From trends toward backyard gardening to shopping local on Small Business Saturday, more Americans are looking for products they can buy in their own neighborhoods. Builders, remodelers, and designers are no different. Sourcing materials within a few hundred miles of their service area has been an important leg of the green building stool for ages, helping to lessen carbon footprints and embodied energy by reducing the distance products must travel from manufacturer to jobsite. On top of which, buying American just feels good!

So as we did last year, this 4th of July, we're celebrating building products made right here in the U.S. of A. Take a look at what's new and share your favorite American-made products in the comments.

Armstrong Flooring
Designed and printed in Pennsylvania with stone quarried and manufactured in Illinois, The Armstrong Flooring's Alterna product line is an engineered stone flooring collection. Like natural materials, Alterna is stylish and durable, but a comfortable surface makes the tiles warmer to the touch, kinder to the feet, and easier to care for than other stone flooring. Alterna is durable enough to handle kids, pets, and heavy traffic, and comes in a variety of patterns. Whispered Essence (shown) is a concrete-infused collection blending soft gray tones with irridescents. Other options recall wood, marble, and porcelain. The tiles are FloorScore certified for low-VOC emissions. armstrong.com

Basco
Addressing demand for custom style at an affordable price point, Rolaire is among Basco Shower Doors' newest semi-custom adjustable shower doors. The Rolaire ROLA-935 adjustable-width, fixed-panel sliding door combines sophisticated aesthetics and smooth rolling functionality. Available in two popular size openings, the design offers a contemporary look at a value pricepoint. Additional features include a bold 20-inch industrial-style handle, raised header design with durable stainless steel rollers, and brushed stainless steel or polished chrome finish options. bascoshowerdoors.com

Best Bath Systems
Designers Series showers and shower pans from Idaho-based Best Bath Systems offer combine the benefits of an easy-to-install, waterproof shower with design elements other pre-formed shower panels can't offer. The showers feature custom-molded recesses on the side and/or back walls for easy addition of inlaid tile accents. Similarly, Designer Series shower pans can accommodate tile from 3/8- to 1/2-inch thick to allow design aesthetics to flow from wall to floor. Because the tile recesses are molded into the walls and pans, there's no worry about leaks. Both showers and pans are available in white, biscuit, bone, almond, and linen. Pans also feature linear trench drains for a clean, modern design. bestbath.com

ClosetMaid
Builders and remodelers interested in an affordable upgrade to wire shelving will be interested in ClosetMaid's new SuiteSymphony offering. Available in a sophisticated natural gray finish, SuiteSymphony is available in 16- and 25-inch towers that designers can combine to create customized closets. Optional accessories include drawers, door fronts, shoe shelving, and expandable hang rods. closetmaid.com

More about Basco Shower Enclosures
Find products, contact information and articles about Basco Shower Enclosures
More about Best Bath Systems
Find products, contact information and articles about Best Bath Systems
More about ClosetMaid
Find products, contact information and articles about ClosetMaid