US Window & Door Demand to Reach $40 billion in year 2012

US demand for windows and doors is forecast to rise 2.8 percent annually to $40 billion in 2012, a deceleration from the 2002-2007 pace.  Demand gains will be restrained by a subdued outlook for residential construction, which constitutes the largest market for windows and doors.  While the US housing market is projected to post a modest recovery through 2012, the level of housing completions will be only slightly higher than in 2007.  Also restraining gains will be a slight decline in average floor space per new housing unit, which will mean the new homes will require fewer windows and doors.  Spending on residential improvements is also expected to moderate through 2012, limiting advances in the improvement and repair segment of the residential market. These and other trends, including market share and product segmentation, are presented in Windows & Doors, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Demand for windows is projected to advance 3.7 percent per year through 2012, due to increasing interest in energy efficiency.  Consumers looking to reduce heating and cooling costs will replace older windows with more efficient models.  Metal windows will account for the most rapid gains in demand through 2012.  Demand for doors will grow 2.4 percent per year through 2012, reaching $23.2 billion.  Plastic doors will account for the most rapid gains in demand, as consumers opt for fiberglass entry doors and fiberglass or vinyl patio doors.

Overall, plastic is the window and door material expected to enjoy the best growth, with demand for plastic products projected to grow 4.9 percent per year.  Gains will be led by the low cost of plastic windows and doors compared to wood and metal products, as well as the increasing recognition of the superior performance properties of plastic windows and doors. 

Wood windows and doors will continue to account for the largest share of overall window and door demand, totaling 41 percent in 2012.  Through 2012, however, demand for wood products will advance at a below-average pace, primarily due to the high cost of wood products compared to less expensive plastic items.  Wood products are increasingly seen as high-end products that increase the values of the structures in which they are installed.  Wood windows and doors are predominantly used in residential construction applications, especially among middle-income and more affluent homeowners.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.