Building Materials
August 11, 2009
Instant Switch
Instant Switch is a way to activate (and deactivate) any outlet from a remote location. To use it, all you have to do is plug a little gizmo in any outlet and then plug in your light, computer, etc. into the gizmo. Now, place the switch anywhere you want to (within 60 feet) and it now controls the light via a wireless signal. The switch has a dimmer on it as well.
We're not big fans of overhead lighting, so we tend to have lamps all over the place. The only problem is that we spend quite a lot of time wandering around dark rooms feeling for the switches (and stepping on the cats). That said, something like this might be nice to have.
Instant Switch costs just over $20.
At ThinkGeek and Amazon
Via ThinkGeek
June 18, 2009
Big Ass Fans Survive Big Ass Tornado
If you haven't heard of Big Ass Fans, they're a company that makes the very small fans used to cool down computer micro-processors. We're kidding. They actually make the largest freaking fans you've ever seen. They're so big they look like they fell off the top of a Blackhawk helicopter.
Anyway, not only are they very cool and very massive, they're also very durable. The above picture was taken at a shoe factory in Missouri after a tornado ripped through and took the ceiling off (click the pic to enlarge and get all the details). It's impressive, you'd think the fans would be the first things to go.
Big Ass Fans aren't just for industrial use though. It seems that they're catching on in the residential market as well. They're really a low energy way to move air around the house. It looks like they also help with LEED accreditation. Not to mention that Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips has one in his living room.
To learn more, check out the Big Ass Fans website here.
January 28, 2009
Marvin Ultimate Push Out Casement
Last year, we were impressed with Marvin's Ultimate Replacement Casement and it looks like now they've released another window in the line, this time, it's the Ultimate Push Out Casement.
It appears to have the same innovative 'flip around' functionality as the Replacement Casement, making it a snap to clean, but with this window, Marvin has removed the crank hardware and made it so you simply push it open and lock it into position with a sash limiter. Not having the crank handle is a nice option and there's no question it cleans up the aesthetic of the window sill. But the lack of crank and the manual operation poses a problem for having screens, which Marvin gets around by making the screen swing inward with a little knob.
This looks like a nice addition to an innovative line of windows from Marvin.
More info over at Marvin
September 25, 2008
Rainwater Pillow
The Rainwater Pillow is a new and fairly strange rainwater collection and storage system capable of holding thousands of gallons of water, as opposed to the 50 that a rain barrel can hold. Because of its giant pillow shape, it is designed to fit in a crawl space or under a deck, so there is no digging or drilling necessary like there would be for a cistern. This feature and its sheer water holding capabilities move the product toward establishing a convenient, long-term water source (unfortunately, not one for drinking). This is a far cry from the small-time "water a flower bed" action that a rain barrel can provide.
The pillows are available in kits which come with the pillow, filter, pump, fittings, and other necessary items. The 1000 gallon pillow kit costs $2500, the 2000 gallon kit costs $3500, and the 3000 gallon kit costs $4200.
More info at rainwaterpillow.com
September 10, 2008
Marvin Ultimate Replacement Casement
Casement windows are great until it comes to cleaning time. Unless you have an extra elbow in your arm, there is simply no way to clean the outside of the window without getting the ladder out and trampling the rose bushes. A leading window manufacturer, Marvin, has just released a product that solves this problem. With the use of a clever hinge, their Ultimate Replacement Casement is capable of opening up and then swinging back on itself, exposing the outer face to someone standing inside. An amazing window can look like junk if it's not clean, and with this interesting hinge solution, it looks like Marvin has solved a complaint that has been around for as long as the casement.
Watch the window in action here (you don't see the hinge until about 3/4 of the way through).
July 3, 2007
The Bagster
Our good buddy Ed recently gave us the heads up on a cool new item for those of you who live in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island. It’s a thing called The Bagster and it looks like a great idea for anyone thinking about starting a small to medium sized project. The Bagster is a small, portable dumpster over 8’ long, 4’ wide and 2’ high. It’s made of plastic and can hold about three yards of material. It’s not your average kitchen bag either; the Bagster is strong enough to hold 3,300 pounds.
But the best part is that once you fill the thing up, all you have to do is make a phone call and Bagster comes and picks it up. That’s it.
Continue reading: "The Bagster"
May 9, 2007
Velux Sun Tunnel Skylights
If you’ve ever wished you could brighten up your upstairs hallway or bring some natural light into a walk-in closet, you should spend some time looking at Velux’s line of Sun Tunnel Skylights. They're a great alternative to electrical lights, are easy to install, and once they are in, they require virtually no upkeep.
The principal is very simple. Light enters the tunnel through a little bubble that sits on your roof, it travels through the tunnel, and is dispersed at the other end through a frosted diffuser that looks like a recessed light. Now your dark, dank hallway looks as fresh and airy as Martha Stewart's rose garden
Continue reading: "Velux Sun Tunnel Skylights"
April 4, 2007
Pole-Wrap
If you’re looking for a quick 1/2 day project to do around the house, how about covering up that Lally column in the finished part of your basement? Instead of boxing it out with regular flat stock, which sounds to us like one of those 2 hour projects that ends up taking all month, a small company called Pole-Wrap has a faster, easier solution. Their product, Pole-Wrap (who knew?), is a flexible sheet of 1/2” red oak panels that, you guessed it, wrap around the Lally column, making it look not so much like a stripper’s pole and more like a piece of intentional architecture.
The installation looks pretty simple. Just cut the 8’ bundle to length, glue up the pole, fit the wrap around it, and tape it in place until the glue has time to set. After that, just install the cap and base and, aside from painting (or staining), you’re done.
Continue reading: "Pole-Wrap"
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Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver - Review
