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3B Daily News – Saturday, June 9, 2012 Country Lifehome garden IBS roundup Every year, the International Builders' Show attracts builders, contractors and housing profession- als from around the country. As a showcase of home improvement bliss, "IBS brings together virtually every aspect of the building industry," according to its website, while suppliers and manufacturers look to market and sell to developers, builders and architects. This year, IBS took place Feb. 8-11 in Orlando, Fla., and high- lighted the newest, fastest and most efficient improvements in plumbing, lighting, door hard- ware, ventilation and more. From hybrid water heaters and universal dimmers to RC deadbolts and silent bath fans, here are a few nuggets from this year's IBS: Plumbing Would you rather have a tank- Sean less water heater that provides instant hot water (but can also belch up cold water lingering in pipes) or a traditional hot water heater (the cost is low, but so is the satisfaction of waiting for hot water)? How about both? Murphy Project Home heater. This gas-powered water heater works like a tankless unit, and includes a 25-gallon buffer tank to eliminate the problematic "cold-water sandwich," as described above. It's also eligible for a Federal Tax Credit. A.O. Smith introduced its NEXT Hybrid water The NEXT Hybrid water heater is a beast, though, measuring four feet tall, two feet wide, nearly three feet deep and weighing 198 pounds. Lighting By Mary Beth Brecken- ridge Akron Beacon Journal (MCT) WHAT'S NEW: DESIGN YOUR OWN KNOBS, PULLS your own stamp of person- ality on cabinet doors and dresser drawers. Hobby Knobs let you put Hobby Knobs are knobs and pulls with flat tops that can be decorated any way you like. You can glue on buttons, attach vintage dice, jazz them up with fabric or otherwise let your imagina- tion roam. at www.hobbyknobs.com. Knobs are $4.95 each. Pulls are $7.95 and fit holes spaced 4 inches apart. Shipping is extra. Q and A: KEEPING The items can be ordered CATS AWAY Q: I live in a condomini- um complex that requires Dimmers are great for saving energy and creating just the right ambiance—as long they're coupled with standard incandescent bulbs. Leviton claims to have solved this problem, by introducing its Universal Dimmers, an industry first. Leviton's Universal Dimmers (in stores now) can be used with incandescent bulbs, as well as energy- saving compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs—formerly a bugaboo in dimming light. Leviton suggests consumers make sure the CFLs and LEDs they attempt to use with its new dimmers are, in fact, dimmable and compatible. Door Hardware forward with remote-controlled deadbolt locks by SimpliciKey. The idea behind this electric deadbolt is that you can lock and unlock your car without a key— so why not do the same with your home? The handheld fob can activate the SimpliciKey deadbolt from up to 50 feet away. And the activity on this remote-controlled deadbolt can be tracked on your smartphone and update you instantly with any activity. Electronic door hardware just took another leap (MCT) — It can be the focal point to your backyard, a garden accent or just an accessory, but the garden bench is seeing a revival in landscapes across the coun- try. In one of my favorite areas here at the Columbus Botanical Garden, visitors have the opportunity to sit on benches surrounded by confederate jasmine not only for relaxing but also for an exhilarating olfactory experience. & Home and garden news and notes Hinckley, Ohio, dog trainer Bill Oliver told me motion- activated sprinklers are good for keeping cats away. They work because cats hate both water and sur- prise. The hardware is avail- able in an antique bronze or satin nickel finish. pets to be on leashes. My immediate neighbor lets his cats run free, even though the association board sent a notice to all residents informing them the leash rule applies to dogs and Another approach is to sprinkle citrus peels or mothballs to repel the cats. You can prevent animals from eating the mothballs by hanging them in mesh or cheesecloth bags. If the cats have to cross planted areas to get to your porch, you can try covering the soil with things they don't like to walk on, such as large pine cones, rough pebbles or thorny branches. MCT photo Hobby Knobs are knobs and pulls with flat tops that can be decorated any way you like. cats. His cats sit on my porch and at times have got- ten trapped in my garage. Can you recommend any products I could use to keep the cats away? A: Some years ago, Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? To submit a question, call 330-996-3756, or send an email to mbrecken@thebeaconjour nal.com. Be sure to include your full name, your town and your phone number or email address. Create garden intimacy with the perfect bench SimpliciKey remote-controlled deadbolts offer three modes of entry: remote control, electronic key- pad and traditional old-fashioned key (how primi- tive!). Until next time, Happy Home Improving! Sean Murphy is a copywriter for Build.com in Chico.Visit the company's website for more home improvement tips at www.build.com. however, most dream of cre- ating that private little retreat or corner of paradise in the landscape where you can sit, relax and visit with the nat- ural surroundings and the garden bench is a key aspect. The choices of materials for today's benches allow you to choose what is just right for you aesthetically and economically. Mention bench and the first thought that comes to mind is teak In the personal garden MCT photo This bench shaped like a butterfly shows the diver- sity that can be found in gardens across the country. wood. Teak, mahogany and cedar are all weather resis- tant and can be kept stained or allowed to naturally age. The price differential is huge and now after years of watching I must say the teak bench is simply unbeatable. 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