Thomas Bump of Fine Custom Cabinetry shows Bob the Maple and hardwood panel cabinets that were built specifically for the Brownstone kitchen. The floor-to-ceiling cabinets were built in the shop, then disassembled for finishing and transported to the site for installation. The cabinets are constructed with Maple interiors and mixed hardwoods for the face frames and frame. The panel is medium-density fiberboard (MDF). The door hinges are concealed inside the cabinet and have three-way adjusting screws so that the door can be shifted up or down, right or left, in or out, to hang the door level and plumb. The cabinets have been spray painted with a lacquer finish that is tinted then catalyzed for a durable, easy-to-clean finish. Bump then shows Bob how the panels are made using puck holes predrilled on the back of the panel that are filled with adhesive so that it can sit in the frame without being pushed proud by a thick layer of adhesive. A small dab of hot glue holds the face of the panel in place. Bump then shows Bob the drawers that are solid Maple on the sides, front, and back, with a Maple veneer on the inside. They feature dovetail joinery and concealed tracks underneath that have a quick release and self-locking mechanism. These drawers are also self-closing.

Nick Beasley shows Bob the custom poplar and MDF (medium-density fiberboard) panels he has made for the tub wall in his new master bath. He installs the panel, which has already been scribed for a tight fit. He tacks the panel in place for now, waiting until the Corian tub surround is installed to make the final installation. The tub is already in place, a Porcher cast-iron model from American Standard. There will be a Corian tub deck and top shelf installed, and a new toilet once the bathroom is complete.

John Martin from WarmZone is on hand to show Bob how the medium density fiberboard (MDF) faced with reflective aluminum shielding and precut channels for the Pex hot-water tubing comes together to create a layout for the in-floor radiant heat system. One key advantage to radiant heat is the comfort level, since it is steady heat that is evenly distributed and free from the blowing, particulate matter that can come with forced-air systems. Martin explains how the WarmZone system comes ready-to-install with complete layout diagrams and directions that make it simple for do-it-yourselfers. The panels are set in adhesive, with spacers to temporarily align them and line up the tube channels until the panels are nailed in place. The heat panels then become the substrate for finish floor coverings. Unlike gypcrete, which is a skim-coat concrete application, these panels add very little weight to the floor. Since it is a 5/8-inch product, there is also no need to alter existing door openings. WarmZone specifies a 3/8-inch Pex tubing to deliver the heated water. Martin fits and taps the tubes in place in the channels to complete the installation. Bob then looks at the heat distribution system with supply and return pipes that come directly from the boiler room below. WarmZone has specified three short runs and circuits, which will give steady even heat throughout the space even with the heat loss calculations they have figured. Michael Willburn from WarmZone shows Bob the preassembled boiler-room manifold board and radiant-zone board that are created match the application and arrive ready-to-install from WarmZone. WarmZone takes the information directly from the homeowner, creates the system to fit the job, and then ships it to the site. The homeowner or installer can do all the work without the aid of a plumber until the system is connected to the boiler, at which point a professional installer should verify the connections and operation of the system before firing it up. Initial costs are about double the cost of a traditional baseboard-heat installation, but the operational savings are approximately 30 percent annually.