CLEVELAND, OH - Demand for windows and doors in the US is projected to advance 6.9 percent per year through 2018 to $31.9 billion. A rebound in housing completions and building construction expenditures will drive gains as demand recovers from the steep declines of the 2008-2013 period. “Growing consumer preferences for higher end products such as triple glazed windows and insulated entry doors will also boost demand,” added analyst Mariel Behnke. These and other trends are presented in Windows & Doors, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

Among material types, plastic windows and doors will see the strongest growth through 2018, with demand increasing 8.2 percent annually. Following the trend that began in the early 2000s, plastic windows and doors will continue to increase market share at the expense of wood and metal. Plastic products, already popular in the residential market, are expected to see increasing use in light commercial and institutional applications. Efforts by manufacturers to improve the variety of colors and woodgrain textures available on plastic windows and doors or to expand into markets such as specialty windows and impact resistant products will also support increased demand for plastic products.

Metal windows and doors accounted for over two-fifths of total demand in 2013, the largest share of any material, and will continue to lead the market through the forecast period. However, metal products will face competition from plastic, due to the latter’s advantageous cost and energy efficiency. Strong growth in nonresidential construction, particularly in the institutional and office and commercial segments, which use windows and doors intensively, will also boost demand.

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Wood window and door demand is forecast to reach $10.1 billion in 2018 on 6.2 percent annual growth. Consumer perception of wood as an aesthetically pleasing material that adds value to a home will support demand, particularly in higher-end residential applications. In addition, the dominance of wood in the interior door market will boost demand as building construction expenditures rise. However, like metal, wood will face strong competition from plastic. Consumer preference for plastic windows and doors over those made from wood will continue to increase because plastic products are generally more durable and require less maintenance.

Windows & Doors (published 05/2014, 459 pages) is available for $5400 from The Freedonia Group, Inc. For further details or to arrange an interview with the analyst, please contact Corinne Gangloff by phone 440.684.9600440.684.9600 or e-mail [email protected]. Information may also be obtained through www.freedoniagroup.com.

Source: The Freedonia Group