CORKOLEUM

Photo by Denise Sfraga

WE Cork

From the bark that plugs wine bottles comes this cushiony, waterproof flooring that’s only 1⁄8 inch thick. Glued down, then coated with wood-floor finish, it’s warranted to last 20 years, with proper care.

OPTIM-R VACUUM INSULATED PANEL

Kingspan Insulation

This foil-wrapped insulation achieves an astounding R-32 per inch—about 10 times the R-value of fiberglass batts—because it encases a vacuum, just like a Thermos bottle.

ELLUMI GERM-KILLING RECESSED SHOWER LIGHT

Photo by Mike Bartlett/Amedore Homes

Evolution Lighting/Vital Vio

The LEDs in this wet-rated fixture emit a visible, non-UV light that’s deadly to bacteria, mold, fungi, and spores up to 10 feet away. Use its normal white light when showering, then switch to germ-fighting mode, which bathes the area in a violet hue. The longer you leave the light on, the more microbes it eradicates.

RE-CAP CONCRETE RESURFACER

Quikrete

Historically, the products used to smooth rough, spalled concrete have had a tendency to peel off. But this polymer-modified mix won’t; it forms a chemical bond with its substrate that’s so tenacious it’s stronger than the concrete itself.

MIRAGE PORCELAIN VENEERS

Oldcastle/Echelon Masonry

These ledge-look veneers are molded strips of porcelain, not your usual natural stone or colored concrete. Choose from 12 color ranges, then use them indoors or out—they’re impervious to moisture and fading.

MLZ SERIES CEILING CASSETTE

Mitsubishi Electric/Trane

For those who find the bulbous, wall-hung units on ductless heat-pump systems too obtrusive, now there’s a slim new cassette that slips between joists and sits nearly flush with the ceiling. Like the wall units, you control it with a handheld remote.