13 Product Picks From IBS 2024

The show floor at the International Builders' Show always has loads to offer when it comes to the latest building products, with new technologies, fresh design ideas, installation innovations, and more. IBS 2024, which co-located with the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show again this year, was no exception. Here are some of the product highlights Pro Builder editors gleaned from this year's show. 

FreePower offers wireless charging in countertops

FreePower’s FreePower for Countertop (shown, above) turns countertop surfaces into a wireless charger by embedding an active charging zone into the counter. A glowing ring of light projected through the countertop shows users where to place devices for charging. FreePower can charge any Qi-enabled device and users can control the halo’s brightness, color, and more using the company’s app. The charging zone can be embedded into a range of natural and engineered stone surfaces, with an emphasis on quartz. Pre-orders start in April.

True Residential pops the cork on its new refrigerator finish

American-made brand True Residential has introduced its 2024 Color of the Year: Champagne, a soft gold finish with metallic elements and warm undertones. The addition of the Champagne colorway to the brand’s Build Your True collection of curated custom color and hardware options now allows for a choice of 78 unique color combinations on any full-size or indoor/outdoor under-counter units.

Neolith debuts new silica-free line of surfacing

Sintered stone manufacturer Neolith, whose products already contain less than 9% silica, is releasing a silica-free line, Neolith for a New Era. Two new silica-free colors, Abu Dhabi White (shown) and Arctic White, will be available in a silk finish in June 2024. Like Neolith’s other surfacing, the material can be used indoors and out for flooring, walls, countertops, shower bases, kitchen sinks, and more, and can be recycled at the end of its life, the manufacturer says.

Miele expands its induction offerings with frameless cooktops

In addition to a new 30-inch wide induction range released in February, Miele will launch a line of frameless induction cooktops this summer. The new cooktop models in the maker’s KM7000 series will offer a more seamless look without a stainless-steel frame, a PowerFlex area that combines cooking zones to accommodate larger cooking vessels, and Miele’s proprietary Con@ctivity feature, which allows the ventilation hood to be controlled by the cooktop, among other features.

Oatey shower bench concealed linear drain

Oatey's BenchDrain—the latest addition to the QuickDrain line of linear drains—is built directly into QuickDrain’s proprietary bench seat made from 2-inch rigid PET (polyethylene terephthalate) panels, resulting in a concealed drain look within an accessible shower footprint. Using BenchDrain, installers can achieve a low-profile drain experience without furring out the wall. Four configurations are available for shower openings from 26 to 72 inches.

ZipWater All-in-One kitchen faucet now includes a pull-down sprayer

The HydroTap Celsius Plus All-In-One with Pull-Down Sprayer from ZipWater is a multifunctional kitchen faucet that offers a unique blend of features. HydroTap's 5-in-1 system integrates on-demand filtered boiling, chilled, and sparkling water alongside unfiltered hot and cold water options, all within a single faucet. The product's latest innovations are the inclusion of a pull-down sprayer, which also offers all of the water options available from the faucet, and a proprietary under-counter compact hose management system that ensures smooth retraction, the company says, addressing a common consumer pain-point. The latest version of the HydroTap will be available for pre-order in summer 2024 in a choice of six finishes (Matt Black, shown).

Preset outdoor kitchen layouts from Trex Outdoor Kitchens simplify outdoor-living design

The Trex Ready series from Trex Outdoor Kitchens streamlines the outdoor kitchen purchasing process by offering seven predetermined layout options. The series is made in the USA and features 304-grade stainless steel construction, soft-close drawers and doors, magnetic catches, weather-resistant gaskets, and a choice of six powder-coat color finishes. 

Two new shades of plastic-free composite siding from Millboard

Millboard has announced the addition of two new colors—Salt Blue (shown) and Sage Green—to its Envello Shadow Line+ siding. The siding is made from a fiberglass reinforced resin-mineral composite that contains no recycled plastic and is designed to be dimensionally stable, durable, and low-maintenance, the manufacturer says. The new hues are inspired by nature and provide a realistic painted, natural wood look.

New finish available for VanAir Door's ventilated interior door design

Using a patented built-in ventilation system and integral acoustic baffles to reduce sound transmission, VanAir Design’s ventilated interior door delivers both airflow for indoor air quality and sound absorption on par with solid-core doors while avoiding the look of vents, grilles, and louvers common in traditional ventilated doors. VanAir Doors are suitable for hinged, pocket, double-door, and sliding applications and come in five wood-grain finishes. A new finish—Rustic White Oak—is now available.

Anti-overflow toilet by FGI Industries

Flush Guard Anti-Overflow Toilets from FGI Industries include a patented drain system that uses three anti-overflow holes in the bowl to ensure water can escape through a secondary drain, removing the danger of possible overflow should the main drain become clogged. The anti-overflow drain is self-cleaning with every flush, the company says, and both the primary and secondary drains empty into a standard waste pipe and use standard fittings, so no special installation or plumbing is needed.

Protecto Wrap's new self-adhering housewrap

Protecto Wrap’s Protecto Wall VP is a primer-free self-adhering, self-sealing vapor-permeable weather resistive barrier (WRB) that can be installed year round in temperatures down to -20° F and up to 125° F, the company says. The microporous polyolefin laminate wrap uses a Super Stick Technology Adhesive to adhere to most construction surfaces, offers 98.5% drainage efficiency, and can handle 180 days of UV exposure.

Richelieu retractable cutting board and hidden cutlery tray

Richelieu's Blade slide-out cutting board and cutlery tray solution optimizes space in the kitchen. Made from solid maple with a load capacity of 132 pounds, the system creates a workstation dedicated to food preparation that slides away when not in use. Users can access only the cutlery tray, if needed, or open the entire cutting board. Both components are made of solid maple and are completely removable for easy cleaning, the company says. Blade will be available nationally at the beginning of May 2024.

Moen workstation sinks

While Moen has other workstation sinks that launched in 2022, the manufacturer's Luxe Chef Workstation System Sinks are brand new, the company says. Distinguishing features of the new chef workstation include a built-in, angled ledge and an under-sink pull-out storage bin for storing kitchen accessories. The sink is designed to allow users to slide accessories over the sink and simplifies sink cleaning and maintenance. The sloped basin enhances drainage efficiency, while the bottom sink grid ensures objects in the sink still lay flat. The new workstation sink is available as an undermount single bowl, dual-mount single bowl, and dual-mount double bowl, and all sinks are made from 16-gauge stainless steel with Moen's SoundShield technology to reduce vibration and noise. Sinks can be customized by integrating accessories such as a cutting board, drying racks, prep bins, a utensil bin, and a colander.