A time of change

(Contlnued lrom prevlous page) whelmingly to post boom (under 30) occupants, starter homes will oflen bc bought by aging Baby Boomers. Truc, under-3O renters are the logical pcople to graduate to homeowning: however, they are being held at bay by recessionary anxieties. Moreover, as a percentage of the total U.S. population, persons under 30 are the fastest declining segment. Prime buyers for starter homes are the estimated 42 million boomers (out of a total of 82 million) who do not own their own homes and would dearly love to.

Where the use of wood windows and doors is concemed, there is cause for cautious optimism. Here's why:

(l) Even though starts of single-fami- ly detached (SFD) homes are down dramaticallv (to 900.000 in 1990) from theii mid-80s level (1.2 million in 1986), the average size of a SFD has risen to at least 2,100 sq. ft. and, according to some observers. could well be closcr to 2,300. Morc square footage mcans morc wood windows and doors per home,

(2) Would-bc trade-up buyers, tbrced t0 stay put.bccause of the recession. arc prime candidatcs tbr remodcling. At prcscnt, it is estimatcd that replaccmcnt windows (all typcs) used in rcsidential remodeling totalled $9.tt billion in 1989; replaccmcnt entry doors (all types), $7fi) million.

(3) Wood windows continue to gain market share al the expense of aluminum. According to NWWDA 1992 should yield sales (remodeling and new construction combined) of over 20 million wood windows, an increase of between 500,000 and I million units over 199|. Aluminum windows are likely to drop about the same amount from their 199 I total of over l3 million.

For all of these reasons, we are cautiously optimistic. Builders who pick their niches carefully can, indeed, prosper in 1992 and, in the process, enhance their consumer appeal by using wood windows and doors.