last toilet report.

The FloWise retails for $395 in white and is backed by a 10-year limited warranty. We'll see how these American Standard models and other lower-flow toilets fare in our next toilet test.—€”Bob Markovich

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Kwikset SmartKey

The Kwikset SmartKey is the first door lock you can rekey in seconds without having to replace the lock. That means you can let contractors or painters into you home with the key you gave them, say when you’re at work or our of town on vacation, then cancel that key when the job is done. The SmartKey comes with two keys and a specially shaped “Learn Tool.”

Rekeying a key takes only three steps:
1. Insert a functioning key and turn it clockwise.

2. Insert the Learn Tool into the slot above the key to reset the lock mechanism, then remove the tool and key.

3. Insert the new key and turn it counterclockwise. (See how the SmartKey works.)

Kwikset claims SmartKey locks also prevents lock bumping—a technique where thieves use filed-down keys to jiggle the pins and turn the cylinder—by replacing the usual pin and tumbler design with side-locking bars. Note that we don’t know how SmartKey locks will perform in a kick-in attempt, the most common variety of forced entry

Finishes include antique bronze and rustic pewter, among others. Dead bolts, lever locks, and knob locks cost about $30 and handleset locks about $120. Additional keys for cost about $1.70; rekey sets from KwikSet include six keys for about $10, saving you the hassle of changing locks for security if someone loses or doesn’t return a key. SmartKey locks are sold at home centers and hardware stores nationwide.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our expert advice to make your doors secure and these reports on entry doors and door locks.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Kohler Express Vanities

A vanity will add style and storage to your bathroom, but getting that bulky piece home from the store, schlepping it to its location, and assembling the piece can prove challenging.

The Kohler Express installation system, available on the Alberry, Chalkstripe, Clermont, and Westmore vanities, addresses those inconveniences. This patented setup (shown partially open) uses a patented hinge design that allows you to stow the vanity relatively flat in your car, lift it more easily through a doorway, and essentially snap it into shape. Even better, there'€™s no charge for delivery and installation.

Vanities with the express system costs $450 to $700; countertop and sink are sold and installed separately. The vanities are available at Kohler showrooms and at major retailers nationwide, including Home Depot and Lowe'€™s.—€”Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Our report on bathroom makeovers includes information on countertop materials and a primer on how to avoid common remodeling blunders.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: GE Profile WPDH8800J Washer With SmartDispense

All washing machines are set-it-and-forget-it when it comes to the water—but it’s still up to you to measure and add the detergent. We’ve seen liquid-detergent-and-fabric-softener dispensers for washers before, but GE’s new Profile WPDH8800J front-loader (left in the photo) is the first washer designed to dole out the right amount of detergent and softener based on the load size, soil level, fabric, cycle, or even water hardness. Called SmartDispense, the new feature is built into the pedestal below the Energy Star–qualified washer and has a claimed capacity of up to 350 ounces of detergent and 85 ounces of fabric softener—roughly six months’ worth for a typical household.

Costing $1,800 with the pedestal, the washer and its matching model DPVH880 dryer, $1,329, aren’t cheap. If you’re willing to dispense with the SmartDispense feature, you’ll find high-scoring front-loaders from our washer tests for as little as $650 and top-loaders starting at $400.

The washer and dryer will be in stores in July.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest report on washers and dryers.

International Builder' Show Product Preview: Vinotemp Walk-In Wine Vault

If you’re a serious wine collector whose sizable cellar features rare gems like the 1993 Screaming Eagle ($3,000-plus for a single bottle), you’ll want to be sure your wine doesn’t degrade while you’re away on vacation. The Vinotemp Walk-In Wine Vault, says the manufacturer, will send an alert to your cell phone should a temperature change take place in the 1,500-bottle unit which, costs $20,000.

The Vinotemp’s software is designed to upload your inventory onto your personal computer and track it by vintage, country of origin, and location on the racks inside the vault. The unit adds good looks to its brains, featuring a brushed-aluminum exterior, glass windows and doors, and handcrafted redwood racks. So while you might want to place the vault in the basement, it’s handsome enough to go near a living area—where your bottles will always be close at hand.

Essential information: Not ready to invest in a walk-in wine vault? A wine refrigerator or wine chiller might be a better option. And to help add to your collection, read our expert coverage of wines.

News from the power-equipment frontlines

While the International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo got a name change in 2007, for those of us who write about yard and garden gear, the show remains a candy store of cool machines aimed at consumers and pros.

The event, which has been held every year since 1983 in Louisville, Kentucky, is now called the Green Industry and Equipment Expo. The moniker reflects a new partnership between the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the primary trade group for power-equipment manufacturers, and the Professional Landcare Network and Professional Grounds Maintenance Society, which cover landscape pros.

Over the show’s October 25-27 run, some 650 manufacturers presented the latest mowers, tractors, blowers, trimmers, and other homeowner-oriented lawn-care tools and heavy-duty mowing and earth-moving gear aimed at pros. Some of the highlights I saw while walking the aisles at the Kentucky Exposition Center:

Mower companies romance “prosumers”
This year, mower manufacturers have targeted “prosumers”—homeowners who enjoy mowing the lawn, have several acres to cut, and want pro-style features without a pro-style price.

• Several companies are introducing zero-turn-radius mowers, or ZTRs, priced between $4,000 and $6,000—higher priced than the typical consumer versions we test but less than true professional versions. The premise: Blend heavier-duty construction and wider decks with less-pricey, non-commercial-grade engines. Models touting those features include Ariens’ XL and HD models (about $3,000 to start), pro-brand Dixie Chopper’s new Iron Eagle line, and Husqvarna’s new M-Series versions, along with John Deere’s new Estate series, which features a rollover bar like the ones on larger, professional machines.

• Beefier tractors are also hitting stores as manufacturers and dealers chase “premium” customers and added profits. Husqvarna’s new LS-series lawn and garden tractors begin at about $1,800 for lawn versions ($2,800 for heavier-duty garden versions) and feature high-backed seats, reinforced mowing decks that promise added damage resistance, and a hose port on top of the deck for easier clean-out after mowing. Husqvarna also touts the locking differential on its $2,600 2346XLS lawn tractor (for added traction), while Simplicity talked up the full-time four-wheel drive on its $7,000-and-up 4 x4 Prestige tractors (no lawn-tearing when turning is the promise).—Bob Markovich