The International Builders’ Show, held in Orlando, Florida, this year, is the preeminent annual event for tool and building material manufacturers. With close to 1900 exhibitors all rolling out their new products, the show is huge and overwhelming to even the most seasoned show-goers.

With almost eleven miles of aisles to walk and over a million-and-a-half square feet of exhibits to see, it’s hard to take in everything. But Fine Homebuilding can help.

While checking out new products for upcoming articles and departments, the Fine Homebuilding staff selected products that they thought would make outstanding video demonstations and enlisted staff videographer Gary Junken to grab footage directly from the show floor.

Fine Homebuilding’s picks from IBS 2007

• Editor Kevin Ireton was impressed by the evo entertainment wall mount system.

   

• Assistant editor Rob Yagid spotted a corrugated plastic product called Battens Plus.

   

• Yagid also found a porous synthetic stone tile from Inteplast that prevents water from puddling.

   

• Later, Ireton found just what he’d been looking for in the Gaggenau Lift Oven.

• Contributing editor Rick Arnold liked the Hot2o solar hot water system from Fafco.

• Arnold also liked the weight savings from the Fuego, a new 6-1/2 inch circular saw from Ridgid.

• Fine Homebuilding’s publisher, Tim Schreiner, thought two new tools from Dewalt would work great on a job site. The first is a double-ended drywall bit and the second a drywall screw pivot holder.

• When Ireton saw a new breathable protection product for freshly finished floors, he thought it was a great idea.

• And then Ireton was wowed by Kwikset’s new fingerprint-activated deadbolt. 

• Yagid found a new portable tablesaw, the Bosch 4100 and additionally liked this new laser measuring tool, also from Bosch. 

• Schreiner thought the Ditra tile underlayment system from Schluter Systems was sound.

• Last but not least, contributing editor Mike Guertin found a cool new product called The Original 3rd Hand, which helps raise blade guards on worm-drive saws.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Affordable IR Camera

This camera is super useful for tracking down air leaks in buildings. The one-hand pistol grip arrangement frees your other hand for steadying yourself while maneuvering tricky job sites.

Buy at Amazon

8067 All-Weather Flashing Tape

Available in 2- to 12-in. widths, this is a good general-purpose flashing tape that sticks well to most things. It features a two-piece release paper, water-shedding layers, and good UV resistance.

Buy at Amazon

Handy Heat Gun

This heat gun is great for drying joint compound, primer and paint when patching drywall and plaster walls. Plus it can soften adhesive, get a very cold small engine to start, and shrink heat-shrink tubing.

Buy at Amazon