In celebration of Skyline's 20 year anniversary, we’re sharing 20 of our favorite things -- from tools to travel destinations and everything in between. 

This month in honor of America's birthday we turn the spotlight to 20 American brands that are manufacturing construction material right here on U.S. soil. Read on for the full list of our favorite locally sourced material and finishes.

Locally sourced products are all the rage for good reason: sourcing locally drives production which creates jobs. But why hasn't this trend caught on in the construction industry?  We set out to to answer this question by building commercial interior offices using as many American made materials as possible. Here's what we learned along the way:

1. Building materials are separate from finishes

It's easy to achieve a partially American-built project when you consider the "behind the walls" materials that go into a construction project. Nails, drywall, ductwork, lumber, plumbing, even paint and carpet are all easily sourced, nationally; but fine imported stone for your reception desk? Much harder.  Dont be discouraged, even a small change can lead to a big impact. 

Anders Lewendal, an economist turned builder, states that "if every commercial builder used just 5% more American-made materials on their projects, this would result in 220,000 more US jobs."

2. Quality is better

U.S. manufacturers are required to follow strict health and safety regulations, both in the quality of their products and in the safety of their workers. The result is a highly regulated, better quality product.

3. Cost remains the same

Without a doubt, we expected the see a sizeable cost increase in sourcing American-manufacturered materials. Turns out, it's just another misconception.  The cost increase to use American made materials was less than 1%.

4. Having a plan is key

Knowing where to get American-made products and what vendors offer them is key. So without further ado, here is a list of just some of the companies who are manufacturing materials, equipment and finishes for the commercial construction industry, right here in the United States. 

1. Pionite Surface Systems (High Pressure Laminate)

2. Doug Mockett (Drawer pulls)

3. Wilsonart (High Pressure Laminate)

4. SCAFCO (Drywall)

5. Climatemaster (HVAC)

6. Lithonia (Lighting)

7. Phillips Day-Brite (Lighting)

8. Abet Laminati (Millwork)

9. Formica (Millwork)

10. Armstrong (Acoustical Ceiling)

11. Milliken (Flooring)

12. Shaw (Flooring)

13. Benjamin Moore (Paint)

14. Glidden Professional(Paint)

15. IdeaPaint (Paint)

16. Knoll Textiles (Banquette Seating)

17. Elkay (Plumbling)

18. Moen (Plumbling)

19. Zumtobel (Electrical)

20. Finelite (Electrical)