2018 Top 100 Products: Exterior Products

To see products in the other 2018 Top 100 categories, click here. 

Wood-Look Shingles / Grayne

Engineered cedar shingles were designed by Grayne to offer the appearance of natural cedar without the requisite routine maintenance. Available in both White Cedar and Red Cedar (shown, above), the shingles’ graining patterns and distinct edges create natural depth and shadow lines for added visual sharpness and wood-look authenticity. Grayne, a Tapco brand, makes both residential and commercial products including accessories for its shingles, such as hooded and exhaust vents, nailing flanges, and mounts. 

Stone Veneer / Cultured Stone

Cultured Stone has been creating manu­factured stone veneer products over the past 55 years. All veneers are made in a closed-loop recycling system containing an average of 58 percent recycled content and allowing water reuse. All Cultured Stone veneers meet indoor air-quality standards of the Green­Guard Environmental Institute and GreenGuard Gold, and are National Green Building Standard Green Certified. The latest profile, Sculpted Ashlar, is available in three colors: Silver Shore (shown), tan-toned Grouse, and blue-tinted Ferrous. 

Composite Trim / MiraTEC

Jeld-Wen’s treated exterior composite trim brand, MiraTEC, offers several product lines, including Smooth Select, with clean lines and a smooth surface primed with an ultra-low VOC white primer. MiraTEC’s proprietary technology protects from termites, checking, splitting, rot, and moisture, the company says. The line has earned an evaluation report (ESR-3043) from ICC-ES, is made from sustainable materials, is silica-free, and contributes to LEED.

Lighting / Access Lighting

Manufactured with pride in the U.S., Access Lighting’s broad inventory of LED and solid-state fixtures for indoor and outdoor applications includes marine-grade–finish offerings in various sizes and lamping types, such as spotlights, sconces, flush mounts, and architectural lights. Bayside (sconce, shown), Tuxedo, Sandpiper, and Metropolis are the manufacturer’s latest outdoor LED collections. 

Composite Decking / AERT

Composite decking with CoolDeck technology decreases heat transfer on contact so homeowners can stroll barefoot in the summer without worry. The technology reduces heat absorption by up to 35 percent compared with conventional capped composites, Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (AERT) claims. CoolDeck technology is available in select MoistureShield product lines including Vision and Infuse decking. 

Hardscaping / Natural Paving USA

Providing an extensive range of natural stone hardscaping materials, such as flagstones, pavers, pool coping, and step treads in various sizes and colors, independent supplier Natural Paving USA offers an end-to-end solution from quarry through to project. The stones are cut and calibrated to ease installation, are ASTM-tested, and are ethically sourced.

Fiber-Cement Siding and Trim / James Hardie

James Hardie’s Aspyre collection combines existing product lines: the 5/8-inch-thick, distinctive profiles of Artisan siding, which create distinct shadow lines for strong horizontal and vertical definition; and the smooth, geometric Reveal Panel System, which offers a complete, customizable system of commercial-grade panels, trims, and fasteners that can be installed either horizontally or vertically and cut to size on-site.

Composite Decking / Trex

Composite decking and deck material manufacturer Trex offers a variety of products in addition to decking, including railing systems, outdoor lighting, and fencing. The Trex Enhance Composite Decking line (shown, in Beach Dune) is designed to be both high-performance and low-maintenance, with a high-definition grain pattern and classic color options. The Transcend railing line is the company’s highest-performance option. Available in seven colors, it is designed not to require staining or painting. All Trex products are made from recycled materials.

Pressure-Treated Wood / Great Southern Wood

YellaWood pressure-treated wood columns are made from high-grade, kiln dried after treatment (KDAT) lumber. With a hollow core to reduce weight and hide electrical wiring, the columns are backed by a limited lifetime warranty and rival PVC and composite options’ strength ratings, the company says. YellaWood SuperSelect lumber for decking is also KDAT, allowing for painting or sealing immediately after installation. 

Thin Brick / Meridian Brick

Authintic Brick, Meridian Brick’s fired clay brick for interior or exterior applications, is easier to transport, handle, and install because it weighs 70 percent less than traditional brick and is just 5/8 inch thick. Additionally, overall structural requirements are diminished due to the elimination of steel lintels necessary for exterior gables and roof enhancements. 

Cellular PVC / Inteplast Group

Inteplast Group has been manufac­turing cellular PVC products in the U.S. for residential use since 1991, including accent planks, deck boards and fascia, and porches, trim, and molding. Products are prefinished and can be installed with woodworking tools. The company’s limited lifetime warranty covers deck, trim, and porch PVC products.

Sealant / Smart Vent Products

HurriBond, a multipurpose silyl-terminated polyether (hybrid) elasto­meric sealant and flood-proofing product from Smart Vent Products is unlike traditional latex caulk in that it doesn’t crack, dry, or peel in summer heat, nor does it yellow or stain, the company says. The sealant’s VOC-compliant formula offers UV stability for performance in any weather, and provides adhesion to PVC, concrete, glass, aluminum, wood, marble, metal, and many other substrates and materials. HurriBond comes in white or gray. Based in South Carolina, Smart Vent Products are made in the U.S.

Aluminum Trim / Tamlyn

XtremeTrim extruded aluminum trim profiles from Tamlyn are able to match multiple panel-siding systems. The product line offers thousands of design and color options so professionals can improve a building’s aesthetics and create modern architectural lines. Tamlyn is a family-owned manufacturer and supplier of trim, ventilation products, connectors, and more. 

Brick / Meridian Brick

Brick manufacturer Meridian Brick is the unified brand of Boral Brick and Forterra Brick, with continent-wide distribution in the U.S. and Canada. Merging these service-oriented companies allows for more brick offerings in a larger network of plants, the company says, strengthening its freight and distribution channels. Headquartered in Atlanta, Meridian Brick’s U.S. plants are located across the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Hardscaping / Keystone Hardscapes

Providing concrete hardscaping products since the 1980s, Keystone—a Quikrete company—has grown its product portfolio beyond structural retaining wall solutions to include pavers and other landscape products. The company recently expanded its CityStone paver series with several new products that enable builders to create interest in a project’s hardscaping while also ensuring durability—without high installation cost.