After last year’s devastating hurricane season, the demand for exterior products that can stand up to wind, water, impact, and the stress of severe weather is high.
For exterior products and insulation manufacturers, this means creating choices that can meet builders’ and consumers’ expectations for resilience and provide them with peace of mind. Roofing manufacturer IKO has specifically reinforced its shingles against high winds, and Tando’s Beach House Shake collection was put to the test in Hurricane Irma, which the manufacturer’s Miami test wall survived without losing a single shake.
Despite the recent spate of headline-grabbing storms, outdoor living and landscaping features such as kitchens, decking, and lighting are as popular as ever. Char-Broil has debuted a modular model for its inaugural outdoor kitchen, and decking manufacturers are introducing systems designed to allow homeowners to create storage or expanded living space under their decks.
Check out all the new introductions below:
Ply Gem’s newly introduced SolarDefense Reflective Technology has allowed the manufacturer to offer dark, saturated color options for its low-maintenance mastic vinyl siding for the first time. The proprietary technology protects the siding from UV rays, and prevents any associated fading or heat distortion. It also improves the overall stability of the siding panel, as well as the stability of its color. Five colors are available: Red Brick, Mahogany, Brandy Wood, Natural Slate, and Newport Bay.
Among the many new products this year in the Home Solutions Collection by Sea Gull Lighting are four new outdoor lighting options. The Sebring line (shown here) combines industrial and nautical style with a clear seeded glass bulb cover and comes in brushed stainless, black, and weathered copper finishes. The pagoda-inspired Hermitage three-light pendant is designed to create a warm and inviting feel, and the Galvyn and Calder product lines are built with SeaGull’s StoneStrong composite material, which is rust-proof and designed to withstand harsh winter or summer climates.
New to Eldorado Stone’s Vantage30 profile is Cumulus (below right), one of two new gray color palettes the company will introduce this year. Vantage30 bricks measure 6 inches in height and 30 inches in length, and provide a long stacked planking appearance once installed. In addition, Eldorado’s panelized Stacked Stone (below left) uses varying textures and intricate stacking patterns to emulate the appearance of hand-laid stone. The stones come in 4, 8, 12, and 20-inch lengths and are available in 10 color palettes nationwide—including Black River, pictured—and four additional region-exclusive color palettes.
WAC Landscape Lighting has added two new styles to its LED Bollards series – The Tower and The Scoop, pictured. The aluminum fixtures are designed to accent and blend into outdoor landscape features, including walkways, courtyards, and pool areas. They are available with a bronze or black finish, with a choice of pure white or warm white LED luminaries. The LED bollards produce a constant output with 9- to 15-volt input, and are engineered to operate on 12-, 120-, and 277-volt systems. They are IP66 rated, watertight, and protected against high-pressure water jets.
The new Nature Crafted collection of composite shake shingle colors emulates the look and feel of aged cedar shake shingles without the damage and decay that occurs in natural wood, the company says. DaVinci’s composite roofing carries a lifetime limited warranty against splitting, cracking, curling, or fading, and will resist fire, impact, high winds, mold, algae, fungus, and insects, according to the company. Styles include reddish aged cedar, mossy cedar, and black oak, each replicating the look of years of natural wear and tear.
The Modular Outdoor Kitchen collection encompasses nine separate modules. The stainless steel gas grill is available in three- or five-burner configurations, which make use of Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared cooking technology. Additional modules include stovetops, griddles, granite bar tops, refrigerators, and an entertainment module with a prep sink, cutting board insert, and insulated cooler. The modules may be arranged to the customer’s liking, and are equipped with leveling casters and adjustable legs, ensuring even placement on uneven ground.
The Trespa Pura NFC siding collection is crafted from a composite of up to 70% natural fibers and thermosetting resins, with a closed surface designed for weather resistance. The planks undergo extensive testing for UV and impact resistance. They may be installed horizontally or vertically, and may be laid in lap style or side by side. The material is easy to handle and cut, and can be cleaned with soap and water. The collection has recently added eight new solid Uni Colors and two new Wood Decors to join the original six woodgrain choices. Matching corner profiles, screws and clips are available.
The Fastendry system is designed to fit around the edges of Deckorators’ composite decking. The polymer strip combines fastening and waterproofing functions into one solution, which prevents rain, snow, and other debris from passing between the boards. This allows contractors to install deck boards more quickly and to easily create under-deck “dry zones” for additional outdoor living or storage space. The strip’s built-in flanges allow for efficient fastening during installation.
The new outside corner trim with integrated nailing flange forms a ¾-inch pocket around end cuts on vinyl, shake, shingle, and stone siding, creating a clean finish with no visible nails. The sytem incorporates a flat trimboard, J-channel brick, and corner piece for easy installation. It is made from expanded cellular PVC, and will not splinter, rot, or swell, according to Kleer. Components fasten with standard tools, and may be installed against the ground, masonry, or other wet surfaces.
The manufacturer’s Dynasty shingles portfolio has expanded to include three new color blends: earthy driftshake and brownstone and two-tone frostone gray. The shingles’ ArmorZone technology includes an enlarged nailing area with nail lines that are 1 ¼ inches apart instead of ⅞ inch, making installation faster and easier, according to the manufacturer. A reinforced woven band improves the shingles’ resistance to high winds and increases its fastening strength. Coordinating IKO Hip and Ridge Cap shingles are also available in complementary colors for each of the three new blends.
Derby Building Products’ Tando has expanded its Beach House Shake collection with two new colors: Hatteras, which emulates the mid-tone gray of weathered white cedar, and Pacifica, which resembles brand-new red cedar. All three colors, including the original Sandcastle white cedar color, feature cedar-style graining, variations, and saw-cuts. The siding requires no upkeep and is impervious to curling, cracking, rot, and mold, the company says. The Beach House Shake test wall at Derby’s Miami plant did not lose a single shake in 100-mile per hour winds during Hurricane Irma.
Beaded Bevel and Rabbeted Bevel are the two newest profile additions to Boral’s TruExterior Beveled Siding collection. The Beaded Bevel adds a milled bead to the bottom of the company’s bevel profiles, which mimics a popular wood style ideal for traditional-style homes. The Rabbeted Bevel adds a pocket on the back of the siding which nests into the panel above, allowing for a faster and more consistent installation process. Each profile is made from the company’s proprietary poly-ash blend, which mimics the look of natural wood with improved moisture resistance and durability.
The Reclaimed Barn Wood stone veneer profile is molded from pre-Civil War tobacco barn wood. In an effort to make the veneer look as much like authentic reclaimed wood as possible, Environmental Stoneworks has highlighted the original boards’ knots and wood grain elements in the color process. The stone is available in four colors: Antique White, Blackened Oak, Deadwood, and Red Oak.
Cali Bamboo’s new interlocking deck tiles are made from the same bamboo fiber composite as its BamDeck material: 60% reclaimed bamboo fiber and 40% recycled HDPE plastic, which creates a surface that is splinter free, easy to clean, and moisture, rot, and chemical-resistant. The top planks are attached to a 100% recycled Polypropylene heavy-duty base with a strong interlocking design. The tiles may be placed and rearranged on any pre-existing patio, balcony, or deck surface without the need for additional tools. They are available in four colors – Slate, Coffee, Caramel, and Charcoal – with a matte finish.
AGS Stainless, Inc.’s new Dual-Post Connecting System incorporates two positively-connected posts at the end of a run of stainless-steel cable railing. This reinforcement system reduces deflection from the tensioned cables, allowing for higher cable tension, minimized cable infill sagging, and an overall safer product. The system is currently available for AGS Stainless’s Rainier line of prefabricated stainless steel railing, available in 36” or 42” lengths with a variety of top-rail options and custom configurations.
Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens
The Post & Panel outdoor kitchen and amenity system is designed specifically for multi-family property use, with lightweight components and reduced storage space. The system is engineered from stainless steel for durability, accommodates a wide range of counter lengths, and features removable panels, which may be switched without replacing the entire unit. Weather-resistant powder coated finishes are available in addition to traditional stainless steel. The unit is compatible with Danver’s ADA-compliant kitchen components, including the sink base pictured.
The DesignRail Aluminum Railing Kits include all the materials required to install Feeney Inc.’s aluminum railings and CableRail infill, including posts, rails, accessories, and CableRail kits. The kits include Feeny’s 6000 series aluminum extrusions with an AMA-2604 powder coated finish, all pre-drilled for cable. The components are designed to snap and screw together, allowing for quick and easy installation.
The component kits are available in a black matte finish for 36” and 42” level railings and for 36” stair railings. Other colors are available by special order.
The Phantom Universal Hidden Fastener is designed to practically disappear between deck boards after installation. The patented gripping teeth on the black polypropylene fastener serve to minimize lateral board movement. Its pre-inserted, corrosion resistant screw allows for easy installation and removal, and its self-gapping design ensures 3/16” gapping between each deck board. The fasteners are compatible with Fiberon’s Symmetry, Horizon, ProTect Advantage, Good Life, and Veranda decking, and with most other leading composite decking.
Permeable Tree Surrounds with Porous Pave serves as an alternative to metal grates, mulch, or stone in landscaping around trees. The XL formulation is made from 50% recycled rubber chips and 50% aggregate, which are mixed on site with a liquid binder. The formulation cures within 24 hours to form a solid tree surround that is 27% void space, allowing air and water to reach the tree roots. More than 1.5 gallons of water pass through Porous Pave per second per square foot. The surface is durable, resilient, easy to maintain, and non-slip even in wet conditions.
Trex’s LatticeWorks panels provide privacy, concealment, and decorative function for outdoor spaces. The lattices are mare from light-weight, weather-resistant PVC, which may be used to conceal under- storage, cover trellises or gazebos, or serve as decorative deck skirting, among many more applications. The panels are available in black or white, with a choice of nine lattice designs: Classic, Turtle Dove (both shown), Capital, Deco, Imperial, Mediterranean, Moroccan, Pueblo and Tuscan Olive.
DAP’s new Dynaflex Ultra Advanced Exterior Sealant uses Weather Max technology to provide UV protection, dirt and water resistance, and a lifetime mold, mildew, and algae resistance guarantee. DAP says the sealant is paint and rain-ready in one hour after application, will not wash out or undergo rain damage, and that any paint applied after one hour will not crack, gloss, or dull. This is designed to allow builders to work faster with reduced worry, even in rainy conditions. Dynaflex Ultra is available in white, clear, beige, clay, iron gray and dark bronze.
Demilec’s new Heatlok HFO High Lift is a closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation that can be applied 6 1/2” thick in a single pass with high yield and low VOC emission. Heatlok HFO is formulated with Honeywell’s Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent, which reduces Global Warming Potential to 1 -- 99.9% lower that traditional blowing agents, according to Demilec. Heatlok HFO High Life offers superior sprayability and adhesion, reduces gun clogging, and meets ICC-ES code requirements, Demilec says.
475 High Performance Building Supply and sheep’s wool insulation manufacturer Havelock Wool have partnered to create the Smart Wall enclosure system, a sustainable building envelope that manages moisture naturally, using non-toxic materials. Pro Clima and Intello Plus membranes create airtight vapor barriers while Gutex fiberboards allow diffusion and regulate interior humidity without loss of insulation capacity, the manufacturers say. By absorbing and releasing moisture, the Smart Wall system prevents the structural decay and cultivation of mold and other contaminants that can occur in traditional wall systems, the manufacturers say.
A new technology from duct-sealing company AeroBarrier pares down the process of sealing a building envelope to a single step. AeroBarrier is an aerosolized sealant that simultaneously seals and measures building envelope leaks. Rather than coating an entire surface area, the sealant particles travel to openings up to ½ inch wide and as small as a human hair, the company says. The Best in Show winner of the 2018 Best of IBS Awards at this year’s International Builders’ Show, AeroBarrier can seal a room in a single phase of construction within two to three hours, according to the manufacturer.
FOAM-LOK 400 spray polyurethane foam insulation is an open-cell spray-applied material for use in attics, cavity walls, and other areas. The high-yield insulation provides a continuous air barrier, adhering to framing members and substrates, the company says. FOAM-LOK 400 can fill stud wall construction in one application, offering noise attenuation and a reduction in unmanaged moisture, according to Icynene-Lapolla.
JM CladStone Water & Fire Block is a noncombustible mineral-wool product that offers continuous insulation and moisture management for cavity wall and rainscreen applications. According to the company, JM CladStone facilitates water drainage while providing thermal efficiency, fire resistance, and acoustical performance. The basalt-based insulation also repels moisture and is mildew- and corrosion-proof, says the company. It can be installed with a variety of exterior claddings and fasteners.
Great Stuff Pro Gasket is a water-based air sealant foam designed to form a gasket between drywall and framing. The one-component gasket technology is compressible when cured, allowing for a flat wall plane. The flexible foam beads applied to the face of framing lumber remain in place during drywall installation. Great Stuff Pro exceeds code standards for air sealing and is low-VOC, allowing water clean-up for spills, drips, or over-application.
