Yesterday, we shared the news on which products took home honors in the NAHB’s own Best of IBS Awards. Now see what products caught our attention at the Builders’ Show last week in Las Vegas. (Don’t worry: our favorite KBIS products will follow later this week.)
Armstrong Flooring: Artistic Timbers
Two new collections were added to this engineered wood flooring line. TimberCuts is on trend and edgy — showing authentically applied saw marks for a dramatic effect in hickory, maple or oak styles. The planks measure 2.25, 3.25, or five inches wide by 8.25 to 84 inches long. Meanwhile, TimberBrushed recreates the look of weathered wood and showcases the rich natural grains of white oak. It comes in a wide-plank format measuring 7.5 inches and in lengths ranging from 15.75 to 82.7 inches.
Big Ass Solutions: Haiku Home
The design industry has been enamored with this company (and not only because of its name) since its introduction of modern fans that don’t detract from the overall aesthetic of a space. A fortnight before IBS, it announced its launch of a new residential division — Haiku Home — and displayed the division’s portfolio at the show. The core of the collection is, naturally, the original Haiku ceiling fan, which has been engineered to retail for half the price of the premium models but still offers Big Ass’s SenseME technology to detect presence and adjust, accordingly.
The new introductions are Haiku Light, a SenseME-enabled, ceiling-mount LED fixture that adjusts based on ambient light; a more utilitarian garage version of the light; and Haiku Wall Control, which wirelessly communicates to manage all SenseME-enabled products in the home. Coming in early 2017, Haiku HVAC is a sleek heating and cooling unit that will also feature SenseME technology for comfort and energy savings.
CertainTeed: Habito
Who knew that drywall could be so exciting? Habito, unveiled to the public at IBS, is quite revolutionary because, although it looks and installs exactly like ordinary ½-inch drywall, it uses a proprietary mix that makes it the strongest and hardest of its kind. Thus, one can hang most objects (of up to 30 pounds!) on a single nail without searching for studs or using threaded anchors that leave behind gaping holes. This new wallboard material also boasts more impact resistance and better sound insulation than traditional drywall. The product becomes available this spring.
Eldorado Stone: Modern Collection
Clean lines and modern, neutral color palettes define this stone veneer collection. The series offers six new smooth or texturized profiles in larger, linear formats that veer away from the rustic arrangements that are typically associated with stone cladding. The stone designs are available in a choice of 34 new colors such as cool grays and bright whites. Also part of the collection is TundraBrick, an industrial-style veneer that has been molded from reclaimed bricks and tinted in contemporary hues such as Chalk Dust.
LaCantina Doors: Vinyl Folding Door System
Filling a need for a high-performance, high-style product in the vinyl door market, LaCantina launched this new folding door system at IBS. Its contemporary and clean design, featuring a slim 2-15/16-inch stile and rail profile, rivals that of metal and wood systems and accommodates standard and custom sizes of up to 18 feet wide by eight feet tall. The vinyl series is both energy-efficient and low-maintenance and comes standard in neutral colors such as white or tan. Its coordinating hardware package is offered in stainless steel or bronze finish.
Legrand: Adorne Wi-Fi System
We already know that Adorne offers some of the most attractive and intuitive light switches on the market, but now it’s adding connectivity options for ease and more functionality. Its recently updated Wi-Fi lighting system includes the Hub, a black box that communicates with the home’s Wi-Fi-enabled switches and luminaires, and the new Legrand Lighting Control App, which can be installed on smartphones or tablets to control lights from anywhere inside a home.
Using a mobile device, homeowners can dim lights for ambience, shut off lights accidentally left on in another room to save energy, switch on lights in advance in a staircase or corridor area for safety or set lights to go on before arrival at home or to mimic occupancy for security purposes. While there isn’t a remote capability (e.g. turning on the house lights while traveling) as of yet, Legrand says this feature is in development. The system works with the sofTap Wi-Fi Ready Switch or Dimmer as well as Touch Wi-Fi Ready Switch or Dimmer.
Marvin Windows and Doors: Contemporary Casement and Awning Windows
Larger glass swaths are in demand as residential clients favor uninterrupted views and natural light. So Marvin has added larger options to its Contemporary Casement and Awning Windows line. These massive openings can now be specified up to 44 inches wide by 102 inches high for casements; 96 inches square for awnings; and 120 inches square for picture windows. Additionally, the manufacturer unveiled new, contemporary clad colors that are sure to make an impression, from rich, dark Gunmetal to on-trend Liberty Bronze.
NanaWall Systems: BEARricade
Indoor-outdoor living is a huge deal in residential design today, but what to do when building a project in scenic regions where bears are a common sight? BEARricade is NanaWall’s answer to this question. This system offers all the benefits of folding glass walls such as uncompromised views and fresh-air ventilation, but it adds layers of protection against bear encounters during which the animal uses its immense strength and weight to push open or break down glass doors.
The manufacturer has reinforced structural posts, implemented impact-rated laminated glass and included secure multipoint, tamper-resistant locks that shoot into the head and floor tracks at the turn of a handle.