Every year, for its Guide to Building Products special issue, Builder magazine commissions an in-depth study surveying what brands builders recognize most, use most, how they rate the products' quality, and which companies are best at communicating with builders. The study is conducted by Readex, an independent research company.

Methodology The Brand Use Study was sponsored by Hanley Wood, LLC, publisher of BUILDER magazine, and conducted by Readex, an independent research company based in Stillwater, Minn. A sample of 10,800 was selected from BUILDER’s domestic qualified “builder,” “builder/developer,” and “general contractor” print circulation, including those who receive the magazine as a benefit of NAHB membership. The data was collected from Sept. 3 to Oct. 21, 2013. The findings cited are based on 2,422 usable responses and a 22 percent response rate, the margin of error is +/-2 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.

BUILDER 2014 Brand Use Study
Product Category Brand Familiarity Brand Used
in past two years
Brand Used Most Highest Quality Rating
BATH ACCESSORIES Kohler Kohler Kohler Kohler
BATH FIXTURES American Standard; Kohler Kohler Kohler Kohler
BATHROOM VENTILATION/FANS NuTone NuTone NuTone Panasonic
CABINETS: SEMI-CUSTOM AND CUSTOM KraftMaid KraftMaid KraftMaid Wood-Mode
CABINETS: STOCK KraftMaid Merillat Merillat KraftMaid
CARPET Mohawk Mohawk Shaw Mohawk
CAULKS/SEALANTS DAP (Phenoseal) GE Silicones, Sealants, Adhesives DAP (Phenoseal) OSI Sealants
CENTRAL VACUUMS NuTone Beam Central Vacuum Systems by Electrolux; NuTone Beam Central Vacuum Systems by Electrolux Beam Central Vacuum Systems by Electrolux
CERAMIC TILE Dal-Tile Dal-Tile Dal-Tile Dal-Tile
CLOSET/ORGANIZATION SYSTEMS Closet Maid Closet Maid Closet Maid California Closets
DECKING: COMPOSITE/PVC Trex; CertainTeed Trex Trex AZEK Decks
DECORATIVE MOULDINGS & COLUMNS: EXTERIOR CertainTeed Fypon Fypon Crown Columns and Millwork; Fypon
DECORATIVE MOULDINGS/TRIM/COLUMNS: INTERIOR Fypon Fypon Fypon Fypon
DISHWASHERS KitchenAid; Whirlpool GE Appliances GE Appliances Viking
DOORS: ENTRY JELD-WEN Therma-Tru Therma-Tru Pella
DOORS: GARAGE Overhead Door Overhead Door Overhead Door Clopay
DOORS: INTERIOR PASSAGE Masonite Masonite Masonite JELD-WEN
DOORS: PATIO Andersen Andersen Andersen Andersen
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS/LOAD CENTERS Square D by Schneider Electric Square D by Schneider Electric Square D by Schneider Electric Square D by Schneider Electric
ENGINEERED I-JOISTS Georgia Pacific Georgia Pacific Georgia Pacific Georgia Pacific
EXTERIOR FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING (CONSTRUCTION PHASE) Tuff-N-Dri Tuff-N-Dri Tuff-N-Dri Tuff-N-Dri
EXTERIOR TRIM HardieTrim (James Hardie) HardieTrim (James Hardie) HardieTrim (James Hardie) HardieTrim (James Hardie)
EXTERIOR WALL SHEATHING Weyerhaeuser Weyerhaeuser Weyerhaeuser Owens Corning; Weyerhaeuser
FAUCETS American Standard; Delta Delta Delta Kohler
FIREPLACES Heatilator Heatilator Heatilator Heat & Glo
FLOORING: LAMINATE Armstrong Armstrong Armstrong Armstrong
FLOORING: VINYL Armstrong Armstrong Armstrong Armstrong
FLOORING: WOOD Bruce Bruce Bruce Anderson
GARAGE DOOR OPENERS Genie LiftMaster LiftMaster LiftMaster
GENERATORS: PORTABLE American Honda American Honda American Honda American Honda
GENERATORS: STATIONARY Generac Generac Generac Cummins Onan
HOUSEWRAP Tyvek (DuPont) Tyvek (DuPont) Tyvek (DuPont) Tyvek (DuPont)
HVAC Carrier Carrier Carrier Trane
INSULATION Owens Corning Owens Corning Owens Corning Owens Corning
LAUNDRY APPLIANCES Whirlpool GE Appliances; Whirlpool GE Appliances Bosch; Whirlpool
LIGHTING Halo Halo Halo Kichler
LIGHTING CONTROLS/SWITCHES Leviton Leviton Leviton Leviton
LOCKSETS/HARDWARE Kwikset Schlage (Ingersoll Rand Residential Solutions); Kwikset Schlage (Ingersoll Rand Residential Solutions) Baldwin
MANUFACTURED STONE Cultured Stone Cultured Stone Cultured Stone Eldorado Stone
ORIENTED STRAND BOARD Georgia-Pacific Georgia-Pacific Georgia-Pacific Advantech (Huber Engineered Woods)
PAINTS Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams
RANGE HOODS GE Appliances GE Appliances GE Appliances Bosch
RANGES/COOKTOPS GE Appliances GE Appliances GE Appliances Wolf Appliance, Inc
REFRIGERATORS GE Appliances GE Appliances GE Appliances Sub-Zero
RIDGE VENT SYSTEMS Owens Corning Owens Corning Owens Corning Owens Corning
ROOFING: ASPHALT/FIBERGLASS SHINGLES Owens Corning GAF (including Timberline) GAF (including Timberline) GAF (including Timberline)
ROOFING: CLAY/CONCRETE/SYNTHETIC TILES CertainTeed CertainTeed CertainTeed GAF TruSlate
ROOFING: METAL American Building Components (ABC) American Building Components (ABC) Metal Sales Manufacturing American Building Components (ABC)
ROOFING: PHOTOVOLTAIC CertainTeed CertainTeed; Sun Power CertainTeed; Sun Power (none based on 30+); ;
SHOWER DOORS/SURROUNDS American Standard American Standard American Standard Kohler
SIDING: BRICK & BRICK VENEER Eldorado Stone Eldorado Stone Eldorado Stone Eldorado Stone
SIDING: EIFS/STUCCO Dryvit Dryvit Dryvit Dryvit
SIDING: ENGINEERED WOOD LP SmartSide LP SmartSide LP SmartSide LP SmartSide
SIDING: FIBER CEMENT HardiePlank (James Hardie) HardiePlank (James Hardie) HardiePlank (James Hardie) HardiePlank (James Hardie)
SIDING: INSULATED CertainTeed CertainTeed CertainTeed CertainTeed
SIDING: VINYL CertainTeed CertainTeed CertainTeed CertainTeed
STAINS/VARNISHES Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams Sikkens
SURFACING: LAMINATE Formica Formica Wilsonart Wilsonart
SURFACING: QUARTZ Silestone Silestone Silestone Cambria
SURFACING: SOLID SURFACES Corian (DuPont) Corian (DuPont) Corian (DuPont) Corian (DuPont)
TRUCKS: PICKUP Chevrolet; Ford Ford Ford Ford
UNDERLAYMENT DUROCK (USG) DUROCK (USG) DUROCK (USG) DUROCK (USG)
WALLBOARD SHEETROCK (USG) SHEETROCK (USG) SHEETROCK (USG) SHEETROCK (USG)
WATER HEATERS Rheem A.O. Smith A.O. Smith Rinnai
WHIRLPOOL BATHS Kohler Kohler Kohler Kohler
WINDOWS: FIBERGLASS Pella Impervia Pella Impervia Pella Impervia Integrity from Marvin Windows and Doors
WINDOWS: SKYLIGHTS/ROOF Velux Velux Velux Velux
WINDOWS: VINYL JELD-WEN JELD-WEN JELD-WEN; Milgard ThermaStar by Pella
WINDOWS: WOOD & CLAD-WOOD Andersen Andersen Andersen Kolbe & Kolbe