Owens Corning announced three varieties of its TruDefinition Duration roofing-shingle line at the 2012 International Builders’ Show, including an especially impact-resistant series intended for homes in the nation’s so-called hail belt.

Marvin Windows made a number of additions to its existing lines at the 2012 International Builders’ Show, but one in particular came to address what too often has been missing in residential windows: a child-safety latch.

The Patriots didn't win the Super Bowl, but Bostonians can take comfort in the fact that they've got one of the most vital residential housing markets in the country, according to new data released today at the International Builders' Show. Dallas, Seattle and Washington D.C. joined Boston at the top of the list, which was developed by Jonathan Smoke, executive director of research at Hanley Wood.

Nearly 2 million Tassimo coffeemakers are being recalled in North America according to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission and its Canadian counterpart, Health Canada. The Tassimo Single-Cup Brewers from BSH Home Appliances can burst during brewing and spray hot water and coffee grounds or tea leaves onto consumers, posing a burn danger.

Apps and online tools for picking paint colors are a dime a dozen, but Chip It, the latest offering from Sherwin-Williams, offers a clever twist. Being launched at the Builders' Show, the free, web-based tool lets you select any image on the internet—say from your favorite design site or a downloaded picture you snapped on vacation—and instantly identify the colors contained within it.

Kraft Foods Global is recalling 4 million T Discs, the small single-serving packages used with Tassimo coffee brewers. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, the Tassimo T Discs can become clogged during brewing and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds onto consumers and bystanders.

The humble bathroom fan is getting a decent amount of buzz at the Builders' Show, thanks to several interesting innovations. If your bathrooms lack this critical fixture, or the fans you have are old, noisy, and ineffective at eliminating moisture, these new products are worth a look.

A House bill introduced today aims to limit levels of arsenic and lead in fruit juices. When the bill was announced, the sponsors cited Consumer Reports’ investigation into the issue, which found high levels of arsenic and lead in the juices we tested.

Not long ago, you might not have pressed your roofer to assure you about the durability of the material being recommended unless you lived in an area prone to heavy storms. You could even go merely by what looked good and didn’t cost too much. What a difference a couple of years make. In an online survey of 1,005 homeowners conducted by Harris Interactive for polymer-roofing maker DaVinci Roofscapes and discussed at the 2012 International Builders’ Show, durability and longevity mattered significantly more to respondents than other factors.

When you’re shopping for a vacuum you can pay as little as $50 or as much as $1,500 or more. But even a capable vacuum can bring some sacrifices at the low end of the price spectrum. A model may be light on features or unwieldy to use. So no matter where you end up buying one, you should go to the store first to push, pull, turn and lift the vacuums that you’re considering. Check out the controls and features and how easy or difficult it is to attach cleaning tools. Here are some drawbacks Consumer Reports found on a few lower-priced models in its recent vacuum cleaner tests.

Laminate countertops have gotten a lot better looking from the day-glo orange days of old, with subtle hues and patterns made to look like natural stone. But you still have to settle for the unsightly black line along the edge of the countertop, which gives away even the most convincing faux designs. Formica's IdealEdge, on display at the International Builders' Show, eliminates the black line by creating a virtually seamless decorative edge on all sides of the countertop.

“Upgrade your shower from ordinary to extraordinary.” That’s the promise of the new HydroRail shower column launched at the International Builders’ Show by Kohler. It combines a rainhead showerhead with a handheld shower. HydroRail uses existing plumbing, so Kohler claims it can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer for less than $400.

Weatherizing the attic can slice your heating and cooling bills by as much as 30 percent, according to the Department of Energy. But to maximize the savings, you need to remember to insulate the attic hatch. Even a 1/4-inch gap around its perimeter can leak the same amount of air supplied by a typical heating duct. Here's where Battic Door Attic Stairs Insulator Cover, on display at the International Builders' Show this week, could lead to big energy and money savings.

The Consumer Reports Home team leaves today for the 2012 International Builders' Show, taking place February 8-11 in Orlando, Florida. As in years past, our editors and product-information specialists will be filming, blogging and tweeting live from the floor of the Orange County Convention Center.

Consumer Reports newest Ratings of interior paints include many subpar low- and no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints along with those that made our winners’ circle. You’ll also find a growing array of green logos, although some of those certifications are self-awarded. A new Asthma & Allergy Friendly certification is among the ones you’ll see when shopping for paint. Here’s a guide to six of the most common green labels.