There was no slowing down for attendees at the 2016 International Builders Show and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show - and that includes our roving reporters in search of great new product offerings. The show floor and outdoor exhibits were packed for all three days of the event, and the mood was high. Here's what we found amid the excitement.
Set in Stone
Clipstone is an easy to install stone veneer that creates a realistic stone exterior. It's easy to install and only needs the tools you already have on hand. Each section is slightly raised, creating a drainage plane for the outside and letting the wall breathe. myclipstone.com
Delta Breez
Bluetooth speakers are a great addition to any home, but they can be unsightly and obtrusive. The new Delta BreezIntegrity fan has a Bluetooth speaker built in, perfect for any bathroom! And it's energy star qualified. deltabreez.com
Faucet as Art
DXV, he luxury kitchen and bath accessories brand from American Standard is introducing three 3D printed faucets this spring. The unique faucet pictured here contains 19 separate waterways that flow through to create one smooth stream. At $16,000 each, the faucets are intended for custom clients, but can create inspiration for designers at all levels. dxv.com
Born in a Barn?
Jeld-Wen is jumping on the barn door trend with 36- and 42-inch-wide white cedar doors available in numerous design configurations. Choose from black or brushed nickel hardware to customize the look. jeld-wen.com
Lightweight Tile Backer
Johns Manville took advantage of its polyisocyanurate roofing panels when developing new GoBoard. The fully waterproof tile backer weighs only 7.5 pounds per panel, and installers can score and snap to size, making installation easy. Use the 1/2-inch thickness on shower walls and 1/4-inch thickness on floors. Joints and fasteners (standard drywall screws) can be waterproofed with a variety of recommended sealants. jm.com
Just Around the Corner
KOMA’s new Kovert (cq) millwork is a set of corner and trim boards made with the same Celuka PVC process as all its other products. Kovert corner boards have a 3/4-inch reveal and come in lengths of 10 and 20 feet with widths spanning 4 inches and 5-1/2 inches. Kovert trim boards also have a 3/4-inch reveal and come in 18-foot lengths with 3-1/2 and 5-1/2 inch widths. Skirt boards come in two widths, have 5/4 and 3/4-inch thicknesses and 18-foot lengths. kommerlingusa.com
Luxury for Less
With a third-party distribution model that leverages online platforms, Kraus passes its savings on showroom overhead to its customers. The company uses 16-gauge stainless steel for its sinks and high-quality branded components for its facuets, while still offering fixtures at an attractive price point. Look for their linear Pax sinks in undermount and drop-in styles, new embossed sink surfaces, and a variety of kitchen and bath faucets with modern styling and sought-out features. kraususa.com
Folding Doors, Broad Appeal
Large-panel, contemporary doors and systems manufacturer LaCantina is expanding its offerings to include a vinyl folding system. Narrow, 2-15/16” stiles and rails provide clean sight lines while options for either weather-resistant or flush sills expand installation options. Panels measure up to 8’ tall and come in 9’, 12’, 15’, and 18’ widths in configurations of up to six panels. Choose from white or tan colors with a range of glazing options. lacantinadoors.com
(Almost) Universal Adhesive
Fuze It hybrid polymer might be the only adhesive you'll need in your toolbox going forward. With an initial cure within 6 hours and full cure within 24, Fuze It bonds to all surfaces except polyethylene and polypropylene. Useful for a variety of projects and repairs around the home, users can take advantage of application temperatures from 20 to 120 degrees. Fuze It carries a GreenGuard certification. liquidnails.com
Wi-Fi Water Heater
Navien, a maker of water heaters, introduced NaviLink, a wi-fi remote control system that enables customers with smartphones and tables to remotely control temperatures, access usage data, and get diagnostic notifications. navien.com
Home Comfort Collaboration
Panasonic’s ventilation business has teamed up with HVAC controls maker AirCycler on this whole-house ventilation control system that integrates with the home’s central heating and cooling system. Designed for use with the company’s WhisperGreen Select fan, or another 110V AC unit, the system can be used for supply or balanced ventilation. panasonic.com
Launch & Reveal
Reveal Windows & Doors is the new name for the window and door division of Brea, Calif.-based Pacific Architectural Millwork. It has begun a nationwide marketing push to sell its high-end, European-style wood windows and doors. Among this year’s innovations, its slide-and-seal door aims to beat the usual lift-and-slide versions by creating a sliding door in which a gasket drops and seals against the floor. Meanwhile, the door handle has been reconfigured so that, rather than sticking out and getting in the way, it can be flipped so that it lies flush within the door. The W6700 stacked awning series (shown) eliminates all braces and other wood between the windows. This also comes as a casement window option. revealwd.com
Home of the Range
Thermador's impressive 60-inch range incorporates a 36-inch and a 30-inch oven thanks to smart reconfiguration of the equipment. For homeowners that like to entertain, the 36-inch oven fits a caterer's baking sheet. On top of the ovens, the versatile cooktop area features six burners, a grill grate, and a griddle. Thermador's iconic star burners actually allow 56% more flame coverage than a standard round burner for fast and even heating. thermador.com
Yell Timber
Getting the right look and feel for a wood-inspired ceramic has long been the goal of solid-surfacing makers. With Bohème BO1 and BO2 from the Neolith brand’s Timber Collection, Spanish manufacturer TheSize Surfaces has come enviably close to the real thing. The warm-hued, sintered material combines clays, feldspar, silica, and natural mineral oxides with a digitally printed surface and a coarse, but not abrasive, texture. Inspired by the trunk of a Lebanese cedar tree, the surface features wood graining and an array of knots. thesize.es
Select Siding
Trespa, a Dutch company that has served the commercial market for 50 years has begun bidding for residential sales by introducing Pura NFC planked siding. The composite wood product is available in six wood tones in flush and lap siding style with a 10-foot by 8-inch dimension. Trespa officials said the product is intended for the high-end siding market between fiber cement and real wood. It's distributed by Lee Roy Jordan Lumber and General Woodcraft. trespa.com
Greater Exposure
IRC requirements for fire prevention are impacting a lot of builders. Uponor's new exposed listing helps make installing and accessing systems easier with a design intended to be left exposed in unfinished basements or mechanical areas. The system continues Uponor's AquaSafe platform in which the same PEX tubing supplies the sprinkler system and the home's cold-water plumbing fixtures. uponor.com
