Builder Picks: Top 10 Home Products of 2021

by Rachel Lyon and Ryan Ericson, Editorial Director & Marketing Coordinator for The House Designers

Building a new home is a different experience every time, and nobody knows that better than builders! These professionals bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, both because they've seen it all before and because they're constantly learning about the latest and most in-demand finishing products from suppliers and their own clients. Here are some things builders gravitate toward when they build!

A Hot Water Heater That Pays for Itself

The mechanical parts of a house are important, so don't settle for just anything. Rheem® has all sorts of efficient water heating solutions that save money and help the environment. For example, the ProTerra® Hybrid Electric Water Heater offers a $300 federal tax credit and up to $1,000 in local utility rebates. This high efficiency technology also saves up to $491 per year, paying for itself in two years or less. It helps you save today and tomorrow while reducing your water heating carbon footprint up to 75%!

Model: Rheem® ProTerra® Hybrid Electric Water Heater | Price Varies by Size Selected

Durable Trim to Complete a Façade

The right finishing touches can do wonders for curb appeal—many traditional home styles wouldn't be the same without millwork like columns, brackets, gable pediments, and window and door trim, of course. Wood requires ongoing maintenance, so the cellular PVC alternatives from Ply Gem® are the perfect choice for most homes and homeowners. These products are easy for builders to work with and don't absorb moisture or rot, so your house can make a beautiful visual impact on the street with relatively little effort!

Model: Ply Gem® PVC Trim | Contact for a Quote

A Virtual Tool for Exploring Front Doors

Therma-Tru® launched a new way to introduce products to buyers with their Virtual Experience. This trade show booth-inspired tool allows you to explore the latest styles and innovations on your own time, completely free range or with a guided tour. There really is a lot to see between the educational sections and testing different looks! If you want to see what's new next year, the 2022 Therma-Tru Virtual Experience goes live on February 1st.

Model: Therma-Tru® 2022 Virtual Experience | Free - Pre-Register Here!

Wood-Look Veneer for Use Anywhere

If you want the rustic look of reclaimed wood without the drawbacks, check out Weathered Plank from Dutch Quality Stone®. It offers authentic grain texture, knots, grooves, and even nail holes, but it's made from the same stuff as stone veneer—lightweight concrete painted by hand for a one-of-a-kind finish. That means you can install it all around the house, inside and out. It also comes in two sizes you can use separately or together to make your own unique pattern!

Model: Dutch Quality Stone® Weathered Plank 6 in Industrial Gray | Contact for a Quote

Coordinating Sinks & Faucets for the Bathroom

Whether you're shopping for the guest powder room or your own master bathroom, two new ceramics collections from GROHE make it easy to create a tailored and cohesive sink area. The angles of their Eurocube® sinks complement their faucets of the same name, and the curves and contours of Essence fixtures match beautifully as well. Many sinks can be installed above-counter for a vessel look or wall-mounted to keep your space more open, and there are even complementary toilets to complete the room!

Model: GROHE Essence Wall-Mount 27" Bathroom Sink, 3-Hole | $322.00 MSRP

A Calming & Centered Paint Palette

Subdued hues of taupe and beige have been the go-to choice for homes for decades, but they're a little plain by today's standards. If you want colors with some saturation to breathe life into spaces, check out the Color Trends 2022 palette from Benjamin Moore®. The highlight of the collection is a subtle silvery green for a fresh take on neutral color, October Mist 1495. You'll find a number of other soothing green tones, soft warm hues, and even a striking deep blue in the palette, too!

Model: Benjamin Moore® 2022 Color of the Year, October Mist 1495 | Price Varies by Product Selected

Durable Natural Stone Countertops

Everybody knows granite and marble countertops, but have you considered quartzite? Another natural stone option, quartzite is formed under the metamorphic forces of intense heat and pressure deep in the Earth's crust, which make it exceptionally hard and resistant to wear and tear. Daltile® offers gorgeous slabs in a variety of neutral colors, polished and leather finishes, and thicknesses of 2 or 3 cm. Any of them would be a great way to dress up a kitchen or bathroom!

Model: Daltile® Natural Quartzite - Natural Stone Slab in Tartarus | Contact for a Quote

Transitional Cabinetry That Suits Today's Homes

Whether you're working with a truly modern home or updating a classic, you can't go wrong with transitional finishes. Kitchen Cabinet Distributors™ offers a variety of products that deliver on the chic and simple aesthetic, including the Brooklyn Premier Series. These cabinets are CARB2 compliant for healthier indoor air quality and offer dozens of stylish decorative hardware options running the gamut from warm to cool and matte to polished for the perfect look.

Model: Kitchen Cabinet Distributors™ Brooklyn Premier Series in Bright White | Contact for a Quote

Beautiful & Easy-to-Design Bathroom Vanities

The vanity is an important part of a bathroom from a design and functionality standpoint, so make sure yours bring it all to the table. Wyndham Collection makes it easy! Just choose a style, size and color, and the specifics—consider what kind of countertop and sink would complete the picture best and whether you want a matching mirror and/or additional storage like a linen tower or over-toilet wall cabinet. This takes the guesswork out of building a beautiful vanity—just add faucets and you're done!

Model: Wyndham Collection Andover 60" Traditional Bathroom Single Vanity Set in Dark Cherry with 56" Mirror | Contact for a Quote

Shake-Style Roofing That Checks All the Boxes

With roofing to complement any kind of architecture and exterior scheme, it's no wonder GAF is so popular! Their Timberline® HDZ™ Shingles are the top-selling shingle in the U.S., delivering reliable performance with a Class A fire rating, StainGuard® protection against unsightly algae, and an industry-first WindProven™ limited warranty with no maximum windspeed limitation. As for curb appeal, this product is available in warm, cool, and neutral tones, so you can pick the perfect complement for your whole façade!

Model: GAF Timberline® HDZ™ Shingles in Shakewood | Contact for a Quote