The annual WDMA 2020 U.S. Industry Market Study has been released from the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). This report provides data and insights into the industry’s performance, trends, and future direction. The report is based on extensive industry research and analysis by the Farnsworth Group.
The research included surveys to retailers, professional contractors, homeowners and others in order to get a pulse of the key trends in the market, which are particularly insightful in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Windows Trends
As in recent years, manufacturers produced more vinyl windows than any other material, comprising two-thirds of the market.
In terms of window type, more single hung windows were shipped in 2019 than any other type with about 14.9 million units shipped. This was closely followed by double hung with more than 13.1 units shipped. Casements, sliders and fixed windows were in the middle of the pack, with awnings trailing them all at only 2.7% of the share.
Looking ahead, window shipments are expected to drop in 2020 due to COVID-19, but make back large gains over the next two years.
Patio Door Trends
For patio doors, the research showed that whether it was homeowners working on DIY projects or professional builders working on new homes or remodels, they are both installing or replacing sliding patio doors over any hinged door option. On the national level in 2019, shipments of sliding patio doors grew by 8.4% over 2018, while hinged units saw a slightly lower, but still healthy 7.0% growth in 2019.
When considering hinged doors, the vast majority of shipments were for the double door design over any other option this past year.
It’s interesting to note that the researchers forecasted only a slight dip in patio door shipments in 2020 due to COVID-19, but expect to ramp up again in the next two years.
Entry Door Trends
Manufacturers report that steel was the most shipped material type for entry doors in 2019. Steel was at 58.9% share of the market, which is down from 62.7% in 2018. It lost some ground to fFiberglass entry doors, comprising 40.5% of the market, which was up from 36.9%.
Year over year, the number of entry doors shipped went down from 11.929 million in 2018 to 11.526 million units in 2019. In 2020, it is expected that shipments will dip further by 5.6% and see 10.881 million units shipped; however, forecasts show entry door shipments will go back up to near 2019 levels in 2021.
Architectural Door Trends
A total of 3,595,000 architectural doors were shipped throughout the U.S. in 2019. This number includes all architectural doors, such as flush, stile and rail, and other interior door leaves.
The most common type of fire rating stile and rail door leaves shipped in 2019 was “No Rating,” with a market share of 93.7% (445,013 units). Second most-often shipped were those with a 20-minute rating. Those totaled 18,199 units, comprising 3.8% share. In 2019, shipments of architectural interior stile and rail door leaves were up 4.2% over 2018 to land at 475,000 units; however, looking ahead, unlike some other door types, interior door leaves shipments are expected to drop significantly by 15.5% in 2020.
When looking at shipments for flush door leaves, particleboard was by far the most common type of core material with more than 2 million units shipped, making up 66.4% of share. For the first time, the report looked at STC Rated Core. This core material tool 2.1 percent of the total share with 66,000 units shipped
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