This Year’s Best New Exterior Products for Home Builders

Designed by Visbeen Architects and built by DeHaan Homes, the Ingleside Home in Grand Rapids, Mich., sports dramatic walkways, beautiful stone work and impressive lighting and driveway embellishments. Photo by William I. Herbert

• Advances in technology: Does the product improve the technology of the category?
• Significant improvement to an existing product: We’re looking for a significant change to the product’s structure.
• New Product line: “New” means the product hit the market within the last year.

Custom builders can get great curb appeal with Overhead Door’s EcoBuilt Verde Collection. The doors have look and feel of handcrafted wood and come in a variety of patterns, window and decorative hardware options. The Verde doors also feature steel integrated meeting rails and can be purchased with or without insulation. Click here for more information [2]

If you’re chasing the slate look, try using Belgard’s new Urbana paver line. The line uses a three-piece modular system with an optional large square to add a broader range of shapes and patterns. The pavers are lighter and more efficient to install than their natural counterparts, and a contractor can save plenty on installation costs. Click here for more information [3]

Wineberry is the latest offering in Tecton’s Structural Siding product. The fiberglass siding is a complete system equipped with an integrated water management plane so water drains properly. The lightweight pieces are easy to work with and are available in 4- and 7-inch sizes in both a smooth and woodgrain finish. Click here for more information [4]

Custom builders who want thousands of window options at a lower price point should check out Andersen’s 100 Series windows. The 100 windows are made from the company’s highly stable, durable and patented Fibrex material, which blends sawdust and polymer for added strength. You can order single-hung, gliding, casement, awning and specialty fixed styles in more than 1,200 sizes. Click here for more information [5]

One company that’s done a great job of sealing exteriors, Carlisle Residential, now offers ENBase, a rigid roof insulation composite panel that is composed of a closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam core bonded to an oriented strand board. ENBase is available in various sizes and thicknesses and can be used with heavyweight shingles and standing-seam metal roofs. Click here for more information [6]

Each window in Hy-Lite’s new American Collection uses a low-maintenance vinyl frame that surrounds the pieces of decorative glass configurations, clear and in honey. A sharp black patina casing connects the glass pieces. Operable versions of the window are available in both casement and awning styles in the 2 by 2-foot size. Click here for more information [7]

We chose this one for its versatility. DAP’s Dynaflex 3.0 is an advanced all-purpose sealant specially formulated with the company’s Kwik Dry Technology, which means it can be exposed to water and moisture after only three hours without washing out. The sealant works great on windows, door frames and other projects both indoors and out. Click here for more information [8]

Masonite’s pre-finished Avant Guard fiberglass doors feature five layers of protection: an automotive clear coat for warding off UV rays and normal wear and tear; a UV-stable image layer to mimic the look of wood; and a protective basecoat between image layer and fiberglass shell. Then comes Masonite’s proprietary fiberglass layer and polyurethane foam to provide excellent insulation. Click here for more information [9]

Universal design is a fast-growing segment in the building industry. Kolbe’s new Universal Design products can help feed the product need. The company’s Ultra and Heritage Series have features such as motorized operators, longer crank handles, larger knobs or oversized lever locks to make casement windows easier to use. Click here for more information [10]

You can keep the exterior walls dry and free from rot-causing moisture with Benjamin Obdyke’s two-ply Mortairvent system, which creates a ventilation cavity between the vapor barrier and the exterior wall. The blue polymer core matrix forms the air space, while the attached filter fabric blocks mortar droppings from seeping into the newly formed cavity while still allowing moisture to pass through. Click here for more information [11]

Made for upper-end new construction and remodel and retrofit markets, Amsco’s new Artisan series windows go beyond flat white rectangles. The unique beveled-in design and new scratch-resistant exterior color options add a little flair, and the company’s self-latching SentryLock provides peace of mind.Click here for more information



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Decorative columns can bring some historical flair to any project. The Arts & Crafts Collection from Crown Column & Millwork by Visador is available in tapered, non-tapered, fluted, recessed and raised panel styles, or it can be customized to virtually any length and dimension. The line is unique because both cellular PVC, and you can specify it in almost any type of wood species on the market. Click here for more information
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Dry time is cut in half with Therma-Tru’s Same-Day Stain. The stain was developed for fiberglass doors and comes in seven colors. The stain can be applied in the morning to be ready for topcoat application by afternoon, resulting in a great finish. The easy-to-apply stain can be rubbed on and blended with a cloth to bring out the grain and texture of the door. Click here for more information
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Double-hung windows are the preferred look, but sometimes casements are needed for egress purposes. Marvin’s Ultimate Casement steps in to deliver design flexibility. A simulated check rail and a wide bottom rail mimic the look of a double-hung, allowing a home to keep its architectural style. Extremely large or custom sizes may be specified. Click here for more information [15]

Carriage House is still the hot door in the garage market. Amarr’s Oak Summit Collection is now offered in three carriage house designs, including the company’s traditional bead board plus new recessed and raised panels. The company has introduced two new window inserts: the four-lite Thames and the four-lite Arched Thames.Click here for more information [16]

Clopay’s Avante collection has a unique stamped wood pattern in the latest Ultra Grain door. The Avante collection has a coating that uses what the company calls a “dye-sublimation” process analogous to the making of a tattoo. A base coat is applied, then a high-definition wood grain pattern is baked in, creating a layered wood grain pattern as deep as the coating itself. Click here for more information [17]

Performance Brick is an environmentally friendly panelized façade product made of recycled gypsum and reinforced with high-density polymer materials. The moisture-resistant panels interlock with the company’s Fast-Track system to provide up to a 3/4-inch airspace behind each panel that allows air to flow and water to drain. Click here for more information [18]

Got a project that involves balconies and stairs? Cap it all off with Fypon’s new Hybrid Ballustrade System. The system features both straight and curved U-shaped PVC rail sections that are pre-drilled for spacing and easy assembly. The PVC rail sections are topped with a sculpted 11-inch wide balustrade rail that hides the assembly fasteners. Click here for more information
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Gorell’s 6300 Patio Doors are great for both security and the view. The 6300’s multiple structural hollows give this door exceptional strength and insulating properties. The robotically sealed corners ensure the door panel stays square and will never crack. Premium-grade multiple weather seals eliminate drafts and water intrusion. A host of options can be specified. Click here for more information [20]