Traditionally, builders, contractors and remodelers have faced three basic challenges: how to do things faster, better and more cost-effectively. Today contractors must add construction performance, ease of maintenance and energy efficiency to that list.
A big part of the solution to these challenges lies in the choice of materials. Materials represent a significant percentage of the total value of construction, so finding products that are not only economical, durable and easy to install, but also innovative, sustainable and “green,” is a critical part of today’s building standards.
For Florida remodeler, Luis Fernando Lopez, the foundation of his business lies in core products that he knows he can count on. “We’re always working against the clock and there’s little room for error, so we think using a brand we trust guarantees to some degree the success and quality of the finished product,” says Lopez.
However, as market trends shift and new products and technologies emerge, remodelers, builders and contractors must continue to update their lists of favorites, adding new and improved products and materials that offer higher quality or more-innovative technologies.
“I have my top products and brands I always use,” says Arizona contractor Ignacio Ibazeta, “but I’m always looking for new products that can make my job easier, are environmentally safer or are more cost-effective.”
Walls and ceilings
For most contractors, when you say boards, panels, underlayment, and backer boards, brand like USG, National Gypsum and Georgia-Pacific come to mind.
“You want brands with a solid reputation like USG’s Sheetrock, Durock and Fiberock lines,” says Ibazeta. “Generally speaking, you need to know the products you use are going to deliver on their promise.”
“In Florida, moisture and mold control are some of our biggest concerns,” he says Lopez. His favorite brands include Georgia-Pacific’s DensArmor Plus and DensArmor Plus Abuse Guard non-paper-faced fiberglass mat drywalls.
Insulation and siding
For insulation, builders prefer brands that offer a variety of options, including mineral wool, foam and fiberglass.
“Owens Corning offers a great range of specialty products,” says Lopez. “I especially like their Quiet Zone Acoustic Insulation Batts for interiors.”
Dow is another favorite, both because of their wide product offerings and because of their continuing innovation.
“Often, innovation comes from a brand you already know and love,” says Ibazeta. A good example, he says, is Dow’s Great Stuff Pro Gaps & Cracks, the first foam sealant to be recognized as a fire block.
“Great Stuff really is great stuff,” says Lopez. “It fills and seals gaps airtight, and it also repels water. The applications are endless.”
The options when selecting siding are many. Your choice will likely depend on the geographical location of the project, the budget and your client's preferences.
“Fiber cement has been gaining in popularity, in part because it holds in cool air better than wood or other materials and comes in a variety of finishes and colors,” says Ibazeta.
Lopez says James Hardie’s HardiPlank fiber cement siding is one of the most durable and innovative siding products out there.
“HardiPlank doesn’t fade, rot or absorb moisture,” says Lopez. “Plus it's lighter, easier to work with and less expensive.”
Fastening systems
“We like Simpson Strong-Ties” says Lopez. “They have a great reputation, and every year they come up with new products. Three new Simpson Strong-Tie products that are sure to go on every builder’s list of favorites are the MLZ 4- and 6-inch angles, the HTP37Z 3 x 7 inch strap and the HRS416Z heavy-duty 4 x16 inch strap.
In the end, builders, remodelers and contractors work with a product mix that includes both the reliable products and materials they know and love and the newly designed products and materials that provide new possibilities.
- By Adriana Sibaja
What Builders Recommend
Trust your project to the products builders and remodelers prefer.
CertainTeed insulation is an excellent way to reduce energy loss from the attic. Available in fiberglass batts, rolls and loose-fill, these products are easy to install and can help lower energy bills as much as 20 percent.
Owens Corning PINK FIBERGLAS Insulation—the number one brand with home buyers builders—is one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to conserve energy and save money on heating and cooling costs.
Sakrete Type S Mortar/Stucco Mix is ideal for masonry installations, including brick, block, natural stone, stone veneer and stucco. Use it for construction above and below grade.
QUIKRETE Fast-Setting Concrete Mix, which sets in approximately 20 to 40 minutes and does not require field mixing, is ideal for installing fences, mailboxes, playground equipment—in addition to flag, lamp and sign posts
Simpson Strong-Tie structural connectors help build safer, stronger homes and buildings by providing high-quality wood-to-wood and wood-to-concrete connections that help make structures better able to resist seismic forces and high winds
Georgia-Pacific’s Blue Ribbon oriented strand board (OSB) are structural wood panels used for wall, roof and sub-floor applications. Offering exceptional dimensional stability, Blue Ribbon panels are free of core voids, knots and splits.
James Hardie building products have more than a century of experience creating innovative materials to protect homes. With the widest array of product profiles and textures, James Hardie siding can meet virtually any design requirement.
GAF-ELK Timberline shingles are the best-selling architectural shingles in all of North America, and are your best and safest choice for protecting your customers’ homes from Mother Nature.
Dow’s Great Stuff Insulating Foam Sealant is the world's #1 selling foam sealant. Not only is the product a fast solution and easy to use, sealing a home’s gaps and cracks can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.
USG SHEETROCK Mold Tough panels are the leading moisture and mold resistant panels on the market, and because they don't contain fiberglass, they handle, install and finish just like traditional SHEETROCK gypsum panels.
National Gypsum’s regular gypsum board comes with GridMarX guidemarks printed on the paper surface. The guidemarks align with standard building dimensions and quickly identify fastener lines for stud and joist framing.
Werner Co., the world’s leading manufacturer of climbing equipment, is committed to providing the professional with superior products that meet or exceed OSHA and ANSI codes and make every job faster, safer and easier.