A A

News and trends from the 2013 Builders' Show

A revitalized housing market energizes this annual event

Published: January 2013

Find Ratings

Refrigerators

Toilets

Flooring

Generators

Showerheads

Our team of editors, market analysts, and television producers attended the 2013 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. With the housing market in the midst of a bona fide rebound—home prices rose 4.3 percent in the 12 months ending in October, according to the latest Case-Shiller 20-City Composite—we enjoyed one of the more energized shows since the bottom fell out of the market in 2007.

As in years past, we filmed, blogged, tweeted, and posted news to our website as well as our Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Featured

News and trends

The top five home trends for 2013
Smart thermostats that learn your routine
Boral's hail-resistant concrete roof tiles
Sherwin-Williams kid-friendly Dry Erase paint
Panasonic's next generation dual-voltage drill
Simpson glass door flips from clear to opaque
Armstrong's rustic American Scrape floors
Sherwin-Williams paint fights odors and mold
Marvin windows with a sharper edge
Colorful new Trex decking that resists mold

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling

GE introduces Wi-Fi enabled wall oven
Formica celebrates 100 with retro patterns
Kohler's Grip-Tight toilet seat stays in place
MR Direct's bronze vessel sink for the ages
GE's taller laundry pair is easier on the back

Video reports

Kohler showerhead streams music and water
New features make generators easier to use
Gerber's Viper toilet saves water and space
Versetta Stone offers high style at a low price
Kohler's hands-free faucet is a cook's friend
GE refrigerator dispenses hot and cold water
Schlage lets your fingers do the locking
Lumber Liquidators' glueless click vinyl tile

News from Consumer Reports

Ace adds another winner to its line of interior paints
Cuisinart the brand to beat in our toaster tests
Newcomer tops Consumer Reports' tests of interior paints
Two Frigidaire double-oven ranges join our list of top picks
Whirpool Duet SilentSteel dryer drum stops the banging
Shoplifters like Tide for the same reason we do. It works.
Don't think twice about buying these top-rated double ovens
Samsung's T9000 redefines the four-door refrigerator

Buying guides

Generator reviews and buying guide
Refrigerator reviews and buying guide
Flooring reviews and buying guide
Cordless drill reviews and buying guide
Kitchen range reviews and buying guide
Washing machine reviews and buying guide
Clothes dryer reviews and buying guide

Find Ratings

Refrigerators

Refrigerators Ratings

View and compare all Refrigerators ratings.

Refrigerators Buying Advice

Types of Refrigerators
Refrigerators Brands
Refrigerators Features

Toilets

Toilets Ratings

View and compare all Toilets ratings.

Toilets Buying Advice

Types of Toilets
Toilets Brands
Toilets Features

Flooring

Flooring Ratings

View and compare all Flooring ratings.

Flooring Buying Advice

Types of Flooring
Flooring Brands
Flooring Features

Generators

Generators Ratings

View and compare all Generators ratings.

Generators Buying Advice

Types of Generators
Generators Brands
Generators Features

Showerheads

Showerheads Ratings

View and compare all Showerheads ratings.

Showerheads Buying Advice

Types of Showerheads
Showerheads Brands
Showerheads Features

E-mail Newsletters

FREE e-mail Newsletters!
Choose from safety, health, cars, and more!

Already signed-up?
Manage your newsletters here too.

Home & Garden News

Be on the lookout for Bed Bath & Beyond coupons you can use online

You have to love those Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. The housewares retailer not only gives you 20 percent or $5 off a single item for in-store purchases, but its coupons also never expire, no matte...

Grout cleaners with muscular claims were wimps in our tests

Cleaning the mildew from between the tiles of your shower or bathroom floor isn't anyone's idea of a good time. So when we saw the ads for Grout Bully ("clean mold and eliminate mildew") and Grou...

Countertop materials that stand up to years of abuse

When shopping for kitchen appliances you'll see a dizzying array of choices, from basic models to ones loaded with features. But your countertops might outlast your appliances by years, maybe dec...

Samsung's new appliance line includes four first-ever features

Samsung Electronics America, no stranger to innovation, has taken a unique approach to the launch its 2013 line by opening a pop-up showroom, dubbed Samsung House, in the trendy New York City nei...

Uncork a quality wine for your Father's Day feast

A dad deserves only the best on Father's Day, which takes place this Sunday (June 16). If you're planning to fete the father(s) in your life with a special dinner at home, accompany the meal with...

More news