Painting and tiling might come later in the building process, but innovation in these areas is key. Recent innovation and technological advancements are yielding some truly impressive tools and accessories. This year’s PTIA 2020 Painting and Tiling Awards highlight products that reduce time on the job and increase work efficiency. While few products appear in this category compared to some of the others, they contribute immensely to the overall innovation in these trades.
Winner – Cordless Caulk Guns
RIDGID R84044B 18V 10 oz. Caulk and Adhesive Gun
What they said:
RIDGID introduces the 18-Volt Cordless 10 oz. Caulk Gun and Adhesive Gun. Rather than clamping down on a manual caulk gun for hours on end, eliminate user fatigue and get the job done faster with RIDGID 18-Volt Cordless 10 oz. Caulk & Adhesive Gun. This tool features over 750 lbs. of push force to handle higher viscosity material with ease and can apply more than 200 tubes of caulk per charged battery (with a 4.0 Ah Battery, not included). Backed by the RIDGID Industry Leading Lifetime Service Agreement, the 18-Volt Cordless 10 oz. Caulk Gun includes an operator’s manual. Battery and charger sold separately.
What we say:
Manually squeezing a caulk gun handle all day is exhausting. Ridgid now has a solution to relieve your hands on their 18V platform. There’s also a switch lock to help prevent accidental trigger pulls. When you’re ready to apply, there are 750 pounds of force available that you can control with a variable speed selector to match your speed and adhesive viscosity. When you let go of the trigger, the plunger pulls back slightly, helping to eliminate that annoying bead of adhesive that drips out of manual guns. For $79, it’s an easy choice for a wide range of tradesmen already using Ridgid 18V batteries.
Price: $79
For more information, click here.
Winner – Caulk/Sealants
DAP Ultra Clear Roof
What they said:
DAP Ultra Clear Roof saves time with its ability to be applied in almost all weather conditions. It sticks to wet, damp, or dry surfaces and can even be applied through standing water to stop leaks instantly. It can also be used in extreme temperature conditions, ranging from 0°F to 120°F. Rain ready immediately, there is no worry about washout from a sudden rain shower.
Ultra Clear Roof applies crystal clear and stays crystal clear for a seamless blend with surfaces, unlike asphalt, silicone, or latex-based products. Ultra Clear Roof also provides long-lasting durability. It stays permanently flexible and crackproof, even in cold temperatures. It has excellent UV resistance, so it won’t yellow, harden, or breakdown over time, helping to maintain its 100% waterproof and weatherproof seal for years.
It is ideal for sealing and waterproofing roofline penetrations and installations such as shingles, shakes, roof tiles, flashing, gutters, downspouts, skylights, chimneys, vents, ducts, pipes, and fans. With strong multi-surface adhesion, Ultra Clear Roof sticks to asphalt, metal, wood, brick, concrete, stone, masonry, terra cotta, tile, glass, most plastics, and more. It is cleaner and easier to apply than typical asphalt repair products, is paintable, mold-resistant, fast-curing and VOC compliant nationwide.
What we say:
Ever read the description on a product and think there are a million ways you can use it? That’s what our team thought when we first saw DAP’s Ultra Clear Roof. It’s an incredibly versatile sealant that bonds to a wide range of materials in some of the worst conditions and resists environmental breakdown. Since it dries clear, it opens up even more possibilities of areas you can use it to seal out water without ruining the aesthetics of what you’re repairing. Even if you don’t need it now, buy a quart of DAP Ultra Clear Roof to have on hand because, sooner or later, you’re going to wish you had it.
Price: $8.98
For more information, click here.
Winner – Painting Accessories
QuikLid Project Source
What they said:
QuikLid makes cleanup jobs much faster and works with almost any 5-gallon bucket. Simply, clip onto the rim of the bucket. Tip your bucket to the ground. Then, sweep, scoop, bail, & more! QuikLid’s patented design is going to make job-site cleanup a breeze. From construction sites to sweeping in the backyard, QuikLid has you covered. QuikLid is a high capacity dustpan that lets you sweep up an entire room into your 5-gallon bucket.
What we say:
With one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” concepts, QuikLid is simply genius. It clips onto the rim of most 5-gallon buckets and turns it into a high-capacity dustpan. When you have larger messes to clean up with debris too large for your shop vac, it’s a great way to move a lot in a short amount of time. Every job requires some form of cleanup—keep this handy and keep the mess to a minimum.
Price: $5.98
For more information, click here.
Winner – Patch & Repair
DAP Eclipse Rapid Wall Repair Patch
What they said:
Tired of repairing holes in drywall and having to wait hours or even days to complete the job? DAP Eclipse Rapid Wall Repair Patch is the fastest, strongest, and thinnest drywall repair solution you’ll ever complete.
Developed to solve the most frequent drywall repair frustrations faced by professionals and DIYers, this specially formulated, mess-free, all-in-one patch solution allows you to complete a drywall repair that has 8x stronger impact resistance over traditional metal wall patches. The Eclipse patches require no spackling, sanding, or additional tools for a completely mess-free repair – users simply peel and place the patch over the drywall damage and it’s ready to paint immediately, allowing projects to be finished in minutes, not hours or days.
Offering superior doorknob impact resistance, Eclipse is four times stronger than drywall itself and unmatched by other repair solutions. It offers a permanent, long-lasting repair that won’t peel or lose adhesion over time. Designed with a jagged, tapered edge for easy blending, DAP Eclipse provides a smooth finished repair that won’t flash once painted for a superior and flawless finish.
DAP Eclipse is available in a 4-pack of 2-inch patches ideal for small repairs up to 1-inch in diameter, a 4-inch patch for medium size repairs up to 2-inches in diameter, and a 6-inch patch ideal for larger repairs up to 3-inches in diameter.
What we say:
There were some really solid Patch & Repair entries this year and we debated long and hard before deciding on DAP’s Eclipse Rapid Wall Repair as the most innovative. It’s deceptively simple and strong. What looks at first glance like a film covering actually creates a repair that’s up to 4 times stronger than the drywall by itself. Even better, the design lets you apply new paint and blend it well so your parents you will never know there was a hole in the first place.
Price: $8.98 to $15.98
For more information, click here.
Winner –Tile Saws
iQ PowerTools iQ228 Cyclone Dry Cut Tile Saw
What they said:
The iQ228 is a 7” bench-top, dry-cut tile saw specifically created for professional tile setters and contractors. With fully integrated dust control technology, this innovative tool allows for tile to be cut inside or outside with no water and no dust discharge. 100% compliant with the new OSHA standard on respirable silica dust, the iQ228 was produced to eliminate problems caused by cutting with water. It utilizes a three-stage, four-cyclone filtration system which captures up to 99.5% of the dust. All the dust from the cutting point passes through this filtration system and is captured in the dust tray for easy cleanup. It can handle up to 5 pounds of dust before it needs to be emptied.
The new iQ228Cyclone has the ability to produce a depth cut up to 1 1/4” and can handle 18” rip cuts. For added accuracy, speed, and safety, the unit is also equipped with a pre-measured cutting fence. Just set and rip away ~ eliminate manual measuring from blade to fence. Additionally, it is lightweight, compact, and is easy to transport to and from jobsites. This innovative new bench saw runs on a 120v/15Amp Motor. A convenient, optional stand is also available.
What we say:
iQ PowerTools has a heavy focus on creating dust collection second to none and turning wet-cutting applications into dry-cutting ones. Having been impressed by the quality and performance of their original dry cut tile saw, a smaller benchtop version makes it even more portable. It combines the same incredible dust collection with a smaller 7-inch saw that’s common on jobsites.
Price: TBA
For more information, click here.
Finalist