Top Building Envelope Products for 2019

The products selected for Building Design+Construction’s annual 101 Top Products report are determined by you, our readers. From security doors to metal ceilings, fabric ducts to rainscreen wall systems, linear drains to bacteria-killing LED lighting, these are the products that appeared in the pages of the magazine over the past 12 months that readers wanted to learn more about. The products were selected based on the number of reader service inquiries. BD+C editors selected a few of our favorites as well (marked “Editors' Picks”). 

The products are organized across eight categories: Building Envelope  |  Building Systems  |  Flooring  |  Glass and Glazing  |  Interior  |  Plumbing  |  Structural  |  Windows and Doors.

Enjoy!

MIRAIA FIBER CEMENT PANELS

Miraia fiber cement panels are available with this reflective, high-gloss finish. Three color options: Glacier, Onyx (pictured), and Snow. Offers the luster of metal at a competitive price point, according to the maker. The panels are factory sealed on six sides and cover 8.88 sf per panel. Dimensions: 17-7/8 inches high, 71-9/16 inches long, and 5/8-inch thick. Concealed clips and fasteners provide a clean, uninterrupted appearance.
NICHIHA

STOCOLOR DRYONIC

Sto took inspiration from the African fog-basking beetle in developing its latest exterior coating: StoColor Dryonic. Like the shell of the beetle, which is covered in countless microscopic bumps, the coating’s micro-textured surface diverts rain and condensation away in a targeted manner, ensuring a clean, dry façade that impedes growth of algae and fungi.
STO

VENTLOC PAVER

EDITORS' PICK: Designed for buildings in high-wind areas, the Ventloc Paver is the industry’s only roof ballast paver system that enables the transfer of air pressures. The lightweight paver (15-20 lbs/sf depending on the type) offers wind uplift resistance at wind speeds up to 130 mph. The key to its strength and performance is a patented interlocking tongue-and-groove design that creates a monolithic paver surface and provides multi-directional under-surface water drainage. Paver size: 113/4 x 175/8 x2 inches. Eight colors available.
HANOVER ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS

ECHELON VENEERS BY MIRAGE

Designed for outdoor commercial spaces (floors and accent walls), Oldcastle’s Echelon Veneers by Mirage line of porcelain veneers offers a new collection: Quarziti. Five colors, each named after a natural landscape: Glacier, Mountains, Waterfall, River, and Mantle. The cladding panels are strong—resistant up to 2,200 lbs—and durable, with time-tested performance against freeze/thaw, stains, fire, mold, moss, dirt, and chemical agents, says the maker. Size: 4x18 inches in thicknesses from 0.30 to 0.60 inches.
OLDCASTLE ARCHITECTURAL

ANODIZED STAINLESS

Lorin Industries’ Lorin Anodized Stainless Collection meets Architectural Class I and Class II designations for a variety of exterior and interior applications, including exterior façade panels, exterior wall cladding, back splashes, column covers, and decorative trim. Anodizing is an electro-chemical process that builds an anodic layer from the aluminum, bonding it to the surface at the molecular level; the finish cannot wear way. It will not chip, flake, or peel, and will never corrode or patina, according to the maker. It is durable, resists scratches and fingerprints, and requires minimal maintenance.
Lorin Industries

STARTER BOARDS AT LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES

Project: Lifestyle Communities, Nashville, Tenn. Problem: The design called for eight-inch EPS shapes around the windows, which meant back-wrapping these termination points in the field would have been near impossible. Solution: Dryvit Acrocore Starter Boards were integral to the project at these termination points. The boards are uniformly machine-coated to produce a product that is three times harder and stronger than hand-applied starter boards. Installing pre-coated starter boards was three times faster than manual back wrapping.
DRYVIT

BUILDING SOLUTIONS PROGRAM

Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings’ Building Solutions program offers a suite of metal coatings, roof sealants, touchup paint, and metal restoration coatings. The product lineup includes the company’s signature Fluropon coil coatings and Geocel roof sealants, as well as Kool Seal roof coatings, Ready Match Touchup, and Uniflex restoration systems. Fluropon coatings are available in a wide range of colors, sheens, gloss levels, and special effects, such as pearlescent hues with active color shifts.
Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings

ARIA SLIM

Aria Slim is a 36-inch-long, four-inch-deep brick veneer that offers long, clean sight lines and faster installation time. Available in five colors (Alabaster, Buff, Graphite, Limestone, Midnight) and four textures (ground face, shot blast, ground and sealed, and shot blast and sealed). The same unit is used for façades and corners.
ECHELON MASONRY

ROOF, WALL INSULATION AT LAX

Project: Los Angeles International Airport concourse. Problem: The project needed an insulation solution to help meet the California Green Building Standards Code Mandatory and Tier 1 requirements. Solution: The team used more than 215,000 sf of Atlas EnergyShield CGF Pro for wall insulation and 500,000 sf of ACFoam-II for roof insulation due to their low VOC emissions and performance. The EnergyShield GCF Pro wall insulation is vapor permeable and composed of a Class A fire-rated (NFPA 285 compliant), closed-cell polyiso rigid foam core faced with a high-performance coated glass facer on the front and back. The ACFoam roof panels needed to be custom made (2x8 feet) in order to meet the architect’s design needs. On the team: Gensler, gkkworks, Turner Construction, PCL Construction.
ATLAS ROOFING

OPTIM-R

This rigid vacuum insulation panel features a microporous core, which is evacuated, encased, and sealed in a gas–tight envelope. The result is an ultra–thin (20mm to 50mm) insulation product with up to five times better thermal efficiency than commonly available insulation. R-values from R-29 to R-60. Applications: roof assemblies, balconies, and terraces.
KINGSPAN

VACUSEAL VENT SECURED ROOF SYSTEM

The VacuSeal Vent Secured Roofing System uses special vents that harness the wind to lock roof membranes in place. Negative pressure venting pulls air and moisture out from under the membrane to maintain insulation dryness and R-value. VacuSeal reduces installation time and minimizes the need for traditional fastening methods, which reduces the amount of glue, ballast, or fasteners a project requires. The vents are made from UV-resistant PVC, contain no moving parts, and require no penetrations.
CARLISLE SYNTEC SYSTEMS

PAC-CLAD AT CADE MUSEUM

Project: Cade Museum for Creativity + Invention, Gainesville, Fla. Problem: The museum needed a creative and eye-catching design. Solution: 11,400 sf of 22-gauge PAC-CLAD corrugated straight panels and 6,000 sf of PAC-CLAD corrugated curved panels, all in a Galvalume Plus finish, were installed throughout the museum’s exploded-circle plan. The design creates a sense of movement, which is reinforced by the running lines of the structure’s corrugated metal wall and roof panels. On the team: GWWO Architects, Thornton Tomasetti (SE).
PETERSEN ALUMINUM

INTERCEPT COPPER

Centria expanded its Intercept line of aluminum, zinc, and stainless-steel metal panels with Intercept Copper, a copper substrate with a natural patina and inherent corrosion resistance. Available in the standard depth of 13/8 inches and modules up to 20 inches for both vertical and horizontal applications. The light-gauge monolithic panels offer an economical solution for complex building envelope applications.
CENTRIA

METAL MESH AT THE TOWERS

Project: The Towers @ Great America, Santa Clara, Calif. Problem: The outdoor dining area at this multi-tenant office complex needed shading while still offering connectivity to a redesigned amenities building and eating space. Solution: A draped metal mesh canopy casts soft shadows to help minimize direct sunlight and glare. A 45-foot-long mechanical sliding glass wall separates the outdoor eating area and the indoor dining space. The canopy acts as a continuation of the overhead plane, especially when the wall is open, to further connect the two spaces. Seventy stainless steel mesh panels were used for the project in Cambridge’s Mid Shade pattern with 42% open area. On the team: Little, AP+I Design.
CAMBRIDGE ARCHITECTURAL

XTREMETRIM 2-PIECE TRIM

Available in eight profiles, XtremeTrim 2-piece aluminum trim is designed to match multiple panel siding systems to create clean, modern, decorative architectural lines. It offers protection against chemical reaction and provides the strength of a rigid metal to prevent swelling and buckling. Made from 75-100% post industrial and post consumer scrap, the trim is durable, outlasting caulk.
TAMLYN

PRECAST PANELS AT GOYA WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Project: Goya World Headquarters, Jersey City, N.J. Problem: This fast-growing, Hispanic-owned food company needed a corporate headquarters and warehouse to keep up with demand for its food lines. Solution: The project team specified load-bearing, insulated precast concrete panels from Fabcon for the exterior of the 650,000-sf facility. The 10-inch-thick panels eliminated the need for perimeter columns, maximizing usable space, and supported the team’s thermal performance goals for the project by providing an R-value of 16.9. On the team: M+H Architects, RC Anderson Construction (GC).
FABCON USA

EN-V METAL PANEL SYSTEM

This dry joint, pressure-equalized aluminum panel rainscreen system starts at just $11.95/sf for panels, one of the lowest prices on the market, according to its maker. Twenty-one panel dimensions (ranging from 18x48 inches to 120x24 inches), combined with vertical and horizontal stacked and staggered panel layout options, maximize design flexibility. Formed corners and trim pieces are available, as are custom colors. Material is .080-inch aluminum with fluoropolymer finish.
DRI-DESIGN

DELTA-STRATUS SA

To help combat deterioration from UV exposure during the construction process, Dörken Systems developed Delta-Stratus SA, the industry’s only vapor-permeable air- and water-resistive barrier with a fourth layer of added UV protection. The barrier features two outer layers of high-strength polypropylene fabric, a vapor-permeable, watertight polymeric middle layer, and an inner layer made of an acrylic UV-resistant coating. Delta-Stratus SA was tested using real-world conditions to ensure it retains optimum water-penetration resistance, air tightness, and building integrity. It is fully adhered, from back to edge, allowing for simple, straightforward application without fasteners.
DÖRKEN SYSTEMS

LP SMARTSIDE SMOOTH

EDITORS' PICK: LP Building Solutions expanded the design options for its LP SmartSide treated engineered wood siding and trim with an ultra-smooth finish. LP SmartSide Smooth Trim & Siding holds up in extreme weather, including moisture, hail, and freeze/thaw cycles, and in wind gusts up to 200 mph.
LP BUILDING SOLUTIONS

TYPAR DRAINABLE WRAP

EDITORS' PICK: This building wrap features a layer of multi-directional polypropylene fibers that diverts bulk water from exterior wall cavities. It sheds more bulk water than traditional wraps, protecting structures from moisture, mold, and rot. It can be installed in any direction without affecting performance. Offers six months of UV resistance. Has a Class A fire rating and drainage efficiency of 94.8% (per ASTM E2273). Five-foot-wide rolls come in 100-foot lengths.
TYPAR

COMPOSITE CLADDING

Fiberon’s Composite Cladding utilizes the company’s composite decking technology for applications that include cladding, soffits, ceilings, and screen façades. The pre-finished boards are made from durable wood-plastic composite with a co-extruded, four-sided cap layer for stain and fade resistance. Board lengths: 12, 16, and 20 feet.
FIBERON

PERFORATED METAL FAçADE AT SANTA ROSA SWITCHING HUB

Project: Museum on the Square, Santa Rosa, Calif. Problem: The city of Santa Rosa desired to convert this eyesore—an abandoned AT&T switching station—into a mixed-use development. The building team needed to make a bold design statement to establish this project as a commercial hub for the downtown area. Solution: Original plans called for an all-glass façade on the 83x126-foot building front. Considered too expensive for the $16 million budget, the architects stipulated perforated metal panels over glazed glass sections as a decorative sunshade. The panels are made of McNichols perforated metal, round-hole, with a 46.3% open area. Approximately 150 of the white, resin-coated, 4x10-foot panels were fashioned to create an origami-like aesthetic. On the team: Hugh Futrell Corp. (developer), TLCD Architecture, B.T. Mancini Co. (metal fabricator and installer).
MCNICHOLS

SYMMETRICAL STANDING SEAM PANELS AT ROMA HIGH SCHOOL

Project: Roma (Texas) High School. Problem: The school had issues with roof leaks at various transition points that were causing excessive damage. Solution: The original leaky tile roof was removed and replaced with McElroy’s 138T symmetrical standing seam metal roofing. The system was also used to re-cover an existing roof. The symmetrical nature of the panels allowed for the installation to begin anywhere on the roof. On the team: Amtech (design, restoration consultant).
MCELROY

METROPOLITAN COLLECTION

Arriscraft’s Metropolitan stone collection combines long length and various heights for added flexibility to create a number of looks on building exteriors. Metropolitan masonry units feature a sandblasted texture. Each stone is 315/8 inches long and available in three face rises: 41/4, 61/2, and 115/16  inches. Standard colors: Greyrock, Nutmeg, Oakmoss, and White.
ARRISCRAFT

PASSIVE RAINSCREEN SYSTEM

Modified wood products manufacturer Kebony introduced a clip system that makes it easy for contractors to create a rainscreen cladding using the company’s wood siding. The system supplants predrilling of cladding, reduces installation and labor costs, and eliminates potential moisture penetration from face fasteners. It can be applied over most exterior and interior envelope design types, including directly over mineral fiber exterior insulation.
KEBONY

ALUCOBOND AXCENT PANELS

EDITORS' PICK: 3A Composites USA expanded its Alucobond Axcent line of flat panel aluminum sheets with 16 colors. The painted 0.040-inch aluminum panels are now available in 28 colors, including Alabaster, Bone White, Cadet Gray, Driftwood Mica, Hazelnut Mica, Oyster, Red Fire, and West Pewter Mica. Alucobond Axcent panels are engineered for building trim applications that require painted metal trim such as fascia, flashing, and roof caps.
3A COMPOSITES USA

THERMALSAFE STRIATED IMP

EDITORS' PICK: Metl-Span’s ThermalSafe insulated metal panel is now available with a Striated exterior profile. The metal panel features the company’s LockGuard interlocking side joint to achieve a one-, two-, or three-hour fire resistance rating for walls and 11/2 hours for ceilings. ThermalSafe’s core is made from non-combustible structural and non-toxic mineral wool boards processed to maximize compressive strength. The core insulating properties are 3.61 R per inch. Panels are 42 inches wide and available in thicknesses of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 inches.
METL-SPAN

PERM-A-BARRIER VPS 30

EDITORS' PICK: The Perm-A-Barrier VPS 30 air barrier from GCP Applied Technologies is a primerless, permeable, self-adhering air barrier membrane. It features advanced adhesive to enable primerless installation on concrete, CMU, or exterior gypsum, cutting installation time by up to 35% compared to traditional systems, according to the maker. Designed for wall assemblies that require vapor permeability. Just peel off the release liner and adhere the air barrier to the substrate.
GCP APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES

See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Building Envelope winners
See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Building Systems winners
See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Flooring winners
See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Glass and Glazing winners
See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Interior Building Product winners
See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Plumbing Product winners
See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Structural Product winners
See the 101 Top Products for 2019: Window and Door Product winners

Back to the 101 Top Products landing page