Show offs: check out these exciting new products from this year's International Builders' Show. y

Building Products, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Stephanie Herzfeld, Elizabeth Landry, Nigel F. Maynard, Stephani Miller, Katy Tomasulo

Forget Mickey Mouse. Head over to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 13 to 16 and check out the hottest new products and materials that will debut at the annual International Builders' Show. You'll catch a glimpse of some of the most exciting new wares that can help save you time and money and attract new customers. Walking around the Builders' Show may be as tiring as strolling around Disney World, but your experience certainly will be more profitable.

Broan-NuTone

The iColor collection of medicine cabinets is another way besides paint--to add color to a home. iColor products are available in fire red, sunburst orange, lemon yellow, racing green, cobalt blue, and metallic onyx. Made from steel and featuring a baked-on powder coat finish, the cabinets have snap-fit supports that lock the shelves in place and rubber bumpers so the door closes quietly. The units, which can be mounted so the door opens to the left or to the right, measure 25 inches tall and 5 inches deep. 888-336-3948. www.broan-nutone.com. Circle 325.

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Boral Bricks

Expanding on its successful 17th Century series of rustic, Old World-style wood mould bricks, the manufacturer is adding four specially textured, oversized products to the line. The oversized bricks are 3 1/2 inches wide, 2 3/4 inches thick, and 7 5/8 inches long. Each unit has a distressed look and rough texture, giving it the appearance and feel of an old-fashioned, handmade brick, the firm says. 800-526-7255. www.boralbricks.com. Circle 326.

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Miele

The limited-edition Platinum dishwasher has the capacity for 14 place settings, says the manufacturer. The Energy Star-rated unit has a sensor that detects the amount of dirt in the water, adding clean water only as needed to save 2 or more gallons per load, says the maker. The dishwasher features a third-level cutlery tray, three temperature selections, and six wash programs. 888-346-4353. www.miele.com. Circle 327.

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Deckorators

The manufacturer says the Scenic series glass baluster is the first product of its kind for residential construction. Made of 5/16-inch tempered glass, the 4-inch-wide balusters have safety edges and are specially designed with a universal stair angle that allows them to be installed on deck stair rails without the need for customizing, the firm says. Available in clear view, dusk view, and autumn view tints, the products complement wood and composite decks. 800-322-5724. www.deckorators.com. Circle 328.

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Johns Manville

The Spider spray-in insulation system dries more than six times faster than cellulose products, the firm says, allowing contractors to finish insulating a typical home in two to three hours. The formaldehyde-free product has an R-value of 15 in 2x4 wall cavities and an R-value of 23 in 2x6 wall cavities. 800-654-3103. www.jm.com. Circle 330.

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Kwikset

Homeowners don't have to carry house keys or worry about getting locked out with the Powerbolt 1000 keyless entry system. The system features an electronic touchpad that has about 50 million security code combinations and can be programmed with four- to eight-digit security codes. Powerbolt 1000 sounds an alarm after three consecutive incorrect code inputs. It includes a battery backup. 800-327-5625. www.kwikset.com. Circle 329.

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Wayne-Dalton

Designer series garage doors combine the look of a wood carriage house door with the durability and low maintenance of steel construction. Available in six styles with or without windows, the garage doors have a wood-grain finish and can be ordered with pebble-textured hardware and trim. The products feature the company's pinch-resistant design and tamper-resistant hardware. They are available with the idrive wall-mounted opener. 800-827-3667. www.wayne-dalton.com. Circle 331.

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Simpson Strong-Tie

The Strong-Wall is an engineered composite of steel and wood that the manufacturer says has allowable loads that are two to three times higher than its original product. The steel design maintains its integrity to support gravity loads even after reaching peak capacity, the firm adds. It features two anchor bolts, fewer top-of-wall screws, pre-attached wood studs, and numerous pre-drilled holes for mechanical requirements. 800-999-5099. www.strongtie.com/strongwall. Circle 332.

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TruStile Doors

The Authentic Designs interior door collection includes nine lines with styles and profiles that complement popular architectural styles, so that it's easy to integrate the door in the project's decor and character. The lines include Arts and Crafts, Colonial, Modernist, New European, Southwestern, Traditional, Tudor, Tuscan, and Victorian. 888-286-3931. www.trustile.com. Circle 334.

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Knaack Manufacturing

State-of-the-art aluminum Weather Guard truck boxes feature extreme protection locks that retract when locked for added tamper resistance and to allow pros to see the lock status from a distance, says the maker. Boxes come in five styles and offer many additional user-friendly features such as level holders and 12-volt electrical access grommets. 800-456-7865. www.weatherguard.com. Circle 357.