Publication date: 10/30/2009

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Unique products highlight Novi home show

Homeowners in Metro Detroit love to go to home shows to look for new products and ideas for their home. That's why the Oct. 9-11 Fall Remodeling and Design Show at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi was the perfect way to kick off the fall and winter season.

This year's paid attendance was up 53 percent, according to sponsor Building Industry Association of Southeast Michigan's executive officer Mike Stospkof. That's a good sign for the home industry in this tough economy.

As always, in addition to broadcasting my radio show from the event, I got a chance to walk the show to look for new or unique products. These are some that caught my eye:

If you have an older home, you probably notice a lot of drafts coming through your old windows, making your furnace work harder to compensate for the cold air coming in. One way to stop those drafts and save energy without having to buy new windows or use plastic wrap is with the Magnetite window. According to Eric Brakke from Super Saver Windows, (248) 520-8860, www.supersaverwindows.com, this patented window frame holds a clear sheet of optical grade acrylic and is easily installed on the inside jamb of your window. These Magnetite windows can be made to fit any window and come in brown, tan or white. They not only eliminate drafts but also reduce outside noise.

Everybody knows the great work Habitat for Humanity does in the Detroit area. But what you may not know is that the organization has retail outlets called the ReStore in Detroit and Pontiac where new, quality used and surplus building materials donated by building supply stores, contractors or from individuals are sold at a 50 to 90 percent discount off of retail prices. For more information, contact the Detroit ReStore at (313) 653-4890, or the Pontiac location at (248) 338-8392.

If you have ever had a toilet overflow, you know the mess and potential damage to floors and ceilings it may cause. However, the Plumbing Professors, (800) 654-1300, www.plumbingprofessors.com, were exhibiting a solution to this problem at their booth: the Penguin Toilet, (248) 773-7616, www.penguintoilets.com. The Penguin is an anti-overflow toilet that has a secondary drain system that stops the toilet from overflowing by allowing the contents to drain through a separate drain line in the event of a clog in the main trap, similar to the overflow drains that sinks and bathtubs have.

If you are building a new home or planning an addition to your current home, you may want to consider specifying the Insulspan Structural Insulating Panel System available from Super Build Systems, (877) 300-5681, www.superbuildsystems.com. The Insulspan SIP is a performance-rated oriented strand board laminated to a continuous core of expanded polystyrene insulation that provides higher insulation R-values than typical wood-framed construction materials and allows you to build and insulate your building project in one step. The system has been recognized under the National Green Building Standard developed in partnership with the National Association of Home Builders and the International Code Council.

With people staying in their current home longer due to the tough economy here in Michigan, many folks are starting to plan some home maintenance and remodeling projects for the fall and winter. If you didn't make it to the Novi show, I encourage you to put it on your 2010 calendar. Many local communities conduct one or two day shows in addition to the regional shows. Remember to learn all you can before you do it!

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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