By REMODELING Magazine StaffFlooredRemodeler: Bill Wasch;
Company: Senior Serve, North Haven, Conn.
Product: Plyboo America bamboo flooring,
www.plyboo-america.com.
A readily renewable resource, bamboo offers homeowners an environmentally friendly flooring option. In addition to its green attributes, Bill Wasch says Plyboo America's flooring is durable, with a coating that is impervious to almost anything. "It's a very attractive product, it's very durable, and it works well as far as installing it," says Wasch. The flooring also offers unique visual flourishes, including a surface grain that shows the plant's growth rings.
Hammer TimeRemodeler: Wayne Minde, CR;
Company: Tri-Lite Builders, Chandler, Ariz.
Product: Bosch rotary hammer,
www.boschtools.com.
"In the 20 years I have had my Bosch rotary hammer, it has never broken down," says Wayne Minde of his 3/4-inch Bulldog SDS model. For the most part, the only maintenance the tool has required all these years is replacing the brushes. In addition to its longevity, "the tool is lightweight and easy to handle," says Minde, who uses the rotary hammer to drill holes in concrete. Today's equivalent to Minde's tool is model 11234VSR.
What a CADRemodeler: Michael Fast, CGR;
Company: MRF Construction, Tacoma, Wash.
Product: Chief Architect,
www.chiefarch.com.
Developed to provide cutting-edge design at an affordable price, Chief Architect allows users to design floor plans and create 3-D renderings. "It's made a huge difference in our company's ability to do design/build effectively," says Michael Fast. In addition to efficiency, Fast appreciates being able to switch quickly from floor to floor within the design, view elevations and cross sections, and import digital aerial photos. "It allows us to do real-time changes with homeowners while we're sitting in their living rooms."