The 2009 MVP AwardsInnovation and efficiency highlight this year's group of Most Valuable Products.

  • By BUILDING PRODUCTS Staff

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Rheem

Rheem

Rheem. Utilizing convection, the Solaraide passive solar water heater operates without pumps or controllers. The units can be used alone or to supplement conventional hot-water systems by pre-warming the water. Solaraide's freeze-proof heat-transfer fluid absorbs and delivers heat energy, even on cold and overcast days, says the firm; the closed-loop setup also prevents freezing. A 47-gallon model and an 80-gallon model are available. Cost: 47-gallon, $3,800; 80-gallon, $4,900. 800-621-5622. www.rheem.com.

Fiber Composites

Fiber Composites

Fiber Composites. Two decking products from Fiber Composites--Sensibuilt and Horizon--caught the judges' eyes. Fiberon Sensibuilt PVC decking uses Lumenite, a fusion-bonded surface technology boasting stain, scratch, fade, and mold resistance. Available with a 10-year stain- and fade-resistance warranty, it is moisture-, impact-, and slip-resistant, the firm says. "This product is easy to install and easy to maintain, meaning high profits and satisfied customers," one judge stated. Fiberon Horizon decking features PermaTech, a technology that chemically bonds the HDPE-and-wood-fiber decking with a resilient surface material that resists stains, fading, and mold, as well as scratches, termites, and harsh weather, says the manufacturer. The product's 20-year limited warranty "gives me and my clients a high level of confidence that Fiberon's promise of low-maintenance is reliable," George Drummond of Casa Decks of Virginia Beach, Va., said in a written statement. Cost: Sensibuilt, $3 per linear foot; Horizon, $2.66 per linear foot. 800-573-8841. www.fiberondecking.com.

Fypon

Fypon

Fypon. Designed to complement the veranda house style, the Hybrid Balustrade and Compound Curve stairway system can be incorporated into any design with balconies and stairs. "This looks fantastic and will be easy maintenance," one judge said. The system offers custom configurations for the stair rise, factory-assembled stair balustrades, and caps and rails with joints that allow for expansion or contraction, the maker says. The system also boasts smaller cross sections as well as pre-drilled rail sections to improve installation efficiency. The sections are topped with a classically sculpted, 11-inch-wide balustrade rail, hiding the assembly fasteners. Cost: starts at $15,000. 800-446-3040. www.fypon.com.

Azek

Azek

Azek. The cellular PVC Azek Porch plank features a durable, easy-to-clean surface with the same moisture, stain, and scratch resistance as Azek Deck. "It still looks great after a year in the elements," Mike Sloggatt of Sloggatt Home Improvements in Levittown, N.Y., said in a testimonial. Installed with traditional woodworking tools, the 1x4 planks are up to 40 percent lighter than wood composites, says the maker, and do not require pre-drilling. Also, they have minimal expansion and contraction. Cost: $11 to $12 per square foot. 877-275-2935. www.azek.com.

Delta

Delta

Delta. The Pilar pull-down kitchen faucet with Touch2O technology allows the user to turn it on or off by touching anywhere on the spout or handle--a convenient feature for messy hands. "The touch technology is handy ... and the modern look can really help sell a kitchen," one judge noted. The faucet operates manually, too. The pull-down head, which can switch from stream to spray, features a MagnaTite magnetic closure mechanism. The swiveling, high-arc spout provides space for large pots. Pilar is available in chrome and Brilliance stainless finishes. Cost: starts at $525. 800-345-3358. www.deltafaucet.com.

Written by Jean Dimeo, Katie Gallagher, Victoria Markovitz, and Katy Tomasulo.

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