I'm still bumping into friends, though -- in one case, literally. Not bad, considering there are reportedly more than 110,000 exhibitors and attendees here at the Builders' Show.

I went to the breakfast at the NextGen house to hear about the newest Tech Set from PATH (the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing). This Tech Set focuses on storm-resistant roofing.

One really intesting tidbit of info: By using a particular kind of nail (I don't recall the exact kind, but there will be more info on HGTVPro.com soon), the builder can virtually ensure that the roofing shingles will stay on the house in a hurricane. The average additional cost per house is $0.08. Hey, I live in Tennessee, but I'd still sign up for that kind of insurance!

Another cool product on the house was a pull-down fabric hurricane shutter, which is held in place by big wing nuts. It's hidden in a housing that looks like decorative molding until it's needed. Looked to me like something that would be a heck of a lot easier than nailing plywood over the windows!

More later on products for the rest of the country. I'm definitely going to have to learn to rollerblade before the next IBS, though. There's no way I'm going to cover the whole show.

Bummer.