Each year, the editors of Building Products receive hundreds of new product announcements. But none capture our attention more than the annual collection of entries in the Most Valuable Product Awards. The slate is always packed with interesting wares designed to bring value to contractors while catching clients' eyes.

Singling out the best of the best falls on our distinguished panel of judges, made up of pros like yourself. This year, they narrowed the MVP entries to 21 winners covering a diverse range of product categories, including solar hot water heating, laminate flooring, cool roofing, and kitchen faucets. These products can make your jobs easier, speed up installation, wow clients, or just make you sit up and take notice. They're unique, innovative, attractive, and, in many cases, just plain cool.

Building Products asked manufacturers to submit products introduced between January 2008 and January 2009. Unable to independently test each product, our judges scrutinized written statements, press materials, brochures, pricing information, testimonials, and photography submitted by the manufacturers. Specifically, our panel assessed each entry based on a single requirement: Is the product of "value" to pros? In other words, does it reduce installation time, callbacks, or labor costs; solve a problem; simplify installation; boost profits; or add curb appeal or a "wow" factor to a home?

All claims about the winning products come from their makers; the editors and judges could not independently verify the statements. What's more, the winners represent only a small portion of outstanding products that were introduced during the past year. The judges made their selections based on items entered in the competition, not from all products that debuted between January 2008 and January 2009.

Kohler

Kohler. The Karbon kitchen faucet bends over backward to stand out from the pack: The product's joints allow users to move the sprayhead right where it's needed. The faucet comes in wall-mount and deck-mount versions. "It's great for any modern condo or apartment project," said one judge. "The wall-mount technology provides endless design opportunity." Additionally, the faucet has both spray and aerated water flow options and comes in polished chrome or stainless finishes. Its construction combines traditional brass with carbon-fiber composite tubing, which provides superior strength and a light weight, the firm says. Cost: deck mount, $1,014; wall mount, $1,300. 800-456-4537. www.kohler.com.

• Specifications Sheet
• Pro View

Tamko Building Products

Tamko Building Products. Don't just look cool, be cool. Not only are Tamko's Lamarite Slate Composite Shingles an "attractive alternative to real slate," according to one judge, but they now come in five energy-saving cool colors that reflect the sun's heat instead of transferring it to the attic. The product, which is rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council, comes in widths of 5, 7, and 12 inches. Shingles come in five colors: terra cotta, pale olive, cool grey, natural sand, and almond shell.

Cost: $350 to $500 per square. 800-641-4691. www.tamko.com.

Whirlpool

Whirlpool. Gold ranges with SteamClean Option save energy in two ways: They minimize the time users spend cleaning the oven, and they feature an Energy Save mode to conserve electricity. The SteamClean option spot-cleans the oven in 20 minutes and, when used routinely, reduces the need for frequent self-clean-cycle use, the manufacturer states. Similar to a computer's sleep mode, Energy Save dims extra features, such as the digital clock and control display, when the oven is not in use. This mode makes the new models 290 percent more efficient than the company's previous ranges, the maker says. It also features a Schott Ceran glass ceramic cooktop and has a rapid preheat function and a rapid boil feature. Cost: starts at $699. 800-253-3977. www.insideadvantage.com.

• Owners Manual
• Dimensions Guide
• Installation Instructions

Eldorado Stone

Eldorado Stone. Are you a gifted builder, but less adept at interior design? Eldorado Stone crafted its Gemstone Wall concept to help you do it all. The manufacturer provides information on how to design, install, and combine elements to create a distinctive masonry wall using the company's stone veneer. The CandleWall, for example, incorporates niches for candles into the wall. A variety of stone profiles and colors are recommended, so builders can choose what works best for their projects. "This stone finish can put a signature on a home," a judge remarked. Cost: $30 to $50 per square foot installed. 800-925-1491. www.eldoradostone.com.