The doors closed on the International Builders' Show’s 2025 edition with a record 124,000 attendees visiting more than 1,800 exhibitors. The show will move to Orlando next year, then back to Vegas the year after. Here’s what caught our editors’ eyes on the third and final day of the show.

Design Goes to the Dogs

When you think of a pet door, you might picture a utilitarian, guillotine-style opening in a door that isn’t particularly stylish, secure or smart. Pawport’s smart pet door, created in partnership with Kolbe, turns that idea on its ear with smart tech that is intuitive, combined with an extremely sleek design. It works with a unique collar tag, with instructions that apply only to the pet wearing it, with the option to input up to 17 different pets (if you happen to have many), right from an app on your smartphone. The pet door recognizes each pet individually via the smart tag and can be programmed to accommodate preferences around time of day, duration outside, and even weather. This door knows when it is raining, and, if you’d rather Fido didn’t track his muddy paws inside, you can opt to keep the door shut in inclement weather. The pet door can be purchased integrated into Kolbe windows and doors or can be retrofitted. The style is designer-grade, with rounded edges that make this piece look like intentional decor. Colored lights (you can choose this too from your phone) add an extra decorative touch. It’s safe and withstands the impact of several tools thieves might use to break in. Heather Wright

The Good, the Bad, and the Uncertain of the New Administration

During both the single-family and multifamily outlook sessions, much of the conversation was shaped by stated goals and expectations of the Trump administration. The administration’s stated goal of lowering the cost of housing, largely by addressing the high costs of regulations for builders and developers, is seen as a significant positive tailwind by both the single-family and multifamily sectors. However, the possibility for an increasing government deficit, inflationary concerns, and the cost impacts of tariffs have the potential to outweigh regulatory cost improvements. Additionally, the administration’s approach to immigration could have significant supply-side (construction labor) and demand-side (rental demand) impacts across the single-family and multifamily sectors. Vince Salandro

They Don’t Know What They Don’t Know

The most important element of attracting the next generation to the construction workforce is meeting them where they are. Whether this is in high schools or during a veteran’s transition into civilian life, the home building industry can help solve its labor shortage. During a Two-Story Talk, leaders from home builders, manufacturers, and workforce development organizations shared practical and actionable insights on how companies can take labor challenges into their own hands. The most powerful—and simple—way to do this is by speaking with young individuals. As Bobby Thompson, director of operations for Beazer Homes Maryland, shared with attendees, young people “don’t know what they don’t know.” Many are unaware of the opportunities, growth potential, and path to entrepreneurship offered by a career in the construction industry.
Vince Salandro

Be Wary of AI

The executive insight panel featured leaders representing custom builders, remodelers, public builders, suppliers, and vendors sharing their perspectives on the housing market for the year ahead. During the panel’s discussion of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), Mike Bills, president of AtlasRTX, told attendees to take the hype and promise of AI with a grain of salt. The perspective was particularly interesting because Bills’ company is working to enhance home buying experiences with AI-driven digital solutions. Bills said it is important for builders to guard against investing in technology just to invest. Instead, builders should identify tangible problems and evaluate how—and if—AI can help solve those problems.Vince Salandro

Saving Ankles, One Ladder at a Time

The Little Giant Ladder company is showing off some new and old offerings. They have never been one to compete on price, but a good tool is one that you should only have to buy once. Falls from ladders are a problem for the construction industry and cost productivity time and money in claims every year. One area that has gotten me more than once in my career is missing that last step. With 20% of ladder accidents coming from stepping off too soon, the company is addressing this with its Ground Cue system. The last step has an audible click and tactile movement on contact that ensures that you know when you have reached the end. Hopefully a few ankles will be saved on site.
Marc Forget

Taking the Plunge

Health and wellness at home is trending, and cold plunging is a big part of that. Kohler’s new cold plunge tub, to be released later this year, is a stylish tool that brings healthy habits home. Undeniably sleek and designed to resemble a bespoke piece of furniture, the cold plunge tub is for use inside or outdoors, although smart design suggests that this will become a fixture in indoor wellness-oriented spaces, such as home gyms or recovery areas. When you’re ready, lie back and submerse yourself in the cold water (the recommended time is six minutes, if you can). If it’s too intense, don’t worry, this tub has your back. A gentle “breathing light” appears on the panel that ebbs and flows gently, like the water you are sitting in, to remind you to breathe through it. There are no jets, making the experience gentler. This writer did not witness it, but rumor has it many attendees are trying this tub out IRL on the show floor, seeing if they can take the frigid temps.
Heather Wright