Builders from across the country gathered this week at the Pacific Coast Builders' Conference (PCBC) held June 27-29 in San Diego, Calif., where they were joined by hundreds of manufacturers showcasing new products that would help builders craft new and improved homes for today's home buyer.
Our editors from BUILDER were on the show floor scouting new products making their debut this week. From appliances and smart thermostats to folding glass doors and insulation, here are just a few products that were showcased at this year's PCBC.
Samsung Chef Collection
Samsung introduced a redesigned line of kitchen appliances at the show that seeks to marry simplicity with sleek design. The line includes a 42” Built-In 4-Door Flex model refrigerator with a FlexZone compartment that easily transitions from fridge to freezer at the touch of a button, 30'' built-in wall ovens in single or double configurations with a Flex Duo design in which a removable Smart Divider splits the bottom oven cavity into two to create three independent ovens, and inductions cooktops, ranges, and a dishwasher. All models are Wi-Fi enabled and connect with Samsung's app, and are available in a stainless steel or matte black stainless steel finish.
Gerber Viper 1.0 Toilet
The new water-efficient toilet from Gerber is a two-piece, high-efficiency toilet with a 1.0 gallons per flush rate. The toilet is WaterSense-certified, and saves 20% more water than recent 1.28 gpf toilet options, according to the company. The Viper toilet has a 2” trapway for clog-free waste removal, a 3” flush valve for faster water flow and flushing power, and a best-in-class Fluidmaster 400A fill valve for durable, long-lasting operation. The Viper is available in white.
Marvin Windows and Doors Corner Window
Expanding its contemporary studio line, Marvin is introducing the Contemporary Direct Glaze Corner Window featuring a narrow jamb depth measuring 2 3/16 inches deep for a clean and contemporary corner window that sits flush to the home's exterior. The window maximizes views with sizes up to 84 inches by 120 inches in vertical or horizontal orientations. The window will be available in clad only at the end of August.
Whirlpool Sunset Bronze Finish
The warm-toned Sunset Bronze finish pulls gold, copper, and bronze tones together to create a warm finish that can be used to blend well with traditional kitchen styles as it draws on the warmth of wood, or stand out in contrast to modern designs such as white cabinets. The color is achieved by color blocking painted stainless steel, and also features fingerprint-resistant technology for easy cleaning. The manufacturer also wanted to soften the design of its appliances, taking design cues from cabinet pulls and furniture in order to make the appliances less machine like, said Jessica McConnell, Global Color, Material and Finish Sr. Design Manager at Whirlpool corporation, at the show. The Sunset Bronze Kitchen Suite is expected to be in-market this fall and will be available for the company’s French door refrigerator, built-in dishwasher, over range microwave, and range oven.
Eaton Bluetooth-Enabled Outdoor Security Light Sensor
Lighting manufacturer Eaton introduced the All-Pro MS180BT sensor, a Bluetooth-enabled motion sensor that allows users to control outdoor security lighting from a mobile app on their smartphone in a range of up to 60 feet. The sensor is compatible with any LED or incandescent security lighting product that utilizes a standard ½-inch threading connection. The product is available in white or bronze.
Ply Gem Automated 4880 Patio Door
Ply Gem introduced the 4880 Patio Door at the Builders' Show in January. The thermally insulated and impact-resistant door is available in two-, three- and four-panel sliding and pocket configurations and offers sliding, multi-panel openings, up to eight-feet high by 16-feet wide, while the pocket style recesses into the wall for unrestricted access between indoors and outdoors. New for 2017, the Ply Gem 4880 patio door can be upgraded with an automated operating system that allows homeowners to control it from anywhere, anytime either with the included remote or with the DreamView app for iOS devices and smart phones.
Carrier ENERGY STAR-Certified Cor Thermostat
At the show this week, Carrier announced that its smart Cor Thermostat received an Energy Star certification for energy savings. The company is one of the first to receive the certification for a smart thermostat (Nest first received the certification in March) and is the first HVAC manufacturer to offer an ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostat. The Côr models include Wi-Fi–enabled controls to help reduce energy consumption with the convenience of remote control and offer an estimated real-time savings forecast based on adjustments made to the thermostat. According to the company, Côr thermostats can reduce home comfort costs by an average of 20% compared with a non-programmable thermostat.
DuPont Tyvek Fluid Applied WB+ System
DuPont has released a new fluid-applied weather barrier to protect homes from air, water, and other vapor. The DuPont Tyvek Fluid Applied WB+ System is a high-performance silyl-terminated polyether technology that is sprayed on to the wall and provides up to two and a half times as much coverage per gallon as competing products, according to the company. DuPont also says the system won’t shrink or crack during the curing process, can either be sprayed or pressure-rolled on concrete or gypsum surfaces, provides nine months of UV resistance, can be applied in a wide range of temperatures, and protects from metal corrosion and wood rot.
