The International Builders’ Show® is billed as the single most important building industry event and this year, with so much concern over the housing market and general economic trends, that is likely to be true. For 2008, more than 1,800 exhibitors are expected to showcase their latest products and services aimed specifically at the residential and light commercial construction industries at the IBS, February 13 to 16, 2008, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL.

Hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the four-day expo also features almost 300 education sessions designed to help builders, contractors and anyone aligned with the housing industry stay current on trends and issues.

As in the past five years, iShow will produce the NextGen Home, an actual home constructed in the parking lot of the convention center by builder TownHomes, LLC. This year, the theme for the NextGen Home is “Ultimate Value”—an idea that Paul Barnett, iShow president, believes will be well received by builders and buyers alike.

THE VALUE OF PROTECTION
Among the nearly 300 educational seminars will be those aimed at helping builders understand and construct safer, weather-resistant homes. Highlighted seminars include “Weather-proof ‘Fortified’ Homes” presented by the Institute for Business & Home Safety, student builders and the Safe Home Illinois program of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago/Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Another is “Codes to Know,” a session that will summarize and discuss a number of code areas that can have the greatest impact on builders’ bottom lines, including those dealing with wall bracing and moisture intrusion.

A number of hurricane and storm protection exhibitors will showcase products that add value to homes by adding safety.

• Alutech United will showcase its line of roll shutter systems, accordion shutters and exterior solar screens, many of which are offered with motorization options.

• Florida Blinds & Shutters, Inc. will exhibit its full line of Bahama and Colonial hurricane shutters as well as clear panel and roll-up hurricane shutters.

• Wayne-Dalton Corp., known for its garage door innovations, will include its lines of wind load and hurricane protection products—specifically, its FabricShield shutter.

• Hurricane Protection Systems by Proline will feature the 6.8 Proline accordion shutter, roll-up shutters, Bahama and Colonial shutters and Hurricane Armor Screen and impact-resistant windows and doors.

• Hurricane Safe Products will showcase its extensive line of clear storm panels, Quiet-Track™ no chatter aluminum, Lockdown™ panels, accordion and roll-down shutters and garage door braces.

• Flexible fabric wind and water abatement systems designed for large and unusual openings will be exhibited by Hurricane Armor.

• Atrium Companies will offer a complete line of custom-fit hurricane and storm protection systems for new construction applications throughout the state of Florida, as well as SafeHarbor® aluminum impact-resistant windows engineered to protect homes against dangerous weather, including hurricane force winds.

• In the luxury homeowner line, Loewen will offer its extensive line of Douglas fir, FSC Douglas fir and Mahogany windows and doors—including the StormForce™ series.

• PGT, a pioneer in the impact-resistant window and door industry, will present its total line of custom windows and doors featuring its WinGuard impact-resistant windows and doors.

• TRACO, which manufactures a complete line of custom-designed architectural, commercial and residential windows and doors, will exhibit its impact resistant hurricane windows and doors and blast windows.

• Silver Line will offer performance and convenience in its selection of window types, sizes and shapes suitable for new construction or replacement application.

• Simonton Windows will feature its full line of premium vinyl windows and doors, including its Strom Breaker Plus line, which meets Miami-Dade County Codes.

• Sto Corp. will present its broad range of cladding and coating systems to protect against damage from wind and wind-borne debris.

BACK TO VEGAS
After three record-breaking years in Orlando (the 2007 International Builders’ Show welcomed just fewer than 104,000 housing professionals), the show moves out of the heart of hurricane protection country. The 2009 show returns to Las Vegas, NV.