100 Best New Products of 2014: Exterior Products

Ply Gem Durata Mortarless Stone

This mortarless stone veneer from Ply Gem accents exterior siding, outdoor living spaces, and interior areas. An interlocking panel system allows easy, quick installation with less mess than traditional stone applications. No wire, lath, or mortar is required, and Durata is lightweight enough to install without ledges, footing, or wall ties. The unique shape conceals seams and reduces the chances of expansion and cracking. Two colors are offered: Shenandoah and Antigo.

ClipStone Stone Veneer

ClipStone is a new mortarless stone veneer product from Environmental StoneWorks that creates the look of natural stone. A mounting clip design is embedded in the back of each stone, which screws directly into the sheathing or wall. A lapping down design allows stones to fit together tightly, and the stone is raised slightly to allow the wall to breathe. ClipStone is fitting for both interior and exterior applications and needs no maintenance, sealing, or ongoing cleaning.

Kleer Lumber PVC Trimboard

Kleer Lumber’s PVC Trimboard provides a solution with wood’s aesthetic appeal minus wood’s extensive maintenance. It isn’t susceptible to mold, mildew, swelling, and rot from moisture or insect damage. Kleer has numerous applications wherever wood trim is traditionally applied. It is easy to maintain with soap and water and is easy to glue, route, and mold using wood-trim tools.

LP SmartSide Trim and Siding

LP SmartSide Trim and Siding combine the beauty of cedar grain texture with the durability of an engineered wood product. They cut with standard woodworking tools and are lightweight (for less breakage) with fewer seams for fast, easy installation. All pieces are created via the proprietary SmartGuard process for strength and resistance to decay and termites, and are backed by a 5- or 50-year transferable limited warranty. LP SmartSide products are also impact resistant.

Versatex Max 2x Trimboard

This trimboard product is similar to the Versatex Max extruded cellular PVC sheet, offering the convenience of dimensional lumber with different widths for easier handling. With board sizes of 2 x 8 inches, 2 x 10 inches, and 2 x 12 inches, the product is ideal for laminated pergola beams, custom mouldings, corbels, spindles, and other fabricated items. Versatex Max 2x Trimboard is sold in 18-foot lengths with a smooth finish only.

Quikrete Etching Stain

Quikrete’s Concrete Etching Stain transforms plain concrete into a marble-like appearance with warm earth tones and unique shading. It permanently stains concrete in one step with a unique, decorative, multi-toned appearance. Available colors include Tan, Coffee, Black, English Red, and Olive. Each gallon covers between 200 and 400 square feet depending on surface porosity. It’s ideal for interior rooms, patios, porches, and driveways.

Tapco InSpire Roofing

InSpire Roofing by the Tapco Group provides roofing solutions using slate and cedar shake textures for lasting, maintenance-free curb appeal. Nine colors, including the new Wintergreen Inspire Cool Roofing, are available in the slate collection to save energy. All InSpire Roofing has Class A fire resistance and features Class 4 impact/hail resistance and a 110-mph wind uplift rating. It offers 14 Traditional Slate colors, six Mix Slate colors, and four Cedar Shake options.

Boral TruExterior Beadboard

Made from poly-ash like all other Boral TruExterior Trim products, this reversible beadboard is comparable in weight to wood while staying highly temperature- and moisture-resistant. Each beadboard—in a primed white finish—is 70 percent recycled content and resistant to rotting, splitting, and termites. Boards install in courses via a tongue-and-groove system, eliminating visible fasteners.

Foundry Siding Weathered Collection

This collection of composite shakes is manufactured from natural cedar shakes and shingles for an authentic cedar look. Tapco offers a full palette of 41 colors—including Rustic Brown, Cedar Moss, Coastal White, and Red Cedar—with a range of tones visible in each color. Homeowners will never have to repaint shakes. Foundry boasts a 170-mph wind-load and Class A fire resistance.

Behr Marquee Exterior Paint and Primer

Marquee Exterior is a stain-blocking paint and primer that features Behr’s most advanced dirt and fade protection technology. It creates a tough, non-stick surface that resists dirt, along with advanced fade protection for longer-lasting color. The result is a paint finish that looks freshly painted longer, even under severe weather conditions. It also provides a mildew-resistant finish and stands up to rain as early as 60 minutes after application, as well as providing exceptional gloss retention.

Royal Building Products S4S Conceal Trim System

With this three-piece trim system from Royal Building Products, homeowners get the aesthetic benefits of wood without drawbacks. The Corner Board makes use of Royal’s hidden fastening system for a clean seamless appearance in 10- or 20-foot lengths. The Skirt Board features a built-in drip edge that keeps rainwater from dripping onto the siding. The Standard Trim is specifically for use around windows and doors. All pieces use closed-cell technology for clean surfaces and “true square” edges for easy installation.