---
title: What We Learned at the World's Biggest Home Building Show
description: Our team spent three days at IBS 2026 in Orlando interviewing 7 vendors. Here's what we saw and what it means for your custom home in Western NC.
image: https://img.youtube.com/vi/zqxWV62w114/maxresdefault.jpg
---

 3 Min Read

# What We Learned at the World's Biggest Home Building Show

 Mar. 11, 2026

Resources · Feb 2026 · 5 min read

Our team spent three days at the [International Builders Show in Orlando](https://www.buildersshow.com/) — interviewing 7 vendors, testing new products, and asking the questions that matter for homes in Western NC. Here’s everything we brought back for you.

| [![Kaizen Homes IBS 2026 — Watch the Full 20-Minute Walkthrough](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zqxWV62w114/maxresdefault.jpg)](https://youtu.be/zqxWV62w114) |
| --- |
| ▶ Watch the Full Video — 20 Minutes IBS 2026 — Kaizen Homes Complete Walkthrough 7 vendor interviews  ·  International Builders Show, Orlando  ·  February 2026 Watch Now |

## Why We Go to IBS

Every February, the best builders, manufacturers, and product innovators in the country gather in one place: the **International Builders Show**. This year, our team made the trip to Orlando — not as tourists, but as your advocates on the show floor.

We walked the show floor with fresh eyes and a clear agenda. We sat down with vendors, pushed past the sales pitch, and asked the questions that matter for homes built in the mountains of Western North Carolina: *How does this perform in a climate with humidity swings and freeze-thaw cycles? What does real-world installation look like? What’s the warranty story when things go wrong?*

[Custom home building in Western NC comes with unique demands.](https://khbuilt.com/services/custom-homes) Our mountain climate is hard on buildings. The detail work that separates a home that lasts from one that doesn’t starts with the products and systems inside the walls — things you’ll never see after move-in day.

IBS is where we stay current. It’s where we evaluate what’s new, what’s proven, and what’s worth specifying. It’s one of the ways we earn the trust you place in us when you hand over your dream home project.

## The 7 Vendors We Interviewed

[We didn’t just walk the floor — we put the camera on and sat down with seven of our favorite vendors.](https://khbuilt.com/blog/the-custom-home-building-process-in-asheville-nc) Each conversation is available as a short video below.

| Aquafire → The future of fireplaces — electric fire technology that’s reshaping what’s possible in a custom home living room. |   | GE Appliances → How to get 60% more hot water — and what we’re specifying for kitchens and laundry in 2026 builds. |
| --- | --- | --- |

| Resideo → The 5 smart home essentials every new build should have — thermostats, controls, and whole-home monitoring made simple. |   | Schluter Systems → Smarter shower design — the tile and waterproofing systems that make beautiful bathrooms actually last. |
| --- | --- | --- |

| Trex → Choosing the right railing — composite decking systems built for mountain weather without sacrificing beauty. |   | JobTread → What you see during a project — the transparency tools we use to keep clients informed at every stage of their build. |
| --- | --- | --- |

| Huber Wood → What’s under your siding? ZIP System engineered wood — the building envelope system we trust for Western NC’s demanding climate. We’ve been specifying it for years, and IBS gave us a chance to go deep on why it works. |
| --- |

8 YouTube Shorts from IBS 2026

Pick a Vendor. Start Watching.

| [![Kaizen x Aquafire Reel Cover-1](https://khbuilt.com/hubfs/Kaizen%20x%20Aquafire%20Reel%20Cover-1.png) W/ Aquafire The Future of Fireplaces ](https://youtu.be/VMoomShUPg0?si=Sd2q5ijPntMCM8O_) | [![Kaizen x GE Reel Cover-1](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kaizen%20x%20GE%20Reel%20Cover-1.png?width=291&height=517&name=Kaizen%20x%20GE%20Reel%20Cover-1.png) W/ GE Appliances How to Get 60% More Hot Water ](https://youtu.be/TgaSyHGw_oM?si=mf670MeMvnxW83Pb) | [![Kaizen x Resideo Reel Cover](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kaizen%20x%20Resideo%20Reel%20Cover.png?width=291&height=517&name=Kaizen%20x%20Resideo%20Reel%20Cover.png) W/ Resideo The 5 Smart Home Essentials ](https://youtu.be/bCvlSpRa93c?si=OK3XXZNlJAI70De5) |
| --- | --- | --- |

| [![Kaizen x Schluter Systems Reel Cover](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kaizen%20x%20Schluter%20Systems%20Reel%20Cover.png?width=291&height=517&name=Kaizen%20x%20Schluter%20Systems%20Reel%20Cover.png) W/ Schluter Systems Smarter Shower Design ](https://youtu.be/N8mvorGePQQ?si=jWk5fJvmdMVLfZSL) | [![Kaizen x Trek Reel Cover](https://khbuilt.com/hubfs/Kaizen%20x%20Trek%20Reel%20Cover.png) W/ Trex Choosing the Right Railing ](https://youtu.be/kFSGmMQP_sk?si=H0KtZ5wgagz5uCB8) | [![Kaizen x JobTread Reel Cover](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kaizen%20x%20JobTread%20Reel%20Cover.png?width=291&height=517&name=Kaizen%20x%20JobTread%20Reel%20Cover.png) W/ Eric of JobTread What You See During a Project ](https://youtu.be/1f_hSY6eASI?si=7KX_L_mCAhKrQJaD) |
| --- | --- | --- |

|   | [![Kaizen x Huber Reel Cover](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kaizen%20x%20Huber%20Reel%20Cover.png?width=291&height=517&name=Kaizen%20x%20Huber%20Reel%20Cover.png) W/ Huber Wood What Is Under Your Siding? ](https://youtu.be/C4H2I2Lb7g0?si=UmDLdsUwoNpFGmyx) |   |
| --- | --- | --- |

[▶   Open Full YouTube Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXLXna0p-r8sI_GsnFm0bI1cZeIyaU5Pp)

## What This Means for Your Home

Every product we evaluate at IBS gets measured against the same question: **[does this make homes in Western NC](https://khbuilt.com/blog/should-i-build-a-house-in-asheville-nc) better?** Not just aesthetically — structurally, mechanically, and for the long haul.

The mountain climate is unforgiving. [Temperature swings, moisture, and elevation all put pressure on a building envelope](https://khbuilt.com/blog/climate-control-during-construction) in ways flat, urban construction doesn’t face. When we go to IBS, we’re looking for products and systems that account for that reality.

| —[See the exact products going into high-performance custom homes in 2026](https://khbuilt.com/process) |
| --- |
| —Understand why we specify the systems we do — not just what they are, but how they perform |
| —Know the questions worth asking any builder before you sign a contract |
| —Get a feel for how a builder who stays current thinks — so you can make a truly informed choice |

If you’re in the early stages of thinking about a custom home in Buncombe or Henderson County, these videos are a good place to start. They’ll give you a window into how we think and what we care about — which is ultimately what you’re buying when you choose a builder.

[▶   Watch the 20-Minute Walkthrough](https://youtu.be/zqxWV62w114)

| Ready to Build in Western NC? Let’s Talk About Your Custom Home We build in Buncombe and Henderson Counties. If you’re thinking about a custom home, we’d love to start a conversation — no pressure, just a real talk about what’s possible. Work With Us |
| --- |

![A phone screen showing a Custom Home and Remodeling Guide on the Screen](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foundation%20Images/Kaizen%20Homes%20Cost%20Guide%20Graphic.png?width=200&height=383&name=Kaizen%20Homes%20Cost%20Guide%20Graphic.png)

### Build Smarter From the Start

Most people don't know what they don't know before a custom home build. Our free Home Building Guide walks you through every phase — from land to certificate of occupancy — so you can ask the right questions and make confident decisions.

- What to expect at each stage of the design-build process
- How to evaluate a builder before you sign anything
- The decisions that affect budget most — and when they happen

Built for buyers in Western NC. No fluff, no sales pitch.

[Get the Home Building Guide double_arrow 

](https://khbuilt.com/home-guide)

## Related Articles

[![Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Custom Home Builder](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foundation%20Images/2000px/Stylish%20sitting%20area%20with%20gray%20couch%20and%20natural%20light%20by%20Kaizen%20Homes%20in%20Weaverville%2c%20NC.jpg?width=352&name=Stylish%20sitting%20area%20with%20gray%20couch%20and%20natural%20light%20by%20Kaizen%20Homes%20in%20Weaverville%2c%20NC.jpg) ](https://khbuilt.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-custom-home-builder)

### [What to Ask Before Hiring a Custom Home Builder in Asheville, NC](https://khbuilt.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-custom-home-builder)

[Custom Homes](https://khbuilt.com/blog/tag/custom-homes)

Most people walk into their first builder meeting with the wrong questions.

They ask about timeline and price per square foot. The builder answers confidently. Both people...

[![Completed custom home built by Kaizen Homes in Western North Carolina featuring stone exterior, craftsman-style architecture, and mature landscaping](https://khbuilt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GABLE-Waynesville-0205.webp?width=352&name=GABLE-Waynesville-0205.webp) ](https://khbuilt.com/blog/how-to-choose-custom-home-builder-asheville-nc)

### [How to Choose a Custom Home Builder in Asheville, NC | 2026 Guide](https://khbuilt.com/blog/how-to-choose-custom-home-builder-asheville-nc)

[Custom Homes](https://khbuilt.com/blog/tag/custom-homes) | [WNC Building](https://khbuilt.com/blog/tag/wnc-building)

You've talked to three builders. They all have nice portfolios. They all say "design-build" and "transparent process" and "we listen to our clients."

And you still have no...

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### [Build New or Buy Existing in Asheville, NC | 2026 Guide](https://khbuilt.com/blog/build-new-or-buy-existing)

[Custom Homes](https://khbuilt.com/blog/tag/custom-homes) | [WNC Building](https://khbuilt.com/blog/tag/wnc-building)

Most people who reach this question have already been looking at the resale market for a while. They're not finding what they want. And they're starting to wonder if...

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