2016 Top 100 Products: Structural, Insulation, Housewrap

Polyurethane Foams  /  BASF

BASF spray polyurethane foams are helping builders meet the demand for more energy-efficient, comfortable, and durable homes. Spraytite and Enertite Spray Foam Insulation Residential Applications offer an array of benefits, from superior insulating values to a complete air barrier system. With a single installation, Spraytite closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation virtually eliminates uncontrolled air leakage, and Enertite open-cell spray foam can be used to improve energy efficiency or to provide a barrier against unwanted sound. It thoroughly fills spaces and adheres to surfaces creating a tighter and more seamless fit over conventional insulation. 

Spray Foam Insulation  /  CertainTeed

CertaSpray X (CSX) polyurethane open-cell spray foam insulation helps stop drafts and noise while also complying with fire protection codes. Because it meets the requirements of AC377 Appendix X, CertaSpray X is suitable for installation in attics and crawlspaces without the need for an additional ignition barrier or intumescent coating, reducing the risk of callbacks and failed inspections. CSX meets ICC-ES code requirements for thermal and moisture protection, minimizes thermal bridging—saving up to 20 percent in heating and cooling costs, the manufacturer says—and can contribute to the requirements for an Energy Star home. CSX also cures to a distinctive mocha color, making it easily identifiable to building inspectors. 

Adhesive  /  DAP  

One can of DAP SmartBond Construction Adhesive packs eight times more adhesive coverage than traditional adhesive cartridges, the company says. The product applies as foam and changes to a gel for a fast cure and high-strength bond to dimensional and treated lumber, plywood, OSB, and high-performance enhanced OSB. Application is faster as there is less gunning, less change-out, and less fatigue compared with using cartridges. The SmartBond Pro-Grade Applicator, a gun-grade option for subfloor and landscape SmartBond, offers faster application, precision, control, and maximum adhesive yield. The line includes adhesives for the subfloor, heavy-duty, landscape, and an adhesive cleaner. 

Weatherization System  /  DuPont

Thanks to its nonwoven-fiber structure that resists air filtration and water intrusion while still allowing moisture vapor to diffuse through the sheet, Tyvek HomeWrap can improve building durability by helping to prevent mold and mildew buildup and wood rot. Tyvek HomeWrap’s top-rated protection can reduce home energy bills and improve occupant comfort. Backed by a 10-year limited warranty, Tyvek HomeWrap is part of the DuPont Weatherization System that also includes flashing tapes and installation accessories. 

Roof Insulation  /  GAF

Cornell ThermaCal Nail Base Roof Insulation from GAF helps reduce heat drive into living/conditioned spaces and ventilated versions can exhaust excess moisture before it condenses in the deck or the roofing system. The panels were designed for use on structural wood or steel sloped roof decks and are perfect for cathedral ceilings, glued-laminated timber, post-and-beam structures, and conditioned attic spaces. Panels consist of sheathing that serves as the nail base for shingles, metal, slate, or tile; built-in ventilation space (a non-ventilated panel also is available) and polyiso insulation. 

Fire-Reistant Gypsum Board  /  Georgia-Pacific

ToughRock Fireguard 45 Gypsum Board is a UL-classified Type FG gypsum board for use in fire-related wall assemblies and can replace standard and lightweight gypsum board in all ½-inch wall and ceiling assemblies. These wallboards are noncombustible and are made with a dimensionally stable gypsum core specially formulated to increase the strength and resistance to the passage of heat. The core is sandwiched between face layers made of 100 percent recycled paper. In addition to its fire-resistant qualities, ToughRock also lowers sound transmission between rooms. 

Housewrap  /  Henry Co.

The Henry Blueskin VP100 air barrier membrane is crucial to the company’s building envelope systems. A fully adhered, peel-and-stick, water-resistant membrane, Blueskin VP100 works to eliminate air and moisture gaps around nails and other fasteners and creates improved insulation performance due to its sealing technology, in turn helping to reduce home energy costs. The membrane also helps protect against mold by limiting moisture ingress into the building. 

Roof and Wall Sheathing  /  Huber Engineered Woods 

With a simple two-step installation process—just put up the panels and tape the seams—Zip System sheathing and tape from Huber Engineered Woods installs 40 percent more quickly than housewrap, the company says. The structural roof and wall system provides an integrated air and water-resistive barrier, maximizing energy efficiency and eliminating the need for housewrap. 

Spray Foam Insulation  /  Icynene   

Icynene’s spray foam insulation products include Classic Max and Classic Plus. Classic Max is an open-cell, low-VOC foam that allows for reentry and re-occupancy two hours after installation—with active ventilation. It is also an ignition-barrier–free product that the manufacturer says can smother an attic fire in less than a minute. Classic Plus is a high R-value open-cell spray foam that achieves R-22 in 2x6 wall assemblies and may contribute toward points for new-construction LEED certification. 

Sill Pan Flashing  /  Jamsill   

Jamsill Guard, an adjustable sill pan flashing, is made from high-impact ABS plastics and is designed to prevent water damage from window and door leaks. The flashing won’t deteriorate or corrode over time, the company says, and its simple design is inexpensive and easy to install. The product’s multi-piece telescoping design allows on-site adjustablility to fit all rough openings. It is then bonded together in the field using PVC cement, creating a one-piece sill pan flashing. Sloped weep areas help evacuate moisture to the exterior of the home. 

Termite Control  /  Nisus

The use of penetrants and glycols allows Bora-Care to provide long-term control of termites and other wood-destroying insects and fungi. Bora-Care, from Nisus, is sprayed directly onto wood, concrete, and plumbing pipes, which limits the chemicals that can seep into waterways. The product does not corrode metal fasteners, fittings, or nails. It is less toxic than traditional pesticides, and can earn credits for LEED and other green-building certifications.

Waterproofing Membrane  /  Noble Co.

Available in both 3-foot and 6-foot widths, Noble Co.’s ValueSeal Thin-Bed Bonded Waterproofing in an ultra-thin membrane for interior waterproofing of floors and walls. At 16 mils, its the thinnest membrane offered by Noble. Thin, lightweight, and flexible, the sheet can be applied with latex-modified thinset or NobleBond EXT. ValueSeal is suitable for concrete and plywood substrates and is plumbing code approved. Made in the U.S., ValueSeal is cost-effective and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Framing Materials  /  Norboard Industries  

MC Norbord manufactures several roofing, flooring, and wall products that improve a home’s energy efficiency. Solarbord radiant barrier sheathing (shown below) for roofs and exterior walls features heat-reflecting foil laminated to OSB, reducing a home’s HVAC load and cooling attics by up to 30 degrees. Pinnacle, a durable subfloor panel, is produced with SFI Chain of Custody wood with no added urea formaldehyde resins. Windstorm and TallWall OSB wall sheathing (shown below) reduce air leakage by up to 60 percent (when compared with using 4x8s), the company says, and work in tandem with raised-heel trusses for better R-values. 

Floor Fastener  /  Paslode

With its barbed helix design, the TetraGrip fastener from Paslode is designed to eliminate squeaky subfloors that are brought on by the use of more traditional nails. The unique design allows for the nail to drive like a nail and hold like a screw. The rotation provided by its barbed double-helix design provides superior withdrawal resistance without destruction of the wood. With less wood destruction and a better hold, the chance of squeaky subfloors is greatly reduced. 

Deck Fastener  /  Simpson Strong-Tie   

The Simpson Strong-Tie DTT1Z Deck Tension Tie eliminates the need to access floor joists from inside the home and is fastened from outside the house instead. The DTT1Z addresses a new 2015 international Residential Code provision that allows four 750-pound lateral connectors to be fastened to structural framing joist members in the house, providing an alternative to using two 1,500-pound lateral connections from the deck to the floor joists within the house. Available individually or in a kit of four with four Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-Hex HDG screws and 24 Strong-Drive SD Connector screws, the DTT1Z Deck Tension Tie is a safe and time-saving alternative for attaching deck joists to a home’s structural framing. 

Wood Shearwall  /  Simpson Strong-Tie   

According to Simpson Strong-Tie, Strong-Wall SB shearwall delivers greater lateral-force-resistance performance than most comparable wood shearwalls. Strong-Wall SB is customizable—it can be field trimmed for rake walls and different heights. It fastens to headers with drill zones, and it has a chase for wiring. Suitable for applications including standard, portal, two-story stacked, balloon-framing (up to 20 feet), and rake walls, Strong-Wall SB’s narrow panel widths have significantly higher allowable loads than the original Wood Strong-Wall.

Weather Barrier  /  STO

Sto’s energy-efficient StoGuard fluid applied weather barrier can be sprayed on or applied with a roller and requires no special training, reducing the risk of improper installation. No additional breathing apparatus or special handling is necessary, and StoGuard does not require the use of staples, nails, or other means of attachment to adhere to the wall. Other benefits of StoGuard include the fact that it is bonded to the sheathing, does not require mechanical fastening, and will not tear, rip, or blow off during construction.

Housewrap  /  Typar   

This tri-laminate vapor-permeable woven housewrap from Typar is designed to include a spacer that creates a millimeter-size gap between sheathing and cladding. Housewrap DW provides 96 percent drainage efficiency, as measured by ASTM 2273, and exceeds AC 38 drainage specifications, the company says, providing faster drainage and drier exterior walls, which helps prevent mold and rot damage.

Housewrap  /  Typar

The Typar Weather Protection System controls moisture intrusion, mitigating the damaging impacts that come with it without sacrificing comfort or energy efficiency. The Weather Protection System offers superior tear strength, air and water holdout, and moisture vapor transmission due to its polypropylene nonwoven breathable weather membrane. Essential to the whole system are the Typar Weather-Resistant barriers, which are installed before the exterior siding and act as air and moisture barriers while still allowing moisture vapor to escape from the wall cavity. Typar Housewraps are made in the U.S. and offer a lifetime warranty and can be used with a variety of claddings including brick, wood panels, vinyl siding, cedar shakes, stone, and manufactured stone. 

Laminated Strand Lumber  /  Weyerhaeuser 

Trus Joist TimberStrand LSL comes in various widths, lengths, and thicknesses for load-bearing wall and roof applications. The laminated strand lumber columns and wall framing are straight, no matter the length. They resist shrinking and deliver consistent performance for the tall walls used to create entryways and two-story great rooms. Doors and windows operate more smoothly and cabinet and tile installation is easier with a stable frame as a base.