Each year, BUILDING PRODUCTS' Most Valuable Product competition singles out an elite handful of new products worthy of special recognition. This year, 28 products, ranging from a solar-powered attic fan to a 28-volt lithium-ion cordless tool system and a corner whirlpool bath, have been deemed the cream of the crop. They offer ways to make your job easier, your work more efficient, and your businesses more profitable. And they might just add a little fun back into your work day.

The MVP winners were selected by a six-judge panel made up of builders, remodelers, and architects from across the country. The entries were collected as a result of BUILDING PRODUCTS' request to manufacturers for information about their best introductions between January 2004 and January 2005.

Unable to 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, meaning 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 could not independently verify the statements. What's more, the winners represent only a small portion of top-notch products. The judges made their selections based on items entered in the competition, not from all products that debuted between January 2004 and January 2005.

Zircon. For builders and remodelers who have multiple scanning needs but don't want to carry around multiple tools, the ProScanner OneStep looks like a real time saver, the judges raved. This tool finds the center, edges, and directions of studs and joists. It also locates metal pipes up to 1½ inches deep, and rebar in concrete up to 3 inches deep, all while continuously detecting hot, unshielded AC wires. The scanner, which automatically calibrates up to 10 times per second to ensure accuracy, finds the stud's center immediately, the manufacturer says. Cost: $60. 800-245-9265. www.zircon.com.

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L.E. Johnson Products

Designed to prop up doors that are too large or heavy for standard hardware, the 2000 series Pocket Door Frame supports units weighing as much as 300 pounds, up to 1¾ inches thick, and in sizes up to 5 feet wide by 9 feet tall, says the manufacturer. The judges agreed that the frame would simplify installation and save pros time and money; in the past, installers would have to build their own custom frames for special applications. The 2000 series product includes a heavy-duty extruded aluminum jump-proof I-beam track, heavy-duty four-wheel door hangers, self-adjusting floor anchors, steel-wrapped split studs, door stops, and installation hardware. The frame is “a win for all,” one judge said. Cost: $185. 800-837-5664. www.johnsonhardware.com.