We had a great time at the International Builder’s Show last week in Vegas, baby! Just like The Strip, everywhere we looked, something grabbed our attention. And like those endless buffets, there were so many new things to try, it was almost overwhelming.
Vegas definitely isn’t the place for moderation. But to keep this post manageable, we’ve edited our wrap-up down to the products we were still talking about as we boarded the plane to fly back from the big show.
Our IBS 2023 buzzworthy picks:
- CAMO Joist+Ledger Deck Tape
- FastenMaster VersaLOK
- FastenMaster MVP Multipurpose Wood Screws
- FastenMaster TrussBRACE
- Key-Link Under-Rail Lighting
- Key-Link Sleek Lighted Post Cap
- DuPont Great Stuff Pro Construction Adhesive
- Dekorators Rapid Rail
- TimberTech Cortex Collated Cladding Plugs
CAMO Joist+Ledger Deck Tape
Your customers are investing in beautiful new deck surface and we’re willing to bet they’ll see the value in parlaying that investment to include protection for the structure that supports it.
CAMO Joist+Ledger Deck Tape has it covered. Literally. This tape seals the tops of the joists to ensure a solid, long-lasting foundation for their decking boards and, used between the ledger and the house, it defends against water damage to the home structure.
CAMO Joist+Ledger Deck Tape comes in three sizes: 1.5”x 65’ for joists, 3.5”x 65’ for beams, and 6"x65' for ledger and rim joists. With excellent adhesion and waterproofing properties, this flexible butyl tape remains durable over time. It also stands up to the elements, UV radiation, and extreme temperatures.
And its ace in the hole: It self-seals around fasteners.
FastenMaster
FastenMaster really came to play at IBS! In fact, three of their products made our list:
FastenMaster VersaLOK
To get things rolling, we have VersaLOK, a product we added to the DIY Home Center store just a week before the show. For fans of FastenMaster's industry-leading LOK line, this latest addition is like completing a royal flush: Just what you need for an unbeatable hand... err...screw selection.
Heavy-duty VersaLOK is has the strength of a ½ inch lag bolt, the installation ease and speed you expect from a LOK, and the versatility to tackle a wide range of wood-to-wood applications.
FastenMaster VersaLOK demo at IBS
In 6”, 8”, and 10” lengths, VersaLOK is IBC/IRC code compliant, has a ProjectLife coating guaranteed for the life of your project, and is great for angle bracing, retaining walls, and carrying beam connections. And that's just for starters.
Read more about these screws here; we’ll wager you’ll want them in your toolbox: FastenMaster VersaLOK Structural Screws Have Arrived.
FastenMaster TrussBRACE
Another recent addition to the DIY Home Center store, TrussBRACE achieves the trifecta of bracing: In one easy step, you can permanently set, space, and brace roof trusses.
The patented steel roof truss support provides both lateral and diagonal restraint in a single brace. And since TrussBRACE units are installed while standing on the bottom chord of the truss, there’s less climbing, making installation safer while eliminating the need for temporary top chord bracing that has to be removed before sheathing.
Advantage: You... and the house.
FastenMaster MVP Multipurpose Wood Screws
And finally from FastenMaster, we have their new 10-gauge MVP Multipurpose Wood Screws in lengths from 1½ to 4 inches. If you already love the LOK line, you’re going to want to double-down on this screw for your smaller projects. Forget the subpar fasteners you may have settled for in the past: FastenMaster MVP brings it all to the table!
FastenMaster MVP Multipurpose Wood Screws
The new MVP Wood Screw is designed for framing, cabinetry, and other wood-to-wood applications. MVP fasteners are IRC/IBC code compliant and feature a TORX ttap drive as well as FastenMaster’s exclusive SureSink Head to prevent spin outs, ProjectLife Coating for superior corrosion resistance, and a SureStart Point for easy installation.
These screws are going to be the odds-on favorite for all your small project fastening needs.
Key-Link
Las Vegas is the city of lights after all, so it’s not surprising these new rail lighting products from Key-Link caught our eye at IBS:
Key-Link Under-Rail Lighting
First out of the shoe is Key-Link's new under-rail lighting that pairs perfectly with their new Chesapeake Railing Series. Designed specifically for a deck board top rail, Chesapeake railing provides a flat, wide surface to rest a drink. This new under-rail lighting tucks beneath the deck board top for illumination that runs the lenth of your railing. The opposite of the harsh, glaring lights of Sin City, this lighting is warm and atmospheric—just what you want for a relaxing evening.
A couple additional notables in the Key-Link show display below: Fascia-mounted posts and balusters to maximize deck space, and the new 2.5" posts for the Chesapeake Series.
Key-Link Under-Rail Lighting
Key-Link Sleek Lighted Post Cap
Next are Key-Link’s sleek, new lighted post caps. They're slim and modern with a sophisticated band of light that encircles your posts with ambiance. Sounds classy, doesn’t it? This is a clear case where less is more. Not really what Vegas is known for, but exactly what minimalist deck owners want.
Key-Link Sleek Lighted Post Cap
The powder-coated, die-cast aluminum LED lighting is corrosion-resistant and both energy- and cost-efficient. Using the lighting control panel, you can choose from nine levels of brightness to set the appropriate mood, set a timer or photocell sensitivity, and take advantage of a “walk away” feature that gives you a 25-seconds lead time before the lights turn off.
These new lighted caps are a fresh new way to top off Key-Link’s popular railing options—the American, Chesapeake, and Outlook Series. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
DuPont Great Stuff Pro Construction Adhesive
Great Stuff Pro Construction Adhesive is a premium grade, heavy-duty adhesive for interior and exterior use, providing a fast-grabbing, long-term bond to most construction materials.
Up the ante by using this great adhesive along with your fasteners as shown below. Both you and your customers will love the pay-out: Reduced drywall nail pops and no more floor squeaks.
DuPont Great Stuff Pro Contruction Adhesive
Its all-weather formulation with freeze-thaw stability also bonds and seals in all conditions—dry, damp, or frozen—so you can take on any job, any time.
We loved the glitz of Las Vegas, but we have to address the tackiness, so here goes: This formulation is tack-free in 14 minutes and fully cured in 24 hours. And it's reusable for 30 days when left attached to the handy Great Stuff Pro Dispensing Gun.
Dekorators Aluminum Rapid Rail
Deckorators Aluminum Rapid Rail kit really earns its name with a fast and simple installation featuring... (drumroll, please)... drop-through balusters! Bet you didn't see that one coming.
Just drop your square balusters in through the top rail, give them a tap, and snap the top rail cover into place. It's all locked together with end brackets for a solid, rattle-free result in no time. So magical, we thought we'd stumbled into the David Copperfield Theater at the MGM Grand by mistake.
Deckorators Rapid Rail
These innovative rails work with 2.5" and 4" aluminum post kits for versatility, and with a clean and modern design, they have a wide appeal. The powder-coated finish resists scratches and corrosion for durability and, to top things off, Aluminum Rapid Rail is backed by a lifetime limited warranty.
We're all in.
TimberTech Cortex Collated Cladding Plugs
TimberTech Cladding by AZEK captures the aesthetic of exotic hardwoods, while the advanced PVC construction ensures decades of low-maintenance, enduring good looks. Of course, you want to keep the focus on the warm wood appearance—not on the installation method. The last thing you want is a visible tell that screams, "We used screws!"
Well, you’re in luck: TimberTech has introduced collated plugs made from their cladding boards with pre-aligned grain patterns. If you're familiar with TimberTech's popular deck plugs, you already know that these cladding plugs will make your fasteners disappear like quarters in a slot machine.
TimberTech Collated Cortex Cladding Plugs
What's the deal?
You probably noticed that some of these products are already available at DIY Home Center, and some aren't... Yet! Now that we've returned from our Vegas trip, we're busy working to bring all these exciting products from IBS 2023 to our online store so you can start using them in your projects right away. We'll update this post as the new items come online.
Pros: In the meantime, get ready to save on these items now. If you're not a DIY Pro Program member yet, apply today. You'll receive 5% off every DIY Home Center purchase—including all the hot new products here when they hit our store—when you log into your DIY Pro account. Jackpot!
