PlaceMakers Product Picks – November 2025

Every month, we round up our top Product Picks to help make your projects run smoother and – hopefully – make your clients happier. Check out our picks for November below!      

Bitumend Cold Mix gets green certified 

Bitumend Cold Mix has long been available through PlaceMakers stores nationwide. Until recently, there has been no formal benchmark to compare the performance of cold-mix products in the New Zealand market. 

Its supplier, High Roads, has undertaken an extensive review of Bitumend Cold Mix with the goal of setting a new industry standard – ensuring superior workability, durability, and strength in every application. 

In line with their commitment to environmental responsibility, Bitumend Cold Mix has achieved an independent Green Rating™ of “G” from GreenXperts – making it among the first cold-mix asphalt products globally to receive a verified sustainability certification. This mark now proudly appears on every bag. 

While this represents its first step on the Green Rating journey, ongoing improvements are already underway as the company strives towards higher certification levels, staying ahead through innovation, performance, and sustainability. 

Shadowclad® Ultra – Save time. Cut labour 

Shadowclad® Ultra helps make installation faster and more efficient onsite compared to on-site priming application and panel preparation. Each panel comes factory pre-primed with a high-performance coating, eliminating on-site priming and extra preparation time. It’s a straightforward way to reduce labour costs and keep projects moving. 

Key Benefits: 

• Pre-primed & ready to install – skip on-site priming. 

• Lower coating application costs – less preparation and painting time. 

• Early moisture resistance – factory coating helps protect panels from the start. 

• Factory applied coating – up to 2 to 3 times thicker than traditional wet primers. 

• Easy application – base for paint or film-forming stains, ideal for various coating projects. 

Made for NZ conditions 

Shadowclad Ultra is manufactured from sustainably grown plantation resource and is compliant with NZ Building Code requirements. It’s available in both H3.1 LOSP and H3.2 CCA treatment and is available FSC® certified (FSC® C012019) on request. The natural band-sawn surface delivers a compelling, tactile finish. Vertical shiplap joints provide easy and watertight installation. The Shadowclad system includes a full range of purpose-designed flashings. 

Here to help 

• Access install guides, details, and videos via Shadowclad sITe App. 

• Free samples and Shadowclad Stick Installation Tool available. 

• Backed by CHH Plywood’s technical and specification support teams. 

Visit chhply.co.nz or call 0800 326 759 to order samples, tools, or access technical information. 

Get started with Shadowclad Ultra and start saving time and money today. 

Note: Only Shadowclad Natural is suitable for use with penetrating stains. 

Experience the quiet difference with Pink® Batts Silencer® 

Looking to elevate acoustic comfort for clients without compromising on quality? Pink® Batts Silencer® is designed to deliver superior sound control, making it the ideal choice for internal walls in residential and commercial builds. 

Outstanding Acoustic Performance: At 100mm thick, Silencer® achieves optimal results when compressed into a 90mm cavity – delivering an STC rating of 43, where loud talking is barely audible. 

Sustainably Made: Over 80% of the glass used in every Silencer® bale is locally sourced and recycled, helping you build better with less impact. 

Easy Identification: Its unique colour ensures you get exactly what you specified – no confusion, no compromise. 

Thermal Support: While designed for acoustic performance, Silencer® also contributes to thermal insulation, supporting overall energy efficiency. 

Whether you’re upgrading specs or looking for a smarter solution in a price-driven market, Pink® Batts Silencer® offers tangible benefits that set your project apart. 

Modern coastal build with Genia Vertica Cladding 

Genia Vertica Cladding has been crafted with the NZ environment in mind. Made from FSC-certified, locally grown Radiata clear wood, Vertica is a great alternative to other cladding options without compromising on quality, visual appeal and the environment. 

An ideal example is The Quays project (pictured) on the beachfront in Māpua, which began with the full demolition of the existing home, making way for a modern two-storey build designed to make the most of the coastal light and outlook.  

The upper level is finished in dark iron, while the lower level features Genia Vertica Cladding in a lighter stain, providing a clean contrast between the refined metal surface and the natural warmth of bandsawn Radiata pine. The vertical cladding theme unifies the façade and adds a sense of height and consistency, while the natural colours fit in seamlessly with the coastal environment. 

Photo by Lumiere
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