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Winner – Brushes & Accessories

Purdy® Spirex™ Glide Brush

What they said:

Developed to help Pros and DIYers work faster without compromising results, the Spirex™ Brush Series combines innovative filament engineering with Purdy’s trusted craftsmanship to deliver premium performance across a wide range of painting projects. At the core of the innovation is Purdy’s spiral filament. The design delivers a superior smooth finish with up to 50% more coverage compared to Purdy® XL® brushes when used with premium paints. This increased coverage allows painters to cover more surface area with fewer dips, providing greater productivity while maintaining the smooth, even appearance expected from a premium brush.

The Spirex™ Brush Series features a medium-stiff nylon and polyester filament blend engineered to provide the control and versatility painters need across a wide range of applications. Designed for cutting in straight lines with ease and precision, the brush helps users achieve clean, consistent coverage on trim, cabinets, doorframes and other high-visibility surfaces where accuracy and appearance matter most. Like all Purdy brushes, the Spirex™ Brush Series is handcrafted in the USA with global materials by skilled Purdy brushmakers and features a lightweight, moisture-wicking alderwood handle and stainless steel ferrule. Available in 2-inch, 2.5-inch, and 3-inch sizes.

What we say:

Purdy Spirex Brushes have bristles that blend spiral-wound filament technology with a medium-stiff nylon/polyester blend, alderwood handle, and a stainless steel ferrule. They feature a compact design to help painters achieve detail and precision when cutting in and laying on a smooth finish across trim, cabinets, or door frames. Purdy claims you get up to 50% more coverage than when using their XL brushes. The brushes remain compatible with all paints and stains and are built for easy cleaning, so you can get repeated use out of them. They are also manufactured in the USA using global materials.

Price: $22.49

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Winner – Exterior Coatings

Daich Coatings SpreadRock WALL

What they said:

New SpreadRock® WALL, an authentic 3-step speckled granite coating system, lets homeowners and contractors add an elegant real stone finish to wall settings at an affordable price in just a weekend. The high-end speckled stone appearance of SpreadRock WALL makes it a beautiful coating product to quickly and easily upgrade exterior walls on both residential and commercial projects. The durability of the product means it can withstand the rigors of daily life and weather conditions, so it’s ideal for the garage, foundation, and retaining walls, sheds, exterior house walls and fixtures, like columns.

For commercial settings, it works well for hotel and hospital exteriors, along with restaurants, college buildings, and all types of multi-family housing. The bonding technology and real stone composition ensure solid adhesion, superior flexibility, and dependable durability for both interior and exterior projects. Once finished, the SpreadRock WALL coating system resists water, snow, salt, chemicals, mold, mildew, UV light, impact, and abrasion, along with excessive heat and bitter cold temperatures. Contractors and homeowners can create exterior projects where vertical wall surfaces complement horizontal patio, walkway, porch, patio, and driveway surfaces. Colors available in both product lines include: Anvil, Brownstone, Flint Grey, Ice Grey, Mocha, Sandstone, and Sante Fe. Two new colors added to both product lines: Honey Tan and Black Beauty, give people the choice of nine colors to mix and match for their surfaces.

What we say:

Daich Coatings’ SpreadRock Wall makes a real-stone wall finish practical for homes and commercial projects alike. Its three-step system—primer, speckled granite coating, and sealer—supports a durable surface that can be used on concrete, masonry, brick, stucco, cement panels, and even indoors on drywall. It’s durable and resistant to UV, rain, impact, abrasion, mold, and mildew. The easy 3-step process and availability in either 1- or 3-gallon buckets make it easy and flexible for most projects.

Price: $68.99

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Winner – Interior Coatings

Daich Coatings SpreadStone Mineral Select OPTIMA Series

What they said:

Sleek and smooth, the new elegant surface finish in the Optima Series of the SpreadStone™ Mineral Select Countertop Finishing Kit from Daich Coatings brings homeowners an entirely different option for their countertops. New colors include: Agate Grey, Black Pearl, Crystal Jade, Dover White, Sea Spray, Stone Lace, Stone Mist, and Sun Kiss. With the Optima Series, the option exists for different real stone colors plus a final clear coating of urethane to be applied, capturing the beautiful stone finish and providing a smooth-as-glass overlay.

The easy-application process takes just three days from start to finish. After prepping the area, on day one the primer and two stone coats are applied. After allowing for drying, on day two the surface is easily sanded smooth, remove dust and apply conditioner to harden the stone, then roll on epoxy coating. Again, after cure time, on day three spot sanding any rough surfaces and finally adding a clear urethane topcoat to shield the surface. After two hours the countertop is dried and finished, with normal use resuming the next day. Both the original and Optima Series of the SpreadStone Mineral Select Countertop Finishing Kits cover up to 40 square feet of space. Kits come complete with all applicator tools and coatings. Finished countertops are heat and impact-resistant, plus water repellent, and wipe clean with common household cleaners.

What we say:

Daich Coatings’ SpreadStone Mineral Select Optima Series gives worn laminate, MDF, plywood, particleboard, concrete, and tile countertops a real stone look with a smooth, sparkling finish. The kit uses a three-day, roll-on process with primer, stone coats, sanding, epoxy, and a clear urethane topcoat, so no special artistic skill is required. It covers up to 40 square feet, includes the applicator tools and coatings, and is designed to resist heat, impact, and water. Cleaning is as easy as wiping the surface with household cleaners. The eight-color palette adds a polished, contemporary option for making your countertops look expensive and new.

Price: $199.99

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Winner – Collated Tools & Systems

Hilti SF-M3 Collated Framing System

What they said:

The SF-M3’s innovation extends the proven productivity of collated fastening beyond drywall into prefab, interior framing, and exterior framing applications — an area that is still commonly served by slower single-screw fastening.
The SF-M3 stands out in the industry by pairing a hand-held magazine with tailored collated screw strips that work with existing SD 5000 and ST 2000 tools, giving contractors a new way to increase fastening speed without adopting an entirely new platform, while also being easy to use, no need for additional training.

When compared with traditional single-screw methods, the system helps reduce dropped screws, supports one-hand operation, feeds easily, and delivers a high fastening success rate from the first day on the jobsite. This improves productivity by allowing crews to spend less time handling loose screws and more time completing quality fastening work. SF-M3 also improves Hilti’s existing offering by expanding the screw portfolio and creating a bridge from collated drywall fastening to collated framing, helping contractors work smarter, move faster, reduce waste, and bring greater efficiency to more of the total work package. More fastening, less waste.

What we say:

Hilti’s SF-M3 Collated Framing System brings collated fastening into prefab as well as both interior and exterior framing. A hand-held magazine and tailored screw strips work with existing SD 5000 and ST 2000 tools, helping crews fasten more quickly without having to change platforms or perform additional training. The system is ergonomic and supports one-handed operation, speeding up the assembly of steel studs and similar tasks.

Price: $164.25

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Winner – Drywall Sanders

CRAFTSMAN CMEW500 6.5 Amp 9″ Drywall Sander

What they said:

From drywall to popcorn ceilings, wood flooring, and decking, prep large surfaces quickly and efficiently with this 6.25-amp 9 in. Drywall Sander. Ideal for high ceilings, tight corners, and hard-to-reach spots, this sander features a flexible pivoting head and extension pole accessory that allows a maximum reach of 5.9 feet. A 6.25-amp motor and up to 1,700 (no-load) RPM give you the performance needed for a polished finish on a variety of surfaces. Help maintain a clean working environment with the on-board 8-hole dust collection system (vacuum sold separately). Designed with user comfort in mind, the CRAFTSMAN® 6.25 Amp 9 in. Drywall Sander helps deliver smooth results for DIY renovations.

What we say:

The chief innovation of the Craftsman CMEW500 drywall sander is its price. For less than $200, you get a capable sander that gives you the reach and power to tackle most single-story residential work. Use this 6.25-amp tool and its 1700 max RPM disc to prep drywall or remove popcorn ceilings. The head is flexible, and the extension pole gives you an additional 5.9 feet of reach, letting most people easily reach the top of even 10-foot ceilings with ease. The system uses 9-inch sanding discs with an 8-hole dust collection system that supports many compatible accessories.

Price: $169

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Winner – Ladders

Werner Werner READY STEP Step Ladder RS1A06

What they said:

The Werner Ready Step™ ladder reimagines the traditional fiberglass step ladder by addressing the amount of time people spend carrying equipment, climbing on and off ladders, and searching for tools. Designed specifically for residential trades professionals, the Ready Step combines lightweight portability, integrated tool organization, and jobsite durability into a single product. 15% lighter than comparable fiberglass step ladders, it reduces fatigue associated with repeatedly transporting ladders throughout the workday. The ladder’s slim 4-inch storage profile further improves productivity by making transportation and storage easier than traditional fiberglass ladders.

A standout innovation is Werner’s LOCKTOP™ ladder top, which transforms the top of the ladder into a highly organized workstation. Unlike traditional paint trays or basic top caps, the LOCKTOP securely stores up to ten essential tools—including impact drivers, screwdrivers, wire strippers, pliers, tape measures, and small parts—keeping frequently used equipment within immediate reach. The Werner Ready Step also features a Quick-Setup Platform, providing an extra-large, standing surface, delivering 3x–5x the standing room of a traditional step ladder. The one-handed open-and-close operation with a no-pinch design gets users to the task quickly and safely, while minimizing downtime. The Ready Step helps professionals complete more work with greater comfort and efficiency, setting a new standard for compact fiberglass step ladders.

What we say:

Werner’s Ready Step ladder solves a variety of everyday pain points. First, it reduces typical fiberglass ladder weight by 15% while narrowing the folded profile to just 4 inches. The Locktop feature keeps up to ten tools and parts within reach, reducing repeated trips up and down the ladder. The Quick-Setup platform also provides a larger, more stable standing surface than a conventional step. For electricians, remodelers, and service technicians working in tight spaces, it combines portability, organization, and jobsite durability in one compact platform.

Price: $159

For more information, click here.