Tell me more! From labor-saving tools to stainless steel appliances, here are the products Building Products readers wanted to know more about - Product picks: top 100

Building Products, May-June, 2003 by Stephanie Herzfeld

EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS OF READERS REQUEST INFORMATION from manufacturers about hundreds of products and materials shown on the pages of BUILDING PRODUCTS and its sister publications BUILDER, CUSTOM HOME, and REMODELING. These products typically aren't vinyl windows, steel doors, power tools, bathroom faucets, or other items that builders and remodelers can easily learn more about on their own.

When contractors mail us reader service cards, they are looking for the Low-down on new technologies, hard-to-find products, unique styles, and growing design trends.

In honor of your quest to learn more, BUILDING PRODUCTS presents the cop 100 products readers requested information about during the past year. Each product write-up features a color photograph, along with a brief description of the product's features, and the manufacturer's phone number and Web site address, if available. And yes, there's another circle number so you can order literature about the product if you missed it the first time it was published.

This list is a giant eclectic assortment of building products and materials, copped by L.E. Johnson Products' Pocket Door Frame Kit. A few trends did emerge from this product potpourri: Readers were most curious about composite decking and heat recovery ventilators. Short reports on these topics are featured in this story.

So, start scanning the list. You never know what you might find that can help boost your sales and profits.

1 L.E. Johnson Products. The Pocket Door Frame Kit, which fits doors up to 5 feet wide by 9 feet high, uses no floor space around an entry, providing clients with bigger rooms and hallways, says the firm. It comes with self-adjusting anchors, rust-resistant zinc-coated steel sides and back plating, and a pre-assembled track and header. 800-837-5664. www.johnsonhardware.com. Circle 301.

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2 DuPont. Zodiaq surfacing is composed mostly of quartz, giving it exceptional toughness and hardness, the company says. It features consistency of color and can be cut and fit to meet exacting requirements. It is dense and nonporous, with no sealing required, and is heat-, scratch-, and stain-resistant. The product comes with a 10-year manufacturer's warranty against product defects. 877-229-3935. www.zodiaq.com. Circle 302.

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3 Marshall Tools. The Bricky speeds application of the mortar bed. After laying the first course normally, the Bricky rides on top of each new course, enabling you to apply a perfect bed of mortar--horizontally and vertically--with no slop. It also eliminates the need for using a line, level, and a mason's hammer. The firm says that this application can double your bricklaying speed and increase the work quality. 336-658-5959. Circle 303.

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4 Broan-NuTOne. This combines a heat ventilator with a HEPA air filtration. system. The Guardian plus system cleans allergens from fresh air drawn into the house from the outdoors. The high-pressure, centrifugal blower accommodates many ducting configurations. 800-558-1711. www.broan.com. Circle 304.

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5 Rinnai. The Continuum 2532 tankless water heater provides never-ending hot water at the exact temperature desired. It is 50 percent more efficient than old-style natural gas or propane hot water tanks and 75 percent more efficient than electric models, says the firm. Unique safety features such as keypad controls lessen the risk of scalding. It offers 15,000 to 18,000 BTUs and can deliver 1/2 to 8 1/2 gallons per minute endlessly. It uses either natural gas or propane. 800-621-9419. www.rinnaina.com. Circle 305.

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6 Carrier. A wall-mounted control unit on this heat recovery ventilator offers the homeowner three modes of air control: recirculation of air within the home without introducing outside air; continuous, around-the-clock flow of outdoor air into the home; and an intermittent speed for use when indoor humidity exceeds the desired level. 800-227-7437. www.carrier.com. Circle 306.

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7 LP. Made from wood and plastic, WeatherBest composite decking cuts, drills, and fastens like wood, the maker claims. No painting, staining, or other treatments are required. It resists termites, rot, decay, splintering, and checking. The Basic and Select lines weather to an ivory color; the premium brand has minimal weathering, says the firm. 800-648-6893. www.weatherbest.lpcorp.com. Circle 307.

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8 MoonReef. The Grapevine Urn still life is just one of the many hand-painted tile designs this company offers. Murals and borders are available in a variety of sizes and styles for a range of applications. Custom designs also are available from photos or from the client's imagination, on ceramic or stone tile, in any color or size. 201-825-6788. www.moonreef.com. Circle 308.

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9 Lennox. The Healthy Climate heat recovery ventilator comes with a wall control that includes a dehumidistat, on/off push button, and a service indicator light, which reminds the consumer to clean the unit. Sealed ball-bearing motors minimize the need for servicing, as no oiling is required, says the maker. 800-953-6669. www.lennox.com. Circle 309.