By R. Zimmerman
Now that Design & Construction Week 2025 is over, it’s time to take a look back at the hundreds of new products that manufacturers introduced at the show. Construction Week, a co-located event with the NAHB International Builders’ Show and The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, attracted more than 124,000 attendees and 2,500-plus exhibitors.
Many of the products touted sustainability features, offering energy efficiency or low water consumption; faster installation; design flexibility; or all around better performance. But not all products deliver on those promises.
Here are 9 products that I think really do and why I chose them:
The quartz surfacing brand introduced Caesarstone ICON, an advanced fusion surface that is crystalline silica free and made with 80 percent recycled post-industrial glass. The new formulation significantly reduces the crystalline silica health risks for fabricators and installers. Caesarstone received the 2025 Best of KBIS finalist for Sustainability.
Why I chose it: The product is highly resistant to scratches, stains and impact and requires no sealing. And it has third-party verification from various organizations, including Greenguard.
Avient’s Hammerhead FR Flame Retardant Composite Sandwich Panels provide structural solutions for walls, flooring and garage, but they meet ASTM E84 Class A standards for flame spread and smoke density. The thermoplastic composite panels can resist rot, degradation from moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet light and corrosion.
Why I chose it: The composite panels provide designers with flame retardant alternatives that can eliminate the need and cost for additional FR sheets or coatings.
Legrand introduced the Radiant 65W USB Type-C, 15A dual port charging outlet, providing continuous capacity without charging drop-off.
Why I chose it: The Radiant 65W USB outlet is the fastest and most powerful residential and commercial charging solution available.
The company will introduce the 4th generation Profile Geospring Smart Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater in June 2025. A finalist in the Best Energy Efficient category during the Best of IBS Awards 2025, the product offers SmartHQ Wi-Fi smartphone temperature and off-peak utility rate schedule controls, anode rod sensors, wireless leak detectors with smart shutoff and removable supply-air filters for cleaning.
Why I chose it: The high-efficiency unit has a communications portal, wireless leak detection with valve shutoff, voltage options and anode rod sensors.
Cloplay’s Vertistack Avante overhead stacking door system won Best in Show at the 2025-Best of IBS Awards. The door system has the contemporary look of a sectional door and footprint of a rolling door. The vertical panel sections stack above the door opening or can be recessed into the building structure, eliminating overhead tracks and cables.
Why I chose it: Design flexibility, contemporary vertical stacking panel system, tempered insulated glass options and expanding polyurethane foam insulation.
NuvoH2O introduced the PRO 7000 whole-house, point of entry system. It incorporates water filtration, Citrus-based, salt-free water softening technology, whole-house UV water treatment system and Moen Flo Smart Monitor, which monitors water usage and leak detection and sends automatic shutoff alerts to your smartphone 24/7.
Why I chose it: It combines three-stage water filtration and salt-free water softening cartridge system, Trojan Technologies Group’s Viqua Arros Ultraviolet System and MOEN Flo Smart Monitor combined in one and whole-house water filtration solution.
Shurtape is introducing T-Rex Waterproof and Repair Tape with Flex-To-Fit Technology. The multi-layer film engineered tape, with a solventless UV acrylic adhesive performs at temperatures ranging from -40 F to 240 F, while maintaining flexibility. It is not designed to withhold water pressure.
Why I chose it: T-Rex is waterproof, flexible, sticks to multiple surfaces and is air, moisture and UV resistant.
Schneider Electric debuted Smart Power Management, a software-based solution developed to help builders avoid costly 400-amp electrical upgrades. Available in Q2 as part of their QO Smart Panel solution, Smart Power Manager allows larger loads to be added to home electrical systems, even when a service has reached its capacity, by automatically shedding controllable loads to safely keep energy usage under that capacity limit.
Why I chose it: Smart Power Management Software is a better option to utility upgrades, electrical panels, breakers, stamped load calcs, city permits, pre-inspections, electrical contractor and your friendly city inspector or two.
QuickFlash Weatherproofing Products
The brand is launching two air sealing and moisture management flashing panels, in Q2. The TF-Target or Termination Flashing Panel (image not available yet) is a weatherproof flashing, mounted to the sheathing behind your roof kickout, protecting your wall assembly. On the other hand, the A/CU-SX4 Air Conditioning Line Set Flashing Panel (image not available) provides HVAC line set organization, air-seal, moisture and UV protection. The SX4 is designed for up to 4 HVAC line sets or Mini-Split applications. Made in the USA
Why I chose it: Quickflash weatherproof exterior flashing solutions and designs have set Industry standards since 2001. Ask Amazon!
Richard Zimmerman is a U.S. Green Building Council-LEED for Homes Provider-Legacy and a contributing writer.