The New American Home 2019, built for the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, was more than a showpiece. It was a real-world proving ground for the building products and materials that professional home builders were beginning to specify on production and custom projects across the United States. From the foundation to the roofline, every product category represented a deliberate choice balancing performance, aesthetics, cost, and longevity. This article breaks down the material decisions that made this showcase home a blueprint for modern residential construction.
For builders evaluating product lines for their next community or custom project, examining what went into a home designed to industry standards offers practical guidance. The building science behind the New American Home 2019 set a high-performance benchmark, and the materials chosen to support those targets tell the real story.
Structural Systems and Foundation Materials
Foundation and Below-Grade Waterproofing
The foundation system used insulated concrete forms for the below-grade walls, providing both structural capacity and continuous insulation in a single assembly. This eliminated thermal bridging at the foundation wall, a common weak point in conventionally framed basements. The ICF assembly delivered an R-value exceeding code minimums while simplifying interior finish placement. Exterior drainage board and a dimpled membrane protected the below-grade wall from moisture migration, a specification that builders targeting long-term durability should consider standard practice rather than an optional upgrade. In the dry climates where many builders operate, this level of below-grade protection prevents the latent moisture issues that lead to costly callbacks years after occupancy.
Engineered Floor and Wall Systems
Above grade, the home used engineered I-joists for floor framing and advanced wall panels for exterior walls. The I-joist system delivered consistent dimensional stability that dimensional lumber cannot match, reducing callbacks related to floor squeaks and uneven subfloors. The wall panels, prefabricated off-site with rigid foam insulation integrated into the cavity, arrived on-site ready for erection. This approach reduced framing time by approximately 30 percent compared to stick framing while improving the thermal envelope through reduced air leakage. Builders evaluating these systems should consider the trade-off between material cost and field labor. While engineered components carry a higher price per unit than standard lumber, the reduction in installation time, waste, and callbacks offsets the upfront premium. For builders focused on smart product selection, engineered systems represent a mature category with well-established performance data.
Exterior Cladding and Fenestration
Siding and Trim Materials
The primary siding material was fiber-cement, selected for its combination of dimensional stability, fire resistance, and insect immunity. Fiber-cement siding does not rot, warp, or delaminate like wood-based products, making it a low-maintenance option that retains its appearance with periodic painting. The trim elements used cellular PVC, a material that resists moisture absorption and provides crisp shadow lines that enhance the architectural detailing. The color palette was factory-applied and rated for extended UV resistance. Builders specifying fiber-cement should verify that the finishing system includes a full warranty covering both the substrate and the coating. The home also featured a standing-seam metal roof accent over the entry, a material choice that adds durability at a critical weather-exposed junction while contributing to the contemporary design language.
Window and Door Performance Specifications
The windows and doors were aluminum-clad wood units with triple-pane glazing and low-e coatings. This framing combines the thermal performance of wood on the interior with the weather resistance of aluminum on the exterior. Triple-pane glass with argon fill delivered U-factors well below code requirements, reducing heat gain through the extensive glazing areas that contemporary home designs favor. Sliding glass door assemblies used multi-point locking systems and thermally broken frames to maintain envelope performance at the largest openings. The selection criteria included air infiltration ratings, structural load resistance, and ease of operation. For builders selecting high-performance windows and doors, these specifications provide a realistic benchmark for the premium production tier.
Mechanical Systems and Energy Performance Materials
Insulation and Air Sealing Strategy
The home employed a continuous insulation strategy that addressed thermal bridging at every framing member. Closed-cell spray foam in the roof assembly and selected wall cavities provided both insulation and air sealing in a single application. The remaining wall cavities used dense-pack cellulose, a material with high recycled content and excellent sound dampening. Continuous rigid insulation on the exterior of the wall sheathing interrupted the thermal bridge created by studs, improving whole-wall R-value by 15 to 25 percent compared to cavity-only insulation. The air sealing specification included a continuous weather-resistive barrier behind the siding, taped and sealed sheathing joints, and gasketed electrical boxes. These invisible details produce measurable improvements in blower-door test results. The following table summarizes the primary insulation materials:
| Assembly | Material | Installed R-Value | Air Sealing Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attic roof deck | Closed-cell spray foam | R-38 | Foam self-seals |
| Exterior walls | Rigid foam + dense-pack cellulose | R-26 | Taped sheathing + WRB |
| Foundation walls | ICF (EPS foam) | R-22 | Continuous foam layer |
| Floor over crawlspace | Open-cell spray foam | R-19 | Foam seals subfloor |
HVAC and Water Heating Equipment
The primary HVAC system was a variable-speed heat pump with a communicating thermostat that automatically adjusted airflow and refrigerant flow to match load conditions. This equipment class delivers higher efficiency at part-load conditions than single-stage alternatives, which matters because HVAC systems operate at partial capacity the majority of the time. The home also included an energy recovery ventilator that preconditioned fresh outdoor air before introducing it indoors, reducing the load on the primary equipment. Water heating was handled by a tankless gas unit with a recirculation loop, ensuring hot water at every fixture without the standby losses of a storage tank. For projects targeting net-zero energy or high-performance certification, these product innovations that drive quality in home building are already becoming baseline specifications rather than premium upgrades.
Interior Finishes and Products
Flooring and Wall Finishes
The primary flooring material was luxury vinyl plank in main living areas, selected for water resistance, dimensional stability, and realistic wood grain embossing. LVPL requires no acclimation period, installs faster than engineered wood, and withstands humidity cycles without gapping or cupping. Tile in wet areas used large-format porcelain planks with rectified edges, allowing tight grout joints that reduce maintenance and create a seamless visual field. Wall finishes used zero-VOC paints, directly contributing to indoor air quality during and after construction.
Kitchen and Bath Product Selections
Kitchen cabinetry used plywood-box construction with solid wood drawer boxes and soft-close hardware throughout. While this specification carries a higher cost than particle-board alternatives, it delivers measurable durability advantages. Plywood cabinets resist moisture damage better, hold screws more securely, and outlast lower-cost constructions by a significant margin in real-world conditions. Countertops were quartz composite, chosen for its non-porous surface that requires no sealing and resists staining from common kitchen agents. Plumbing fixtures featured brushed nickel and matte black finishes that resist fingerprinting and water spotting better than polished chrome. Shower enclosures used frameless glass with low-iron formulation that eliminates the green tint visible in standard panels, a detail design-conscious builders should note for higher price-point homes.
Lighting and Electrical Products
The lighting specification relied on integrated LED fixtures, both recessed and surface-mounted, eliminating the need for future bulb replacements while delivering consistent color temperatures. The color temperature followed a layered strategy: 2700K for living and sleeping areas, 3500K for task-oriented spaces such as the kitchen and home office. The home also included a structured wiring panel that centralized internet, cable, and security connections.
- Recessed LED downlights with integrated trims for a clean ceiling appearance
- Under-cabinet task lighting with dimmable drivers in the kitchen
- Exterior LED wall sconces with dark-sky-compliant optics
- Smart lighting controls with occupancy sensors in high-traffic areas
- USB-C charging outlets integrated into the electrical rough-in
Indoor Air Quality Finish Products
A notable specification across all interior products was the emphasis on low-emission materials. Cabinetry specified with no-added-urea-formaldehyde substrates, flooring certified by FloorScore, and paints carrying Green Seal certification combined to produce measurable indoor air quality improvements. For builders constructing homes in competitive markets where health-conscious buyers are increasingly informed, these specifications translate into a marketable differentiator. The incremental cost of upgrading from standard to low-emission finishes is typically less than 1 percent of total construction cost but produces disproportionate value in buyer perception and indoor environmental quality.
Lessons for Professional Builders
The New American Home 2019 demonstrates several principles that translate across project types and price points. Integrated product selection produces better outcomes than optimizing individual components in isolation. The envelope, mechanicals, and finishes in this home were specified as a system, not a collection of independent decisions. The highest-performing product in any category is rarely the most expensive. The material selections favored proven technologies with predictable performance over experimental products with unverified field data.
Air sealing and continuous insulation deliver greater energy savings per dollar spent than upgrading mechanical equipment beyond a certain efficiency threshold. The insulation strategy in this home was the single most impactful material decision for long-term energy performance. Builders reviewing their current specifications can use the New American Home 2019 as a reference point for evaluating where their product choices align with proven, high-performance assemblies. The material decisions made for this home were executed under real budget and schedule constraints, and the product categories selected have since become more widely adopted across production building. By understanding what was chosen and why, builders can make more informed decisions and communicate those choices to buyers with confidence.