While function and aesthetics remain at the forefront of importance for exterior products, manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing weather resistance and environmental performance. With frequent extreme weather events, homeowners require products that will make them feel safe and secure with little to no maintenance required. Manufacturers are also providing environmentally friendly options through solar shingle roofing tiles, low global warming potential insulation, and upcycled rice hull panels suitable for all exterior applications. Pergola options are expanding as homeowners continue to desire outdoor living areas, and decking manufacturers are offering deck-board cladding to provide options for homeowners willing to experiment with the exterior aesthetics of their homes.

James Hardie
The Hardie Architectural Collection offers a modern, integrated solution of five Hardie Architectural Panels in a variety of bespoke textures and 14 metal Hardie Architectural trims. The Hardie Architectural Panels are made with Hardie fiber cement technology, which delivers a low-maintenance, noncombustible, and weather-resilient product. The panels, James Hardie’s most significant expansion beyond wood-look exteriors, provide builders with improved installation efficiency compared with traditional building materials. jameshardie.com

Modern Mill
ACRE from Modern Mill is a sustainable alternative building material made from upcycled rice hulls. The product offers the aesthetic appeal and warmth of wood without sacrificing performance or durability, according to the manufacturer. Modern Mill says ACRE, naturally resistant to shrinking and swelling common in most wood products, will not rot, crack, or splinter and resists pests, decay, and climate impact. ACRE products—sheets, trim boards, decking, siding, and millwork—can be stained, painted, or printed on and can be cut and milled without specialty tools. modern-mill.com
MoistureShield
MoistureShield’s Vision and Meridian decking lines now are approved for use as cladding. MoistureShield Cladding offers a durable, low-maintenance finish that resembles rich and natural hardwoods. Featuring MoistureShield’s proprietary Solid Core manufacturing process, the cladding is protected against moisture absorption, warping, rotting, and damage from insects on all four sides. The cladding is available in nine color options, and features Vision DiamondDefense coating or TruTexture Surface finish options. moistureshield.com

DuPont
DuPont Performance Building Solutions introduced a reduced global warming potential (GWP) and reduced embodied carbon formulation of Styrofoam Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Rigid Foam Insulation. The grey XPS foam’s closed-cell structure gives the product strong thermal performance and moisture resistance and enables it to retain a high, long-term R-value of R-5 per inch even after exposure to standing water and other damp conditions. The product is durable and easy to install, making it ideal for use with slab foundations and interior or exterior below-grade walls. dupont.com

LP Building Solutions
LP NovaCore Thermal Insulated Sheathing is dual-layered and designed to protect structures against heat loss and gain. One inch of XPS foam and 7/16 inch of OSB are bonded together to create an insulated wall panel that is easy to install and can be handled, cut, and drilled like OSB, delivering an R-value of R-5 per inch of thickness. Specifying and installing LP NovaCore sheathing helps builders achieve LEED, Energy Star, and Green Building Standard certifications. The product can be installed vertically and horizontally, provided that all panel edges are properly supported. lpcorp.com

Trex
Trex Privacy, one of three additions to the Trex Pergola Collection, is a series of low-maintenance aluminum privacy wall panels offered in both permanent and moveable options in multiple patterns and powder coat color choices. Trex Shade is a collection of designer aluminum shade panels available in patterns and powder coat colors to match any outdoor structure. The Trex Pergola Retreat is a free-standing aluminum pergola featuring an open rafter design. trex.com

GAF Energy
GAF Energy’s Timberline Solar is composed of shingles and protects and installs like a regular roof. The nailable solar shingles, named IBS’ 2022 Most Innovative Construction Tool, are water-shedding, strong, and warranted to withstand winds up to 130 mph. Timberline Solar has UL 7103 certification to serve as both solar panels and construction materials, due to the product’s composition of glass, polysilicon solar cells, and a top layer of proprietary fluorinated alkane ethylene fire-resistant, impact-resistant polymer. The shingles can stand up to hail and are less dense at the same thickness as a normal shingle. An average-sized 6-kilowatt array includes 130 solar shingles and takes up between 350 and 450 square feet on a roof. gaf.energy

Feeney
Feeney’s 24-Volt Wet Location Strip Light is a versatile, linear light that provides high output lighting ideal for railing lighting. The LED strip features a flexible, weatherproof housing that resists the elements and dust. The strip integrates into the top or bottom rails and the energy-efficient LEDs are rated for up to 50,000 hours. An exclusive Feeney polycarbonate lens paired with high color rendering index LED diffuses light evenly and generates truer colors. Lighting strips attach using integrated VHB tape for easy installation. feeneyinc.com

Huber Engineered Woods
ZIP System peel and stick underlayment from Huber Engineered Woods is a self-adhered waterproofing product that provides an additional layer of protection against water intrusion due to ice dams or wind-driven rain. The product is applied to roof sheathing before the finished roof covering is installed and can be used in valleys, eaves, transitions, or the entire roof. The slip-resistant product’s rubberized asphalt technology seals around roof covering nails. Featuring a pull cord, split-liner application, the underlayment offers a smooth installation with no fasteners required and covers up to 200 square feet per roll. The product meets requirements as an ice barrier and as a roof underlayment, according to Huber. huberwood.com

Evolve Stone
Evolve Stone Mortarless Series stone veneer, the 2022 IBS Best in Show and Most Innovative Building Material, can be face-nailed or installed using a standard finish nailer. Formulated from the company’s patented Evolve Material, Evolve Stone’s Mortarless Series can be cut to fit on-site and is moisture impermeable. The UV-resistant proprietary material, available in five designs and four colors, is not impacted when exposed to salt spray or freeze/thaw cycles and performs well under wind loading, according to Evolve Stone. evolvestone.com