Keeping up with innovative construction products helps builders deliver better results while saving time and money. From foundation work to finishing touches, new materials continue to reshape residential and light commercial construction. Six products from the Journal of Light Construction address common jobsite pain points. For more on material fundamentals, see Glazing Clay Products Ceramics for related surface and finish technologies.
Foundation and Formwork Innovations
Foundation work is among the most labor-intensive phases of construction. Getting forms right, keeping them level, and ensuring consistent results requires skill and patience. Two products from the JLC roundup address these challenges.
Bigfoot Plastic Footing Forms
The most time-consuming part of pouring a concrete pier has been attaching the tube form to a makeshift lumber footing. Bigfoot, a recycled plastic footing form, eliminates this improvisation. It adjusts to fit 8, 10, or 12-inch tubes and connects securely with a few screws. The result is a one-piece assembly that is easy to set and level in the hole.
Key advantages of the Bigfoot system include:
- One-piece operation: The form and tube work as a single unit during placement and alignment.
- Leave-in-place design: The recycled plastic form stays in the ground after the pour, saving removal labor.
- Integrated footer shape: The flared design creates a smooth, cone-shaped footer on the pier without additional forming work.
- Dual-purpose usability: A spare form can be turned upside down and used as a funnel when pouring concrete into other forms.
At roughly $15 per unit, Bigfoot footing forms represent a minimal investment relative to the time saved on each pier. Builders working on decks, porches, additions, and light commercial foundations will find this product particularly useful for repetitive pier layouts where consistent results matter.
E-Z Shim Recycled Plastic Shims
Cedar shims have been a staple on jobsites for generations, but they come with well-known frustrations. They split when nailed, they are often too knotty to use reliably, and cutting them to size requires a razor knife that can slip or dull quickly. E-Z Shim addresses these issues with recycled plastic shims that are split-resistant and easy to nail.
What sets these shims apart is the scoring system. Every quarter inch, the shim is scored so that instead of hacking at it with a knife, the installer can simply snap off the excess after installation.
The shims come in packs of 20 for about $2, with bulk pricing available: a case of 360 shims costs roughly $25. For production builders who go through shims by the box, the plastic alternative quickly pays for itself in reduced waste and faster installation. The material is also impervious to moisture, unlike cedar, so it will not rot or deteriorate in damp environments such as basements and exterior applications.
Framing and Door Hardware Solutions
Space efficiency and accessibility are growing priorities in residential construction. Pocket doors offer a clean solution for tight floor plans, but traditional pocket door hardware has earned a reputation for being flimsy and unreliable. The 1500 Series Pocket Door Frame Kit from L.E. Johnson Products changes that equation with a steel frame designed for real-world performance.
Steel Pocket Door Frame Kit
A standard hinged door consumes about 10 square feet of floor space when open. In a small bathroom, hallway, or closet, that lost space can make the difference between a functional room and a cramped one. Pocket doors solve this by sliding into the wall cavity, but the hardware has historically been the weak link.
The 1500 Series Pocket Door Frame Kit addresses these concerns with several engineered improvements:
- Steel frame construction: The beefy steel frame provides a solid, substantial feel that lightweight aluminum frames lack. This translates to quieter operation and longer service life.
- 125-pound weight capacity: Unlike budget pocket door kits that limit you to lightweight hollow-core doors, this frame supports solid-core doors up to 125 pounds, expanding design options significantly.
- Captive roller design: The rollers are enclosed in the track, so the door stays in place once hung. There is no risk of the door jumping the track during normal use.
- ADA-compliant accessibility: Pocket doors are inherently easier for wheelchair users to operate than hinged doors, making this kit an excellent choice for accessible design projects.
With a suggested retail price of $74, the 1500 Series Kit competes favorably with standard pre-hung door units while offering superior space efficiency. Builders focused on universal design and space optimization will find this product worth specifying on every project where wall cavities permit pocket door installation.
Finishing and Surface Material Breakthroughs
Two products from the JLC roundup address finishing challenges: one for the messy reality of spray foam insulation and one for achieving stone-like wall finishes without the cost and complexity of natural stone installation. Both represent meaningful improvements over conventional approaches.
DAPtex Non-Expanding Spray Foam
Polyurethane spray foam is a go-to solution for sealing gaps around window frames, plumbing penetrations, and rim joists. But it has a notorious downside: it sticks to everything, expands unpredictably, and cleanup requires solvents.
DAPtex is a foam sealant that works like traditional spray foam but with a fundamentally different chemistry. The table below summarizes the key differences:
| Property | Standard Polyurethane Foam | DAPtex Foam |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion after placement | Continues expanding | No expansion |
| Toolability | Collapses when touched | Can be tooled after spraying |
| Paintability | Poor | Paintable for finish work |
| Cleanup | Requires solvent | Soap and water |
| Odor | Strong solvent smell | No solvent odor |
| Suitable applications | Framing gaps only | Framing and finish work |
Because DAPtex does not continue expanding after placement, what you spray is what you get. This predictability makes it suitable for visible applications such as where a new pipe pokes through siding, since the foam can be painted to match the surrounding surface. At $3.99 for a 12-ounce can, it is priced competitively with traditional foam products while eliminating solvent purchases for cleanup. For builders working with various surface materials, understanding What Are the Products of Cement Hydration provides useful context on how different building materials interact with sealants and finishes.
Take It For Granite Recycled Stone Panels
Genuine stone tiles deliver a rich, bold aesthetic that few other surfacing materials can match. But the cost is high, and installation demands a perfectly rigid substrate that adds preparation time and expense. Take It For Granite wall panels from Phenix Biocomposites offer an alternative that captures the look of stone without the installation headaches.
These panels are manufactured from recycled paper and soybean derivatives, making them one of the more environmentally conscious surfacing options on the market. Key features include:
- Workability: The material cuts easily with standard woodworking tools, eliminating the need for diamond blades or wet saws.
- Pre-finished surface: An acrylic topcoat provides durability and a consistent appearance right out of the box.
- Self-adhesive backing: Installation is as straightforward as applying contact paper, though a clean, properly prepared surface is essential for a good bond.
- Interior-only use: These panels are suitable for dry interior applications only and are not rated for wet areas or exterior exposure.
The panels come in 12-inch and 18-inch squares. A useful installation tip: painting the wall a dark color before applying the panels helps minimize the visibility of the joints between panels. The 12-inch panels cost $5 each, and the 18-inch panels run $11.25 per piece. Panels are sold in multiples of ten.
Energy Performance and Sustainable Materials
Energy efficiency continues to drive product innovation in construction, particularly in regions with high cooling loads. The TechShield radiant barrier roof sheathing from Louisiana-Pacific addresses the specific challenge of solar heat gain through the roof assembly.
TechShield Radiant Barrier Sheathing
In Sunbelt states, solar heat gain through the roof is a primary driver of air conditioning costs. Standard roof sheathing absorbs radiant energy from the sun and transfers it into the attic, where it raises temperatures and forces the HVAC system to work harder. TechShield addresses this at the source by incorporating a radiant barrier overlay directly into the sheathing material.
The product consists of aluminum foil laminated to a sheet of grade-stamped plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). The foil layer is perforated to allow the substrate to breathe and release trapped moisture, preventing the condensation and rot issues that can occur with unperforated radiant barriers.
The installation procedure is straightforward:
- Nail the sheathing off just like standard roof decking, using the same fastener spacing and patterns.
- Ensure the reflective foil surface faces downward, toward the attic space and away from the sun.
- Follow standard roof ventilation practices to maximize the radiant barrier’s effectiveness.
The manufacturer reports that TechShield can reduce attic temperatures by as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature reduction translates directly into lower cooling loads, reduced HVAC runtime, and improved comfort in rooms directly below the attic. At roughly $11.50 per sheet for 1/2-inch OSB, the premium over standard sheathing is modest relative to the energy savings it delivers over the life of the building. For more on selecting sustainable construction materials, see Green Building Materials Selection Performance and Lifecycle Benefits.
Why Material Selection Matters
The products featured in this roundup share a common thread: each solves a specific problem that builders encounter regularly. Whether it is the time wasted cobbling together makeshift footing forms, the frustration of split shims, the space lost to swinging doors, the mess of traditional spray foam, the cost of stone veneer installation, or the energy penalty of standard roof sheathing, better materials are available for those who seek them out.
Builders who stay informed about new products gain a competitive advantage through faster installation, higher quality results, and fewer callbacks. The trade show circuit and industry publications remain the best sources for discovering these innovations. For a broader look at the latest trends and product launches in the building industry, see Highlights From the International Builders Show New Products.
When evaluating any new construction product, consider these criteria:
- Total installed cost: A product with a higher unit price but faster installation can save money overall.
- Labor savings: Products that reduce skilled labor requirements or simplify complex steps deliver the most value.
- Durability and warranty: Verify that the product’s service life matches or exceeds the building’s expected lifespan.
- Compatibility: Ensure the product works with existing systems and does not create conflicts with other materials or assemblies.
- Availability and lead time: Special-order products can delay a project if not planned for in advance.
By applying these criteria to the products discussed here, builders can make informed decisions that improve project outcomes and client satisfaction. The best construction products are not necessarily the most expensive or the most technologically advanced, they are the ones that solve real problems on the jobsite every day.