The annual International Builders’ Show, put on by the National Association of Home Builders, is always full of innovative new tools and building products, and this year was no exception. While closed to the general public, we’ve got a behind the scenes peek at some of the cool new products that were on display.
Stiletto Titanium Flatbar
Tools & Hardware
The Stiletto Titanium Flatbar is much more durable than a steel pry bar while weighing half as much. The unique design with three different nail pullers and a staple puller make this tool hard to resist.
The unique probing tip and lightweight design of the Paslode Positive Placement Nailer allows you to drive nails in metal strap with the pull of a trigger.
Bosch Tile Layout Laser
Bosch’s innovative Tile Layout Laser projects both 45° and 90° layout lines on walls or floors for up to 65’. The raised base even allows layout lines to be projected over bumps and other obstructions.
To keep opened tubes of caulking fresh, check out Seal-A-Tube from Prazi USA. The EcoPrazi is sealable paint can lid that allows you to leave your brush in the can for days without cleaning.
Door Saver II from Perfect Products is a bumperless door stop that installs in seconds and gives complete control over how far a door can open.
To keep from tracking dirt and dust all over the house, check out the Step & Wrap (ShoeBee) automatic shoe cover dispenser.
Alternative Energy
Portable generators from Generac range from the lightweight iX Series, which is perfect for camping or tailgating, to the powerful XG Series.
Generac iX Series (left) and XG Series (right) generators
To provide a consistent source of power for your home during outages, consider Generac’s CorePower System, an affordable automatic standby generator that runs off natural gas or propane.
Another source of alternative energy for your home is the Honeywell wind turbine from WindTronics. The six-foot diameter wind generator collects energy from the outer edge of the blade, rather than the hub. This reduces resistance and drag, allowing it to operate in winds as low as 2 mph.
Building Materials
To reduce the amount of construction waste, Quikrete has introduced Asphalt Cold Patch, made from 90% recycled materials, and Green Concrete Mix, composed of 50% recycled aggregates.
While mineral wool insulation has been around for years, ComfortBatt from Roxul is now available from The Home Depot for your home.
To protect and beautify the outside of your home, Nichiha Fiber Cement Siding comes in a wide range of styles that are hard to distinguish from real wood, brick, or stone.
Another siding option is Wood Siding 2.0 from TechWood. This composite material consists of a mixture of wood fibers and polypropylene that’s both durable and easy to install.
Nichiha fiber cement siding mimics natural stone or wood
Natural Lighting
Skylights are a great way to let natural light into a room, and the No Leak Skylight from Velux comes with a 10-year warranty plus a 20-year guarantee on the glass. It includes three layers of water protection and LoE3 glass for the upmost in energy efficiency.
ODL Tubular Skylight Dimmer
An easy way to bring natural light into a dark room is by installing a Tubular Skylight from ODL. Their new Solar Power Dimmer allows you to adjust the amount of light in the skylight by remote control. A photovoltaic panel and rechargeable battery power the device which can be retrofit to an existing ODL Tubular Skylight or installed on a new one.
To keep sun off a patio or deck, consider a motorized Louvered Roof from Equinox or a retractable canopy from Walpole Woodworkers.
To let the sun in your basement and provide an exit during an emergency, check out the StakWEL Window Well from Bilco. The semicircular, stackable polyethylene modules include a built-in ladder and handholds.
Kitchen and Bath
The Stages Kitchen Sink from Kohler has a number of accessories—including sliding trays, cutting boards, and utensil holders—that fit over the sink to simplify kitchen chores.
Kohler Stages kitchen sink
The CoreGuard Sink Base from Merillat is made of a durable engineered polymer that makes cleaning up spills and leaks easy.
Broan Ultra Silent Bath Fans are virtually silent while moving more air than other models.
Home Products
While central vacuum systems are great, dragging a long hose around isn’t. The EasyReach from Beam solves this problem with a hose that can stretch to 30’ then retract back to 13’ at the touch of a button.
For easy clean up in your kitchen, bath, or garage, check out the Vroom compact vacuums with a retractable hose.
Most programmable timers are use a simple clock, but the VPT24-1PZ model from Leviton can be set to the longitude and latitude of your location to match the rising and setting of the sun, making it perfect for controlling outdoor lighting.
Residential sprinkler systems are the best way to protect your home and save lives in the event of a fire. More information is available from the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.
Other Tips from This Episode
Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Homemade Sponge Sander
Sponge sanders are great for sanding molding and other irregular surfaces. Rather then buying one, it’s simple to make your own sponge sander by simply wrapping a piece of sandpaper around a household sponge. The sponge conforms to the shape of the molding, allowing you to sand the entire surface. (Watch This Video)
Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
Puresque Odor Absorbing Carpet
Puresque is an eco-friendly carpeting that can absorb and decompose odors from pets, smoke, or cooking. It comes in a wide range of styles and colors that are resistant to mold, mildew, and bacteria. Puresque carpet is available at The Home Depot.
(Watch This Video)
Thinking Green with Danny Lipford:
Natural Clay Plaster
Applying natural clay plaster to interior walls, such as the products made by American Clay, is a DIY friendly project that can provide a distinctive look for your home. It contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, or other carcinogens and can actually increase the insulation value of walls.
(Watch This Video)
The 2010 International Builders’ Show had some great building materials and tools for your home, including:
- Titanium pry bar from Stiletto
- Positive Placement nailer by Paslode
- Tile Layout laser from Bosch
- Caulk Seal-A-Tube from Prazi USA
- Portable and whole house generators by Generac
- Honeywell wind turbine from WindTronics
- Asphalt Cold Patch and Green Concrete Mix by Quikrete
- Fiber cement siding from Nichiha
- Composite siding by TechWood
- No leak skylights from Velux
- Tubular skylights by ODL
- Motorized louvered roof from Equinox
- Retractable canopy by Walpole Woodworkers
- Stages kitchen sinks from Kohler
- StakWEL window well by Bilco
- CoreGuard Sink Base from Merillat
- Ultra Silent bath fans by Broan
- EasyReach vacuum hose from Beam
- Compact vacuums by Vroom
- Programmable astronomical timer from Leviton
Read episode article to find out more.
