This article first appeared in the PB October 2006
issue of Pro Builder.
For John Eilermann, Loel Fenwick, Bruce Olson, Stephen Gillis and Steve Kendrick, building their own homes was a fantasy come to life.
Using their projects as learning laboratories, each built his own home with tried and true products as well new and innovative selections.
What they used is ultimately a testament to the many products available on the market today. On the next two pages, see what products each chose.
| Products | Eilermann | Fenwick | Gillis | Kendrick | Olson |
| Appliances | GE Monogram, www.geappliances.com | N/A | Thermador, www.thermador.com | GE Monogram, www.geappliances.com | GE Monogram, www.geappliances.com |
| Cabinets-Kitchen | Dutch Made, www.dutchmade.com | Custom stainless | Omega Cabinetry, www.omegacab.com | Custom | Kraftmaid, www.kraftmaid.com |
| Cabinets-Bathroom | Quintessential Antiques | Custom | Omega Cabinetry, www.omegacab.com | Custom | N/A |
| Central Vacuum | Beam of St. Louis, www.beamstl.com | Vacuflo, www.vacuflo.com | N/A | Nutone, www.nutone.com | N/A |
| Countertops | Counter Concepts, www.concretenetwork.com | Granite | Silestone/Cambria, www.cambriausa.com | Granite-Gallo Antico | Concrete |
| Decking | N/A | Pennsylvania Bluestone, www.gettysburgstoneworks.com | Boston Cedar, www.bostoncedar.com | T&G Treated Pine | Trex, www.trex.com |
| Doors (Interior) | IWP Jeld-Wen, www.jeldwen.com | Custom | Masonite, www.masonite.com | 4-Panel Flat Wood | Trimco, www.trimcobbw.com |
| Doors (Exterior) | Jeld-Wen, www.jeldwen.com | Custom | Andersen, www.andersenwindows.com | Rogue Valley French Doors, www.roguevalleydoor.com | Simpson Crystal View, www.simpsondoor.com |
| Electrical | Edge Gold | Appleton Fittings, www.appletonelec.com | Murray Electrical, www.monroelectric.com | Leviton Switches, www.leviton.com | N/A |
| Exterior Trim | N/A | Cedar Shingles | Kleer PVC Board | No.1 Kiln-Dried Treated | N/A |
| Faucets | Kohler/Rohl, www.kohler.com | Chicago Faucets, www.chicagofaucets.com | Kohler, www.kohler.com | Kohler/Grohe, www.kohler.com, www.grohe.com | American Standard, www.americanstandard-us.com |
| Financing | N/A | N/A | Rockland Trust Company, www.rocklandtrust.com | N/A | Wells Fargo, www.wellsfargo.com |
| Fireplaces | N/A | Rais Stoves, www.rais.com | Brick/Natural Stone | Heatilator Icon 100, www.heatilator.com | Montigo B-34, www.montigo.com |
| Flooring | Contemporary Flooring, www.congoleum.com | Maple | Stuwart, www.stuwart.com | N/A | N/A |
| Furnaces | Lennox, www.lennox.com | Lochinvar, www.lochinvar.com | Carrier, www.carrier.com | N/A | N/A |
| Garage Doors | Overhead Doors, www.overheaddoor.com | Wayne Dalton, www.wayne-dalton.com | Karmin Doors | Wayne Dalton, www.wayne-dalton.com | Kal Door, www.kalwindows.co.uk |
| Glass Block | Pittsburgh Corning, www.pittsburghcorning.com | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Gypsum Wallboard | N/A | N/A | Gold Bond Blue Board, www.nationalgypsum.com | N/A | USG, www.usg.com |
| Hardware | N/A | N/A | Schlage, www.schlage.com | Emtek Egg Knob | N/A |
| Housewrap | Tyvek, www.tyvek.com | N/A | Tyvek Stucco Wrap, www.tyvek.com | Fortify Jumbo Tex | Tyvek, www.tyvek.com |
| Home Theatre | Elan Components | Various | N/A | Nuvo Distributed Audio, www.nuvo.net/music | N/A |
| HVAC | Lux and Lennox, www.lennox.com | N/A | Carrier, www.carrier.com | Carrier, www.carrier.com | Lennox and Honeywell, www.lennox.com |
| Insulation-Fiberglass | R-19 | Owens Corning, www.owenscorning.com | CertainTeed R-19, www.certainteed.com | Kraft Batt R-19, www.owenscorning.com | CertainTeed, www.certainteed.com |
| Insulation-Foam | R-38 | N/A | N/A | Icynene (rafters), www.icynene.com | All Weather |
| Insulation-Rigid | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Cellotex |
| Interior Molding | N/A | N/A | Van Millwork, www.vanmillwork.com | Custom | Trimco, www.trimcobbw.com |
| Lighting | Juno Lighting, www.junolighting.com | Appleton Fittings, www.appletonelec.com | Lightolier, www.lightolier.com | Leviton, www.leviton.com | N/A |
| Nails | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Senco, www.senco.com |
| OSB | N/A | N/A | N/A | Weyerhaeuser Truss Joints, www.weyerhaeuser.com | Weyerhaeuser, www.weyerhaeuser.com |
| Paints/Stains | ICI Paints and Stains, www.iciduluxpaints.com | N/A | Sherwin Williams, www.sherwin-williams.com | Sherwin Williams, www.sherwin-williams.com | Pratt & Larsen, www.prattandlarsen.com |
| Plumbing | N/A | Kohler/Standard, www.kohler.com | Kohler, www.kohler.com | Sunrise Pedestal Tub by Grohe, www.grohe.com | Grohe, www.grohe.com |
| Plywood | N/A | N/A | 1/2-inch CDX Fir | N/A | N/A |
| Radiant Floor Heating | N/A | Wirsbo, www.wirsbo.com | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Roofing | GAF Camelot | Corrugated Steel | IKO Chateaux | CertainTeed AR Shingles, www.certainteed.com | Ryerson Tull Corrugated, www.reyersontull.com |
| Siding | N/A | N/A | R&R Primed Shingles | Omega Stucco, www.omega-products.com | Weyerhaeuser, www.weyerhaeuser.com |
| Skylights | N/A | N/A | Velux, www.veluxusa.com | N/A | N/A |
| Telephones | N/A | Panasonic Digital, www.panasonic.com | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Tiles | N/A | Glass (Bathroom) | Panaria/Grespania, www.panaria.it, www.grespania.com | Dal-Tile, www.daltile.com | N/A |
| Toilets | Kohler, www.kohler.com | Standard/Kohler, www.kohler.com | Kohler, www.kohler.com | Kohler Memoirs, www.kohler.com | TOTO Chloe Washlet, www.totousa.com |
| Trusses | N/A | N/A | N/A | Weyerhaeuser Truss-Joists, www.weyerhaeuser.com | N/A |
| Water Heaters | N/A | N/A | A.O. Smith, www.hotwater.com | N/A | N/A |
| Windows | N/A | Milgard, www.milgard.com | Andersen, www.andersenwindows.com | Jeld-Wen, www.jeldwen.com | Winter Seal, www.wintersealinc.com |
