Building Products Top 100Part 4: 25-1

The need for product innovation doesn't stop in a down economy, and last year building product manufacturers continued to serve customers with plenty of new, valuable introductions for the home and the jobsite. And if Building Products' annual Top 100 list is any indication, contractors looking to differentiate and innovate welcomed that information.

The Top 100 represents those products readers of Building Products and its sister publications Builder, Custom Home, and Remodeling requested more information about by mailing to us the reader service cards found in each issue. As in year's past, you won't find run-of-the-mill commodities here: The Top 100 spans a range of categories, but most are less familiar, new, or trendy. Not surprisingly, green products and technologies--including photovoltaics and solar water heating, tankless water heaters, and energy-efficient lighting--dominate this year's list as pros aim to keep up with the burgeoning sustainable-building movement.

Beyond green, the Top 100 contains many unique gems, such as an inventive sliding door hardware option, a hole-enlarger tool, a water carbonator, and an eye-catching waterfall system.

Whether you caught them the first go-around or are viewing them for the first time, this year's top picks could hold the solutions you and your customers have been looking for. Stay with us over the next two weeks as we count down to number one.

Part 1: 100-76.
Part 2: 75-51.
Part 3: 50-26.

25 York.

York

Soleil composite copper flashing is produced using the manufacturer's Everlam technology, which combines copper with flexible aluminum to create a lightweight, affordable product that is easy to work with, according to the maker. Soleil products include door and window flashings, sheet stock, roof valleys, roof drip edges, and gutter products. 800-551-2828. www.yorkmfg.com.

24 MFM Building Products.

MFM Building Products

Ideal for low-slope/low-pitch roofs, versatile Peel & Seal also solves waterproofing problems around chimneys, vents, ducts, skylights, and other irregular features. Composed of a patented laminate of aluminized foil, high-density polymer film, and a thick layer of rubberized asphalt, Peel & Seal is flexible, self-sealing, and energy efficient, and will not crack or dry out from exposure, the maker says. It is available in almond, granite gray, aluminum, or white. 740-622-2645. www.mfmbp.com.

23 Southwest Windpower.

Southwest Windpower

With built-in controls and inverter, the Skystream 3.7 residential wind generator has a 1.8-kW capacity. It is designed for use on properties measuring at least .5-acre with unobstructed views and an average wind speed of 10 mph. It is 42 feet tall. 928-779-9463. www.windenergy.com.

22 Eaton Electrical.

Eaton Electrical

The company's home standby generators provide fully automatic operation that starts the generator when it detects a power outage. The unit has a permanent connection to natural gas or propane for uninterrupted power, says the firm, and a commercial-quality V-Twin engine that provides extended life, low maintenance, and easy starting. Air passages, an automotive-style exhaust system, and acoustic foam dampeners provide for quiet operation, the manufacturer adds. 800-525-2000. www.eatonelectrical.com.

21 WaterSaver Technologies.

WaterSaver Technologies

The Aqus reservoir uses water draining from bathroom sinks to flush toilets, saving about 10 to 20 gallons per day in a two-person household, says the maker. Simple to install or retrofit, the system creates no change in the normal operation of the lavatory sink and toilet, and it requires minimal annual maintenance, the firm adds. 502-550-1506. www.watersavertech.com.