Building Material Demand in the Window and Door Industry

Ducker Worldwide recently conducted a material share analysis of building materials within the window and exterior door markets. The comparison included materials such as steel, aluminum, vinyl, wood and fiberglass. These products were evaluated based on variables including durability, cost, security, maintenance, insulation and aesthetics.

Throughout the years steel has been considered a dominant material for residential exterior doors and also accounts for 52 percent of the non-residential market. However, steel’s share of the residential exterior door market, has declined over the past five years from 75 percent in 2000 to 66 percent in 2005. This decline is primarily due to increased use of fiberglass which continues to grow in the exterior door market. In fact steel is projected to decline to a market share of 58 percent by 2009 for residential exterior doors. The use of steel in the residential window market does not contribute significantly to steel market share in the building materials segment and overall use in construction.

The use of fiberglass continues to grow in the exterior door market which has impacted market share for both steel and wood. Fiberglass is known to be more aesthetically pleasing and provides enhanced properties not available with steel including expansion, contraction and dent resistant. Fiberglass also costs less than wood and has better durability and longevity in exposed situations and harsh climates. Fiberglass has increased from less than 9 percent of the residential exterior door market in 2000 to 23 percent in 2005 and is projected to increase in market share to 33% by 2009. However, fiberglass and composites occupy an insignificant share in the residential window market of approximately 2 percent and is expected to grow slowly in popularity over the next five years. The advantages associated with the use of fiberglass in windows, is its flexibility which allows for the shifting of homes over time without cracking.

The use of aluminum in exterior doors can be found in both the skin and frame of glass doors. These exterior doors are typically found in nonresidential applications such as store fronts and office buildings. The volume and market share of aluminum doors in the nonresidential market are projected to rise slightly until 2007 and then slowly taper off through 2010. This gradual decrease can be attributed to an increase in the use of steel within the exterior door market. The southern markets have provided a strong foundation for overall aluminum market share in residential windows while other regions have continued to decrease usage. This relatively confined increase in the southern aluminum window market, specifically in Florida, can be attributed to strong new construction where aluminum is still popular and sound material choice.

Wood and clad wood usage in the framing of windows and patio doors is forecast to have a negative growth rate due to the competition of vinyl windows and inroads made by fiberglass and other composite materials. Wood doors represent a very small portion of the overall exterior door market which is dominated primarily by steel and fiberglass. Technology advances in fiberglass have also impacted wood market share, including aesthetic properties which closely mimic the look of wood.