Plastic building products made the list in seven of the nine categories for the 2025 awards that will be given out by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) during the International Builders' Show (IBS) next month.
Every year the Best of IBS Awards recognizes the outstanding building products and services from exhibiting companies.
More than 300 applications were whittled down based on the products' innovation, functionality, design and builder/consumer friendliness.
Two of the plastic products made two finalist lists with Blueskin VP Tech by Henry, which is part of Carlisle Cos., and clear acrylic flashing by Typar, which also being considered for most innovative building material.
Blueskin is an integrated panel for weatherizing that combines a water-resistant barrier (WRB), insulation (R5) and seam sealing into a single-step installation process. It's also up for best energy efficient product.
Blueskin, which was used on the New American Home, is a nonstructural foam sheathing that has an expanded polystyrene core and a front face comprised of styrene-butadiene-styrene laminated to high density polyethylene film.
Blueskin panels can be used in wall, roof and ceiling assemblies to improve thermal and moisture protection.
In the energy efficiency category, Blueskin is up against a cold climate heat pump by Lennox, a smart fan with humidity and temperature controls by Delta Electronics, a smart hybrid heat pump by GE Appliances, and two electrification panels by Span.
Typar's clear acrylic flashing also is in the category for best window and door product. The product makes it easier to visibly verify those windows that are installed correctly and sealed tight, which saves a lot of time during construction of apartments, multi-family units and projects with lots of windows.
Typar's acrylic flashing faces competition from aluminum and glass in the category for best window and door product. The other entrants are an all-aluminum pivot door in the Vue Collection of Weather Shield Windows & Doors, an aluminum Wi-Fi enabled roll-up door for pets by High Tech Pet Products, the VertiStack Avante aluminum and glass garage door by Clopay, and the Zen Doorglass Line by Novatech.
In the category for most innovative building material, Blueskin and Typar flashing are contenders along with the Grove Collection of PVC bead board by Westlake Royal Building Products, nickel-gap siding by LP Building Solutions, tintable caulk called eXact color by Sacho Sealants, the Flight Stack staircase with LED treads and grips strips by Viewrail, Lumon glazing for balcony and patio glass wall systems, and a lightweight roof from the Unified Steel Stone Coated Roofing brand of Westlake.
The category for best outdoor product has seven entrants, including InstaDeck by MoistureShield, an Oldcastle brand that is out with an integrated fastening system that needs no screws. Deck boards are laid on the fastening system and then the homeowner or installer simply steps on them to lock them into place.
Another category entrant is the Lock Jaw Ladder Grip, which secures a ladder to a gutter, allowing workers to work efficiently. The grip has a patented rubber padded adjustable jaw mechanism that allows it to lock onto the gutter while protecting it from potential damage.
The other finalists for best outdoor product includes a mortarless concrete product called Adorn Stone Eco2luxe, a matte black hot and cold outdoor faucet by Aquor Water Systems, Radiant brand porcelain floor tiles with LED lighting and an anti-slip finish for outdoor spaces, a solar-powered street lighting system by Streetleaf, and Thermacell LIV +, a smart mosquito repellent system by Thermacell Repellents Inc.