Builders' Top 10 Home Products of 2019
by Rachel Lyon & Tammy Crosby, Editorial Director & Editor-in-Chief for The House Designers®
Finally, we come to the top home products of 2019 for our builders! When they build homes—to put on the market or for specific clients—they want products that help their work stand out for all the right reasons. It's about pleasing and impressing homeowners now, and perhaps attracting new buyers and gigs in the future. See what they noticed this year!
Striking Scenic Doors to Take in Views
No matter the style, so many of today's home designs feature wide expanses for patio doors—and that leaves ample opportunity for choosing great ones. Marvin® offers many options, from simple sliding and swinging doors to breathtaking bi-fold and multi-slide scenic doors made to fill expansive openings. Imagine a glass wall up to 50' that lets in sweeping views of nature when closed, and enables indoor/outdoor living when open. Marvin can make it a reality, and in the style that suits your home.
Model: Marvin Signature™ Ultimate Multi-Slide Door | Contact for a Quote
No matter the style, so many of today's home designs feature wide expanses for patio doors—and that leaves ample opportunity for choosing great ones. Marvin® offers many options, from simple sliding and swinging doors to breathtaking bi-fold and multi-slide scenic doors made to fill expansive openings. Imagine a glass wall up to 50' that lets in sweeping views of nature when closed, and enables indoor/outdoor living when open. Marvin can make it a reality, and in the style that suits your home.
Model: Marvin Signature™ Ultimate Multi-Slide Door | Contact for a Quote
Wood Garage Doors in a New Durable Medium
We all appreciate wood elements, but maintenance concerns can prevent people from using them on home exteriors. Now, homeowners can have the appeal without the upkeep worries! Clopay® introduced Extira® for Reserve® Wood Collection doors this year; this smooth, paint-grade wood composite resists moisture, termites, splitting, and rot to withstand the elements, and the regular surface is easy to carve and work with. Plus, every door is insulated for efficiency!
Model: Clopay® Reserve® Wood Collection Limited Edition Series in New Extira® Material | Contact for a Quote
We all appreciate wood elements, but maintenance concerns can prevent people from using them on home exteriors. Now, homeowners can have the appeal without the upkeep worries! Clopay® introduced Extira® for Reserve® Wood Collection doors this year; this smooth, paint-grade wood composite resists moisture, termites, splitting, and rot to withstand the elements, and the regular surface is easy to carve and work with. Plus, every door is insulated for efficiency!
Model: Clopay® Reserve® Wood Collection Limited Edition Series in New Extira® Material | Contact for a Quote
Curved Skylights to Maximize Light on Flat Roofs
Do you want to flood your interior with natural light, but you have a flat roof? No problem! VELUX® has flat roof skylights—in fixed and roof-access configurations—that open the possibilities! Available in a variety of sizes, we love that the curved top covers easily shed rain and capture more sunlight to shine down inside. With your choice of CurveTech glass or polycarbonate dome, you can tailor your skylights to your opening size, budget, and practical needs!
Model: VELUX® Fixed Flat Roof Skylight | Contact for a Quote
Do you want to flood your interior with natural light, but you have a flat roof? No problem! VELUX® has flat roof skylights—in fixed and roof-access configurations—that open the possibilities! Available in a variety of sizes, we love that the curved top covers easily shed rain and capture more sunlight to shine down inside. With your choice of CurveTech glass or polycarbonate dome, you can tailor your skylights to your opening size, budget, and practical needs!
Model: VELUX® Fixed Flat Roof Skylight | Contact for a Quote
Bathroom Lighting Options for All Styles
A lot goes into designing a bathroom, and one of the best things you can do is invest in good lighting to keep the space from feeling dark and cramped. No matter your vision, Park Harbor™ Lighting makes it easy with a wide range of stylish sconces and vanity lights, and different finishes to help you set the right tone. The fixture here even features a reversible mounting—you can hang it like this, or flip it so the shades open up. So, how will you customize your bathroom lighting?
Model: Park Harbor™ Lighting Antonio 10-1/2 x 13-1/4 in. 100W 2-Light Medium E-26 Vanity Fixture in Polished Chrome | $184.09 MSRP
A lot goes into designing a bathroom, and one of the best things you can do is invest in good lighting to keep the space from feeling dark and cramped. No matter your vision, Park Harbor™ Lighting makes it easy with a wide range of stylish sconces and vanity lights, and different finishes to help you set the right tone. The fixture here even features a reversible mounting—you can hang it like this, or flip it so the shades open up. So, how will you customize your bathroom lighting?
Model: Park Harbor™ Lighting Antonio 10-1/2 x 13-1/4 in. 100W 2-Light Medium E-26 Vanity Fixture in Polished Chrome | $184.09 MSRP
Lightweight yet Extremely Hardy Roofing
If you need a roof that checks all the boxes, you should check out Boral Steel™ Stone Coated Roofing. Available in shake, shingle, and clay tile looks, and in plenty of lovely colors for each, this new product comes highly rated for performance. It offers a Class A fire rating, a Class 4 rating for hail impact resistance, and even has Miami-Dade County HVHZ Approval to meet strict hurricane standards. Boral Steel™ is light and doesn't require extra reinforcements, either!
Model: Boral Steel™ BARREL-VAULT Tile in Barcelona Color | Contact for a Quote
If you need a roof that checks all the boxes, you should check out Boral Steel™ Stone Coated Roofing. Available in shake, shingle, and clay tile looks, and in plenty of lovely colors for each, this new product comes highly rated for performance. It offers a Class A fire rating, a Class 4 rating for hail impact resistance, and even has Miami-Dade County HVHZ Approval to meet strict hurricane standards. Boral Steel™ is light and doesn't require extra reinforcements, either!
Model: Boral Steel™ BARREL-VAULT Tile in Barcelona Color | Contact for a Quote
Customized & Wow-Worthy Closets
More and more, homeowners insist on having great master suites, and they want to see awesome walk-in closets that will organize and display their wardrobes beautifully. But closets offer different shapes and amounts of space—each has to be carefully considered to come up with a functional solution. Closet Factory offers professional design consultations to help every closet reach its full potential, so you can get the perfect arrangement of shelves, drawers, hanging rods, etc. And the results can be absolutely gorgeous, too!
Model: Closet Factory Custom Closet Featuring Finesse Systems | Contact for a Quote
More and more, homeowners insist on having great master suites, and they want to see awesome walk-in closets that will organize and display their wardrobes beautifully. But closets offer different shapes and amounts of space—each has to be carefully considered to come up with a functional solution. Closet Factory offers professional design consultations to help every closet reach its full potential, so you can get the perfect arrangement of shelves, drawers, hanging rods, etc. And the results can be absolutely gorgeous, too!
Model: Closet Factory Custom Closet Featuring Finesse Systems | Contact for a Quote
A Time-Saving Backer Board for Tile Showers
Careful installation is required to ensure your walls are protected from moisture when you have a tile shower. Now you can get outstanding waterproof protection from the most preferred brand of backer board! James Hardie showed us HardieBacker® Cement Board with HydroDefense™ Technology in 2019—the first-to-market and only backer board that passes the ANSI A118.10 for waterproofness. It's also easy to work with and offers excellent tile adhesion. Your builder just has to waterproof the joints and fasteners, and your shower will be well on its way!
Model: James Hardie HardieBacker® Cement Board with HydroDefense™ Technology | Contact for a Quote
Careful installation is required to ensure your walls are protected from moisture when you have a tile shower. Now you can get outstanding waterproof protection from the most preferred brand of backer board! James Hardie showed us HardieBacker® Cement Board with HydroDefense™ Technology in 2019—the first-to-market and only backer board that passes the ANSI A118.10 for waterproofness. It's also easy to work with and offers excellent tile adhesion. Your builder just has to waterproof the joints and fasteners, and your shower will be well on its way!
Model: James Hardie HardieBacker® Cement Board with HydroDefense™ Technology | Contact for a Quote
Tough Poly-Ash Siding with Reversible Profiles
Love the classic looks of shiplap and nickel gap siding? Consider the new reversible option from TruExterior®, which makes it easy to specify either profile across your whole property—façade, garage, shed, etc. There are also two formats—one side comes smooth and the other with a woodgrain texture. In any case, every panel aligns perfectly, comes pre-primed and ready for paint, and doesn't require sealing when cut. Every style is moisture- and insect-resistant, too!
Model: TruExterior® Reversible Nickel Gap / Shiplap Siding (Nickel Gap Showing) | Contact for a Quote
Love the classic looks of shiplap and nickel gap siding? Consider the new reversible option from TruExterior®, which makes it easy to specify either profile across your whole property—façade, garage, shed, etc. There are also two formats—one side comes smooth and the other with a woodgrain texture. In any case, every panel aligns perfectly, comes pre-primed and ready for paint, and doesn't require sealing when cut. Every style is moisture- and insect-resistant, too!
Model: TruExterior® Reversible Nickel Gap / Shiplap Siding (Nickel Gap Showing) | Contact for a Quote
Coverplates That Add Safety & Convenience
Over the years, SnapPower has brought nightlights to outlet coverplates and light switchplates, and even to outlet covers for child proofing, to improve safety around the house without taking up receptacles. Now, they also have coverplates with integrated USB ports! The USB Charger 2 includes two ports hidden on the sides with 2.1 amps of current to charge devices much more quickly. All of these products are easy to install and available in money-saving multipacks, so you can outfit your whole house how you see fit!
Model: SnapPower USB Charger 2 Duplex Single in White | $23.00 MSRP
Over the years, SnapPower has brought nightlights to outlet coverplates and light switchplates, and even to outlet covers for child proofing, to improve safety around the house without taking up receptacles. Now, they also have coverplates with integrated USB ports! The USB Charger 2 includes two ports hidden on the sides with 2.1 amps of current to charge devices much more quickly. All of these products are easy to install and available in money-saving multipacks, so you can outfit your whole house how you see fit!
Model: SnapPower USB Charger 2 Duplex Single in White | $23.00 MSRP
Sleek Cable Railings for Use Indoors & Out
Cable railing keeps everything feeling much more open than traditional balusters, preserving sightlines and views that might otherwise be lost. That's why you'll often see it used in contemporary homes and on decks with scenic surroundings! Stainless Cable & Railing™ offers durable Marine Grade 316 cable railing systems with your choice of stainless steel, aluminum, or wood posts and top rails to fit your style. With different shapes and colors, you can mix and match components to reach your desired aesthetic. Low-maintenance and long-lasting, cable railings make a great investment!
Model: Stainless Cable & Railing™ Black Aluminum Cable Railing | Contact for a Quote
Cable railing keeps everything feeling much more open than traditional balusters, preserving sightlines and views that might otherwise be lost. That's why you'll often see it used in contemporary homes and on decks with scenic surroundings! Stainless Cable & Railing™ offers durable Marine Grade 316 cable railing systems with your choice of stainless steel, aluminum, or wood posts and top rails to fit your style. With different shapes and colors, you can mix and match components to reach your desired aesthetic. Low-maintenance and long-lasting, cable railings make a great investment!
Model: Stainless Cable & Railing™ Black Aluminum Cable Railing | Contact for a Quote
