Growing Interest in Front Porches to Support Demand for Building Materials<

A recent article highlighted a design trend that has been increasing in popularity over the past decade: the front porch. As people seek out ways to maintain the “social” in social distancing, it is expected that front porches will remain a popular amenity on homes in the near future. Not only will builders continue to install front porches on homes, owners of existing homes will increasingly expand or install new front porches. Freedonia analysts have noted here the continuing popularity of outdoor living, and the front porch can play just as important a role in outdoor living as decks and swimming pools.

Growth in installations of front porches will support demand not only for a wide range of building materials, but also a wide range of other products (to say nothing of the craftspeople charged with erecting these features), including:

• poured and precast concrete for foundations, steps, and, in some cases, the porch material itself (e.g., the front stoop)
• wood, composite, and plastic lumber used to make floors, railings, and other components of a porch
• outdoor furniture such as couches, chairs, and other furnishings to accommodate family, friends, and neighbors
• lawn and garden equipment, particularly potted plants or flowers and small decorations that add character to a home

For more information and discussion of opportunities, see The Freedonia Group’s extensive collection of off-the-shelf research, particularly in the Construction and Building Products and topics such as Outdoor Furniture & Grills (and the related COVID-19 Economic Impact Report on the topic) and Landscaping Products (and its related COVID-19 Economic Impact Report). Freedonia Custom Research is also available for questions requiring tailored market intelligence.