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NOVEMBER 2013 PRO INSTALLER
PRO PRODUCTS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
COMPOSITES
ARE SHOWING
PVC-U THE DOOR
The latest Palmer report reveals a new market leader in entrance door
materials, which will be the main beneficiary of the next few years
of growth. After years of growing popularity, 2012 is the year when
Composites finally took over from PVC-U as the most popular door
material. That’s according to Palmer Market Research, whose latest
study on the domestic entrance door market has just been published.
And the improved forecast that Robert Palmer
provides for the next
few years has Composites as the main beneficiary, as it’s the only
door material, aside
from the much smaller
Timber Engineered, to
grow to 2017.
Just 19% of the total
market as recently as 2007,
Composites took 38% last
year, and will be half of it
by 2017. Palmer notes that
the combination of “increasingly competitive pricing
[alongside] perceived technological superiority and
appearance”, means that
there’s “no reason why they
should not continue to gain
share”.
Overall, the 2012 market
was down 1% on the previous year in both volume
and value. Home improvements, which count for just
over half the total market,
fell to its lowest level for 30
years.
‘Slight growth
in the new
housing sector’
However, this was offset
by slight growth in the new
housing sector and surprisingly, also in the cashstrapped social housing
sector too – probably due
to essential maintenance
work.
And Palmer believes that
while this year will show a
small decline, 2014 to 2017
are growth years, with the
2017 figure 13% up on 2012,
as a more buoyant housing
market, fuelled by government initiatives, is compounded by increasing consumer confidence. So while
the social sector continues
to decline, new housing
and home improvements
will both show double-digit
growth.
But as Composites grow
in popularity, more traditional door materials will
decline. PVCU still comes
first in the home improvements category, however
Palmer predicts a long-term
downward trend here, as
in the other categories, as
composites continue to gain
market share.
Wood was 19% of the
market in 2012, the second
biggest player in home
improvements and third
biggest in new housing, but
again, will decline over the
next five years, by 3%.
Steel faced doors were the
market leader in new housing up until 2010, but will
represent just 9% (and only
2% overall) in 2017.
‘Palmer believes
that while this
year will show
a small decline,
2014 to 2017
are growth years,
with the 2017
figure 13% up
on 2012’
The Market for Domestic
Entrance Doors in Great
Britain, 2013 edition, was
developed by carrying out
structured interviews with
625 companies operating
in the market, including
housebuilders, manufacturers, and housing associations, between March and
July 2013. This was backed
up by an extensive desk research programme, as well
as Palmer Market Research’s
proprietary database.
Providing the
perfect ambience
The growing trend for larger living
areas has had positive impact on
the market as sales figures can
prove for specialist manufacturer
TuffX Conservatory Roof Glass
over the last 12 months.
It would seem the
desire to renovate
and upgrade existing
conservatory roofs is
also a growing tendency within the home
improvement sector
with 10 – 15% of orders
taken by the company
on a monthly basis
being for replacement
roof glass.
For most homeowners the
addition of a conservatory is
usually a more cost-effective
solution to moving property,
particularly if more space
is required. Conservatories
are a major selling point
also for consumers who are
looking to make the most of
their gardens.
The increase in demand
would appear to revolve
around the ability to enlarge
kitchens or informal living
areas, which is a continually
growing trend. Installing
or upgrading conservatories enables the consumer
to improve lifestyles and
add space in a simple and
cost-effective way.
This was demonstrated
most recently in a striking
project in Hertfordshire. Mr
Jonathan Lee had purchased
a modern converted pub,
which proved quite problematic due to one room
with a glazed roof. The
rain created a major issue
every time there was a
downpour as the existing
polycarbonate roof leaked
in various places.
Having heard about the
po ssibility of replacing
conservatory roofs, he decided that the best solution
was to completely replace
the old roof with a new
self-cleaning glass option.
As the room was an
integral part of the house
it was vital that the right
products were used to
ensure that the leaks were
fixed. The high performance, self-cleaning
properties in the Ambience
range provided the ideal
solution, with the installation of Ambi-Aqua roof
glass.
Mr Lee comments, ‘I had
considered trying to fix the
leaks but felt in the long
term that it would be more
cost effective to replace the
entire roof. After hearing
about replacement glass
roofing options I evaluated the benefits of the
Ambience range from my
installer, after evaluating
each one I felt that the
Ambi Aqua option would
be of the most benefit, got
a quotation and survey
done, which all came well
within the budget.’
www.ambiglass.co.uk