Professional Remodeler's 101 Best New Products of 2012-2013 Structural, Insulation & Housewrap

Featuring products from CertainTeed, Fypon, Kleer Konceal, MAPEI, Trim-Tex, MP Global Products, Stoneyard.com, USG, Grace, Icynene, ACH, and Owens Corning.

Wraps Low-maintenance Restoration Millwork cellular PVC column wraps simply slide around existing posts and one side swings closed, sealing shut with PVC adhesive on two corners for a quick, accurate insulation. The wraps come in a smooth, natural white finish and two traditional cap and base trim styles?Classic and Estate?and are available in two column widths?8 in. x 8 in. and 10 in. x 10 in., each with a standard 9-foot height.

The new Stone and Timber Collection includes window and door trim, decorative millwork, louvers, post wraps, trellis systems, stone surround systems, stone columns, and stone balustrade systems. The Stone textured pieces offer the look and feel of real cast concrete architectural details, but are lighter in weight and easier to handle and install. The Timber pieces feature the look of real wood without the maintenance hassles. Each lightweight piece comes pre-primed, making it easy to stain, paint, and install.

Kleer Konceal trim boards offer a ¾-in. reveal for the installation of various siding products such as wood, cement, or vinyl. Konceal trim boards are available with or without a kerf for the nailing flange of window surrounds and come in nominal 4- and 6-in. widths. Kleer Konceal corner boards also offer a ¾-in. reveal, and are produced from a single piece of Kleer cellular PVC with no joint or seam to separate. Konceal corner boards are also available in nominal 4- and 6-in. widths.

Planiprep SC is a high-performance, fiber-reinforced skim coating compound that makes a strong, smooth surface ready for almost any floor-covering application. Its creamy smooth texture trowels easily to create a defect-free surface, and its rapid-setting characteristic typically makes it ready for floor-covering installation in 30 to 60 minutes, depending on thickness and environmental conditions. Planiprep SC is designed for skim coating concrete and approved wood subfloors/underlayments, and is available in 10-lb. bags.

5) Trim-Tex Shower Bead

The Trim-Tex Shower Bead is designed to quickly and easily finish drywall terminating at shower/bath enclosures. This new product eliminates the mess and requires less drywall compound than filling the gap. The tear-away strip protects the shower/tub flange from mud, making cleanup a breeze while leaving a crisp, clean finished edge. The Shower Bead sports an extra-long mud leg, which allows it to be simply stapled to the drywall, and is available in two sizes to fit ½- and 5/8-in. drywall.

Zip-UP Ceiling by MP Global Products provides a quick, easy way to finish ceilings in basements and other residential spaces with open ceilings, while saving headroom and maintaining accessibility to overhead plumbing and wiring. Zip-UP Underdeck easily transforms underutilized space under an elevated deck into dry entertainment and storage space. Both products are made of durable, interlocking PVC panels and rails and are available in two finishes and colors: smooth and serrated, and white and beige.

7) Stoneyard.com Natural Stone

Stoneyard.com has added two new colors to its natural stone product line, Nantucket Brown and Newport Mist, which are also available in four shapes: Ledgestone, Mosaic, Square & Rectangular, and Ashlar. The new colors are suitable for both interior and exterior applications and can be used for exterior siding, fireplaces, chimneys, walls, columns, wine cellars, water features, and foundations.

Sheetrock UltraLight Panels from USG Corporation are now ICC Evaluation Services compliant for installation on ceilings, with the long edges parallel to the framing. The ½-inch-thick panels are up to 30 percent lighter than other brands, making them easier to carry and install without sacrificing quality. Made with up to 95 percent recycled content, the panels also qualify as a low-VOC emitting material.

Grace Construction Products offers a series of solutions to protect homes against water, snow, and ice conditions, and also improve energy efficiency in the home. The series includes two roof products (Ice & Water Shield Self-adhered Underlayment and Tri-Flex Synthetic Underlayment; two wall products (Vycor enV [liquid] / Vycor enV-S [sheet] Fully-adhered Weather-Resistive Barriers and Self-Adhered Flashings); two basement products (Bituthene Below-grade Waterproofing and Florprufe Fully-adhered Vapor Barrier); and Vycor Deck Protector.

Icynene has upgraded its original spray foam insulation product, which is now ignition barrier-free for a higher yield of 18,000 to 22,000 board feet. The product offers an R-value of 3.7 per inch, with superior sound control and less than 5 percent water absorption. A low exothermic reaction temperature means that it won?t harm coating on electrical wiring, plumbing, or other building components.

This EPS architectural-grade insulation offers superior moisture resistance to XPS products, is available in greater thicknesses, and offers comparable compressive strength. The R-value sports a warranty for 100 percent of its R-value, compared to 90 percent for XPS. The product line features Foam-Control Plus+ 150, 250, 400, and 600; insulation is available in 2 x 8 ft. and 4 x 8 ft. sheets.

The design of Owens Corning?s EnergyComplete Sealant allows the expanding gasket to easily fill gaps and cracks that can?t be accessed post-drywall, and also allows easy access to all top plates pre-drywall. EnergyComplete reduces the chance of mold growth by keeping airborne moisture from entering wall cavities, and creates a first line of defense against insects and other pests. A specially designed nozzle works with the sealant to help reduce product usage and allows contractors to seal critical, hard-to-reach joints.