IKEA US shelf pin hole pattern is ALMOST 32mm

[Gregor]

Then you get to solar panels.  Along the way people got convinced the place they go has to be the roof, but our roofs only last ~20 years, so to put panels there means issues each time you have to replace the roof.

I would strongly think about completely replacing such a low durability roof with a roof integrated solar system.

 

[xedos]

It's not as simple as that, Gregor.

I don't think such a product is available in the USA.  Even if it is, few will be able to afford it.  Of those that can, fewer still will want it.

 

[DeformedTree]

Then you get to solar panels.  Along the way people got convinced the place they go has to be the roof, but our roofs only last ~20 years, so to put panels there means issues each time you have to replace the roof.

I would strongly think about completely replacing such a low durability roof with a roof integrated solar system.

If you mean solar shingles, then no.  If you are talking about solar panels mounted to something like standing seam, I would agree.  Tried finding numbers, it looks like asphalt shingles are on 70% of houses in the US.  They are the norm, and because of this they are super cheap and what everything is designed around.  Unless your house was designed for a different material, or your lucky and the roof is of a simple design, changing materials is hard or expensive or both.  You also now face the issue that as metal roofs have made a return in popularity (in part because people woke up to how bad asphalt shingles are, and also because of solar), you now have towns banning metal roofs.  Can't go having people alter the look of the town *sarcasm* .

I live next to a town full of mansions/really expensive houses.  These sell for 1-1.5 million USD.  Almost none of them have non-asphalt roofs.  Most don't even have metal valleys.  Yet the roofs are made so complicated in design that putting basically any other material on them would be impossible. 

Trying to get the change going is hard.  Especially in a world where you need to get the design of your house approved no just for code type compliance, but for style and you face a board of people that more often than not want things to all look the same and they way they always have been.

 

[Gregor]

I don't think such a product is available in the USA.

Would be an interesting market niche, don't you think?

If you mean solar shingles, then no.  If you are talking about solar panels mounted to something like standing seam, I would agree.

I thought about something like this (link from quick googling just as an example of the concept).

The panels are basically sheets of glass and have to withstand nature (wind, snow, rain, whatnot) anyway. A sealing frame system that results in an overall air- and watertight installation dosn't seem to be rocket science (at least according to what they show on that site). The problematic thing is when the roof dosn't conform in size to standard panel dimensions, something the british guys I linked solve through producing their own panels (so they can make bespoke ones in whatever shape and size is needed to fully cover a given roof).

I live next to a town full of mansions/really expensive houses.  These sell for 1-1.5 million USD.  Almost none of them have non-asphalt roofs.  Most don't even have metal valleys.  Yet the roofs are made so complicated in design that putting basically any other material on them would be impossible.

I agree that doing solar (or even a different material) on a roof where the architect emphasized form at the cost of function can likely be a problem. On the other hand, with that problem being as widespread as you say it is... it sounds like a system (for full, partial or even no solar) that can deal with this at a reasonable price-point sounds like an excellent market opportunity. Well, except the next problem that you stated:

Trying to get the change going is hard.  Especially in a world where you need to get the design of your house approved no just for code type compliance, but for style and you face a board of people that more often than not want things to all look the same and they way they always have been.

Yea, I suppose having to deal with this kind of mindset to be a quite unfun experience. That's why I like to concentrate on the technical side of things.

 

[cpw]

- 5000-6000 dollars is a completely incredible price for a fridge. I have never even looked at fridges over 2000 euros and I'd have to look really hafd to find any that cost more than 3000. All our main German made top tier brands seem to shoot in the 800 to 2500 region.

There are basically two markets for fridges.  There are the ones that are totally free standing, and you just pull them out, connect the ice maker and power and you're set.  Those are in the $800-2500 range.  The other is you get to the bigger things like Sub-Zero/Monogram/Thermador where you are spending ~$10,000 for a 48" fridge and it is integrated into the cabinetry.

In my area, when you get into houses in the $850,000+ range you are more likely to see the more expensive fridge.  When you're in the $600,000 and below, you'll see the less expensive ones.  In the middle it's a mix.

 

[Sanderxpander]

$10,000 is even more incredible, especially as an "integrated" fridge is nothing more than a regular fridge without an outer case and sometimes without a front (so it can be really integrated with a kitchen cabinet front, that's what we call integrated here). When I google Thermidor built in fridge I see about 3500/4000 dollars. Still way too much but I suppose that's closer to the top end here. I struggle to see where the extra $2000 (for a $6000 model) or $6000 (for a $10,000 model) would go. I guess I would expect a walk-in cooler room for that.

 

[xedos]

When I google Thermidor built in fridge I see about 3500/4000 dollars

Where exactly are you seeing this ?  I've been loosely associated with the appliance industry for 25 years and I'm pretty sure a new, full size Thermador refrigerator has ever cost $4000 or less. 

American "built in" and integrated fridges are a bit different animal than their Euro counterparts.  For decades, Euro fridges were concealed by putting them in a cabinet with four sides and using a cabinet door on a simple but special sliding bracket that is attached to the fridge door itself. 

This works because "regular" euro fridges have been designed to function enclosed.  Regular American units need lots of air around them to function and they are deeper than the cabinetry that surrounds them.  They won't fit in a cabinet and if they did they'd bun up the compressors.

So, for the few people that wanted a concealed fridge, but didn't want to import a Euro unit and couldn't deal with the small size even if they did - SubZero developed the "fully integrated" 700 series in the 90's.  These weren't regualr fridges or built-in fridges but something new.  They had purpose built hinges and depths to conform to 24" cabinet carcass depths. 

Now the Europeans have jumped in the game with new ground up platforms that are larger and more feature laden than the regular EU fridges they sell.  Bosch, Gaggenau, Thermador and Miele all share a factory in Turkey that churns out these large fully integrated units largely for America but they sell in other markets too.  These are more costly to make, sell in fewer numbers and have more cache.  Which is really why they cost what they do - because the market will bear it.

Kinda like cars.  India, China and Korea can all produce comfortable, functional and inexpensive cars.  We're not clamoring to buy those over American, German and Japanese versions even though they cost 4x more like these fridges.

 

[DeformedTree]

yeah, just do a quick search on a site like AJ madision  for  Miele and Thermador  fridges.  There is a small 22" wide one for 3200 USD,  then the rest hit the normal range for them 6600-9100 USD  (ignoring their "rebate").

This is why the market for these is so small.  It's the same people who buy 10 1/2 gas burner stove that is 6 feet wide and needs a 4000cfm range hood, yet they never cook.

I wish the smaller built in's like Europe has had would be a thing here.  I hate where fridges have gone in this country.  You have to pay more too get a "counter depth", which is insane, who ever thought "you know, we could just make the fridge 6" deeper and have it stick into the room, then charge more for a model that fits is an absolute idiot/genius depending on your point of view.  And now these 42" wide 5 door things have become the norm.  You can't even buy a 36" non double door fridge anymore unless you jump up to the Miele type fridges.  Even finding a 33" fridge is now hard, or rather gives you limited options and gets expensive/special order.  A lot of us don't want multi doors etc,  just a single door fridge on top,  freezer on bottom, counter depth.  These are now hard to get.  But if you want your fridge to have Wi-Fi or a built in screen to show you what is in the fridge, no problem.

 

[xedos]

yeah, just do a quick search on a site like AJ madision  for  Miele and Thermador  fridges.  There is a small 22" wide one for 3200 USD,  then the rest hit the normal range for them 6600-9100 USD  (ignoring their "rebate").

Nope, Thermador does not make a 22" wide refridgerator.

 

[Bob D.]

"you now have towns banning metal roofs."

Where are these towns you speak of?

Metal roofs have been around for hundreds of years, along with slate and other durable materials.

What is the reasoning or justification for banning metal roofs now.

 

[DeformedTree]

"you now have towns banning metal roofs."

Where are these towns you speak of?

Metal roofs have been around for hundreds of years, along with slate and other durable materials.

What is the reasoning or justification for banning metal roofs now.

The reason they give is "they don't match the current look of the town".  Same sort of towns that ban anything new, ban solar panels, etc.  Same sort of thing HOA do.