Product Picks: May 2023

New for 2023, Westlake Royal Building Products’ 8″ Reversible Beaded Plank is suitable for both interior and exterior applications. With one surface created in a traditional "Nantucket" style bead board and the other in a classic v-groove, the planks feature a full PVC skin to eliminate any milled surfaces, a hidden nailing hem for seamless installation, and 26% more area than traditional 6″ bead board that the manufacturer says results in faster installation. The 1/2″-thick boards come in 16′ and 18′ lengths and are available in small pack sizes and bulk units. westlakeroyalbuildingproducts.com

LP SmartSide Home Visualizer is a free online tool LP Building Solutions developed to enable consumers and professionals to easily compare different siding ideas in real time on an actual home. Users can upload a photo of their house (or use one of the various already-created home types) and toggle between different styles and colors of siding to determine their favorite. The online tool features 16 LP SmartSide prefinished siding colors as well as a variety of widths, textures, and engineered wood siding styles. Once the siding has been chosen, users may move on to trim, fascia, roofing, doors and more, following the same basic method of choosing a new look. Or for a small fee, users can enlist the help of a designer to assist with customization. lpcorp.com

Made in the USA, National Nail's CAMO brand's Joist + Ledger Tape is a self-adhesive butyl tape that creates a waterproof membrane to protect wood deck framing against moisture and potential rot. When applied to the top of joists and ledger board, between joist hangers and ledger board, between rim joists and fascia, and between framing and joist hangers, the tape self-seals around fasteners, blocking the pathway of water into wood. Backed by a 20-year limited warranty, one 65′ roll of CAMO Joist + Ledger Deck Tape covers approximately 75 square feet of deck framing and is available in three sizes: 1-5/8″ width for single joists to fully cover tops of 2x wood joists; 3-1/8″ width for use with double joists; and 6″ width for ledger and rim joists. camofasteners.com

According to Grabber Construction Products, its new SuperDrive Mach1 is the first collated system explicitly designed to meet the demands of onsite and offsite light-gauge steel frame construction and is ideal for metal framing professionals looking to enhance productivity, improve installer safety, reduce material waste, and improve fastener precision. It attaches to a Makita or DEWALT impact driver and includes features such as a no-slip tip, reversible feed track (for right- or left-handed workers), SureLock fine depth adjustment, quick removal strap, as well as a compact design that includes pass-through spaces for the impact driver's LED lights. The new tool is compatible with Grabber's SuperDrive 7/16″ to 7/8″ collated screws. grabberpro.com

New from DEWALT, the DCD798 20V MAX Brushless 1/2″ Hammer Drill measures a mere 6.93″ in length and features an integrated hammer mode function. According to the manufacturer, this new hammer drill quickly drills into materials including wood, masonry, and metal, with up to 28,050 bpm in hammer mode for masonry drilling. It produces 404 unit watts of power with up to 1,650 RPM (no-load) and features an on-tool LED, a two speed transmission, a variable speed trigger, and a 1/2-in. metal ratcheting chuck. The 20V MAX Brushless 1/2″ Hammer Drill is available as a bare tool or with DEWALT's DCB203 battery and charger. dewalt.com

TuffTier OSB Sub-Flooring from RoyOMartin is designed for applications requiring a structural subfloor, ideally suited for flooring in both residential and commercial construction. According to the manufacturer, the sub-flooring panels deliver exceptional strength and rigidity for quiet durability, and self-spacing tongue-and-groove design is reported to deliver easier and more efficient installation. Available sanded or unsanded, the panels are manufactured from wood sustainably sourced through FSC certified timberlands. royomartin.com

Featuring a wrap-over rubber cap, the new Fort Wayne Boot from KEEN Utility offers flexibility, protection, and traction. Created as a reinterpretation of the classic moc toe wedge work boot, the Fort Wayne features a direct-attached Luftcell air-infused PU midsole for weightless comfort, a Barnyard Resistant leather upper, and KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane. Other safety enhancements include asymmetrical carbon-fiber safety toes that the manufacturer says is 15% lighter than steel as well as a lugged, EH rated oil- and slip-resistant rubber outsole. keenfootwear.com

New from Grip-Rite, its Flat Head Structural Screws are designed as replacements for lag screws and can be used for decks, fences, pergolas, and other exterior projects, and are approved for treated lumber in exterior wood structural applications. They feature a Type 17 point and coarse threads that the manufacturer says allow for easy, quick penetration into wood with no pre-drilling required. grip-rite.com

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