Increased Construction Spending & Demand for High-Performance, Energy-Efficient Windows Drives Demand Growth through 2021

Overall market increases will be driven by ongoing gains in construction spending, including a continued recovery in housing starts and expanding nonresidential building construction activity; increased demand for more costly, better performing products; and rising sales of value-added windows with unique, customized styles.

Key Findings in the Windows Study:

Plastic Remains Dominant Window Material and Posts Fastest Gains

Continued interest in vinyl windows -- which require minimal maintenance and offer good energy efficiency at a lower price compared to wood -- will bolster the material’s leading position through 2021. Architects and building owners are also increasingly specifying windows manufactured from fiberglass (e.g., Marvin’s Ultrex material) and wood-plastic composites (e.g., Andersen’s Fibrex) for their superior energy efficiency and durability.

Housing Starts Fuel Robust Gains for Residential Windows

The brightest outlook is projected for the new residential market, spurred by continued gains in housing starts. In addition, homebuyers’ demand for premium windows with good aesthetics (including casement, horizontal sliding, and specialty styles) is increasing the average costs for windows per new home.

Healthy growth in construction spending for office, retail, lodging, and institutional structures will bolster demand for commercial windows, as will increased sales of large window area products such as curtain walls and storefronts. In addition, building owners are increasingly investing in high-performance windows to reduce utility bills and achieve green building certifications such as LEED.

Leading Suppliers Use Acquisitions to Expand Market Reach

Window manufacturers have engaged in significant acquisition activity to expand their product range and to capture growing share of target markets. PGT Innovations, for instance, expanded into commercial applications through its 2016 purchase of US Impact Systems, as well as increased its portfolio of impact-resistant windows through its acquisition of WinDoor. Pella purchased both Reilly Windows and Doors, and Duratherm Windows in 2016; while Apogee Enterprises is bolstering its position in the curtain wall market through the planned acquisition of EFCO from Pella.

Study Coverage

This Freedonia industry study presents historical demand data (2006, 2011, and 2016) and forecasts (2021) by material (plastic, wood, metal), product (single- & double-hung, casement, horizontal sliding, other windows & components), market (new residential construction, residential improvement & repair, new commercial construction, commercial improvement & repair), and US region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West). The study also evaluates company market share and provides competitive analysis on industry players including Andersen, JELD-WEN, Marvin, Milgard Manufacturing (Masco), Pella, and Ply Gem.