1223 - Flooring, Glass Block Wall and a New Water Filtration System February 4-10, 2002 | August 5-11, 2002 HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN.
THE PLACE
IS COMING TOGETHER FINALLY.
TODAY WE'VE GOT LOTS
OF INTERESTING THINGS.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
FLOOR SYSTEMS TO SHOW YOU.
ONE OF THEM GOES DOWN--IT'S
A BEAUTIFUL WOODEN FLOOR THAT
GOES DOWN WITHOUT ANY NAILS.
THE OTHER ONE'S
MADE OUT OF GLASS.
ALSO, WE'RE LOOKING
AT A WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM,
AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU
FOR A WALK AROUND THE HOUSE
TO SHOW YOU ALL THE PROGRESS.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
WELL, LET'S GET STARTED TODAY
IN THE FORMER BARN,
ALMOST-FINISHED ART STUDIO NOW.
AND FRED GIUGGIO IS HERE
FROM QUICK STEP FLOORS.
HI, BOB.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
THIS IS A REVOLUTIONARY
NEW TYPE OF WOOD LAMINATE
FLOOR, RIGHT?
WELL, IT'S GLUELESS.
THAT'S WHAT'S
REVOLUTIONARY ABOUT IT.
IT'S GLUELESS?
NO GLUES, NO NAILS,
NO ANYTHING.
WHAT'S TO KEEP IT
FROM JUST KIND OF
POPPING UP?
IT'S THE ENGINEERING.
THE ENGINEERING IS DONE
THIS WAY.
IT'S DONE WITH
AN 8-MILLIMETER BOARD,
AND WHEN THE 2 BOARDS
COME TOGETHER,
THEY LOCK, AND THEY LOCK
ON ALL 4 SIDES.
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THE FELLOW'S
PUTTING THIS DOWN.
THAT'S THE BEST PART
ABOUT THIS WOOD.
WHAT ABOUT IT
ABSORBING MOISTURE
AND SWELLING UP?
WE HAVE A 25-YEAR
WEAR, STAIN, FADE,
AND MOISTURE WARRANTY.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
WE HAVE TO STABILIZE
THE BOARD.
WE HAVE MELAMINE
UNDERNEATH,
PLUS WE HAVE A MOISTURE
WEAR LAYER UNDERNEATH.
OK. AND YOU CAN GET IT
IN ALL SORTS OF FINISHES?
THERE ARE
25 DIFFERENT COLORS.
TODAY WE'RE DOING BIANCO
FOR THE BARN.
AND WE'RE PRETTY PROUD
OF THE PRODUCT.
WHAT'S THE UNDERLAYMENT?
ON TOP OF THE CONCRETE,
WE'VE GOT--
THIS HAPPENS TO BE
THE QUICK STEP UNISOUND.
THIS IS A 1/16
FLOATING FOAM PAD,
AND IT'S A HIGH-DENSITY
PAD THAT SUCKS UP A LOT
OF THE SOUND
WHEN YOU PUT IT ON TOP.
OK. LET'S SAY HI
TO KIRK WARD
FROM AWARD FLOORING.
AND, KIRK, HAVE YOU
BEEN PUTTING THIS STUFF
DOWN FOR A WHILE NOW?
SINCE JANUARY. IT'S NEW
TO THE MARKETPLACE.
WE ARE A LAMINATE--BEEN
IN THE LAMINATE BUSINESS
FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS
IN AN INSTALLATION
CAPACITY.
YOU'RE DOWN
IN BUZZARDS BAY, RIGHT?
YEAH. UH, WHAT
I'VE DONE IS SINCE--
WE'VE OPENED A RETAIL
STORE, AND THE BOYS
HAVE CONTINUED ON
INSTALLING--MY 2 SONS.
YEAH.
GREAT.
SO, HOW DO YOU LIKE
PUTTING THIS DOWN?
OH, IT'S
A GREAT PRODUCT.
IT'S A TIME-SAVER.
IT'S VERY FAST.
UM, WHERE WE HAVE
THE NO-GLUE SITUATION,
IT HELPS YOU
WITH THE CLEANUP.
WHAT ARE ALL THESE
BLACK THINGS THAT
YOU'VE GOT ON THE EDGE?
WE'RE CREATING A SPACE
AROUND THE PERIMETER
FOR EXPANSION.
YOU HAVE TO LEAVE
A QUARTER-OF-AN-INCH
EXPANSION
AROUND THE PERIMETER
TO--SO AS IT DOES--
WHERE IT'S
A FLOATING FLOOR,
SO IT HAS EXPANSION.
AND SO YOU START OFF
WITH STAGGERED--
STAGGERED,
STAGGERED ROWS HERE.
AND THEN SO THAT YOUR
JOINTS DON'T LINE UP.
LET'S SEE. HOW DOES
IT CLICK TOGETHER?
IT JUST SNAPS IN
JUST LIKE THAT.
OK. SIMPLE.
AND THAT'S IT?
THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S WATCH THE BOYS
FLYING WITH THIS STUFF.
Vila: SO, REALLY THAT'S
ALL THERE IS TO IT?
IT'S JUST TAPPING IT
TIGHT IN PLACE?
Ward: UH, YOU LOCK IT IN
ON THE SIDE,
AND THEN YOU GET IT
AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN
AND LAY IT INTO
POSITION, LOCK IT,
AND THEN YOU TAP IT IN
FROM THE END.
AND THEN THE MECHANISM
MAKES UP.
AND IF YOU HAPPEN
TO HAVE ONE THAT
DON'T CLICK TOGETHER,
IF THERE'S ANY DAMAGE--
YOU CAN EASILY TAKE IT
OUT AND JUST REPLACE IT.
BUT THIS IS TRULY
PRECISION-ENGINEERED?
OH, IT'S
A GREAT PRODUCT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S
NO OVER-BOARD ISSUES
THAT YOU CAN TELL.
IT'S VERY SMOOTH.
THE JOINTS ARE VERY, UM,
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T--
THEY'RE
PRACTICALLY INVISIBLE.
EXACTLY.
IT'S A TERRIFIC PRODUCT.
BUT, KIRK, DO YOU
STICK THE SEAMS TOGETHER?
YES, WE DO.
WE HAVE A VAPOR
BARRIER ON THE TOP
OF THE PRODUCT.
OH, LOOK AT THAT!
YEAH. AND WHAT IT DOES
IS WE HAVE
A REMOVABLE TAPE HERE.
AND THEN WHAT
THAT DOES IS FINALIZE
THE VAPOR BARRIER.
SO, IT MAKES IT ONE
UNIFORM VAPOR BARRIER
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SPACE?
YEAH, AND IT SAVES US
FROM HAVING TO TAPE IT.
IT'S A PRETTY NICE--
IT'S A FASTER WAY
OF GETTING IT SEALED.
GREAT.
OK.
SO, BASICALLY WE JUST--
AND THEN WE CUT THE--
WE JUST BASICALLY--
JUST PEEL AND STICK?
PEEL AND STICK.
AND WE JUST MAKE IT UP
SO THAT IT BUTTS
EACH OTHER.
NOT OVERLAPPING.
AND JUST PEEL THE TAPE
AND CONTINUE DOWN, TOO.
SO THEN BASICALLY WE'RE
READY TO CONTINUE ON.
Vila: SO, THE STABILITY
OF THIS MATERIAL
MAKES IT VERY EASY
TO CUT, DOESN'T IT?
YES, IT DOES, BOB.
ACTUALLY, MOST PEOPLE
JUST USE A CROSSCUT SAW
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT--
RIGHT. PUT IT RIGHT
AROUND COLUMNS
OR WHATEVER.
ABSOLUTELY.
THIS HAS GONE
IN REAL TIME
IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES,
AND SO THEY'RE 2/3
OF THE WAY DONE.
ALMOST COMPLETED.
WE'LL SEE IT LATER
ON IN THE SHOW,
BUT LET ME ASK YOU
A COUPLE OF OTHER
QUESTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE,
MAINTENANCE WITH
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
DO YOU HAVE TO PUT
ANY SPECIAL PRODUCT
ON IT?
ACTUALLY, WE DO
HAVE CLEANING KITS
TO GO WITH IT,
BUT IT'S JUST
A VERY, VERY DAMP
TYPE OF SITUATION.
A DAMP MOP OR JUST
LIGHT CLEANING OR EVEN
JUST DRY CLEANING.
YEAH. I'M RUBBING
MY BOOT ACROSS IT THERE
TO SEE IF IT MARS,
BUT IT DOESN'T.
IT'S VERY, VERY--
IT WILL NOT, AND
THE NICE PART ABOUT THIS
IS IT DOES HAVE
A 25-YEAR STAIN AND FADE
WARRANTY AS WELL.
OK. WHAT ABOUT THE COST?
WELL, IT'S PRETTY GOOD.
IN MOST
OF THE LOCAL MARKETS,
YOU'RE AROUND $3.99
A FOOT FOR THE PRODUCT,
AND AGAIN, THAT FOR
AN 8-MILLIMETER PRODUCT
IS VERY COMPARABLE
TO ANYTHING OUT THERE
THAT'S RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHAT'S NICE
ABOUT IT. YOU DON'T
BUY EXTRA GLUE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY,
YOU KNOW--
WHAT IF I DROP
A 50-POUND OBJECT ON IT?
DOESN'T IT
KIND OF GET DAMAGED--
IT PROBABLY WILL.
I MEAN, 50 POUNDS
FROM ANY KIND OF A--
FROM A HEIGHT OF ANYTHING
ABOVE A COUPLE OF FEET,
BUT WHAT'S NICE ABOUT
THIS, THERE'S NO GLUE.
SO, YOU COULD
ACTUALLY GO TO THE END
OR TO THE CLOSEST POINT
OF THE BOARD, UNCLICK THEM,
PUT A BRAND NEW BOARD
DOWN, CLICK IT BACK
TOGETHER AGAIN.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE
A JIGSAW PUZZLE.
OK. WE'LL WATCH THEM
FINISH THIS UP.
NOW, KIRK, HOW WILL YOU
MAKE THIS TRANSITION
FROM HERE
TO THE CONCRETE SLAB
IN THE UTILITY AREA?
OK. WHAT WE'LL DO
IS WE'LL FASTEN
THIS RECEIVER
FOR OUR TRANSITION
DOWN TO THE CONCRETE
WITH EITHER MOLLIES
OR ADHESIVE,
AND THEN WE SNAP IN
THIS TRANSITION
TO FINISH OFF THE EDGE,
BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER
FLOOR COMING IN TO THIS.
NICE JOB. THANKS.
OK.
Vila: WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL ACCENT THE FLOORS
WITH A GLASS BLOCK PANEL SYSTEM.
STICK AROUND.
BACK IN THE HOUSE NOW,
THE PLASTERS ARE FINISHED,
SO YOU KNOW WE'VE REACHED
A REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT
ON THE JOB WHEN THEY'RE
OUT OF THE PLACE
AND FINISHES--
OTHER FINISHES CAN GO IN.
MARY LOU PACE IS HERE
FROM CIRCLE REDMONT,
WHICH IS THE COMPANY
THAT MANUFACTURES
THE GLASS BLOCK FLOORS
THAT WE'RE PUTTING
IN HERE.
NOW, THIS
IS NOT A PRODUCT
I'VE EVER USED
BEFORE IN A KIND
OF A NEW ENGLAND
RESIDENTIAL, UH,
REMODELING PROJECT.
AND I THINK
IT'S REALLY NEAT
BECAUSE ARCHITECTURALLY,
IT REALLY
BRINGS THAT FEELING
OF BRINGING THE NEW
INTO THE OLD.
BUT I'D BE AFRAID
OF BREAKING THIS.
UH, NO, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE AFRAID
OF BREAKING THIS.
THIS ACTUALLY IS A EXTRUDED
ALUMINUM FRAMEWORK,
AND IT'S
COMPLETELY STRUCTURAL,
AND WHAT THIS PRODUCT
IS INCORPORATING
IS ACTUALLY
HOLLOW GLASS BLOCKS.
BUT IF YOU
DROP SOMETHING
ON THE GLASS BLOCKS
LIKE A LITTLE DUMBBELL
OR SOMETHING, AREN'T YOU
GONNA SHATTER IT?
NO. IN RESIDENTIAL
APPLICATIONS,
THIS PRODUCT IS PERFECT.
UM, TYPICALLY, FLOORING
IS TO MAYBE 40 POUNDS
PER SQUARE FOOT
OR 20 POUNDS PER
SQUARE FOOT IN A HOUSE.
THIS IS--CALCS
TO SOMETHING MUCH HIGHER.
60 POUNDS A SQUARE FOOT
OR ABOVE.
IS THAT RIGHT?
SO, IT'S A TEMPERED
GLASS BLOCK, AS WELL?
NO. ACTUALLY,
HOLLOW GLASS BLOCKS
ARE PURCHASE GLASS UNITS,
AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY
ANNEALED GLASS.
ANNEALED? OK.
AND ANNEALED
IS VERY STRONG, TOO.
IT'S A DOUBLE-SIDED,
DOUBLE-FACED FORM OF GLASS.
SO, YOUR COMPANY
BUYS THE GLASS BLOCK
FROM A MAJOR
MANUFACTURER,
THEN CREATES THESE--
A MONOLITHIC PANEL SYSTEM
AND STRUCTURAL PANEL.
AND IT'S ALWAYS CUSTOM,
RIGHT, DEPENDING ON WHAT
THE ARCHITECT SPECIFIED?
PRETTY MUCH.
OK.
NOW, WHAT DOES SOMETHING
LIKE THIS COST?
TYPICALLY, A GLASS
FLOORING SYSTEM--
YOU SHOULD EXPECT
TO SPEND SOMEWHERE AROUND
100 DOLLARS A SQUARE FOOT.
AND WE'VE GOT
3 OF THEM HERE,
AND I KNOW THAT--
WELL, 2 OF THEM
ARE GOING IN THIS AREA,
ONE RIGHT HERE
IN THE LANDING
ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE
IN THE LANDING
ON THE THIRD FLOOR,
AND IT'S SUPPOSED
TO WORK WITH THE SKYLIGHT
THAT WE HAVE UP THERE
SO THAT WE SHOULD
THEORETICALLY GET DAYLIGHT
ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO HERE.
RIGHT.
IT WILL BE SEXY
WHEN IT'S DONE.
ARE THESE HEAVY?
UH, YEP, THEY'RE
PRETTY--THEY ARE.
THEY'RE REAL--OK.
WELL, LET'S SAY HI
TO CHARLIE,
WHO'S OVER HERE GETTING
THE OTHER OPENING PREPPED.
HI, CHARLIE.
HI, BOB.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
TO RECEIVE THIS?
I KNOW MARY LOU
DIDN'T WANT TO SAY
HOW HEAVY THEY ARE,
BUT YOU PROBABLY
HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH UNLOADING THEM, RIGHT?
THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE
BIT OF WEIGHT TO THEM.
ABOUT 250 POUNDS APIECE.
APIECE?
APPROXIMATELY, YEAH.
WOW!
SO, HOW ARE WE
INSTALLING THEM UP HERE?
WHAT WE'RE DOING
IS THAT WE PUT IN
SOME 3/16 SHIMS
BEHIND OUR 3/16
BY INCH-AND-A-HALF
ANGLE IRON.
AND THE ANGLE IRON
IS JUST--
JUST A TYPICAL
L-SHAPED ANGLE IRON.
WHICH YOU CAN GET
AT A HOME IMPROVEMENT
CENTER, THE HARDWARE STORE.
YOU ARE CORRECT.
AND WE DRILLED OUT--
FOR ALL OUR BOLTS THAT
JIMMY'S RATCHETING IN
RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE DOING
A 5/16-BY-3-INCH BOLT.
OK. AND SO, ESSENTIALLY
YOU'LL HAVE ANGLE
ON ALL 4 SIDES.
HOW MUCH BEARING
DO YOU NEED? ABOUT--
THEY REQUIRE ABOUT
AN INCH OF BEARING
IS ALL IT TAKES
ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AND ONCE
THAT IS IN PLACE,
DO YOU HAVE TO PUT
ANY KIND OF SEALANT
OR CAULKING
AROUND THE EDGES?
IF THERE'S A BIG GAP,
THEN THEY REQUIRE
TO PUT SOME GROUT
AROUND IT,
BUT IF WE'RE PRETTY
CLOSE, TIGHT,
WE SHOULD BE OK.
HOW ARE YOU GONNA PUT
THIS THING UP THERE?
WE'RE GONNA CARRY IT UP
THROUGH THE STAIRCASE
AND BRING IT AROUND.
WELL, YOU MIGHT
NEED A HAND.
YES, WE DO.
LET'S SEE HOW EASY
THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
HAVE YOU GOT MATT,
OR--HI, MATT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE, NOW.
250 POUNDS.
WE'RE GONNA LIFT IT UP
FROM HERE...
APPROXIMATELY.
MARY LOU, THIS SIDE
IS FROSTED, HUH?
YEAH. WHAT WE DO
IS WE ACTUALLY DO
A SANDBLASTED FINISH,
AND THE REASON WHY
WE DO THAT IS BECAUSE
FOR SLIP RESISTANCE.
OH, OK. SO THIS IS--
THE WALKING SURFACE.
THE OTHER SIDE IS WHAT
I'LL SEE UP IN THE CEILING?
RIGHT.
OK.
WELL, UM,
GO AHEAD, GUYS.
THANKS.
HEH HEH!
READY?
Charlie: ALL RIGHT,
GONNA MAKE A TURN.
I'M HEADING UP,
SO YOU'RE GONNA GET THE WEIGHT.
WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO GO.
Matt: WELL, ONE OF US
IS GONNA SWING AROUND.
OK.
THAT'S THE STYROFOAM
THAT--OK.
ACTUALLY, WE DON'T
EVEN NEED THE STYROFOAM.
NO, WE CAN SET IT DOWN.
SET IT DOWN.
CAN WE REST IT
ON THE 2-BY-4s?
YEAH. THAT'S WHERE
I'M GOING WITH IT.
WATCH YOUR FINGERS.
YEAH.
PUT IT DOWN.
OK.
Charlie:
SLIDE IT INTO POSITION.
LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE
IN REMODELING,
SOMETIMES YOU GOT
TO INVENT AS YOU GO ALONG,
AND HERE CHARLIE
HAS SET UP 3 PLANKS,
SOME 2-BY-4s WHERE
THE THING IS SETTING,
AND NOW WHAT'S
THE PLAN, CHARLIE?
WE'RE JUST GONNA
LIFT UP ON THIS,
AND THEN WE HAVE
MATT UPSTAIRS.
HE'LL SLIDE THE 2-BYs OUT,
AND WE'LL DROP IT
RIGHT DOWN INTO PLACE.
OK. SO, YOU DON'T
REALLY NEED ME
HERE, DO YOU?
I DON'T THINK YOU WANT
TO BE THERE.
LET'S WATCH.
THERE YOU GO.
OH, BEAUTIFUL.
LET'S SEE IT
FROM THE SECOND FLOOR.
OH, BOY. THAT REALLY
LOOKS BEAUTIFUL OUT
HERE, DOESN'T IT?
IT SURE DOES.
AND THIS, OF COURSE,
WILL BE SURROUNDED
WITH A WOOD FLOOR
RIGHT UP TO IT.
THE LIGHT COMES IN FROM
THE LITTLE FRENCH DOOR
THAT LEADS OUT
TO THE UNUSUAL BALCONY.
WELL, I GUESS WE
CAN STEP ON IT, RIGHT?
MM-HMM.
YEAH. THAT'S
PRETTY GOOD.
NOW, IS THIS ALL THAT
CIRCLE REDMONT MAKES--
THESE FLOOR SYSTEMS?
NO. WE ALSO OFFER WINDOW
PANELS AND SKYLIGHTS.
TERRIFIC. THANKS,
MARY LOU.
OK. THANKS.
Vila: WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT
WITH A WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
FOR OUR MEDFORD FARM HOUSE.
Vila: NEXT TIME
ON BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,
WE'LL SEE A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT FLOOR SYSTEMS
AT OUR FARMHOUSE PROJECT
IN MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.
IN THE BARN, WE'LL BE USING
LAMINATE FLOORING THAT GOES IN
WITHOUT ANY NAILS OR GLUE.
IN THE MAIN HOUSE,
WE'LL ACCENT THE FLOORS
WITH GLASS BLOCK PANELS.
WE'LL ALSO INSTALL
A WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
TO SOFTEN THE WATER
COMING INTO THE HOUSE
AND A REVERSE OSMOSIS FILTER
TO PURIFY DRINKING WATER.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON HOME AGAIN.
Vila: NEXT TIME
ON BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,
IT'S A LAMINATE FLOOR,
A WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM,
AND GLASS BLOCK PANELS.
DON'T MISS IT.
OUR PLUMBER
TED MOXHAM IS HERE
INSTALLING A WATER
PURIFICATION SYSTEM,
AND DAVE KRUPINSKI'S HERE
FROM KINETICO.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
WELL, WHY DO WE NEED
A WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM
IN A CITY SITUATION
WHERE YOU'VE GOT
PROCESSED WATER?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION,
YOU KNOW.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
THE MISPERCEPTION
THAT JUST BECAUSE
IT'S CITY WATER,
IT'S NOT HARD.
AND IN FACT, 85%
OF ALL HOMES IN AMERICA
HAVE HARD WATER.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
IF THEY'RE ON A CITY
WATER SUPPLY
OR IF THEY'RE ON A WELL.
SO, WE CAN TREAT
THAT HARD WATER.
WHAT ABOUT CHLORINE?
ALSO HAS CHLORINE.
THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM
WILL DECHLORINATE
ALL THE WATER
GOING THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE HOME.
AND CHLORINE CAN DRY
YOUR SKIN,
CAN DRY YOUR HAIR,
CAN FADE YOUR CLOTHING
PREMATURELY,
SO WE WANT
TO TAKE THAT OUT, TOO.
THE BIG THING I WAS
ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT
WAS SEDIMENT IN THE PIPES,
AND THIS LOOKS LIKE
ONE OF YOUR PROPS.
EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE BROUGHT THIS SAMPLE
THAT WAS CUT AWAY
FROM ANOTHER PROJECT,
BUT YOU CAN SEE
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS
OF HARDNESS
GOING THROUGH
YOUR PLUMBING.
THIS IS NOT STYROFOAM
THAT YOU'VE STUCK IN?
THIS IS ACTUALLY--
THIS IS ACTUALLY
THE CALCIUM
THAT COMES OUT
OF THE WATER
AND SCALES
INSIDE OF THE PIPE
AND EFFECTIVELY
REDUCES YOUR PLUMBING
SIZE DOWN TO--
THIS LOOKS LIKE ABOUT
A QUARTER OF AN INCH.
LIKE A PENCIL. HOW LONG
DO YOU SUPPOSE IT TOOK
FOR THAT TO HAPPEN?
PROBABLY A FEW YEARS.
YEAH.
JUST A FEW YEARS?
YEAH?
AND THAT, OF COURSE,
WOULD INDICATE
THAT YOU'RE GETTING
VERY LOW WATER VOLUME
THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE.
NOT ONLY THAT,
BUT THIS KIND OF EFFECT
CAN HAPPEN INSIDE
OF YOUR WATER-USING
APPLIANCES, TOO,
AND REDUCE THEIR
EFFICIENCY AND CAUSE
A LOT OF UNNECESSARY
REPAIRS,
SO WE WANT
TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
WHAT KIND OF A SYSTEM
IS THIS?
WELL, THIS IS A WHOLE
HOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
WHICH REALLY INVOLVES
2 SEPARATE COMPONENTS.
YOU HAVE A DECHLORINATOR
AND SOFTENER SYSTEM
THAT TREATS THE WATER
THAT GOES THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE HOME.
THAT'S FOR THE WATER
THAT GOES ON YOU--
THE GENERAL PURPOSE
WATER FOR BATHING,
FOR DOING LAUNDRY,
FOR DOING DISHES.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE
A REVERSE OSMOSIS
DRINKING WATER SYSTEM,
WHICH IS A MULTI-STAGE
FILTRATION SYSTEM
THAT FURTHER PURIFIES
YOUR DRINKING WATER.
JUST THOSE
LITTLE TINY TANKS
THAT ARE UP THERE?
EXACTLY RIGHT.
THEY'RE NOT
REALLY TANKS, THEN?
RIGHT.
THEY'RE FILTERS THAT
THE WATER PASSES THROUGH
ON ITS WAY OUT
YOUR KITCHEN TAP.
OK. AND THEN WHERE TED
IS JUST REMOVING THE LID,
THAT'S WHERE YOU
HAVE TO PUT IN YOUR--
YOUR SALTS, RIGHT?
EXACTLY RIGHT. YEAH.
THE WATER SOFTENER
USES A REGENERANT SALT.
THE SALT COMES IN
AND CLEANS THE INSIDE
OF THE TANK
OF ANY RESIDUE HARDNESS,
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
IT'S FLUSHED AWAY
DOWN THE DRAIN
SO YOU HAVE
CLEAN, SOFT WATER
COMING OUT
OF THAT SYSTEM
WHEN IT'S FINISHED.
GOTCHA. WHAT'S
THE TANK OVER TED'S
HEAD THERE FOR?
WELL, THIS IS OUR NEW
QUICK FLO TANK.
TYPICALLY, PEOPLE
HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT
REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS
DELIVERING WATER
TO THE FAUCET
SOMEWHAT SLOWLY,
SO WE'VE COME OUT
WITH THIS.
WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO IS
WE TAKE YOUR HOUSEHOLD
WATER PRESSURE,
AND HERE'S
A GOOD EXAMPLE.
HERE'S A CLEAR VERSION
OF THE TANK
SO YOU CAN SEE
HOW IT LOOKS INSIDE.
WE TAKE YOUR HOUSEHOLD
WATER PRESSURE,
AND THAT ACTUALLY
SQUEEZES THE BLADDER.
AND INSIDE
OF THE BLADDER
IS THE DRINKING WATER
THAT COMES OUT
OF YOUR FAUCET.
SO, YOUR HOUSEHOLD
WATER PRESSURE
IS EXERTING A VERY
STRONG CONSTANT FORCE
AND GIVING YOU
REALLY GOOD DELIVERY
AT THE FAUCET.
SO YOU GET GOOD DELIVERY,
GOOD VOLUME AND PRESSURE.
EXACTLY.
NOW, HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE
DOES A SYSTEM
LIKE THIS REQUIRE?
WELL, NOT TERRIBLY MUCH.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE
TO PERIODICALLY
PUT SALT IN THIS SYSTEM,
BUT SINCE THIS
IS DEMAND-OPERATED,
IT ONLY OPERATES
WHEN YOU'RE USING WATER,
SO IT DOESN'T REGENERATE
UNNECESSARILY
AND WASTE SALT
AND WATER.
SO, YOUR SALT USAGE
IS RELATIVELY LOW.
AND THEN
WITH THE REVERSE
OSMOSIS SYSTEMS,
YOU HAVE TO REPLACE
THE PRE-FILTER
AND THE PULSE FILTER
ABOUT ONCE A YEAR,
AND THE SYSTEM SHUTS OFF
TO TELL YOU WHEN IT'S
TIME TO DO THAT.
SO, IS THIS THE KIND
OF JOB THAT YOU HAVE
TO SEND OUT
MAINTENANCE PEOPLE
SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR?
WELL, ACTUALLY,
WE HAVE SERVICE PEOPLE
AT OUR SHOP THAT DO--
I JUST DO INSTALLATIONS,
AND WE HAVE SERVICE
PEOPLE THAT COME OUT.
AND WE RECOMMEND
ONCE A YEAR.
YOU KNOW, SO, JUST
PUT A NOTE ON HERE
THAT NEXT NOVEMBER THEY
SHOULD HAVE A CHECKUP.
AND WHAT THEY DO
IS THEY COME DOWN,
THEY CHECK
THE LITTLE BALL COCK
THAT'S INSIDE THERE,
THEY'LL RUN A TEST
ON THE WATER,
MAKE SURE THE pH
IS WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE--7.0--
AND CHECK FOR
THE HARDNESS, AND, UH--
BUT YOU SHOULD--
THE HOMEOWNER NEEDS
TO ADD SALT--
THE HOMEOWNER
HAS TO ADD SALT.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN
INSIDE THERE,
THERE'S A WHITE GRID
DOWN ON THE BOTTOM
THERE,
AND, UH...
THAT WHITE GRID--
I'LL PUT IN 2 BAGS
OF SALT--
THE GREENS BAGS
BEHIND YOU--
AND, UH, WHEN
THE HOMEOWNER CAN SEE
ANY PART
OF THAT WHITE GRID,
THAT'S WHEN IT'S TIME
TO ADD SALT.
ADD SALT. EXACTLY.
USUALLY THE HOMEOWNER JUST
SEES THIS, THOUGH, RIGHT?
RIGHT. THIS WILL BE
INSTALLED EVENTUALLY UP
IN THE FINISHED KITCHEN
ON THE COUNTERTOP
BY THE SINK,
AND THIS IS
WHAT DISPENSES
YOUR DRINKING WATER.
GREAT.
THANKS, FELLOWS.
OK. THANK YOU.
YOU BET.
Vila: NEXT WE'LL BE IN THE BARN
TO CHECK IN ON THE COMPLETED
QUICK STEP FLOOR INSTALLATION.
Vila: OUR MAHOGANY DECK,
WHICH IS 50 FEET WIDE,
HAS GOT A COAT
OF CLEAR SEALER ON IT,
WHICH GIVES IT
A BEAUTIFUL DEEP, RICH LOOK.
WE'RE STILL WAITING
FOR THE TRELLISES
THAT GO UP HERE
AT THIS END OF IT.
SOME OF THE STRINGERS
ARE IN PLACE
FOR WHAT WILL BE 3 STEPS
THAT LEAD UP TO THE DECK
THAT GO THE WHOLE WIDTH
OF THE DECK SO THAT REALLY
THEY ACT AS A BENCH,
AS WELL.
THE TUMBLED CONCRETE PAVERS
ARE AROUND
THE ENTIRE HOUSE NOW
SO THAT YOU HAVE
THIS FABULOUS PATH
THAT LEADS FROM THE FRONT DOOR
ALL THE WAY OUT HERE
THROUGH THE GARDEN
AND INTO THE STUDIO SPACE
IF YOU WANT TO.
AND FINALLY, THE BREEZEWAY
HAS RECEIVED
ITS FRENCH DOORS
SO THAT THE HOUSE IS PRETTY MUCH
TIGHT AT THIS POINT.
AND IN HERE, WE'VE GOT
A FINISHED FLOOR.
NICE JOB, FRED.
HI, BOB.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
YOU'RE MOPPING, I SEE.
WELL, THIS
IS JUST THE DRY MOP.
THE MAINTENANCE
IS PRETTY EASY.
IS IT?
ALL YOU NEED
IS A DAMP MOP.
WE HAVE CLEANING KITS.
VERY, VERY, VERY LIGHT
WATER WITH A DAMP MOP.
JUST PUSH IT JUST
A LITTLE BIT AND EASY,
AND IT WILL COME UP--
AND THAT TAKES CARE OF--
YEAH, THEY'RE VERY EASY
TO MAINTAIN,
BUT THE REALLY
IMPRESSIVE THING
IS THAT WE'VE FINISHED
THE WHOLE INSTALLATION
IN VERY LITTLE TIME.
YES, WE DID.
FABULOUS JOB.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT TIME.
WE'RE GONNA BE LANDSCAPING
OUT IN THE SIDE YARD.
WE'LL ALSO BE PUTTING IN
A NEW TYPE OF WOOD FLOOR
IN THE MAIN HOUSE.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
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