Hot Products from the 2022 International Builders’ Show

Aug 03, 2023

The 2022 International Builders’ Show (IBS), held February 8-10 in Orlando, Florida, featured more than 1,200 exhibitors and covered more than 450,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. Judging from the strong attendance even with some COVID-19-related complications, IBS 2022 delivered on its reputation as the place to see all the latest, greatest building products and technologies. While the majority of the 70,000 attendees are builders and contractors, IBS has also become known as the single biggest event for LBM dealers to connect directly with manufacturers and to learn about the latest product innovations. As we do each year, the following pages include a sample of products that our team believes may help make a difference for you and your company moving forward. The listings are in no particular order.

Evolve Stone

Winner in the categories of Most Innovative Building Material as well as Best in Show at IBS 2022, Evolve Stone is a mortarless, color-throughout stone veneer that is a fraction of the weight of the competition and designed to install up to 10 times faster. Evolve Stone is the only mortarless, color-throughout manufactured stone veneer that installs with a standard finish nailer. The proprietary material was developed to hold its color throughout, like real stone, so it can be cut to fit on-site while maintaining high appearance standards. evolvestone.com

Barrette Outdoor Living railing kits for decorative screen panel infills

Named Best Outdoor Product, new railing kits are an addition to Barrette Outdoor Living's expanding line of products compatible with its assortment of Decorative Screen Panels, which also can be used with select vinyl fencing, mixed material fencing, pergola, and privacy screen kits. Homeowners can also use Decorative Screen Panels under decks in place of traditional lattice or as an interior or exterior wall hanging for cohesive styling. barretteoutdoorliving.com

The Agility ERP system from DMSi Software is developed to handle every step of the order and inventory management process, from sales and purchasing to delivery and invoicing. Agility's Mobile Warehouse Tools app is a powerful, easy-to-use inventory management tool. Using a standard mobile device, staff can receive products, move items, pick orders, and complete full physicals or cycle counts. Users can quickly scan, and with a few taps on the screen, the information is automatically uploaded to Agility. (If the device is out of WiFi range, information is stored locally and then automatically uploaded once WiFi connectivity is restored.) dmsi.com

LP NovaCore Thermal Insulated Sheathing is dual-layered and designed to protect structures against heat loss and gain. Structural OSB and XPS foam are bonded together to create an insulated wall panel that is said to be easy to install and can be handled, cut, and drilled like OSB, delivering an R-Value of 5 per inch of thickness. Provided that all panel edges are properly supported, LP NovaCore can be installed in vertical or horizontal orientations. LP NovaCore Thermal Insulated Sheathing will be available in summer 2022. lpcorp.com

Named Most Innovative Construction Tool, Timberline Solar is made up of shingles, not panels or tiles. The shingles are designed to be water-shedding, strong, and warranted to withstand winds up to 130 mph. Timberline Solar is designed to blend in with the aesthetic of a house, with elements that add visual appeal like an architectural shingle. Energy Shingles are said to be the world's first nailable solar shingles, making Timberline Solar easy to install. The Timberline Solar roof has the same wind and water-shedding warranty coverage as Timberline HD shingles. gaf.energy

The Canvas Series from VERSATEX isdesigned to deliver the rich look of premium woods with maintenance-freeconvenience. Exterior-grade, woodtone laminates are bonded onto four VERSATEX profiles, eliminating labor-intensive restaining and adding the long-lasting durability and moisture/insect resistance of VERSATEX PVC. The Canvas Series can be installed anywhere traditional materials can, such as porch ceilings, soffit, accent walls, outdoor fences, showers, and more. Offered in a wide variety of textured, low-gloss finishes. versatex.com

Fence Planner software from Simpson Strong-Tie is designed to allow builders and dealers to grow their businesses. Fence Planner supplements a dealer's fence products by making it easy for customers to design strong, safe fences in minutes. Developed with flexible licensing packages, the manufacturer says users benefit from increased visibility, more sales and website traffic, weekly usage reports, and integrated SKUs and pricing. Fence Planner also creates a complete bill of materials, allowing retailers to provide customers a quote on the spot. strongtie.com

A finalist in the category of Most Innovative Building Material, AdvanTech X-Factor is a new class of premium subflooring with a fade-resistant, water-shedding surface on a high- performance engineered wood panel. With a built-in protective top layer, it is designed to take the moisture-resistance expected from an AdvanTech panel to the next level and it pairs it with AdvanTech subfloor adhesive for a Squeak-Free Guarantee. According to the manufacturer, AdvanTech X-Factor protects the panel surface quality and appearance better than common OSB and plywood panels that can show flaking, delamination or discoloration from exposure to daily jobsite stress. The built-in, water-shedding top layer is designed to provide a smooth, even, premium subfloor surface that is marker-friendly and easy to clean. advantechxfactor.com

A Most Innovative Building Materialfinalist, Qora Cut LedgeStone TightStack is designed to answer residential and commercial demand for a stacked stone aesthetic for exterior accents, including knee wall and wainscoting applications. Qora delivers the look and feel of genuine stone, without the time and expense of masonry. According to the manufacturer, the result is a lightweight, easy-to-install panelized system. Qora Cut LedgeStone TightStack is available in three colors: Charcoal, Gunstock, and Lexington to complement vinyl, wood, and fiber cement siding exteriors. qoracladding.com

BlueTape is a payment and financing platform designed for the construction industry. BlueTape was developed to enable building material suppliers and dealers to offer their customers a wide range of payment options, including Buy Now, Pay Later. Suppliers leverage BlueTape to streamline their Accounts Receivable departments and offer risk-free extended financing to their trade customers while getting paid upfront. bluetape.com

Westlake Royal Building Products is adding a new 5/8″ Lap Siding to its TruExterior Siding & Trim line (formerly of Boral Building Products) of polyash siding products. This new profile features the look and shadow lines of traditional lap siding with the high performance of TruExterior's poly-ash material. It has a true 5/8″ butt, a profile that mimics real cedar, and comes in 16′ lengths. Made with a proprietary blend of polymers and fly ash, TruExterior 5/8″ Lap Siding offers dimensional stability and durability for resistance to warping, cracking, and splitting. As a result, the siding requires no sealing of ends or cuts in the field, it can be used in ground-contact applications. truexterior.com

Oversized options of ODL's Blink line feature blinds sandwiched between two panes of glass. Available in sizes up to 8’x8′ and designed for large picture windows, bath windows, and multi-panel sliding patio doors, these options are engineered for maximizing natural light while also delivering complete privacy. odl.com

A finalist for Best Outdoor Product, Feeney's DesignRail with a wood grain TopRail finish is developed to provide the look of wood with the durability of powder-coated aluminum. DesignRail Aluminum Railing Systems are now available in Feeney's new ColorEasy palette, which includes 15 on-trend and classic colors along with three realistic wood grain finishes for top rail. feeneyinc.com

Thermally modified siding and decking wood products from TanTimber, distributed by G Wood Pro, have been developed not to warp, expand, contract, or become a food source for insects. G Wood Pro's thermally modified wood has a brown tone, which naturally weathers over time to a silver-gray patina, if the wood is left untreated with pigmented and UV protected wood oil. All G Wood Pro's products are chemical-free (nontoxic), eco-friendly, and fully recyclable. gwoodpro.com

eCommonSense is an industry-specific ecommerce solution developed to provide an online shopping experience that rivals big box retailers, allowing builders and consumers to research and purchase items at their convenience. eCommonSense is fully integrated with ECI's ERP and its unified product information management system. ecommonsense.com

The new cordless PAMFast AutofeedScrew System adds the benefits of cordless motor options. The Smooth Advancement Technology exclusive to PAMFast is designed to eliminate jams for increased productivity. According to the manufacturer, PAMMax Fastener Belts hold up to 40% more fasteners for more time driving screws and less time reloading. The removable extension pole enables long-to-short conversion for a variety of fastening needs. PAMFast allows users to fasten subfloor and decking while standing comfortably, or convert to a short tool to fasten drywall, roof tiles, and more. fastenmaster.com

The SawTek Cutter Plus is an automated EWP processing system developed to meet a wide range of pro dealer needs. According to the manufacturer, it provides many of the benefits of the more sophisticated SawTek Pro system while doing so as a lower entry point. The base system provides the ability to position EWP material to +/- 1/4″ for precision cutting and hole routing and includes standard features such as integrated safety interlocks, Versa Saw operator interface, SawTek production analytics, and more. Boise Cascade's BC Connect and BC Framer software integrates with the SawTek system to streamline and manage the entire process. Designed to be modular and flexible, SawTek Cutter Plus allows dealers to start with a system that meets current needs and can add capabilities as their business evolves and grows. These options include a manual router or automated router, a larger 20″ upcut saw, and infeed and outfeed material handling stands. bc.com/ewp/sawtek

The Deckorators Deck Designer software is developed to take a deck idea beyond ordinary with 3D-renderings that let users build a customized deck and style it with products. The new tool helps users activate unique design capabilities such as picture framing, board angles, shapes, and even multi-level options including a complete lineup of Deckorators composite decking, railings, balusters, postcaps, and more. The tool creates designs in 3D where users can also select different backdrops and add furniture, or upload a photo to visualize the deck in the actual space. deckorators.com

A finalist in the Most Innovative Building Material category, Modern Mill is a manufacturing company based in Fernwood, Mississippi that specializes in ACRE, a patented sustainable wood-alternative material made from upcycled rice hulls. Since its inception, the company has partnered with distributors throughout the U.S. to provide high-quality, eco-friendly trim boards, dimensional lumber, sheet goods, outdoor furniture, decking, and siding— bringing back a history of craftsmanship back to Mississippi in a zero-waste factory. modern-mill.com

A finalist in the category of MostInnovative Construction Tool at IBS, CAMO, the deck fastening brand fromNational Nail, has introduced ClipDRIVE, a better, faster, and easier way to install grooved decking with CAMO Universal Deck Clips. The next generation of stand-up fastening, ClipDRIVE is an ergonomic, light-weight tool that attaches to any drill and allows users to stand comfortably while fastening any type of grooved deck board. It features a height-adjustable handle and weighted nose designed so that users can quickly swing the tool from joist to joist and easily target the exposed screw head. The heavy-duty contractor-grade tool is said to be simple to put together and comes with a T-15 bit that's easy to install. CAMO Fasteners with CAMO ClipDRIVE were also named a finalist in the Best Outdoor Product category. camofasteners.com

U2 CS is the company's next generation of construction screws replacing lag screws. The screws are structural & ACQ treated lumber compliant in IAPMO report ER-454. The dome head is designed to enhance the structural capability. The U2 CS features the Tapper Point, which consists of the Cork Screw Start and Blade Cutting Thread designed for easy piercing and alleviating strain on the material. The Tight Star Recess system is designed to grasp the U-Bit tightly and can be installed with one hand. Underneath the screw head of the U2 CS, the Talon Grip is engineered to hold the screw tight to prevent loosening and uses its nibs to dig into the material when countersunk. The U2 Construction Screw is available in lengths from 1-1/2″ to 20″ made of hardened steel, and in lengths from 1-1/2″ to 8″ made of 316 Grade Stainless Steel. u2fasteners.com

Cascadia is an all 316-marine-grade stainless steel product designed to be simple to install and still offer a clean, elegant appearance. Cascadia is engineered to capture the high visual impact of a custom-made, stainless steel railing system; but in a product that is available through local building materials suppliers. Cascadia consists of fewer than eight SKUs. According to the manufacturer, Cascadia is currently the only ICC-ES approved metal railing system with a horizontal infill, meaning it can be installed almost anywhere in the U.S. and Canada without the need for the engineering calculations typically required by local permitting authorities for custom stainless railing. agsstainless.com

Roof Deck Tape, manufactured by MFM Building Products, is a 40-mil, self-adhering waterproofing membrane to flash the seams on plywood and OSB roof deck panels. According to the manufacturer, the product is easy to use, features an embossed traction surface, and self-seals around common roofing fasteners. After the roof deck panels are sealed, the membrane can then be covered with saturated felt, synthetic or self-adhered roofing underlayment. To ensure a completely waterproof barrier, the membrane should be overlapped by 6″ on all end laps. Roof Deck Tape protects the structure before, during and after the final roofing system is installed. mfmbp.com

Select Shake composite roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes is designed to capture the authentic look of real cedar shake taken from natural wood profiles. The impact- and fire resistant shakes are available in 5/8″ thick traditional shake profiles with 8″ and 10″ widths. 10″ pieces have a simulated keyway, giving the look of 4″ and 6″ shakes to create a multi width appearance. Unique tile design allows for fast installation. The tiles are designed to resist fading, rotting, cracking, and insects, and are code approved for use in high wind areas up to 110 mph. davinciroofscapes.com

TamlynWrap Drainable is a high-performancewater and air resistivebarrier with a unique drainage pattern designed for the harsh conditions of a jobsite and all climate zones. TamlynWrap Drainable is made from multiple non-woven and barrier layers engineered to provide durability, moisture and air infiltration protection with added drainage capability. According to the manufacturer, the unique drainage pattern can remove 100 times more bulk water from a wall versus standard wraps offering enhanced moisture management and drying. The non-woven structure is backed by a warranty of up to 25 years. tamlyn.com

Trex has introduced an app designed to enable homeowners and contractors to bring their deck visions to life before they build. Available for free via iTunes and Google Play, the tool features advanced AR technology that allows users to explore design possibilities using the full suite of Trex decking and railing products against the backdrop of actual home environments. Users can also specify and purchase select Trex products right from their mobile device. trex.com

Sure Drive USA has introduced a new and improved Mantis concealed deck clip pneumatic installation tool. This newly designed tool offers a heavy duty EZ-Slide tray with a neodymium magnet to hold clips in place at any angle during installation. According to the manufacturer, the Mantis deck clip installation tool provides more than three times faster installation than other systems on the market. suredrive.com

The Chesapeake Series railing from Key-Link Fencing & Railing is an engineered aluminum railing system designed specifically to receive a deckboard top rail. The aluminum top profile contains hidden channels with predrilled holes every 12″, so the installer can lay their deckboard of choice on the profile and attach with Key-Link-provided fasteners designed for ultimate ease of installation. keylinkonline.com

Painted stainless steel trim nails are available in many different colors, pre-matched to all the major coil manufacturers’ colors. MAZE Nails feature a checkered head specially designed to hold more paint than a smooth head. The painted trim nails are available in both smooth and ring shank engineered for extra holding power. Applications include use with trim coil, soffit, and fascia. mazenails.com

Tstud studs are designed to meet energy code requirements without continuous rigid insulation. The BareNaked Tstud is an uninsulated, thermally and sound broken wall stud designed to give the builder their choice of insulation. According to the manufacturer, using BareNaked studs can save 24% to 75% on annual heating and cooling costs. tstud.com

Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard was a finalist in the Most Innovative Building Material category. Designed with a high-strength polymer formulation and engineered as an alternative to traditional FRP, OSB, and drywall systems, Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard is an integrated wall system complete with made-to-measure trims. According to the manufacturer, it doesn't require time-consuming painting or finishing after installation. Tongue and groove panels slide together, fasteners are invisible for a clean finish, and Wall&CeilingBoard panels are designed to integrate seamlessly with Trusscore SlatWall to create a total wall storage solution. Available in 1/2″ thick, 16″ wide panels in standard length of 8′, 10′, 12′, 14′, 16′, and 20′. Available in white and gray colors. trusscore.com

James Hardie's Hardie Architectural Collection features an all-new integrated solution of Hardie Architectural Panels and Hardie Architectural Trims, developed to inspire homeowners to reimagine their homes with fresh, modern exterior looks. Designed with architects for homeowners, the inaugural Hardie Architectural Panels showcase a variety of textures inspired by nature and deliver the protection of Hardie fiber cement siding. With a rolling region-by-region, multi-year U.S. launch, the first five Hardie Architectural Panels in the collection include: Smooth Sand, Smooth Sand-Grooved, Mounded Sand, Sea Grass, and Sculpted Clay. jameshardie.com

SupplyPro GM is a cloud-based software solution specifically designed for residential contractors, trades, and suppliers to manage large volumes of construction jobs with ever-changing scopes and schedules and automate workflow with real-time communication between office, field and builder. Suppliers can manage every aspect of their business on SupplyPro GM and its mobile app. The SupplyPro GM mobile app allows field employees and back-office employees to work together anywhere, anytime, and on any device, even allowing users to work offline on job sites where internet connection can be unreliable. hyphensolutions.com

Stay Updated

Get our email newsletter with LBM industry trends, data, new products, and best practices.