KBIS wasn’t the only show in town in Orlando two weeks ago, as the NAHB once again co-located its annual International Builders Show within the same halls of the Orange County Convention Center. It was at IBS where Architizer encountered the latest as well as upcoming building products geared toward the residential and multi-unit housing market, from windows and energy-efficient skylights to durable siding and waterproof flooring. We share our top 13 picks from the show that you should know about for your next residential project or remodel.
Andersen Windows MultiGlide Patio Door
Andersen Windows: MultiGlide Patio Door
Fresh off a win in the 2017 Best of IBS Awards for the door and window category, this handsome patio door with large expanses of glass truly blurs the line between indoor and outdoor whether in a closed or open position. The system can fit openings of up to 25 feet wide by 10 feet tall in either stacking or pocketing configurations. Pick from a choice of sill options and specify aluminum or aluminum-clad wood panels for the frames.
Armstrong Flooring Prizm
Armstrong Flooring: Pryzm
One unexpected display we encountered on the show floor was a small aquarium with faux koi fish swimming around samples of the first-of-its-kind waterproof luxury floor product by Armstrong. Dubbed Pryzm, the product was designed for residential applications but performs like a durable commercial product: Not only is it 100-percent waterproof, it’s also resistant to dents, stains and scratches thanks to its commercial-grade VisionGuard with AC4 wear layer. Pryzm is also fast and easy to install as it can cover subfloors with irregularities, and the planks are pre-backed with an acoustical cork underlayment for greater sound absorption. Simulating a wide range of hardwood floors, Pryzm is well-suited to high-moisture and -traffic zones in the home, ranging from mudrooms to bathrooms.
Armstrong Flooring Vivero with Diamond 10
Armstrong Flooring: Vivero With Diamond 10
Another flooring product that impressed with its high performance for residential settings was Vivero with Diamond 10 technology. Essentially, this technology infuses the product’s surface with actual cultured diamond particles to make it scratch-, scuff- and dent-resistant. We also witnessed firsthand how superior this surface is with regards to cleaning through a Sharpie marker demonstration on Vivero alongside competing products. And, like Prizm, Vivero with Diamond 10 is 100-percent waterproof.
This resilient flooring is available in 33 true-to-life styles ranging from rustic and rough-hewn woods to stone looks. While glue-down installation is an option, the line requires no glue in installation over almost any subfloor.
Daltile Marble Attaché
Daltile: Marble Attaché
Snagging a Best of IBS Award for the bath product category, this stunning marble-evoking tile collection is actually made of porcelain yet faithfully recreates intricate veining and colors. It comes in a variety of marble styles — from Calacatta to travertine — in 12-by-48-inch planks or 24-by-48-inch slabs as well as square and linear hex mosaics. Specify matte, satin or polished finish.
Eldorado Stone Vintage Ranch
Eldorado Stone: Vintage Ranch
Eldorado has a reputation for producing cladding materials that remarkably mimic stone veneer. But wood? Surprisingly, the company’s new Vintage Ranch product really does evoke naturally aged barn woods such as oak and Douglas fir but is made of concrete that’s been hand-finished. It comes in easy-to-install panels that combine varied-height and -depth planks in four colors: Saddlewood, Foxwood, Parchwood and Doverwood.
Kolbe Windows & Doors VistaLuxe Sliding Patio Door
Kolbe Windows & Doors: VistaLuxe New Options
Kolbe has expanded its popular award-winning VistaLuxe window line with a new model and handle set that continues the sleek and contemporary aesthetic of the series. The new sliding patio door boasts minimal 3-inch stiles and top rail for practically uninterrupted sightlines. Two-, three- and four-panel models are available in sizes of up to 16 feet wide by 8 feet high.
Kolbe Windows & Doors VistaLuxe
Meanwhile, the new Madison handle set sports a minimalist look that perfectly complements the VistaLuxe sliding patio door to maintain design integrity and continuity. The set is available in seven finishes with or without a key cylinder and can also be installed on Kolbe’s Garden-Aire sliding patio and multi-slide doors.
LaCantina Doors Pivot Door System preview snapshots
LaCantina Doors: Pivot Door System
The California-based company is adding yet another product to its repertoire that promotes the indoor-outdoor lifestyle through expansive openings and views. This pivot door, which will be available later this year, is a dramatic entry system that includes coordinating direct-set or panel-glazed sidelites and transom for a cohesive, uninterrupted design. Specify standard LoE glass or browse a selection of privacy and decorative glass options. As with LaCantina’s other products, this system is available in Aluminum, Aluminum Thermally Controlled, Aluminum Wood and Contemporary Clad construction.
Marvin Clad Ultimate Bi-Fold Door
Marvin: Marvin Clad Ultimate Bi-Fold Door
Marvin’s newest bi-fold door — part of the company’s Scenic Door Collection — boasts one of the industry’s widest glass panels at 3 feet 6 inches wide by up to 10 feet high. But wide expanses of glass aside, it also streamlines the design within the frame by reducing hinges to two from a standard three and implements a concealed multipoint locking system. A retractable screen is also available.
NanaWall Systems Cero
NanaWall Systems: Cero
This stunning floor-to-ceiling sliding glass wall system sports ultra-thin frames and stiles that make the boundaries between indoor and outdoor visually disappear. But don’t let the minimal profiles fool you: Cero has gone through rigorous testing to ensure a high level of performance with regards to extreme weather, moisture control and more.
Cero features self-lubricating encapsulated rollers that glide effortlessly on concealed stainless steel tracks and comes in 50 standard colors as well as more than 200 powder-coat colors and anodized finishes.
NanaWall Systems: ClimaCLEAR
Another showstopper by NanaWall was this frameless operable glass wall ClimaCLEAR. The secret behind this industry-first frameless all-glass panel sliding system is a series of vertical weather seals between the panels that disappears while protecting against air and rain infiltration.
NanaWall Systems ClimaCLEAR
Suitable for both residential and commercial applications, the system also features an ADA-compliant low-profile saddle sill with an engineered water drainage system; continuous door rails with double-fin brush seals on both top and bottom; and proprietary interlocks in the top and bottom rails. Finishes include clear anodized, brushed, dark bronze and black anodized.
Panasonic Eco Solutions: Recessed Inlet
Up until now, there hasn’t really been an effective ventilation product that could handle both exhaust and supply seamlessly. But now Panasonic Eco Solutions is changing the game with this new Recessed Inlet.
Panasonic Eco Solutions Recessed Inlet and Inlet LED Bulb
The fixture — which also integrates an energy-efficient LED downlight for even more functionality and convenience — discreetly removes moisture and polluted air from spaces in the home while also distributing fresh air as needed, making the unit well-suited to bathrooms, living spaces and the laundry room. The Recessed Inlet is even UL-listed for tub and shower enclosures when GFCI-protected.
Ply Gem Steel Siding
Ply Gem: Steel Siding
This new high-performance siding is durable, impact resistant and fire resistant yet finished in on-trend colors and designs that render it well-suited to multi-unit residential projects. These include board and batten styles, boxed siding profiles, wood-grain fascia profiles and coil stock in dark gray, blue and green tones. The product line has a 50-year hail and 35-year fade warranty. For new construction projects striving to achieve LEED certification, the siding can help earn points thanks to its recycled content and its recyclability after use.
Velux Energy Performance Model
Velux: Energy Performance Model
The newly launched Energy Performance Model is an Energy Star–certified fixed skylight preinstalled with a solar-powered blackout blind, the combination of which can earn a 30-percent federal tax credit for homeowners. In addition to full automation mode when the room isn’t in use, the blind can be operated using the included Intelligent Touch Remote Control.