Clearview North December 2013 - Issue 145 | Page 31

compositedoors

CLEARVIEW EXCLUSIVE

No
surprises
Nick Dutton,
Managing Director
of Door-Stop.

TAKING THE LEAD
Robert Palmer of Palmer Market
Research gives a more detailed
insight into the trends behind the
latest composite research…
“Long expected; and now
it’s happened. Composites
have taken the lead in the 1.3
million domestic entrance
door market. Their 38%
share compares with 35% for
PVC-U panel doors.
Composites were first
introduced into the UK through
the social housing refurbishment
market. In 1993 they accounted
for about 10% of that market;
today it is about 70%.
New build was more of a
struggle for composites as
housebuilders preferred the
cheaper option of steel faced
doors. But as they have become
more competitively priced and
the demands of housebuilders
better understood, so that share
has now shot up to 40%.
The home improvement
market, which is 20% bigger
than the other two markets
put together, has been a harder
nut to crack. In the direct sell
sector PVC-U trade fabricators
supplying the window market
were, and still are, able to
supply entrance doors cheaply
and quickly to installers. But as

prices became more competitive
and supply more “accessible” so
composites have been able to
overcome those disadvantages.
A third of this market is now
composites.
But it has been in that part
of the home improvement
market served by merchants
and DIY outlets that continues
to be the biggest challenge for
composites. In total it is about
the same size as the direct sell
market, but composites account
for less than 10%. Wood still
leads this market.
But PVC-U panel doors are
far from finished. Proponents
are fighting back with, for
instance, improved infill panels
and matching frames to satisfy
the growing demand for good
looking doors. And they still
have the advantage of being
produced by increasingly
efficient PVC-U trade
fabricators.
And all materials will be
helped by the overall market
growth we are expecting over
the next five years as the housing
market itself improves.”

To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com

The latest Palmer report, as
detailed by Clearview, confirms
what many have known for a
while – panels have well and
truly had their day.
It predicts that by 2017
composite do ors will account for
half the total market – although
I’d say that’s an underestimation
(but I would!). It’s certainly not
unexpected: D&G Consulting’s
annual reports have regularly
recorded a decline in panels. And
a recent poll on an industry blog
revealed that several companies
couldn’t say how many panels
they’d installed in the last year
because they no longer did any!
The rear guard defending
panels might argue that there are
some good ones, but that’s like
saying some video tape recorders
are good. They’ve simply been
superseded by a better product.

When Door-Stop began five
years ago, the writing was already
on the wall. A long history of
issues had emerged with panel
doors: problems with security,
jamming, warping, bubbling
woodgrains or discolouration had
been so severe and common in
previous years they had a poor
reputation, and this hasn’t been
shaken off. Composites are more
reliable in every way, and since we
started the market has gone from
strength to strength.
While many panel
manufacturers have had to slash
their guarantees from 10 to 5
years to reduce their exposure to
the impact of these performance
problems, Door-Stop, for
example, offers a 10 year ‘all door’
guarantee, which covers looks and
performance.
The advantages of composite
doors are increasing relevant
today. The best can easily achieve
the highest energy ratings, to help
cut regularly rising utility bills
and keep homes cosy. Security
is always an issue too, and panel
doors have a poor reputation.
The standard composite is almost
twice as thick at 44mm, so its
stronger and more secure. And of
course, they look better too!
There was a time for panels:
they were cheap and cheerful
and available on short lead times,
particularly compared to the 4-6
week standard for composite
doors, which were used primarily
for social housing! But the market
has moved on – and so must the
remaining panel manufacturers.

DEC 2013

31