U.S. Window and Door Demand to Reach $36.5 Billion by 2010

Door and window demand in the United States is projected to increase 3.3 percent annually through 2010 to $36.5 billion, a deceleration from the 2000-2005 period due to a sharp drop in single-family housing completions. This is according to a report by Cleveland-based industry market research firm The Freedonia Group in its new study titled Windows and Doors. This will be offset, to some extent, by a strong rebound in nonresidential construction. The differing fortunes between these two markets will have a significant impact on door and window materials. For example, demand for wood windows, used primarily in residential buildings, will increase less than one percent per year while metal doors, largely purchased for nonresidential construction, will advance nearly four percent annually. 

Plastic doors and windows will continue to make inroads as a replacement for both wood and metal products, with demand increasing 6.5 percent annually. Plastic materials (e.g., vinyl, fiberglass, and wood-plastic composites) have primarily rivaled wood products in the residential market, due to their advantages in terms of high energy efficiency, low- maintenance requirements and relatively low costs. However, plastics have made less progress in nonresidential markets, due to durability concerns.

The residential market accounted for more than three-quarters of door and window demand in 2005. This is not only due to the size of the residential construction industry, but also because this market tends to place a higher value on aesthetics and energy efficiency, which leads to the use of higher-cost products, such as wood doors and windows. Furthermore, several trends in housing characteristics continue to support growth in door and window demand per residential structure, including increases in the number of windows per home. The large stock of existing homes also provides a base for improvement and repair purchases of window and door products. In fact, while the new residential market for doors and windows will decline through 2010, the improvement and repair market will grow 6.0 percent annually.

Windows and Doors (published 02/2007, 391 pages) is available for $4,500 from The Freedonia Group Inc. Go to www.freedoniagroup.com. 

DWM
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