In My Own Words: Bruce Olson Construction

www.lutron.com

Lutron Electronics Co. offers the HomeWorks Wireless Expansion Package. The package gives installers the ability to quickly and easily add wireless (radio frequency-based) devices to any four series or eight series HomeWorks system that has at least one P5 processor.

The new HomeWorks hybrid repeater, with RF and wired capabilities, connects directly to HomeWorks P5 processors via a wired link. The Wireless Expansion Package makes it simple to connect guest houses, cabanas and pool houses to a wired HomeWorks system.

Included in the package are two car visor remote controls, one visor control receiver, one tabletop master control, three lamp dimmers and one hybrid repeater. Click here for more information

IN MY OWN WORDS

"Lighting control technology has changed dramatically over the years and the prices have been coming down, too. It takes a licensed person to do the installation, particularly in the programming end, but I like its ability to control the whole house. It works particularly well with exterior landscape lighting because you can program the lights to stay on for four hours when dusk hits. The computer tracks the sun all year long and it knows if sunset is at 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. It is a pretty amazing little feature unto itself."

Floorscapes Engineered Flooring

The Nottingham Estate Series hardwood floors are designed to make a bold statement. Though engineered, face veneers are sawn from choice lumber of selected species such as Walnut, Brazilian Cherry, Oak and Hickory into 3-, 4- or 5- inch widths, yielding the identical cut of a solid floor. The engineered platform is also ideally suited for direct glue down installations, on or above grade. Specialized coloring techniques are employed to achieve the desired visual, including bleaching, staining, dying, or adding wooden pegs, even worm holes, scratches and dings. Each plank is then hand coated with high-strength polyurethane for easy maintenance and assured long life. Shown here is Nottingham Estate in Oak Antique.

www.floorscapes.com

IN MY OWN WORDS

"Since we use Floorscapes' Nottingham Estate Series engineered wood flooring with hydronic heating exclusively, it has solved a lot of problems. It has a small thin foam pad between the sub floor and engineered flooring and has a softer feel than normal hardwood flooring that is perceptible when in socks or slippers.

Because it is typically pre-finished, its installation time is cut down to four days of installing. We used to install a floor in four days then have to wait two weeks before we could get on to the floor because of the finishing and curing."

Cisco Systems' Linksys Communications

www.linksys.com

The Linksys Wireless-G Cable Gateway is an all-in-one solution for Internet connectivity. The Gateway features an advanced firewall; encryption for wireless transmissions; USB connectivity; four-port 10/100 switch; wireless access for up to 32 devices; compatibility and high speed router functionality. It is ideal for broadband cable customers looking for an all-in-one Internet-sharing device and the peace of mind of integrated security features.

IN MY OWN WORDS

"Networking and wireless communications have made such a difference in the lives of builders. A typical contractor builds within a 15 mile radius of his home, but that has been expanded now because of this technology. Now you can view multiple projects or be at one project and be able to communicate effortlessly with any other project. It's especially good for surveillance. Now we're looking for a wireless small camera, so that a superintendent can walk around a project and I can view what he is doing from miles away in real time. I have to depend on this technology with three different offices spread out from Lake Tahoe to Pebble Beach to Hawaii."

Heat Transfer Products' Munchkin Boiler

www.htproducts.com

The Munchkin is one of the most compact and efficient heaters available on the market today. Each Munchkin heater will modulate its firing rate to match the energy needs of the living space. This feature provides additional savings versus traditional single firing heaters.

With stainless steel construction, builders are assured they are buying the highest quality appliance. Each Munchkin boiler is built in the United States with proven European technology. A quiet operational appliance is just another benefit that comes with the Munchkin heater. Click here for more information

IN MY OWN WORDS

"The Munchkin boiler works with hydronic heating and it is a very small unit and it will heat a 5,000 square foot house. It is a phenomenal package and very quite, too. It is just whisper quiet."

TrusJoist Parallam Posts

www.trusjoist.com

Parallam PSL headers, beams and columns are engineered to support heavier loads than comparably sized conventional glulam or sawn lumber products. Parallam parallel strand lumber's wood grain offers building professionals the option of leaving this engineered lumber exposed as an aesthetic feature.

IN MY OWN WORDS

"As it has become more difficult to get framing lumber from forest products, composite lumber has stepped forward and provided a real quality product. We can get larger spans for rooms than, say in the 1950s, when you could only get a 20-foot plank. Now you can get up to 30-foot wide spans. It has made a huge difference in the quality and the strength of the product."

CB March 2006