DuPont Tyvek Products for Your Project
November 10, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
‘Weatherizing’ your home is one of the most important ways you can save money on energy costs and ensure that you keep the weather outside your home on the outside…where it’s supposed to be.
Vapor barries and various forms of insulation should be a the top of your list of items to determine when designing a project. Anyone planning a project with an exterior wall or roof needs to consider the best way to keep moisture out and conditioned air in.
RCS has listed below two products from the DuPont website that you may want to consider.
Water Heater: Tank or Tankless?
August 27, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
This article, posted on the NKBA website, summarizes the differences between the standard tank and tankless water heaters. The article is authored by the folks at Rheem. In the article, Rheem is unveiling a new website “to provide straight talk on tankless vs. tank water heaters, aimed at helping construction professionals advise their customers which system is best for different circumstances.”
Also from the article:
Rheem summarizes some of the differences:
* Product Cost: Tank water heaters typically range in cost from $350 to $550, while tankless water heaters are roughly double that amount.
* Operating Cost: Average annual operating costs for tank water heaters are in the $230 to $285 range. Average annual operating costs for tankless water heaters are about half of that, at $165 to $170.
* Installation Cost: In new construction, installing any type of water heater includes running fuel lines or electrical connections and allowing for adequate venting, so there is little difference in costs between a tankless water and a tank water heater. In remodeling, however, it will cost more to replace a tank water heater with a tankless unit. Installed costs to replace a tank water heater with a tankless unit are typically between $1,200 and $3,000, compared with a range of $500 to $800 to replace a tank with another tank.
* Size: Tank water heaters are typically four to six feet in height, and up to two and a half feet in diameter. Because of their size, tank water heaters are usually located in the garage or basement, which sometimes places the hot water far from the point of use. Tankless water heaters, about the size of a medicine cabinet, can be wall-mounted indoors or even outdoors.
* Experience: Tankless water heaters never run out of hot water. A properly sized unit allows for use of multiple fixtures and appliances at the same time. Tankless is especially ideal for luxury spa bathrooms, where one large whirlpool tub can empty a 40-gallon tank-type water heater before the tub is even filled.
While the site is open for all, including homeowners, Rheem offers a white paper and bi-monthly newsletter that is strictly limited to professionals. For more information, visit www.smarterhotwater.com.
Is a tankless water heater right for your project? Contact REDBUD CONSTRCUTION SERVICES at 865.250.9172 and we would be happy to discuss the possibilities for your project.
ICESTONE – Concrete and Glass Surfaces
August 22, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
Are you looking for that unique surface top for your kitchen or bath, or do you want to have a stylish and durable ‘GREEN’ product…then look no further than IceStone. This product has appeared in This Old House, The New York Post, and Building Design + Construction.
From their website:
IceStone durable surfaces are made from 100% recycled glass and concrete. IceStone® products are the ideal choice for green kitchen countertops. They’re also a great option for backsplashes, bathrooms, vanities, bathroom dividers, tabletops, interior walls, and commercial flooring applications. Beautiful shower surrounds and bathtubs could be made with IceStone durable surface material. It can be shaped, cut water jet, inlaid, mounted vertically or horizontally. While there are 27 standard colors available, the color palette is infinite….IceStone durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. The chemical composition is benign and 99.5% inorganic making it a very safe material from the standpoint of toxicity and fire resistance. The fabrication, installation and maintenance of IceStone surfaces follow essentially the same process as used with natural stone. Due to its high recycled content and Cradle to Cradle Certification, IceStone materials can be used towards LEED points.
The cost of IceStone surfaces is dependent on the color selection, size and scope of project and it is available only to distributors and fabricators. You can find showrooms for this product at their website.
If in the Knoxville area: G & L Marble carries the IceStone product line.
Call REDBUD Construction Services and speak with our designers about how to incorporate these and other GREEN products into your project…865-250-9172.