LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dacor, the leading American luxury home appliance brand, today announced the debut of new appliance and personalization offerings at the 2020 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 21-23 2020. Showcasing the brands commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, performance and innovation, the interactive booth focuses on transforming culinary experiences from memorable to legendary. This event marks a significant evolution in the brand portfolio through the introduction of three distinct product styles: Contemporary, Professional and debuting at KBIS, Dacors new Transitional style, to more directly cater to consumers individual cooking & cooling needs and the diverse design styles within the kitchen design marketplace.

The exhibition space (booth C5907), highlights the versatility of Dacors unique suite of full kitchen appliance offerings, while encouraging consumers to envision how each product style can come to life in their home. Three kitchen vignettes highlighting the product styles: Contemporary, Professional, and Transitional are prominently featured, along with a vibrant display of the unique color match customization program, DacorMatch, which continues to be a growing category for the business as consumers look for appliances options that bring color into the kitchen. An added level of personalization is touted through the debut of a new accessory kit, Personalize with Dacor, enabling individuals to customize their appliances by selecting unique finishes for handles and knobs on select styles.

For more than 50 years Dacor has expertly led the luxury kitchen category with appliances that deliver outstanding performance with careful consideration for design and innovation, said Randy Warner, President of Dacor. At KBIS 2020, we will debut a distinguished portfolio of product styles that our consumer can confidently identify with based on the needs of their individual kitchens. Whether you are regularly hosting or entertaining, or you like to stay ahead of the curve on smart home technology integrations, or youre looking to merge the two without a trade-off, our goal is to encourage culinary and design enthusiasts alike to showcase their own style without compromising on reliability, hand-crafted and high-quality design, power or performance.

Highlights and new introductions include:

Dacors participation and introductions at KBIS 2020 follows a series of new launches for the prestigious brand, including the debut of its first two US showrooms, Dacor Kitchen Theaters, located in the A&D building in New York City and Chicagos renowned TheMart (formerly the Merchandise Mart). Next month, the luxury brand will debut its flagship showroom in Irvine, California. Additionally, Dacor will continue to serve as a key partner to the trade community through its National Design Contest, a two-year contest ending in July 2020, which designers and students are invited to submit their work to be recognized and promoted within Dacors showrooms, website as well as win prizes including a $10,000 scholarship for student submissions and Grand Prizes for the Designers Choice Award, include a trip for the winner and one guest to Seoul, Korea to visit the Dacor house. Submissions will be judged by the Dacor Design Council, an esteemed group of individuals curated by Dacor for its body of work, innovations and expertise. Members of the Design Council hail from the across the United States and Canada with projects that range from interiors to product design with remodels, new builds and collections.

For more information about Dacor, or to find a dealer, visit Dacor.com.

About Dacor

Dacor is a leading American luxury home appliance brand known for creating stunning tools that deliver expert innovation, intuitive technology and handcrafted design. The company, based in Southern California and founded over 50 years ago, has revolutionized the luxury kitchen landscape through its award-winning suite of next-generation creative tools. Boasting curated design and confident reliability, Dacor pushes the boundaries of innovation and performance by transforming the modern-day kitchen into a place to connect, entertain and create. For additional information, please visit Dacor.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Dacor Delivers a Legendary Experience at KBIS 2020 Debuting Three New Style Collections and Personalized Customization Tools for the Kitchen -...

I am acutely aware of the fact that, when I handle a knife, it often makes people nervous. And I understand why: I have a neurological disorder that manifests most visibly in a pronounced kinetic tremor. My hands get so shaky that I often have trouble using pens or phone keyboards or other common implements grounded in fine motor skills. So watching a sharp cleaver twitch and jump in one of my mitts while the other holds down, say, an onion, it is easy to worry that I might end up lopping off one of my digits. Or dropping it on my foot. Or otherwise mutilating myself or others.

Admittedly, I did slice and dice my fingers fairly often when I was first learning to cooka period that coincided with a spike in the severity of my tremors. But after a while, like most people with disabilities, I developed adaptations: ways of positioning my body that allow me to brace my arms and so reduce tremors. Methods for keeping objects on a cutting board in place without using my hands. Basic care and observation honed through years of practice. As a result, I can safely dice an onion faster than most of my family and friends. And I take a great deal of pride in that.

But the occasional wince or sharp inhale I still catch to my side, and the unsolicited offers for help because it looks like youre struggling there, can be frustrating, tiring, or outright disheartening. Even when born of genuine concern, they represent the all too common patronising view that people with disabilities are not safe, or do not belong, in the kitchen. In fact, this conviction is so prevalent that it keeps far too many people with disabilities from ever finding a place for themselves in the kitchenfrom developing their own tricks and adaptations.

In part, this view just reflects the fact that most kitchens and appliances fall far short of universal design. Even the standard height of a countertop or sink, points out Minna Hong, who developed paraplegia after sustaining a spinal cord injury about two decades agoand who makes a mean paelladoes not work for someone like her who uses a wheelchair. Not to mention the countless utensils that are not easy for people with low grip strength or dexterity to hold or manoeuvre. This systematic lack of intuitive accessibility can be daunting, lead to accidents or difficulties, and reinforce the view that kitchens just arent a safe place for a population that, in reality, designers have simply historically failed to account for.

This view also reflects the severely limited representation of disability in cooking shows. One in five Americans has some kind of disability; one in ten has a severe disability. Yet chances are that the only time most Americans have ever seen a chef with a disability on TV, it was Christine Ha, The Blind Cook, who won season three of MasterChef in 2012. (Granted, PBS diehards may have seen a few more on the show Cooking without Looking.) And that is likely not just the result of low representation in the culinary world due to accessibility issues and general stigma. I was recently approached by a TV station for a cooking show, but found out I was ultimately turned down because the studio kitchen was not accessible, notes James Coke, a skilled and successful chef who uses a wheelchair and has lived with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis for about 35 years. I felt Id been used just to tick an inclusion box and was angry that I was prevented from showing that disabled cooks are winners.

Instead, cooking shows valorize or reify proper techniques, physically intensive cooking styles, and intricate recipes that just do not work for many average, much less disabled, cooks. Fooderati also turn up their noses, points out Anna Moyer of Accessible Chef, a site with recipes and lessons geared towards people with disabilities, at things like pre-cut or canned foods, which may be vital ingredients for people with severe fatigue or limited to no hand control who want to get into the kitchen. When shows do deign to bring on people with disabilities, adds Sue Hoss, who builds resources for young chefs with intellectual disabilities at Look, Cook, and Eat, It seems theyre there for the challenge value of living up to ableist standards rather than their innate talent.

As Hoss and Moyers projects attest, there are a growing number of resources online for people with disabilities looking to learn how to cookor to get affirmation that they can find a place in the kitchen. There are also a growing number of people with disabilities making cooking content on social media, blogs, and digital video platforms, improving representation and fighting stigma and stereotypes. Specialty companies also make a growing range of adaptive appliances; I have looked into, for example, gyroscopically stabilised forks, spoons, and knives in recent years. But adaptive technologies, Hong points out, are often incredibly expensive and as such inaccessible to most people. And representation and resources, Hoss argues, are still quite limited at best.

When stereotypes, stigmas, and a pure lack of resources convince people with disabilities that they just cant cook, that is not only a huge moral problem, but also a public health one. As Moyer points out, people with disabilities often, for want of kitchen access, knowledge, or confidence, end up lacking affordable and nutritious food. This despite the fact that eating well is often key to the management of chronic disordersand the fact that cooking with and for others can foster a sense of community, inclusion, and autonomy that many people with disabilities struggle to maintain.

To give disabled individuals concrete examples of the ways their peers have carved out a space for themselves in the kitchen, I recently asked a handful of professional and amateur chefs to share their experiences navigating cookingfiguring out tricks and adaptationswith disabilities. The insights they present below are hardly comprehensive. Every individuals disability will be at least somewhat unique, and as such demand equally unique adaptations. But they are a good starting point for visualising how disabilities of all stripes can fit into the average kitchen.

Almost everyone I spoke to for this piece, no matter their disability, agreed that when coming into the kitchen, people with disabilities have to really look at what is happening, as Ellen Kyhl, who spoke to me alongside her son John, who has Down syndrome, put it. You need to figure out what your abilities are and how you can accommodate that ability. Make a list of things that you might have trouble with, and things that you excel at, then start coming up with broad adjustments or porting over solutions that you have applied in other parts of your lifethe tricks you use to reach things from a wheelchair or to grip things with limited dexterity or hand strength.

Some people might have to abandon spontaneity in the kitchen in favour of planning and preparation so they do not find themselves unexpectedly blocked or running out of steam midway through a recipe. That might include budgeting time for physical and mental fatigue into a cooking schedule. Pre-planning is also useful for people who might need to find workarounds for certain ingredients when shopping on a fixed income or when they have trouble getting out to or navigating stores.

It is important to find community and support in organisations that advocate for civil rights and awareness, adds Christine Ha. Not only will they be able to connect you with a broad range of support and resources, but they will be good spots to meet with people who have a similar disability and compare notesto figure out what dishes or techniques have worked for others and how to make them your own. This is especially helpful when it comes to developing DIY solutions to kitchen accessibility issues. (Everyone I spoke to for this piece recommended trying to find such a DIY solution before splurging on adaptive appliances or remodels, as there is usually some inventive way of jury-rigging what you already own to make it work for you.)

For beginners especially (but not exclusively), says J.J. Goode, a chef who was born with one arm and has written extensively about single-armed cooking, it is useful to just throw away any dreams of making the ultra-complex recipes you might have seen on TV or in a magazine. Say, I am going to do this easy thing, he argues, and it is delicious. That way you can slowly build up your own approach to core cooking skills, getting fancier and more complex as you go alongbut only if you want to. There will be a learning curve as you figure out how to adapt and account for your unique context. But, says Ava Marie Romero, an autistic chef and food blogger, my message for everybody is: Do not give up. It may sound trite, but really, you have to believe in yourself.

Honestly, most of this advice could be useful for anyone, not just people with disabilitiesas is the case with most of the insights that come out of the world of disability. But it is the vital core that most people with disability especially need to adapt and experiment their way into cookery.

I cant tell you how frustrated I washow many things I spilled on my lap, all over the kitchen how many ugly words I said to myself, says Hong of her first year or so getting back into cooking after becoming a wheelchair user. As with anything new and different, it takes time. But its worth doing, especially if you identify with itas somebody who enjoys being a cook or cooking.

Goode argues that most of the things people do in the kitchen, like stirring a pot, are already one-arm activities. But moving boiling water pots, taking hot, heavy trays out of the oven, or chopping things up are much harder for him than they are for most two-armed people.

Most of the time, Goode believes, you can bridge this gap through automatic compensation: You try to do things the way that a two-armed person does, then adjust your body however feels right in order to find balance and leverage in line with your own anatomy. This may involve leaning down so close to a cutting board that youre almost eye-to-eye with an onion. It may mean using your foot for a quick assist stabilizing a tray or centering your gravity. At times, he admits, it looks ridiculousIm hunched over and balanced in this precarious way. But no matter how it looks from the outside, it will feel natural and quickly develop into automatic muscle memory.

Goode notes that many people who can only use one arm or hand use simple DIY fixes to reduce the need to find new positions in which to cook. A spike in a cutting board, for instance, can hold items in place, reducing your need to find leverage. And a wooden dowel affixed to a paint roller is a lot easier to use one-handed than finding the right angle to hold a two-handed rolling pin. Thats just not Goodes style, personally. Although maybe when I get older and Ive developed intense back pain from all this hunching over Ill be like, all right, gadget time.

Meal prep and planning can be especially powerful tools for anyone prone to fatigue, says Coke. I tend to do my cooking in the morning, as I have more energy, and cook double portions that I can freeze for later use. Simple recipes and pre-prepared ingredients are also a boon. The rise of the popularity of one-pot recipes certainly helps to accommodate these sorts of needs today.

It is trickier, Coke argues, to figure out how to deal with low grip strength when you have to use utensils with small, hard handles. Cokes solution is to just zap everything in a food processor then throw it all together, reserving his strength for things like mixing and side-stepping the finest motor function and ongoing strength drains of cooking. But others with limited grip strength, dexterity, and stamina address this limitation by putting foam onto handles to make them easier to hold for longer periods of time. Others design their cooking schedules to alternate between tasks that use different muscle groups and build in breaks to minimise the continuous strain of gripping, chopping, stirring, or any other kitchen activity.

For Hong, one of the most frustrating aspects of learning to navigate life in a chair was figuring out how to doand reacheverything from a low seated position. It takes a while, she says, to figure out things like, oh, if I have my coffee at the edge of the counter instead of at the back, like everybody else, itll make things so much easier. Granted, people born with a disability that leads them to use a wheelchair may, with their spongy young brains, figure these things out a bit quicker and so feel less frustration. But everyone in a chair needs to contend with a largely standing world.

Hong has solved this kitchen conundrum by bringing as much of cooking down to her level as she can. Her family has built a customised table low enough for her to get leverage while in her chair. Shes learned how to balance a cutting board on her lap with a towel under it to prevent slippage. And when she does need to use higher surfaces, there are always hooks and poles for reach, mirrors to see what is going on, and clever workarounds like scooping pasta out of boiling water into a colander suspended over another bowl rather than hoisting said pot of boiling water up from the stove while seated and perilously getting it over to an elevated sink to dump it out.

One-pot meals are a favourite for Hong as well, as they minimise the amount of back-and-forth she has to do in the kitchen. The more efficient her recipes, the less she has to figure out adaptations.

She is also a big believer in recognising when a modification may be possible, but would also be time-consuming, exhausting, or flat-out absurd. In these situations, she suggests just asking for help from someone proficient in an ability you might struggle with. Independence does not mean you have to do everything yourself, she argues. True independence is controlling your environment. Sometimes that control takes the form of empowered delegation or cooperation.

Although the needs of people with developmental disabilities vary wildly from one individual to the next, Sue Hoss (of Look, Cook, and Eat) and Anna Moyer (Accessible Chef) note that many have trouble with standard recipes. John Kyhl, for instance, who has Down syndrome, is an excellent reader but often has trouble holding his place in a paragraph if he has to turn away from it. Complex recipes with compound steps also pose a challenge.

For me to find a simple recipe was half the battle, says Ellen Kyhl, who ultimately turned to Hosss resources for help. It helps as well if that simple recipe is written (or can be copied out) in large font and clear bullet points. Illustrated steps might help, too. Ellen Kyhl says that, when cooking with John, she often thinks: How can I make this task as small and simple as possiblethen split it in half again and again and again, so theres something easy to follow that will slowly build up skills.

Differentiation of like things is also a challenge for John, Ellen adds. For example, a tablespoon versus a teaspoonfinding it in a drawer, because of the similarity of the label. You might have to develop clearer labels and strict organisation systems in a kitchen to help mitigate that issue.

It is useful, at least early on, for many people with developmental disabilities to cook with at least one partner the way John cooks with Ellen. That partner can help them to build a repertoire of recipes customised in the way that works best for them, to fill in on recipe work if fatigue starts to set in, and overall to help them develop the core skills and confidence necessary to cook a stable of loved dishes on their own. The duration of learning a skill for someone with a disability may be years instead of months or weeks, Ellen notes. But the autonomy is worth the time.

A shocking number of recipes and bits of conventional cooking advice centre on sight: checking the colour of meat, reading thermometers, or noting the hue of variant peppers. So one might think that cooking with a visual impairment is especially daunting. But in truth, more often than not, people with vision impairments can learn alternative cues for readiness at each stage of cooking with their other senses. Powders all have their unique feel. Frying oil or boiling water has a sound. About-to-burn bread has a smell.

When cooking in a new environment, a visually impaired chef might need some help getting acquainted to a new space and where all its ingredients and appliances are. But most visually impaired cooks memorise the layout of their own kitchens and customise them with simple cues like bump dot stickers on the stove and touchscreen appliances, as Ha points out, which assist in differentiating between devices, setting temperature dials, and so on.

Cooking with a visual impairment may require a few special precautions, like avoiding sleeves in case they get caught on something. Adding cook time to recipes instead of preheating the oven minimizes the risk of scorching oneself on a hot rack.

But beyond that, it islike cooking with most disabilitiesnot too different from the way most people cook in practice: Use the skills and senses that you have, and lean into the strongest ones. Experiment your way to individualized tactics that work well and feel natural for you. Plan and organise until you develop a sense of confidence. This might take time, and your process could look different from anyone elses. But as Hong points out, There is no right or wrong way, no specific time in which to master things. If cooking is something you really want to do, you owe it to yourself to try. Because its absolutely doable.

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Navigating Disability In The Kitchen Is All About Finding The Right Adaptations - Gizmodo Australia

First Posted: Jan 21, 2020 07:50 AM EST

A thermostat is a device used to control the heating and cooling system of a home or an office. It consists of a circuit controlled by a temperature-sensitive device and connected to the environmental system.

This time,Amazonis offering you lists of thermostats that work effectively with an Alexa app. Here are some of them:

(Photo : Amazon)

This thermostat is one of the best devices that you can have in your smart home. You can choose to auto-schedule or program the temperature that you like. You can also change the temperature anytime by connecting it to this thermostat in a Wi-Fi. In doing so, you can use your phone, tablet or laptop. This has also a nest leaf that will help you choose a temperature that saves energy.

One of the special features of this thermostat is it automatically turns itself down when you are away to avoid heating or cooling the house. Most of all, this works with Alexa for voice control purposes. Click the image above for the price and more details.

(Photo : Amazon)

If you are looking for an energy-saving thermostat then this is the best device that you are looking for. Using this thermostat will help you save 23 percent in heating and cooling. You can place this thermostat in a room or place that you like and have the temperature balanced throughout your room.

Its installation is just very easy. It will only take you 30 minutes to install the device by just simply following the instruction. You can also adjust the thermostat using your iOS or Android device. Most of all, you can control the device using your voice since this is compatible with Alexa. Click the image above for the price and more details.

(Photo : Amazon)

This is one of the best thermostats that you can buy on Amazon if you are looking for a device that best blends and fit to your home. You can also change the temperature by using the Nest app anywhere you are. Like any other smart Thermostat, this will help you to save energy.

It also automatically turns itself down after you leave your house and with this, you will not waste energy by heating or cooling. Using the Nest App, you can also check how much energy you use and when. Click the image above for the price and more details.

(Photo : Amazon)

This is named as the 'Best Value' smart thermostat from 2017 to 2019 by USA Today's Reviewed.com. This has an Energy Star that helps you save energy up to 23 percent. This is not hard to install, by just following the instructions you install the device in just 30 minutes.

One of the best features why it is named as 'Best Value' because it works in the most and leading smart devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit, and more. Click the image above for the price and more details.

(Photo : Amazon)

This is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Smart Things, Google Home, and IFTTT. It also auto-updates for daylight savings and adjusts every 12 hours. You can also customize its touchscreen to full color to easily read the numbers and text. Click the image above for the price and more details.

TagsAmazon, smart devices, Amazon smart devices, Nest Smart Thermostat

2015 Latin Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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5 Smart Thermostats Compatible With Alexa - Latin Post

Global warming affects us all, which is why in a time of such peril Plumbzall, one of Melbourne's leading plumbing services, has decided to go green and be a part of the green plumbing initiative. With the major changes in the climate all over the world, more people are opting for eco-friendly homes. As part of this initiative, the business has decided to increase the use of environmentally friendly fixtures that will reduce the amount of water being used in your homes. The use of products such as low-flow showerheads, flow regulators and dual flush toilets, will significantly reduce water consumption in Melbourne homes.

Plumbzall provides a number of plumbing services including heating and cooling repairs and maintenance. Provisions such as insulated pipes and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems will be part of their appliance installation process. These changes in the plumbing system will not just be targeted toward a particular system but the entire house. The business will also be providing a whole house filtration system that is energy-efficient, environment-friendly and is also good for one's overall health.

The founder and owner of Plumbzall, Mr. Gabriel Tomasini says, "in a time like this using eco-friendly material and systems within your homes is the best way to keep the environment safe as well as maintain your own health. Most of these eco-friendly installations will contribute to a reduction in water and energy consumption." Their plumber Sunbury service is said to be ready with all the material required for sustainable plumbing installations. Their team of plumbers will be urging all customers to get the installations for their plumbing systems. "Most people don't even know about these small steps they can take towards saving the environment. We are just here to inform our customers of the benefits of these sustainable installations and install the fixtures in their homes," says Mr.Tomasini.

About Plumbzall:

Based in Sunbury, Plumbzall has been in the business for several years. They provide efficient and effective plumbing services in Melbourne. Quality plumbing service provided at competitive rates by professional licensed plumbers.

Visit Plumbzall website here - https://plumbzall.com.au/

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Media ContactCompany Name: PlumbzallContact Person: Gabriel TomasiniEmail: Send EmailCity: Sunbury, MelbourneCountry: AustraliaWebsite: https://plumbzall.com.au/

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The Plumbzall Green Plumbing Initiative in Sunbury - Press Release - Digital Journal

After months of wildfires that have ravaged many parts of Australia, and the unending bushfire season showing no signs of abating, the quality of air is abysmally poor with pollution from the smoke reaching hazardous levels. From office buildings, hospitals, hotels and schools to homes, every space presents a risk for occupants from the hazardous air quality.

As a specialist in track and sealing products, Cowdroy explains in this article how you can prevent the thickening smoke from entering your home.

Stay indoors

Whenever the Bureau of Meteorology issues a poor air quality alert, try to stay indoors as much as possible with all windows and doors closed. Particle levels are likely to be higher outdoors than indoors, so if you are particularly sensitive to these, definitely limit the time you spend outside.

Run your air conditioner

Add a filter to your air conditioner to prevent smoky air from seeping into your home. When the air outside is clean, ventilate your home the natural way by opening all the windows. You could invest in a portable air filter to lower the level of indoor smoke particles. These filters also work effectively in a well-sealed room.

Install weather seals

Also known as a weather strip, a weather seal is used to seal gaps around moveable building components such as doors and windows to prevent air leaks. Cowdroy weather seals are designed to provide an infiltration barrier, preventing conditioned air from leaking out and keeping smoke, dust and insects from entering the enclosed space.

Even if your home is well-insulated, smoke can still leak in through gaps. Weather sealing your home against air leaks is one of the simple and affordable upgrades you can undertake to guard against exterior pollutants, says Peter Doyle, business development manager at Cowdroy Retail. By directly addressing air leakage, weather seals can significantly enhance occupant comfort. It is worth investing in the small things that make a big difference.

Cowdroys CM7 perimeter door seal is suitable for all single and double hinged doors (laundry doors, garage doors or entry doors) and effectively locks in thermal comfort, lowers heating and cooling bills, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions for the lifespan of your home. This PVC and rubber seal fits around the door frame for added insulation and has self-adhesive backing with optional nails.

Suitable for doors measuring up to 2100mm (H) x 1000mm (W), the CM7 is available in white and brown, can be simply cut to size, and is quick and easy to install, providing homeowners an affordable and effective solution for improving air quality and insulation within a home. This product can also be used in conjunction with CM3 automatic door seals.

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Keeping the smoke out of your home - Architecture and Design

To install UltraShield composite cladding, you will need to gather some tools, research some topics and perform a few tasks. These include:

As mentioned above, your composite cladding cannot simply be installed on a flat surface. You must install it on joists to allow for proper ventilation. This structure is known as the under construction. Before installing this structure, keep these tips in mind:

Before you install the under construction, we recommend you speak with a licensed professional.

We have so much confidence in the quality and longevity of our products that we offer them with a transferable limited warranty of 25 years. We will even cover the labor costs involved in replacing the materials if their performance is less than promised.

Warmer temperatures will cause your siding boards to expand, and cold temperatures will cause them to contract. For this reason, it is necessary to leave a gap between boards during your installation and you must know how much of a gap to leave. For instance, if youre installing an 8 board when its just 32 F, you must leave a 2/16 gap. If its 68 F, you only have to leave a 1/16 gap. You can?see the full chart?in our siding installation manual.

NewTechWood has been a dominant force in the composite wood industry ever since its beginnings 15 years ago. It has become known around the world for its advanced, attractive and reliable composite wood products.

At NewTechWood, we attribute our success to our philosophy we are committed to listening closely to homeowners, homebuilders, architects and contractors and work hard to carry out their requests and bring their visions to life. We believe our ability to realize our customers needs is in part due to our products wide range of colors and patterns, which allows us to find a look that works perfectly for every project.

Apart from our siding, we also offer a number of other composite wood products that can enhance your outdoor living experience, such as:

If youd like to learn more about our products, wed be happy to speak with you! You can reach us by calling 281-570-6450 or by filling out our online form. If youre ready to install one of our products, you can locate a nearby distributor that sells our products.

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Composite Siding & Cladding | Wall Panels | NewTechWood

Fiber cement siding is not that difficult to install if you have some basic information. One of the most essential facts and obvious is to follow your fiber cement manufacturers instructions that have been formulated based on their product and specifications.

Fiber cement siding must be cut face down with a diamond tip blade. When an irregular cut is needed, a jigsaw equipped with a medium or coarse-grit carbide blade can be used. A diamond jigsaw blade will be useful too.

Make sure the wall or surface is prepared to receive the cement siding. Make sure that the windows, doors, and openings have been flashed all around their perimeter. Also, check if your manufacturer requires a weather-resistive barrier.

Nails used to hang fiber cement siding shall penetrate at least 1 into the studs or the structural framing. Remember that the siding is hard so be sure the nails are located at the right place before driving them. If the cement siding is to be installed over wood sheathing (7/16 OSB or plywood at a minimum), it is recommended to use a 6d nail. Sometimes, if you are trying to drive the nails and you are having problems, you can pre-drill the holes to facilitate the job.

Siding can be installed over wood and metal studs. These studs shall be a minimum 20 gauge, 3-5/8" C-studs. Fasteners shall be flush to the surface material. Do not countersink or angle fasteners. When blind nailing, place nail 1" down from the top of the board, and when face nailing, place nail 3/4" up from the bottom.

It is important that the insulation product used when installing fiber cement siding will be able to level the wall and align each siding panel properly. When you add insulation to the siding, the customers energy bill will be reduced too, so you might want to highlight this as an additional benefit for your client. Fiber cement siding should be installed over plywood, OSB, or sheathing.

Be sure that the siding installed is dry. Otherwise, it might shrink at butt joints. When sheathing is the preferred surface that will receive the fiber cement siding or any other fragile substrate, be sure to pre-drill the holes at corners to prevent accidental damages. Building codes will usually require installing siding over water-resistant barriers and nailed into the studs every 16 or 24 inches.

When installing fiber cement siding be sure to leave at least clear space between the siding and the flashing vertical siding should be installed and attached to the structural framing when a non-structural sheathing, gypsum board or foam-type sheathing are used.

When you are getting close to the final grade, leave at least 6" between the bottom of the siding and finish grade, and a minimum of 1 above rooflines and decks. Fiber cement siding shall have a 1/8" gap between trims of windows and doors. If you need to cut cement siding a 100% acrylic latex primer must be used to reseal the surface. Install all butt ends and joints in contact with one another.

Be sure to caulk, paint, or finish fiber cement siding following manufacturer's recommendation. By doing this, you will be making sure that the siding is ready to withstand changing weather conditions. Caulk around windows, doors, trims, and self-flashing penetrations.

Fiber cement siding should be kept covered while not been installed on a clean, flat and leveled surface. The siding must be protected from direct exposure to weather that could damage the cement siding before it is installed. If you need to move siding pieces, be sure to carry them by their narrow edge and support it when you cut larger pieces.

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Fiber Cement Siding Installation Tips

Royal Building Products, a Westlake company, will celebrate 50 years as a leading manufacturer of exterior building products, as well as the launch of new products and colors at the 2020 NAHB International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 21-23, 2020.

Royal Building Products traces its roots to Canada, where it was founded as Royal Plastics in Toronto, Ontario in 1970. Today, Royal Building Products is the largest extruder of cellular PVC components in North America, where it is known as a leader in design, best-in-class manufacturing and industry-leading innovation in the exterior building products category.

"With 50 years of innovation under our belts, we truly understand the unique challenges of our customers, including contractors, architects and builders," said Steve Booz, vice president, marketing, Royal Building Products. "This milestone demonstrates our commitment to those key stakeholders. They trust us to continue manufacturing the best building products in the industry and are the reason we can confidently look ahead to the next 50 years."

Royal will launch Atlas Stone Composite Stone Panels, as well as several new colors in Cedar Renditions and vinyl shake at the NAHB 2020 IBS. Attendees are encouraged to visit Royals booth #N913 to learn more about Royals extensive product lines.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

New! Atlas Stone Composite Stone Panels

Available in February 2020, Royal launches Atlas Stone Composite Stone Panels. Atlas Stone boasts a contemporary stacked profile and selection of neutral to bold shades, making it the perfect exterior element for homes ranging from Ranch to Craftsman to Contemporary. With SandGrit technology, which replicates the texture of real stone, Atlas Stone panels are lightweight, durable and easy to install, demanding very little maintenance.

Atlas Stone is finished with a fade-resistant Kynar coating and able to withstand all weather conditions and climates. The product is backed by Royals industry-leading 50-year warranty.

Celect Canvas Unpainted Cellular Siding

Royal will feature Celect Canvas Unpainted Cellular Siding, an unpainted version of its industry-leading cellular composite siding that launched in June 2019. Celect Canvas features the same woodgrain aesthetics and low-maintenance benefits of the prefinished cellular siding offering, plus the ability to customize the color using thousands of exterior vinyl-safe paint shades that fall within the recommended light reflectance (LRV) rating of 50 and above.

Celect Canvas is available in 7" Clapboard, Board & Batten and 7" Shake. All Celect Cellular Siding offerings feature a patented interlocking seam design, which keeps moisture out and virtually eliminates seams.

Celect Cellular Composite Siding

Celect Siding replicates the beauty and aesthetics of wood while remaining low maintenance and durable for a lifetime. Celects profiles7" Smooth, 7" Clapboard, 7" Shake and Board & Battenare available in 15 fade-resistant colors and feature a patented interlocking seam design, which keeps moisture out and almost completely eliminates seams.

Royal will also showcase Celect Mounting Blocks, which are crafted from the same state-of-the-art cellular materials as Celect premium siding, and effortlessly combine form and function. Available Celect mounts include Standard Mount, Recessed Split Mount, Universal Block, Gang Block, Electrical Mount and Gable Vent.

Zuri Premium Decking by Royal

Zuri Premium Decking combines the natural beauty of exotic hardwood with unsurpassed durability and exceptionally low maintenance requirements to create a one-of-a-kind outdoor living environment. Zuri is available in Square Boards and in Grooved Boards, which offer a truly hidden fastener application with pre-threaded screws for fast installation. Zuri Grooved Boards are offered with a 3/32" spacing or a 3/16" gap.

New at IBS 2020, Royal will also launch Zuri Fascia boards in 8" and 12" profiles.

All of the Zuri products are available in Chestnut, Walnut, Pecan, Brazilia and Weathered Gray, and are backed by a 25-year Color Fastness Warranty against color shifting.

Cedar Renditions by Royal Design Series

Launched to the U.S. market in 2019, the Cedar Renditions Design Series is a sleek and modern accent siding, providing exceptional curb appeal without the maintenance or flammability issues of wood. LEED compliant and 100% recyclable, the Design Series combines durable, thicker gauge aluminum, wider board contemporary wood aesthetics and streamlined looks.

Story continues

In 2020, Royal adds a new premium color, Grey Oak, and a new traditional color, Spanish Moss, to its 6" Cedar Renditions Design Series aluminum siding profiles available in the U.S.

Royal Spec Series Trim

Designed to pair with any type of siding, including Celect, vinyl, fiber cement, and engineered wood, Spec Series Trim is a lightweight and easy to install accessory featuring a 5/8" board-like appearance, 2" deep pocket and 3/4" pocket width. It has a factory-finished resin coating, and components are available in outside corner post, inside corner post and wide-faced trim.

New Colors! Royal Building Products and Exterior Portfolio Vinyl Siding

Royal Vinyl products featured at IBS 2020 will include Haven Insulated Siding, Estate, and Portsmouth Shake & Shingles. Exterior Portfolio products will include CraneBoard Solid Core Siding, Market Square and Portsmouth Shake & Shingles.

Six new trending colors have been added to the Portsmouth Shake & Shingle line: Sedona Shadow, Mountain Ash, and Rustic Gray. Under Weathered, the new colors are Cottonwood, Aged Pewter and Stonehedge.

All Royal and Exterior Portfolio siding products are backed with an industry-leading warranty, as well as Chromatix technology color protection, which warrants the products to as low as three Hunter units of fade, keeping dark shades true. The Royal booth will also showcase its Triple 3-1/3" Soffit, which is available for both Exterior Portfolio and Royal lines.

Royal Building Products PVC Column Wraps

New at IBS 2020, Royal introduces a tapered version of its PVC Column Wraps. Royals Column Wraps feature a unique "clam shell" design with three pre-assembled sides that surround the existing post for a quick installation and seamless appearance. The fourth side is applied to enclose the entire column. Made from 100% cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Royals Column Wraps are resistant to moisture, preventing issues found in traditional wood columns, such as warping, rotting and insect damage. The Column Wraps come ready-to-install in a White or Sand Dune finish but can also be painted to complement a homes exterior color palette. Royal Column Wraps are available in Traditional, Craftsman and Builder styles.

Royal Conceal Trim System

Made for building professionals who appreciate easy installation and style-forward design, the Conceal system offers accessories to cover every seam and complement every kind of Royal siding and exterior material. Made from 100% cellular PVC, Conceal products have no exposed seams, are moisture and termite proof, and feature a "True Square" edge design for clean installation.

Royal SurEdge Trimboard

SurEdgeTM Trimboard can be used in countless ways to trim a home and add long-lasting beauty and value. It has precisely defined 90-degree corners that help amplify the curb appeal of a range of home stylesfrom Ranch to Colonial to Craftsman. Installation is seamless and clean thanks to the products perfectly square edges, and all of its building aesthetics come with the time-saving low maintenance of 100% cellular PVC.

Royal Nickel Gap and Shiplap

Royals Nickel Gap and Shiplap products combine interior old world charm with the technology of cellular PVC to reduce moisture concerns, and can be installed vertically or horizontally in exterior and interior trim applications. The shiplap trend is timeless, easily achievable and has applications for nearly every room in the home, such as kitchen backsplashes, bathroom accent walls and mudroom hallways.

Royal Shutters, Mounts & Vents

Royal Shutters, Mounts and Vents are easy to install and effortlessly complement a wide variety of siding, trim and mouldingsmeeting the homeowners and contractors need for design, low-maintenance and durability.

EXTERIOR DESIGN

Design Tools

For those who want to "try it before they buy it," Royal has five online design tools to provide contractors and homeowners with the ultimate exterior home design experience. Each design tool offers all product lines, profiles and colors, as well as product comparisons, larger images, expert designers top color combinations and preselected color palettes. The three siding design tools also include good, better and best trim options, as well.

Royals online design tools include:

LiveAbode

A comprehensive guide for exterior design and outdoor living inspiration, LiveAbode is a Royal Building Products online publication that offers the latest trends, tips, DIYs and style advice to homeowners. Featuring content from Royals experts and regular contributors, LiveAbode is an unmatched resource for homeowners, designers and contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada.

About Royal Building Products

Royal Building Products, a Westlake Chemical company (NYSE: WLK), manufactures and distributes leading materials for the home remodeling, building and construction markets. For 50 years, the companys commitment to quality, innovation and customer relationships has attracted the loyalty of a growing number of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors to its products. With operations throughout Canada and the United States, Royal Building Products offers the renovation, remodeling and new construction industries a broad range of innovative products, including siding, trim, accessories, soffit, rainware, mouldings and decking. For more information, please visit http://www.royalbuildingproducts.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram and "Like" us on Facebook.

Disclaimer:

The information presented is made available solely for general information purposes. All sales of Royal Building Products trim, mouldings, siding, and other exterior building products are subject to Royal Building Products standard terms and conditions of sale, which are available upon request. Royal Building Products makes no other warranty, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any warranty of merchantability or fitness for particular purpose. Royal Building Products and the Royal Building Products logo are registered trademarks of Royal Building Products (USA) Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200121005627/en/

Contacts

Kriss SwintRoyal Building Products614-754-3455kswint@royalbp.com

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Royal Building Products Celebrates 50 Years of Building and Staying Power with Innovative New Products at the 2020 International Builders Show (IBS) -...

The Insight Partners published an Exclusive report on Fiber Cement Siding Market delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 150 pages which highly exhibits on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.

It is unaffected by both heat and flame, ecofriendly in nature and does not support the growth of molds are the major drivers which help in surging the growth of this market whereas installation of fiber cement siding is costly which may act as a restraining factor. Increasing demand from construction professionals for the product features of fiber cement will create new opportunities for this market in the coming years.

Request a sample of this premium report at:https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100001095/

Key Players

1. Etex Group NV2. James Hardie Industries PLC3. Evonik Industries AG4. Compagnie De Saint Gobain SA5. Toray Industries Inc6. CSR Limited7. The Siam Cement Public Company Limited8. NICHIHA Co.,Ltd9. Plycem Corporation10. Cembrit Holding A/S

Global Fiber Cement Siding Market which has been compiled after an in-depth analysis of the market trends prevailing across five geographies (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa, and South America). Various segments of the market such as type/components/ application/industry verticals/ end-users are analyzed with robust research methodology which includes three step process starting with extensive secondary research to gather data from company profiles, global/regional associations, trade journals, technical white papers, paid databases etc. followed by primary research (interviews) with industry experts/KOLs to gain their insights and views on current scenarios and future scope of the market as well as validating the secondary information, further internal statistical model is used to estimate the market size and forecasts till 2027.

Fiber cement siding is a construction material used for covering the exterior of residential and commercial buildings. It consist of a mixture which includes sand, portable cement, fly ash and cellulosic fiber. When combined, these materials make a highly durable product which offers resistance to water and provides warranty coverage for about 30-50 years. There are various types of fiber cement siding available in the market namely clapboard, shingles and stone or stucco.

Fiber Cement Siding Market Global Analysis to 2027 is an expert compiled study which provides a holistic view of the market covering current trends and future scope with respect to product/service, the report also covers competitive analysis to understand the presence of key vendors in the companies by analyzing their product/services, key financial facts, details SWOT analysis and key development in last three years. Further chapter such as industry landscape and competitive landscape provides the reader with recent company level insights covering mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations, new product developments/strategies taking place across the ecosystem. The chapters also evaluate the key vendors by mapping all the relevant products and services to exhibit the ranking/position of top 5 key vendors.

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Table of Contents1. Introduction 402. Global Fiber Cement Siding Market Key Takeaways 423. Global Fiber Cement Siding Market Market Landscape 454. Global Fiber Cement Siding Market Key Market Dynamics 585. Global Fiber Cement Siding Market Analysis 636. Fiber Cement Siding Market Global Regulatory Scenario 687. Global Fiber Cement Siding Market Analysis By Product 768. Global Fiber Cement Siding Market Analysis By Application 1069. Global Fiber Cement Siding Market Analysis By End User 11510. North America Fiber Cement Siding Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 11811. Europe Fiber Cement Siding Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 14112. Asia Pacific Fiber Cement Siding Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 16313. Middle East and Africa Fiber Cement Siding Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 18614. South and Central America Fiber Cement Siding Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 20815. Fiber Cement Siding Market Industry Landscape 22016. Fiber Cement Siding Market Key Company Profiles 22617. Appendix 267

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Fiber Cement Siding Market to show impressive growth of CAGR during the period 2020-2027 - Bulletin 99

Because it holds a 49% share of the e-commerce market, when Amazon speaks, its vendors listen. Thats why, when Bullet Tools, of Hayden, ID, a manufacturer of fixed-blade cutting tools for the construction industry, needed to redesign its packaging for a product sold on Amazon, it made sure to meet the online retailers new requirements for minimal, protective, and sustainable packagingespecially with financial penalties hanging in the balance.

Bullet Tools, as its tagline explains, offers Cutting-Edge Solutions for Tradesmen. This includes flooring, siding, and insulation cutters, along with blades and accessories. Its point of differentiation is that its cutters allow for dust-free installation. In particular, unlike its competitors tools, Bullets EZ Shear Laminate Flooring Cutter does not produce a (potentially deadly) cloud of silica dust, which means installers can use it to cut flooring without the need for vacuums, filters, or breathing protection.

Despite the innovative nature of the tool, Bullet was finding it difficult to get the product in front of potential customers. Selling the EZ Shear through Amazon offered the company a way to increase exposure and sales. But it soon realized that using the same packaging for online sales as it did for retail did not provide the needed product protection, and was costly and labor intensive to assemble.

In redesigning the packaging, Bullet worked with packaging supplier Multifab Packaging and protective packaging manufacturer Great Northern Laminations. The resulting shipper reduces corrugated materials and costs, provides greater product protection, is easy to assemble, andmost importantlymeets Amazons Frustration-Free Packaging (FFP) requirements.

Product protection for online sales

Bullet Tools cutters are sold by dealers at retail locations across the U.S. and worldwide, but it was e-commerce that really helped grow sales of the companys EZ Shear cutter. Getting our EZ Shear Laminate Flooring Cutter on the Internet means that when people search how to cut hardwood, our cutters come up, says Joshua Brand, Bullet Tools Purchasing & Inventory Manager. Since Amazon is the third most popular search engine in the world, having our products listed and reviewed there has created customers who might not otherwise know about Bullet Tools and has spurred tremendous growth.

While its cutter was a hit online, its packaginga double-wall corrugated case with insertswasnt. The EZ Shear is designed New packaging for Bullet Tools flooring cutter uses two laminated paperboard edge protectors riveted together that are placed into the bottom of the case for product protection.with a hefty blade and cutting mechanism located on one side, with the rest of the tool comprising a lightweight table for feeding product under the blade. Picture something akin to a paper cutter, but much larger. Having the majority of the weight on one side created challenges, as the feet and corners often broke through the packaging. Not only that, but as volumes rose, the packaging system became too costly, time consuming, and labor intensive. A new packaging design would need to address these issues, as well as be certified to meet Amazons packaging requirements.

In September 2018, Bullet Tools, along with thousands of other North American companies, was notified by Amazon that it was rolling out a new incentive program (see article in Packaging World, "Amazon's New Sustainable Packaging Program Puts the Customer First") that it explained was designed to drive more sustainable packaging in order to reduce waste and damage and delight customers. The announcement advised vendors they would need to design their packaging to meet Amazons Frustration-Free Packaging Program Certification Guidelines by Aug. 1, 2019 or face a chargeback of $1.99 per unit.

Amazons Vendor Incentive Program applies to all items larger than 18 x 14 x 8 in. or 20 lb or morespecifications that definitely describe Bullets productsand requires that their packaging is designed and certified as Tier 1 FFP or Tier 2 Ships In Own Container (SIOC). According to Amazon, That means theyll be right sized, protective against damage, ready-to-ship without the need for additional packaging, and ideally easy to open and recyclable.

Recognizing the importance of their Amazon sales and the negative impact of using packaging that frustrates the consumer, Bullet Tools turned to Shane Lynch, Account Manager at Multifab. Lynch asked Bullet Tools what their number-one goal was for redesigned packaging, and they responded that it was impact protection for the head of the tool.

Custom engineered solution cuts packaging costs

To help redesign the EZ Shear packaging to protect the product while meeting Amazons requirements, Lynch reached out to Great Northern Laminations, a provider of corner and edge protection solutions and a member the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier Network (APASS) since January 2019. The APASS network is made up of packaging designers, suppliers, and labs that have received guidance from Amazon to help test, design, and supply packaging in line with its packaging certifications.

Lynch approached Great Northern with an eye toward using a custom version of its PF PalletTop product as a potential solution. PF PalletTop pallet edge protectors were designed to provide an alternative to traditional wooden pallet tops to help stabilize and unitize pallet loads while protecting them from shipping and strapping damage.

To package the product, the operator loads the cutter into the PF PalletTop edge protector, and then loads the product with protector into the shipping case.PF PalletTop is made by riveting two pieces of Great Northerns notched VBoard laminated paperboard edge protectors together to form a square or rectangular shape to fit the tops, sides, or bottoms of palletized loads. According to the supplier, PF PalletTops are much lighter and less bulky than wooden pallet tops, are easier for employees to handle, and are less costly to ship. In addition, it says, the hinged construction of the PF PalletTop allows it to fold for efficient storage and then unfold for application to the pallet.

Together, Multifab and Great Northern reengineered the PF PalletTop for use by Bullet Tools. PF PalletTop was a product we used for brick-and-mortar packaging, but were changing the way we use it because e-commerce is changing the way people shop, and we needed to create packaging to meet their expectations, says Greg Seidel, Laminations Account Manager.

With e-commerce, protection is so important because there are typically more touchpoints and opportunities for damage before it reaches the customer, he adds. It can literally go from manufacturer to distribution center to transfer point to shelf then off the shelf to conveyor to truck to customer. This is in comparison to traditional shipping, where it just goes from distribution center to truck to store to customer.

With the reengineered version, a PF PalletTop edge protector is inserted directly into the bottom of the box, rather than on the outside, as is the case with the original product, to provide extra protection for the cutter. Notes Lynch, The PalletTop successfully reinforces the corners of the package, especially the heavier end. It has allowed the customer to go from a 51 ECT [Edge Crush Test] double-wall corrugated box to a 44 ECT single-wall box, has eliminated all the corrugated inserts, and has reduced material costs by 40 percent.

Adds Brand, This solution stops the product from breaking through standard boxes without any extra assembly time. Its cost-efficient, easy to store, and looks nice for the end user.

An additional benefit to the new e-commerce packaging, which Bullet Tools is now using for retail as well, is its sustainability. The edge protector is made out of 100% recycled material and is 100% recyclable. Because the new packaging for the EZ Shear was minimal and sustainable, Bullet Tools easily passed Amazons Frustration-Free Packaging ISTA 6 Amazon SIOC Tier 2 certification testing. Says Brand, We are 100-percent satisfied with the new packaging solution, and Amazon is completely satisfied as well.

Read more about Amazon's Vendor Incentive Program and E-commerce in these Packaging World articles:

Amazon's Vendor Incentive Program, Nine Months In

New E-Commerce Packaging Group Aims for Two-Way Dialog With Retailers

Survey: E-Commerce Packaging Materials, Pain Points, and Methods

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Less Packaging, Greater Protection with new Amazon-Certified Shipper - Packaging World