Great Finds

Tom Parry
Parry and Parry Construction
Jackson, Miss.

Over the years, custom builder Tom Parry has relied on several products to help his homes stand up to the steamy Mississippi climate. “One of the things I put in all my houses is TechShield roof decking because it lowers attic temperatures tremendously,” he says. The radiant barrier roof sheathing from LP installs like standard sheathing but prevents up to 97 percent of the radiant heat that hits the panel from entering the attic space, lowering attic temperatures by as much as 30 degrees and reducing cooling demands.

Parry also uses Nu-Wool Insulation’s Wallseal engineered cellulose insulation exclusively in his projects. The spray-applied product contains an EPA-registered borate-based fungicide that resists the growth of mold, even in mold-friendly conditions, according to the manufacturer.

Using James Hardie’s Harditrim and vented Hardisoffit fiber-cement trim and soffit on cornice areas also help Parry’s homes stand up to the effects of humidity, he says. “It seems to hold paint a lot longer in our humidity than wood does, so you get more time between paint jobs. And if you ever have a leak, it doesn’t get hurt, because it doesn’t rot.” The fungus- and mildew-resistant products are factory-sealed and primed in a process that ensures uniform coverage, the manufacturer says, providing a good surface for paint adhesion.

LP Building Products. 888.820.0325. www.lpcorp.com.

Nu-Wool Insulation Co. 800.748.0128. www.nuwool.com.

James Hardie. 888.542.7343. www.jameshardie.com.

Eric Sasser
Sasser Construction
Portsmouth, Va.

In the harbor town of Portsmouth, Va., the salt air blowing off nearby bays makes an outside source of clean water an important home feature for maintaining clean cars and home exteriors. Standard faucets, however, are likely to freeze in the region’s cold winters, and washing salt from cars with frigid water can be uncomfortable, says custom builder Eric Sasser. He’s been solving these problems for years by installing Woodford’s freezeless hot and cold exterior wall faucets as standard equipment on the homes he builds.

The Woodford Model 22 wall faucet provides hot and cold water by way of separate inlet tubes controlled by separate operating handles. Water temperatures reach a maximum of 120 degrees F. The faucet’s push-and-turn hot water handle protects against accidental use. Installed correctly with a slight downward pitch, the Model 22 drains automatically when a garden hose is detached, reducing the risk of the faucet freezing and bursting.

Woodford Manufacturing. 800.621.6032. www.woodfordmfg.com.