Frequent onslaughts of extreme weather and natural disasters mean durable, protective materials are an ongoing trend. Design-wise, farmhouse style has given way to contemporary looks in simple color palettes. More than ever, homeowners value time spent outdoors so the following attractive-but-tough products are upgrades that pay off for home builders.
Despite the recent spate of headline-grabbing storms, outdoor living and landscaping features such as kitchens, fireplaces, decking, and lighting are also popular this year. Check out all the new exterior product introductions below:
DaVinci Roofscapes
DaVinci Roofscapes has launched a new line of composite siding, Hand-Split Shake Siding, that replicates the look of cedar shakes. Each tile is 18 inches tall with a ⅝-inch thickness and comes in 8- or 10-inch widths, with the 10-inch option simulating the appearance of 4- and 6-inch shakes placed together. The siding, according to the manufacturer, is made with virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers, and a highly specialized fire retardant. The product is recyclable and is available in eight colors. davinciroofscapes.com
Deckorators
The Voyage line of composite decking features the company’s “Eovations technology,” a fiber-like interior structure made from a blend of polypropylene and mineral filler. The manufacturer claims that this configuration delivers the industry’s best strength-to-weight ratio, absorbs virtually no moisture, and minimizes thermal expansion and contraction. Voyage also has a protective capstock with textured embossing for improved traction in both wet and dry conditions. The slip-resistant decking is available in 12-, 16-, and 20-foot solid and slotted-edge profiles, as well as in 12-foot fascia. deckorators.com
Belgard
Belgard has introduced three new Weston Stone hardscape accessory kits to the California, Nevada, and Florida markets, which allow builders to incorporate grill islands, linear fire pits, or linear fireplaces into the company’s coordinating product collections. The fire pit and fireplace kits include gas burners, while the grill island kit includes a Napoleon Prestige 500 grill. Each kit includes a color-coded, layer-by-layer installation guide, allowing for an estimated average build time of four hours. The stones are available in a variety of colors. belgard.com
TAMKO
TAMKO Building Products’ latest waterproofing innovation, TW Flash-N-Wrap Pro, was designed to better protect exposed entryways and windows from moisture and air penetration. The new wrap ensures a tight seal around window and door perimeters to keep moisture out, reduce airflow, and improve energy efficiency, says the manufacturer. For easy installation and firm attachment, the product features a treated release film on the adhesive side of the flashing that can be left exposed for up to 180 days. It comes in 4-, 6- and 9-inch rolls to meet the needs of a variety of projects. tamko.com
Davey Lighting
Davey Lighting has created a box wall light with a clean industrial design that suits both traditional and modern outdoor applications. Made of brass with an antique weathered brass finish, the handmade wall light features glass panels with brass-beaded frames applied externally to three sides. Removable pins at each side allow access and/or removal of the box front. The light is available in five sizes: miniature, small, medium, and two different narrow sizes. The panels are offered in clear or frosted glass. originalbtc.com
DuPont
The DuPont Tyvek DrainVent Rainscreen is designed to create a 6 mm/0.25-inch space behind a home’s exterior cladding for water drainage and air movement. This not only allows for drying behind cladding, but protects against moisture damage to exterior walls, including rotting, cracking, and peeling. The rainscreen material uses a honeycomb-textured design to provide protection against exterior moisture damage and may be installed behind stucco, stone veneer, brick, wood, fiber cement, and metal panel cladding. The roll is designed to be easy to cut, roll tight against corners, and lay flat. dupont.com
Viewrail
Viewrail’s new ¼-inch rod railing has the same sleek profile as cable railing, but is stronger and more durable, due to its composition of 2205 duplex stainless steel. According to the manufacturer, the stainless steel rods won’t sag or deform and are more corrosion-resistant, in even the harshest coastal environments, than marine grade 316 stainless steel. The rods are available in lengths ranging from 2 to 20 feet, in 1-foot increments. The railing can also be bent to turn a radius on a curved stairway, deck, or balcony. viewrail.com
CertainTeed
CertainTeed has extended its color offerings for products in its Monogram, MainStreet, Board & Batten, and Carolina Beaded vinyl siding lines. The two new hues for the Monogram and Board & Batten collections are melrose, a saturated red apple color, and brownstone, a creamy chocolate color. The MainStreet siding line gained three new colors, castle stone, sable brown, and pacific blue, with castle stone also extending to the Carolina Beaded line. All of the shades will be included in the manufacturer’s online color tools, which allow homeowners to select a siding color and visualize it on a home before purchasing. certainteed.com
Daltile
The company has expanded into the roofing industry with its new Perennial Porcelain roofing tile. The new line replicates the look of slate, timber, and clay, but provides the strength of porcelain tile. Once installed, the porcelain tile can last two or three times as long as asphalt roof shingles, says the company. Plus, Daltile says, its innate durability resists outdoor elements and is fade, stain, scratch, water, and fire proof. Perennial’s individual product lines include the Opulent Slate, Lavish Clay, and Classic Timber collections, each offering different colors and designs. daltile.com
Cultured Stone
Cultured Stone’s new Pro-Fit Terrain Ledgestone precision-fit manufactured stone veneers are designed to meet a variety of green building standards. The veneer contains 58% recycled content on average, with a closed-loop recycling system that allows Cultured Stone to reuse water in manufacturing. Its panelized format allows for easy installation, and it does not require painting, coating, or sealing once installed. The low-relief stones in varied textures create a contemporary-style appearance. The veneer is available in four color profiles. culturedstone.com
Royal Building Products
Royal Building Products has added a 7-inch smooth clapboard to its Celect line of cellular composite siding. Celect aims to replicate the look of wood and provide a low-maintenance, durable siding option for homeowners. All of the line’s profiles are now available in 15 fade-resistant colors and feature a patented interlocking seam design, which keeps moisture out and eliminates seams. The company has also unveiled its Spec Series Trim, a siding accessory for Celect. It is lightweight and easy to install, and features a ⅝-inch board-like appearance, 2-inch deep pocket, and ¾-inch pocket width. royalbuildingproducts.com
Trex
Decking manufacturer Trex has re-engineered and expanded its line of Enhance composite decking. Updated product features include a new scalloped profile, a lighter weight for easier handling and installation, and a lower price tag. Enhance Basics is available in three shades—clam shell, beach dune, and saddle—with realistic grain patterns, while Enhance Naturals introduces five contemporary, multi-tonal hues that resemble streaked looks of natural wood. Both composite lines won’t rot, warp, crack, or splinter, says the manufacturer, and the product’s protective shell defends against severe weather and heavy foot traffic. trex.com
Boral Roofing
Boral Roofing’s new California collection introduces five concrete tile colors—graphite, sepia, shadow black, oceana, and saddleback blend—inspired by California’s natural terrain and landscape. The colors, all darker, neutral shades, are available in four tile profiles designed to complement the state’s emerging traditional, transitional, and contemporary architectural styles. The tiles hold a Class A fire rating, an important feature in wildfire-prone areas. They also provide up to 22% long-term energy cost savings to the homeowner, according to the manufacturer, due to reduced heating and cooling demand. The collection is available now in California. boralroof.com
LP Building Solutions
Based on customer input, LP Building Solutions has launched a smooth finish in its SmartSide siding collection called Smooth Trim & Siding. The latest addition can accommodate a range of exterior designs with the appearance of natural wood and durability of treated engineered wood. SmartSide Smooth leverages the company’s four-component SmartGuard manufacturing process, which helps the material resist termites and fungal decay and provides long-term strength in a variety of weather conditions, including moisture, hail, freeze/thaw cycles, and up to 200-mph wind gusts. lpcorp.com
