|
|
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
May 2002 |
Water Filter
 The
next time you’re lugging big, bulky bottles of filtered
water home, consider fixing the problem at its source with a
TrojanUVMax filtration system. This water disinfectant system
uses ultraviolet (UV) light to purify water and destroy bacteria
and viruses, including potentially deadly strains of E. coli
and Giardia, an intestinal infection that causes diarrhea and
fever. I had Giardia last summer and don’t recommend it.
The UV light is generated from
a lamp new to the residential market. These lamps provide a
high intensity of UV light to treat large amounts of water from
a river, lake or well. Because the system uses light to kill
microorganisms—not chemicals like chlorine—it is ecologically
friendly and the colour, taste and odour are not affected.
Trojan offers different sizes
depending on the volume of water required in your house. Two
of the models, the Pro 7 and Pro 15, were the first products
certified by NSF International, an authority on residential
water treatment system testing. The system uses the same amount
of energy as a normal 60-watt lightbulb and costs around $400
before installation. The UV lightbulb needs to be replaced once
a year. Contact Trojan Technologies
Inc. at trojanuvmax.com
or 519-457-3400.
—Jay Somerset |
 Cool
Lights
The problem with cabinet lighting has always been the light
itself: clinical fluorescent light or hot halogen bulbs. That’s
why Xenon task lighting is so popular. It provides a white,
nearly natural light that’s brighter than fluorescent and
cooler than halogen.
Xenon bulbs last about four times
as long as halogen bulbs and are cheaper to replace. They also
run at a cool 55º compared to halogen bulbs that usually
heat up to 90º—a hazardous temperature if the area
isn’t properly vented.
Task lighting is ideal under or
over a cabinet to provide light for countertops, desktops or
drafting tables. And with a depth of only 1", the unit
is easily hidden. It comes in three lengths, the smallest being
9" x 4 5/8" x 1 1/4" and the longest at 26"
x 4 5/8" x 1 1/4". Prices start at $90. For more information,
contact Magic Lite Ltd. at www.magiclite.com
or call 905-825-9592.
—Jay Somerset |
Stone Spread
 Can
you imagine taking the concept of furniture reupholstering and
applying it to any surface, indoors and outside—that is,
changing the look, colour and texture without rebuilding? Granite,
a unique product made by Tech Stone Inc., is a new surface coating
made of tiny stones and acrylic compounds. Now you can repair
and change surfaces without having to rebuild. Simply coat the
counters with a new surface as if you’re painting them.
Granite is a spreadable stone
coating for interior or exterior floors, walls, steps and counters.
It can be applied to most surfaces, including drywall, concrete,
masonry and wood. It creates a smooth, slip-resistant surface
that the manufacturer says bonds tightly with many surfaces
and can endure rain, snow, heat and cold temperatures without
cracking, peeling or bubbling. And because it is made of actual
small stones, surfaces won’t be easily scuffed.
Application is easy: clean the
surface that you want to cover and roll on a coat of primer;
stir Granite and apply with a spatula or a large paint scraper
or smoother; wait 24 hours and coat with a sealer. It comes
in five different colours that can be blended together. Add
a grout line to create the look of tile or flagstone or any
other decorative touch appropriate.
Granite costs about $1.50 sq.
ft. For more information, call 905-845-8118
or go to its website at www.techstone.ca.
—Jay Somerset, photos by Christopher Campbell
|
|
|
|
|
| FREE
NEWSLETTER |
Subscribe to our newsletter. Every few weeks, you'll get a behind-the-scenes
peek at the magazine, the web site and the folks who put it all together.
CLICK HERE |
|
|
PROJECTS
