Best of the Best in Building Products

by Karen L. Chandler

The National Association of Home Builders celebrated its picks of 2021’s best building products at the International Builders’ Show.

Best in Show!

Number one on the list and the best of the best of award winners is Evolve Stone, chosen for its look and feel of real stone and the ease of its use in both indoor and outdoor applications, a real boost for today’s homeowners looking for trendy, seamless transitions between their home and outdoor living spaces.

Evolve Stone eliminates the need to hunt for a skilled mason to lay genuine stone, is easy to install with a nail gun and cuts like wood. Not only is Evolve stone beautiful, but its durability and waterproof qualities will make it a hit for home designs.

Contact a design and build professional from the Home Builders Association of Berks County if you would like to discuss using Evolve Stone in your living spaces.

Best for Energy Efficiency and Home Technology

Voted the Best for Energy Efficiency and the Best Home Technology Product, the SPAN Gen 2 Smart Panel by SPAN is a home energy management system that replaces a standard electrical panel.

The Gen 2 Smart Panel makes it easier for homeowners to control their energy use and simplifies solar and storage upgrades. A helpful tool for owners, SPAN gives them the ability to track and optimize their energy use and control separate circuits from the SPAN Home app.

Homeowners with SPAN Gen 2 can see how long their appliances can be run during power outages and make informed choices on whether a solar battery can power their homes until their power comes back on.

Contact an expert contractor from the HBA of Berks to discuss how a Smart Panel will help your home run more efficiently.

Best Indoor Product

The Best Indoor Product brought to the International Builders’ show was Murphy Door’s Flush Mount Pantry Door. Anyone building a new home or taking on a kitchen remodel can gain valuable and beautiful storage with this innovative design by Murphy.

The new pantry door combines pantry and kitchen storage area into the space of a doorway with a door front featuring etched glass, mirror, or chalkboard. The Murphy Door front conceals a reverse side featuring adjustable spice racks and storage shelf, and a fixed shelf all totaling an extra fifteen cubic feet of storage space.

Your HBA builder or remodeler can help you find a great way to incorporate this quality touch into your own kitchen space.

Best in Kitchen and Bath

Another big win for homeowners at the International Builders’ Show was voted the Best Kitchen and Bath Product. The Swidget 20/40/60 Control Switch is a new modular smart home device that can automate a home ventilation system to confirm the breathing air is clean and healthy.

When working with Swidget’s Wi-Fi Motion, the new control switch can automatically turn on and off exhaust fans as needed based on air quality, humidity, or the number of people in the house.

Reach out to your new home builder or an HBA HVAC pro to learn how the new Swidget 20/40/60 control switch can keep your home air as clean and fresh as it can be.

Best Outdoor Product

The renewed focus on entertaining at home makes the IBS Best Outdoor Product a great choice for homeowners looking for both beauty and privacy in their outdoor spaces.

Decorative Screen Panels by Barrette Outdoor Living are both unusual and affordable private screenings that can fit in décor ranging from modern to nature inspired. Not only are the new panels easy to install, but they are also able to fulfill a wide array of needs that include roof tops, pergola side walls, and railing infills.

Contact your HBA landscaping or building contractor to talk about incorporating Decorative Screen Panels by Barrette Outdoors into your outdoor living space. Best Window and Door Product

Security is top of many property owners’ minds, and it was no surprise that the Best Window and Door Product chosen at the IBS was the Panolock Multi-Point Lock by Endura.

Past multipoint locks have had limited uses due to high costs and challenging installations, but the new Panolock Multi-Point Lock works with standard hardware making it an easy addition to patio and entry doors. Affordably priced and well-engineered, the Panolock will make homeowners feel a heightened level of security every day.

Talk to an HBA contractor to have your Multi-Point Locks installed today.

Most Innovative in Construction

Voted the Most Innovative Construction Tool, the Timberline Solar Energy Shingles by GAF Energy are the first nailable solar energy shingles to hit the market. The Solar Energy Shingles install like a regular shingle, giving them the fastest installation time of any other solar option and offering homeowners a shingle that will generate power to their property.

No matter which new products intrigue you as great options to increase the beauty, functionality, and security at your home, an expert Home Builders Association of Berks County member can guide you to the best way to incorporate them into your living spaces!